Sunday, 16 August 2026

HIGH COURT REINSTATES NSFAS BOARD, SUSPENDS ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTMENT IN INTERIM RULING

KASiBCAFRiCA©®™
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

HIGH COURT REINSTATES NSFAS BOARD, SUSPENDS ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTMENT IN INTERIM RULING

KASIBCAUDIO

PRETORIA – The Board of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has welcomed a judgment by the High Court in Pretoria granting interim relief that immediately reinstates the Board and suspends the appointment of the scheme's administrator.

The ruling halts the administration process pending the final determination of Part B of the review application, which will decide whether the Minister of Higher Education and Training's decision to dissolve the Board and place the funding body under administration should be permanently set aside.

Immediate Return to Governance

In an official statement published by the South African Government, the Board confirmed it will resume its governance duties with immediate effect. Members stated that their primary focus will center on stabilizing the institution, strengthening internal oversight, and executing the scheme's statutory mandate to deliver financial aid to eligible students nationwide.

The interim order comes as part of legal proceedings challenging the decision by Minister Buti Manamela to dissolve the Board and appoint Professor Hlengani Mathebula as administrator. Reports by eNCA noted that the court granted the interdict while the full merits of Part B remain under judicial consideration.

Focus on Misconduct and Sector Collaboration

Addressing mounting public scrutiny surrounding the scheme, the Board acknowledged emerging concerns and committed to treating them as a priority.

The Board emphasized that where wrongdoing, misconduct, or unlawful activity is uncovered, appropriate action will be taken under applicable governance frameworks and the law. Additionally, the Board reaffirmed its intention to collaborate with the Minister of Higher Education and Training and broader higher education stakeholders to address systemic challenges facing the sector.

Because Part B of the review application remains active before the High Court, the Board indicated it would withhold further public commentary on the legal proceedings at this stage

KASiBCAFRiCA©®™

NEWS • AUDIO • VIDEO • SPORTS • EVENTS • TOURS • STORES

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM

GAUTENG ROADS AND TRANSPORT HANDS OVER OPERATING LICENSES AHEAD OF DEADLINE

KASiBCAFRiCA©®™
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

GAUTENG ROADS AND TRANSPORT HANDS OVER OPERATING LICENSES AHEAD OF DEADLINE

KASIBCAUDIO

JOHANNESBURG – The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) has handed over 211 valid operating licenses to compliant public transport operators ahead of its strict collection deadline. The distribution took place during a series of Special Operating Licence Handover ceremonies held between Wednesday, 12 August, and Friday, 14 August 2026.

The ceremonies covered key regions across the province, including the Cities of Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane, and the Sedibeng District. The initiative aimed to streamline access for compliant minibus taxi and scholar transport operators, allowing them to collect approved documentation and operate legally on South African roads.

Cancellation Warning for Uncollected Licenses The Department confirmed that 108 operating licenses remained uncollected past the deadline. In accordance with the relevant legislative framework, these uncollected documents will now be subjected to formal administrative processes for potential cancellation.

To avoid this, the GDRT had rolled out several proactive campaigns prior to the cutoff date, including direct SMS notifications to applicants, as well as targeted regional awareness and outreach programs in collaboration with the taxi and scholar transport sectors.

Since November 2025, the Department has handed over more than 3,000 valid operating licenses to compliant operators across Gauteng.

Regulatory Compliance and Economic Participation By law under Sections 54 and 62 of the National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009, public transport operators are required to hold a valid operating license to transport passengers for a fee.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, praised compliant operators for their patience and highlighted the economic significance of the program.

"These ceremonies were more than just formalities but served as testament to our commitment to rebuilding a licensing system that is efficient, transparent, and fair," said MEC Diale-Tlabela. "The possession of a valid operating license also serves as a tool of economic participation and emancipation."

Collection Points for Applicants Operators who were unable to attend the special ceremonies are urged to visit their nearest Transport Operating Licence Administrative Body (TOLAB) office to check their application status. Applicants must present proof of application (receipt) or a copy of their South African ID.

