Special Investigating Unit searches premises of Makana Local Municipality @KASIBCNEWS

Special Investigating Unit searches premises of Makana Local Municipality @KASIBCNEWS

SIU searches Makana local Municipality offices, seizes the phones of officials, laptops, hard drives and specific tender-related documents

On Thursday, 31 October 2024, the Grahamstown Magistrate Court granted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) a warrant to search the premises of the Makana Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, and seize evidence that might assist with an ongoing investigation.

At 9 am on Friday, 01 November, the SIU, assisted by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, entered the municipality's premises to collect evidence that is in line with Proclamation 207 of 2024 authorised the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration.

The SIU and Hawks collected documentation and equipment required for audit or compliance purposes concerning successful tenders from January 1, 2019, to October 18, 2024, as stipulated in Proclamation 207 of 2024. 

This includes comprehensive records such as company registration documents, all forms of payment documentation (invoices, purchase orders, remittance advice), and devices—such as laptops, mobile devices, external storage, or media used by relevant committees, officials, or employees. The documentation also extends to any electronic data stored on these devices, including emails and cloud storage, covering current and outdated devices associated with specific personnel and posts.

The application for a search and seizure followed the signing of Proclamation 207 of 2024 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which authorised the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of the Makana Local Municipality involving seven tenders, which was gazetted two weeks ago. The SIU’s investigation will look into:

• Makana Bulk Sewer Upgrade Phase 1
• Professional Engineering services for groundwater development project.
• Implementing Agents for water conservation and demand management.
• Re-appointment of MBB Consulting for water conservation and demand management.
• Electrification of the greater Makana and surrounding areas 11KV Line Project.
• Host municipal emails and provide internet services.
• Operate and manage the Makana burning landfill site for six months.

The SIU has reason to believe that a normal route of requesting information and documents would not have yielded positive results. Hence, it was deemed necessary to approach the Grahamstown Magistrate Court for a search warrant to seize documents and computers to assist with the ongoing investigation.

Upon the receipt of the allegations, the SIU engaged the Municipality seeking documents that would help assess the merit of the allegations and help prepare a motivation for a proclamation. However, the municipality did not cooperate with the SIU’s request. The SIU engaged the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), as the office was auditing the municipality at the time. The AGSA indicated that the municipality failed to furnish it with documents.

The SIU is empowered by the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act) to subpoena bank statements and cell phone records, search and seize evidence, and interrogate witnesses under oath to thoroughly investigate allegations brought before it.

The SIU is also empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration. In line with the SIU Act, the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action.

Appointment Members of Special Tribunal for State Capture @KASIBCNEWS

 

Appointment Members of Special Tribunal for State Capture @KASIBCNEWS 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the Tribunal President and Judges of the Special Tribunal which has a statutory mandate to recover public funds syphoned from the fiscus through corruption, fraud and illicit money flows.

President Ramaphosa has made these appointments in terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunal Act of 1996 and following consultation with Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.

The President has appointed Judge Margaret Victor as Tribunal President with effect from today, Friday, 1 November 2024, for a period of three years.

The President has also appointed the following additional judges for a period of three years starting today, Friday, 1 November 2024:

• Judge Thandi Victoria Norman, of the Eastern Cape Divisron of the High Court
• Judge David Makhoba, of the Gauteng Division of the High Court
• Judge Brian A Mashile, of the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court
• Judge Andre Henry Petersen, of the North West Division of the High Court
• Judge Chantel Moira Jennifer Fortuin, of the Western Cape Division of the High Court

Special tribunals differ from ordinary civil proceedings which are adversarial in nature.

The Special Tribunal adopts a more flexible and expeditious approach to legal actions. Its proceedings are inquisitorial in nature and characterised by extensive pre-trial investigations

Skills Audit for SAPS Management @KASIBCNEWS

 

Skills Audit for SAPS Management @KASIBCNEWS

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wholeheartedly supports the adoption of the Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR) recommendation for a comprehensive skills audit of top management within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Station Commanders nationwide.

This essential audit aims to verify that SAPS leadership and Station Commanders possess the competencies required to build a professional, capable police force that can respond to both current and future challenges. By assessing the skills of these key leaders, SAPS will be better positioned to develop an agile and well-prepared management team that can confront the growing complexities of policing in South Africa.

The DA firmly agrees that this is a pivotal step toward enhancing leadership effectiveness, fostering continuous development, and ensuring SAPS aligns with its strategic goals.

In addition, the BRRR calls for SAPS to prioritise comprehensive training for Station Commanders, particularly in areas such as record-keeping, procedural compliance, and accurate reporting. Addressing these gaps will equip Station Commanders and their teams to uphold higher standards, which are essential for effective departmental operation and oversight.

Disturbingly, this year’s BRRR reported that the Detective Services programme’s performance targets have plummeted to a success rate of only 47%. Excluding the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations, that rate falls even further to a mere 28.5%. The Administration and Visible Policing Programmes have also experienced declines in performance.

These interventions come at a critical time when the rise in crimes against women and children and the growing scourge of extortion threaten the safety and stability of our society. A thorough skills audit of SAPS management is therefore essential to ensure a culture of excellence permeates the organisation from the top down.

The DA is fully committed to ensuring that this recommendation is implemented swiftly and will actively work to make certain that SAPS leadership undergoes this vital skills audit and that the recommended training programmes are put into action without delay. This is an indispensable step toward restoring trust and professionalism in the SAPS and providing South Africans with a police force that can meet their needs effectively.

