MINISTER MACPHERSON INTERVENES TO ADDRESS DECAYING ALGOA PARK POLICE BARRACKS

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

MINISTER MACPHERSON INTERVENES TO ADDRESS DECAYING ALGOA PARK POLICE BARRACKS

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​GQEBERHA – Following an intensive oversight push, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has secured a commitment from National Government to address the severe decay and structural failure at the Algoa Park police barracks in Gqeberha.  

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The breakthrough comes after a formal request for urgent intervention was submitted to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Dean Macpherson, by DA Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate, Retief Odendaal.  

​Appalling Conditions Exposed

​The intervention was triggered by an oversight inspection conducted on 3 June 2026, by Odendaal alongside DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader Andrew Whitfield, MP, and Provincial Chairperson Yusuf Cassim, MPL.  

​The inspection of the 12-storey residential blocks on 6th Avenue revealed living conditions deemed completely unfit for human habitation. 

Law enforcement officials living in the facility have been subjected to:  

​Severe Infrastructure Collapse: Entirely inoperable elevators, dark corridors due to vandalized lighting, and missing windows on every single floor.  

​Health and Safety Risks: Heavy structural damage to garages from past fires and widespread, rat-infested piles of uncollected garbage.  

​Total Security Failure: Missing security perimeter gates and an entirely unmanned guardhouse, leaving residents highly vulnerable to escalating criminal trespass and vehicle break-ins.  

​The facility's rapid decline had previously been locked in an administrative gridlock, with the DPWI and the South African Police Service (SAPS) pointing fingers at one another over who was legally responsible for the property's day-to-day upkeep.  

​National Government Demands 10-Day Turnaround

​In an official written response issued on 8 July 2026, Minister Macpherson broke the bureaucratic deadlock. The Minister acknowledged the severe risk the crumbling infrastructure poses to its inhabitants and broader SAPS operations.  

​Macpherson confirmed that he has officially instructed the DPWI’s Regional Office to dispatch a specialized task team to the Algoa Park facility. The team is mandated to conduct a comprehensive structural and logistical assessment and table a formal report to his office within 10 business days.  

​Upon receiving the audit, the Minister has committed to releasing the findings alongside a concrete, joint action plan to restore the buildings.  

​A Push for Local Accountability

​While the DPWI serves as the overarching custodian of state-owned properties, day-to-day hygiene, minor maintenance, and operational security remain the direct legislative responsibility of the client department—the SAPS. Odendaal noted that the DA is still awaiting a formal response from the Acting Minister of Police regarding the internal measures SAPS intends to take to clean up the facility.  

​The DA has pledged to maintain aggressive oversight on the implementation of Minister Macpherson's assessment to guarantee it yields sustainable, long-term maintenance rather than a temporary patch-up job.  

​Looking ahead to local governance strategies, Odendaal stated that a DA-led administration in Nelson Mandela Bay will implement a zero-tolerance stance on derelict buildings. 

The plan involves fully restoring the local Problem Buildings Task Team, tightening municipal by-law enforcement, and launching a dedicated Metro Police Problem Buildings Unit to hold both negligent private landlords and government entities to identical public standards.  

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MK PARTY CONDEMNS “FABRICATED” SUNDAY WORLD REPORT TARGETING SECRETARY GENERAL SIBONELO NOMVALO

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

MK PARTY CONDEMNS “FABRICATED” SUNDAY WORLD REPORT TARGETING SECRETARY GENERAL SIBONELO NOMVALO

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​JOHANNESBURG – The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has issued a scathing rebuttal against a Sunday World newspaper article, labeling the report a "blatant fabrication" aimed at inciting internal division ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

​The party’s statement follows the publication of a front-page story on July 12, 2026, titled "MKP leader's security tops R336k while Party freezes spending for others." The MK Party has denied the allegations in their entirety, describing them as malicious, unfounded, and ethically compromised.

​Key Counterclaims by the MK Party

​The political organization took direct aim at the journalistic standards of the publication, highlighting several core grievances:

​Complete Denial of Mismanagement: The party rejected the narrative that Secretary General Sibonelo Nomvalo is benefiting from exorbitant private security arrangements at the expense of other party functions.

