Author: Kgaogelo Magolego
The DA-led coalition government of financially distressed City of Tshwane has denied opposition claims that it is serving affluent areas while neglecting poor black communities. Mayor Celliers Brink briefed the media alongside other members of his executive on Monday and argued it is actually the affluent areas that are underserviced. Brink said a large chunk of the municipality’s resources are spent in poor areas and or on projects that are benefiting mostly the poor. “The biggest and most significant capital project are for the benefit of the poor. Not just in poor areas, pipe replacements, refurbishment of Roowal, refurbishing of…
The Gender Equality Commission wants the government to think carefully before signing international treaties in order to avoid being part of arrangements that end up hurting South Africa’s own national interests. The commission has joined forces with rights groups to raise funds to help double olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya for her upcoming case at the European Court of Human Rights. Semenya needs up to R 4million of which her legal team has asked South Africans to help. Commission Chairperson Advocate Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale addressed the media alongside Semenya and her legal team in Sandton on Friday and said the commission was…
City Power has denied that its meter readings were faulty resulting in customers being overcharged significantly. The utility on Thursday embarked on a clampdown of defaulters in the Midrand area targeting mostly affluent residential complexes and a shopping centre. One of the complexes, Phoenix View Estate is said to be owing well over R 25 million and a man claiming to be a part of the facility’s management disputed the bill telling the City Power crew his company has lodged a complaint with the “mayor’s office” and that there was an understanding that the place would not have electricity supply cut off. …
The Independent Electoral Commission has warned political parties and candidates against knowingly distributing false information about the upcoming national and provincial elections. The IEC briefed the media on Tuesday and said those to have violated laws governing the elections may face prison time. The commission was reacting to a weekend claim by the DA that it was leading the ANC with voter registration, declaration yet to be explained by the party. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says while the official opposition may argue it’s part of robust campaigning, the party and others contesting the elections needed to be cautious when…
Panyaza Lesufi handed over the newly built Mayibuye Primary School in Tembisa where he said the province used to unveil a school each month but that stalled because of covid19 and rogue contractors among others. “MEC Maile, MEC Matome Chiloance we did it before we can do it now. at one stage in Gauteng we were opening a new school every month, we must go back there and open a new school every month in Gauteng. We must have more schools than any other province in our country,” said Lesufi to his colleagues. The Premier said the more than two…
The ANC has praised the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) as being a well functioning state institution and directed higher education minister Blade Ndzimande to ensure that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) disburse funds directly to students or through SASSA unlike the current arrangement where the function is outsourced. Mbalula acknowledged that SASSA has limped from crisis to another but said the agency was impressive in solving those problems. “SASSA is an excellent government institution in terms of disbursement. The fact that they might be facing challenges from time to time, dead people in the system is…
The Independent Electoral Commission has dismissed the ANC’s high court and Electoral court challenges against uMkhonto weSizwe and slammed former President Jacob Zuma who leads the newly formed party for suggesting the elections could be rigged. The IEC briefed the media at its offices in Centurion on Wednesday and said it satisfied itself that it subjected MK to thorough scrutiny before approving its registration as a party. IEC Deputy Chairperson Janet Love said the ANC failed to object when MK published its intentions to be registered as a political party in the government gazette. “A party that wants to register…
The ANC has suspended former President Jacob Zuma for his involvement with newly formed MK party. The ruling party took the decision at its National Executive Committee Lekgotla underway in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni. Secretary General Fikile Mbalula made the announcement during a media briefing held on the sidelines of the event. Mbalula said by campaigning for MK and announcing publicly that he would vote for the new organization and not the ANC, Zuma has violated several clauses of the ANC constitution attracting disciplinary action in the process. “The NEC has satisfied itself that there exists exceptional circumstances that warrant an immediate…
The family of late businessman Wandile Bozwana has expressed mixed feelings to the sentencing of the four men convicted of his murder. Bozwana was shot and killed at a traffic intersection in Grafontein, Pretoria in October 2015 with his business partner Mpho Baloyi escaping with multiple gunshot wounds ( Bozwana was struck by 11 bullets). The men showed no remorse or regret as Judge Mokhine Mosopa sentenced them to 30 years and 10 years respectively for the killing of Bozwana and the attempted murder of Baloyi who was driving with him. Family spokesperson Bennedict Bozwana said the family was pleased…
Xiluba leader Bongani Baloyi want the Special Investigation Unit to probe possible corruption at the DA-run City of Tshwane. Baloyi claims officials at the city ignored the advice by a bid adjudication committee not to award a multi-million rand tender to a company he has not named which he says was flagged for various issues. Baloyi reported the matter formerly to the SIU at its offices in Pretoria accompanied by a dozen or so Xiluva officials as well as a delegation pressure group Tshwane Parliament including its leader Tshepo Mahlangu. Baloyi described the situation at the cash strapped metropolitan municipality…