News

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa says the confirmation of a huge surgical backlog in Gauteng hospitals vindicates the issues it had been raising.

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko confirmed in the legislature that some 34,000 patients were waiting for surgery in Gauteng public hospitals.

The hospitals with the largest waiting lists are Steve Biko, with over 6,700 patients, followed by Chris Hani Baragwanath, with 6,200, George Mukhari with 5,300, and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, with over 3,300 patients on the waiting list.

Other hospitals with long waiting lists include Sebokeng Hospital, Helen Joseph, Mamelodi, Kalafong, Tembisa, Leratong, and Thelle Mogoerane Hospital. 

Denosa’s Gauteng secretary Bongani Mazibuko said the situation is often exacerbated by the shortage of staff.

"A shortage of staff and shortage of equipment is not a myth, but a reality, and staff that is not fully trained in theatre in terms of nursing staff, and availability of doctors as well.

"So we feel vindicated that what we've been saying is actually been proven, and it's confirmed by the department now."

Meanwhile, the DA's Jack Bloom estimates that the real waiting list for all 37 hospitals is probably about 40,000 due to budget cuts and staffing shortages.

"The MEC blames the long waiting times on the high turnover of patients to Gauteng province, and the burden of trauma that takes preference over elective cases,” he said.

"She also admits that load shedding and water shortages lead to cancellations and postponements of surgery."

*This was first published by Jacaranda FM

Postbank has issued a warning to Sassa beneficiaries to be on high alert for individuals impersonating its officials.

It said that a disturbing trend has emerged, with social grant recipients using both the new Postbank black cards and the older Sassa gold cards being targeted by sophisticated fraud scams designed to steal their card and PIN details.

These scammers, pretending to be legitimate officials, are reportedly visiting beneficiaries at their homes. 

They employ various deceptive tactics, often convincing recipients to hand over their cards and personal identification numbers by falsely claiming the cards are defective, require immediate repair, or that failure to comply will lead to the forfeiture of their grant payments.

But this is not true.

"Postbank assures social grant beneficiaries that there is nothing that requires fixing on any of its black cards and Sassa gold cards, and that both cards will continue to work beyond 31 May 2025 for the payments of their grants," a statement read.

In light of these concerns, Postbank has drafted the following crucial tips for beneficiaries to protect themselves from these scams:

·       Never share your PIN: Postbank officials will never ask for your card's PIN.

·       Beware of unannounced visits: Postbank or Sassa will never show up unannounced or without an appointment.

·       NEVER EVER hand over your card: Do not give your Postbank Black Card or SASSA Gold Card to anyone. Your card and PIN are your personal keys to your money.

·        Report suspicious activity: If you are approached by someone suspicious at your home

*This article was first published by eNCA

South Africa High Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party that sought to stop the government from raising fuel levies.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana proposed the higher charges last month in his third attempt to present an annual Budget that can secure parliamentary approval. Previous iterations were rejected by the Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party in the nation’s 10-party coalition government, because they proposed hiking value-added tax.

The EFF, South Africa’s fourth-largest party, argued that raising fuel costs would hurt the poorest South Africans and undermine economic growth, and that proper procedures weren’t followed to introduce additional taxes.

This article was first published by News24

Eastern Cape High Court secretary, Andiswa Mengo, claims she has received death threats following her sexual harassment complaint against the division’s judge president, Selby Mbenenge.

Mengo's complaint is the first ever that has led to a probe which could lead to the judge president's impeachment.

The top judge is accused of making unwanted sexual advances towards Mengo between 2021 and 2022.

The tribunal has so far heard evidence from expert witnesses who have corroborated some of the testimony provided by Mengo in May.

Hearings have been postponed to the end of June.

Mengo laid her official sexual harassment complaint against the division’s top judge in 2023.

Since then, Mengo has been working in the same division of the high court, taking leave from work each time the Judicial Conduct Tribunal sits to investigate the allegations she has levelled against Mbenenge.

Now, it’s alleged that she received a handwritten note at her desk which stated that a "bullet was waiting for" her.

During her evidence in chief before the tribunal, Mengo had also testified that she had received threats shortly after laying her complaint against the senior judge.

While the tribunal is expected to sit again from 30 June, it's expected that the panel will be mindful of this.

The matter has been escalated to the Office of the Chief Justice and law enforcement authorities.

*This article was first published by Eye Witness News

Zuma and French arms deal company Thales are charged with fraud, corruption, racketeering and money laundering linked to the controversial arms deal.

Former president Jacob Zuma’s corruption case is set to resume in December.

Zuma and French arms deal company Thales are charged with fraud, corruption, racketeering and money laundering linked to the controversial arms deal.

On Tuesday, the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed their application to have all charges against them dropped.

Judge Nkosinathi Chilli ruled that the matter would continue in December.   

“This matter is adjourned to 4 December this year, 2025. The court will set aside two dates that is the 4th and 5th of December. Mr Zuma and Thales do not have to appear in court on that day.” 

At the same time, Zuma has taken his fight to have State prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer removed from the case to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

In April, Justice Chilli dismissed Zuma’s application for Downer’s recusal.

*This article was first published by Eye Witness News

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is probing widespread corruption in several projects across the country funded by the Housing Development Agency (HDA).

According to the proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the SIU investigation will focus on serious maladministration in the HDA’s affairs in projects for provincial Human Settlements departments in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, and the Western Cape.

This includes the identification, acquisition, holding, development, and release of state, communal, and privately owned land for residential and community purposes by the agency, in its name, or for and on behalf of the provincial departments or by the departments in their name.

The unit will also investigate whether the contracts were awarded in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective and contrary to applicable legislation, manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars or instructions issued by the National Treasury or the relevant provincial Treasuries applicable to the HDA and the departments.

The SIU is tasked with uncovering any related unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, or wasteful expenditure incurred by the HDA and the departments, or losses suffered by the agency, departments, or the state concerning the allegations.

In addition, the probe will look into any irregular, improper, or unlawful conduct by the applicable service providers of the HDA and the departments or any other person or entity, relating to the allegations.

Ramaphosa gave the SIU the green light to investigate serious maladministration in connection with the agency’s affairs and the departments, improper or unlawful conduct by employees, unlawful expenditure of public money and other offences referred to in the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act committed in connection with the affairs of both the HDA and the departments.

The investigation will also tackle unlawful or improper conduct by any person, which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public or any category thereof, which took place between April 2016 and last month or which took place before or after the date of the proclamation but is relevant to, connected with, incidental or ancillary to the matters mentioned or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated under the proclamation’s authority.

The SIU is also empowered to recover any losses suffered by the HDA and the departments or the state.

In December 2023, the Sunday Independent reported that the then-Human Settlements minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, demanded answers after a former agency official accused one of his bosses of approving about R20.3 million in pre-payments to consultants for the upgrading of the informal settlement programme (UISP) meant to benefit four Eastern Cape district municipalities in 2021.

The ex-employee stated that another former executive called him to a meeting in August 2021 and handed him a piece of paper with six companies that he wanted to benefit from the UISP in the Eastern Cape, which was valued at more than R270m for 2021/22 alone.

*This article was first published by IOL News