MMC GWAMANDA PLACED ON SPECIAL LEAVE @KASIBCNEWS

MMC GWAMANDA PLACED ON SPECIAL LEAVE @KASIBCNEWS 

This morning, Executive Mayor Cllr Dada Morero met with MMC for Community Development, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda, to address the reported allegations of fraud that have surfaced in the public domain.

"The severity of these allegations demands a proactive response to protect the integrity of the Office of the Executive Mayor," said Mayor Morero. "In line with the City's commitment to integrity, good governance, and accountability, I have decided to place MMC Gwamanda on special leave, effective immediately, and relieve him of all his executive duties." 

The residents of Johannesburg are hereby informed that the allegations will be referred to the Speaker of Council, who will handle the matter according to the legislated processes and rules of the council. 

The Executive Mayor believes that both administrative and political leadership must uphold their oath of office, guided by the code of conduct and ethics, in serving the public office. In order to ensure uninterrupted service delivery, Mayor Morero will appoint an Acting MMC for Community Development during MMC Gwamanda's special leave. 

The City of Johannesburg remains committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and integrity and will not tolerate any behaviour that may compromise the trust of our citizens. 

Abduction Case of 6-year-old Eva Tembo @KASIBCNEWS

 

Abduction Case of 6-year-old Eva Tembo @KASIBCNEWS

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is outraged at the disgraceful way the abduction

case of 6-year-old Eva Tembo was handled. The sheer incompetence, negligence, and

blatant privilege granted to the abductor, Carlos Rebelo, is an insult to justice, the safety

of children, and the dignity of Eva’s family. 

In a shocking act of lawlessness, Eva Tembo was abducted in July by her mother’s

employer, Carlos Rebelo. After securing custody of Eva in June 2024, Rebelo defied the

law by refusing to return her once the custody order was reversed on July 12th. Instead

of complying, he abducted the child and vanished, leaving her family scrambling to find

her. It is only yesterday that Rebelo finally returned the child to his lawyer’s offices and

eventually the child was reunited with her parents.

Firstly, it is not clear how an unrelated, old man like Rebelo gained custody of a child that

wasn’t his. This man had no blood relation to Eva and yet was granted custody – this is a

gross miscarriage of justice, dripping with the foul stench of white privilege. This child had

two living parents and no attempt was made to find external relatives, nor make us of

social services, if indeed the child needed placement in a safer environment.

Secondly, why did the police completely fail to take action until October 9th? A case was

opened on July 12th, and not a single officer took steps to investigate or recover this

missing child, until a police team was created on the 9th of October to look into the return

of the child. 

This is nothing less than criminal negligence. Our police force, which is meant

to protect the most vulnerable among us, sat idly by as a white man played kidnapper, all

while the public raised alarm on social media. It wasn’t until the media outlet News24, not

the police, got involved that any significant movement was made to return Eva. This is an

unacceptable dereliction of duty.

Thirdly, the newspaper “negotiated” the return of the child as Rebelo made demands that

he would only return the child to his lawyers. This is absolutely unheard of—are we now

allowing criminals to set terms for their surrender? While Eva’s return is a relief, the fact

that Rebelo was not immediately apprehended is appalling, he should have been arrested

the moment Eva was handed over to his lawyer. 

We have to now question whether the police are now making deals with kidnappers, and letting them get away at the expense of our children’s safety.

Eva’s abduction and the way it was handled is a chilling reminder of how unsafe our

children are in this country. The fact that a man could kidnap a child, negotiate her return

on his terms, and walk free without immediate consequence is a terrifying signal that the

justice system under the ANC has crumbled to the point that it is only for the powerful and

the connected. It may not be surprising, however, when statistics show that over 106 000

rape cases and 22,000 sexual assault cases involving children have been reported over

the last six financial years. Additionally, rape accounted for over 38% of all crimes against

children in 2023.

South Africa has become a sanctuary for paedophiles and rapists, especially white men

who exploit their privilege to escape accountability, giving them free rein to victimise more

innocents. Just in August, Iaian Wares was finally arrested and extradited for sexually

assaulting students in Scotland and England during the 1960s and 70s, after living

undisturbed and retiring comfortably here for decades. In a similarly disgraceful case,

Gerhard Ackerman was only convicted in 2022, facing over 700 charges of rape,

trafficking, and more.

