CALL FOR PROPOSALS : GOVERNMENT FUNDING NPO @KASIBCNEWS CLICK ON LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Bk24zPv4z0oROlSiiFqpc-TGwi-dN7o/view?usp=drivesdk 

IMPROVE MOTHER AND CHILD HYGIENE @KASIBCNEWS  The launch of the In Safe Hands training programme through a partnership between the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) and Dettol will go a long way in improving hygiene practices among mothers and children, focusing on reducing preventable infections linked to poor hygiene. According the Saving Mothers Report of 2020 – 2022, statistics show that for every 100,000 live births, 126 mothers lose their lives, while the National Department of Health Strategic Plan for 2020 – 2025 reports that there are 32 deaths per 1000 live births for children under five years. Someof these deaths are caused by infections, which could have been prevented through simple hygiene practices. The training which was unveiled among healthcare workers gathered at Melrose Arch today (03 October) will educate healthcare professionalssuch as nurses and midwives to empower pregnant women and new mothers with the knowledge to adopt better hygiene practices at home. ...

South African Human Settlements Priorities @KASIBCNEWS  Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, convened an important second meeting, yesterday, Thursday 03 October 2024, with Members of Executive Councils (MECs) responsible for Human Settlements across South Africa, focusing on the 2024/2025 human settlements priorities. This meeting, the second in the seventh administration, included mayors and MMCs for Human Settlements in metropolitan municipalities and representatives from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to tackle key critical areas, including prioritizing vulnerable groups in house allocation, the title deeds restoration programme, housing for military veterans, emergency housing, and an update on the Human Settlements White Paper. Comprehensive presentations were made on each of these critical areas, demonstrating the Minister's commitment to driving meaningful change in human settlements. This collaborative effort with MECs and SALGA represen...

SAPS MISSING AND STOLEN FIRE ARMS @KASIBCNEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) expresses serious concern over the alarming number of missing and stolen firearms from the South African Police Service (SAPS), as reported by the responsible Minister, Mr. Senzo Mchunu. In just six months, SAPS has lost a staggering 350 pistols, 5 R1 rifles, 12 R5 rifles, and 4 shotguns, effectively placing these dangerous weapons in the hands of criminals who continue to terrorise our communities.  These firearms will undoubtedly be used to perpetrate heinous crimes and exacerbate the rising rates of extortion and violence in our neighbourhoods. This troubling trend raises significant alarm, particularly when reflecting on the lessons of the past. In 2016, two former police colonels admitted to selling 2,000 firearms to criminal gangs, thereby disempowering both the community and the police in the fight against crime. With SAPS now losing 400 firearms in a short six-month span, it appears we...

58th Anniversary of Independence of The Kingdom of Lesotho @KasiBCNews  Speech by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the occasion of the Bicentenary of the Founding the Basotho Nation and the 58th Anniversary of Independence of The Kingdom of Lesotho, Friday, 04 October 2024, Maseru, Lesotho Programme Director, His Majesty, King Letsie III and Queen Mohato Seeiso,  The Right Honourable Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho,  Eminent Majesties, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,  The Deputy President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Honourable, Kembo Mohadi United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina J. Mohammed Honourable Ministers, Senior Government Officials, Members of the Media, Dumelang Basotho ba batle. It is an honour and a privilege to be invited to this auspicious occasion. I convey the well wishes of the people of South Africa to His Majesty and the people of Lesotho on the 58th anniversary of independence and the Bicentennial of t...

  STEINHOFF BIGGEST HEIST IN CORPORATE HISTORY GUILTY CONVICTIONS @KASIBCNEWS  The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the conviction of Former CFO of Steinhoff, Andries “Ben” la Grange who has been sentenced to a 10 year imprisonment, with 5 years suspended by the Pretoria Specialised Crimes Court.  He pleaded guilty and agreed to assist the state in its further prosecutions of other involved parties in South Africa’s largest corruption scandal to date.  This conviction is an improvement on the disappointing 5 year suspended sentence that was handed down last week to Dr. Gerhardus Diedricks Burger, another Steinhoff criminal who was charged with insider trading. His sentencing gives hope for stronger convictions against other involved parties still under prosecution in the Steinhoff corruption case, The punishment does not adequately mirror the devastating impact of Steinhoff’s fraud on workers and pensioners.  However, we are not to pretend that there is ...

