Free State Targets Surgical Backlogs
The three-day Cataract Marathon, held over the weekend at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad, was a great success, with over 100 patients receiving treatment.
Screening was conducted last week Friday with cataract operations scheduled for Saturday and Su...
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Thursday announced the phased withdrawal of regional troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after they were deployed as part of a peace-keeping mission in December 2023.
A statement issued after an extraordinary summit of Southern African heads of state and government said the region was gravely concerned about the continued deterioration of the security situation in eastern DRC, including the capturing of Goma and Bukavu, and the blockage of the main supply routes, which were making it difficult for humanitarian aid to flow.
“[The] summit terminated the mandate of SAMIDRC [Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops from the DRC,” it said.
“[The] summit noted the increasing humanitarian needs in the DRC and called on the international community, including the United Nations, and the African Union to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of the DRC.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the violence in the eastern DRC linked to fighting between the army and M23 rebels said to be backed by Rwanda has left thousands of people dead, displaced others and seen the destruction of critical health infrastructure, exacerbating an already dire situation for millions of people.
“Hospitals and morgues are overwhelmed. Since 26 January, 3082 injured and 843 dead have been reported from 31 health facilities in and around Goma, North Kivu,” the WHO said in the statement issued in early February.
South Africa’s deployment of some 2 900 troops as part of the SADC mission has been criticised at home, more so after the death of more than a dozen soldiers in January.
Thursday’s announcement of the phased withdrawal comes a day after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his 2025 budget that the treasury would allocate R5 billion to the Department of Defence to support South Africa’s participation in peacekeeping efforts in the DRC.
In its statement on Thursday, SADC reiterated the need for a political and diplomatic solution with all parties, including state, non-state parties, military and non-military in the country “for the restoration of peace, security and tranquillity”.
“[The] summit welcomes the United Nations Security Council … resolution which gives guidance for a long-lasting solution while supporting … the regional efforts … and the efforts under Luanda and Nairobi mediation processes,” it said.
A BRAVE security guard in Chatsworth lost his life while attempting to stop armed robbers fleeing in a taxi after they had robbed a tote in Bayview on Sunday morning.
Vikesh Maniram, of Newlands West, was employed by the One Stop Group. He worked as a security guard at a butchery on Lenny Naidoo Drive.
He was shot and killed when he stopped the taxi and asked the suspects who had robbed the tote to get off.
Claude Subramodey, spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said an elderly couple were lucky to escape with their lives after several bullets hit their vehicle during the gunfight.
Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, said the elderly man was rushed to the hospital after glass from the shattered car windows got into his eyes. The hysterical woman was treated for shock, he said.
An off-duty Bayview police officer, who was at a nearby fast-food outlet, witnessed the security guard being shot and followed the suspects, who thereafter fled on foot.
Another shootout ensued, and one suspect was grazed by a bullet on his leg, while the other sustained injuries to his head and body after he fell down a flight of stairs while trying to escape.
Both suspects were arrested by police.
Brandon Pillay, spokesperson for the Bayview Community Policing Forum (CPF), said Maniram would forever be remembered for his act of bravery that led to the successful apprehension of both suspects.
“He died a hero. It is alleged that two armed men robbed an outlet in Bayview, taking an undisclosed amount of money. They fled on foot and got into a minibus taxi on Lenny Naidu Drive.
“The security guard, who was positioned outside the butchery, was alerted, and he managed to flag down the taxi and asked the suspects to get off. It was at this stage that the suspects opened fire on the security officer and fled on foot.
“Thankfully, one of the detectives from Bayview SAPS was close by and he gave chase with members of security companies, the CPF and the community, leading to the arrest of both suspects,” Pillay added.
He commended the police for their swift action.
We extend our sincerest and deepest condolences to the family of the security officer who was shot. It’s a sad day for us that he lost his life trying to apprehend the suspects. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Bayview police and the security companies for their swift action. Charges of murder and robbery are being investigated.
“We make a humble appeal to our community to remain vigilant at all times, and to continue this partnership with the CPF in our fight against crime,” Pillay said.
SAPU says it feels vindicated after Ramaphosa's address
The South African Policing Union (SAPU) said it feels vindicated following President Cyril Ramaphosa's address on Sunday night.
Ramaphosa announced that Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has been placed on special leave. At the same time, a judicial inquiry has been appointed to probe wide-ranging allegations of political interference, collusion, and infiltration in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made these claims during a media briefing last Sunday.
"As SAPU, we have been vindicated because two weeks back, we called for a commission of inquiry to look into the status of what is happening at the crime intelligence and yesterday, the president then announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry, which we do welcome,” said SAPU's Lesiba Thobakgale.
Wits law professor and former Gauteng Safety and Security MEC Firoz Cachalia will act in Mchunu's position from August.
