DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GRIQUA ROYAL HOUSE

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DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GRIQUA ROYAL HOUSE

In his capacity as Chairperson of the Presidential Task Team on Matters raised by Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has this morning, 02 September 2025, met with Representatives of the Griqua Royal House at OR Tambo Official Residence in Pretoria.

In June this year, the Office of the Deputy President received a letter from The Griqua Royal House requesting a meeting with the Deputy President to discuss the Traditional Leadership recognition of the Khoi and San communities, among other things.

Today's meeting provided an opportunity for Deputy President Mashatile to brief the Representatives of the Griqua Royal House on progress on the process of the recognition of the Khoi and San communities by the Commission on Khoi-San Matters.

The Commission on Khoi-San Matters (Commission) is a statutory body established in terms of section 51(1) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act of 2019.

In terms of section 57 and 58 of the Act, the Commission has the following functions:

• To receive applications for the recognition of Khoi-San communities, branches, senior Khoi-San leaders and Branch Heads.

• To investigate the applications received.

• To prepare comprehensive reports with recommendations on each application that has been received and investigated.

• To submit the report and the recommendations of each received and investigated application to the relevant Premier for comment and give the Premiers a period of 60 days to provide the comments.

• After receiving the comments from the relevant Premiers, the Commission must finalise and submit its report containing its recommendations to the Minister on the possible recognition of Khoi-San communities, branches, and leaders.

In this regard, Commissioner Cordney Mangale assured the meeting that all processes for recognition are being followed accordingly and that the Commission would make an announcement on the outcome of the application for recognition before the end of its term in August 2026.

Deputy President Mashatile thanked the Commissioners and  Representatives of the Griqua Royal House for attending to the matters raised in the most cordial fashion and for their commitment to promoting and preserving institutions of Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership in South Africa.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, Commissioners and Senior Government Officials.

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Corruption at the Government Employees Pension Fund

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Corruption at the Government Employees Pension Fund 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has repeatedly warned that the failure of Parliament and the Standing Committee on Finance to exercise proper oversight over the National Treasury and its many state-owned entities has created conditions for corruption to thrive. 

This explains why blatant looting can continue unabated in the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), an institution responsible for the pensions of millions of public servants. Recent revelations confirm that the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA), which administers the GEPF, has been embroiled in scandal amounting to more than R1.2 billion in losses through corrupt procurement deals. Instead of safeguarding workers’ pensions, officials and their associates have enriched themselves at the expense of those who dedicated their lives to public service. 

This is not an isolated case. For over a year, the EFF has exposed how trustees, fund administrators and asset managers operate in a dark web of corruption, engaging in risky, speculative and fraudulent activities with workers’ retirement savings. The result has been devastating: workers and their families find themselves destitute upon retirement because their pensions were gambled away without consequence for the perpetrators. 

On 15 November 2024, the EFF tabled a motion in the National Assembly to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate violations of Section 13A of the Pension Funds Act. This was in anticipation of the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill of 2023, introducing the so-called “two pot system,” where we foresaw that many workers — especially municipal employees and private security guards — would discover that their funds were missing despite monthly deductions. At the time, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) had already reported that 2,224 private security companies and 172 municipalities had failed to transfer deducted contributions to pension funds, with a cumulative R7 billion outstanding. 

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Instead of addressing this crisis, the ANC, DA and IFP voted against the EFF’s motion, choosing to protect toothless bodies such as the Pension Funds Adjudicator and the FSCA, institutions that generate reports but fail to act against theft. The EFF also called on the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, to conduct a full audit of private security companies contracted by the state, and to ensure their compliance with Section 13A of the Pension Funds Act. 

We demanded that any noncompliant company be barred from state contracts. The Minister failed to act, leaving thousands of workers and their families destitute. Instead, allocations to municipalities were withheld, punishing communities without addressing private sector corruption. 

The EFF maintains that it is the lack of oversight and regulatory enforcement that has allowed this crisis to deepen and now filter its way into the GEPF. National Treasury and the FSCA, despite their mandates, have turned a blind eye while employers deducted money from workers but failed to transfer it to pension administrators. Regulatory institutions have allowed pension fund administrators such a Salt Employee Benefits, Akani Retirement Fund Administrators and now the Government Pensions Administration Agency to operate with impunity at the expense of workers. 

