OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI FOUNDATION OFFICES

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI FOUNDATION OFFICES

Durban – The Trustees of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Foundation is honoured to announce that the Foundation’s Offices will officially open its doors to the public on Saturday, 30 August 2025.

The Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Foundation aims to preserve the enduring legacy of the late HRH Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. A legacy of a lifelong commitment to servant leadership, education, community development, and the preservation of our cultural heritage.

             ADVERTS @R500.00

The official opening of the Foundation’s Offices will bring together leaders, dignitaries, and members of the community, just days after Shenge’s birthday, to celebrate the vision and legacy of one of South Africa’s greatest statesmen.

The Chairperson of the Foundation, Hon Velenkosini Hlabisa MP, will preside over the official opening, and deliver the keynote address.

Venue: Prince Mangosuthu Foundation Offices, Signal Hill, Durban Date: Saturday, 30 August 2025

Time: 11:30 for 12:00

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

121 DOCKETS RETURNED POLITICAL KILLINGS TASK TEAM

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

121 DOCKETS RETURNED POLITICAL KILLINGS TASK TEAM 

The Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, notes the statement made by the National Commissioner of Police, General Masemola on the sidelines of the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference, regarding the return of 121 dockets to the Political Killings Task Team. This follows the allegations by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner that dockets had been taken from the Task Team. 

Shortly after his appointment, Professor Cachalia requested the National Commissioner to furnish him with a detailed report on the Task Team - a report which is yet to be submitted. 

On the 13th of July 2025, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the allegations made by the Provincial Commissioner concerning the Task Team and other related matters. 

In response to the statement made by the National Commissioner, Professor Cachalia stated the following: “I was appointed by the President to ensure the integrity of the SAPS during this difficult time and build public trust in this vitally important organisation. I recognise that the allegations made in relation to the Political Killings Task Team are of immense public interest. 

            ADVERTS @R500.00

The Political Killings Task Team is at the centre of the allegations made by the Provincial Commissioner and will be dealt with by the Commission. It is a concern therefore that steps are being taken in relation to this matter before the Commission has had a chance to investigate the issues surrounding the Task Team. I have requested the National Commissioner to submit his report without further delay.”

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

NEW MAYOR FOR BEAUFORT WEST

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

NEW MAYOR FOR BEAUFORT WEST 

After recent turmoil that has disrupted Beaufort West, the DA is proud to announce the election of Gina Duimpies as new DA Mayor of the Municipality at today’s Council meeting. 

Gina was elected unopposed.

Having 30 years of service as a police captain, she brings valuable leadership experience and a steady hand to municipal governance. Since July 2024 she has served as a Ward Councillor and Deputy Mayor, before serving as Acting Mayor over the last two months.

With the recent election of the DA’s Elvico Links as the new Speaker and now Mayor Duimpies, restoration is on the horizon for Beaufort West.

Residents bore the brunt of the recent political sabotage, but that ends, now.

With her proven track record of public service, Gina – together with the new DA caucus – will provide stability, uninterrupted service delivery and continuity in moving the municipality forward.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

THE UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND HONOURS MINISTER BLADE NZIMANDE

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

THE UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND HONOURS MINISTER BLADE NZIMANDE

On Tuesday, 26 August 2025, the University of Zululand  hosted a historic ceremony which saw the unveiling and naming of three world class buildings.

These include a newly constructed Engineering building, new 442 beds, the refurbished Madiba House and the Richards Bay Lodge.

One of the highlights of the ceremony included the *naming of the Engineering department at the Richards Bay campus in honour of the current Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande.

The University of Zululand decided to honour Minister Nzimande for his *“contribution to education and development.

Expressing his gratitude at this gesture, Minister Nzimande indicated how humbled he was and that he never imagined that “as a boy from Dambuza, he would ever have his name inscribed on the building of a university.” 

Minister Nzimande also participated in the naming of the other two buildings. The one building was named after South Africa’s globally recognised icon and first democratic President, *Mr. Nelson Mandela* and the other was named after *Mr. Vuyani Cyril Gamede*, a celebrated and pioneering black engineer and former Chairperson of the Council of University of Zululand.

Delivering the keynote address at this ceremony, Minister Nzimande stated that “As government, our investments in infrastructure are not just about expanding access and creating a conducive world-class environment where students can learn and innovate.

We also hope that these investments will inspire our students and academics to not simply see themselves as consumers of the knowledge that is produced by others, but to also see themselves as knowledge producers in their own right.

This of course resonates with your purpose- statement as a university that of positioning yourself as ‘A Node for African Thought’.”

Highlighting the importance of having an engineering department in the Mhlathuze District, Minister Nzimande stated that “Under apartheid, black people were not allowed to study engineering and were given the type of education that sought to prepare them for subservient roles in society. It is therefore important that we share this history with our young people so that they can have a deeper appreciation for the opportunities they now enjoy.

Furthermore, as the host of the largest aluminum smelter in the Southern Hemisphere, Mhlathuze plays a critical role in the facilitation of export of coal and metals, and the operation of the world's largest dedicated coal export terminal.

Through the Richards Bay port, this District is making a significant contribution in the area of minerals and metals, chemicals, and agro-processing, all of which are key drivers of local economic development, job creation, skills development, technology transfer, and international trade.

To maintain and enhance these economic advantages and to increasingly use them to address the economic needs communities in this District will require new technological know-how and skills and some of the most important competencies reside in the engineering field.

Therefore, your decision to build this Engineering department in this particular district is profoundly visionary."

Minister Nzimande also used the occasion to appeal to the students and broader university community to look after the newly built buildings and urged them “to never forget that these new buildings are for you and future generations, and you have a shared responsibility to make sure that they are well looked after. This is to make sure that, in a few years from now, the children of this area who are still in primary and high school can also come here to pursue their academic dreams.”

 MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Hundreds of beds without the right linen at Baragwanath Hospital

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

 ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

Hundreds of beds without the right linen at Baragwanath Hospital 

An astounding 860 beds at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBH) do not have a full set of linen - this increases the infection risk, is undignified and uncomfortable for patients, it delays bed turnaround times, and it increases the burden on nursing and cleaning staff.

This is disclosed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

According to the MEC, each hospital bed should have a minimum of five full sets per linen category to allow for rotational use (on bed, in laundry, in storage, in transit, and in contingency stock).

The linen categories are as follows:

• Flat sheets

• Fitted sheets

• Blankets

• Pillowcases

• Counterpanes/bedcovers

• Patient gowns/pyjamas

Each bed should have 2 sheets (1 fitted, 1 flat), a blanket, pillowcase, a counterpane or bedcover, and one patient gown/pyjama per day.

There should ideally be 14 440 stocks of each linen category for the 2888 beds at the hospital, but whereas there are 14 902 flat sheets and 17 524 blankets, there are zero (0) fitted sheets, and only 10 239 pyjamas, 4517 counterpanes, and 1272 pillowcases.

The department says that about 650 beds have only one sheet "due to rotation pressure and supply constraints".

