Category: News

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is calling on communities in the Free State to participate in the ongoing community consultation meetings on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) policy.

These public consultation meetings are part of the broader public consultation process that the department is implementing to solicit the inputs of South Africans in shaping the country’s policy on the EPWP.

“We call on all members of the public in the Free State to attend these consultation meetings, so that they can submit their inputs and comments on this policy. We wish to stress that their view in the formulation of this policy is critical to its enrichment.

“Their view is part of a critical process for participatory democracy,” the National EPWP Coordinator in DPWI, Lungisani Dladla, said.

Dladla is part of a team of DPWI officials, who are driving the implementation of these public consultation meetings in the Free State.

In the Free State, these public consultation meetings will be hosted in all districts.

The community consultation on the EPWP policy will take place at the following venues:

•            Welkom – Thabong Indoor Sports Centre in Thabong on 21 September 2022.

•            Bloemfontein – Batho Community Hall in Batho Location in Mangaung on 23 September 2022.

The community consultation meetings on the EPWP started on Monday in Bloemfontein, with DPWI officials engaging officials from various provincial departments on the policy.

On Tuesday, the DPWI officials engaged the community of Kroonstad on the policy. Some of the people who attended included councillors from Moqhaka Local Municipality, officials from Metsimaholo Local Municipality, non-profit organisations from various towns in the province, as well as community members from Kroonstad.

The Deputy Director for EPWP Enterprise Development in the province, Selaocwe Kabelo, said the policy will assist government to speak in one voice on EPWP matters.

Some managers leading the rollout of these public consultations in the Free Ste include the Deputy Director for EPWP National Youth Service, Karabo Malebese; the Manager of EPWP Training in the province, Rose Dichakane; the Deputy Director: Environment and Culture, Julia Seitheisho; the Deputy Director: EPWP Technical Support, Mahlodi Sebola, as well as the Deputy Director: EPWP Social Sector, Thapelo Sedupane.

EPWP is one of government’s medium- to long-term strategies to reduce unemployment and alleviate poverty through the creation of work opportunities using labour-intensive methods.

The EPWP is implemented in four sectors, namely, infrastructure, social, environment & culture, and non-State.

All spheres of government and State-owned entities are expected to implement the programme.

EPWP participants work in different projects such as the Community Work Programme, Early Childhood Development Programmes, Home Community-Based Care Programmes, Extra School Support Programmes, Working on Fire, Working for Water, and Roads Maintenance Projects, etc.

Through various skills and training that the participants receive from the EPWP, they stand a better chance to enter the formal job market and/or become entrepreneurs.

Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors have closed a building leased by the Department of Employment and Labour at the Giyani Labour Centre in the Old Government Complex due to non-compliance.

Acting Chief Director Provincial Operations, Phaswane Tladi, said that it was discovered that a section occupied by the department is non-compliant with the requirements of the following OHS Regulations: Facilities regulations 9, which deals with sanitation facility maintenance.

“It is unfortunate that the building had to be closed during a time when clients require services. However, the health and safety of both employees and customers is a top priority. Inspectors are responsible for preventing any fatalities that may result from such incidents,” Tladi said.

Tladi stated said the department must set a good example, so that others can see that the inspectorate is serious about compliance.

“The inspectorate unit’s services are unaffected by the closure because inspections are conducted on the field.

“At the provincial office, the processing unit will continue to process applications. Staff will be available outside the office from 07h30 to 10:00am to collect payment forms from clients who have already applied to ensure that payments continue,” Tladi said.

The Acting Chief Director said the building will be closed until the landlord resolves the problem.

The department has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closure. However, clients can still access services online at www.labour.gov.za  or visit the nearest Labour Office in Malamulele.

Meanwhile, another OHS Inspector closed the Department of Education building in Polokwane on 12 of September 2022, as they did not have a certificate of compliance.

It was also found that electrical wires were not covered, housekeeping was not conducive for working and fire extinguishers were blocked, which may result in fatalities should there be a fire.

“A forklift found on the premises was prohibited from being used, as it has never been tested and is operated by officials who were never trained. It was later discovered that employees of the said department violated the prohibition order and have been recommended for prosecution.