This has had dire consequences. When workers attempted to withdraw a portion of their savings under the two-pot system, many discovered that their pensions did not exist, and under the GEPF which has now been exposed, attempts at withdrawals have been met with non-ending delays and no responses. This betrayal underscores the scale of negligence and collusion at play. 

These are not minor administrative lapses — they are large-scale financial crimes that undermine workers’ security and the integrity of our economy. The continued disregard by National Treasury, the FSCA, and political parties complicit in blocking accountability represents a shameful stain on our democracy. 

The EFF therefore reiterates that the only solution lies in wide-scale reform of the pension fund sector, arrests and prosecutions of all those involved, and the recovery of every cent stolen. 

We will continue to pursue legislative mechanisms to ensure that pension administrators, asset managers, board members and regulators are held personally accountable for the theft of workers’ pensions. Workers cannot be sacrificed to a corrupt system that gambles away their future. 

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ORLAND PIRATES ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT

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ORLAND PIRATES ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT

Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm that Head Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and five members of the club’s staff were involved in a road traffic incident on Sunday night.

The incident occurred on the R21 highway as the team returned from Gqeberha, following their hard-fought 3–0 victory against Chippa United. 

Upon encountering a collision between two vehicles, Coach Ouaddou and several staff members disembarked from the team bus to assist those involved. Tragically, while attending to the scene, a Nissan NP200 vehicle collided with the stationary vehicles, striking the group and causing serious injuries.

Coach Ouaddou, along with the five affected staff members, were immediately transported to hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care. The Club is in close contact with the medical team and will provide updates on their recovery in due course.

At this stage, our priority is the health and wellbeing of our colleagues. The Club has made arrangements to ensure that the affected individuals and their families receive all the necessary support during this difficult time.

We ask for privacy and respect for those involved as they focus on recovery. Further updates will be communicated when appropriate.

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MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPOSED

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MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPOSED

Dear South Africa
By Lumka Oliphant

I have just received a letter of suspension from the department following an expose by the Sunday Times on a trip to New York where Minister Sisisi Tolashe spent R3 million for two weeks.

The department, Sisisi in particular, believes that I leaked the information to the Sunday Times and previous reports by the City Press—just because I have worked with almost every journalist and worked at City Press in particular.

Sisisi, who does not even have a Grade 12, has been ridiculing my work even though I remain one of the best performing Heads of Communication in government according to GCIS.

She has taken her political fight with Bathabile Dlamini to the department and has been victimising me in every meeting, but I decided to give her the respect she deserves as a leader and umntu omdala.

The trumped-up charges, they say, are as a result of the findings of the AG which have nothing to do with me. If they are talking about the AG findings, then the DG should be suspended because we have a multi-billion finding by the AG that speaks to the lack of management of SASSA by the department. A qualification for that matter.

This suspension is because one of the advisors, Ngwako Kgatla, has been telling everyone that I am the minister’s enemy because I worked with Bathabile. Actually, anyone who is not speaking with the advisor is moved around.

Thabani Buthelezi, Zanele Simmons, Osborne Masilela, are a case in particular. The very person who is now acting Chief of Staff is a niece to Kgatla and even lied in her CV that she used to volunteer for the late Hlengiwe Mkhize.

But here is the thing: I will not be intimidated by Sisisi, who must still go and finish her Grade 12. Ndim ndilapha etshatshalazeni bethuna. Andimoyiki uSisisi. To show that I know my work, as they were busy with the charges, my work is recognised internationally and confirmed today for an award.

My phone is charged and remains open for anyone who wishes to take an interview.

#LumkaOliphant #SocialDevelopment #SisisiTolaqa #HumanRights #Transparency #PublicService #Justice #PoliticalDramaIndia #fblifestyle

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GAUTENG GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO SUPPORT TOWNSHIPS BUSINESS

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GAUTENG GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO SUPPORT TOWNSHIPS BUSINESS  

Despite the Township Economic Development Act (TEDA) being signed into law on 19 April 2022, small businesses in Gauteng continue to struggle to market their services, products and to do business with the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) due to the existing red tape.

This has also hurt the economic growth and job creation in Gauteng. TEDA was meant to assist local businesses, particularly in the township, with compliance, to make it easier to do business with the government; however, not much has changed since then, and now the MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, is attempting to fix the blunder that was made three years ago.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng demands that proper and prompt amendments to this bill be made in consultation with the affected stakeholders.

