ANC STATEMENT ON THE TABLING OF THE REVISED 2025 BUDGET @KASIBC_NEWS

ANC STATEMENT ON THE TABLING OF THE REVISED 2025 BUDGET  @KASIBC_NEWS 

South Africans are awaiting in anticipation as the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana tables the revised 2025 Budget, the Appropriation Bill and the Division of Revenue Act. This follows a broad process of consultation to deliver a budget that is transformative and developmental, one that drives the imperatives of development, protects the poor, boosts investor confidence, creates jobs and stimulates the economy. 

The ANC continues to provide leadership in moments of uncertainty. Working together with political parties, civil society, labour and business on a common vision of prosperity and development, in fostering national consensus and social compact, a peoples’ budget is a recipe that unites the country behind the common vision and agenda of development through a fiscal framework that elevates the poor to the apex of transformation. 

The ANC applauds those who have contributed to this milestone across the ideological divide. The interests of the country came first, transcending narrow political interests, grandstanding and cheap politicking.  

The developmental nature of this budget should prioritise the workers, the poor and the working class. It should cushion the vulnerable sectors of society from the economic hardships, the unaffordable high cost of living, invest in people, pursue a developmental macroeconomic framework and put South Africa to work through our jobs plan, improve education, skills and ensure health care for all.  

To achieve these, the budget spending should prioritise the following areas: 

● Learning and culture; early childhood development 

● Health  ● Housing ● Public Transport 

● Infrastructure ● Debt service ● SARS 

Buoyed by the recent S&P credit rating, South Africa is on a positive recovery and growth path, that is economically and politically stable. This boosts investor confidence and growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  Investment in the South African Revenue Services (SARS) will stabilise the fiscus, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of SARS for sustainable revenue collection. 

The ANC advocates for alternative revenue streams to supplement existing revenue streams, but most importantly to safeguard the poor from economic hardships and o narrow the budget deficit and to give effect to the priorities outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) The budget should prioritise food security, including VAT exemption on essential items. This exemption should be expanded on basic necessities. 

Investing in healthcare and strengthening health services is a catalyst towards universal access to health, inclusivity and equality through the National Health Insurance Act (NHI) and infrastructure as a job creation and economic development are key drivers. Education and early childhood development are a priority for accessible quality education to open the doors of learning, as we endeavour to invest in the future of our children. 

In the labour market, the ANC is committed to ensuring diversity and equity, securing decent living wages that are aligned with inflation. Currently, South Africans face economic hardship due to a pay regime that is not aligned with the rising cost of living. 

This must change. This is the transformation that the ANC advocates for. We remain steadfast and unwavering in our support for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), which affirms that “All shall share in the country’s wealth.” Transformation is essential and non-negotiable. As the frontline of service delivery, local government’s close proximity to communities makes it essential for improving quality of life. 

Investment in local government will enhance basic services, upgrade roads and water infrastructure and strengthen the capacity of local authorities to effectively fulfill their service delivery mandates. It is through organizational development and a review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government are crucial steps toward achieving improved basic services. As the Minister tables this budget, there is a need for comprehensive reviews to assess the quality and impact of our spending. 

The government cannot continue to invest without regard to efficiency when the country’s needs are urgent and critical. Based on our engagements, consultations and vision for our country, the budget must reflect the aspirations of the people, improve their quality of life and promote development for a better future for all. 

We trust that Parliament will come together and act in the best interests of the people, rather than engaging in political grandstanding, populism, misinformation or petty point-scoring that undermine development and transformation. 

The ANC remains committed to working tirelessly to mobilize society and all social partners to ensure the successful passing of this budget. 

SIU ( SPECIAL INVESTIGATING UNIT ) CORRUPTION NLC ( NATIONAL LOTTERIES COMMISSION ) @KASIBC_NEWS

SIU ( SPECIAL INVESTIGATING UNIT )  CORRUPTION NLC ( NATIONAL LOTTERIES COMMISSION ) @KASIBC_NEWS 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcomes the damning and long-overdue findings of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the grand-scale corruption that has ravaged the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). 

