GAUTENG SPORT AWARDS (GSA) AS CLOSING DATE LOOMS The 2023/24 year has witnessed outstanding sporting achievements by South African teams and athletes, many of whom are based in Gauteng. Events such as the recent Olympics, the Under 20 World Athletics Championships, the Rugby World Cup, the Netball World Cup, and football have brought joy and hope to many South Africans, showcasing success in both the field and administration of various sports. With only 09 days to go before the close of nominations for the 20204 Gauteng Sport Awards (GSA) nominees, the organisers of the Awards are calling for the public to finalise their submissions before closing day. Sports fans, federations, clubs and everybody are permitted to submit their nominations. Nominations should be based on achievements between August 1, 2023, and September 15, 2024, for Gauteng-based athletes, teams, clubs, and more. There are 20 unchanged awards categories from previous years including; Sportsperson of the Year, Pers...

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AMONGST TEACHERS @KASIBCNEWS The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes, with concern, the escalating mental health crisis among South Africa’s teachers. Our educators, the backbone of our nation’s future, are being overwhelmed by unbearable workloads, compounded by budget cuts that have left our classrooms understaffed. A recent study revealed that an overwhelming majority of teachers surveyed are in dire need of crisis intervention, including hotlines, counselling, and mentorship. The mental health toll on our teachers is a silent epidemic—one that is being ignored by a government that has cut funding for education at a time when our children need it most. In Gauteng alone, teachers are occupying more than half the beds in wellness centres due to stress-related issues, while teachers in KwaZulu-Natal are relying on anti-depressants just to cope with the demands of their profession. As more teachers leave the profession due to burnout and depression...

  PARLIAMENT  DEBATE ON THE PROPOSED ELECTRICITY  TARIFF INCREASES @KASIBCNEWS South Africans are a resilient people, and whilst we understand and even empathise with the current cost of living expenses that we are all experiencing, we find ourselves at a crossroads in so far as the recent decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to grant Eskom’s application to retrospectively recover R8 billion for the 2021/2022 financial year. The debate today to discuss this crucial matter in Parliament is unfortunately not  one the ANC relishes, as we understand the gravity of the situation and why it is imperative for this tariff increase to be effected. NERSA is the regulatory authority of the energy sector in South Africa and its mandate includes the regulation of the electricity supply industry. and thus, this Energy Regulator must regulate electricity prices and tariffs. In other words, its applicable by law that NERSA determines the tariffs that Esk...

MOTHER BREATHES SIGH OF RELIEF AS SON IS ADMITTED TO REHABILITATION CENTRE Jane Mtshwane, a resident of Ekangala, expressed her gratitude after her 39-year-old son was admitted for treatment at the Dr Fabian andFlorence Ribeiro Treatment Centre in Cullinan today. "As a family, we are relieved and grateful that my son got this opportunity. From my interaction with the staff, I feel confident that he’s in the right place to turn his life around", said Mshwane, as this marked a new beginning for his son, and is looking forward to the programme impacting his son and family positively. He son is amongst a group of individuals who were admitted today at the Dr Fabian and Florence Ribeiro Treatment Centre, which is 100% run by the Gauteng Department of Social Development. The youngest admission today was a 14-year-old boy. The admitted substance users, who are seeking support in their battle against drug addiction, represent a critical step in the Department’s ongoing efforts to p...

  Ekurhuleni’s Fight going to Parliament The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni is deeply concerned with the ongoing energy and water crises, particularly in Germiston, and has taken the fight for Ekurhuleni’s residents to Parliament. It has become clear that the city's electricity and water department is failing, with days of outages and no commitment from the Mayor to resolve the crisis. Some of the issues the municipality faces are: - Crippling staff shortages; - An inadequate maintenance budget; - Standby teams lack vehicles; - There is no funding available for essential repairs; and - Operating with staff levels of under 70%, while the metro welcomes new residents daily. Residents, pushed to breaking point, are threatening rates boycotts. Last week, the Mayor called a public meeting in Germiston's Ward 39 to address these concerns, but failed to attend, leaving the community deeply frustrated. Tempers flared, leading to a physical altercations and public representative...

BRANDWAG SOCIAL HOUSING (BSH) PROJECT In August, 12 2024 Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) issued a notice to all BSH tenants (occupiers), notably the notice sought to regularise tenants occupancy before and/or by September, 11 2024 in terms of Reg 9(2) of the Social housing regulations, and failure to do so, tenants were to voluntarily evacuate (vacate) the BSH unit on and/or by September, 25 2024.  Thus, can be interpreted that SHRA was to issue, an inspection notice and solicit police assistance as contemplated in Reg 30 of the social housing regulations, at least after the tenancy audit notice expires on September, 25 2024.  However, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality City Manager Sello More and Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi undermined SHRA tenancy audit by issuing another Regularisation Notice on its official Facebook page, that sought to do Door- to -Door tenancy audit (verification), starting on September, 09 2024, two (2) days before the expiry of SHRA tena...

