Author: Agency

The Department of Home Affairs has dismissed a senior official found guilty on counts relating to gross negligence and gross dereliction of duty. The official, Simphiwe Hlophe, Chief Director: Infrastructure Management for Information Systems (IS) was responsible for Information Technology (IT), aspects that involve network outages (offline), system downtime and IT capability which affect the Department’s commitment to service delivery and clean governance. Hlophe was charged with: Gross negligence or dereliction of duties in that he certified an invoice of  the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) that included services not rendered Contravention of National Treasury Regulation 8.2.1, gross negligence (alternative…

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks) is currently probing at least 22 477 cases with a combined monetary value of about R1.5 trillion. The sordid details were on Tuesday revealed by National Hawks Head, Lt Gen Godfrey Lebeya, during a media briefing in Pretoria. Lebeya, who took stock of milestones achieved since his appointment in 2018, highlighted National Priority Offences. The cases include cash-in-transit robberies; theft of fuel from Transnet pipelines; drug and human trafficking, and corruption. They also include commercial crime, organised crime, cybercrime and money laundering, inchoate offences such as conspiracy to commit crime and incitement to…

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is expected to strengthen the corruption-busting unit’s hand in fighting maladministration, corruption and fraud. This as these crimes become more technologically sophisticated. According to a joint statement, the MOU paves the way for the CSIR to share expertise and skills to “drive research, development and innovation” in the fight against cybercrimes, data science and information. “The signing of the MoU between the two government entities signals a coordinated effort to enhance the use of technology to fight the scourge…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the new Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill that he has signed into law, will strengthen capacity and improve ethical standards in local municipalities. The new law aims to improve the lives of South Africans at the local level by, amongst others, ensuring accountability and barring senior officials in local government from holding political office. “The amendments passed by Parliament show that the concerns of communities have been heard and been acted upon. “A capable, ethical state requires a strong foundation at local level, and the new law will go a long way to building communities’…

Deputy President David Mabuza says government is taking every step to make sure that Eskom is supported in its bid to stabilise the national grid and ensure energy security. The Deputy President was answering questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday afternoon. The Deputy President is the Chairperson of the Political Task Team on Eskom which was established to bring government’s key players together in order to provide political leadership in the resolution of the problems besetting the power producer. The Deputy President said the task team has achieved several milestones since it was established including: Enabling…

Plans are afoot to build two new universities, says Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande. This follows Cabinet’s approval for the establishment of the new University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni and a new Crime Detection University in Hammanskraal in Gauteng. Nzimande said the process of developing new universities is preceded by a feasibility study to ascertain the demand for new institutions in identified areas or areas of interest. “A feasibility study, funded through the Infrastructure and Efficiency Grant (IEG) to the value of R6 million, is underway to advice on the size and shape of…

South Africa could avoid possible greylisting if it implemented recommendations in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation report. The FATF commenced its assessment in 2019 and published its final report on 7 October last year. The mutual evaluation report had an adverse rating under technical compliance and effectiveness. It made several recommendations. Addressing Parliament’s Standing Parliament on Finance, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, said the report recommends that all regulatory authorities should subject beneficial owners to fit and proper assessments. Beyond this, all regulatory authorities should verify that directors, senior management and beneficial owners or…

State power utility Eskom says despite suspending load shedding, the power generation system remains vulnerable to breaking down. The electricity supplier said it suspended load shedding as a result of increased generation capacity, lower demand and the recovery of emergency generation reserves. “While we are able to suspend load shedding at this point, it is important to note that the generation system is still vulnerable to breakdowns and load shedding may be required. We therefore urge all South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly, especially during these uncertain times on the power system. “Eskom will promptly communicate should a need…

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (NPA AFU) has been granted and served an order to restrain at least R13 million on former South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Head, Richard Mdluli, Head of Supply Chain Management, Heine Barnard, former SAPS Crime Intelligence CFO, Solomon Lazarus, and others. The other accused are Mdluli’s former wife, Theresa Lyons, and his current wife, Vusiwane Mdluli, John and Heena Appalsami of Daez Trading CC, Barnard’s wife Juanita Barnard and Lazarus’s wife, Sandra Lazarus. According to the NPA, the restraint is linked to the fraud, theft and corruption case the accused are…

Eskom has announced that it will implement load shedding from this afternoon after the power utility faced some challenges at several power stations. “Due to a shortage of generation capacity, stage two load shedding will be implemented during the evening peak period of 4pm to midnight this afternoon and at the same time tomorrow. Eskom will promptly communicate any further significant changes. “The delay in returning a generation unit to service each at Arnot, Koeberg and Kusile power stations, as well as the unplanned outage of a generation unit each at Camden, Medupi and two units each at Grootvlei, Hendrina…

Eskom has warned that it may implement Stage 2 load shedding over the next three days from 4pm to midnight. The power utility explained that several power stations are battling challenges which may prompt the implementation of load shedding. “The delay in returning a generation unit to service each at Arnot, Kusile and Koeberg power stations as well as the failure of a generation unit each at Medupi, Hendrina, Camden and two units at Majuba power stations have exacerbated the capacity constraints. “Should there be any further loss of generation capacity over the next three days, or should some units…

Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, says government is focused on improving the performance of Eskom’s power stations and “adding as much new generation capacity to the grid as possible, as quickly as possible” in order to ensure energy security. He was speaking during a media briefing by several ministers whose departments fall under the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM). The NECOM – which comprises of Eskom and relevant government departments – was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during an address to the nation last Monday on interventions to address the electricity crunch the country has been experiencing. NECOM will…

