News

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned the United Kingdom’s decision to deny its leader, Julius Malema, a visa, calling the move a blatant act of political censorship and “cowardice.”

In a statement, the party said it was “not surprised” by the UK Home Office’s confirmation that Malema’s visa application was denied due to his political views, particularly his support for Palestine and his stance on racial inequality in South Africa.

EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the UK had “effectively banned the President of the EFF due to his position about the genocide of the Palestinian people, his expressed support for the resistance movement fighting against the genocidal Israeli regime, as well as his and the EFF’s stance on racial inequality in South Africa.”

The party said Malema was initially invited to speak at Cambridge University in May 2025 but was barred from entry.

Thambo added that the UK “has suggested that all further applications by our President are likely to be denied unless he changes his posture on the issues which characterise him as a revolutionary.”

He further said: “The UK has declared the Commander in Chief and President of the EFF an ‘extremist’ whose presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good.

''This country, which has a long history of imperialism and still has the blood of Africans dripping from its hands, as its wealth was built on the backs of African people, has suggested that all further applications by our President are likely to be denied unless he changes his posture on the issues which characterise him as a revolutionary.”

“This is not only cowardice by the UK but also a stifling of democratic debate and a pathetic expression of intolerance toward those who hold views different from the UK administration, including its monarchy,” Thambo said.

As previously reported by IOL, the UK formally denied Malema a visa on Wednesday, June 17, 2025. In the letter, the Home Office stated that his future visa applications are also unlikely to succeed unless he alters his stance.

Citing concerns over “conduct, character and associations,” the UK government said Malema’s presence in Britain is “not conducive to the public good.”

Key reasons included Malema’s support for Hamas,an organisation banned in the UK under terrorism laws, as well as his past remarks seen as inciting racial division.

Notably, the letter referenced Malema’s controversial 2016 statement: “We are not calling for the slaughter of white people, at least for now,” and his 2022 courtroom remark: “I can’t guarantee I won’t say it. I am not a prophet.”

In addition, the UK cited the EFF’s official support for “the armed struggle of Hamas and Hezbollah,” and Malema’s own televised assertion that the October 7, 2023 attacks were “a legitimate act of resistance.”

However, the EFF accused the UK of distorting South African legal proceedings and undermining judicial rulings. The party further criticised the UK’s references to South African legal proceedings, calling them a distortion of facts and a smear against South Africa’s judiciary.

*This article was first published by IOL News

Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has found that there was mismanagement in the construction of the R22.7 million Lesseyton Sports Facility in the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality. 

The investigation was launched after complaints were laid with the Public Protector’s office in Bisho, Eastern Cape, to probe the alleged procurement irregularities relating to the construction of the sports field. 

The venue, also known as Ndlovukazi Sports Stadium, was unveiled in October 2021. 

The stadium sparked outrage, with many questioning its exorbitant price tag. 

Pictures posted on social media showed a dry, bumpy field, small metal stands, soccer, and rugby uprights. It also has no working ablution facilities or electricity.

This sparked investigations from the Public Protector and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), which also found that the awarding of the tender was irregular.

The Cogta investigation also found that the people involved were able to change the scopes of work without following due process.

The contract was awarded to a Pretoria-based company, Thalami Civils Pty Ltd. 

Presenting the report in the Bisho office, Gcaleka said allegations that there were procurement irregularities in the awarding of the tender to Thalami have been substantiated. 

She said the awarding of the tender exceeded R18.7m budget, which was approved by Cogta during the 2017/18 financial year, adding that this exceeded the budget by over R4.7m.

“And there is no evidence that the municipality approached the municipal council for additional funding as required by Section 19(1) of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA),” she said. 

Enoch Mgijima’s spokesperson, Lonwabo Kowa, did not respond at the time of publication.

Gcaleka added that the tender advertisement had two different closing dates and was not placed in three different public platforms as required by regulation 22(1)(a) of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Policy.

She added that the tender advertisement period was shortened from 30 days to 14 days. 

“The reason provided was that the construction of the Lesseyton Sports facility was an emergency. The municipality’s definition of emergency in this regard is found not to be in line with the definition in terms of Regulation 22 (2) of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Policy,” Gcaleka said. 

She said the evidence suggested that two bid evaluation processes took place. 

According to her, the first process resulted in a different service provider being the preferred bidder, and the second process utilised a different formula provided by the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC), and this resulted in the appointment of Thalami Civils, which was the fourth highest bidder to win the tender.

“The reasons advanced by the municipality for awarding the tender to the bidder were that the bidder had recently received the tender for a similar magnitude. The reason provided by the BEC did not amount to a quote objective criterion and was not supported by any legal original authority,” she said, adding that this reason was not part of the evaluation criteria in terms of the specification determined by the BEC. 

