Sunday, 16 August 2026

COURT STRIKES DOWN ICASA RULES: DA WINS MAJOR VICTORY AGAINST ELECTION AD CENSORSHIP

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

COURT STRIKES DOWN ICASA RULES: DA WINS MAJOR VICTORY AGAINST ELECTION AD CENSORSHIP

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JOHANNESBURG – In a significant ruling for South Africa’s electoral integrity, the Gauteng High Court has declared key sections of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) election broadcasting regulations unconstitutional and unlawful.

The judgment, welcomed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), effectively dismantles the ability of broadcasters to act as "political gatekeepers" by blocking campaign advertisements through arbitrary rejections and procedural delays.

A New Standard for Urgent Dispute Resolution The court-mandated relief establishes a strict, expedited timeline for handling rejected political advertisements and party election broadcasts (PEBs). Under the new framework:

Complaints: Must be heard by ICASA’s Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) within 48 hours of filing.
Rulings: A decision must be delivered within 12 hours following the hearing.
Automatic Default: Should ICASA fail to meet these prescribed deadlines, the broadcaster is legally obligated to air the disputed material immediately.

This mechanism directly addresses the "running down the clock" tactic highlighted by the DA, which cited the 2024 national elections as a primary example. During that period, the party successfully challenged the SABC’s refusal to air specific advertisements, but the victory was rendered moot because the ruling arrived only after the election cycle had concluded.

Broadening Public Participation Beyond internal party disputes, the High Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to exclude members of the public and civil society organizations from challenging the censorship of political broadcasts. The court emphasized that the right to receive political information is essential to the South African electorate’s ability to make informed democratic choices.

Accountability for the Regulator The judgment serves as a stern rebuke to the regulatory body. The Court ordered ICASA to amend its defective regulations to align with constitutional standards. Additionally, the court awarded legal costs against ICASA and its chairperson, reinforcing that the regulator must operate transparently and without infringing upon protected political speech.

In its response, the DA stated that the ruling protects the fundamental rights of all political actors to reach voters. "Broadcasters cannot be permitted to suppress campaign material until an election is over," the party noted. "This judgment sends a clear message that political speech cannot be silenced through arbitrary decisions."

ICASA has not yet indicated whether it intends to appeal the judgment.

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uThukela Water Crisis: DA Heads to High Court as Municipal Leadership Snubs Oversight

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

uThukela Water Crisis: DA Heads to High Court as Municipal Leadership Snubs Oversight

By KasiBCAfrica_News

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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the uThukela District Municipality has initiated High Court proceedings against the municipality (Case No. 2026-162871) as part of an ongoing effort to address systemic service delivery failures and financial mismanagement.

Court Application Details

Case Number: 2026-162871.
Hearing Date: The matter is set down for the opposed roll on 19 October 2026.
Relief Sought: The DA is requesting that the High Court:
- Declare that the municipality has breached the constitutional rights of its residents by failing to provide reliable access to water.
- Place the municipality under administration in terms of Section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution, which includes the potential dissolution of the current Council.
- Establish ongoing court supervision to ensure compliance with any issued orders.

Core Allegations & Context

The DA’s application is supported by affidavits from residents across the district—including Ladysmith, Estcourt, Bergville, and Ezakheni—who cite frequent water shortages. The legal challenge highlights several long-standing governance concerns:

Financial Mismanagement: The party cites R1.314 billion in Unauthorized, Irregular, Fruitless, and Wasteful (UIFW) expenditure and nine consecutive years of disclaimed audit opinions.
The RASP Consultants Dispute: A protracted legal battle with RASP Consultants CC (Vivah Technologies) regarding unpaid water-sector work from 2019. This dispute previously led to the attachment of municipal bank accounts by the Sheriff in early 2026, which disrupted salary payments and essential service operations.
Service Delivery Collapse: Allegations that the municipality has consistently failed to meet the legal requirement of providing at least 25 liters of potable water per person per day, despite repeated warnings from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and official Blue/Green Drop reports.

Status of Municipality

While the DA is seeking a new intervention under Section 139(1)(c), the municipality has previously faced financial distress that required intervention under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). In March 2026, the Pietermaritzburg High Court ordered the upliftment of garnishee orders on municipal bank accounts to allow for the resumption of basic services and payroll after the RASP Consultants intervention.