Johannesburg/Sedibeng Region: Life Centre Building, 45 Commissioner Street, Johannesburg
Tshwane Region: 230 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Pretoria Central
Ekurhuleni Region: 01 Hardach Street, Germiston
West Rand Region: Corner Kagiso Drive and Moses Street, Kagiso

KASiBCAFRiCA©®™

NEWS • AUDIO • VIDEO • SPORTS • EVENTS • TOURS • STORES

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM

COURT STRIKES DOWN ICASA RULES: DA WINS MAJOR VICTORY AGAINST ELECTION AD CENSORSHIP

KASiBCAFRiCA©®™
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

COURT STRIKES DOWN ICASA RULES: DA WINS MAJOR VICTORY AGAINST ELECTION AD CENSORSHIP

KASIBCAUDIO

JOHANNESBURG – In a significant ruling for South Africa’s electoral integrity, the Gauteng High Court has declared key sections of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) election broadcasting regulations unconstitutional and unlawful.

The judgment, welcomed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), effectively dismantles the ability of broadcasters to act as "political gatekeepers" by blocking campaign advertisements through arbitrary rejections and procedural delays.

A New Standard for Urgent Dispute Resolution The court-mandated relief establishes a strict, expedited timeline for handling rejected political advertisements and party election broadcasts (PEBs). Under the new framework:

Complaints: Must be heard by ICASA’s Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) within 48 hours of filing.
Rulings: A decision must be delivered within 12 hours following the hearing.
Automatic Default: Should ICASA fail to meet these prescribed deadlines, the broadcaster is legally obligated to air the disputed material immediately.

This mechanism directly addresses the "running down the clock" tactic highlighted by the DA, which cited the 2024 national elections as a primary example. During that period, the party successfully challenged the SABC’s refusal to air specific advertisements, but the victory was rendered moot because the ruling arrived only after the election cycle had concluded.

Broadening Public Participation Beyond internal party disputes, the High Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to exclude members of the public and civil society organizations from challenging the censorship of political broadcasts. The court emphasized that the right to receive political information is essential to the South African electorate’s ability to make informed democratic choices.

Accountability for the Regulator The judgment serves as a stern rebuke to the regulatory body. The Court ordered ICASA to amend its defective regulations to align with constitutional standards. Additionally, the court awarded legal costs against ICASA and its chairperson, reinforcing that the regulator must operate transparently and without infringing upon protected political speech.

In its response, the DA stated that the ruling protects the fundamental rights of all political actors to reach voters. "Broadcasters cannot be permitted to suppress campaign material until an election is over," the party noted. "This judgment sends a clear message that political speech cannot be silenced through arbitrary decisions."

ICASA has not yet indicated whether it intends to appeal the judgment.

KASiBCAFRiCA©®™

NEWS • AUDIO • VIDEO • SPORTS • EVENTS • TOURS • STORES

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM

uThukela Water Crisis: DA Heads to High Court as Municipal Leadership Snubs Oversight

KASiBCAFRiCA©®™
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

uThukela Water Crisis: DA Heads to High Court as Municipal Leadership Snubs Oversight

By KasiBCAfrica_News

KASIBCAUDIO

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the uThukela District Municipality has initiated High Court proceedings against the municipality (Case No. 2026-162871) as part of an ongoing effort to address systemic service delivery failures and financial mismanagement.

Court Application Details

Case Number: 2026-162871.
Hearing Date: The matter is set down for the opposed roll on 19 October 2026.
Relief Sought: The DA is requesting that the High Court:
- Declare that the municipality has breached the constitutional rights of its residents by failing to provide reliable access to water.
- Place the municipality under administration in terms of Section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution, which includes the potential dissolution of the current Council.
- Establish ongoing court supervision to ensure compliance with any issued orders.

Core Allegations & Context

The DA’s application is supported by affidavits from residents across the district—including Ladysmith, Estcourt, Bergville, and Ezakheni—who cite frequent water shortages. The legal challenge highlights several long-standing governance concerns:

Financial Mismanagement: The party cites R1.314 billion in Unauthorized, Irregular, Fruitless, and Wasteful (UIFW) expenditure and nine consecutive years of disclaimed audit opinions.
The RASP Consultants Dispute: A protracted legal battle with RASP Consultants CC (Vivah Technologies) regarding unpaid water-sector work from 2019. This dispute previously led to the attachment of municipal bank accounts by the Sheriff in early 2026, which disrupted salary payments and essential service operations.
Service Delivery Collapse: Allegations that the municipality has consistently failed to meet the legal requirement of providing at least 25 liters of potable water per person per day, despite repeated warnings from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and official Blue/Green Drop reports.