​Reliance on Anonymous Sources: The MK Party heavily criticized the growing media trend of substituting credible investigative work with unverified leaks from anonymous sources whose motives and validity cannot be scrutinized.

​Absence of the Right to Reply: The party accused Sunday World reporters of completely bypassing fundamental journalistic ethics by failing to grant the affected parties a genuine, fair opportunity to respond to the defamatory claims prior to publication.

​"Deliberate Subversion" Ahead of 2026 Municipal Elections

​The timing of the article, according to the MK Party leadership, is far from coincidental. With political organizations aggressively structure-building and vetting candidate lists for the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections, the party believes the narrative was manufactured specifically to disrupt organizational momentum.

​"The publication recklessly seeks to portray the Secretary General as benefiting from exorbitant security arrangements while simultaneously creating the false impression that the Party has neglected its organizational responsibilities," the party stated. "This narrative is deliberately crafted to damage the reputation of both the Secretary General and the MK Party at a critical period."

​The MK Party concluded its statement by warning that such reporting erodes broader public trust in independent media, reaffirming that its focus remains squarely on its internal municipal campaign preparations despite what it calls media-driven "sensationalism."

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DPCI DENIES INVESTIGATING ACTING NATIONAL COMMISSIONER, REFERS MATTER TO IDAC

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

DPCI DENIES INVESTIGATING ACTING NATIONAL COMMISSIONER, REFERS MATTER TO IDAC

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PRETORIA – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), popularly known as the Hawks, has formally clarified media reports claiming that the unit is conducting a criminal investigation targeting the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane.  

​In an official statement, the DPCI confirmed that it is not investigating the Acting National Commissioner, dismissing assertions that a criminal case has been registered by its team.

​The Basis of the Clarification

​According to the DPCI, a formal complaint was indeed submitted to their offices. However, initial assessments revealed that the complaint directly correlates with an ongoing, pre-existing matter that is already being handled by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).  

​To maintain jurisdictional integrity and avoid a duplication of investigative resources, the Hawks redirected the file:

​Procedural Referral: The complaint was immediately forwarded to IDAC for evaluation under its existing corruption investigation mandate.

​Complainant Notified: The DPCI confirmed that the individual who lodged the initial complaint was fully informed of the administrative transfer.

​No Active Case: The Hawks emphasized that the act of processing and transferring this correspondence does not equate to opening a case docket or initiating an active DPCI-led probe against the top official.

​"The referral of the complaint does not constitute the registration of a criminal case or the initiation of a criminal investigation by the DPCI," the directorate stated. "It was merely referred to the IDAC because of the existing investigation."

​The DPCI has advised that any further media or public inquiries regarding the processing, merits, or status of the complaint be directed exclusively to IDAC.

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DA-RUN WESTERN CAPE MUNICIPALITIES LEAD NATIONAL FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY INDEX

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

DA-RUN WESTERN CAPE MUNICIPALITIES LEAD NATIONAL FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY INDEX

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CAPE TOWN – Democratic Alliance (DA)-led municipalities are continuing to set the national standard for service delivery and fiscal discipline, according to the latest findings from the Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI).

​The report, compiled annually by independent governance ratings agency Ratings Afrika, highlights a severe financial crisis affecting a majority of South Africa's municipalities due to poor governance. In contrast, local governments governed by a DA majority have demonstrated strong financial resilience and stable infrastructure management.  

​Cape Town Outperforms All Other Metros

​The City of Cape Town has solidified its position as the country's best-run metropolitan area, emerging as the only metro in South Africa officially classified as "highly financially sustainable".  

​Cape Town secured an overall index score of 71 out of 100, outperforming the combined average score of 36 recorded by the remaining metros by a full 35 points. This exceptional financial standing is driven by a remarkable 98% revenue collection rate, far exceeding the national metro average of 85.3%.  

​According to local authorities, this rigorous fiscal performance enables Cape Town to execute a record R40 billion infrastructure investment over the next three years, expected to generate approximately 130,000 construction-related jobs.  