The municipality maintains that it is working to implement a "budget funding plan" to address unfunded budgets and improve its audit standing. However, the DA asserts that the IFP-led administration is choosing to utilize public funds to defend against litigation rather than prioritizing the restoration of water services.

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EFF Accuses Ramaphosa Presidency of Corporate Capture Following R445M External Funding Disclosure

Accuses Ramaphosa Presidency of Corporate Capture Following R445M External Funding Disclosure

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

EFF Accuses Ramaphosa Presidency of Corporate Capture Following R445M External Funding Disclosure

By KasiBCAfrica News

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JOHANNESBURG — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has released a formal statement condemning what it describes as the corporate and imperialist capture of the Presidency under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The statement follows a parliamentary question submitted by EFF Deputy Secretary-General Hon. Leigh-Ann Mathys, which revealed that the Presidency of South Africa received R445.57 million in external private and foreign support over the past five financial years.

The EFF asserts that the influx of funds from private corporations, foreign governments, and billionaire-backed foundations undermines state sovereignty and systematically steers national economic policy toward market deregulation and privatization.

Key Funding Allocations Highlighted by the EFF

According to parliamentary figures supplied by the Presidency, external partner allocations across major presidential initiatives include:

Resource Mobilisation Fund (RMF): R180 million mobilized by business groups to support technical capacity for the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), and Joint Initiative on Crime and Corruption (JICC).
Just Energy Transition (JET) Unit: R95.6 million provided by the African Climate Foundation to fund technical operations and project management.
Digital Transformation Roadmap: R71.9 million, including R66 million from the Gates Foundation.
Operation Vulindlela: R56.3 million total, funded by Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), National Business Initiative (NBI), Yellowwoods, and international partners.
Presidential Youth Employment Intervention & Employment Stimulus: Over R41 million combined, funded by Yellowwoods, the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the DG Murray Trust.

EFF's Main Arguments Against External Funding

1. Corporate Dominance via Operation Vulindlela and BLSA

The EFF argues that contributions from Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) and investment groups like Yellowwoods create conflict of interest in structural reform programs such as Operation Vulindlela. The party claims that corporate interests are using these vehicles to drive market-opening policies in network industries like electricity, rail, and ports, which benefits private capital at the expense of public utilities like Eskom and Transnet.

2. Continuity from Shanduka Group and CR17 Campaign Funds

The party links current corporate influence to President Ramaphosa’s previous business career with the Shanduka Group and the unsealed financial disclosures of his 2017 ANC presidential campaign (CR17). The EFF contends that the same corporate actors who supported his political rise now enjoy direct policy access inside the Presidency.

3. Foreign Influence over Energy Policy and Sovereignty

The EFF strongly criticizes foreign climate and development funding for the Just Energy Transition (JET). The statement alleges that Western entities—including the European Union and international foundations—are pushing an energy transition model that risks weakening Eskom, threatening coal-sector jobs, and creating technological dependence on foreign corporations.

Presidency’s Position

In his official response to Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that external partner contributions are strictly regulated, transparently managed, and do not fund daily executive operations or baseline operational budgets. The Presidency maintained that technical and capacity-building partnerships with civil society, development finance institutions, and the private sector are vital for accelerating job creation, resolving infrastructure bottlenecks, and strengthening state implementation capacity.

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EFF CONDEMNS THE UNDERVALUING OF PITSO MOSIMANE BY SAFA

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

EFF CONDEMNS THE UNDERVALUING OF PITSO MOSIMANE BY SAFA

By KasiBCAfrica_News

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The South African Football Association (SAFA) is currently in contract negotiations with Pitso Mosimane regarding his return as head coach of Bafana Bafana. Following the departure of Belgian coach Hugo Broos—who led South Africa to the knockout stages of the —the SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) officially approved Mosimane’s appointment on August 8, 2026.

The appointment has sparked public and political debate, centered on the significant disparity between SAFA’s initial salary offers to Mosimane and the remuneration package previously afforded to Broos.