Status of Municipality

While the DA is seeking a new intervention under Section 139(1)(c), the municipality has previously faced financial distress that required intervention under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). In March 2026, the Pietermaritzburg High Court ordered the upliftment of garnishee orders on municipal bank accounts to allow for the resumption of basic services and payroll after the RASP Consultants intervention.

The municipality maintains that it is working to implement a "budget funding plan" to address unfunded budgets and improve its audit standing. However, the DA asserts that the IFP-led administration is choosing to utilize public funds to defend against litigation rather than prioritizing the restoration of water services.

NEWS • AUDIO • VIDEO • SPORTS • EVENTS • TOURS • STORES

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM

EFF Accuses Ramaphosa Presidency of Corporate Capture Following R445M External Funding Disclosure

Accuses Ramaphosa Presidency of Corporate Capture Following R445M External Funding Disclosure

EFF Accuses Ramaphosa Presidency of Corporate Capture Following R445M External Funding Disclosure

By KasiBCAfrica News

KASIBCAUDIO

JOHANNESBURG — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has released a formal statement condemning what it describes as the corporate and imperialist capture of the Presidency under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The statement follows a parliamentary question submitted by EFF Deputy Secretary-General Hon. Leigh-Ann Mathys, which revealed that the Presidency of South Africa received R445.57 million in external private and foreign support over the past five financial years.

The EFF asserts that the influx of funds from private corporations, foreign governments, and billionaire-backed foundations undermines state sovereignty and systematically steers national economic policy toward market deregulation and privatization.

Key Funding Allocations Highlighted by the EFF

According to parliamentary figures supplied by the Presidency, external partner allocations across major presidential initiatives include:

Resource Mobilisation Fund (RMF): R180 million mobilized by business groups to support technical capacity for the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), and Joint Initiative on Crime and Corruption (JICC).
Just Energy Transition (JET) Unit: R95.6 million provided by the African Climate Foundation to fund technical operations and project management.
Digital Transformation Roadmap: R71.9 million, including R66 million from the Gates Foundation.
Operation Vulindlela: R56.3 million total, funded by Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), National Business Initiative (NBI), Yellowwoods, and international partners.
Presidential Youth Employment Intervention & Employment Stimulus: Over R41 million combined, funded by Yellowwoods, the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the DG Murray Trust.

EFF's Main Arguments Against External Funding

1. Corporate Dominance via Operation Vulindlela and BLSA

The EFF argues that contributions from Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) and investment groups like Yellowwoods create conflict of interest in structural reform programs such as Operation Vulindlela. The party claims that corporate interests are using these vehicles to drive market-opening policies in network industries like electricity, rail, and ports, which benefits private capital at the expense of public utilities like Eskom and Transnet.

2. Continuity from Shanduka Group and CR17 Campaign Funds

The party links current corporate influence to President Ramaphosa’s previous business career with the Shanduka Group and the unsealed financial disclosures of his 2017 ANC presidential campaign (CR17). The EFF contends that the same corporate actors who supported his political rise now enjoy direct policy access inside the Presidency.

3. Foreign Influence over Energy Policy and Sovereignty

The EFF strongly criticizes foreign climate and development funding for the Just Energy Transition (JET). The statement alleges that Western entities—including the European Union and international foundations—are pushing an energy transition model that risks weakening Eskom, threatening coal-sector jobs, and creating technological dependence on foreign corporations.

Presidency’s Position

In his official response to Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that external partner contributions are strictly regulated, transparently managed, and do not fund daily executive operations or baseline operational budgets. The Presidency maintained that technical and capacity-building partnerships with civil society, development finance institutions, and the private sector are vital for accelerating job creation, resolving infrastructure bottlenecks, and strengthening state implementation capacity.

NEWS • AUDIO • VIDEO • SPORTS • EVENTS • TOURS • STORES

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM

Sunday, 16 August 2026