Author: Dimakatso Genkoe
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has taken special leave following an investigation into alleged corruption during her tenure as the defence minister. It is alleged that she received and solicited R2.3 million from a former military contractor. This week the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigative Directorate and the Hawks raided her house in Bruma, east of Johannesburg as part of the corruption investigations. The speaker has however denied any wrongdoing. Her decision to take a special was announced in a statement by parliament. “Given the seriousness of the allegations and the attendant extensive media speculations, I have decided to take special…
The Tlhabane Magistrate Court near Rustenburg in the North West has remanded four suspects in custody after their appearance on Monday. Rather Mahomed, Joao Seven, Abraham Khoza and Usuf Mikilo were arrested on Friday on charges of dealing with rhino horn. The four were arrested during a sting operation by the provincial police who received a tip off about the suspects who were reportedly planning to sell a rhino horn for R65 000. Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula says the information was operationalized and the police arrested the four suspects soon after making a transaction. “They have been charged with…
The Chief Financial Officer of the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) Kudakwashe Mpofu has resigned with immediate effect on Sunday. His resignation follows a probe by the Department of Home Affairs and the media that he obtained his residence permit fraudulently. “The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism (DEDECT) has confirmed that Chief Financial Officer of the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) Kudakwashe Mpofu has resigned with immediate effect on Sunday. His resignation comes after a series of news reports which indicated that he has fraudulently obtained his residence permit. On the 17th March 2024, the…
North West Education MEC Viola Motsumi has suspended a school principal and a circuit manager at the Tshing education circuit in the Kenneth Kaunda Region while investigations continue. It is alleged that the pair that have been issued with precautionary suspension letters, for allegedly mismanaging the Department of Education recruitment process of educators. It alleged that the two have been soliciting or facilitating monies in exchange for influence in the recruitment process. In a statement, Motsumi said the allegations of misconduct which were made by the media against the two were taken seriously. “We are committed to ensuring a fair…
ActionSA has appointed former Health Professionals Council of South Africa head and former ANC member Dr Kgosi Letlape as the party’s candidate for the health portfolio in Parliament. The announcement was made by party leader Herman Mashaba, during a media briefing in Johannesburg where he also introduced ActionSA #TeamFix SA. Letlape resigned from the ANC last week, and cited his unhappiness regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intention to sign the National Health Insurance Bill into law after it was voted last year in parliament. He has a wealth of experience in the health sector, having founded the Africa Medical Association, served…
The Moses Kotane Local Municipality in the North West has refuted claims that it disregarded VBS Mutual Bank allegations made against its Chief Financial Officer Mzwandile Mkhize when it appointed him. The municipality is adamant that it followed all legitimate processes when it appointed the CFO whose contract was extended this year. It is alleged that Mkhize is facing corruption charges relating to VBS at his previous employer, West Rand District Municipality, which invested more than R300 million into the bank. Municipal spokesperson Berlina Lekgethwane says Mkhize was appointed by the council in 2018 on a five-year fixed term. “His…
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande has joined other South Africans and the academic fraternity in mourning the passing of Professor Samuel Mokgokong. Mokgokong, who passed away last week, is South Africa’s first black neurosurgeon, and described by many as one of the country’s most decorated academics and scholars. According to Nzimande, Mokgokong has a long and distinguished academic career in the medical field, which has seen him form part of some of the most pioneering surgical teams. Mokgokong was celebrated for being part of the surgical team that separated conjoined twins, Mpho and Mphonyane Mathibela at the…
Water utility Rand Water has confirmed that two of its executives has passed away after being shot at the community hall during a back-to-school campaign in Zakariyya Park, south of Johannesburg. Another executive and Chief Whip of the City of Joburg Council, Sthembiso Zungu, were rushed to the hospital after being shot at by a suspected hitman. According to witnesses, the hitman then fled the scene in a getaway car that was parked outside the had been parked outside the venue. “Rand Water sadly confirms a tragic incident that claimed the life of an executive on Monday. As an…
Both the state and the defense have confirmed their readiness to proceed with the murder trial of African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament Sibusiso Kula who is accused of allegedly killing his wife, Jennifer Mohlomi. Kula appeared for the first pre-trial hearing at the North West High Court sitting at the Klerksdorp Regional Court on Monday. The trial is set to be heard from 13-17 May 2024 at the same court. Kula is out on a R50 000 bail which was granted by the High Court following his appeal after the Orkney Magistrates court denied him bail. The MP…
“This is negligence, if the school was extra careful, my daughter would be alive today.” These are the words of Joseph Temilton, the father of a grade 7 pupil at Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria, who was speaking at the funeral service of his daughter Latoya, who drowned last Saturday at a school’s excursion in Witkoppen, Olifantsfontein. According to the grieving father who spoke at her funeral in Moremela in Mpumalanga, he lost a loving, joyous and intelligent child he looked forward to seeing grow up. Joseph accused the school of being negligent. “When parents drop off their kids at school…