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Sive _ Nomdidi 8536 official, Alexandra (2024)

13/04/2023

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said that it was speaking to Eskom to ensure that the current power cuts did not affect 2024’s general elections.

While a date for the elections was yet to be set by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Western Cape's IEC officer, Michael Hendrickse, said that they expected the polls to be held between May and August 2024.

READ: Ramokgopa warns SA to brace for 'an exceptionally difficult winter'

But he said that they needed guarantees from Eskom.

"From the IEC side, it's not only election day, but we also need our systems running because we have two days of special votes, we have a lot of distribution, we have all our systems having to run, and then we have results capturing.

“Staff normally start capturing or counting the results after 9 o'clock through the night, and we need to capture that. So, we're going to need electricity consistently over that period

23/02/2023

Eskom and its CEO Andre de Ruyter have parted ways with immediate effect.

The utility said that De Ruyter's departure followed a special board meeting on Wednesday where it was mutually agreed that his notice period would be scrapped.

In a statement announcing his resignation in December last year, the Eskom board said that De Ruyter would stay on beyond the stipulated 30 days' notice to 31 March to ensure continuity amid a search for his successor.

However, his departure follows a controversial interview with eNCA journalist, Annika Larsen, where he implicated the African National Congress (ANC) in corruption at Eskom but gave no further evidence or details.

De Ruyter also mentioned that a senior ANC official was involved but declined to give a name.

Eskom spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha: "The board further resolved that Mr De Ruyter will not be required to serve the balance of his notice period. The acting GCE arrangements are being finalised with the shareholder minister and will be communicated shortly."

Eskom is currently in the throes of the worst bouts of power cuts due to the increased number of breakdowns at several power stations.

The embattled utility has implemented stage 6 power cuts until further notice, citing a shortage in coal supply as a result of the recent heavy rains.

23/02/2023

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has declined to make any predictions about the outcome of the public sector wage negotiations.

A fresh round of wage negotiations for the 2023/24 financial year kicked off last week in a special council meeting between officials from the department of public service and administrations and some unions.

In a leaked draft proposal for a three-year wage agreement, government tabled an offer of 4.7% for the 2023/24 financial year.

Godongwana warned against drawn-out wage disputes when he tabled his budget speech at the Cape Town City Hall on Wednesday.

The proposed salary adjustment for public service workers offers an average pensionable increase of CPI, capped at 6.5% for the 2024/25 financial year.

The same would apply for the following year.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana: "This and future wage negotiations must strike a balance between fair pay, fiscal sustainability, and the need for additional staff in frontline services."

The proposal must receive majority support from unions before it can take effect, with some unions already expected to come in with higher demands.

The minister said that pressure from the public sector could see government resort to alternatives to fund the bloated wage bill.

"An unbudgeted wage settlement will require very significant trade-offs in government spending because the wage bill is a significant cost driver."

Godongwana said that cost-saving measures would include restricting some government departments from filling vacant posts.

14/11/2022

An eight-year-old boy has been mauled to death by a pit bull at his home in Vista Park near Bloemfontein.

It's understood the dog escaped the yard and jumped over the fence into a neighbouring property on Saturday.

The police's Mahlomola Kareli says the dog attacked the child, who was playing alone, mauling him severely on his neck and chest.

The dog has since been put down

"Police rushed to the scene and found the emergency personnel already at the scene attending to the severely injured child. The aggressive dog covered in blood was spotted nearby and put down by the SAPS members. The eight-year-old boy lying next to the garage door in his parents' yard was certified dead at the scene."

This is the latest killing of a child by the breed in recent months.

In September, a 10-year-old was mauled to death by the family's two pit bulls at his home in the Eastern Cape.

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03/11/2022

Debt owed to Eskom by municipalities and government departments stands at more than R50 billion, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa revealed these staggering figures during a question and answer session in Parliament on Thursday afternoon.

Non-payment will be dealt with accordingly

He said the government has made it clear that not paying for services is unacceptable and would be dealt with accordingly.

“For this reason, we have established a multidisciplinary revenue committee, of which Eskom forms part, to address payment of debt to the utility by municipalities and organs of state.”

Department of Public Works and Infrastructure involvement

“To assist municipalities across the country to pay what they owe Eskom, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure pays the services charges and property rates for its properties on behalf of client departments,” said Ramaphosa.

He revealed that in September, the department paid R575 million for property rates and municipal services and processed invoices to the value of R51 million to Eskom.

Furthermore, where there are disputes, the department pays what is not disputed and engages the relevant municipalities for amounts and accounts disputed.

“The Department has made significant progress on the reconciliation, verification and settling of debt owed to municipalities.”

“Because of its concurrent function, for the last two years the department has been coordinating reports from the provincial public works departments on a quarterly basis to verify if the public works sector pays its municipal debt,” he added.

Issues could be communicated

He also indicated that where there are challenges, the department engaged through established provincial forums with municipalities to resolve disputed accounts.