  COJ ( CITY OF JOBURG  ) aggressive Cut-Off Operation to collect R1 Billion from Defaulters The City is set to aggressively collect R1billion from high defaulters in September 2024 as part of revenue collection.  Kgamanyane Maphologela, Director for Communications and Stakeholder Management, says the City is going after various categories of customers with huge municipal debt.  Among those targeted include directors of companies whose companies are contracted to the City as service providers, properties where the City pays rental and landlords owe the City municipal services, customers who sell and buy properties but owe the City, customers who are currently objecting or appealing the new values of their properties but have not paid the new increases, vacant land properties in arrears, equestrian properties, sectional tittle properties, property owners with debit  orders in which the City will deduct money from customers with credit or refund to settle the debt...

APPOINTMENT OF ZONDO COMMISSION EVIDENCE  LEADERS MATTHEW CHASKALSON AND PAUL PRETORIUS AS  CONSULTANTS IN THE NPA  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns the appointment of Advocate Matthew Chaskalson and Advocate Paul Pretorius as consultants in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the strongest terms. These appointments can only be characterised as gross collusion, opportunism, and undermining of the wheels of natural justice. In a move by the NPA to fast-track its prosecution of those who were implicated in allegations of corruption during the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, the NPA   has resorted to recruiting Chaskalson and Pretorius who were evidence leaders in the very same Commission, to now advise the NPA on how to proceed with prosecution on the evidence that they led and developed. Paul Pretorius served as the head of the legal team of the State Capture Commission, and specifically led evidence as it related to the operations o...

  SABC GHOST WORKERS ~ FOREIGNERS ETC SABC GE: News and Current Affairs, Moshoeshoe Monare has launched a “ghost workers” verification process at the public broadcaster.  The physical verification process will take from 19th of September 2024 from 09h00 to 14h00 until 26th September 2024.   A memo was sent to the staff last night.  The following information will be required on the day of verification:  Proof of Identity i.e. South African ID smart card. Bank Account confirmation Letter or Bank Statement not older than 2 months. A clear photo of an Independent Contractor holding proof of Identity must be submitted when verification is performed through Microsoft Teams (Video Call). This may be submitted to ndabenit@sabc.co.za prior verification. This follows months of the public broadcaster being under scrutiny for wasteful expenditure by paying “ghost workers” under the leadership of GE, Moshoeshoe Monare.  Last year in December, Monare went on live TV...

   SIU investigates Masilonyana's water pipeline The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Masilonyana Local Municipality welcomes the decision by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the refurbishment of the water pipeline from the Sandvet Canal to Brandfort. Despite the significant amounts spent on this project since its handover in July 2017, the Brandfort community continues to endure prolonged water shortages, often for days or even weeks. Water tankers are brought in as a temporary solution, but the needs of the community remain unmet, and the additional costs involved must be included in the investigation. We question who benefits from the community's ongoing hardships. The DA has posed detailed questions appropriately, yet these have been blatantly ignored by those responsible. We remain committed to ensuring transparent governance and value for money in municipal contracts. We pledge our full cooperation with any investigations that will lead to accountability an...

Galeshewe death reeks of foul play, demanding more from SAPS @KASIBCNEWS     17 SEPTEMBER 2024 The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will request the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola, to investigate the recent death of Lazarus Ikaneng “Pankie” Thomas, from Galeshewe, Kimberley, following reports of alleged negligence on the part of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The DA visited with Thomas’ family yesterday to convey our sympathy on his passing. According to his relatives, his decomposed body was found on his bed last week, after a foul smell prompted his neighbours to inspect his shack. The neigbours apparently informed the family that the shack was locked with a padlock from the outside, which they had to break to gain access to Thomas. Despite this indicating potential foul play, the police proceeded to register the death as being due to natural causes. Thomas’s death has sparked concern amongst the LGBTQI+ community regarding s...

Police on suspects arrested this week as part  of Operation Shanela               @KASIBCNEWS       17 SEPTEMBER 2024 Police have through their high density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA arrested 13 950 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 09 September ending Sunday, 15 September  2024. Through detectives and crime intelligence tracing operations, roadblocks as well as stop and searches - police have taken a bold and decisive approach in protecting the communities that they serve. All Shanela operations are led by the Provincial Commissioner of each province. Just this week alone, the following arrests were made: 2 673 wanted suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and business robberies were arrested 116 suspects were arrested for Murder 94 suspects were arrested for attempted murder 218 suspects were arrested for rape, 94 of them were arrested in the province o...

Presidency announces details of Special Official Funeral Category 2 in honour of  Former Minister Pravin Gordhan @KASIBCNEWS                                                                            17 SEPTEMBER 2024 The Presidency is able to announce that the funeral service for former Minister Pravin Gordhan will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban at 10h00 on Thursday, 19 September 2024. President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 in honour of the late struggle and Cabinet veteran who passed away on Friday, 13 September 2024, at the age of 75, following a period of illness. Mr Gordhan served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017. He also serve...