“Thalami was, therefore, appointed in contravention of Section 2(1)(e) and (f) of the PPPFA, which provides that contracts must be awarded to the tenderer who scores the highest points unless objective criteria justifying the award to another tenderer,” said Gcaleka, adding that the allegation that there were irregularities in the management of the contract and a lack of proper oversight on the sports field construction was also substantiated.

The office also found that after the construction was suspended, Thalami, which was paid R15m, was reappointed and proceeded without a valid contract.

Gcaleka recommended that Cogta should take action officials involved.

The article will be updated when Enoch Mgijima Municipality comments.

*This article was first published by IOL News

The United Kingdom has officially denied a visa to Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), citing his controversial support for Hamas and previous inflammatory statements.

This latest decision, announced on Wednesday, adds to Malema’s ongoing visa woes with the UK authorities.

In a letter dated June 17, 2025, from the UK Home Office, it was made clear that future applications for entry are unlikely to be successful unless Malema adjusts his public stance.

The Home Office’s assessment indicated that Malema’s presence was “not conducive to the public good,” highlighting concerns regarding his character and associations.

A key factor in the UK’s decision was Malema’s open support for Hamas—a group designated as a terrorist organisation under UK law.

In an April 2024 statement, the EFF expressed unwavering backing for “the armed struggle of Hamas and Hezbollah,” a sentiment reiterated in a televised interview where Malema described the attacks on 7 October as “a legitimate act of resistance.”

Moreover, the Home Office pointed to a history of racially charged remarks by Malema, including his infamous statement from 2016, asserting that the EFF was “not calling for the slaughter of white people — at least for now.”

This was further compounded by his admission during a 2022 court hearing, where he suggested he could not rule out such calls in the future, stating, “I can’t guarantee I won’t say it. I am not a prophet.”

The Home Office characterised Malema’s words and actions as part of a broader pattern of “unacceptable behaviour,” which encompasses incitement to racial hatred and glorification of terrorism.

The letter concluded that “your conduct, character and associations make it undesirable to grant you entry to the UK.” It noted that there is no right of appeal for this decision, reinforcing the finality of the matter.

This latest refusal follows a recent incident in May, when Malema was barred from attending the “Africa Together Conference” at Cambridge University.

At that time, the British High Commission had apologised for processing delays attributed to public holidays and internal procedures, although Malema labelled the incident a politically charged attempt to “silence a dissenting political perspective.”

After being denied entry last-minute at OR Tambo International Airport, he charged that he was misled about the resolution of his application, only to face angry rejection just before his intended departure.

*This article was first published by IOL News

The attorneys for Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno Van Rhyn filed the notices for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences this week.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it’s waiting for dates from Judge Nathan Erasmus after the three convicted in the Joshlin Smith trial filed notices for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences.

The attorneys for Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno Van Rhyn filed the notices this week.

They were sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking for the disappearance of Joshlin Smith.

The little girl has been missing since 2024.

Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn are in the third week of their life-long prison sentences.

Their attorneys have now filed notices to appeal Erasmus's ruling and sentences.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: "We can confirm that we received notices from defence to apply for leave to appeal. We acknowledge receipt of those and indicated that we are waiting for a date on the charge for a hearing on the applications for leave to appeal."

Ntabazalila said the NPA was also awaiting a date for the 204 inquiry to determine whether former accused-turned-State-witness Lourentia Lombaard should be granted indemnity for her role in Joshlin’s disappearance.

*This article was first published by Eye Witness News

Toyota South Africa Motors has initiated a R6.5 billion lawsuit against the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, Transnet, and the eThekwini Municipality, claiming damages from the April 2022 floods that severely impacted its Prospecton plant.

In summons filed in the Durban High Court, Toyota South Africa Motors Pty Ltd said it had suffered damages to the tune of R6.5 billion. This included costs in excess of R4 billion for repairs and reinstatement work at the storm-impacted plant and R2 billion for business interruption.

Transnet, the KZN Department of Transport, and the eThekwini Municipality have been cited as the defendants.

Craig Woolley, a director at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc, which is acting for Toyota, said all three defendants had “entered an appearance to defend.”

In the court papers, Toyota said that the three organisations had failed in their duty to maintain infrastructure and should have known that neglecting such responsibilities could lead to flooding.

During the April floods, the structural integrity of the Umlaas Canal and the diversion berm were compromised, leading to stormwater flowing into the Prospecton Industrial Area, where the Toyota plant is situated, causing extensive flooding and damage, read the court papers.