We commend the work of the SIU in exposing the rot that has characterised the operations of the NLC, and we reaffirm our commitment to holding accountable all criminals who have looted public resources under the guise of serving the people. 

The SIU’s investigation, carried out under Proclamation No. R.32 of 2020, has laid bare the depth of collusion, maladministration, and flagrant theft by senior officials and board members of the NLC most notably Philemon Letwaba, the former Chief Operating Officer, who was at the centre of corrupt grant allocations to entities linked to his family Professor Alfred Nevhutanda, a former Chairperson of the NLC Board, under whose leadership corruption flourished and who personally benefited from misappropriated funds and Advocate William Huma, a former Board Member, who is alleged to have used his legal expertise to enable and shield corrupt activities from scrutiny. 

These individuals, masquerading as leaders, orchestrated a criminal enterprise using front companies, fake non-profits, and family-linked entities to siphon billions from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund money that was meant to uplift the poor and fund community development. The EFF is not surprised by these revelations. 

We have consistently warned the country about the ANC’s systematic project to hollow out public institutions for selfenrichment. 

The corruption at the NLC is not an isolated incident but part of a broader state capture project spearheaded by ANC cadres who view public funds as personal bank accounts. 

According to the SIU, the value of corrupt contracts under investigation totals a staggering R2 billion. Luxury properties, international travel, and lavish lifestyles were funded with money meant for orphanages, community sports facilities, and arts projects. This is a moral and criminal betrayal of the most vulnerable in our society. Even more concerning is the enabling role played by so-called professional service providers, accounting firms, auditors, and lawyers who submitted fraudulent documentation and rubber-stamped theft under the cover of legal and financial legitimacy. 

These firms, many of which continue to operate in other spheres of government through outsourced mandates, must be blacklisted and criminally prosecuted. We note with interest the move by SCOPA to request further investigation into the political links between NLC board members and ANC politicians. 

The EFF demands that the SIU follow the money trail without fear or favour, and that any evidence pointing to political beneficiaries whether sitting ministers, ANC deployees, or their families be made public and handed to the National Prosecuting Authority. 

The EFF will not rest until: 

a) Every implicated official, board member, and enabler is arrested, charged, and imprisoned. 

b) All properties and assets bought with stolen lottery funds are seized and returned to the state. 

c) Audit and legal firms found to have colluded in this scheme are deregistered and permanently banned from public contracts. 

d) Political actors involved in the capture of the NLC are named and shamed and held accountable. 

We further warn the ANC against any attempt to re-capture or interfere with the future restructuring of the NLC. This comes as there are mounting reports that Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau is set to award the operating license for the National Lottery to Gold Rush Consortium, a company with ties to the ANC through owners Sandile Zungu and Moses Tembe. 

The awarding of this contract worth R180 billion to ANC-benefactors would be unlawful according to the National Lotteries Act and would amount to a further use of the National Lottery to benefit the lifestyles of ANC politicians. 

The Commission must be rebuilt under strict parliamentary oversight, with no room for ANC-linked looters or their proxies. 

The people of South Africa deserve leaders who serve, not steal. 

CONSTRUCTION R82 ( OLD VEREENIGING ROAD @KASIBC_NEWS

CONSTRUCTION R82 ( OLD VEREENIGING ROAD @KASIBC_NEWS

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is currently fasttracking the resumption of roadworks in the construction project of R82 (Old Vereeniging Road) between De Deur and Walkerville in the Sedibeng District Municipality. 

The contractor was handed over back the site on 12 May 2025. The project is estimated reach completion in October 2026. This follows the Department’s decision to terminate services of previous consulting engineers due to poor performance.  A contractor, Maphutha Business Enterprise (MBE), has been appointed to carry out the construction of this major arterial road. 

The contractor is currently on site to resume at the De Deur Post Office until Walkerville Manor, approximately fourteen (14) kilometres. Amongst the objectives of the upgrade include improving access and increase road capacity from the current single to a dual carriageway. Other installations include streetlights at various intersections to improve safety, traffic signalling to facilitate mobility as well as cycleways and sidewalks. 

MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has issued a stern warning to service providers, that the department will no longer tolerate any form of abuse and will go to great lengths to defend, recover, and protect public resources. “In the past two years, the Department has placed focus on strengthening its built environment and project management capabilities thereby turning a tide against poor performance. 

It is further working to fast-track and complete all delayed road and transport infrastructure projects,” the MEC explained. 

The R82 is a strategic route connecting Johannesburg to the industrial hubs of Meyerton, Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark in the Sedibeng District Municipality. It also a major arterial route critical for the economic well-being and growth of the region. 

Through several engagements, the contractor was introduced to the local and business community to provide details on this project continuation as well as the K164 project. 

These also served to communicate project readiness with designs concluded and reviewed by the Department’s Design Review Committee. Engagement sessions were held with local communities, particularly those from affected wards - 5, 8, and 1 at the De Deur Primary School in Midvaal. “This ensures Department’s projects include community development programmes and initiatives to support skills transfer and economic benefit to small and emerging contractors,” said the MEC. 

Road infrastructure projects support the Department’s strategic objectives of contributing to the Province’s Growing Gauteng Together (GGT2030) through Smart Mobility. 

MISSING PRISONERS AT POLLSMOOR PRISON @KASIBC_NEWS

MISSING PRISONERS AT POLLSMOOR PRISON @KASIBC_NEWS 

The DA has written to the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu to confirm whether his Department has been informed of the possible disappearance of Me-Kayle Timmie and Mikyle Mentoor - two convicted offenders who, according to a High Court order, should be detained at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre until at least October 2025.

It has now been almost a week since a DA oversight visit to Pollsmoor revealed that officials could not account for either individual. Despite this, no confirmation has been issued by the Minister of Correctional Services, nor has any response been received to the DA’s formal letter sent to him on 14 May.

The Minister’s silence is troubling, particularly in light of the fact that Xolani Du Preez, a third offender who was subject to the same court order, was only re-admitted to Pollsmoor on 22 April after allegedly committing a robbery in Table View.

That incident – and Du Preez’s return to Pollsmoor - should have triggered immediate concern within the Department and prompted a review of the whereabouts of all three individuals.

The fact that this was ignored and not brought to the attention of the Minister points to a serious breakdown in communication between Correctional Services senior management and the Ministry. It is deeply concerning that the Department has failed to acknowledge or act upon such a critical lapse in inmate tracking and compliance with court orders.

If Timmie and Mentoor have indeed been released, Minister Groenewald should have confirmed this by now and explained what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of victims and the South African public.

The DA will continue to push for full transparency and accountability. A correctional system that cannot reliably confirm the presence or absence of sentenced prisoners is a system in crisis.

ARBITRARY CANCELLATION OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MEETING @KASIBC_NEWS

ARBITRARY CANCELLATION OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MEETING @KASIBC_NEWS 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) strongly condemns the arbitrary cancellation of a critical Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans meeting, scheduled for 21 May 2025 at the Armscor Dockyard in Simon’s Town. This meeting was set to address the alarming dysfunctionality of the South African Navy, including the inoperability of numerous naval vessels and significant operational challenges at the Armscor Dockyard. 

The unilateral decision by the Committee Chairperson, Honourable Legoetle, to cancel this meeting without consultation undermines parliamentary oversight and raises serious questions about efforts to shield the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Angie Motshekga, from scrutiny. The Chairperson’s justification for the cancellation—a supposed scheduling conflict with the budget presentation on the same day—lacks credibility, as the meeting was planned for the morning, with no overlap. 

The EFF rejects the Chairperson’s invocation of Rule 158(2)(b) of the National Assembly Rules to justify this decision. While the rule permits rescheduling, it does not grant carte blanche to undermine the Committee’s critical oversight role. This action is clearly not in the interest of the Committee’s functioning and appears designed to obstruct accountability. 

Equally concerning is the persistent absence of Minister Motshekga from oversight meetings, including the deferred Joint Standing Committee on Defence meeting on 16 May 2025 and the now-cancelled Portfolio Committee meeting. Her reported international travel during this period suggests a deliberate pattern of evading accountability for the ongoing dysfunction within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Department of Defence (DOD). 