SASSA Grant Distribution Changes @KASIBCNEWS The DA is calling for immediate action from the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, and relevant stakeholders regarding the recent changes in the distribution of SASSA grants that are causing significant distress among beneficiaries, particularly older persons. The phased withdrawal of cash distribution by Postbank and Post Offices has led to many SASSA grant recipients being turned away, as the transition from SASSA gold cards to the new Postbank black cards has not been effectively communicated.  This lack of information has left vulnerable individuals uncertain about how to access their grants. While the SASSA gold cards remain valid for use - even after their expiry until the end of the year - this critical detail seems to not have reached the staff at Post Offices or the beneficiaries who rely on these services.  We are deeply concerned about the potential hardships this may cause, especially for those already facin...

Joburg’s Cycling Awareness Ride @KASIBCNEWS The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Transport and Pedal Power Association (PPA) are using October Transport Month to promote cycling safety on Joburg roads. On Sunday 6 October 2024 the first City of Joburg, Safe Cycling Awareness Ride will take place at 08:00 from Metro Park Braamfontein, corner Mandela Bridge and Carr Street. The 25km ride aims to highlight the importance of both cyclists and motorists being able to share the road safely, cyclists’ vulnerability to accidents including good behaviour and obeying the rules of the road. As the number of cyclists continues to grow, it is crucial to ensure that both cyclists and motorists are aware of the best practices for sharing the road safely. The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero says, “We are committed to making Johannesburg a safer city for everyone. This campaign is a step towards ensuring that cyclists can enjoy their rides on the road and use our bicycle l...

R.I.P Kwaito Star Siphiwe General GTZ” SibisSi @KASIBCNEWS Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mr. Matome Chiloane, has expressed sadness at the passing of Kwaito music star Siphiwe Sibisi (49), who died on Sunday after hospitalization and major surgery. Siphiwe Sibisi, affectionately known as General GTZ, is the remaining member of the Kwaito Group Chiskop, which was formed in 1998. The group consisted of Mduduzi Tshabalala, also known as Mandoza, Sibusiso Thanjekwayo, known as SB Bless, Siphiwe Sibisi, known as General GTZ, and Sizwe Motaung, known as Lollipop.  The group released two albums: "Akusheshi" in 1998 and "Relax" in 1999. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of musician General GTZ. His influence on the sound of kwaito was unique, and his contribution to his group Chiskop helped them achieve great success, placing them at the forefront of Kwaito." "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and a...

GAUTENG SCOPA FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES @KASIBCNEWS  Yesterday (Tuesday, 01 October 2024), the Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), chaired by Honourable John Moodey, convened for its annual breakaway session to review critical audit outcomes and public financial management practices within the Gauteng Provincial Government.  The session focused on ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective oversight of government expenditure, with presentations from several key stakeholders. The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) presented audit findings for the 2023/24 financial year, revealing significant levels of irregular expenditure across departments such as Human Settlements, Health and Wellness; and Roads and Transport.  Human Settlements alone recorded R3.919 billion in irregular expenditure, much of it due to non-compliance with procurement regulations and weak internal controls.  The Committee expressed concern o...

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON EFF LEADER IN GAUTENG @KASIBCNEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) strongly condemns the attempted assassination of our Gauteng Chairperson, Commissar Nkululeko Dunga, which took place in the early hours of this morning. This attack on his life occurred at his home, where his family, including his partner, two children and elderly grandmother, were present. At approximately 12am, suspicious footsteps were heard on the roof, prompting Commissar Dunga’s son to request a security check. By 2am, security personnel, while conducting his rounds, were ambushed and shot at by armed intruders who had positioned themselves on the roof.  The security guard returned fire, engaging with at least three shooters before eight heavily armed assailants fled the scene by jumping over the wall. For two hours, these men lay in wait, ready to carry out what was clearly a coordinated and premeditated attempt on the life of a revolutionary leader. Fortunately, no one’s li...