“In conclusion, regular engagements are taking place with relevant departments and treasuries to resolve all outstanding debt.

03/11/2022

Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu has asked the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to investigate the significant decrease in the number of people receiving the R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grant.

Answering questions in parliament on Wednesday, Zulu said: “With the new regulations and alterations, the numbers went down and I have asked Sassa to do an analysis on the decrease month to month and year to year [of the] number of applications and what the variables are.”

Zulu was responding to Good MP Brett Herron, who asked her about statements she made in October that changes envisaged to the regulations governing the payment of the R350 SRD grant would allow more people to qualify.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of eligible applicants since the implementation of the amended regulations. Before the amended regulations came to effect, the number of approved applications were: in April we had 8.1-million and approved 4.7-million, in May there were 7.6-million applications and we approved 5.7-million, in June 11.3-million applied and we approved 6.8-million.”

When the grant was first rolled out, there were an estimated 10-million beneficiaries.

Zulu said she was unhappy with the large number of applicants compared with the number of recipients.

“The number of people that were able to go back to work is still very low, and so once that [Sassa] report [is available it] will enable us to make a proper analysis.”

Budget constraints were also a factor, she said.

“It’s also about the budget that we get from the National Treasury.”

Zulu said the number of applications was still as high as it was in 2020 and the application system was still effective.

“The issue is the means test and the regulations we needed. That is why we had to change the threshold, which was making it difficult for us.”

She said she did not want a large number of people depending on the grant to be excluded.

“We need to check the data against the

03/11/2022

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday told parliament he withdrew the controversial ministerial handbook because he wanted an independent body to assess it properly.

“We have a situation where the salaries of public representatives [are] determined by an independent body, and it occurred to me an issue such as this would also need [that] because all of us who tend to determine these benefits are insiders and you need an independent body that could examine these.”

The president was responding during a questions and answers session in the National Assembly to DA leader John Steenhuisen, who said there was outrage at attempts to extend the ministerial handbook “to grant more free perks to the extremely well-paid ministers in his cabinet”.

Last month Ramaphosa withdrew the presidential minute on the ministerial handbook for 2022, which allowed ministers and their deputies to enjoy free water and electricity at their official residences and employ more personal staff.

Steenhuisen said: “By now I would hope you know just how furious South Africans are and have every reason to be.

“Remember this gift of unlimited free electricity and water came on top of the extremely generous perks ministers are already pampered with, including R20m spent on vehicles during the lockdown period and R2.6m spent on generators at ministers' homes so they don’t have to feel the effects of their own failed policies.”

Given Ramaphosa's insistence that users pay for electricity, it was “surely” right that cabinet members pay back financial benefits they received in the six months between April — when the new handbook was “sneaked” in — and last month when he withdrew it, said Steenhuisen.

Ramaphosa said reconciliation of those amounts was under way. “And it was also under way when we looked at the various processes or costs that have to be carried by the state and by individual ministers.”

He was looking at a new “process that could lead to a measure of equity and fairness”.

12/08/2022

Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) has notified motorists about the planned march.

The TMPD notice read:

Take note that there will be a march tomorrow, 12 August 2022 by the Congress of South African Trade Union(COSATU).

Purpose: They are demanding insourcing of all government contract workers, funding of post-graduate students and reduction of fuel and electricity prices.
The marchers will gather from 09:00 at an open space in Kgosi Mampuru Street and Madiba Street in Pretoria Central”.

TMPD

Cosatu members will be marching in Tshwane tomorrow. READ: Affected streets by ANC GBV march tomorrow in Pretoria

TMPD LISTS THE AFFECTED INTERSECTIONS

The route of the march is as follows: From the open space at Kgosi Mampuru Street and Madiba Street, they will join Madiba Street and proceed straight until they reach the Union Buildings. The following intersections will be affected:

Kgosi Mampuru Street Sophie de Bruyn Street Bosman Street Paul Kruger Street Thabo Sehume Street Lillian Ngoyi Street Sisulu Street Du Toit Street Nelson Mandela Drive Steve Biko Road Hamilton Street Government Avenue

TMPD says they are expected to disperse from the Union Buildings at 13:00.

“Tshwane Metro Police officers will be deployed to monitor the march and all affected streets”.

TMPD

Motorists are advised to avoid affected streets and use alternative routes such as:

Nana Sita Street Francis Baard Street Stanza Bopape Street Struben Street

SECOND MARCH IN ONE MONTH IN PRETORIA

This comes after the march by the ANC last week. On 4 August several streets in Pretoria were off-limits, when the African National Congress (ANC) took to the streets.

According to the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), the purpose of the march was to raise awareness against the recent killing of people in taverns and gender-based-violence(GBV).

#8536

12/08/2022

Zandile Christmas Mafe is expected to appear before the Cape Town High Court on Friday, 12 August, for a pre-trial conference. He stands accused of terrorism charges related to the burning of Parliament at the start of the year and has been in custody since January.