The Chairperson’s actions, as a member of the African National Congress (ANC), further fuel suspicions of an orchestrated effort to protect a senior ANC member from scrutiny. 

The EFF demands immediate clarity on the following: 

1. The true reasons behind the arbitrary cancellation of the Portfolio Committee meeting. 

2. The Minister’s repeated failure to attend Portfolio Committee and Joint Standing Committee meetings. 

3. The lack of accountability for the Chairperson’s unilateral decisions and the Minister’s conduct. 

We further call on the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chair of Chairs to investigate these irregularities, including the arbitrary changes to the Committee’s programme and the Minister’s apparent avoidance of oversight processes. 

These actions erode public confidence in the Department of Defence and undermine the constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight. 

The EFF will not stand idly by while the SANDF and DOD deteriorate under ineffective leadership and evasive governance. 

We demand transparency, accountability, and urgent action to address the crisis within our defence forces. 

ELON MUSK STARLINK APPROVAL @KASIBC_NEWS

ELON MUSK STARLINK APPROVAL @KASIBC_NEWS 

 The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) firmly condemns the reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to offer regulatory assurances to Elon Musk’s Starlink ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this week. 

This move is not only unconstitutional, but it also exposes Ramaphosa as willing to compromise on our sovereignty to massage the inflated ego of Elon Musk and Donald Trump. 

We must remind the public and the presidency that Cyril Ramaphosa has no executive authority to unilaterally guarantee access to South Africa’s telecommunications sector, let alone bypass necessary Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws. 

Any such commitments fall squarely within the legislative domain of Parliament, not Luthuli House or the President’s delegation. 

These powers are governed by national legislation and independent regulators, not the whims of one man desperate for foreign approval. The EFF is not surprised, however, as we noted this possibility when he embarked on this ill-advised trip, and we are concerned that this as part of a broader campaign by Ramaphosa to appease the Trump administration and white capital by potentially sacrificing key transformative laws like the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, and the Expropriation Act. 

The EFF warns: we will resist any such betrayal of the people’s mandate, including through legal action and mass mobilisation. We are not opposed to technology or global innovation, but we will not allow unregulated, foreign-controlled infrastructure to operate outside South Africa’s democratic and legislative framework. 

Starlink represents a threat to local industry and national security as it is owned by an individual who has peddled lies about a genocide in South Africa in an attempt to leverage preferential and unregulated access to our market. One wonders why Elon Musk is so desperate to setup operations in a country involved in a genocide, as any genuine humanitarian would recognise genocide as a disincentive for investment. 

We will oppose this Starlink deal in Parliament, in the courts, and in the streets if necessary. Our sovereignty is not for sale to billionaires, nor can it be bought with handshakes in backrooms. 

Cabinet’s approval of the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for South Africa @KASIBC_NEWS

Cabinet’s approval of the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for South Africa @KASIBC_NEWS 

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) welcomes Cabinet’s approval of South Africa’s Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy, as well as the approval for the publication of the Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRDB) of 2025 for public comments.  

The approval of these two policy documents marks a major milestone in our concerted efforts that are aimed at ensuring policy and regulatory certainty, as well as maximising the country's potential in the global market for minerals.  Although the term “critical minerals” has been used by various nations for a considerable period, there has been no universal consensus on the definition of critical minerals, as several countries have interchangeably used and defined “critical, strategic or future minerals” according to their importance in: economic growth and industrialisation; technological advancements; energy transition; geopolitical considerations; supply chain vulnerabilities; environmental and social concerns; and strategic importance. 

It is within this context that in 2023, we resolved at the African Critical Minerals Summit that Africa should develop a clear roadmap on how to maximise the exploitation and monetisation of these resources for value addition to our economies. At the centre of this road map is a shared vision for the critical minerals with which our continent is endowed and thereby foster regional cooperation and economic growth.  

To realise this shared vision, the Department assigned Mintek the responsibility to coordinate the development of South Africa’s Critical Minerals Strategy with the intention to foster investment into exploration, beneficiation, building resilient local value chains, research and development, skills development and strengthening regional integration and international partnerships to position the country as a major player in the global critical minerals market.  

