DA DEMANDS PARLIAMENTARY PROBE INTO R4.6 BILLION PARLIAMENT REBUILD PROJECT

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

DA DEMANDS PARLIAMENTARY PROBE INTO R4.6 BILLION PARLIAMENT REBUILD PROJECT

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​PARLIAMENT, CAPE TOWN – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally written to the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament (JSCFMP) demanding an urgent, comprehensive investigation into the Parliamentary Rebuild Project following allegations of legal irregularities and massive budget escalation.

​The party highlights that the estimated cost of rebuilding the parliamentary precinct following the January 2022 fire has inflated from an initial budget of R2.1 billion to over R4.6 billion.

​Allegations of Unlawful Project Transfer

​At the center of the probe request are allegations involving the Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, and the formal transfer of the rebuild project from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI):

• ​Bypassing Statutory Protocols: The DA asserts that the transfer of custodianship from DPWI (then headed by former Minister Patricia de Lille) to Parliament failed to meet statutory requirements under the Government Immovable Asset Management Act 19 of 2007 (GIAMA).
• ​Absence of Written Transfer & Gazetting: According to the party, the former Minister never authorized the transfer in writing, nor was the shift in custodianship officially gazetted as required by law.
• ​Misleading the Auditor-General: The DA alleges that Mr. George misled the Auditor-General during probing inquiries by representing the transfer as legally sound.

​Focus on Parliamentary Governance & Oversight

​The DA noted that these disclosures build on existing controversies surrounding Mr. George’s tenure, including legal challenges regarding his appointment, remuneration structure, and overall financial administration.

​The party has given the Co-Chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament 7 days to respond to the request for a formal parliamentary investigation.

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PIKITUP WARNS OF WASTE COLLECTION DISRUPTIONS ACROSS JOHANNESBURG DUE TO DEPOT BLOCKADES

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

PIKITUP WARNS OF WASTE COLLECTION DISRUPTIONS ACROSS JOHANNESBURG DUE TO DEPOT BLOCKADES

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JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG – Pikitup, the official waste management entity for the City of Johannesburg, has alerted residents to ongoing service disruptions across several parts of the city. The delays are caused by protest action from casual workers contracted to private service providers who are demanding permanent absorption into the municipal entity.

Protesters have blockaded entrances to six major depots, preventing waste collection trucks and staff from departing to complete scheduled routes.

Affected Depots & Operations

Access blockades have halted outgoing operations at the following facilities:

• Marlboro Depot

• Waterval Depot

• Roodepoort Depot

• Randburg Depot

• Orange Farm Depot

• Avalon Depot

Pikitup clarified that its permanent workforce is not on strike and remains available to perform collection duties. However, physical access constraints caused by the blockades prevent vehicles from leaving the facilities.

Interventions and Next Steps

• Stakeholder Engagement: Pikitup is liaising with contracted Service Providers, local law enforcement agencies, and community representatives to secure depot access and resolve the blockade.

• Recovery Measures: Operational contingency plans are being rolled out to clear refuse backlogs and stabilize collection schedules as soon as routes open up.

• Resident Advisory: Pikitup apologized for the inconvenience and advised affected residents to keep bins secured and monitor the entity's official social media channels for area-specific operational updates.

Pikitup casual workers embark on work stoppage

This report provides visual context on the casual workers' work stoppage at Pikitup depots and details the community impact regarding uncollected waste.

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 SIU Freezes Multi-Million Rand Assets of Ex-PRASA Boss Lucky Montana over R5.6bn Tender Probe

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

SIU Freezes Multi-Million Rand Assets of Ex-PRASA Boss Lucky Montana over R5.6bn Tender Probe

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​JOHANNESBURG — The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has scored a major victory in its multi-billion-rand civil recovery efforts after obtaining a Special Tribunal preservation order to freeze two luxury properties worth nearly R16 million linked to former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Group CEO, Tshepo Lucky Montana.

​The preservation order halts Montana from selling, leasing, transferring, or using the upmarket properties as financial security pending the final outcome of ongoing civil proceedings.

​The R5.6 Billion Siyangena Trail

​According to the corruption watchdog, an extensive forensic investigation uncovered a direct and uninterrupted money trail connecting the property acquisitions to illicit proceeds derived from PRASA’s contentious R5.6 billion Integrated Security Access Management System (ISAMS) contracts.

​The contracts—originally awarded to Siyangena Technologies (a subsidiary of TMM Holdings) as a R1.95 billion pilot project for 2010 FIFA World Cup station upgrades—ballooned to over R5.6 billion through multiple illegal contract extensions.

​The SIU's financial analysis revealed that Montana’s legitimate income as PRASA GCEO could not account for the multi-million-rand purchases. Instead, bank records showed funds flowing through corporate entities linked to TMM Holdings and shelf company accounts managed by attorneys representing the contractor.