“The building will remain closed until the Department of Education rectifies the issue. Subsequent to that, OHS inspectors will do a follow-up inspection to uplift the prohibition,” the department said.

Six people – including four high ranking former and current South African Police Service members – have been arrested over the past two days in connection with a R54 million police tender awarded in 2016.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (NPA ID) spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, the six were arrested in Durban, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and at OR Tambo Airport.

“The suspects are two businessmen based in Durban, a former Lieutenant-General, a current serving Lieutenant-Colonel and two Majors-General from Pretoria and Bloemfontein. They are to appear at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday, 21 September 2022, on charges of fraud, corruption, and theft.

“The arrests are a result of joint stakeholder cooperation between the Investigating Directorate (ID) and IPID [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] secondments assigned to the ID,” Seboka said.

She said the arrests are a further indication of the ID’s steadfast approach to rooting out corruption at all levels.

“The arrest of these very high ranking and seasoned police officials endorses the ID’s commitment to dealing with corruption and State capture, regardless of where it manifests itself,” she said.

Meanwhile, two illegal immigrants have been sentenced to at least 26 years imprisonment after they were convicted on at least 11 charges of housebreaking and being in the country illegally.

The pair, Azara Josea Nyungele from Mozambique, and Tatenda Tupudza from Zimbabwe, were sentenced in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court, with Nyungele given 20 years imprisonment and Tupudza given six years.

NPA regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, said the break-ins took place over a three-year period.

“The offences happened between May 2019 and January 2022, when they broke into the complainant’s households while sleeping and took luxury items.  They were arrested after breaking into a house in Annlin, Sinovolle, on 27 January 2022.

“[They] told the court that they stole these items to sell. In aggravation, the prosecutor, Rabia Ebrahim, told the court that such crimes are prevalent in the court’s area of jurisdiction.  Each count of housebreaking involved luxury items, with a total loss of over R10 000.  Furthermore, there was no justification for the reasons provided for the offences committed,” Mahanjana said.

Former acting Bojanala District municipal manager, Pogisho Patrick Shikwane, was this week released on R10 000 bail after being arrested for allegedly irregularly awarding a R2.4 million contract.

North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major General Patrick Mbotho, welcomed the arrest.

He lauded the investigative efforts of the members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit and the work of the National Prosecuting Authority for ensuring that the accused has his day in court.

Shikwane made an appearance before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, following his arrest by the Hawks on Saturday, for allegedly contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

Hawks spokesperson, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, said: “It is alleged that on 8 December 2017, whilst serving as an acting Municipal Manager, the accused irregularly appointed a company called Big Time Strategic Consultants to provide Information Communication Technology (ICT) audit services and the development of an ICT strategy for the municipality for over R2.4 million.

“It is reported that Big Time Strategic Consultants was at the time appointed to render the same services at Moses Kotane Municipality, where the accused previously served as a Municipal Manager. The accused allegedly obtained written consent to inherit the said contract from Moses Kotane Municipality, as per Regulation 32 of 2005 of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations.”

Rikhotso said subsequent to the appointment, it was alleged that services were not rendered to Bojanala District Municipality. However, over R2.4 million was allegedly paid unlawfully to Big Time Strategic Consultants.

“The accused was therefore charged with two counts of contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003. It is reported that the municipality had no budget for the service at the time and a similar service had recently been obtained by the municipality.

“Therefore, the accused allegedly failed to ensure that the resources of the municipality were used effectively, efficiently and economically. He allegedly also further failed to implement the supply chain management policy.”

The matter was postponed to 26 September 2022 for disclosure and bail was set at R10 000.

Meanwhile, Nqobile Sithole (39), a former Municipal Manager for Rustenburg Municipality, also made a brief appearance before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, and her matter was postponed to 4 November 2022 for consultation.

A further three suspects have been arrested in relation to a R60 million fraudulent traffic licensing swindle at the Mbombela and White River Traffic Departments.

The arrests were confirmed by the Hawks on Wednesday.

Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, said the trio, aged between 36 and 42, are from the Mbombela Municipality and the two traffic departments.

They are expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate Court today.