This confirms what I saw when I visited the hospital last month - see photos here, and here.

I wonder how they cope with no fitted sheets and only 1272 pillowcases for 2888 beds.

Previously, the department denied any linen shortage, but now it admits the severe shortage at CHBH. They blame obsolete laundry machines, delays in finalising a bulk linen purchase, a high patient load which accelerates linen wear and usage, and linen losses due to damage and delays in washing soiled items.

They say efforts are being made to get emergency stock, and the hospital expects full linen adequacy by the first quarter of next year "contingent on tender conclusion and funding flow".

This is not good enough. Of particular concern is the risk of infection, which is already high with 1796 hospital-acquired infections at CHBH out of 31 985 admissions last year.

It should not take six months to buy more linen. The inability to fix this simple problem shows incredibly poor management.

The DA will continue to expose linen shortages by visiting hospitals and asking follow up questions in the Legislature which hopefully force them to resolve it.

A DA-run administration would ensure adequate linen stocks and reassess the reliance on inefficient and unreliable provincial laundries, with more use of cost-efficient private laundries to ensure that hospitals always have clean linen.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ADDRESS AT THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATIONS FUND AND GLOBAL LEADERS NETWORK ON INVESTING IN PEACE : HEALTH FOR ADOLESCENT YOUTH AND WOMEN AT THE TICAD SUMMIT

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA 

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ADDRESS AT THE  UNITED NATIONS POPULATIONS FUND AND GLOBAL LEADERS NETWORK ON  INVESTING IN PEACE : HEALTH FOR ADOLESCENT YOUTH AND WOMEN AT THE TICAD SUMMIT

Excellencies, distinguished Heads of State and Government,

Acting Executive Director of UNFPA Diene Keita,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Development Partners and Agencies,

Partners from civil society,

Friends from the private sector,

 

It is an honour to stand before you as the chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, alongside fellow members Ethiopia and Nigeria. 

 

The Global Leaders Network is a coalition of heads of state and government united by the conviction that the health, dignity and potential of women, children and adolescents are the cornerstones of a fair, prosperous and peaceful world.

 

The reality that we must confront is that too many women still die in childbirth of preventable causes. 

 

Too many children and adolescents still suffer and die from illnesses we know how to prevent or treat. 

 

These are not inevitable tragedies.

 

Just as every avoidable death is a policy and administrative failure, every life saved is the result of political will.

 

The Global Leaders Network commits at the highest political level to keeping the voices of the most vulnerable alive in the halls of power. 

 

The moral imperative is clear: no woman, child or adolescent should die of preventable causes.

 

We must stand firm against the reversals we are witnessing in sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

 

We believe that every woman has autonomy over her sexuality and reproductive choices. Every adolescent should get comprehensive sexual education. Every person should be free from sexually transmitted diseases. 

 

To translate conviction into action, the Global Leaders Network has identified three priorities for immediate and sustained focus.

 

First, as countries advance universal health coverage, we must place women, children and adolescents at the centre of its design and implementation. 

 

Health services need to be safe, effective, compassionate and responsive to the lived realities of those who need them most. 

 

Our second priority is to increase investment in women’, children’s and adolescents’ health. 

 

As official development assistance is cut, many countries are pursuing domestic resource mobilisation as a sustainable health financing solution. 

 

However, we must continue to foster the principle of solidarity through multilateral financing solutions. This includes the consideration of a gap financing mechanism to address the needs of countries and communities most affected by the withdrawal of official development assistance. 

 

Our third priority is to uphold sexual and reproductive health rights. 

 

The data is clear: a lack of access to safe abortion leads to higher incidents of deaths, costly complications and permanent damage leading to infertility. 

 

I call on governments, financing institutions, development partners, civil society and the private sector to push forward towards 2030 with the following convictions:

 

Firstly, reaffirm and protect funding for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health as a core pillar of development cooperation, even amid shifting global priorities.

 

Secondly, integrate health into broader development and climate strategies, recognising that resilient health systems are essential for adaptation, recovery and long-term sustainability.

 

Thirdly, continue to invest in innovation and digital health solutions that bridge gaps in access, particularly for rural and marginalised communities.

 

Finally, ensure accountability, so that commitments translate into measurable improvements in survival, well-being and equity.

 

The cost of inaction on these issues will be counted not only in lives lost, but in futures diminished, communities destabilised and economic opportunities foregone. 

 

But the benefits of bold, coordinated action will build social and economic prosperity for generations.

 

Women, children and adolescents must be our priority, for they represent the future that we are all working so hard to secure.

 

I thank you.

 MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

EFF SUBMISSIONS DURING THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE ALLEGATIONS OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL NHLANHLA MKHWANAZI

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA \

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

EFF SUBMISSIONS DURING THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE ALLEGATIONS OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL NHLANHLA MKHWANAZI

A. INTRODUCTION

1. On Monday, 18 August 2025, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) participated in the second sitting of the Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate the allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The meeting commenced at 11:00AM and concluded after a full day of deliberations, ending in the evening shortly after 8:00PM.

2. The Committee’s task was to consider and adopt Terms of Reference that would guide its work. The EFF had submitted its written proposals on 8 August 2025, in line with the agreement of the Committee, ensuring that its inputs were available for all members to engage with during the drafting process.

3. This pamphlet provides a detailed account of the EFF’s submissions, how the Party engaged the proposals of other political parties, and the interventions made to protect the integrity of the Committee’s work.

B. EFF SUBMISSIONS: SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSALS

4. The EFF’s submissions were substantive, comprehensive, and rooted in the principles of accountability, independence, and transparency. All substantive proposals were accepted by the majority of the Committee. The following key amendments and insertions were advanced:

4.1. Expand the scope of the enquiry: The Terms of Reference must not only address the allegations made by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi but also investigate systemic governance failures within the South African Police Service (SAPS), Metro Police divisions, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), judiciary, and correctional services.

4.2. Collusion between state and criminal syndicates: The Committee must specifically probe allegations of collusion between politicians, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, and organised criminal syndicates.

4.3. Accountability of organs of state: Insert a clause allowing the Committee to investigate any failure by organs of state or members of the executive to comply with their legal obligations and to recommend remedial action.

4.4. Allegations against Members of Parliament: Ensure the scope explicitly covers allegations made against Members of Parliament linked to criminal syndicates.

4.5. Witnesses: Extend the framework to allow incarcerated persons to be called as witnesses and to provide that all witnesses may have legal assistance either privately or through Legal Aid.

4.6. Independent evidence leader: Insist on the appointment of external senior counsel with proven experience to serve as evidence leader, rather than relying on Parliamentary Legal Services, which lack independence and credibility.

4.7. Transparency and public participation: Strengthen provisions to ensure meetings are open to the public, broadcast on Parliament’s YouTube channel and other platforms, while balancing this with the need to protect classified or sensitive information.

4.8. Handling of Classified Documents:

C. ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES

5. The EFF engaged the submissions of other political parties constructively, supporting those that strengthened the work of the Committee and opposing those that were misguided or opportunistic.