Salary Controversy Overview

Negotiations hit a hurdle when it was reported that SAFA’s initial financial proposal was viewed by Mosimane’s representatives as significantly undervalued given his extensive continental and international experience.

Feature	Hugo Broos (Former Coach)	Pitso Mosimane (Initial Offer)	Reported Adjusted Offer
Annual Salary	~R16.8 million	~R5 million	~R10 million
Monthly Rate	~R1.4 million	~R416,000	~R833,000
Perks	Accommodation, flights to Belgium	Under negotiation	Under negotiation

Note: Figures are based on media reports from August 2026 and represent estimated annual/monthly packages.

Key Points of Contention

Precedent vs. Proposal: Mosimane’s camp has argued that his remuneration should be benchmarked against his predecessor, Hugo Broos. Broos reportedly earned approximately R1.4 million per month (plus benefits like accommodation in Sandton and flights to Belgium).
Technical Team Costs: The negotiation involves not just Mosimane’s personal salary, but the total cost of his requested technical support staff. Representatives maintain that a high-calibre coaching structure requires a budget consistent with international standards.
Valuation of Local Expertise: Critics and political organizations, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have characterized the initial lower offers as a "racialised valuation" of Black South African expertise, questioning why a coach with three CAF Champions League titles is offered less than a foreign predecessor.

Current Status

While SAFA has reportedly moved to double its initial R5 million offer to approximately R10 million per year, negotiations remain ongoing as the parties seek to finalize terms. SAFA President Dr. Danny Jordaan confirmed that while the NEC has approved the appointment, the association is currently working to "tie up some loose ends" before a formal announcement is made.

Mosimane is widely regarded as one of Africa's most successful coaches, having won three CAF Champions League titles (one with Mamelodi Sundowns and two with Al Ahly) and managed clubs across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran.

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ANC Welcomes Withdrawal of Prudential Authority Liquidation Bid Against Ithala SOC Limited

By KasiBCAfrica_News

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DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — The African National Congress (ANC) has formally welcomed the withdrawal of the Prudential Authority’s liquidation application against state-owned financier Ithala SOC Limited. The decision follows multi-sphere government interventions and a National Treasury-backed mechanism ensuring that affected depositors are repaid.

The withdrawal comes after extensive depositor reimbursement efforts, where the state committed up to R2.2 billion to enable orderly payouts for over 250,000 account holders. Over R1.7 billion has already been disbursed through partnering institutions.

Key Statements from the ANC Review

1. Protection of Historically Included Depositors

The ANC commended government interventions for prioritizing ordinary working-class depositors and small business account holders.

"The African National Congress welcomes the withdrawal of the Prudential Authority’s application for the liquidation of Ithala SOC Limited following the intervention by government to ensure that depositors are repaid... This development reflects the importance of a responsive and caring state that places the interests of ordinary South Africans at the centre of its decisions." — African National Congress Statement

2. Developmental Mandate & Financial Sector Transformation

The party highlighted Ithala’s historical role as a development finance institution (DFI) established to extend financial access to rural communities and historically disadvantaged individuals across KwaZulu-Natal.

"Development finance institutions remain critical instruments in advancing economic transformation, supporting small businesses, promoting entrepreneurship, and ensuring that working-class and vulnerable communities have access to opportunities that enable economic participation."

3. Institutional Governance and Compliance Lessons

Acknowledging regulatory challenges and the lapsing of Ithala's Banks Act exemption, the ANC emphasized that institutional protection must be accompanied by strict adherence to financial regulations and governance standards.

Governance Systems: Strengthening internal administrative controls, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Institutional Sustainability: Ensuring state-owned financial entities remain financially viable without compromising safety standards set by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Prudential Authority.

Status of Ithala Operations and Payouts

While the withdrawal of the liquidation application removes immediate insolvency proceedings, key legal and operational dynamics remain active:

Depositor Claims: Depositors continue to receive claims disbursements through First National Bank (FNB) branches, with a three-year window running through 2028.
Banking License Requirements: Ithala is currently restricted from taking new public deposits until full regulatory compliance and statutory banking licensing conditions are satisfied with the Prudential Authority.

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Sunday, 16 August 2026