We, as the EFF, stand with Eva’s parents and will actively and closely monitor this case

to ensure that justice is served. We cannot allow children in this country to be traded like

commodities, with the police treating the lives of black children as less important than

white men’s whims.

Unconstitutional Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act @KASIBCNEWS

Unconstitutional Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act @KASIBCNEWS

Constitutional Court Ruling Exposes Government and Parliament’s Failure to Implement Policy

The Taaibosch Kei Korana Royal House and Gauteng Housing Crisis Committee, (GHCC) welcomes the recent Constitutional Court ruling on the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, which highlights the continued failure of government and Parliament to implement policy in line with democratic principles. 

The Court’s decision, which declares the Act unconstitutional due to a lack of public participation, demonstrates a systemic problem in South Africa’s legislative process.

In this unanimous judgment, the Constitutional Court reaffirmed the critical importance of meaningful public participation, calling out Parliament’s “overwhelming failure” to ensure the people’s voices were adequately heard in shaping policies that affect millions of South Africans, particularly marginalized communities. The ruling gave Parliament 24 months to re-enact the law or to pass new legislation that complies with constitutional standards.

 

This judgment serves as a reminder that the failure to consult and engage with the public does not only undermine the integrity of democratic processes, but also the rights of the most vulnerable citizens. GHCC asserts that this systemic failure is not unique to the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act but is emblematic of a broader issue where critical policies, including those addressing housing, poverty, and industrial development, have been neglected.

 

For over 30 years, the government has refused to implement the Ford plan, which has been validated by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a viable solution to address the housing and job crises. This repeated failure of engagement with stakeholders, including the millions living in shack communities, is not just a failure of public participation but a violation of human rights on a 30 year epic scale.

 

GHCC calls on Parliament and the government to take immediate steps to ensure that all future legislation, especially those affecting marginalized communities, undergoes a transparent and inclusive public participation process. It is time for a government that listens to its people and implements policies that truly address poverty and economic inequality.

 

GHCC stands ready to support any efforts that seek to rectify these systemic failures and demands urgent action in policy implementation to avoid further exacerbation of the housing and poverty crisis in South Africa.

 

 

 

ALL SYSTEMS GO MATRIC CLASS EXAMS 2024 @KASIBCNEWS

ALL SYSTEMS GO MATRIC CLASS EXAMS 2024 @KASIBCNEWS 

With just hours to go before the first paper in the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations is written, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the department is ready to administer the examinations.

The examinations are set to run from 21 October to 27 November.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Gwarube said these exams are not only a critical milestone for the learners involved, but they also represent the cumulative efforts of the nation’s education system, schools, communities, and the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

“With just hours to go before the first paper is written, I proudly announce that we are ready to administer the 2024 NSC exams - holding ourselves to best-in-class integrity, security, and efficiency standards.

“Outside of the National and Local Government elections, I have yet to learn any other logistical project of the magnitude of the National Senior Certificate Examinations,” Gwarube said at the briefing held in Pretoria.

This year, 727,121 full-time and 155,215 part-time candidates will sit for the NSC matric exams—that's 882,336 candidates from across South Africa. Concerning private schools, some 16 400 students will undertake the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams.

The Minister noted that these learners have encountered numerous challenges throughout their academic journey, largely stemming from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in their earlier years of schooling.

“The Class of 2024 entered Grade 8 in 2020, right at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The disruption caused by the pandemic during these formative years has had a lasting impact on their learning. Over the course of their academic journey, the department has instituted several mitigation measures to address these gaps.

“These interventions were part of our Learning Recovery Programme, which aimed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and ensure that learners could make up for lost time,” she said.

Support

She added that some key initiatives supporting the Class of 2024 have included personalised learning interventions, additional teaching support, and socio-emotional care.

Equally, provinces rolled out face-to-face extra tuition sessions, Saturday catch-up programmes, and extended school hours in key subjects—especially to learners who struggled to cope with the curriculum content due to earlier disruptions.

The Minister said that these targeted initiatives focused on subjects with high enrolments, such as Mathematics, Life Sciences, and Business Studies.

