The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has made a formal request to the public protector for an investigation into the conduct of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
This after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made damning allegations of executive misconduct and political interference against Mchunu.
In an explosive press conference, Mkhwanazi accused the minister of orchestrating the collapse of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) political killings task team.
The team, which had secured over a hundred convictions, was disbanded late last year, shortly after linking firearms to high-profile assassinations.
The letter to Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka describes a "flagrant abuse of power", supported by recordings, WhatsApp messages and financial documents.
It alleges the minister worked with a businessman, Brown Mogotsi, and murder-accused, Vusimuzi Matlala, to sabotage investigations and protect politically connected figures.
More than 120 case dockets, many linked to political assassinations, have allegedly been shelved since the task team’s disbandment.
The ATM argued that Mchunu breached the Constitution, misled Parliament and compromised the rule of law for private and political gain.
ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona said: "We call on the public protector to put everything aside and focus on this particular matter because this is a matter of national security."
The public protector has been urged to summon Mkhwanazi and review the evidence, which he said supported his claims.
*This article was published by EYEWITNESS News
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) said beneficiaries who have come forward to verify their sources of income can expect grant payments on Tuesday.
SASSA delayed some payments in July targeted at beneficiaries who are suspected of having extra sources of income. Grant recipients who have received communication from SASSA are urged to visit branches to verify.
Many beneficiaries have been queuing at SASSA branches across the country in attempts to get answers and receive their payments.
Close to 210,000 people were identified by SASSA as beneficiaries suspected of not communicating their sources of income.
In the agency’s attempt to ensure that only eligible South Africans are receiving grants, it has delayed payments for some beneficiaries.
SASSA spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi, clarified that these payments are not suspended but delayed.
“So, if your account has been flagged, you won't get your pay on the 3rd, it will be delayed, and the payment will happen on the 8th. The intention of delaying it is to make sure that you come forward and present yourself to SASSA office and say in actual fact, SASSA you are wrong.”
He added that SASSA will continue with this method in August.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News*
JN Reporter
Nonprofit company TT100 and business school The DaVinci Institute launched the Free State leg of the entrepreneurial development programme for food producers and manufacturers.
The launch took place on Monday at the Glen College of Agriculture in Bloemfontein and aims to empower 15 young farmers in the province.
The farmers will be empowered with entrepreneurship skills, management of technology, business development and the skill to operate within the food production and food manufacturing sector.
The launch was attended by Da Vinci Institute CEO Professor Ben Anderson and MEC for Agriculture Elsabe Rockman.
The DaVinci Institute together with banking sector through Bankseta will also launch the programme in Gauteng, KZN and North West province.
Anderson says the programme provides a value chain of food production and food manufacturing.
“It also embraces the relationship of how to manage technology and innovation in an ecosystem. We should not produce for the sake of selling, but we need to look at the latest trends in food.
“We want to link the participants with the markets, research and industry departments,” Anderson said.
He also said programme provides participants with exposure to education, business coaching, masterclasses, training workshops, development of business proposals and a local food festival.
Tt100 and DaVinci said their programme responded directly to the systemic challenges facing the agricultural sector. One of the sector’s most persistent issues was the shortage of skilled people who can manage the complexities of modern agriculture.
The programme focuses on black-owned and women-led SMMEs who are often excluded from high-value agricultural opportunities. It also fosters co-operative business models that promote collaboration, peer learning and social capital.
By JN Reporter
Free State MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture & Recreation Zanele Sifuba has confirmed… again, that one of South Africa’s largest annual festivals is making a comeback this year.
Journal News reported last Sunday that following the resolution taken at the EXCO meeting held on Thursday last week, the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) will be relaunched in early September this year.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon by the department’s spokesperson, Tankiso Zola, the festival launch will take place on 01 August, followed by a series of productions as part of the cultural and heritage-oriented nature of the recalibrated MACUFE programme.
MEC Sifuba said the festival will be held under the theme ‘Back to our African Heart and Soul’.
“The central focus of the recalibrated MACUFE programme will be on arts and culture-related activities. Reverting back to its original concept, the festival will therefore elevate the African cultural heritage as a pivot around which our existence should revolve as Africans and in line with the mandate of the Department of Nation Building and Social Cohesion,” said Sifuba.
This comes after a lengthy legal battle with businessman and owner of events company C-Squared, Ben Moseme.
C-squared was vindicated in May 2023 by Judge van Rhyn in the Bloemfontein High Court, and ordered the former MEC of sports, arts and culture, Limakatso Mahasa, to pay the legal costs and the amount owed of R3 344 335.84 with interest since the day of default.
According to Sifuba, it is further planned that the festival must continue to build on the positive socio-economic outcomes of the previous editions.
These outcomes were underscored by the Socio-Economic Impact Study conducted by the University of the Free State, Local economic beneficiation for local entrepreneurs, an increased tourism footprint in the province, participation benefits to local artists, and so on.
She said the relaunched MACUFE programme will intensify and escalate local beneficiation outcomes.
In a bid to address challenges in social housing projects and unlock new development opportunities in the City of Mangaung, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane met with Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Gregory Nthatisi, Municipal Manager Sello More, SHRA Acting CEO Lebowa Letsoalo, and MMC for Human Settlement Ntombi Nhlapo.
The main aim of the discussions was to find sustainable solutions to unblock stalled projects and accelerate the delivery of affordable housing.
Simelane was joined by the Director-General Alec Moemi, and a delegation from the Department of Human Settlements.
