Author: The Bulrushes

A South African Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Force (SAMLIT) research report reveals how modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) globally generates billions of rand every year. The SAMLIT report titled “Follow the Money”, released on 10 March 2023 shows that South Africa has the highest number of reported cases, when compared to other southern African countries. The report, which was the brainchild of and chaired by Standard Chartered Bank in South Africa, focuses on financial flows and key indicators in the detection of financial transactions and behaviours related to MSHT in South Africa, thereby helping the banking sector to assist…

A Home Affairs Department on Wednesday announced that the director who tried to facilitate the unlawful processing of permits for Gupta associate Ashu Chawla has been fired. Major Kobese, the Home Affairs Director for Appeals, was found guilty on three counts of gross misconduct in the execution of his duties in a disciplinary hearing that lasted five months. Kobese unsuccessfully facilitated the undue processing of permits for Chawla and others in Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates, which they did not qualify for. The first allegation involved him having exerted pressure on the officials of the Department to process and…

Police have been out in numbers dispersing protestors in Braamfontein, where arrests have been made. Police Minister General Bheki Cele said early morning Monday that 57 people were arrested and thousands of used tyres recovered before they could be set alight. The protests on the eve the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) “national shutdown” planned for Monday, (20 March 202), involved large crowds gathered in the streets, where tyres were set alight. Other organisations including the African Transformation Movement and South African Federation of Trade Unions have announced they will be joining the EFF protests to demand the end of load-shedding, the…

Two businessmen 38-year-old Kishene Chetty, 43-year-old Harry Milanzi and Outsurance employee Ravin Ramlall – all linked to a R13.9 million-fraud and tax evasion matter have appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. The accused Chetty, Milanzi and Ramlall, who facilitated the submissions of the tax returns face 18 counts of fraud, one count of misrepresenting the broad-based black economic empowerment status of an enterprise and five counts of tax evasion. The court on Thursday heard that the SA Revenue Service (SARS) suffered actual prejudice for R 13 942 216. The crimes were allegedly committed during the 2015 to 2021 periods of…

Eskom on Thursday said there have been “notable gradual improvements” in the performance of its power generation fleet. “Over the past week, six coal-fired power stations achieved an energy availability factor (EAF) of 70%, a milestone last achieved on 8 May 2022,” Eskom said. “Three of these power stations, Camden, Duvha, and Matla, have been on a sustained upward trend as a result of a reduction of plant breakdowns and the return to service of a number of units that were on unplanned breakdowns.” The power utility said Lethabo, Matimba, and Medupi have been experiencing continued good performance and remain among…

Eskom has announced the gradual reduction of load-shedding to Stage 1 on Sunday. “Load-shedding will be reduced from Stage 4 to Stage 3 over the weekend with Stage 1 load-shedding forecasted for Sunday morning,” Eskom said in a power alert on Friday afternoon. The power utility further explained that: “Stage 4 load-shedding will continue to be implemented until 05:00 tomorrow. “Thereafter, Stage 3 load-shedding will be implemented from Saturday 05:00 until 05:00 on Sunday. “Stage 1 load-shedding will then be implemented until 16:00 on Sunday and then revert to Stage 3 load-shedding.” Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) case to set aside its investment in Ayo Technologies Limited (Ayo) and recover R4.3 billion, started in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, (7 March 2023). This investment occurred through the PIC’s participation in the Ayo initial public offering (IPO) through a private placement in December 2017. Through this investment, on behalf of its biggest client, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), the PIC acquired a 29% shareholding in Ayo. In the Ayo litigation, the PIC said it intends to pursue its claim vigorously. Through its legal representatives, the PIC said it will present…

The Labour Court has granted the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) leave to enforce the interdict of the public service workers’ strike. However, the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) on Monday said it has launched an appeal at the Labour Appeal Court (LAC). The union insists the strike was going ahead. NEHAWU added: “Having launched an appeal of today’s judgment, the national union will be forging ahead with the Public Service Strike until a determination is made on our appeal at the LAC. “As NEHAWU, we remain resolute that no amount of court intimidation by the…

Eskom, which has been implementing Stage 6 load-shedding, on Wednesday announced that it has parted ways with its Group Chief Executive Andrè de Ruyter with “immediate effect”. De Ruyter resigned in December 2022 and had been expected to leave the power utility at the end of March. Eskom said a special Board meeting was held earlier on Wednesday, (22 February 2023) during which it was resolved to release De Ruyter. “The Eskom Board and Group Chief Executive (GCE) Andrè de Ruyter have reached a mutual agreement to curtail his notice period to 28 February 2023,” said the communique from the…

By Busi Mavuso, No matter what largesse Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocates in Wednesday’s budget to address SA’s numerous ailments, unless there’s a massive improvement in government’s ability to implement policy and spend the funds effectively, I fear much of it may not achieve its intent. A glance at the unfortunate states of our public health and education systems shows that often it is not lack of money but inappropriately capacitated departments, misgovernance and, sadly, corruption that causes the problems. SA spends 20.3% of GDP on health care and 12.3% on education – far more than most emerging markets and…