KASI BC AFRICA

NSFAS PAYMENT CHAOS @KASIBC_NEWS  The DA condemns the burning of the offices of the Northern Cape Urban Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College offices in Kimberley this week by students protesting the delays in receiving their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances. Students who have been unable to pay rent or study fees due to NSFAS’ failures are being put in an impossible position - but burning and breaking TVET College offices and campuses will never solve the problems NSFAS has created. The DA condemns the destruction of property. The burning of TVET offices will only further hamper the students’ end goal. Their frustration and delays while NSFAS tries to complete their "reconciliation process" - which became necessary after the switch from direct payment partners back to NSFAS - is now boiling over. NSFAS must rapidly complete this process in such a way that causes no suffering to vulnerable students. Payment cannot be withheld a...

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SAVES JOBS OF HIV & AIDS WORKERS IN NPO @KASIBC_NEWS  The Gauteng Department of Social Development says there will be no job losses in non-profit organisations dealing with HIV & AIDS programmes despite budget cuts by Treasury. The department has been allocated 332 million rand compared to 440 million it received last financial year, resulting in a shortfall of one hundred and eight million rand (108).  The department indicates that following reductions in the HIV & AIDS Programme, they have had to adjust operations, and these changes will not affect those receiving psycho-social services from orphan and vulnerable children and youth organisations, as well as home and community care-based centres contracted to the department.  This follows advice from Gauteng Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko that there must be no reduction in the number of NPOs funded in the sector and that there must be no job losses. The department will continue to pa...

HISTORIC GRADUATION OF FIRST OF SANSI YOUTH CADETS @KASIBC_NEWS The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Angie Motshekga, will attend the graduation ceremony for the inaugural cohort of the South African National Service Institute (SANSI) on 7 June 2025 at 09:00 at Dunnottar Military Base, Sharondale, Gauteng Province.  This landmark event marks the successful completion of the programme by the first group of youth cadets, who have undergone intensive training focused on discipline, public service, and practical skills. The programme is designed to build a skills to industry pipeline, preparing young people to contribute to South Africa’s economic growth and social development.  SANSI was launched in 2023 under the leadership of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as a strategic youth development initiative to tackle unemployment and social exclusion. It forms part of the broader National Youth Service ...

GAUTENG GANGSTERS PARADISE @KASIBC_NEWS    COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMENDS LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR CRIME REDUCTION, RAISES CONCERNS OVER MULTIPLE MURDERS AND POLICE KILLINGS The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety commends law enforcement officers across the province for their dedication, resilience, and hard work, which have contributed to a notable reduction in crime during the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year (January – March 2025). According to the latest crime statistics presented to the Committee by Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, on Thursday, 5 June 2025, Gauteng recorded a 7.9% decrease (8,393 fewer cases) in the 17 community-reported serious crimes compared to the same period in the previous financial year. This represents a significant step forward in the province’s ongoing efforts to combat crime. The Committee is particularly encouraged by the 10.8% reduction in murder cases, which...

THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET INCREASED BY R886.6 MILLION @KASIBC_NEWS  The Gauteng Provincial Government is re-tabling the 2025/2026 Budget amounting to R172.3 billion. In the previously tabled Budget, tabled on the 18th of March 2025, we presented a provincial budget of R171.5 billion. This translates into an increase of R886.6 million.  These additional resources were made possible through the provincial allocation of unspent funds and revenue over collection from the previous financial year.  Two weeks ago, there were reports circulating in the media stating that the Gauteng Provincial Government had underspent by R1.8 billion, and that these underspent funds would be returned to the National Treasury. On the 12th of May 2025, the Gauteng Provincial Treasury held a media briefing to address the concern that the underspent resources would no longer be available, or that they are lost by the Gauteng Provincial Government.   We communicated that what...

NPO FUNDING PAYMENTS @KASIBC_NEWS  The Gauteng Department of Social Development is ramping up the finalization of signing of SLAs with NPOs. Since the beginning of the current financial year, the Department has issued 1640 SLAs to NPOs, and 1424 of these have been signed and concluded.  The outstanding number of SLAs stands at 216, and warning letters were issued to the NPOs and the deadline for SLAs to be received back is this week.  The Department would like to make a call to the outstanding NPOs to fast track the signing of SLAs. The Department has been meeting with NPOs which has positively resulted in increase in the number of SLAs received back.   The Department would also like to report that 818 payments have been made against SLAs signed already, to the tune of R279 million.  This number keeps improving as payment runs happen. The Department has been receiving media inquiries about the NPOs that have not been paid. Whilst we cannot discuss and divul...