"The appointment of the acting minister, we believe that as he is an academic, he is a professor, he would not want to compromise himself when it comes to issues of political interference, and we will give him our support as SAPU."
Thobakgale has also welcomed Mchunu's placement on special leave.
"The commission of inquiry wouldn't proceed quite well with him remaining a minister and as an executive decision maker in the police in this regard. His being placed now on special leave, we welcome that because those allegations against him are serious."
The CEO of the Social Security Agency (SASSA), Themba Matlou, is expected to clear the air on Monday around the social grant reviews, which have affected thousands of beneficiaries.
SASSA flagged 210,000 social grant beneficiaries suspected of not disclosing additional income truthfully.
Matlou will brief the media to dispel any misinformation around the beneficiary review process.
SASSA has reassured qualifying social grant beneficiaries that their grants have not been stopped or cancelled.
It said that the beneficiary review process was to ensure that only qualifying recipients benefited.
The agency further added that the reviews were specifically focused on individuals whose undisclosed incomes are close to or exceed the means test threshold.
SASSA added that the review process was not a punitive measure to exclude deserving beneficiaries, but to ensure eligibility and prevent misuse of public funds.
Beneficiaries who have been affected by the grants review are encouraged to visit their nearest SASSA office.
In acting on KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive accusations against Police Minister Senzo, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced Prof. Firoz Cachalia as the new police boss.
Ramaphosa, on Sunday evening during his family meeting, placed Mchunu on a special leave of absence, with immediate effect, pending a commission of inquiry into allegations that he’s embroiled in interference in the work of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Cachalia - is a non-member of parliament and former MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng – will take over as minister in August after he retires from academia.
He also serves in various executive management roles, such as the South African Student Solidarity Foundation for Education (SASSFE). The ANC, the Ahmed Kathrada Trust, and he is also a board member for Corruption Watch.
The Constitution empowers the president to appoint two people to his Cabinet from outside the National Assembly.
The president also announced a commission of inquiry to be chaired by acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to probe Mkhwanazi's bombshell accusations that Mchunu interfered with sensitive police investigations and colluded with criminals and to disband the political killings task team in KZN.
He said the allegations against the police and related agencies are serious and raise concerns around the Constitution, rule of law, and national security.
“These allegations, if proven true, threaten to undermine the confidence of South Africans in the ability of the South African Police Service to protect them and to effectively fight crime and corruption. South Africans are concerned about corruption and the rise of criminality in our country, which manifests itself in the killing of innocent people, gender-based violence, gang violence, kidnappings, construction mafia criminality, and many others,” said the president.
In a statement released by his office, Minister Senzo Mchunu has accepted the president’s decision and given his full support for the judicial commission.
“I welcome and respect the President’s decision and pledge my commitment to the process. Honour and integrity are the virtues I personally subscribe to and which we all need to make efforts to uphold. I stand ready to respond to the accusations against me and account to the citizens of the Republic, fully and honestly,” said Mchunu.
Municipalities' failure to remit third-party payments—such as pension fund contributions, medical aid deductions, and tax obligations—will take center stage at the weekend ANC meeting, as the ruling party grapples with the financial mismanagement plaguing local government structures.
The issue has raised alarm within the party, with growing concerns about its impact on service delivery, employee welfare, and public trust.
This comes after the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, recently announced his intention to withhold 39 municipalities' July 2025 tranche of local government equitable share and conditional grants for their persistent failure to pay third parties.
Of great concern to the Free State ANC is that ten of the defaulters are in the Free State province, owing a whopping R872 million combined to SARS, AGSA, and Pension Fund. The matter is further exacerbated by the R9.5 million owed to the Vaal Central water utility by three defaulting municipalities in the province.
According to a reliable source within the party’s provincial executive committee, the matter is expected to take center stage at the meeting scheduled to start today at the Bram Fischer Building, which serves as the headquarters of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.
“The PEC has called municipal troikas to explain themselves. The party leadership has hinted at the recall of some mayors who are not performing their duties. This is expected to be announced on Monday during a media briefing,” said a source.
The ten affected municipalities in the Free State include Kopanong municipality with over R370 million debt to SARS, AGSA, and Pension Fund, followed by Mafube with over R253 million outstanding to the Pension Fund.
Other defaulting municipalities are Letsemeng, Mohokare, Masilonyana, Matjhabeng, Nketoana, Maluti A Phofung and Phumelela.
Godongwana warned that should the municipality fail to submit the evidence that SARS, pension funds, and other relevant statutory third parties have been paid fully, “the national treasury will approach Parliament to endorse that the national treasury stop the transfer of all the LGES due to the municipality over the remainder of the 2025/26 municipal financial year for the municipality’s persistent failure.”
He said that a similar approach will be followed for the municipalities that persist with unfunded budgets and that the ANC PEC must intervene in the identified municipalities to ensure their financial recovery and turnaround.
