NSFAS ACTING CEO @KASIBCNEWS

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Waseem Carrim as the Acting Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This decision comes following the end of the term of the Administrator, Mr Freeman Nomvalo.

Mr Carrim is currently Chief Financial Officer of NSFAS. He is the former CFO and CEO of the National Youth Development Agency where he led the NYDA to nine consecutive clean audit outcomes and grew the organization from a R400 million to R1.5 billion budget. He is a Chartered Accountant by profession and holds two master’s degrees. 

Waseem is a member of the Board of the Small Enterprise Finance Development Agency and the UNISA Enterprise. He is a former category winner of the SAICA 35-under 35 in 2016, has been recognized as one of the 2018 Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans and a 2019, SADC’s Most Influential Young Leaders.

With his proven track record at NYDA, he comes well-prepared to lead NSFAS during this transitional period,” said the NSFAS Board Chairperson, Dr. Karen Stander. "The board is confident that Mr. Carrim will provide the stability and leadership needed to initiate the transition of NSFAS towards becoming an international best practice benchmark in student funding. 

His deep understanding of State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) operations, combined with a commitment to fostering innovation and growth, and a passion for youth development that is evident in everything he does, makes him the appropriate choice for this role. A role that requires the ability to turn around a fund, which he has demonstrated at the NYDA"

Bus crash claims ten people on the N6 in Free State @KASIBCNEWS

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has sent a team of crash investigators to Free State to probe the cause of a terrible crash that claimed the lives of ten people this morning.

The crash happened around 3am when a truck and a bus collided about 5 kilometres from Reddersburg.
Information at this stage indicate that the bus was travelling on N6 from Reddersburg in the direction of Smithfield while the truck with two trailers was travelling in the opposite direction. The two vehicles collided in a side swipe type crash.

Ten people died on the scene and an unconfirmed number from the bus were transported to hospital for medical treatment. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

The RTMC sends condolences to the affected families and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. We further urge all road users to exercise extreme caution when travelling in the early hours of the morning. Statistics show that most crash take place before dawn.

JMPD E-WALLET OR CASH SEND BRIBES @KASIBCNEWS

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) is issuing a public alert regarding reports of alleged unscrupulous behaviour by certain officers.

The JMPD’s Internal Affairs Unit is currently investigating numerous cases where officers are suspected of soliciting bribes from members of the public, with funds being transferred via e-wallet or cash send to unknown or “ghost” cellphone numbers.

The JMPD takes these allegations extremely seriously and is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. We urge the public to be vigilant and aware of this alleged practice.

"The JMPD will not tolerate any form of corruption within its ranks. These alleged actions are a betrayal of public trust and undermine the department's commitment to serving the community with integrity. I want to send a clear message to all officers: if you are found engaging in these corrupt activities, the strictest disciplinary action will be taken, including criminal prosecution, JMPD Chief of Police, Chief Patrick Jaca asserted. "Furthermore, I want to warn motorists that offering bribes is also a serious offence. 

Anyone who attempts to bribe an officer will be arrested and face the full consequences of the law. We are here to serve and protect, not to exploit. I urge all citizens to report any instances of corruption so that we can work together to maintain a clean and trustworthy police service."

Members of the public who encounter or have experienced such situations are strongly encouraged to report them immediately by calling the JMPD Anti-Fraud and Corruption Hotline: 080 020 3712, visiting the JMPD Internal Affairs Unit Office at Village Main Road and Loveday Street, Wemmer, or WhatsApp: 063 253 1928.

Alternatively, you can contact the JMPD Chief of Police, Chief Patrick Jaca at 082 559 3880

The JMPD is dedicated to ensuring transparency and accountability within its ranks. We appreciate the public's cooperation in helping us combat corruption and maintain the integrity of our staff.

SASSA GOLD CARDS @KASIBCNEWS

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies assures the public that the social grants payment cycle of 04 – 06 March 2025 will continue normally as the SASSA gold cards will still be valid. The gold cards will only be disabled at 17:00 (5pm) on 20 March 2025. 

The Department thanks beneficiaries who have heeded the call to exchange their cards and encourages SASSA beneficiaries who have not yet swopped their cards to do so urgently ahead of the extended deadline of 20 March 2025 using the outlets availed by the Postbank. 

Beneficiaries may follow the below process to look up card replacement sites: 

▪ Dial *120*335# ▪ Reply with (1) to continue ▪ Reply with the province number (of the province in which they want to look up card replacement sites) 

▪ Reply with the number of the municipality. 

Then all the card replacement sites under that municipality will appear. 

A total of 854 248 cards had been issued as of Friday, 28 February 2025. This signifies an increase of more than 100 thousand cards that were issued in the last week alone. 

In Gauteng, which is one of the three provinces with large beneficiary numbers, Postbank has already achieved a 58 percent card replacement conversion level of the total number of beneficiaries that it must issue with the new black cards. 

This is an encouraging number in the face of all challenges in the cards replacement process that Postbank is addressing. 

The Department wishes to reassure the public that no social grant beneficiary will be left out of the payments even those who may miss the deadline. 

SASSA and Postbank are committed to ensuring that there are no interruptions to the payments of grants. There is therefore no need to panic.  

GAUTENG LAW ENFORCEMENT ARREST 283 SUSPECTS @KASIBCNEWS 

The Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), in collaboration with the Gauteng Traffic Wardens (GTWs) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), executed a series of high-density crime-fighting operations this past weekend, leading to the arrest of over 283 suspects across Gauteng. 

The arrests, made between Friday, 28 February and Sunday, 2 March 2025, are part of the provincial government’s Integrated Crime Prevention Plan, aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reclaiming communities from lawlessness. From drunk driving and drug possession to illegal mining and business robbery, law enforcement agencies tackled crime head-on, ensuring that offenders were brought to book. 

These arrests come after the operations which took place across the five regions of Gauteng. The City of Johannesburg with twenty arrests (20) for driving under the influence of alcohol, public drinking, undocumented persons and possession of drugs amongst other cases. 

Seven hundred and fifty (750) people and two hundred and fifty-five (255) vehicles were searched in the city. The City of Ekurhuleni yielded eighty-three (83) arrests for undocumented persons, selling liquor without license, possession of drugs, drinking and driving, public drinking, common assault, assault GBH, police interference, dealing in dagga, smoking dagga in public, possession of substance suspected to be drugs and rape. Moreover, eight hundred and ninety-three (893) people and three hundred and nine (309) vehicles were searched. 

While the City of Tshwane yielded seventy-nine (79) arrests for undocumented persons and public drinking, dealing with dagga, assault GBH, selling liquor without a license, possession of drugs and reckless and negligent driving. 

The West Rand District Municipality saw the arrest fifty-three (53) suspects arrested for public unrest, possession of drugs, possession of suspected drugs, illegal mining, drunk driving, business robbery, and undocumented persons amongst other things. 

Sedibeng District Municipality yielded forty-eight (48) arrests for drinking and driving, possession of drugs, illegal cigarettes and undocumented persons amongst other things. One thousand and eighty-seven (1087) and three hundred and sixty-three (363) people were searched in the Southern region. 

“The Gauteng Traffic Police commends the arrests made by the law enforcement officials during the weekend long operations. 

Crime patterns such as drunk driving, public drinking, domestic violence and drug dealing tend to increase during this time, hence it is crucial for law enforcement officials to collaborate, and end prevent these incidents. Law enforcement Agencies will not tolerate any lawlessness; hence these operations will continue throughout the province,” said the Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson, Mr Sello Maremane.