They were arrest during a joint operation by the Hawks Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation and Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in Mbombela and White River for fraud, theft and money laundering amounting to R60 million.

“Their arrest followed an investigation carried over from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) during December 2018. It was reported that information was received about employees who were extending expired vehicle discs to the owners of the vehicles.

“During the investigation by the Hawks, it was established that the cashiers colluded with motorists after they saw an opportunity with trucks owing large amounts… [The] officials would manipulate the system and extend the expiration dates of the vehicle licence discs and re-issue a new disc that showed zero balance.”

It is said that truck owners would pay the money meant for the department to the officials for their own benefit, an act described as “money dumping”.

The other six accused are former Department of Community Safety, under the Section Help Desk, Thembi Millicent Motlohi (43); Allman Thabani Masuku (35); Xoliswa Celia Ngcelwane (52); Nompulelo Winnie Nxumalo (44); Agnes Nosipho Ndzinisa (54) and Mbombela Registry authority, Nkosinathi Samuel Gumede (37).

This group was arrested by the Hawks Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in a joint operation with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU) and Special Investigation Unit (SIU) on 18 July 2022 for fraud, theft and money laundering. The accused were released on R15 000 bail each.

The case was postponed to 29 September for further investigation.

The latest arrests bring to nine the number of suspects in the case.

More arrests are imminent, said Sekgotodi.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Zodwa Mokoena, applauded the collaboration of the investigators from different law enforcement agencies, including those who ensured that the investigation was finalised and placed before court.

She further warned those who are still busy with corruption will be dealt with. The General further said that as the Hawks, they will leave no stone unturned.

Deputy President David Mabuza will this afternoon respond to questions for oral reply in the National Assembly.

“Questions posed to the Deputy President by members of political parties represented in Parliament cover issues on Eskom and the transformation of the energy sector to achieve long-term energy security,” his office said on Wednesday.

The session is due to take place today at 14:00 and will be live broadcast on Parliament TV on DStv channel 408.

Mabuza will also offer a response on the specific measures underway to curb illegal mining activities.

“To this end, Deputy President Mabuza will outline various measures that government, through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, has taken to deal with the economic crimes that are negatively affecting the mining environment and the economy.

In addition, his office said the country’s second-in-command will also brief Parliament on the outcomes of the recent Communal Land Summit and how government intends to translate the summit resolutions into practical actions that will develop and grow rural economies.

“Furthermore, as Chairperson of the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans, the Deputy President will apprise Parliament on progress made in resolving the issues raised by the military veterans.”

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has reiterated its commitment to pay municipalities, which provide services to government buildings, on time.

The department on Tuesday said an amount of R170 146 279.32, as at 31 July 2022, is under investigation, as it is in the process of performing reconciliation with the municipalities to ensure correct payment.

Currently, in terms of payments to municipalities that provide municipal services and property rates, out of the total of 257 municipalities, the department received age analysis reports from 210 municipalities where services are rendered.

As at 31 July 2022, the DPWI had engaged municipalities, which resulted in verification. The department confirmed an amount of R83 319 809 being owed to municipalities for municipal services rendered and property rates.

“The department is waiting for municipalities to submit invoices and payments will be processed as soon as invoices are received,” the department said.

According to the department, an amount of around R67.2 million has been billed as an annual invoice, which the department pays programmatically on a monthly basis. The department does not pay in advance.

An amount of just over R12 million was also incorrectly billed to the department, despite numerous communication with the municipalities.

“To address disputes under the R12 million [mark], the DPWI is engaging municipalities to waive the interest linked to properties of other custodians, and advising municipalities to direct the invoices to the rightful owners for future payments.

“An amount of just over R324.5 million is also in dispute in terms of property rates and taxes, as at 31 July 2022,” the department said.

To address these disputes, the DPWI is taking the following actions:

•            Requesting the municipalities to waive the uncorroborated interest.

•            Verifying ownership/custodianship of the properties submitted (in some of these cases, the land on which DPWI properties are situated does not belong to the DPWI and therefore poses a challenge when invoices are received, since billing is not based on the footprint of the DPWI property but the entire extent of the land parcel).

•            A process of sub-dividing or surveying these properties is being considered but more information is still required from municipalities to target those causing arrears/backlog debt.