MEC Maile has admitted that there are gaps in the current legislation for the township economy and the actual intention of the action in the current form, hence the need to amend the current TEDA. He was responding to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng’s written questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

In 2022, the bill was passed unanimously with assurances given that all issues highlighted by political parties and stakeholders during the public participation phase and committee meetings were taken into consideration and amended.

Now three years down the line, MEC Maile has suddenly realised that this bill is not serving its intended purposes, and the township economy, particularly businesses located at the industrial hubs across the province, struggles to sell their goods and services to the government. This is clearly hampering job creation in the province, which currently has an unemployment rate of 33.8%. Instead of taking their time and following due process, the initial bill was pushed through the legislature and hailed as a victory for the ruling party, but not a victory for small businesses operating in the townships.

This is unacceptable and only pulled the wool over the eyes of the small businesses that were meant to benefit from this so-called bold step taken by former Premier David Makhura. Every year, the government commits to spending a certain percentage of its budget on the township economy; however, the department's quarterly reports indicate that this goal is never met.

Small businesses are a lifeline for many unemployed residents in this province. But if the current trend continues, small businesses will be forced to close their doors, leaving even more people unemployed.

If Premier Panyaza Lesufi were truly serious about improving the township economy, he would immediately cut the red tape and ensure that they do indeed spend 30% of their budget on the township economy. The DA Gauteng will be tabling questions in the GPL to demand that the MEC speedily implement the amendments to the bill once passed.

A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would immediately streamline the process for small businesses wanting to do business with the government. Furthermore, we will replicate the model implemented by the DA-led Western Cape, where one day a month is set aside for businesses to interact with officials from the Economic Development department.

Through these interactions, officials get to know the challenges faced by small businesses and determine how best to support them to flourish in their different sectors.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Beaufort West Municipality Newly Appointed CFO

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Beaufort West Municipality Newly Appointed CFO

The Beaufort West Municipality is proud to officially welcome our new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - Mr. Bradley Jacobs, whose appointment is effective today, 1 September 2025.

We are excited to note that he joins the Municipality as a young CFO, bringing with him fresh energy, innovative ideas, and a commitment to strengthening financial governance. His appointment reflects our vision of combining experience with leadership to promote accountability and sustainable development for the people of Beaufort West.

The Municipality looks forward to his contribution in driving financial stability and supporting service delivery that truly benefits our community.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome and best wishes to our new CFO as he embarks on this important role in serving Beaufort West Municipality

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NERSA R54BILLION BLUNDER

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NERSA R54BILLION BLUNDER

The DA has written to NERSA seeking a public explanation of R 54 billion blunder. It is a sign of gross incompetence at our country's energy regulator. The DA will not allow South Africans to be taxed for state ineptitude.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to the Chairperson of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), demanding a full, public explanation for the catastrophic R54 billion error made in Eskom’s recent tariff determination [see letter here]. This is not the first such mistake, nor even the first matter taken on judicial review by Eskom.

This monumental blunder is not a simple "mistake": it is a sign of gross incompetence at the heart of our country's energy regulator. The consequence is that already-struggling South African households and businesses will be forced to pay billions more for electricity to cover for NERSA's failure. 

The decision to rectify this via a quiet settlement with Eskom, which will see tariff hikes soar to 8.76% in 2026/27 and 8.83% in 2027/28, is a slap in the face of every citizen.

The DA will not allow South Africans to be taxed for state ineptitude. We have therefore taken the following immediate steps:

We have formally requested the Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Energy and Electricity to convene an urgent inquiry into NERSA's internal processes and its fitness to regulate our energy sector.

We have now written directly to the NERSA Chairperson, demanding public accountability and answers on how this occurred, who is responsible, and what steps will be taken to prevent it from ever happening again.

The DA seeks a clear outcome: full transparency from NERSA, accountability for those responsible for this costly failure, and a complete overhaul of the regulator’s processes to ensure it is fit for purpose.

It is completely unacceptable that NERSA's incompetence and Eskom’s years of mismanagement and corruption will now be funded by the public. This incident has shattered public confidence in the regulator. South Africans deserve a regulator that protects them, not one that makes them pay for its (and ESKOM’s) mistakes. 

The DA will use every mechanism available to hold NERSA and the ANC government to account for this failure.

The DA will continue to fight for an affordable, reliable, and transparently-regulated energy supply for all South Africans.

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