“In addition to classroom-based interventions, learners have also benefited from extensive support in the form of revision materials, past question papers, and online resources made available through public-private partnerships with stakeholders such as Vodacom, MTN, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and other corporate partners, who have made an invaluable contribution to education in this country.”

The Minister emphasised that the adage "it takes a village to raise a child, " is true and that is evident in the education sector.

“Civil society and the private sector's support in helping to create an enabling environment is deeply felt. I want to encourage more members of the private sector and civil society to support the education sector as we face severe budget constraints. The system is under strain and needs your help.”

The Last Push programme

Turning to the "Last Push" programme by the various provincial departments, the Minister said it has played a crucial role in ensuring that learners can consolidate their learning in the final days before the exams.

“These efforts have aimed to ensure that no learner is left behind. Various provinces convened Winter, Spring, and other Matric camps to take matriculants away from disruptions at home and from social ills that could potentially distract them from their exam preparations.

“In the ‘Last Push,’ we have seen learners give their complete focus and attention to the upcoming matric exams,” Gwarube said.

Furthermore, the department has ensured that learners with disabilities are adequately catered for.

“Special accommodations, including Braille papers, large print, and South African Sign Language adaptations, have been made to ensure that these learners also have the resources and support they need to succeed,” she said.

Moment to shine

The Minister told members of the media that despite the challenges faced by the Class of 2024, she is confident that collective efforts have prepared the learners well for the upcoming examinations.

“Their journey has been one of resilience and determination, and we believe that they will rise to the occasion. To the learners, this is your moment to shine. You have worked hard over the past 12 years, and now you have the opportunity to showcase your knowledge, skills, and determination.

“We are confident that you will approach these exams with the focus, discipline, and commitment that have brought you this far. Please stay off Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media to minimise disruptions during this critical time.”

“I am proud of the learners, teachers, schools, PEDs [Provincial Education Departments] and the DBE for the way in which they have prepared for the NSC 2024, but we must be vigilant until the last examination is written.

This requires the support of all South Africans, and all stakeholders, in respecting this precious opportunity in our young people’s lives and to give them the support they require. The DBE will be vigilant.”

The Minister told officials that she knows they remain committed to ensuring that the 2024 NSC exams are administered with the highest integrity, security, and efficiency standards.

“These examinations will not only serve as a testament to the quality of the education we deliver in our classrooms but also as a stepping stone to the future success of our learners. The eyes of the country are on us, we dare not falter.

“In closing, I wish all our learners the best for the exams. You have the support of your teachers, your families, and your communities behind you. Approach these exams confidently and know that the nation is rooting for your success,” she said.

SPAZA SHOPS POISON SCHOOL KIDS @KASIBCNEWS

 

SPAZA SHOPS POISON SCHOOL KIDS @KASIBCNEWS

The Department of Health has rebuffed claims that government is neglecting the issue of children dying from suspected food poisoning.

According to the department, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) is currently treating the recent spate of deaths as a national security threat. 

“These increasing incidents in black communities have led to an unfortunate and unsubstantiated perception that authorities are turning a blind eye to this crisis, and seem not to care about what’s happening to citizens. 

"Contrary to these beliefs and perceptions, this is what various authorities have been engaged in,” a statement from the department read. 

Those affected have concluded that these sudden deaths, especially among school children, were because of food poisoning emanating from foodstuff, particularly snacks, sold by foreign-owned spaza shops.

The Health Department said NATJOINTS, which is the national structure responsible for coordinating the security of the State, is treating these incidents as a potential threat to the security of the country and its citizens. 

“Last week, NATJOINTS met to analyse this situation and after careful analysis, recommended that the Department of Health should coordinate all these investigations involving various institutions and bodies because in the final analysis, whatever is happening eventually leads to ill-health or even death.”

Meanwhile, the department said the South African Police Service (SAPS) detectives have been working around the clock to try unravel this “mystery”, especially where children have died, as is the case in Naledi, Soweto.

In addition, the Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metros have deployed their Environmental Inspectors to investigate the cause of these suspected food poisoning incidents.

The Environmental Directorate of the National Department of Health has also sent its inspectors to check compliance with health regulations.

“The Department of Agriculture has also sent in their officials to check if the problem might not be emanating their produce or from lack of compliance with some of their production regulations,” the department said, adding that the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has also deployed senior officials to investigate the possibility of a breach of consumer protection regulations.

