Author: The Bulrushes

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday lost its bid in the High Court in Pretoria to have the African National Congress (ANC) cadre deployment declared unlawful. Delivering its judgment, the High Court threw out the case brought by the DA requesting it to declare that the ANC cadre deployment “unconstitutional and unlawful”. The case was argued before a full bench of judges on 23 and 24 January 2023, when judgment was reserved. In its ruling, the court stated: “It follows that there is nothing unconstitutional about a political party influencing the policy direction of a government, including the appointment of…

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The auction of personal items belonging to former SA president Nelson Mandela remains in doubt because a bid to appeal the high court ruling giving the go-ahead has been launched. Last month, Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe won a two-year legal battle against the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), which took the matter to court in a bid to stop the auction. The court dismissed SAHRA’s interdict application citing a lack of evidence to support assertions that the items to be auctioned were heritage objects as envisaged in the Heritage Act. However, Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Goodenough Zizi Kodwa on…

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The South African Post Office (SAPO), which is under business rescue, has begun the process of retrenching thousands of workers including postmen, drivers, retail staff, and managers. The troubled post office has written to employees and union leaders to inform them of the possibility of retrenchment. The notice of possible termination of jobs due to operational requirements was sent out on 31 December 2023. While the employees and unions were invited to consult, the disclosures made by SAPO, which was placed under business rescue last year on 10 July, paint a bleak picture. The SA Post Office has not been…

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eZaga Holdings (eZaga), one of the four fintech providers selected by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), on Wednesday rejected accusations by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) that it paid kickbacks to secure a contract. OUTA has accused Higher Education Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board chairperson Ernest Khosa of being involved in corruption. OUTA recently released voice recordings of two meetings between Khosa and a service provider representative, revealing how service providers allegedly paid millions of rand to Minister Nzimande and Khosa in kickbacks for tenders. Both Minister Nzimande and…

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The fired National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) CEO Andile Nongogo has failed in his bid to persuade the Labour Court to declare his dismissal unlawful. The court decision was delivered by Judge MB Mahalelo of the Labour Court, on Monday, (8 January 2024) Commenting on the matter on Tuesday, the Board of NSFAS said it “welcomes the Labour Court’s decision to declare the termination of the contract of employment of the former NSFAS CEO Mr. Andile Nongogo as lawful and valid”. The NSFAS Board said it “further welcomes” the court’s dismissal, with costs, of the application by Nongogo to…

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The alleged “holiday swindler” Francois Swart has been arrested, brought before a court, and granted bail, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit revealed on Tuesday. AfriForum said the law has finally caught up with the travel agency boss months after criminal complaints were filed against him. Johannesburg – The alleged “holiday swindler” Francois Swart has been arrested, brought before a court, and granted bail, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit revealed on Tuesday. AfriForum said the law has finally caught up with the travel agency boss months after criminal complaints were filed against him. RELATED: Travel Fraud: Warrant Of Arrest Issued For Francois Swart MD…

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A 37-year-old female Home Affairs official in Upington, Northern Cape, accused of unlawfully dishing out SA Identity Documents to foreign nationals for cash has been arrested and put behind bars. The SA Police Service (SAPS) Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigating Unit (ACIU) arrested the Home Affairs official for alleged corruption on Wednesday, (3 January 2024). The arrest came after ACIU followed up on information that the official was illegally processing SA Identity Documents for undocumented foreign nationals in Upington for a fee. SAPS Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said: “The police executed a successful action and caught the suspect red-handed at her office.…

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The Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Board Ernest Khosa on Friday dismissed suggestions of corruption levelled against him and Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande. Khosa was responding to accusations of graft made by Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) on Thursday regarding NSFAS service provider tenders and demands for him and Minister Nzimande to resign. Responding to the accusations and demands, cit “has noted with outrage” a statement by the OUTA, calling for the resignation of Minister Nzimande and the Chairperson of the NSFAS Board Khosa. “Subsequent to the statement, OUTA circulated a…

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The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) on Thursday called for the resignation of Higher Education and Training Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande and Ernest Khosa, chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board. “If they don’t resign, we call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire them immediately,” Rudie Heyneke, OUTA Investigations Manager, declared in a lengthy statement posted on “X”, formerly known as Twitter. OUTA said it has voice recordings of two meetings between Khosa and a representative of a service provider, which it alleged reveals how service providers allegedly paid millions of rand in kickbacks to Dr. Nzimande…

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The Home Affairs system that crashed earlier Thursday has been restored. The Department of Home Affairs said late Thursday said the system was back online from midday today and services were available to citizens and other clients. RELATED: SA Home Affairs Services Temporarily Unavailable Due To Technical Problems – The Bulrushes “Technicians from the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) are monitoring the system to ensure that the solution is sustainable.Further updates will be provided where necessary,” said Siya Qoza, head of communications in the Department of Home Affairs. “The Department thanks citizens and clients for their patience.”

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