Three officials arrested for R7m transformer theft
This comes as three city officials were arrested in connection with the theft of a R7-million transformer from the Laudium substation late 2025.
The city has vowed to deal decisively with theft of municipal assets and internal misconduct.
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The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
Limpopo megaproject sued over 'stolen' rocks
Subcontractor removed R12-million worth of white rock from private land Construction vehicles belonging to Tshiamiso Trading 135, photographed while excavating and loading road-building materials from Boetie Visser's old mine dumps. Photo supplied. A subcontractor on the multi-billion-rand Musina Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) project removed R12-million worth of white rock, used to build roads, from a private property without permission. The state-owned company behind the MMSEZ is now being sued by the property owner. But MMSEZ has told the owner to collect the rocks at his own expense, before the end of the month. The subcontractor, Tshiamiso Trading, terminated its contract after receiving R50-million. The company has a track record of receiving controversial government contracts. The state-owned company behind the controversial Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) in Limpopo is facing a R12-million lawsuit after a subcontractor removed approximately 35,000 cubic meters of white rock from a private property without permission. The MMSEZ is a multi-billion-rand megaproject launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2018. More than R100-million has been spent on the project, but there are still no roads, electricity or water connections. It has now emerged that a company subcontracted to build roads, Tshiamiso Trading 135, removed R12-million worth of white rock from an old mine dump owned by Boetie Visser Groep Kontrakteurs, without permission. A subsequent investigation by MMSEZ SOC found that the removal of the road material by Tshiamiso is likely unlawful and criminal. But MMSEZ has not followed the investigator's recommendations and has rejected Visser's requests to be paid for the rocks or for the rocks to be returned. Visser has launched a court case in the Polokwane High Court to claim the R12-million he says is owed to him. But earlier this month, MMSEZ told Visser to collect the rocks at his own expense, denying that they were responsible for the removal of the rocks. Tshiamiso, which has a track record of receiving controversial government contracts, has since cancelled its R200-million contract, after receiving R50-million, citing standing time and ongoing court action. The company's director, Hlamani Bruce Mohlaba, insists the rocks were lawfully removed. Adding to the debacle is that part of the area on which this infrastructure is supposed to be built does not belong to the MMSEZ SOC, and the northern site has not been gazetted to allow for such a development. The MMSEZ has, on several occasions, been accused of bulldozing ahead with development plans, while ignoring legal concerns and the fact that no sustainable plans are in place to secure water on the sites. Unlawful mining In 2022, Tshiamiso was awarded a R200-million contract with MMSEZ to build internal roads and stormwater infrastructure at the MMSEZ's northern site at Artonvilla, north of Musina. They received an additional R100-million contract to build stormwater drainage. On 2 August 2023, the MMSEZ obtained a permit from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), which allowed Tshiamiso to start mining for white rock to be used for the roads. An old mine dump was fenced off by Tshiamiso, and the company started removing rocks and taking them to the construction site, about 2km away. But it appears the land, in fact, was owned by Boetie Visser, of Boetie Visser Groep Kontrakteurs CC. In January 2024, Visser contacted the MMSEZ, claiming that Tshiamiso was, without permission, removing crushed stone material that belonged to him. Visser sent several letters to the MMSEZ requesting that they halt the excavation, but Tshiamiso continued. Visser sent a proposal to the MMSEZ on 10 January, offering to sell the high-quality stones to the company. During a meeting between Visser and MMSEZ officials on 22 January, the matter was discussed, and a follow-up meeting was planned to reach an amicable resolution. On 25 January 2024, Visser's lawyer, advocate Elandré Bester, issued a memorandum about the unlawful removal of processed material from his old mine dumps. The memo highlighted that Visser is the lawful owner of the old mine dumps and alleged that the conduct of the MMSEZ and Tshiamiso constituted 'fraud, theft, and larceny'. MMSEZ investigates Officials from the MMSEZ's Legal Services and Infrastructure Development units visited the site on 6 February to investigate. They found it was 'highly unlikely' that Tshiamiso was extracting material from within the permitted area and that it was 'clear that the mining dumps… were outside the designated area of the borrow pit permit'. The MMSEZ investigators also met with Visser, who presented documents to prove he was the owner of the property and had his own mining permit for the white rocks. Visser reiterated his willingness to sell the stones, failing which they should be returned. At that stage, an estimated 35,000 cubic metres, at a value of about R12-million, of crushed stone had already been taken by Tshiamiso. It was agreed that the MMSEZ would provide Visser with feedback three days later, by 9 February 2024. The day after the site visit, Mashile Mokono, the MMSEZ's Senior Manager for Legal Services, compiled