Author: The Bulrushes
Soon after appearing in Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday Goodenough “Zizi” Kodwa announced his immediate resignation as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture. Earlier on Wednesday, Kodwa and his businessman friend, Jehan McKay, handed themselves over to the authorities. The arrested pair then appeared in court, where they were each released on R30 000 bail. Kodwa and McKay – a former EOH Holdings director – are facing corruption charges amounting to R1.7 million. Kodwa was accused of accepting bribes from EOH Holdings between February 2014 and April 2015 when he was the national spokesperson for the African…
A second group of foreign nationals wanting to enter South Africa have been busted at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) for using fake visas. Authorities intercepted 10 Bangladeshis on Saturday, (1 June 2024), when they arrived on a Qatar Airways flight. They were found to have fake visas purportedly issued by the South African High Commission in New Delhi, India. One had a fake visa supposedly issued by the Department of Home Affairs. The weekend incident follows a similar one the previous week, (25 May 2024), when immigration officials at ORTIA intercepted 28 travellers from Bangladesh over fake visas. The Bangladeshis, who…
The payment of child maintenance, and other third-party funds, have been temporarily suspended following attempts to compromise the electronic payment system. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on Thursday said it, “would like to advise the public that the electronic payment system for third-party funds, including child maintenance, has been temporarily suspended following attempts to compromise the system”. The department added: “An investigation is currently underway to assess potential breaches to the system. “In light of this development, child maintenance beneficiaries are urged to promptly visit their nearest court with their original identity documents to receive manual payments until…
Jaqueline Legoabe, who is facing fraud charges and Contravention of the Tax Administration Act for personal and company tax of over R17 million, has had her bail extended after her matter was adjourned. The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court adjourned her matter to early August 2024, for the outcome of legal representations and further investigations. Investigating Directorate Spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the state was expected to reply to her representations on the set date. “She is facing charges of Fraud and Contravention of the Tax Administration Act, for personal and company tax of over R17 million,” said Mamothame. “Legoabe, a director of Titan E…
Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande has fired the board of the National Student Financial Scheme (NSAS) over delayed fund payments to students. In a terse statement late Thursday, the Department of Higher Education said Professor Nzimande had earlier in the day met with the NSFAS board. “The purpose of the meeting was to communicate the minister’s decision to dissolve the FSAS board with immediate effect and place the institution under administration,” the statement said. “The legal effect of the decision will be communicated tomorrow through the government gazette.” RELATED: Delayed April Funds: eZaga Blames NSFAS, University Of…
The Supreme Court of Appeals on Tuesday granted former president Jacob Zuma’s appeal against the IEC ruling that had sought to bar him from being on the ballot for 29 May elections. Zuma was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in jail. However, he had argued that even though the law prevents anyone sentenced to 12 months or more from being on the ballot he has received a remission of his sentence from President Cyril Ramaphosa. In the ruling, the Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein said: “The application for leave to appeal is granted”. The…
The high court in Pretoria on Tuesday ruled against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s urgent interdict to prevent her arrest for allegedly accepting kickbacks from a contractor when she was minister of defence. In her ruling, Judge Sulet Potterill said acceding to Mapisa-Nqaula’s request would “open the floodgates” for suspects wanting to avoid arrest. “There are no grounds set out as to why this should be done, except that the applicant’s standing in society and her dignity.” “The NDPP [National Director of Public Prosecutions] has stated under oath that her attorney can take her to the Lyttleton Police Station and the…
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…
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…
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…
