Author: Motlhaping Modise

Twenty-five survivors and families of victims who disappeared or killed the apartheid-era, together with the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) have vowed to oppose former President Thabo Mbeki and former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Bridgette Mabandla’s application to intervene in the constitutional damages litigation filed against the President and the government.The Mbeki and Mabandla application is expected to be heard by the Pretoria High court next week Monday. The applicants are seeking constitutional damages for the political suppression of apartheid-era cases that were referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Speaking…

The current Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Mosotho Moepya said since he joined the IEC in 1998, he believes his experience spanning over 18 years must come as a motivation to appoint him to return as the commissioner. Moepya said they have contributed immensely to the formation of the political party funding and conducts by-elections almost by-weekly unlike before. He was responding to questions from a panel during the interview for three Electoral Commission Commissioner vacancies held in Midrand. The interviewing panel, chaired by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, began its first leg of interviews for 11 candidates including…

The African Congress for Transformation (ACT) leader, Ace Magashule has criticised the ANC for selectively applying the step-aside rule. He said that the ANC was quick to force them to ‘step aside’ but it is failing to enforce the same rules on other members like Police Minister Senzo Mchunu who has since been put on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Magashule, who led the party as Secretary General, was addressing the media in Bloemfontein, on the sidelines of ACT National Council meeting. “I think this case is not just hearsay, it is not just whistleblowing, I think Lieutenant General Nhlanhla…

The African National Congress (ANC) councillors at the Lichtenburg based-Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West have officially appealed the party’s Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC) decision to expel two of them while imposing a R30 000 fine on eight other councillors.The decision was announced on Wednesday, by the PDC Chairperson Professor Vuyo Peach that the former mayor and the council speaker Mazwi Morori and Jairos Modisakeng respectively, have been expelled from the party with immediate effect. Other affected councillors are Aaron Motloung, Koos Rabeng, Shoes Maxhongo, Manti Motsepo, Dolph Ngake, Tebogo Mere, Sibusiso Thamaga, as well as Bafana Nkutha. Speaking to…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has congratulated 89 of its officials who have successfully completed the Senior Management Development Programme at the Stellenbosch University. The entity together with the institution held a graduation ceremony in Pretoria where Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mamoloko Kubayi delivered a keynote address. The SIU said that the course was a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that it had entered with the university to build capacity. The entity’s National spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told YOU FM Newshour that they signed the similar MoU’s with several institutions of higher learning to create a pool of…

The ANC in the North West has expelled two out ten of its councillors who defied its instructions at the troubled Ditsobotla Local municipality in Lichtenburg. The party’s Provincial Executive Committee, PEC, made the announcement in Lichtenburg following a lengthy disciplinary proceeding against the defiant members.The members are accused of undermining the authority of the party and bringing it into disrepute. Speaking on YOU FM Newshour ANC Provincial spokesperson Tumelo Maruping said councillors faced several charges relating to the gravity of their misconduct, with the party arriving at a conclusion suitable for their misconduct following their representations and defence. “There…

The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Oageng Molapisi has invoked Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act to investigate allegations of maladministration and malfeasance at the embattled Madibeng Local Municipality in Brits. Molapisi has appointed a law firm to investigate amongst other things, focus on irregular appointment of municipal officials and service providers, failure by council to convene statutory meetings as prescribed by legislation and rules of order of council. The Department’s HOD Dr. Ben Bole told YOU FM Newshour that the MEC informed the municipal council of his decision earlier on Tuesday. “The MEC has invoked that provision…

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) in the North West has subpoenaed hearings against six municipalities in the province, following sustained non-responsiveness to investigations conducted by the commission. The commission’s Provincial Manager Shirley Mlombo told YOU FM News Hour that the three-day hearings are convened in accordance with the commission’s mandate to promote, protect, and monitor the observance of human rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of the country and the SAHRC Act. The commission emphasized that the primary objective of these hearings is to “obtain clear, substantive responses, and time-bound commitments from each municipality on how they intend…

The South African Defence Union (SANDU) has accused the government of defunding the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for over two decades and ultimately left it short of meeting the international defence funding standards. The union raised the concern following the presentation of the R57.1 billion budget allocated to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans by the Minister Angie Motshekga. Delivering the budget, Motshekga conceded that the budget is not enough to address the challenges facing the department and the SANDF in general. “In spite of the ongoing financial constraints which affect the planning and operations of the…

The family of slain student activist Caiphus Nyoka has welcomed the 15 years prison sentence imposed on Johan Marais, one of the apartheid-era police officers by the Pretoria High Court sitting in Benoni in Gauteng. Nyoka was brutally killed by members of the South Africa Police (SAP) in his bedroom in August 1987 in Daveyton, after persistent police harassment at his parents’ home. Speaking on YOUFM Newshour, family spokesperson and Caiphus niece, Nation Nyoka said that the family has been left with mixed feelings. “It was quite a strenuous process, but the judgment was received with mixed feelings. We feel…