a report. It concluded that Tshiamiso could be charged for conducting illegal mining and committing a criminal offence, and said that the company should be held liable for damages. The report recommended that the MMSEZ urgently instruct Tshiamiso to cease excavation, enter into negotiations with Visser to purchase the collected material, and produce records of all materials taken. An estimated 35,000 cubic metres of 'white rock' road-building material stockpiled at Tshiamiso Trading's construction site, approximately two kilometres from Mr Boetie Visser's mine dump. Photo supplied Development stalled By 9 February 2024, the MMSEZ had not provided Visser with feedback as promised. This prompted Visser to apply for an urgent interdict in the Polokwane High Court to stop the unlawful removal and ensure the materials were recovered. But on 5 March, the matter was dismissed because of a lack of urgency. Visser is proceeding with the court action against MMSEZ, SLM Engineers (the consulting engineers overseeing the project) and Tshiamiso and wants to be paid R12-million for the materials removed from his land. In May this year, the MMSEZ board chairperson, Dr Nndweleni Mphephu, presented a report to the Limpopo legislature's portfolio committee on economic development. The report revealed that Tshiamiso had terminated its R200-million contract, citing non-payment of standing time and ongoing court action. Tshiamiso had already been paid R50-million by the time of termination. The report also revealed that the land earmarked for the project's northern site did not belong to the MMSEZ. The land belonged to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. Additionally, the area designated for the northern site had not yet been gazetted. 'Come and fetch your rocks' Visser has still not received any payment for the materials. 'I have done nothing wrong. They stole my stone, moved it unlawfully, and now I'm left with a bill and legal costs amounting to half a million rand. And I still don't have my stone back,' said Visser. Visser claims that SLM Engineers knew that Tshiamiso had been extracting rocks from the wrong area. In spite of his ongoing court action, Visser, on 15 July this year, received a letter from Tshifhiwa Irish Bologo, acting CEO of the MMSEZ, telling him to collect the rocks at his own expense before the end of the month. 'As you are aware, MMSEZ was not responsible for the removal of the white rock material from your site as that was done by Tshiamiso Trading without any direct or indirect involvement of MMSEZ,' stated Bologo. This left Visser outraged. 'I didn't put it there. They put it there – their contractors. Now I must transport it back at my own expense? … My offer was simple. I said, pay me, and I'll take my stone back. Now they're saying no, take it back at your own cost,' said Visser. In response to a media enquiry, Bologo said 'Visser is currently engaging with MMSEZ on the removal of the white rocks.' Bologo said that 'MMSEZ is not aware of any instructions by SLM to Tshiamiso Trading to collect the white rocks and therefore no action will be taken against SLM.' As for Tshiamiso, Bologo confirmed that the company still holds the R100-million contract for bulk sewer and waste treatment works construction. She confirmed that a new contractor will have to be appointed to complete the internal roads and stormwater infrastructure. In response to questions, Mohlaba, Tshiamiso's director, said: 'The removal of material occurred lawfully. The claims by Mr Visser presently form the subject matter of an application in the high court. A cost order has already been granted against Mr Visser and is in the process of execution. The application is still pending.' SLM Engineering said that part of the matter had been dismissed with costs by the court. 'Thus, in respect of the law, we cannot comment any further at the moment as this matter is before the court,' concluded Sello Matlakal, a director of SLM. (The cost order referred to by Mohlaba and Matlakala relates only to the urgent application that was dismissed for lack of urgency, not Visser's ongoing court case). A controversial contractor Mohlaba is no stranger to controversy. In 2019, Tshiamiso was taken to court by the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, which accused it of 'undue enrichment' after the company was awarded a R26-million contract for the construction of a 5.8km road and stormwater drainage system. Costs escalated rapidly, and construction was halted when Tshiamiso demanded further payments. It emerged in court that Tshiamiso had made errors in its bid calculations, which influenced the procurement process. The court ruled that the municipality's decision to award the tender to Tshiamiso was unlawful and constitutionally invalid from the outset. At the time, Tshiamiso was also entangled in other similar disputes. In 2016, the Makhado Municipality awarded the company contracts for the construction of two roads, where costs escalated and the projects were halted. Tshiamiso is listed as a legal contingency in the municipality's 2022/23 annual financial statements. At the time, the company was suing the municipality for R7.4-million in unpaid standing time, while the municipality lodged a counterclaim for R11.8-million, alleging 'undue enrichment'. The outcomes of these claims remain unknown. During the covid pandemic, Tshiamiso diversified into the medical supply sector. It was one of 42 suppliers contracted by the Limpopo provincial government to deliver masks and infrared thermometers. This article is published in association with the Limpopo Mirror/Zoutpansberger. This article was republished from GroundUp. Read the original here.