ZANDILE MAFE MAKES HIGH COURT APPEARANCE

At his last appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, Mafe was served with an indictment and summary of facts by the State after it finally completed its investigations and submitted outstanding reports.

Senior State Advocate, Mervyn Menigo, said the indictment lists charges of housebreaking with intent to commit arson, arson, terrorism and theft.

The State alleges that Mafe engaged in terrorist activity by setting Parliament on fire and destroying the Old and New Assembly buildings between 1 and 2 January.

After being served, Mafe can plead to the charges he faces. On 9 June, his defence said they would consult with him once they received the documents from the State. The accused previously said he would plead not guilty and that he intends to sue the government.

As previously reported, Mafe’s legal applications have seen his defence appear in the High Court on his behalf on a number of occasions.

In January, High Court Judge President John Hlophe set aside his referral to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.

Dali Mpofu, who leads Mafe’s defence, also twice appealed the accused’s refusal of bail. At first, the court reached a split decision. In May, a third judge was added to the bench and the appeal was dismissed after another split judgement with two of the three presiding officers ruling against the appellant.

#8536

11/08/2022

Parents of the 21 young people who died mysteriously at Enyobeni tavern on 26 June have accused the Eastern Cape government of toying with their emotions by sitting on a finalised toxicology report instead of announcing the cause of death of their loved ones.

#8536

11/08/2022

BREAKING NEWS: Father kills a 12 year old son at Khoapa location Matatiele. He claims that he was killing a Tokoloshe.

17/07/2022

Water wars as Nelson Mandela Bay runs dry

Extreme water shortages in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage are pitting neighbour against neighbour.

People desperate for a bucket of water force their way into the few homes that still have running water without the property owners’ permission.

This is the case in Chris Hani Location, Kwanobuhle, where over 5 000 households are dependent on one Jojo tank that gets refilled once a day by the municipality.

Community members are also stealing the water that is delivered by municipal trucks to local schools.

For some inexplicable reason, there is running water in four households in this community.

Households that still have running water are also at risk of getting huge water bills because they are being forced to supply all their neighbours.

“The water tanker comes only once a day, and the residents are never sure when the tanker might arrive. This might sound tragic to most people, but for the residents of Chris Hani this is an improvement from earlier this year. In the last three months, this community received water only once a week,” the Water Crisis Committee in Nelson Mandela Bay said in a statement.

The residents have also highlighted another anomaly where upper middle-class suburbs were not sharing the pain of water shortages suffered by poor communities.

“On the other side of Uitenhage, in the middle-class areas, this crisis is a foreign issue as it also remains to many in Nelson Mandela Bay. Residents in the middle-class suburbs in Uitenhage have safe running water. The only thing that affects them, like everyone else, is load shedding. The western middle class suburbs of Nelson Mandela Bay also go about their days with uninterrupted running water,” the committee said.

The residents are demanding a meeting with the municipality.

The region has been hit by a seven-year drought and poor management of the water supply system that resulted in 40% wasted through pipe leakage and poor monitoring of valves.

When Min

17/07/2022

Five people have been killed and two seriously injured in ANOTHER mass shooting – this time at the Thembelihle informal settlement at Lenasia south of Johannesburg. Gunmen fired randomly at people on the street.This brings to at least 32 the number of people killed in five mass shootings that have rocked the country in just the past week.

This excludes the Enyobeni tavern deaths in the Eastern Cape in which 22 teenagers died after being apparently gassed to death.

Police confirmed the shooting to Scrolla.Africa

According to officers at the scene, the gunmen opened fire randomly. Police have cordoned the scene.

“At the moment, we don’t know the motive as the scene is very fresh, and trying to get more information.”

One resident said the men who opened fire didn’t target anyone in particular but shot at everyone. “I am still terrified. I have never seen anything like it,” he said, asking that his name not be mentioned.

The shooting came a day after six people were shot dead in Alexandra.

The Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela and other senior police officials were conducting O Kae Molao in Alexandra when they received information of yet another mass shooting in Thembelihle, South of Johannesburg.

The operation was to enforce law and order in what has been dubbed a bloody shooting in the troubled township.

The O Kae Molao operation abruptly ended where the Gauteng police top brass including the MEC for Community Safety Faith Mazibuko had to rush to Thembelihle.

10/07/2022

National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has declined a request from John Steenhuisen to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm.

Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the DA leader wrote to the speaker requesting she establish the committee in terms of a National Assembly rule allowing for this.

Mapisa-Nqakula declined the request, arguing that the rule sets out requirements for the establishment of an ad hoc committee and one of them is the performance of a specific task, Mothapo said.

“While the request proposes a committee on Phala Phala, it goes on to list various distinct tasks for investigation. In the nature of the proposed investigation, this is understandable.

“However, some of the tasks proposed are arguably still within the purview of other entities or institutions, including law enforcement, and may indeed necessitate parliament’s attention in due course. At this stage, the various components raised by Mr Steenhuisen for parliamentary intervention are better suited for attention by the existing parliamentary oversight structures,” said Mothapo.