The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies summoned Minister Solly Malatsi to brief Parliament on the newly issued policy directives aimed at easing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for licensing satellite services, including Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Committee Chairperson Khusela Diko said that the recently “gazetted policy directions appear to be in contravention of the Electronic Communications Act and in favour of low earth orbit satellite provider SpaceX.
The policy directives were published just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation met with US President Donald Trump and his adviser, Elon Musk, at the White House on last week Wednesday.
Prior to the meeting, reports suggested that the government was considering ways to accommodate Musk regarding B-BBEE ownership rules as part of efforts to improve relations with the US and attract investment.
Musk had previously expressed opposition to the country’s B-BBEE regulations and claimed that the only reason his company had not been granted an operating licence in South Africa was because he was not black.
The proposal to ease B-BBEE requirements has been met with criticism from several opposition parties, including Build One South Africa (BOSA).
“This is not transformation, it’s capitulation. The message being sent is that if you are a powerful foreign billionaire, you can sidestep South Africa’s laws while our local businesses are forced to jump hoops,” said BOSA Deputy Leader Hlazo Webster.
“What begins as a special concession ends in state capture,” she added.
The meeting will take place on May 27, 2025
*This article was first published by IOL
EFF leader Julius Malema addressed his supporters during a rally ahead of Ward 16 by-elections taking place on 28 May in Koppies, Free State. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/EFF
Abigail Visagie
KOPPIES - Leader of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema declared that he will never be intimidated by America.
Malema said this on Sunday afternoon while addressing EFF supporters during a rally ahead of the Ngwathe Local Municipality by-elections which will take place on 28 May in Koppies, Ward 16.
Malema emphasised the EFF's importance, citing a mention by the US President, Donald Trump, as validation of the party's influence.
“You were told that the EFF is dying and that it is a useless party but once again, you were reminded by Donald Trump, that this is not a small organisation, so would you say that this a small and dying organisation when the White House itself said that this is one of biggest organisations in Africa and South Africa,” Malema said.
Malema criticised the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa comparing it to that of ‘schoolteachers running to the principal office’.
He accused Ramaphosa of killing tourism opportunities for the country when he spoke about crime in the country saying that he did not defend South Africa.
The EFF leader urged South Africans to unite in the face of imperialism and to keep the internal issues of the country private.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, when you go out of South Africa, especially in front of imperialism, you must close ranks,” he said.
Applauded by Ward 16 members, Malema expressed that if Trump and Ramaphosa were going to discuss him, they should have extended an invitation.
“They should’ve called me, I was going to answer everything,” he said.
In the call to action for the youth, Malema mandated that no alcohol should be consumed by the youth before and on the day of bi-elections.
“Remember the future lies in your hands when you are voting on 28 May, do not consume alcohol so that you can make the right decision.
He also urged parents to consider the struggles of their educated yet unemployed children and reaffirmed the EFFs commitment to fighting for the dignity and rights of black people.
Abigail Visagie
LADYBRAND - Residents in the small town, Ladybrand known for its rock art and fossils this afternoon took to the streets demanding that the Mantsopa Municipality address the ongoing sewage problem.
The town is plagued by filth, foul odors, and constant sewage leaks.
A concerned resident Charles Ramaleka stated that the sewage now flows to the Manyatseng Daycare Centre, posing a safety hazard to both learners and staff.
“This dire situation in Ladybrand has persisted for over ten years, and our municipality seems indifferent to our plight,” Ramaleka explained.
He also mentioned that a budget had been allocated for the repairs and maintenance of the sewage system, yet no action has been taken to date.
This is a developing story.
Staff Reporter
Kimberly – Tensions are high at the Northern Cape Urban TVET college in Kimberly as students have entered the fifth month without any income from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Students are struggling to afford necessities, including food and accommodation.
According to SRC President Tshepi Moreotsenye, more than 75% of NSFAS applicants are still awaiting their allowances for transport and accommodation and only 23% who are permanently residing in Kimberley are already in the process of receiving their fourth monthly payment.
Last week students embarked on a protest action to the Central Office and stayed away from school for four days. On the first day of the strike, they handed over their memorandum of demands.
Some of the grievances mentioned by the students include having to walk to campus daily, and having no food to eat, as most of them come from households where parents rely on a social grant.
Moreotsenye, who is also the head of accommodation, confirmed that students from all 3 campuses are affected as their stipend for accommodation, transport, and food is pending.
Moreotsenye said the SRC has adopted some of the homeless students who approached them in desperation for assistance.
He says, SRC feels helpless because there is currently nothing that promises the payment will be made by the end of May because only a few of the statuses of the students have changed over the past five weeks.
He said things are moving too slowly for their liking while some are worried that they will be finishing their semester now after the exams but haven’t received their allowances.
“Nothing good was coming out of the meetings, which is why we decided to strike last week.