The Star
19 hours ago
- The Star
Mbeki's intervention in TRC damages litigation criticised as 'absurd' and 'muddying the waters'
The Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) has described former president Thabo Mbeki's application to intervene in the constitutional damages litigation by survivors and families of apartheid-era crime victims as unreasonable and 'muddying the waters'. The application by Mbeki and his former justice minister, Brigitte Mabandla, is set to be heard on Monday, July 28, in the Pretoria High Court. The families of victims who were forcibly disappeared or killed during apartheid, supported by the foundation, filed an application against President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government early this year, seeking R167-million in constitutional damages for the state's 'gross failure'. They say there was 'a gross violation of their human rights as the state failed to investigate and/or prosecute the cases referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to the National Prosecutions Authority'. They alleged that there was some political interference in the cases, leading to delays of about 15 years. Speaking to eNCA on Thursday, FHR executive director Zaid Kimmie said they were not gunning for any individual or 'alleging that any particular individual was responsible'. He said they were seeking justice and the R167 million damages, and wanted to know 'potentially how this interference happened'. Those seeking to clear their names or 'cast aspersions on others' would have their opportunity in the upcoming commission of inquiry set up by Ramaphosa, said Kimmie. He said they believed that the commission was 'the correct avenue' that Mbeki and Mabandla should follow. He said the two politicians' intervention in the damages case was 'absurd' and posed a danger of muddying the waters. 'It's clear to us and all families that there was some form of interference in these cases. You don't simply have a 15-year delay in investigations and prosecutions because someone forgot to do their job. It's very clear that there was some sort of interference, and what we've asked for was that, to get to the bottom of that interference we need a commission of inquiry,' said Kimmie. He explained that the R167 million the families were seeking was carefully calculated based on the money used in supporting some of the families during inquests, investigations, prosecutions, and generally providing justice to them. 'Just to make it clear, the money that we're asking for is going to be held in trust. It will be available to any family who's in the same situation (as those in the damages case),' he said. Responding to a question about the 'unfinished business of the TRC' and whether, in his view, the state dealt with the issues adequately, Kimmie said: 'It's clear that there has been a gross violation of the human rights of these families. The state didn't do its job, did not live up to its obligations. And when the state does not live up to its obligations, then it's incumbent upon the people involved to call them to account … 'It's simply not enough to say 'well, bad things happened, these things happen', and everyone walks away.' The state had 'constitutional, legal obligations' and had officials paid to do their jobs, to investigate and prosecute cases. He said it was 'absurd' for them to 'simply decide' that a certain set of cases was 'not worthy' to be prosecuted. There have been allegations in the past that interference by the government under Mbeki during former national director of public prosecutions Vusi Pikoli led to work on the case being stopped. There have not been any proper explanation as to why the TRC cases where amnesty was not granted were not pursued. These cases include the killing of the Cradock Four — Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto, and Sicelo Mhlauli — members of the United Democratic Front and other community organisations fighting apartheid whose killings shocked the nation in 1985.
eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
Gupta Saxonwold compound goes on auction
JOHANNESBURG - The once-glamorous Gupta compound in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, went under the hammer on Thursday but sold at significantly lower prices than expected. One of the houses, known as Property 3, which once served as staff quarters, sold for just R3.3-million, which is a decrease from its original amount of R5-million. Property 5, known as the 'White House', where the Gupta family lived, received a paltry bid of just R4-million. The house was previously valued at R21.7-million. Meanwhile, a prospective buyer bid just R3 million for Property 7 valued at R36.8-million. Clive Lazarus, a Director at Park Village Auctions, who facilitated the sale, says they weren't surprised by the low offers. He believes this is due to the infamy of its owners. "There was no surprise when it came to numbers 5 and 7. There has been interest, but there is a big stigma, and the property has been neglected since 2018. And no maintenance has been done since then". The Gupta brothers, Rajesh, Atul and Ajay who once called the compound home, were identified as central figures in South Africa's state capture. They remain fugitives after fleeing the country in 2016. Real estate experts believe the winning bidders scored a good deal. CEO of Lance Real Estate, Lance Cohen, says R3.3-million for a house in Saxonwold is a bargain in today's property market.