ANC Proposals – Change of mandate: The ANC proposed replacing the word investigate with enquire, thereby diluting the Committee’s powers.

EFF objection – This was firmly rejected. The National Assembly resolution clearly mandated the Committee to investigate. Any attempt to weaken this language undermines Parliament’s resolution and the constitutional responsibility to hold the executive to account.

ANC proposal – Methodology and witnesses: The ANC proposed that the Committee’s approach and witnesses be determined primarily on the basis of Lt Gen Mkhwanazi’s evidence.

EFF objection: The EFF argued this would narrow the scope improperly. While his evidence was the trigger, the enquiry must examine the broader systemic crisis affecting policing, prosecution, and governance.

ANC Proposal – Parliamentary Legal Services as evidence leaders: The ANC argued that Parliamentary Legal Services should serve as evidence leaders, citing efficiency and cost-saving.

EFF objection – The EFF rejected this on grounds of independence and impartiality.

Parliamentary staff are structurally accountable to the Speaker and the ANC Chief Whip. Their involvement would compromise credibility. The Committee agreed instead that external senior counsel with relevant expertise must be appointed.

The EFF also noted that while some proposals from the DA tended to repeat or over expand on matters already covered, they were not objectionable. Proposals from MKP were largely administrative in nature and immaterial to the substantive issues except the matter of handling classified information.

Where information submitted to the Committee points to classified documents that conceal or relate to criminality within the scope of the enquiry, the Committee must assist with the necessary legal processes to have such documents declassified.

Parliament, as an organ of state mandated to hold the executive accountable, cannot allow classification to be used as a shield against exposure of wrongdoing. The Committee must therefore be empowered to facilitate declassification in a lawful manner so that all relevant evidence can be interrogated transparently and thoroughly.

D. DEFENCE OF PROPER PROCESS

6. During the course of the 10-hour meeting, an attempt was made to adopt the Terms of Reference without members having sight of the final consolidated document.

The EFF intervened decisively, objecting to such a move. The Party insisted that no Terms of Reference should be adopted unless every member had read, interrogated, and understood the final draft.

7. This objection carried the support of other political parties, and the Chairperson had to concede. The EFF reminded the Committee that the credibility of its work rests on thoroughness and fairness, particularly given the magnitude of the allegations before it.

E.OUTCOME OF THE MEETING

8. The outcome of the 18 August 2025 sitting was clear:

8.1. No Terms of Reference were adopted.

8.2. A further urgent meeting will be convened to consider and adopt a final draft.

8.3. The Committee resolved to secure the services of external senior counsel as evidence leader, in line with the EFF’s proposal.

8.4. Members raised concerns, led by the EFF, about the poor quality of back-office support, which reinforced the need for independent legal expertise.

F.CONCLUSION AND CALL TO THE PUBLIC

9. The Economic Freedom Fighters reaffirm their commitment to engaging the Ad Hoc Committee with seriousness and determination. The Committee has a historic responsibility to investigate the allegations raised by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi, which touch on organised crime, political interference, and systemic governance failures.

10. The EFF calls on all members of society to take active interest in the work of the Committee. The meetings are open and broadcast live on Parliament’s YouTube channel and selected media platforms. Citizens must follow these proceedings, as the outcomes will have significant implications for policing, justice, and accountability in South Africa.

11. The EFF will continue to play its role without fear or favour, ensuring that the

truth is brought to light and that accountability is upheld.

 MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

THE UNITED STATES’ INTERFERENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S RELATIONS WITH IRAN AND RAMAPHOSA’S INTERFERENCE WITH THE MILITARY

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA 

 ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

THE UNITED STATES’ INTERFERENCE IN SOUTH
AFRICA’S RELATIONS WITH IRAN AND RAMAPHOSA’S INTERFERENCE WITH
THE MILITARY

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the recent reports that the United States government has expressed “great concern” and is demanding clarity from South Africa regarding the visit by the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) General Rudzani Maphwanya to the Islamic Republic of Iran. We reject, with contempt, this arrogant posture by the United States, which presumes that South Africa owes it explanations for its sovereign diplomatic and military engagements. Equally we are appalled by our government’s interference with the work of the Military – this is a conduct unbecoming of a constitutional state.

South Africa is an independent nation and we reserve the right to pursue trade, economic, diplomatic, and military relations with whomever we deem fit, including Iran. South Africa with Iran belongs to the grouping of the BRICS countries that collaborate on social political and military matters. The enemies of the United States do not automatically constitute themselves as the enemies of South Africa, nor will our engagements be dictated by their shifting hostilities. This particular engagement with Iran was planned well before current tensions, dating back to 2024, and cannot be dismissed on the basis of temporary geopolitical disputes between the United States and Iran.

The hypocrisy of the United States is laid bare in its audacity to question South Africa’s sovereign choices. The same United States openly provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, a settler-colonial regime engaged in genocide against the people of Palestine, and to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, a nation with which South Africa maintains friendly relations. At no point has South Africa demanded an explanation or threatened its relations with the United States for arming those who kill and oppress our allies. Yet they presume that they can police our engagements with Iran, a

sovereign state which has consistently stood on the side of Palestine and the

oppressed.

It is now clear why President Cyril Ramaphosa distanced himself from this visit, presenting it as if the Chief of the SANDF had gone rogue. In reality, he sought to downplay the engagement, anticipating America’s displeasure and bending once more to the need to appease Donald Trump. This cowardly behaviour is consistent with the behaviour he displayed when he was in the Oval Office, unable to assert South Africa’s independence in the face of imperial arrogance. Ramaphosa’s actions expose a leadership that is timid and incapable of defending the dignity of our nation.

The most concerning issue in this regard is the apparent political interference with the military by the President and his executive. We support the independence of the military whose activities cannot be dictated to by politicians including their commander in chief. We reject calls for the Military to enter the diplomatic realm by of meting out any apology as part of aiding a spineless approach that Ramaphosa has demonstrated so far in his dealings with the United States.

The EFF reaffirms its support for Iran’s right to self-defence against imperialist aggression and for its role as an ally of Palestine in the struggle against Israeli genocide. South Africa must not succumb to bullying and intimidation from the United States. We must continue to engage freely with Iran and all other nations we choose to, without reducing our foreign policy to the emotions of Donald Trump or any other American president.

General Rudzani Maphwanya, the Chief of SANDF, must firmly reject any attempts by politicians to control our Army. His primary constitutional responsibility is to safeguard the people of South Africa, not to appease political agendas. Now is the critical moment for the SANDF forces to assert their presence, particularly as South Africa grapples with a leadership crisis contributing to soaring levels of poverty, rampant corruption, alarming unemployment rates, and a rising cost of living.

