National Prosecuting Authority Action after SAPS probe into George Building Collapse

National Prosecuting Authority Action after SAPS probe into George Building Collapse

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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Minister Dean Macpherson marks second anniversary of George building collapse, urges NPA to act

Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has urged the National Prosecuting Authority to take the necessary prosecutorial decisions following the completion of the SAPS investigation into the George building collapse.

This is as the Minister commemorates the second anniversary of the collapse, which claimed the lives of 34 people and injured 28 others.

He said the tragedy remains a painful reminder of the work still required to prevent similar disasters and strengthen accountability in the built environment.

As the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, commemorates the second anniversary of the George building collapse, he said the tragedy remains a painful reminder of the work still required to prevent similar disasters from taking place in the future and urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

On 6 May 2024, a five-storey apartment development in George collapsed, claiming the lives of 34 people and injuring 28 others in what was South Africa’s deadliest building collapse.

Since taking office two months after the building’s collapse, the Minister has met with the victims and their families in George to communicate the outcomes of an investigation into the engineer responsible for signing off on the building plans. The engineer was found guilty of five contraventions of the law and suspended. Furthermore, the Minister this year met with the

Minister of Human Settlements specifically to tighten building regulations to ensure that a similar building collapse is avoided.

The Minister said that, with SAPS having completed its investigation, the responsibility now rests with the National Prosecuting Authority to take a decision on criminal prosecution and, where warranted, bring charges against those responsible for the building collapse.

“Today, we remember every life lost, every family still grieving, and every survivor who continues to live with the consequences of this tragedy. The George building collapse remains one of the most painful construction disasters in our country’s recent history. It was a tragedy that should never have happened, and one that must never be allowed to happen again,”

Minister Macpherson said. “With SAPS having completed its investigation, the ball is now in the court of the National Prosecuting Authority to take the necessary prosecutorial decisions and, where warranted, bring those responsible to court for this avoidable tragedy. No one should be above the law.

Not an engineer, not a developer, not an official, and not any person whose actions or failures may have contributed to this disaster. Justice delayed only deepens the pain of families who have already waited too long for answers.”

The Minister said the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure will continue to provide its full cooperation to law enforcement agencies and counterpart departments to ensure justice for the victims and their families, and provide any further support that may still be required.

“On this second anniversary, we once again express our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We stand with the survivors. We honour the rescue workers. And we renew our commitment to ensuring that justice is done, accountability is enforced, and that a tragedy like the George building collapse never happens again.”

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Gauteng Police Officers linked to 27 Rape Cases since 2024

Gauteng Police Officers linked to 27 Rape Cases since 2024

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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Residents in danger as Gauteng police officers linked to 27 rape cases since 2024

Safety concerns are rising in Gauteng due to alarming reports of rape incidents involving law enforcement officers in the province. The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls for urgent accountability to address this crisis within the police service, restore trust in the badge, and protect all Gauteng residents.

According to the 2024/2025 Annual Report from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), there were 27 recorded rape cases involving police officers in Gauteng. This figure alone raises serious concerns about accountability, oversight, and the safety of residents, particularly women, who are supposed to be protected by those in uniform.

In response to a DA question in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Premier Panyaza Lesufi accounted for only five of these cases involving SAPS members. No clear explanation has been provided for the remaining 22 cases, which reportedly involve metro and traffic police. The five reported rape cases involving SAPS members were recorded at Ratanda, Lyttleton, Dawn Park, Brakpan, and Meyerton police stations, with victims aged between 17 and 40.

The lack of transparency from Premier Lesufi raises serious concerns, erodes public confidence in law enforcement, and must be strongly criticised.

These rape incidents are not only criminal, but they also represent a gross betrayal of public trust. Police officers take an oath to serve and protect. It is both heinous and unimaginable that an officer would abuse their authority to lure a victim into a police station office and commit sexual assault, as allegedly occurred at Meyerton SAPS.

Furthermore, these criminal acts committed by police officers have a financial burden on taxpayers, as the victim in the Meyerton case has instituted a civil claim of R1 million against the state, which, if successful, will ultimately be paid from public funds.

It is deeply concerning that Premier Lesufi would rather downplay the severity of the situation than pursue real solutions. He should engage the National Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, to request the devolution of certain powers to Gauteng, enabling it to ensure accountability and effective consequence management within SAPS and other law enforcement agencies in the province.

A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would have urgently engaged the Minister of Police to persuade him to devolve powers to the province so that it can be able to enforce mandatory CCTV cameras in all police station offices and interview rooms, increase deployment of female officers, particularly in victim support units, strengthen IPID oversight, and ensure regular public reporting on cases of police misconduct.

The people of Gauteng deserve a police service that enforces the law, not one that violates it and we would ensure that they get exactly that.

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PSC Complaint into dire state of Molemole Municipality following multiple Arrests

PSC Complaint into dire state of Molemole Municipality following multiple Arrests

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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DA Molemole lodges PSC complaint into dire state of municipality following multiple arrests

Today, the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo lodged a complaint with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to investigate the state of the Molemole Local Municipality following the arrests of almost the entire senior management team in April 2026 by the Hawks.

Evidence already in the public domain — including the R38 million Morebeng landfill project with little to no delivery; the Matseke electrification project where payments of approximately R2 million appear to have been made ahead of completion; the irregularly awarded R238,500 training tender; and the underperforming R7.5 million Fatima culvert bridge project — demonstrates a consistent breakdown in contract award, management, and oversight.

