Road not upgraded despite millions being spent
DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala says this is despite the promises made by former Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, in 2016 that the Gauteng Government would refurbish the road.
'This road remains in terrible condition. It is unrehabilitated and poses a safety risk for motorists and pedestrians, contradicting the Gauteng Department of Transport and Logistics MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela's claim that the road was upgraded and the project was well implemented. '
In response to a question from the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Diale-Tlabela stated that R23.4m was paid to two service providers and R8.6m to 12 subcontractors for the upgrade of Evaton Road; this amount totals R32m. She further explained that the project was initiated on 17 October 2016 and completed on 30 August 2017, and that the department is happy with the work done, as the project was well implemented.
Chabalala says they will request the chairperson of the Roads and Transport Portfolio Committee in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to arrange an oversight inspection to assess the state of the roads.
'Should the committee confirm that the roads were not upgraded. We will report the MEC to the GPL Ethics Committee for misleading the House that the road was upgraded.'
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
EFF challenges Ramaphosa's decision on Police Minister's 'special leave'
Opposition parties say President Cyril Ramaphosa could have used the existing crime-fighting state institutions to investigate Senzo Mchunu instead of appointing a commission. Image: IOL Graphics The EFF contends that President Cyril Ramaphosa does not have the constitutional power to put a cabinet minister on a leave of absence, instead suggesting he should relieve Mchunu of his duties. This is according to a legal letter served on Ramaphosa challenging his decision to place embattled Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave. The decision comes after allegations of corruption were made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The EFF isn't the only party questioning President Ramaphosa's decision. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has also indicated that it's drafting papers for a Constitutional Court challenge, and the DA said police were now investigating the criminal charges it lodged against Mchunu Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The DA also confirmed that a senior Lieutenant Colonel has been assigned as the investigating officer in the criminal matter against Mchunu. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of interfering with sensitive police investigations and colluding with businesspeople to disband the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal. In response, Ramaphosa established a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate these allegations, which is expected to take between six to twelve months. Mchunu has been placed on a leave of absence with Professor Firoz Cachalia appointed as acting Minister of Police effective August 1. In the letter sent by England Slabbert Attorneys on behalf of the EFF, the party highlights several points that include the lack of constitutional power. President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu. Image: GCIS 'The President does not have the power under Section 91(2) of the Constitution to place a Minister on leave." 'A Minister without powers or functions is unlawful as the Constitution requires Ministers to be assigned powers and functions. 'Placing Mchunu on special leave while he continues to draw a ministerial salary, alongside appointing an acting Minister, is seen as an abuse of state resources,' the letter read. "The decision is not only illegal, it is also a flagrant abuse of state resources. It allows Senzo Mchunu to continue drawing a full ministerial salary under the guise of 'special leave'...' the letter continued. The Red Berets demanded that Ramaphosa provide certain information by Monday regarding Mchunu's powers and functions during his leave, the pecuniary benefits Mchunu will receive, and the rationale behind the decision to place Mchunu on leave, or face further legal action. 'We demand, on our client's behalf, that the President provide our offices with the following information: confirmation of what powers and functions The Hon. Mchunu, MP, will perform as a Member of the Cabinet whilst on leave of absence, and specifically whether these will be the same as or similar to any other Cabinet Member, an explanation whether The Hon. Mchunu, MP's pecuniary and financial benefits will be withdrawn entirely while he is on leave, and if not, why not and confirmation of the specific powers and procedure the President followed in appointing Professor Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police,' the letter read. The letter further asked for reasons why the President placed Mchunu on leave and the reasons why the President, in light of Mkhwanazi's allegations, decided not to dismiss Mchunu. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya did not respond to questions about whether the president was preparing to challenge the EFF's court action. Cape Times
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
Police scandal: Justice must now be served
President Cyril Ramaphosa has said all the right things, but a tired public now wants to see action. As long as the ANC is still in power, the state capture and Phala Phala scandals will continue to haunt South Africa. Accused ANC officials seem to be treated with kid gloves, while tough action is taken against those from other parties like the recent dismissal of DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield. This was the impression created when President Cyril Ramaphosa broke his silence on Sunday on the police scandal. He couldn't even suspend or fire police minister Senzo Mchunu, but put him on special leave and ordered a judicial inquiry to probe allegations of infiltration in the police. On Tuesday, the deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya was also placed on special leave. This follows claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July, where he accused senior police and political figures of colluding with criminal syndicates. ALSO READ: Mr President, it's time for you to leave For South Africans exhausted by news of assassinations, gender-based violence, kidnappings and rampant gangsterism, Mkhwanazi's revelations were not only shocking – they were horrifying. He spoke not as a politician seeking fame, but as a top cop with direct knowledge of how deeply the rot runs. His allegations painted a picture of a justice system compromised from within: metro police officers on drug syndicate payrolls, prosecutors turning a blind eye and political leaders interfering with investigations. He even suggested that elements within the judiciary were linked to criminal networks. The implications of these claims strike at the heart of our democracy. If criminals have truly infiltrated the highest levels of our law enforcement and justice institutions, then the very ideas of justice, equality before the law and public safety become a farce. Ramaphosa's response – to establish a judicial commission of inquiry – is a measured and necessary step for him to take in order to seem as if he is busy. The commission – chaired by acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga – is tasked with investigating the extent of this alleged criminal infiltration. Importantly, it is ideally sought to examine not only the police and intelligence services, but also the National Prosecuting Authority, the State Security Agency, the judiciary, and the executive arm of government. No stone, Ramaphosa promised, will be left unturned. ALSO READ: Why has President