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE RISING TEENAGE PREGNANCY NUMBERS IN TEMBISA @KASIBCEVENTS

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE RISING TEENAGE PREGNANCY NUMBERS IN TEMBISA @KASIBCEVENTS

The rising numbers of teenage pregnancy in communities are a source of concern and require an all of society approach to address. This is the concern raised by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, ahead of a campaign focusing on tackling this issue to be held in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni. 

Previously Gauteng recorded over 24 000 teenage pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 19, over 6000 of these cases were in Ekurhuleni with Tembisa being one of the most affected areas. The awareness drive aims to engage with youth, communities, and sectors of society such as faith-based-organisations, traditional leaders, and various nongovernmental organisations on the importance of preventing teenage pregnancies and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. 

Events Details : 

Date: Friday, 01 November 2024 

Time: 09:30 – 13:00 

Venue: Abundant Life Christian Church, Maokeng, Tembisa

PROTECT CHILDREN FROM DEVELOPING MYOPIA @KASIBCAUDIO

PROTECT CHILDREN FROM DEVELOPING MYOPIA @KASIBCAUDIO

CLICK ON LINK :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q_5T6LYseZaLZn6zXkbeH7Z47CRLbMji/view?usp=drivesdk

KHOI SAN ROOIBOS MILLIONS PAYOUTS @KASIBCNEWS

KHOI SAN ROOIBOS MILLIONS PAYOUTS @KASIBCNEWS

History was made this past week when the Rooibos industry disbursed the first round of benefit-sharing funds to the National Khoi and San Council and the South African San Council as part of an Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) agreement that was signed between the parties in 2019.

As a signatory to the Nagoya Protocol, South Africa requires all who trade in indigenous biological resources to share benefits with traditional knowledge holders in a fair and equitable way.

Negotiations between the parties began as far back as 2014, when the Khoi and San were recognised by the South African government as the rightful traditional knowledge holders of Rooibos.

The Rooibos ABS agreement is one of SA’s success stories with respect to the implementation of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), the Access and Benefit-Sharing Regulations (BABS Regulations), as well as the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits arising from their utilisation.

The agreement is a first-of-its-kind in the world. Other agreements involved specific companies and traditional knowledge holders, whereas this agreement encompasses the entire industry, ensuring all volumes of Rooibos sold are levied through one process.

Going forward, a benefit-sharing levy of 1.5% of the farm gate price will be paid into a trust annually.

To ensure financial propriety, a lengthy, but necessary administrative process preceded the R12,2 million payout that was generated in the first year of farmgate purchases.

The amount was paid into the Bioprospecting Trust Fund/Suspense account before being transferred into the two Community Trust accounts established by the South African San Council and the National Khoisan Council. The money received by the Department has been shared equally between the two respective communities with the Khoi-Khoi Peoples Biodiversity and Rooibos Trust and the Andries Steenkamp ABS Trust each receiving R6 138 961.25.  These monies only relate to the Rooibos Benefit-Sharing Agreement.

The two Councils are presently finalising processes and procedures on how the money received will be distributed across the Khoi-Khoi and San Communities.

The funds received will also be used to protect their cultural heritage, to advance education and development within the community and to improve their livelihoods with respect, honesty, fairness and care. Community structures are to be assisted to develop governance structures before the benefit is shared.

The Khoi-Khoi Biodiversity Trust is developing a comprehensive plan to distribute the funds in a way that will secure equity and fairness to all. It will be guided by a set of principles and policies, and communities will only be able to access funds by submitting a formal business plan to the CEO of the Trust. This process will be communicated to the different community structures and be followed up by workshops.

Martin Bergh, Chairperson of the SA Rooibos Council (SARC) says the industry is delighted that the first funds have now been paid to the representatives of the Khoi and San people and remain committed to the terms of the Access and Benefit-sharing agreement.

THE QUALITY OF SERVICES OFFERED BY CHARLOTTE MAXEKE HOSPITAL @KASIBCNEWS

 

THE QUALITY OF SERVICES OFFERED BY CHARLOTTE MAXEKE HOSPITAL @KASIBCNEWS 

The Gauteng Department of Health would like to clarify the misinformation circulating on social media platforms regarding the quality of service offered by the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital’s (CMJAH) Urology Department.

CMJAH Urology Department is a highly specialised unit which services many hospitals beyond the province of Gauteng, with only 31 beds for admissions. Many patients are referred from outward provinces like the North-West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, which naturally puts a strain on an the already overburdened system.

All patients admitted for operations at the Urology department have to undergo vigorous investigations such as blood tests and scans to scientifically inform the approach and timing of the procedures. At times, the findings of the investigations leads to more blood tests to ascertain the root cause so as to allow the correct procedure to be performed. These can take anything from one to two weeks before the operation can be performed.

The allegations that patients were being turned away due to the shortage of beds in the Urology Department are misinformed and misguided. Like in any hospital across the world, elective operations are postponed now and then due to prioritisation of emergency operations. However, whenever an operation is postponed, the patients or family is always informed and there is always a catch-up plan to perform the operations as soon as possible.

In the context of the limited resources, the Department is working tirelessly to provide the best patient experience of care possible and continues to ensure that the well-being of patients is always prioritised.

Whenever patients are not happy with the services offered at any of our facilities, they are encouraged to immediately register their complaints to the manager in charge of that ward or clinic or through the Quality Assurance Units. Alternatively, patients or the public can contact our Head Office Quality Assurance Directorate by calling 0800 203 886 

or send an email to patientcomplaints.health@gauteng.gov.za and SMS 35025 complaints.