​Frozen Properties Summary

• ​Hurlingham, Johannesburg (Purchase Price: R13.5 Million): Financial analysis indicates money was transferred from Siyangena to TMM Holdings, then routed through shell company Midtownbrace into property conveyancers.
• ​Waterkloof, Pretoria (Purchase Price: R2.25 Million): Allegedly funded directly via channelled payments from ESS (TMM Group) and TMM Holdings through Precise Trade and Invest 02.

​The Special Tribunal has also instructed the Registrar of Deeds to place immediate restrictions (caveats) on the title deeds to prevent unauthorized transfers.

​Public Spat and Legal Showdown

​The asset freeze sparked a heated public feud between Montana and the SIU. Montana lashed out at the investigative body, dismissing the announcement as a "blue lie" intended to portray him as a criminal, emphasizing that the order was provisional and promising to fight it in court.

​"The SIU and other Organs of State continue to dream of the day they will feed on the carcass of Lucky Montana. But this will not happen, not in this lifetime. They will not get any of my houses."

— Lucky Montana, Former PRASA GCEO

​The Special Tribunal has ordered Montana and the named respondents to appear in court on 11 August 2026 to present arguments on why the provisional preservation order should not be made permanent. In addition, the SIU has been directed to formally launch its main civil proceedings against Montana within 30 days of the preservation ruling.

​This asset preservation marks another critical milestone in dismantling legacy state capture networks and recovering stolen public resources from state-owned enterprises.

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CLARIFIES INACCURACIES IN CARTE BLANCHE BROADCAST

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CLARIFIES INACCURACIES IN CARTE BLANCHE BROADCAST

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​PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – The Department of Agriculture has formally addressed and corrected several factual and legal errors from a Carte Blanche investigative feature broadcast on 26 July 2026, which raised questions regarding administrative appointments and product safety under the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947).

​Designation and SACNASP Affiliation

​The Department rejected claims made in the broadcast regarding the legal qualifications required for the Minister's delegated authority:

• ​Legality of Appointment: Mr. Maluta Jonathan Mudzunga serves as Chief Director: Inspection and Quarantine Services following his promotion from Director: Agricultural Inputs Control. He was lawfully designated by the Minister under Section 2(1) of Act 36 of 1947.

• ​SACNASP Membership Not Required: The Department clarified that statutory designation under Section 2(1) does not mandate affiliation with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). None of Mr. Mudzunga's predecessors held SACNASP registration—largely because the professional body did not exist as a legal entity at the time of their designations.

​Reporting Lines and Operational Hierarchy

​The Department dismissed assertions that Mr. Mudzunga holds multiple conflicting posts or "reports to himself":

• ​Single Substantive Post: Mr. Mudzunga holds a single post as Chief Director: Inspection and Quarantine Services. His former role, Director: Agricultural Inputs Control, is currently filled in an acting capacity by the Head of Inspection Services.

• ​Delegated Authority: In terms of Section 2(2)(a) of the Act, operational responsibilities are lawfully delegated to the Head of Inspection Services, who acts as the de facto registrar.

• ​Accountability Structure: Mr. Mudzunga reports to the Deputy Director-General: Agricultural Production and Natural Resources Management, and ultimately to the Director-General and the Minister.

​Status of Product Registration & Livestock Investigation

• ​Pre-existing Registration: The agricultural product featured in the television segment was registered prior to Mr. Mudzunga’s tenure as Registrar.

• ​Ongoing Probe: The Department confirmed that, outside of the specific case highlighted by Carte Blanche, no further reports of livestock fatalities or adverse reactions associated with the product have been logged.

• ​Premature Liability Assertions: A comprehensive investigation is currently underway. The Department emphasized that claims attributing the farmer's losses to departmental negligence are premature and legally unfounded until formal findings are concluded.

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 MINISTER HLABISA URGES SOUTH AFRICANS TO REGISTER BEFORE ELECTION PROCLAMATION ON 7AUGUST2026

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

MINISTER HLABISA URGES SOUTH AFRICANS TO REGISTER BEFORE ELECTION PROCLAMATION ON 7 AUGUST 2026

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​PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has called on all eligible South Africans to register and verify their voter details before the official proclamation of the 2026 Local Government Elections date on 7 August 2026.

​In accordance with Section 159 of the Constitution and the Municipal Structures Act, the CoGTA Minister holds the statutory duty to proclaim municipal election dates. Once the date is gazetted on Friday, 7 August, the voters' roll will officially close at midnight, preventing further registrations or address modifications for the upcoming polls.

​Key Highlights & Voter Guidelines

• ​Registration Weekend Impact: The call follows the final registration weekend on 1–2 August 2026, which saw ~1.7 million citizen interactions with the Electoral Commission (IEC)—including 291,806 first-time voters and over 1.5 million detail updates.
• ​Ward-Based Voting Requirement: Unlike national or provincial elections, local government legislation mandates that voters may only vote in the specific ward where they are registered.
• ​Final Registration Window: Unregistered citizens and voters who have moved can still complete their registration or update details online via the IEC’s Online Voter Registration Portal up until the proclamation gazette is issued on 7 August.
• ​Election Day: The 2026 Local Government Elections are scheduled to take place on 4 November 2026. 

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