Ramaphosa overlooked Deputy Police Minister Boshielo? The public, however, will not be satisfied with another commission of inquiry unless it leads to swift and decisive action. The Zondo commission exposed the full extent of state capture under the Jacob Zuma administration, but progress on prosecutions has been slow. For the Madlanga commission to avoid becoming yet another archive of inaction, it must operate transparently, act quickly, and make real recommendations that lead to arrests, dismissals and reforms. Ramaphosa's decision to place Mchunu on leave and to appoint Prof Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister is a matter of yielding to public outcry. But we must be honest with ourselves; the removal of Mchunu does not guarantee any change because what Mkhwanazi exposed was not simply a case of corruption against an individual – it was a coordinated system used to attack the state's ability to govern and deliver justice. Other implicated individuals – whether named or unnamed – must also be investigated without fear or favour. Ramaphosa must resist the temptation to protect political allies or preserve party unity at the expense of public trust. The public's fatigue is real. South Africans are tired of promises and press conferences. They want accountability. They want to know that when they report a crime, it will be taken seriously; that when whistle-blowers come forward, they will be protected, not persecuted; and that when people in power abuse that power, they will face consequences – not golden handshakes or quiet transfers. ALSO READ: Leave and a commission don't make Mchunu immune from prosecution, parliament hears Mkhwanazi took a personal risk in coming forward. If his allegations are substantiated, he may go down in history as one of the rare figures in post-apartheid South Africa who put principle above protectionism. But if the process fails him – if the state fails to protect him or act on what he exposed – his courage will serve only as another cautionary tale in a country that has too many already. This moment, then, is more than a legal inquiry – it is a test of South Africa's democratic resilience. Will we allow the rule of law to be reclaimed by those who believe in it, or will we concede it to those who treat state institutions as tools for personal and political gain? Ramaphosa has drawn a line in the sand. He has said all the right things. But South Africa has heard all the right things before. Now we must see action. Now we must see arrests. Now we must see justice. Because if we don't, then this crisis will not simply pass – it will grow into something far worse: a nation where the state no longer protects its people, but preys upon them.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Legal action against President Ramaphosa over Police Minister's special leave
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's suspension questioned after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's allegations. Image: IOL Graphics The EFF has served President Cyril Ramaphosa with a legal letter challenging his decision to place embattled Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave. This move comes after allegations of corruption were made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The EFF contends that Ramaphosa does not have the constitutional power to put a cabinet minister on leave of absence, instead suggesting he should relieve Mchunu of his duties. The EFF isn't the only party questioning President Ramaphosa's decisions. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has also indicated that it's drafting papers for a Constitutional Court challenge, and the DA has confirmed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is now investigating the criminal charges it lodged against Mchunu Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The DA also confirmed that a senior Lieutenant Colonel has been assigned as the investigating officer in the criminal matter against Mchunu, marking the seriousness with which the SAPS is treating the case of their former Minister. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of interfering with sensitive police investigations and colluding with businesspeople to disband the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal. In response, Ramaphosa established a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate these allegations, which is expected to take between six to twelve months. Mchunu has been placed on leave of absence with Professor Firoz Cachalia appointed as acting Minister of Police effective August 1, 2025. In the letter sent by England Slabbert Attorneys on behalf of the EFF, the party highlights several points that include the lack of constitutional power. President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu. Image: GCIS 'The President does not have the power under Section 91(2) of the Constitution to place a Minister on leave." 'A Minister without powers or functions is unlawful as the Constitution requires Ministers to be assigned powers and functions. 'Placing Mchunu on special leave while he continues to draw a ministerial salary, alongside appointing an acting Minister, is seen as an abuse of state resources,' the letter read. "The decision is not only illegal, it is also a flagrant abuse of state resources. It allows Senzo Mchunu to continue drawing a full ministerial salary under the guise of 'special leave'...' the letter continued. The Red Berets demanded that Ramaphosa provide certain information by Monday July 21, 2025, regarding Mchunu's powers and functions during his leave, the pecuniary benefits Mchunu will receive, and the rationale behind the decision to place Mchunu on leave or face further legal action. 'We demand, on our client's behalf, that the President provide our offices with the following information: confirmation of what powers and functions The Hon. Mchunu, MP, will perform as a Member of the Cabinet whilst on leave of absence, and specifically whether these will be the same as or similar to any other Cabinet Member, an explanation whether The Hon. Mchunu, MP's pecuniary and financial benefits will be withdrawn entirely while he is on leave, and if not, why not and confirmation of the specific powers and procedure the President followed in appointing Professor Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police,' the letter read. The letter further asked for reasons why the President placed Mchunu on leave and the reasons why the President, in light of Mkhwanazi's allegations, decided not to dismiss Mchunu. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya had not responded to questions whether the president was preparing to challenge the EFF's court action. The MKP also intends to draft papers for a Constitutional Court challenge against Ramaphosa's decision while the DA has expressed concerns about the decision, emphasising the need for accountability and warning that commissions of inquiry might be used to delay action. Meanwhile, the DA confirmed that the criminal case the party lodged against Mchunu last week was under investigation. In a statement this week the party deputy Chief Whip in Parliament, Baxolile Nodada, said a senior Lieutenant Colonel has been assigned as investigating officer in the criminal matter against Mchunu, marking the seriousness with which the SAPS is treating the case of their former-Minister. 'The DA has provided the SAPS with a full account on the affidavit of the conduct of Minister Mchunu, for them to begin their investigation. 'Senzo Mchunu, as all other South Africans, must abide by the laws of South Africa – and where laws are broken, criminal investigations must follow. 'Misleading Parliament, lying and fraudulent cover ups cannot be tolerated from ANC Ministers. 'They are serious offences. Parliament is the structure to which the Executive must account honestly, and truthfully,' said Nodada.