It stated that Transnet owned the Umlaas Canal and was responsible for its management and maintenance, as well as the flood risk associated with it. The concrete-lined canal is intended to channel and divert the uMlazi River around the Prospecton Industrial Area. Together with the diversion berm, it forms an integral part of the flood control and prevention mechanism for the Prospecton Industrial Area, it further stated.

It said the Department of Transport was responsible for the management and maintenance of the diversion berm, while the municipality owned, managed, and was responsible for the maintenance and control of the stormwater management system for the Prospecton Industrial Area.

Detailing its court action against each of the defendants, Toyota said Transnet should have known that in the event of the Umlaas Canal and the diversion berm failing to manage this stormwater, the Prospecton Industrial Area was likely to be flooded, resulting in damage to the company’s premises and property.

It said the defendants failed to ensure that these structures were functioning as required to prevent flooding in the Prospecton Industrial Area.

Additionally, it had neglected to carry out regular maintenance on the Umlaas Canal, resulting in structural weaknesses, and failed to repair previous flood damage.

It said it fell on the Department of Transport to ensure that the diversion berm and canal were functioning properly and it had failed to do so.

It added that the municipality should have known that in the event of the stormwater management system not functioning as required, the area where the plaintiff's business was situated was likely to be flooded.

“As a result of these failures, Toyota was compelled to engage various contractors to repair the damage caused by the flooding and hired specialist engineers to repair the structural damage to the premises, as well as damage to electrical installations, plumbing, air conditioning, and assembly systems.”

The company suffered “damages to fixtures and fittings, office contents, and electronic equipment, and experienced losses due to vehicles being flooded and damaged.”

Furthermore, they were unable to conduct business activities during the repair period, leading to additional business interruption losses.

“As a result of the aforementioned issues, Toyota claims to have suffered damages amounting to R6 540 980 194.00, which includes R4 488 642 693.00 for the fair and reasonable costs incurred in the repair and reinstatement of the plaintiff’s premises and property and R2 052 337 501.00 for business interruption.”

“The defendants are jointly and severally liable to compensate the plaintiff for the aforementioned amounts, along with interest thereon,” stated the court papers.

Ndabe Sibiya, the spokesperson for the KZN Department of Transport, said that MEC Siboniso Duma regarded Toyota as an important stakeholder in the province. “Respectfully, he does not believe that it will be appropriate at this stage to engage on this matter through the media,” said Sibiya.

“We can only indicate that the cut-off low-pressure system continues to leave a trail of destruction across the province. It has triggered floods, mudslides, and a rise in the water table. Bridges, road infrastructure, and houses have been damaged, costing both the KZN Transport and Human Settlements Departments billions of rands. For instance, in 2022 alone, we needed more than R6 billion to repair roads, and we could only reprioritise R2 billion from our budget,” Sibiya said.

eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the municipality was aware of Toyota's action and had filed a notice to defend. 

*This article was first published by IOL News

Sources close to former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu, have revealed to IOL that Shivambu is expected to launch his new political party.

Shivambu is anticipated to make the official announcement in a media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The newly formed party is aimed at uniting South Africans, said the sources.

The source stated that this movement aims to serve as a unifying vehicle for South Africans, emphasising the need for collaboration among different groups to advocate for their collective interests.

“Many believe that there are currently no African-led political parties in South Africa that truly work together to advance the interests of the native population,” a confidant close to Shivambu stated.

“This new initiative is about creating a democratic space where all indigenous voices can be heard and their concerns addressed.”

The source further praised Shivambu’s role in building and strengthening the MKP and the EFF, highlighting his deep understanding of political structures and grassroots organisations.

“He played a significant role in establishing the EFF and was instrumental in consolidating support for the MKP. His experience and knowledge are invaluable in this new endeavour.”

The source added that there is concern about the MKP's future trajectory following Shivambu’s departure.

Another insider told IOL that the party will consist of some of the MKP, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African National Congress (ANC) members.

“At least we will have black people united in one space under the leadership of Shivambu. He is a good politician and he will lead with integrity and transparency.

“We are tired of people trying to suppress the potential leaders only because they want to shine on their own. Shivambu will lead and that’s it,” the source said.

The anticipated announcement comes in the wake of his recent departure from the MKP earlier this month, a move that has sparked widespread speculation and debate.

Shivambu was removed from his position following a questionable visit to Malawi, where he reportedly met with self-proclaimed and controversial figure Prophet Shepherd Bushiri.

The MKP justified Shivambu's removal by citing complaints from various civil society organisations concerning the Malawi visit, suggesting that the trip was deemed inappropriate and potentially damaging to the party’s reputation.

Meanwhile, many insiders believe that his exit has left a leadership void and that the new movement could potentially reshape the political dynamics among indigenous groups in South Africa.

*This article was first published by IOL News