The drafting of the strategy commenced with adopting a robust methodology to determine the aspect of criticality of minerals. This methodology was based on eight indicators including, inter alia, export potential, employment indicator, supply risk, export sales, domestic sales, and substitutability indicators. This focus ensured that minerals with the highest potential to drive economic and industrial growth are prioritised which then provided guidance in determining the criticality of specific mineral commodities. 

At least, twenty one (21) commodity studies were undertaken in parallel with the work of determining the criticality of minerals. These commodity studies sufficiently provided a clear picture of the state of the mining industry in South Africa, as well as the contribution of each commodity to the country’s drive for inclusive economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation. Valuable inputs into these studies were also obtained from the industry, thus underscoring our collective approach to this important work.  

Whereas every mineral is found to be critical for various reasons, the strategy has identified the following minerals as high-critical minerals for South Africa based on their criticality informed by the eight indicators: platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal, and chrome ore.  The strategy further identifies mineral commodities such as gold, vanadium, palladium, rhodium, and rare earth elements as minerals with moderate to high criticality.  

Minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, graphite, nickel, titanium, phosphate, fluorspar, zirconium, uranium, and aluminium were identified as minerals with moderate criticality.  

The list will constantly be reviewed and updated as the criticality classification mix is dependent on underlying market conditions, exploration, technological advancement, substitutability, recycling, and geopolitics, among other factors. Additionally, the strategy does not view critical minerals in isolation; instead, they are treated as part of a larger ecosystem that drives essential technologies such as electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, wind turbines, battery storage systems, microelectronics and advanced manufacturing. 

 To this end, the strategy identified the following 6 pillars with targeted interventions for critical minerals development and beneficiation close to the point of production. 

 1. Geoscience Mapping and Exploration: The strategy recognises that mineral discovery is a function of exploration, and that geological mapping plays a vital role in identifying resource potential and directing efficient exploration efforts. The strategy, therefore, emphasises that South Africa must prioritise exploration to sustain its mining sector and for the success of this strategy. 

2. Value Addition and Localisation: cognisant of the fact that value addition and localisation reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers, boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), creates jobs, and develop skills, the strategy advocates for strengthening local beneficiation and manufacturing to enhance economic growth, expand the export basket and create new opportunities. 

3. Research and Development (R&D) Investment and Building a Diverse Skilled Workforce: The strategy further prioritises investment in strategic research and development to transform South Africa’s mineral wealth into globally competitive high-tech products, by leveraging on Africa’s resources and youthful population. 

4. The strategy stresses investment in strategic Infrastructure and Energy Security for sustainable mining and downstream value addition. 

5. Financial Instruments to support Beneficiation: the strategy stresses that a robust fiscal framework is essential to support this strategy, hence, it calls for a stable and competitive environment while aligning with broader geopolitical and economic objectives.  

6. Harmonisation of Policy and Regulatory Instruments: the strategy recognises the urgency to implement policies that can provide an enabling environment for increased mining output and improved competitiveness. To ensure policy and regulatory certainty and enhance investor confidence, the department has reviewed and proposed amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA). 

Mindful of the fact that a stable legal framework is essential to attract and retain investments, foster inclusive economic growth, and sustainable resource development, the Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRDB) of 2025 seeks to align mining legislation with evolving policies, economic conditions and global shifts while ensuring that it reflects current industry needs and government priorities. 

 The Bill proposes streamlining administrative processes to ensure proper alignment with National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the National Water Act (NWA), and thereby reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and improve turnaround times for mining rights, permits, and regulatory approvals. 

The Bill further introduces a licensing regime for artisanal and small-scale mining operations, and in so doing formalise artisanal and small-scale mining operations, ensure compliance with environmental, safety, and labour regulations, as well as reduce the risk of illegal mining activities. Having incorporated many of the issues raised with the department over a number of years, the department will gazette the Bill for public comments today, 20 May 2025. 

We, therefore, urge all citizens as well as interested and affected parties to enhance the Bill by submitting their inputs on the Bill to the Department.