Prisoners Electric Shocking by Wardress @KASIBCNEWS  SAPOHR is Angered, Shocked and Outraged about the death of a Female Prisoner at Jhb a Female Prison, through Electric Shocking by Wardress The South African PRISONERS ORGANISATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (SAPOHR), is fuming after we learned of the sudden death of Female Prisoner, /Revo/ the .late Ayanda Jandisa Mkhize at the hands of those who were entrusted with the official duties to safe guard her protect and keep her , at Jhb Female Prison, whilst she serve her duties to the community she violated, says Golden Miles Bhudu, National spokesperson of SAPOHR SAPOHR was contacted by a family member an hour ago via a Whats-Up note (find attached),and was informed of this tragic incident, where the late Ms. Ayanda Jandisa Mkhize, who was found with a cellular phone during a random strip search, and was isolated from the rest of her fellow inmates, taken to an isolated spot and shocked with Electric Wires as a form of torture to confess ...

Tswaing Municipality placed under Section 139(5) Provincial Administration @KASIBCNEWS  The ANC-run Tswaing Municipality completely disregards being placed under Section 139(5) Provincial Administration for a financial recovery process since August 2021. The intervention was to restore good financial management and governance practices towards improving service delivery to residents; however, continuous cadre deployment and a complete indifference to due processes further contribute to the financial distress and imminent collapse of the municipality. During a council meeting held yesterday in Tswaing Local Municipality, ANC councillors once again abused their majority by appointing former ANC Speaker and current Acting Corporate Services Director, Mr. Boorman Phutiagae, as the new acting Municipal Manager (MM), despite objections raised by DA Councillors. Mr. Phutiagae will be the fourth acting MM in Tswaing since the appointed MM, Mr. Deon Mere, was suspended in April 2024, pendin...

MINISTER STEENHUISEN’S 100 DAYS FAILURE @KASIBCNEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns the flagrant incompetence and corruption of Democratic Alliance’s (DA) John Steenhuisen, the Minister of Agriculture, who, within the first 100 days of holding office, has failed to appoint qualified staff.  He continues to cling onto his cadre deployments—appointments of his unqualified cronies and white supremacists—while trying to bend the rules to push them through. Steenhuisen's request for a deviation from the minimum appointment requirements for his candidates shows his blatant disregard for the rules that govern public office appointments. His nominations of Annette Steyn, Una Christians, Charity McCord, and Mr. Kruger are an insult to the hardworking and qualified South Africans who are being overlooked in favour of Steenhuisen’s politically connected friends.  Three of these four candidates only possess matric certificates and do not meet the minimum academic q...

GAUTENG E-TOLL DEBT INSTALLMENT R3.8 BILLION @KASIBCNEWS  In his 2022 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, the Minister of Finance, Honourable Enoch Godongwana made the following policy pronouncement on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project popularly known as E-Toll: “to resolve the funding impasse the Gauteng provincial government has agreed to contribute 30 per cent to settling SANRAL’s debt and interest obligations, while national government covers 70 per cent”. In the Budget Speech in March this year, Gauteng Provincial Treasury announced that as part of the province’s arrangements to service the debt, a provision for honouring this commitment has been pencilled into the 2024 fiscal framework. This was followed by the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Gauteng Provincial Government and the National Treasury for the province to honour the debt and the maintenance portion for the E-Toll debt. The obligation to service this debt has necessitated the implementatio...

COGTA COMMITTEE CALLS FOR STABILITY FOLLOWING REMOVAL OF TSHWANE MAYOR @KASIBCNEWS The Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), chaired by Hon. Mzi Khumalo, has taken note of the removal of the Tshwane Mayor and calls for urgent action to ensure stability in the City of Tshwane during this transitional period. As the oversight body responsible for promoting good governance, the Portfolio Committee urges the Department of CoGTA. to take immediate steps to ensure that the upcoming mayoral election is conducted within the 14-day legal timeframe and that  all necessary measures are in place to maintain municipal operations without disruption. The Department must play a proactive role in supporting the City’s governance structures during this period of change. Chairperson Khumalo emphasized that it is critical for the Department to ensure there are no delays in service delivery, to strengthen internal governance, and to maintain stability in collab...