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has decided to rope in the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) to assist. 

“This is because a few years ago, the country was bedeviled by a food-borne pathogen that doctors had diagnosed and laboratories identified as listeria monocytogenes. However, nobody knew what its source was. 

“It is the NICD that mounted a country-wide search that led to the identification of the source. The Minister thought that experience would come handy in the situation the country is faced with today,” the department explained. 

The team from the organs of State has concluded that they are dealing with a chemical agent as the cause of the illness.

They also announced that a plan has since been put into place to mount a systemic search for the agent causing this malady, and that action will be accelerated during the coming weeks. 

The plan entails unleashing an army of 80 health inspectors from the National Department of Health and the City of Johannesburg. 

They will be joined by teams selected from SAPS, Agriculture and the NCC, which have already gone through the NICD and have been provided with the necessary equipment and tools. The teams will be working under NICD's direct supervision.The team, the department said, will commence their work in Naledi, Soweto, today. 

GAUTENG NPOS FUNDING PROCESS @KASIBCNEWS

GAUTENG NPOS FUNDING PROCESS @KASIBCNEWS 

NPOS URGED TO SUBMIT SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS FOR QUARTER 3 & 4 FOR FUNDING BY 31 OCTOBER 2024 

The Gauteng Department of Social Development calls on all Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) who have received Service Level Agreements (SLAs) from the Department for quarters 3 and 4 NPO funding to submit signed SLAs by Thursday, 31 October 2024. Late submissions will delay the processing of payments by the Department. 

Since the beginning of the October, the Department has received 1,774 business plans for funding across various programs aligned with its mandate. Out of these 1 774 business plans, 1 570 SLAs have been generated and distributed to NPOs for signing, and 1 228 signed SLAs have been received back from NPOs. Of these, 1 204 SLAs have been generated into contracts on the system for payment. Payment runs occur daily, and as of today, October 17th, 1 204, SLAs have been paid. 

 This is a crucial opportunity for NPOs to continue their vital work in serving the most vulnerable members of our communities. The Department is committed to ensuring that funding is disbursed efficiently to organisations that meet the necessary criteria and deadlines. Failure to submit the required documentation on time may result in delays or forfeiture of funding for Q3 & 4. NPOs that have not yet submitted their SLAs are advised to do so as soon as possible to avoid last-minute submissions and ensure that all requirements are met. 

Should any organisation require assistance or clarity on the submission process, they are encouraged to contact their respective regional offices

The Gauteng Department of Social Development remains committed to supporting NPOs and strengthening partnerships to improve the lives of our communities. NB. NPOs are reminded that the 2025/26 Funding Applications are now open and will close on 30 October 2024. No late applications will be accepted.  

SRD (Social Relief of Distress) Grant Fraud @KASIBCNEWS

SRD (Social Relief of Distress) Grant Fraud @KASIBCNEWS

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will today write to the Chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, Bridget Masango MP, requesting her to summon SASSA to the Committee meeting next week Wednesday to account for the shocking allegations of large-scale fraud within the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant system.

This follows the recent revelations by two Stellenbosch University computer science students who uncovered serious vulnerabilities in SASSA’s systems, which have been exploited to defraud some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

It is deeply concerning that a system meant to provide critical relief has been so badly compromised. The DA will demand that SASSA explain how this was allowed to happen, who is responsible, and what immediate steps will be taken to prevent further abuse. Simply admitting to "incidents of fraud" is not enough – this appears to be a coordinated effort, and SASSA must be held to account.

The DA will also welcome it if the students could present their findings to Parliament, as their discovery sheds light on the extent of the weaknesses in the SRD system. It is crucial that the Committee hears directly from those who uncovered the fraud to ensure that all relevant information is on record.

SASSA must disclose the full scale of the problem, explain how they plan to fix these issues, and ensure that eligible recipients are not unfairly denied their grants. The DA believes a full-scale inquiry is necessary to uncover the full extent of the fraud and ensure that the integrity of the SRD grant system is restored.

It is unacceptable that fraudsters have benefited while the most vulnerable continue to suffer due to apparent government incompetence. Urgent and transparent action is required to protect those who rely on this vital lifeline.