The United States must face the reality that the era of unilateral global dominance is over. The world is shifting towards a multipolar order, where nations engage with each other as equals, not as subordinates of Washington. The EFF, therefore, calls on the South African government to remain firm and principled, and to assert our right to determine our diplomatic, economic, and military relations.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

SIX ACCUSED ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN THE RHINO HORN TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE APPEARED IN COURT

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

SIX ACCUSED ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN THE RHINO HORN TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE APPEARED IN COURT

Six accused persons who are alleged to be involved in the rhino trafficking syndicate, John Frederick Hume (83), Former founder and owner of the Platinum Rhino Conservation Enterprise. Clive John Mervan Melville (63), Transport Maintenance Manager. Izak Hermanus Du Toit (50) Practicing attorney. Elizabeth Catharina Van Niekerk (58), Director of a non-profit organisation. Mattheus Hendrikus Wessels Poggenpoel (37), Insurance Broker and part time farmer and Johannes Abraham Hennop (52) Game Reserve Manager were all granted bail by the Pretoria Magistrates court.  

Hume was granted R100 000 bail, Melville and Van Niekerk were each granted R10 000 bail while Hermanus Du Toit, Poggenpoel and Hennop were each granted R20 00 bail.  

They are collectively facing a total of 55 charges of multiple counts of racketeering, fraud, contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NAMBA), contravention of contravention of Riotous Assemblies Act, theft and money laundering 

It is alleged that between 2017 and 2024, the accused operated an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate and defrauded the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE). They allegedly obtained permits to trade rhino horn locally, while intending to channel the horns into illegal international markets in Southeast Asia. 

The fraudulent scheme is estimated to involve 964 rhino horns valued at R250 million.

After intensive investigations by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (DPCI) Wildlife Trafficking Section of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, based at national headquarters, the six handed themselves over at the Pretoria Central Police Station on 19 August 2025, where they were formally arrested.

During bail proceedings, they all asked to be released on bail because they are not flight risk, they cooperated with the police investigations. Through their affidavits accused no 2 Melville disclosed to the court that he has 2019 previous conviction fraud and being in possession and transporting Rhino horns where he was sentenced to pay a fine. Accused no 5 Poggenpoel also disclosed to the court that he has 2009 previous conviction of possession of a Rhino horn where he paid an admission of guilt fee of R2500. Poggenpoel also disclosed that he has a pending case that will be appearing on 17 September 2025 at Winburg Magistrates’ Court because during the visit to his residence, the investigation team found ammunition that was not locked away in a safe and supposedly scheduled medicine without a permit.  

The state, Advocate Patsy Jacobs read into the record an affidavit by the investigating officer Edward Du Plessis, confirming that the State did not oppose bail as the accused were not flight risks, their addresses had been verified, and they had cooperated with investigators. The State, however, requested bail conditions.

The court granted bail with the following conditions:

• All accused must surrender their passports and may not apply for new travel documents while the matter is pending.

• They must report to their nearest police station once a week.

• They may not interfere with investigations, tamper with evidence, or influence witnesses.

• They must not commit any offences while on bail.

The matter was postponed to 09 December 2025 in Court 16 for further investigations.

 MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

PUBLIC STATEMENTS MADE BY CDE MALUSI GIGABA AND CDE SENZO MCHUNU

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

PUBLIC STATEMENTS MADE BY CDE MALUSI GIGABA AND CDE SENZO MCHUNU 

The African National Congress has noted with serious concern and disapproval the recent conduct and public statements made by Cde Malusi Gigaba and Cde Senzo Mchunu. Their conduct represents a flagrant violation of ANC internal communication protocols and undermines the fundamental discipline of the movement. 

These comrades acted outside of any sanctioned organisational mandate or collective structure making pronouncements that amount to deliberate de-campaigning of the ANC. Their remarks do not reflect the views of any legitimate structure of the movement and must be seen as an opportunistic assault on the collective image, credibility, and cohesion of the African National Congress. 

The ANC categorically states that it is a revolutionary movement guided by democratic centralism principles and led through disciplined structures. No comrade, regardless of their history or standing is above the requirements of organisational discipline. 

These comrades are casting aspersions on the character and unity of the ANC, portraying the organisation as divided, incoherent and collapsing. These actions serves only the strategic agenda of counter-revolution and weakens the people’s confidence in their movement. No disciplined comrade would out of their own volition make statements that embolden forces that have long sought to reverse the gains of our revolution. Communications in the ANC is a constitutional mandate of the Secretary-General, these powers are entrusted to the National Spokesperson for operational purposes. Any deviation from this established protocol undermines internal cohesion, unity and renewal. 

The ANC will take the necessary steps to correct this behaviour and no comrade will be exempt from the discipline of the organisation which demands unity, discipline, and revolutionary morality from all. As we advance the programme of renewal in the ANC and society, we must intensify our efforts to serve our people with humility and dignity. 

The renewal programme cannot co-exist with ill-discipline; we have no tolerance for conduct that seeks to weaken the collective. 

We call on all members and leaders of our movement to return to the basic principles and values of our movement, and be committed to respecting the integrity and sanctity of our organisational processes. 

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

COPS MOONLIGHTING AS TAXI BOSSES WILL BE PROSECUTED

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

COPS MOONLIGHTING AS TAXI BOSSES WILL BE PROSECUTED

We received complaints and allegations that certain police officials are involved in the taxi industry and that they and their spouses/partners are operating taxis.

Police officials, as custodians responsible for the enforcement of the National Land Transport Act (NLTA), cannot be involved in the “taxi industry”.

Based on the provisions of section 13 of the NLTA, no police official, his or her spouse are allowed to own taxis. Police officers and their spouses therefore commit an offence should they own taxis or otherwise are involved in the public transport industry.

They also contravene the National Instruction 18 of 2019: Integrity Management in the South African Police Service. All police officials are well aware of this national instruction and are sensitised on a frequent basis of integrity management.

If any police official is found to be involved in a prohibited industry, such as the transport or security sector, a disciplinary investigation must be initiated for the purpose of remedial steps.

Where there are allegations, suspicions or complaints that police officers (or their spouse, partners and/or immediate family) are involved in the public transport industry and there is sufficient information available, line managers/commanders must immediately institute internal disciplinary processes and where applicable also register criminal case dockets.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Qalakabusha Prison Bakery stands idle while Minister speaks of self-sustainability

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

 ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

Qalakabusha Prison Bakery stands idle while Minister speaks of self-sustainability

During an oversight visit to Qalakabusha Correctional Centre in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, on 14 August 2025, the DA found that the prison’s bakery — built with the facility’s own labour and resources — remains idle despite assurances earlier this year that it would be operational. View images here, here, here and here. View video here. 

The DA calls on the Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, to prioritise the immediate installation of bakery equipment at Qalakabusha; provide an implementation timeline for making the bakery fully operational; and conduct a site visit to see firsthand the consequences of his Department’s neglect.

The findings of the oversight are particularly troubling given the Minister’s recent pronouncements about the need for correctional facilities to become self-sustaining, with a specific emphasis on bakeries and food production.

The DA will submit parliamentary questions to the Minister to determine the progress of self-sustainability at all correctional facilities.