•            Undertaking a pilot surveying project in Limpopo to ensure that ownership of State properties is corrected. Lessons learned from the process will be implemented in other provinces when funds are identified.

“The DPWI processes all valid and verified invoices received within the stipulated timeframe indicated by municipalities, since their invoices are due and payable within the regulated 30 days of receipt of invoice.

“Notwithstanding the above mentioned, the DPWI has made payments across all 257 municipalities for municipal services and property rates to the value of R1.26 billion from April 2022 to July 2022,” the department said.

The total amount paid for municipal services and property rates to all municipalities during the month of July 2022 amounts to R228 million.

The rate of invoices paid within 30 days increased from 96% in June 2022 to 98% in July 2022.

The department said this is a clear demonstration of continuous endeavours by the DPWI to ensure that all valid invoices from municipalities are settled timeously.

With regard to the entities reporting to the department, the department said it currently does not have any debt owed to municipalities in this regard.

Government will later this month host the Local Government Summit in an effort to strengthen capacity for an ethical and developmental state.

This said the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), will be along the lines of resilient, sustainable, coherent, cohesive, integrated, non-sexist, vibrant and climate-smart communities.

The two-day Summit will run from 27 to 28 September 2022, under the theme – “DDM in Action – Towards an Ideal Municipality”.

It will be held at the Birchwood Conference Centre, in Boksburg, in Gauteng.

CoGTA spokesperson Lungi Mtshali said the summit will draw participation from multiple perspectives including senior government leaders across all spheres of government as well as legislatures.

“Most importantly, key stakeholder representatives from business, academia, traditional leaders, civil society, women, youth and persons with disabilities, to cite but a few,” he said.

He added that the summit aims to strengthen local government.

“The Constitution enjoins the three spheres of government to recognise their distinct mandates with due appreciation of their interdependencies and interrelatedness. The summit, therefore, aims to strengthen and support the local government as per section 154 of our Constitution. In terms of the act, the national government and provincial governments are obligated to support and strengthen municipalities to manage their own affairs and perform their functions.

“Our State of Local Government Report, amongst other matters, confirms the underlying root causes of the less ideal municipality and the shortcomings of cooperative governance that manifest at the coalface of government – in municipalities where communities experience government,” said Mtshali.

The summit comes in the wake of the recent promulgation of the Municipal Systems Amendment Act 2022, which signified an era of demonstrable interventions to strengthen municipalities to exercise their powers to the benefit of communities.

“The summit will serve as a coalescent platform to hone good practices for replication and an opportunity to find sustainable solutions to challenges facing local government and cooperative governance by extension.

“The summit will bring to the fore the importance of institutionalising the District Development Model (DDM) as an operating model for cooperative governance. Through the DDM, all spheres of government operate coherently guided by an integrated plan ‘One Plan’ in collaboration with social partners in every district and metro space to build inclusive local economies and improve the lives of citizens,” he said.

He added that key to the summit will be to emerge with a collective programme of action to enable an ideal municipality that strategically demonstrates the pursuit of a long-term development trajectory anchored on the transformational areas of the One Plan. These, he said, “pertain to governance and financial management as well as integrated service delivery to bolster economic positioning through infrastructure engineering and spatial restructuring”.

The Department of Public Enterprises says it has noted with great disappointment the final liquidation order granted by the South Gauteng High Court on Wednesday, placing SA Express in final liquidation.

This comes after the liquidators could not find a suitable buyer for the regional airline, meaning the airline will never take to the skies again.

“The department sympathises with the employees of the regional airline, who were not able to receive any compensation after years of working at SA Express,” Public Enterprises said.

The liquidation of SA Express, according to the department, is a result of many factors, including years of bad management, State capture and corruption, exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global aviation market.

“One of the suppliers of the airline to save the business placed SA Express in business rescue. However, due to the current fiscal constraint, government was not able to provide the post-commencement finance to implement a successful rescue process,” the department explained.

The business rescue practitioners (BRP) then applied for provisional liquidation, which was granted in April 2020.