Eskom has met with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and top leadership from at least 70 businesses on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA)-led session. The session is part of the state power utility’s efforts to find solutions to its ailing power generation issues. During the session Eskom CEO André de Ruyter mapped out the strategies currently in place to ensure that there is enough power supply on the grid. “The purpose of the discussions was to identify initiatives where the parties can collaborate and plant the seeds of opportunity to leverage private sector investment capacity…

At least 14 government entities and departments – including the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) – will come under the sharp eye of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed five proclamations authorising the unit to investigate corruption and maladministration in the entities. SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said the departments under investigation include all of the provincial health departments. “The SIU investigation [into health departments] will focus on unlawful or improper conduct by claimants or applicants in respect to medical negligence claims that were fraudulent, improper or unlawful by any person or entity that unduly benefited…

A former acting head of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlement was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly fraudulently receiving R7 million payments from a supplier in the Free State government asbestos project. This was on Wednesday announced by the Hawks in a statement. Captain Christopher Singo said the 56-year-old suspect was arrested in Alberton Gauteng by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Bloemfontein. He said: “It is alleged that during the period of 2014 and 2017 an irregular contract was awarded to a service provider for the eradication of asbestos roofs by the department of Human Settlement, Free…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the arrest of six government officials in Mpumalanga for fraud and theft of over R60 million. The six government officials were arrested by the Hawks in Mpumalanga for various charges including fraud, theft, money laundering and contravention of section 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA Act). In a statement, SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said five of the accused were employed at the Mbombela Traffic Department (MTD), and one at Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM). The accused appeared in the Mbombela Magistrate Court on Monday. “The officials were involved in over 10…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is undeniable that South Africa has made gains in transforming a skewed and racialised economy. “Today, there are well over 300,000 black entrepreneurs who own over half of all small businesses in the formal sector,“ he said on Wednesday. In addition to the progress in management, shareholding and ownership of businesses by black and women South Africans, there has also been substantial progress made in employment equity. “As we reflect on this progress, we must also critically examine areas where transformation has been slow and implementation has been weak,” said President Ramaphosa at the inaugural…

South Africa has recorded four new deaths related to COVID-19, but none of the latest fatalities were reported in the past 24 to 48 hour reporting cycle. According to the latest data, this means the country’s death toll now stands at 101 922 since the outbreak. The Department of Health on Monday reported 880 new cases, pushing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 4 000 631. Gauteng remains the hardest-hit province, followed by the Western Cape. Meanwhile, the country saw an increase of 10 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 1 102 patients who…

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has published for consultation the proposed regulations pertaining to the exploration and production of onshore oil and gas requiring hydraulic fracturing. The Minister also published the intention to prescribe minimum requirements for the submission of applications for an authorisation, right, permit or licence for the onshore exploration of oil and gas intending to utilise hydraulic fracturing. The proposed regulations and minimum requirements have been published, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act. The publication of the proposed regulations comes four years after the Supreme Court of Appeal set aside the…

At least four people have appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering related to the defrauding of Eskom during the height of state capture at the power utility. The four include two former employees of digital technologies company ABB, Mohammed Mooidheen and Vernon Pillay and their wives Raeesa Mooidheen and Aradhna Pillay. According to the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (NPA ID) spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, the four allegedly cashed in on “gratifications estimated at R8.6 million…by inflating prices” for ABB subcontractor, Impulse. They were arrested in Durban and Mpumalanga and appeared in the…

The four suspects were expected to appear in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Monday for being in possession of allegedly stolen copper cables valued at R10 million. This followed an intelligence-driven operation executed by the Gauteng Flying Squad, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) from Protea Glen and the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in the Westrand on Thursday. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase said the joint team rushed to the location when they received information about four suspects offloading copper from one truck and loading it onto another. “On arrival, the police allegedly caught the suspects in the act…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Just Energy Transition (JET) Framework will serve as a key evidence-based guide for policy making for South Africa’s transition from a carbon intensive economy towards a greener and cleaner economy. The framework was presented to him by the Presidential Climate Committee (PCC) on Tuesday. “As this Just Transition framework underscores, combating climate change is not only an environmental imperative, but an economic one as well. This framework is an evidence-based document and a victory for evidence-based policymaking. “The publication of this framework must now serve as a call to action to each of us to…

Pension funds will from next year be permitted to invest 45% of their capital in infrastructure projects, the National Treasury has announced. This comes after the Department on Tuesday published the final amendments to Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act. Regulation 28, issued in terms of section 36(1)(bB) of the Pension Funds Act, protects retirement fund member savings by limiting the extent to which funds may invest in a particular asset or in particular asset classes, and prevents excessive concentration risk. The Treasury said the regulations widen the scope of potential investments for retirement funds but continues to leave…

Both the heads of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) have vowed to work together to ensure that the architects and foot soldiers of State Capture are brought to book and face the full might of the law. This is according to a joint statement by the two bodies in the wake of the release of the final tranche of the State Capture Commission report by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. “The final Zondo report provides additional impetus for increased cooperation and urgency in execution of respective NPA/DPCI mandates. Important progress has already been made:…

The Special Tribunal has ruled that a R103 million Gauteng Health Department personal protective equipment (PPE) tender awarded to Zakheni Strategic Supplies is unlawful and invalid. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) successfully applied to the tribunal to have the tender set aside following investigations into how it was awarded. In her judgment, tribunal President Judge Lebogang Modiba ordered the company to pay back any profits derived from the tender. “The irregular manner in which the contract was awarded constitutes a material infraction to the constitutional values of fairness, transparency, equity, effectiveness and cost effectiveness. Therefore, it is just and equitable…