On 4 May 2026 the Molemole council placed only the municipal manager, corporate services manager and the Community Services Manager under precautionary suspension pending the outcome of their disciplinary hearings; the remaining 8 officials will face the municipality’s ordinary disciplinary processes and are currently back at work.

This untenable discrepancy opens the possibility for evidence tampering, destroying of tender documents and intimidation of officials who maybe witnesses.

To make matters worse, the newly appointed Technical Services Manager resigned after less than a month on duty leaving the administration in the hands of only 2 senior officials, one in an acting capacity as the municipal manager – a precarious position given the systemic malfeasance within the municipality.

The  continuous resignation and appointments acting Municipal Managers is a systemic failure in the municipality which hinders service delivery and seems to be a  breeding ground for corruption.

We call on the PSC to exercise its constitutional powers to investigate and evaluate the municipality and to issue directives to COGHSTA and Provincial Treasury- who, despite our written requests to both MEC Makamu and MEC Mohoai have yet to intervene.

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CONCERN OVER SAFETY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AMID PERSISTENT INCLEMENT WEATHER

         

CONCERN OVER SAFETY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AMID PERSISTENT INCLEMENT WEATHER

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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DWYPD RAISES CONCERN OVER SAFETY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AMID PERSISTENT INCLEMENT WEATHER

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) is increasingly concerned about the safety, dignity, and well-being of persons with disabilities as severe and persistent adverse weather conditions continue to affect parts of the country.  

As the country continues to experience more frequent and severe climate-related eventsincluding floods and storms, it is evident that persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected due to existing social, economic, and infrastructural barriers.

 Persons with disabilities face heightened risks during disasters, including limited mobility, lack of accessible transport, and exclusion from emergency planning processes. Early warning systems and disaster communication often remain inaccessible, leaving many without critical, life-saving information. an, extreme weather conditions worsen existing health challenges and disrupt access to essential healthcare and support services. 

Heavy rains, flooding, and strong winds pose a disproportionate risk to persons with disabilities, many of whom face mobility challenges, limited access to emergency services, and barriers to timely information. These conditions heighten vulnerability, particularly for those in informal settlements, rural areas, and under-resourced communities.   

The Department calls on all levels of government, emergency services, and community structures to prioritise inclusive disaster response measures.  

This includes: 

 • Ensuring accessible early warning systems, including sign language interpretation. 

• Accessible communication formats, prioritising evacuation support for persons with disabilities, 

• Providing accessible temporary shelters and essential services, and 

• Strengthening coordination with disability organisations on the ground.  

DWYPD further urges families, caregivers, and communities to check on persons with disabilities during this period and to ensure that no one is left behind in emergency responses.  Minister Chikunga calls for a coordinated, inclusive response that recognises the specific needs of persons with disabilities and safeguards their rights and dignity at all times. 

Minister Chikunga reiterates that “Disaster situations must not deepen existing inequalities of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. The Department will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that inclusive measures are implemented effectively.

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Public Comment on draft Digital Identity Regulations

Public Comment on draft Digital Identity Regulations

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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Minister Leon Schreiber invites public comment on draft Digital Identity regulations

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, has gazetted draft amended regulations in terms of the Identification Act of 1997 for public comment until 6 June 2026. The draft regulations are designed to create the required regulatory framework for the introduction of a cutting-edge Digital Identity system in South Africa.

The draft regulations propose the creation of secure Digital Identity credentials that will co-exist alongside the Department’s physical products. This will enable citizens to store, access and utilise secure digital versions of their identity document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and other Home Affairs products directly on their smartphone, and introduce the ability for users to remotely confirm their identity using biometric verification. Use of the Digital Identity system will be optional, and physical products like Smart ID cards will continue to exist in parallel to this new digital system.

The draft amendments are intended to:

Clarify the status of Digital Identity credentials as an additional form of valid identity under the Act, without affecting the continued validity of physical identity cards;

Prescribe standards for enrolment, biometric capture and identity assurance for Digital Identity credentials;

Lay the foundation for interoperability with both the public and private sectors, including to enable the delivery of government services in digital format;

Tighten safeguards for how identity information may be shared with accredited institutions, with access strictly regulated under the Identification Act of 1997, the Promotion of Access to Information Act of 2000, and the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013; and

Strengthen the population register as the single authoritative record of identity and civic status information.

Minister Schreiber said: “The draft regulations propose the creation of a world-class Digital Identity system as the ultimate expression of our vision to leverage digital transformation to deliver Home Affairs @ home. This system can greatly enhance our ability to combat identity theft, financial crimes, corruption and illegal immigration, while delivering efficient services to citizens in the comfort of their own homes and improving privacy protections and data management.”

Minister Schreiber added: “We are already working closely with a number of partners in government, including the Presidency, to ensure that the foundational system we are building supports the Digital Transformation Roadmap’s goal of digitalising government services. Technical work is well underway, and the finalisation of these regulations will enable us to complete our digital service delivery revolution by bringing services right onto your smart device.”

Members of the public, civil society organisations, industry and other stakeholders are invited to review the draft regulations and submit written comments by 6 June 2026, before the regulations are finalised for promulgation. The gazette is available here.

Submissions should be addressed to the Chief Director: Legal Services and be forwarded to the Department in any of the following ways:

By hand to the Department at 10th Floor, Hallmark Building, 230 Johannes Ramokhoase Street, Pretoria, 0001;

By post to the Department at Private Bag X114, Pretoria, 0001; or

By e-mail to Moses.Malakate@dha.gov.za 

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