At Qalakabusha, the bakery has a trained team of staff and inmates ready to begin operations. However, the facility has only one mixer and none of the additional equipment required to make the bakery functional. This represents a lost opportunity to

- Cut costs significantly on bread and food provision;

- Provide skills training and rehabilitation for inmates; and

- Advance the Department’s own stated goals of self-sufficiency.

The Minister must personally visit Qalakabusha to see the gap between policy pronouncements and on-the-ground realities. It is unacceptable that a bakery capable of saving taxpayers millions of rand, while simultaneously contributing to rehabilitation, stands unused due to departmental inaction.

While there are many infrastructure challenges at Qalakabusha — including non-functional laundry machines, widespread plumbing failures, and broken access control equipment — the bakery is a clear example of how lack of follow-through directly undermines the Department’s strategic objectives.

The Department speaks of sustainability, but at Qalakabusha the reality is wasted opportunity. The Minister must act, not just talk.

 MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ABANDONMENT OF BAIL APPLICATION IN ELDORADO PARK CHILD MURDER AND ABUSE CASE

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

 

ABANDONMENT OF BAIL APPLICATION IN ELDORADO PARK CHILD MURDER AND ABUSE CASE

The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature notes the decision by the two accused in the Eldorado Park case facing charges of murder, rape, and child abuse of a 4-year-old child to abandon their bail application at the Protea Magistrate Court today.

 

The Committee views this decision as a clear acknowledgment by the accused of the seriousness of the charges they face. It is the Committee’s firm position that individuals accused of such heinous crimes should remain in custody, as they pose a grave threat to the safety and well-being of our communities.

 

As elected representatives of the people of Gauteng, the Committee will continue to monitor developments in this matter closely until its conclusion. It calls on law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to ensure that a watertight case is presented. Furthermore, the Committee urges the courts to impose the harshest possible sentences should the accused be found guilty.

 

The Committee stands in solidarity with the community of Eldorado Park and all those affected by this tragic case. It remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for justice, accountability, and the protection of women and children who continue to bear the brunt of gender-based violence and violent crimes in our province.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

NATIONAL DIALOGUE , ALL SYSTEMS GO

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

NATIONAL DIALOGUE , ALL SYSTEMS GO 

The first National Convention of the National Dialogue took place over two days of vibrant discussion with over 1,000 delegates from over 200 organisations at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Tshwane. The National Convention was convened by President Cyril Ramaphosa as the launch of a National Dialogue to engage all South Africans in a countrywide engagement on the challenges facing the country, and accelerated actions to forge a new vision and to agree on a programme of action to take the country forward. 

The National Convention was described by President Ramaphosa as the moment at which the people of South Africa take over the National Dialogue and ensure that it is led and driven by citizens. Delegates were resounding in their endorsement of an inclusive National Dialogue process that focuses on the issues that concern the people. 

For the National Dialogue to be successful, Delegates affirmed that it needs to include communities who are often not heard and those who are often not consulted on important decisions. One of the noteworthy features of the dialogue was the wide diversity of the delegates. The Convention brought together people and groups who would ordinarily not be in conversation with one another. This added to the robust nature of the discussions. 

Over the last two days, delegates engaged in robust discussion putting forward their hopes, aspirations, fears and frustrations. The conversation was open and rigorous. It emphasised the need for deep, genuine dialogue that leads to action, where people have power. 

Delegates were able to outline key themes for discussion. These included the economy, jobs, children, livelihoods, crime and corruption, education, health and gender-based violence and femicide. Other themes included fixing the state and the Constitution, building South African values and culture, strengthening our social fabric, and dealing with intergenerational trauma and healing. 

The Convention agreed that these themes should be seen as a guide to discussion, but that it would ultimately be up to citizens to raise any issues that are important to them. 

The Convention also reflected on the draft roadmap towards a Citizen-led Dialogue, outlining a 6-9 month dialogue proposes of thousands of engagements led by communities with a mandate to call for radical change, catalyze rapid response to our most urgent challenges and lastly, to make renewed efforts to rebuild and heal the nation. 

The Convention called for diverse methods of dialogue, crafted in communities using local knowledge and expertise. Delegates said it was important that all those who participate in the National Dialogue should have the space and opportunity to use the approaches that best suit them and their specific conditions. The Convention discussed the process for establishing a representative Steering Committee that would take over the work of directing and coordinating the National Dialogue process. 

The meeting confirmed that the process to establish a Steering Committee should be extended by two weeks. The 22 sectors that were initially identified were expanded to accommodate more diversity. Each of the sectors held discussions on how they would select their nominee for the Steering Committee and agreed that they would provide the names of their nominees by the end of August 2025. To ensure nobody is left behind, this period will provide space to include organisations in sectors who did not attend the National Convention.  

The first National Convention was citizen-led, iterative in nature with robust engagement.

It reflected the complexity of our nation. It was a call for a new era of citizen activism for radical change, rapid response and it was a call to rebuild the nation. 

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Department of Sport, Arts and Culture update on the 17 Cultural and Creative Industry Clusters to drive Economic Growth and Sector Development

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

Department of Sport, Arts and Culture update on the 17 Cultural and Creative Industry Clusters to drive Economic Growth and Sector Development

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is introducing the 17 Cultural and Creative Industry Clusters — a national framework designed to formalise, strengthen, and grow South Africa’s creative economy.

These clusters will serve as strategic platforms for coordination, professionalisation, and advocacy across diverse cultural and creative sectors, ensuring that artists, creators, and industry stakeholders have a unified voice and structured pathways for development, funding, and market access.

The establishment of the clusters is part of DSAC’s broader mandate to:

- Promote inclusive economic growth within the cultural and creative industries (CCIs);

- Facilitate sector coordination and reduce fragmentation;

- Enhance skills development and professionalisation of creative practitioners;

- Enable access to domestic and international markets;

- Preserve and promote South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, speaking on the establishment of the 17 clusters said: “The creative economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and South Africa is rich in talent, heritage, and innovation. These 17 clusters will not only strengthen our cultural identity but also create jobs, attract investment, and position South Africa as a leading hub for creative excellence.”

The newly established clusters cover the full spectrum of South Africa’s cultural and creative ecosystem:

1. Theatre, Musical Theatre, Opera

2. Dance

3. Exhibitions, Events, Festivals, Technical Productions

4. Visual Arts

5. Spoken Word, Poetry, Storytelling, Stand-up Comedy

6. Music – Mass participation and community-based (choirs, brass bands, traditional music)

7. Music – Modern sounds (pop, amapiano, rock, kwaito, hip hop, Bacardi) including recording and business management

8. Music – Goema, Kaapse Klopse and Folk

9. Books and Publishing – Content Developers and Creators

10. Books and Publishing – Manufacturing and Distribution

11. Film, Cinema and Television

12. New Media

13. Animation and Gaming

14. Product, Jewellery, Fashion and Textile Design

15. Craft

16. Communication Design and Interior Design

17. Arts Education

The clusters have been established to:

- Create sector-specific advocacy bodies that represent the interests of practitioners nationally;

- Foster collaboration between creatives, industry bodies, training institutions, and government agencies;

- Enable targeted funding and policy interventions to address the needs of each sector;

- Support cultural exchange and market development locally, regionally, and internationally;

- Integrate traditional and contemporary practices into a cohesive national creative strategy.