The department stated that there have been three different attempts by provisional liquidators to attract credible buyers, including a crowdfunding initiative by employees to buy the airline. However, all of them were futile since none had the financial resources to sustain the business post the sale.

“It is against this background that the department empathises with all the employees of SA Express, who started the regional airline and built it into a national brand, but who will walk away without any incentives.”

The department believes the liquidation brings into stark reality the impact of State capture, corruption and bad management in the country’s State-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially the devastating consequence on the livelihoods of employees of the regional airline.

“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture Part 1 report – released earlier this year by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo – on SA Express detailed evidence of deep-rooted corruption and fraud at the regional airline.”

The findings of the first part of the report detailed how SA Express was improperly awarded a five-year contract by North West in respect of the Mafikeng-Johannesburg and Pilanesburg-Johannesburg and Cape Town routes, the department said. However, funds were paid with no services rendered.

“There is evidence that public funds were syphoned out of the North West government’s coffers to various individuals and organs of State,” the department said.

By 2019, the department said a criminal investigation was underway and High Court litigation had been instituted.

“However, by the time the Commission heard evidence emanating from this investigation, in June 2019, the criminal process had not gained any substantial momentum.”

The department has since urged law enforcement agencies to speed up investigations into the allegations of corruption and fraud and bring to book those responsible for the damage.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the opening of the R7.7 billion Sappi Saiccor Mill upgrade and expansion project in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Sappi Saiccor upgrade and expansion project is aimed at increasing the capacity and global competitiveness of Sappi Saiccor Mill, while also creating employment opportunities in the short- and lon- term.

The project marks the fulfilment of a commitment the company made at the first South Africa Investment Conference in 2018, when President Ramaphosa called for investments into the South African economy.

The first Investment Conference was convened with the aim of raising R1.2 trillion in new investments over five years and four years later, more than R1.1 trillion worth of investment commitments has been achieved.

On Tuesday, President Ramaphosa said the opening of this project demonstrates just what the commitments made at the Investment Conference mean in reality.

“Today, we are witnessing far more than a financial investment. We are witnessing an investment in infrastructure, people, innovation, technology and sustainability. It is an investment in community development, in the local economy, in our export capacity and in the industrialisation of our economy,” the President said.

The Sappi Saiccor Mill is a major role player in KwaZulu-Natal, contributing over R6.7 billion annually to the local economy. The mill employs more than 1 200 staff and 700 contractors.

The President said this project and many others are an example of the impact of the investment drive. He said these projects show that South Africa’s economy is on the road to recovery.

“These investments have been made possible, thanks to the partnership between government and business to drive growth and industrial development.

“The opening of this expansion project is the result of hard work, persistence, corporate vision and above all, is a testament to the enduring commitment of companies like Sappi to South Africa and its people,” he said.

WATCH |President arrives in Umkomaas    Ceremonial ribbon-cutting at Sappi Saiccor Mill  

President Ramaphosa said the project supports a number of the country’s national economic priorities.

Firstly, he said it supports sustainability and moving towards a circular economy.

“This facility supports our national carbon reduction goals. I am told that by using the best available technology, the aim is to halve CO2 fossil fuel emissions, significantly reduce plant CO2 emissions, reduce water consumption and reduce waste to landfill from coal ash by 48%.

“It is noteworthy that Sappi continues to use recycled and sustainable wood sources to produce circular and innovative bio-based products,” he said.

Secondly, the President said the project contributes to beneficiation.

“Through this mill, Sappi is taking a product from South Africa’s soil and producing dissolving pulp.

“More than that, this mill is producing employment, developing skills and adding economic value to an important raw material,” the President said.

The project further contributes to rural and enterprise development by sourcing the much raw material feedstock from rural communities.

The President added that the realisation of Sappi’s investment in Umkomaas sends the strongest signal that “our home-grown multinationals are taking the lead in investing in our economy”.

He said this demonstrates confidence to other potential investors that South Africa is indeed a favourable place to invest in and to do business.

“It shows that you are ready and willing to play your part in developing our communities by employing more people and giving greater opportunities to small businesses.

“I look forward to seeing this project expand and thrive, and to witness its benefits for the people of Umkomaas, the economy of KwaZulu-Natal and the progress of our nation,” he said.