BRUTAL MURDER OF LIKHONA FOSE @KASIBC_NEWS  Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane is deeply saddened by the death of Likhona Fose, a 14-year-old Grade 8 girl learner at Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville, whose body was found mutilated in Roodepoort on Sunday, 1 June 2025.  The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has urgently deployed its Psycho-Social Support Unit at Ikusasalethu Secondary School to provide extensive counselling and trauma support to learners and teachers who may have been affected by this tragic incident.  While police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding this brutal incident, we are devastated by the occurrence of young Likhona’s death during National Child Protection Week, where we raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in our Constitution. Furthermore, the GDE stands with the nation in condemning all acts of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, especially where learners are concerned.  It is ou...

THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FREEDOM CHARTER AND 39TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUTH UPRISING @KASIBC_NEWS  The African National Congress this month commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter, adopted by the Congress of the People on 26 June 1955 in Kliptown, and pays tribute to the youth who took part in the 1976 Uprising, who rose in defiance on 16 June to confront the brutality of apartheid and demand justice in education and our nation.  This is a sacred time of remembrance, reflection, and renewal, as we draw strength from the vision of those who came before us and recommit ourselves to the urgent tasks of today. We do not mark this month out of routine, nor do we merely look back. As President Oliver Reginald Tambo declared in 1980 during The Year of the Charter, we are called to rise to the occasion and to renew our pledge of dedication to the future it visualises. That future is not abstract. It is the daily struggle for a society in which The People Shall Govern, w...

330 SUSPECTS ARRESTED DURING WEEKEND OPERATIONS @KASIBC_NEWS  Gauteng Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are working tirelessly to ensure that criminals are brought to book. In past weekend, the Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), Gauteng Traffic Wardens (GTWs), South African Police Service (SAPS) working with other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) arrested more than 330 suspects during High Density Operations and Operation Shanela which took place from Friday, 30 May 2025 to Sunday, 01 June 2025, across all five regions in Gauteng.  The City of Ekurhuleni recorded a total of 69 arrests within Etwatwa, Tembisa, Benoni, Springs, Boksburg, Benoni, Tokoza, Dunnotar, Norkem Park, Duduza, Primrose and Zonkizizwe amongst others. Noting that, 15 suspects were arrested for drinking and driving, 14 for possession of drugs and 05 for selling liquor without a license.  In total, 944 people and 416 cars were searched in the city. In the City of Tshwane, officials arrested 96 suspects in Mabopa...

DR DEATH, DR WOUTER BASSON JUDGEMENT DAY @KASIBC_NEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcomes the decision by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to proceed with disciplinary proceedings against Dr. Wouter Basson, infamously known as “Dr. Death” due to his egregious involvement in chemical and biological warfare programs under the apartheid regime.  This development follows a response to a question for written reply placed by the EFF in the National Assembly, where the Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, confirmed that the HPCSA will pursue disciplinary action against Dr. Basson for medical malpractice. This action comes after an earlier attempt to bring disciplinary proceedings against Dr. Basson was derailed due to procedural irregularities.  The EFF commends the Medical and Dental Professions Board for rectifying these shortcomings and ensuring that the disciplinary process is now on track. Dr. Basson’s legal team has indicated, through h...

POLLSMOOR PRISONERS AWOL @KASIBC_NEWS  The DA rejects the statement by Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald, who continues to deny his department’s role in the disappearance of three convicted criminals from custody. It is clear the Minister is being misled by officials desperate to cover up a shocking administrative failure that endangered public safety. The three men—convicted of murder, rape, and robbery—were remanded to Pollsmoor Juvenile Centre by order of the Western Cape High Court after attacking a child youth care worker last year. One, Xolani du Preez, was re-arrested in April for robbery. A second, Mikyle Mentoor, was apprehended this week after whistle-blowers and the community responded to DA pressure. A third, a convicted rapist, remains unaccounted for. The Minister’s attempt to shift blame to the Western Cape Department of Social Development is misleading. That department has no role in custodial decisions, warrants, or the implementation of court orders...

CORRUPTION GELVANDALE POOL UPGRADES @KASIBC_NEWS  The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for parliamentary scrutiny into alleged corruption surrounding the R7 million government-funded upgrade of the Gelvandale Swimming Pool in Gqeberha. This project was funded by the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, headed up by Patriotic Alliance (PA) president, Minister Gayton McKenzie. Serious irregularities arose as the project started in secrecy without following the processes required when embarking on a publicly funded capital project. The contractor did not report to the ward councillor who would ordinarily introduce the contractor to the local SMME formation for local businesses to benefit.  The contractor is from Johannesburg and previously stated, in front of several DA councillors, that he is a PA member in good standing and therefore he can do as he pleases and nothing can happen to him. On Friday, 30 May 2025, we were joined by DA National Spokesperson on Sport, ...