- Each cluster will operate as a recognised platform within the national creative economy framework, with leadership structures, membership representation, and formal channels for engagement with DSAC and other stakeholders.

Through the clusters, creative professionals will gain:

- Access to industry-specific training and skills development programmes;

- Increased visibility and market opportunities;

- Representation in policy formulation and funding allocation;

- Platforms for networking and collaborative projects;

- Support in intellectual property management and export readiness.

The Department calls upon all creative practitioners, cultural organisations, and industry stakeholders to engage with and participate in their relevant clusters, contributing to a united and thriving cultural and creative sector.

“The strength of these clusters lies in the collective voice and vision of the creative community,” the Minister added. “Together, we can ensure that our arts, heritage, and cultural industries not only survive but thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

The respective sectors will provide further communication and guidance on opportunities for public participation as creatives in due course.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Gauteng Government engages with public transport operators to bring stability in Soweto

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

Gauteng Government engages with public transport operators to bring stability in Soweto 

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, today met with all public transport operators in Soweto as part of efforts to find lasting solutions to issues affecting the sector. Stakeholders included local taxi associations, e-hailing service operators and law-enforcement officials where she strongly condemned the violent incident that took place. 

This comes in a wake of resurging violence that claimed one person and left two others injured near the Maponya Mall in Soweto on Wednesday night. 

The meeting resolved to, amongst other things: 

1. That law-enforcement agencies will prioritize this investigation and bring those involved to book. 

2. All public transport operators must be allowed access operate inside the mall. 

3. That the mall will remain operational to protect jobs. 

4. That the Department will set up a temporary office to assist operators with licensing issues. 

5. That no operator or passenger should endure intimidation or fear of any form.

6. That a meeting will be convened with industry leaders to discuss all issues affecting the sector. 

Denouncing the violence, the MEC described the attack as "senseless, unacceptable, and a direct threat to the safety and stability of our public transport system." She added that such acts “undermines public safety, tarnishes the image of our transport sector, and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances". 

The MEC further urged the public transport sector (minibus taxi and ehailing operator associations) to resolve disputes through platforms facilitated by the Department. One such body is the Public Transport Crisis Committee chaired by the MEC. The committee was initially formed to collaborate with the taxi industry and support the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity (GPRE) to clear the operating license backlog. It has since expanded to include all public transport stakeholders. 

This inclusive approach ensures representation from all public transport operators including learner transport, e-hailing services, bus and meter taxi operators. Local government and various provincial sister departments are also represented in the committee. 

 

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON THE STATE OF READINESS FOR THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON THE STATE OF READINESS FOR THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION

Deputy President Paul Mashatile this week convened the National Dialogue Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to receive a report on the state of readiness ahead of the first National Convention set to take place at UNISA’s Muckleneuk Campus in Pretoria from the 15th to 16th of August 2025.

The Deputy President chairs the IMC, which comprises Government Departments to coordinate the Government’s contribution towards the National Convention and the National Dialogue. 

The IMC has been tirelessly mobilising resources for the convention and overseeing expenditures.

The report, which was presented by the Chairperson of the Convention Organising Committee, Mr Boichoko Ditlhake, and NEDLAC Executive Director, Mr Makhukhu Mampuru, provided a comprehensive update on the work done and assured the Deputy President that all is on track for the two-day convention. 

Premiers and Mayors from the province and municipalities were among those in attendance, who have pledged their support.

The IMC noted the decision by some Foundations to pull out of the preparations for the National Convention and requested that the Deputy President engage these Foundations in the process towards this inclusive dialogue.

Furthermore, the IMC appreciated the efforts made to save costs on hosting the First National Convention of the National Dialogue. 

In particular, the IMC assured Deputy President Mashatile that all budgetary processes regarding the National Convention are consistent with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

NEDLAC and the Presidency are funding the first National Convention's costs from their existing budgets for secretariat support, communications, as well as logistics. 

All procurement and management of public funds will adhere to the PFMA and applicable Treasury Regulations. All funds will be accounted for through the normal public finance mechanisms.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee further applauded the stakeholders who are providing in kind-support and also expressed appreciation to UNISA for offering to host the first National Convention as well as provide associated goods and services at no cost.

UNISA is providing the venues for the plenary, overflow venues with livestream services, 10 breakaway venues, dining area and work areas. 

In addition, UNISA is providing facilities for an Operations Centre, which has been running over the past week with catering, ushers, audio-visual services, printing of discussion documents, signage, conference bags, notepads, pens and WiFi.

The IMC emphasised the importance of the First National Convention and the National Dialogue being citizen-led and fully inclusive. 

The IMC called for communities to raise all issues so that they can be addressed and attended to accordingly.

As chair of the IMC, the Deputy President welcomed the report and affirmed Government’s commitment to supporting the first National Convention to kick-start the citizen-led and inclusive National Dialogue.

The budget formulation will rely on in-kind contributions, donations, and other mobilisable resources.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

SAPS OPERATIONS SHANELA

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

SAPS OPERATIONS SHANELA 

PRETORIA - Between 27 July and 2 August 2025, the South African Police Service (SAPS), recorded significant victories against organised crime and high-impact offences through intelligence-led and coordinated operations across provinces led to the arrest of 17 054 suspects.

This week, Shanela operations effected the following arrests across the provinces:

• 2 911 wanted suspects were arrested for serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, car hijackings, rape, house and business robbery

• 179 for murder with KZN with 38 followed by GP with 36

• 266 suspects for rape and KZN leading at 104 arrests

• 1 763 for assault GHB during this period

• 246 for dealing in drugs

• 2 406 for possession of drugs, WC leading with 1 645

• 15 suspects for human trafficking

Confiscations and Recoveries:

• 1 805 rounds of ammunition

• 1 55 firearms

• 53 hijacked and stolen vehicles recovered during this period

 Major takedowns and operations:

GAUTENG: Gauteng Police in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, arrested a suspect who is believed to be part of a syndicate that commits armed robberies around Gauteng and other provinces. The suspect was arrested in Southgate, Johannesburg, on 29 July 2025. The team seized two unlicensed firearms that include an AK-47 rifle and a pistol.

Furthermore, a 37-year-old alleged serial rapist, and killer was arrested in connection with more than ten cases of rape and murder that were reported at Eesterust in Pretoria during a joint operation conducted at Mentz village, Mankweng, Limpopo province. The suspect utilised a Tinder Dating site to lure his victims to his residence, where he raped some of the victims.

FREE STATE: The Bloemfontein Anti-Gang Unit intercepted a Volvo truck on the N8 Road near Bloemfontein, uncovering illicit cigarettes worth R800,000 hidden beneath blankets. The 42-year-old foreign national driver was arrested and is expected to appear in court.