“It was suspended because we had to be considerate of those writing exams.
“The intentions were for the suspension of all classes until the NSFAS allowances were paid, but a U-turn was made after the Department of Education reportedly announced that those who did not write exams would not get another opportunity to do so.
Concerns were raised that some students have been kicked out of their private accommodation by landlords who don’t believe them.
This has increased absenteeism and possible dropouts.
The majority of the students from the City Campus said that they lately have to walk to and from the township to college daily as they do not have money for transport.
Some said they were accused by their landlords of pocketing their owed rental money.
They accused the institution of sabotaging their education due to laziness.
A 20-year-old student from De Aar said he is now unable to concentrate and prepare for the exams properly because he has to hustle for food.
He said he had rented a room in town upon his arrival in Kimberley in order to be closer to the college, but ended up squatting in a small room in Galeshewe after losing his accommodation due to no funds.
“After explaining my situation to my landlord, it was clear that he did not believe me. He told me to make way for another tenant who is willing to pay,” said the student.
“I was accommodated by a fellow student whom I met at college because he understands my situation. We are four and cramped in the small room. Two are paying while the other two of us are adopted.”
“We walk to and from college on a daily basis and I have to avoid asking for food as well. It’s hard and embarrassing because when I am hungry I have to ask relatives to send me a few Rands at Shoprite.
“I also don’t want to tell my mother everything because she is unemployed and I assured her that I will get assistance from NSFAS.”
NSFAS has issued a circular earlier in May to college principals where it committed to processing the outstanding 2024/25 payments on 25 to 30 May 2025.
The circular notice leaked to the Journal News signed by Acting Chief Executive Officer Waseem Carrim and addressed to the principal.
It gave clarity that the 2024 allowance pending to TVET learners emanated from the transitional changes of the switch to direct payments partners, and the return of the function to NSFAS during the 2024 academic year.
“This created a complex reconciliation process that needed to be undertaken concurrently to the start of the 2025 academic year. NSFAS is nearing the end of the reconciliation process.”
The SRC president Tshepi Moreotsenye, who is also the Head of Accommodation, confirmed that students from all 3 campuses are affected as their stipend for accommodation, transport, and food is pending.
It was further reported that the status of some of the NSFAS applications was changing from ‘provisionally funded’ to ‘registration received.’
Efforts to get a comment from the college were unsuccessful, as the Journal News was informed that the principal is out of town
The Free State Department of Cooperative Governance MEC Saki Mokoena has put Matjhabeng municipality under administration. Photo: COGTA/FACEBOOK
Staff Reporter
The Free State Department of Cooperative Governance has the daunting task of restoring smooth administration and service delivery in Matjhabeng, Nala, and Mohokare municipalities.
MEC Saki Mokoena has resolved to put the Matjhabeng municipality under administration following a high court judgment that favored DA. The DA argued that Matjhabeng was in a financial crisis and persistently failed to meet its obligations to provide basic municipal services and fulfill its financial commitments.
In a letter to the speaker of Matjhabeng Bheki Stofile, Mokoena threatened to write to the National Treasury and Minister of Cooperate Governance to withhold the grants and equitable share.
The ANC in the Free State has regarded Mokoena’s move as disenginiouss. Nala municipality has recently been placed under administration following political fallout amongst ANC councilors. A special council sitting to elect the new mayor and the speaker has been called in Mohokare municipality. The municipality has been destabilized since the axing of Zingisa Mgawuli.
Moroadi Cholota says she was forced to implicate her former boss Ace Magashule or face charges.
Staff Reporter
BLOEMFONTEIN - Moroadi Cholota, a former personal assistant to the then Free State Premier Ace Magashule, submitted in the Free State High Court that she was forced to implicate Magashule or face charges.
During a cross-examination, her lawyer, Advocate Loyiso Makapela, stressed that Cholota was ambushed by investigating officers.
Cholota wants to prove through the trial-within-a-trial that South African courts have no jurisdiction to try her.
In 2014, the Democratic Alliance opened a fraud and corruption case regarding a R255 million asbestos roof removal scandal. Upon investigation, the public protector also revealed that the project was not value for money. The project was meant to eradicate 30,000 households with asbestos roofs.
The second state witness who is a forensic investigator took the stand and gave evidence that they never recorded the two-day interview conducted in the USA with accused Cholota.
He added that the device used to record was never tested before the interview, and says that the interview conducted with Cholota was procedurally handled.
In a turn of events, presiding Judge Phillip Loubser made a ruling to postpone the main trial to June, 4.
Loubser says the circumstances of this case are extraordinary and have allowed 16 accused not to attend the trial within a trial case.
Loubser added that it is costly for the accused not implicated to form part.
Cholota and her lawyer Makapela will continue while Laurence Hodes, Senior counsel for Magashule will also be part of the trial within a trial which will take place on Thursday, May 22.