​Top Local Municipalities Dominated by the Western Cape

​The index evaluated the financial performance of South Africa's largest local municipalities, identifying the top five best-performing local governments in the country. All five are DA-run municipalities located in the Western Cape:  

​~ Drakenstein

​~ Hessequa

​~ Overstrand

​~ Saldanha Bay

​~ Swartland

​With an average score of 57, the Western Cape remains the highest-performing province in South Africa by a substantial margin. It stands alone as the only province to score above 50 and the only region where municipalities can, on average, be regarded as financially sustainable. Conversely, when Western Cape data is excluded, the national municipal average drops to a low score of 27 out of 100.  

​Tangible Outcomes for Residents

​The DA noted that these high-ranking positions represent tangible daily benefits for residents rather than mere statistics on paper.

Responsible financial management translates directly into consistent refuse collection, properly maintained roads, reliable water services, and heavy infrastructure investments that foster job creation.

​Party leadership emphasized that these results reflect the DA's focus on putting the interests of residents above volatile political maneuvers, prioritizing stable service delivery over chaotic coalitions.

​The maintenance of high-quality local governance will be a defining choice for residents on the ballot paper in the upcoming November municipal elections.

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EFF GAUTENG WELCOMES PRECAUTIONARY SUSPENSION OF TSHWANE CITY MANAGER JOHANN METTLER

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

EFF GAUTENG WELCOMES PRECAUTIONARY SUSPENSION OF TSHWANE CITY MANAGER JOHANN METTLER

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​PRETORIA – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has officially welcomed the decision by the City of Tshwane Council to place City Manager and Accounting Officer Johann Mettler on precautionary suspension pending an independent investigation.  

​The resolution was taken during a closed council sitting following a 45-page complaint lodged by the EFF, which accuses Mettler of serious misconduct, financial mismanagement, maladministration, and a gross dereliction of duty.  

​A Long-Standing Call for Accountability

​The EFF stated that the council's decision follows years of mounting concerns raised by the party regarding Mettler’s administrative leadership, poor performance, and a general deterioration of municipal governance.

​According to the red berets, the party has consistently called for decisive action against the City Manager since 2023. 

The EFF maintains that Mettler repeatedly failed to discharge his regulatory responsibilities, alleging that he played to the political gallery by partisanly advancing the interests of the Democratic Alliance (DA) rather than serving the capital city and its residents impartially.

​Solidarity’s Legal Threats Critiqued

​The EFF Gauteng further noted a letter of demand issued by the trade union Solidarity (Solidariteit) on behalf of Mettler, which threatens urgent legal action to reverse the council’s suspension order.

​While acknowledging that every employee maintains a constitutional right to approach the courts, the EFF emphasized that litigation must not be used as a tool to frustrate lawful oversight and democratic accountability processes.

​The party defended the council’s intervention framework, explaining the systemic necessity of the suspension:

​Protection of Integrity: A precautionary suspension is neither an implementation of punishment nor a final finding of guilt; it is a standard procedural measure to protect the independence of the investigation.  

​Preventing Interference: As head of the municipal administration, the City Manager exercises direct authority over senior officials, municipal records, internal systems, and day-to-day operations. His continued presence could create a reasonable perception that witnesses or evidence could be compromised.

​The EFF labeled Solidarity’s position as contradictory, arguing that the union cannot logically claim to support an independent probe while simultaneously demanding that the individual under investigation remain in absolute control of the institution’s records and staff.  

​Calls for Interference-Free Investigation

​The suspension aligns with the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers, which permit a council to issue a precautionary suspension if a manager's presence risks jeopardizing an active probe or undermining municipal stability.  

​The EFF Gauteng has called on all political parties and external organizations to allow the independent investigation to proceed without intimidation, interference, or premature conclusions. The party insisted that the eventual findings must be implemented without fear, favor, or selective application.

​The regional command concluded by emphasizing that the City of Tshwane must continue to function effectively under the newly appointed Acting City Manager, Musa Kumalo, to guarantee uninterrupted service delivery to local communities. 

The EFF reiterated its commitment to clean governance, asserting that no public official is above absolute accountability.

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