KWAZULU-NATAL: Police in KwaZulu-Natal executed a high-impact search and seizure in the Durban CBD, resulting in the arrest of two foreign nationals and the recovery of counterfeit jewellery and luxury items valued at R30 million, as well as a shotgun, ammunition, and cash on 28 July 2025.

NATIONAL: On 29 July 2025, at OR Tambo International Airport, a 25-year-old suspect from São Paulo was intercepted attempting to smuggle cocaine valued at R4.2 million. The successful operation involved SAPS Crime Intelligence, Counter Narcotics Unit, the Border Management Authority, and private security teams.

In a separate operation, on 28 July 2025 police in Gauteng arrested two suspects aged between 34 and 45 years following days of surveillance for possession and movement of unlicensed firearms. The coordinated takedown involved multiple operational units, including PIU, Crime Intelligence, JMPD, and private security partners in Meyersdale, Johannesburg.

Additionally, SAPS Political killings Task Team arrested Business Katiso Molefe and three suspected hitmen for the murder of DJ Sumbody, and they are also linked to murder of Hector “DJ Vintos” Buthelezi. They have already appeared in the Alexander Magistrates’ Court on 29 July 2025, facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder as well as possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

EASTERN CAPE: On 28 July 2025, in Korsten, Gqeberha, SAPS seized counterfeit pharmaceuticals and consumer goods valued at R2.2 million, including unregulated tablets, skin creams, and pregnancy test kits. The operation targeted transnational distribution networks.

On 2 August 2025, in Ngqeleni, a suspect linked to an extortion ring was fatally wounded in a shootout with Tactical Response Team members. A 9mm pistol and live ammunition were recovered. His passenger was detained for questioning.

Additionally, in Port Alfred, SAPS disrupted a marine trafficking operation involving 822.76 kilograms of West Coast Rock Lobster tails worth R1.2 million. Two suspects were arrested for contravening the Marine Living Resources Act.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Gauteng Premier Panyaza suspends Community Safety HOD and CFO

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

Gauteng Premier Panyaza suspends Community Safety HOD and CFO 

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has suspended the Head of Department (HOD), Ms. Nontsikelelo Sisulu, and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Mduduzi Malope, of the Gauteng Department of Community Safety with immediate effect, as of 5 August 2025. 

The suspensions follow the conclusion of a forensic investigation by the Provincial Forensic Audit Unit within the Office of the Premier, which uncovered financial irregularities in the department. This prompted the Premier to intervene to safeguard the department’s integrity. 

The suspensions are a precautionary measure to ensure fair and unbiased investigations. “The provincial government is committed to restoring public trust by upholding the highest standards of integrity. 

We maintain a zerotolerance stance against corruption and misconduct. Through proactive and corrective measures, we will strengthen governance, ensure the ethical and responsible use of public funds, and safeguard the interests of Gauteng residents,” said Premier Lesufi. 

An acting HOD and CFO will be appointed to ensure continuity of service delivery. 

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Minister Motshekga appearance at Joint Committee

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

Minister Motshekga appearance at Joint Committee 

The Democratic Alliance has written to the National Assembly House Chairperson, as a way to escalate the failure of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence to hold a meeting for Parliament to finally do its job and get to the bottom of what happened to the missing R813 million, that is unaccounted for by the SANDF.

Minister Motshekga has not been to Parliament to account for the DRC calamity for months, and she is being shielded from this by committee chairpersons who refuse to call her to account.

The Joint Standing Committee on Defence continues to fail to secure Minister Motshekga’s appearance, as Committee Chairperson Malusi Gigaba of the ANC now refuses to call her to come to Committee. Minister Motshekga simply must account for the R813 million allocated to the payment of SANDF deployment allowances, which is “missing or unaccounted for” but until Gigaba forces her to come to Parliament, she remains silent.

This blatant lack of oversight undermines transparency and accountability, but also insults our brave men and women in uniform, who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, under very dangerous conditions.

The DA’s concern over the missing R813 million is further validated by new revelations that troops were short-paid, forced to survive on R22.91 a day, had to buy their own food - despite SADC funds meant to cover these very needs - and, even when they were kept by the M23 rebels, received no food from the SANDF.

The chaos surrounding the payouts to troops reveals the inability of the SANDF to do basic accounting. Whilst office-based staff are alleged to have received the full allowances meant for frontline soldiers, leave pay was calculated incorrectly, and there is no clarity on where the rest of the money went. The SANDF continues to bungle its finances as a grand scale.

Instead of addressing this mess, JSCD Co-Chair Malusi Gigaba has shielded the Minister and the SANDF from scrutiny.

After initially agreeing to write to the Minister for answers, Malusi Gigaba made a sudden u-turn and blocked the Committee from acting. This came just days after Minister Motshekga issued a press statement bemoaning the DA’s oversight.

The question must be asked: What is the SANDF and Minister Motshekga trying to hide? And why is Gigaba protecting a Minister presiding over such chaos?

Whilst the constant under-funding of the SANDF is a matter that requires urgent attention, the Department’s lack of prioritisation is a matter of greater concern.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate the Capture of Law Enforcement Agencies

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate the Capture of Law Enforcement Agencies

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the convening of the newly established Ad Hoc Committee in the National Assembly, set to begin its work on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, to investigate the serious allegations of corruption, criminal syndicate infiltration, and political interference in South Africa’s law enforcement agencies. 

This Ad Hoc Committee follows the EFF’s consistent and principled intervention in Parliament calling for an urgent and transparent parliamentary investigation into the explosive revelations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, LieutenantGeneral Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. 

We welcome the National Assembly’s unanimous resolution to establish the committee, as a necessary first step in unearthing the rot that has destroyed the very foundations of justice and accountability in this country. 

The committee's mandate includes investigating the unlawful disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team and other issues brought up by Commissioner Mkhwanazi. However, of crucial importance are the deeply troubling revelations about the nature and implications of relationships between senior leadership in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and certain members of the public, as well as the infiltration of our judiciary which demand a level of transparency and accountability of the highest order. 

Parliament has, on multiple occasions, failed to act decisively in moments of national significance due to political bias including on the Section 89 independent report on the Phala Phala scandal and in responding to the findings of the State Capture Commission.

These failures highlighted how Parliament functions less as an independent arm of the state and more as an extension of the Executive. This cannot be allowed to happen again. The matters currently before this committee touch the very heart of public trust in our criminal justice system, and the stakes could not be higher. It is not only about corruption or misconduct; it is about whether South Africans can believe that the institutions charged with protecting them are not themselves captured by criminal interests. This includes the imperative to consider legislative, policy and institutional reforms that can restore confidence in law enforcement and the judiciary and that process must be free from political interference, particularly by those implicated or aligned to implicated individuals. It is for this reason that the leadership and composition of this committee are so crucial. 

Parliament must reclaim its role as a true oversight body, not a shield for executive wrongdoing. This is why the EFF believes the credibility and integrity of this Ad Hoc Committee will be best preserved if it is chaired by a Member of Parliament who is not part of the Government of National Unity (GNU). Given that the serious allegations under investigation include the conduct of the ANC’s Minister of Police and potentially other senior government figures, it is in the public interest to ensure that the committee is not perceived as compromised or conflicted. 

We therefore urge GNU partners represented in this committee to act in the best interest of Parliament’s reputation and, more importantly, in the interest of the South African people who are counting on this process to root out the criminal syndicates within the very systems meant to deliver justice and keep them and their children safe. 

We also call on the voters of all parties in the committee to hold their public representatives accountable and to demand that they prioritise truth, transparency and justice over political allegiance. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that Parliament can rise above partisanship and serve the national interest. 

The EFF will participate fully and fearlessly in this committee. We will ensure that no official, regardless of their rank, party affiliation, or proximity to power is spared scrutiny and that South Africa’s policing and justice system is restored.  

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ANC trade policy paralysis continues amidst looming US tariffs

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

ANC trade policy paralysis continues amidst looming US tariffs

The interventions announced by Ministers Parks Tau and Ronald Lamola earlier today demonstrate that neither will take accountability for the 30% tariff imposed on South African exports to the United States of America in the absence of a solid trade deal.

Whereas our Southern African Development Community (SADC) neighbours have managed to negotiate their tariffs down to 15%, Ministers Tau and Lamola have left South African businesses and exporters vulnerable and exposed to the ongoing trade war. This diplomatic negligence and trade paralysis on South Africa’s part demands an urgent shift in attitude and approach on both accounts.

Interestingly, the interventions announced demonstrate that it is indeed possible for the ANC to rapidly cut the red tape that is strangling South African business. The measures such as the limited block exemption under the Competition Act is welcome, however, it does not go far enough. This eleventh hour action begs the question: why has it taken so long?

Surely now is the time for a comprehensive red tape reduction and deregulation across the entirety of the South African economy? This will allow South Africa to pursue bold and far-reaching reforms, including pivoting from blunt instruments such as ownership under the guise of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, towards genuine investment and social upliftment under equity equivalence programmes which would enable stronger foreign direct investment.

It is time that government gets serious about South African jobs and livelihoods, and this requires two sets of urgent reforms:

1: A sustainable and supportive environment for business to grow and export;

2: The pursuit of a genuinely non-aligned foreign policy that does not place petty party-political interests above the interests of the republic.

It is also high time for a career diplomat with an understanding of the Trump administration to urgently be appointed to Washington D.C. to better represent South African interests and begin the work of repairing diplomatic channels and protecting vital trade relationships upon which hundreds of thousands of local jobs depend.

This role is far too important to be left to political loyalty over professional expertise. Previous appointments have puts on full display the threat posed to South Africa’s prosperity by incompetent cadres and party hacks in key government positions.

We urge both Ministers Tau and Lamola to follow the example set by agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, who has worked proactively and tirelessly to diversify our agricultural export markets in Asia, where South Africa has now secured meaningful, impactful deals in China, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.

Had Minister Lamola pursued economic diplomacy in any meaningful and non-aligned manner, we would not find ourselves in a situation where the fate of one of our key export markets now hangs perilously in the balance.

Ministers Tau and Lamola should not dismiss constructive criticism and alternative proposals as political point-scoring. The DA will not stop championing the cause of South African workers, businesses, and exporters through sound diplomacy and competitive international trade.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

EFF 30% TARIFFS HIKE BY UNITED STATES

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA 

 ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

EFF 30% TARIFFS HIKE BY AMERICA

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the statement issued by the South African government in response to the unilateral imposition of 30% tariffs by the United

States.  However, we reject this statement as weak, impotent, and inconsequential.

The joint statement by the Minister of International Relations and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, is a reactionary utterance that reflects poor preparation and a deep lack of understanding of the shifting global geopolitical terrain. The

government’s failure to anticipate and adequately respond to these developments is a direct result of its incoherent, ideologically bankrupt foreign and economic policies.

The coalition of neoliberal parties in government cannot act decisively because they are constantly at war with each other and have no shared vision for national economic security.

We reiterate that the South African economy is disfigured and dysfunctional. For the

past 30 years, the ANC-led government has failed to reorganise the structure of the

economy away from its apartheid foundation. 

It has chosen to preserve colonial

patterns of ownership and production, leading to over 12 million unemployed people and the highest levels of racial inequality in the world. In such a stagnant and extractive economy, any attempt to position South Africa within the global trade environment becomes futile. Without resolving domestic structural constraints, our country will always be at the mercy of dominant imperial powers, tossed between competing global interests like a leaf in a storm.

Donald Trump is an unstable and illiterate imperialist whose misuse of economic

power threatens both the capitalist and socialist world order. His reckless and irrational tariff regime is rooted in a misguided understanding of global trade and is designed to impose American dominance by destabilising weaker economies. He represents a serious threat to global economic stability and the sovereignty of nations in the Global South.

The EFF has long maintained that Trump’s presidency is a danger to humanity, and it

is time for all progressive forces across the world to unite and support efforts to remove

him from office. The world has suffered under his strong-arm tactics for too long, and

just as the United States has imposed regime change globally, it is now time to assist

the people of the United States in unseating their own dictator.

There is an urgent need for South Africa to develop a coherent and ideologically grounded National Economic Security Policy. 

This must begin by addressing

inequality, unemployment, and poverty through domestic industrialisation,

beneficiation, and land reform. Equally, a progressive foreign policy must emerge—

one that prioritises building alliances with trading partners such as China, Brazil,

Russia, and countries in the Global South, not through begging, but through mutually

beneficial cooperation.

While the US market is significant, this is not a time for sheepish diplomacy. The team

that negotiated on behalf of South Africa was weak, apologetic, and subservient. They

were treated like school children by the United States because they acted like school

children. This behaviour exposes the dangers of sending spineless envoys to do the

bidding of capital.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), much like AfriForum and Solidarity, is a political

extension of right-wing, white supremacist interests that seek to protect apartheid

privileges under the guise of liberal constitutionalism. It operates with the same logic of racial gatekeeping, economic sabotage, and disinformation. Its presence in the Government of National Unity (GNU) is not a gesture of reconciliation but a strategic

effort to weaken the state from within. 

The DA uses state resources to undermine the

very government it serves in, while pursuing an agenda that protects monopoly capital

and foreign interests. It is a snake fed at the dinner table of democracy, only to poison

the well at night.

We reaffirm the need for South Africa to align with progressive trading partners who

respect national sovereignty, support industrial development, and do not treat trade as an extractive, transactional affair. 

The EFF calls for the urgent acceleration of trade agreements and partnerships outside of the United States. This must not be done

through bureaucratic support desks, but through decisive, strategic, and politically

coherent engagements with countries that share a vision for a just global economy.

Forums such as the G20 must be used to shift trade away from dependence on imperial powers and toward a multipolar order built on mutual respect, solidarity, and shared development.

 MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA