How would you rate your local ward councillor?
This morning we are asking you how you would rate your local ward councillor?
Do you know who he or she is and have you had any interaction with them?
eNCA reporters Naomi Kobbie is in Pretoria and Zanele Buthelezi is in Durban are on the ground giving people a say on soapbox.
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The Citizen
23 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Gauteng High Court rules National Dialogue should continue
The Labour Party sought an urgent interim interdict to halt the National Dialogue which is set to commence on 15 August 2025. The Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria has dismissed the Labour Party's application to halt President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to convene a National Dialogue and two related conventions. Judge AJ de Vos handed down judgment in the application on Friday. 'Urgent interdict' The Labour Party sought an urgent interim interdict to halt the National Dialogue, which is set to commence on 15 August 2025. The party argued that the initiative is unlawful and unconstitutional. At the heart of its objections were the costs associated with the dialogue, arguing that it is not a genuine democratic exercise, but a costly and dangerous duplication of the national legislature. 'Lacking merit' Judge de Vos ruled the Labour Party's urgent application lacked merit, with no proof of unauthorised expenditure or irreparable harm. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa announces 'Eminent Persons Group' to guide national dialogue – These are the people appointed Application dismissed He said the Labour Party had not proven that the balance of convenience favours the granting of an interim interdict. 'In addition, it is not clear what relief the Labour Party would be able to obtain in due course. If it was so that the president was exercising powers he did not have, duplicating the work of Parliament and excluding sectors of society and spending more than R 700 million on such an unlawful endeavour, there would be no recourse that would undo that harm. 'Whilst the court ultimately rejected these findings – they were sufficient to show the Labour Party would not be able to obtain redress in due course. In these circumstances, the matter is urgent,' the court ruled. ALSO READ: Mbeki says issue of renewal of ANC 'not an invention' [VIDEO] Constitutional rights De Vos said the Labour Party asserted its constitutional rights. 'They litigated in the public interest. The litigation was not vexatious or frivolous, it was motivated by a concern of constitutional compliance. The state respondents accept that the application 'concerns a matter of significant public importance'. 'It affects a wide range of stakeholders and raises issues of national interest. In such circumstances, premised on the Biowatch principle, there should be no order as to costs,' De Vos ruled. De Vos said there was some dispute in the papers as to whether the Labour Party had relied on Section 172 in its papers. 'Assuming such a case has been made, the court declines to exercise its Section 172 jurisdiction for the reasons the court held that the Labour Party's prima facie rights are weak.' ALSO READ: 'What has gone wrong?' – Mbeki, Biko foundations call for national dialogue amid 'political crisis' Section 172 Section 172 of the South African constitution outlines the powers of courts when deciding constitutional matters. Specifically, it mandates that courts must declare laws or conduct inconsistent with the constitution invalid to the extent of the inconsistency and it allows courts to make any just and equitable order. Reaction In a statement, the National Dialogue communications subcommittee said the judgment reaffirms that the National Dialogue is a long-term, participatory process. 'It seeks to impact on and involve every part of our country, unleashing the energies and buy-in of every citizen and every sector – an assertion we have made since its inception. It is not a 'talk shop', as it aims to produce outcomes that are respected and adhered to by all sectors of society,' it said. 'The judgment further affirms the PTT's observation about the deliberate misinformation and disinformation about the Eminent Persons Group, the first national convention, scheduled for 15-17 August 2025 at Unisa and the National Dialogue. 'We would like to emphasise that the narrative surrounding the R700m budget for the National Dialogue is both misleading and unfortunate. As the Finance Minister advised the nation during his annual budget speech, the budgeting process for the National Dialogue is one of several items whose budgeting is still underway and shall be announced by him at the end of that process, the committee said. National Dialogue On 10 June 2025, Ramaphosa announced a National Dialogue – is a citizen-led, nationwide initiative to respond to South Africa's democratic challenges – supported by the government, national foundations and civil society. The dialogue aims to produce a shared national vision, accompanied by clear principles and develop a national compact and 30-year plan of action. ALSO READ: Clarity sought on alleged R700m cost of National Dialogue
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
90 online gambling websites operating illegally in SA, says Minister Tau
The National Gambling Board has two personnel dealing with the challenges posed by the illegal gambling websites and R596 000 is allocated for the identification of illegal gambling websites. Image: GCIS Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has disclosed that the National Gambling Board (NGB) has recorded at least 90 online gambling websites that are currently operating illegally in South Africa. Tau said the illegal gambling websites are registered and licensed overseas. 'The National Gambling Board did not engage with the operators of the illegal gambling websites, and operators did not block their illegal sites as the National Gambling Board did not engage with them,' he said. Tau revealed this when he was responding to parliamentary questions from Rise Mzansi MP Songezo Zibi, who enquired about the approaches used by the NGB to identify illegal gambling websites and the engagements undertaken by the board with South African network operators to block illegal online gambling websites in the past five financial years, among other things. 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 Zibi had also wanted to know about the steps taken by NGB with Google Africa to remove illegal gambling websites from their search engine. In his written reply, Tau said the NGB has two personnel who dealt with the challenges posed by the illegal gambling websites. 'The National Gambling Board has allocated financial resources to the extent of R596,000 for the identification of illegal gambling websites. This includes travel costs and legal enforcement forum meetings to be held in the 2025/26 financial year period.' Tau also said the illegal gambling sites were identified by reliance on third-party information. 'When unlawful winnings are confiscated by third parties, the websites through which the illegal online gambling activity has occurred are mentioned in a prescribed National Gambling Board form. 'Other instances of identification of illegal online gambling websites include complaints received from the public via a dedicated NGB email address or the NGB fraud hotline.' He stated that the NGB, upon receipt of such information relating to the gambling website, confirmed with the relevant province whether a gambling operator was registered in South Africa. 'Where the gambling operator is licensed outside South Africa, they are deemed to be an illegal gambling website operator. To further aid in the identification process, the URL of the gambling website is used in the determination process.' Tau explained that the National Gambling engaged with various stakeholders who are responsible for the provision of the platform for the website to operate in South Africa when blocking illegal gambling websites. 'The National Gambling Board does not engage directly with the illegal website operator,' he said. He stated that the NGB forwarded 10 websites to Google Africa for removal from the search engine in the financial year ending 2024/25. 'To date, none of the websites have been removed from the search engine, and (c) Yes, the NGB has engaged with Google SA,' Tau said. Meanwhile, Tau confirmed that the National Gambling Board was still without a board of directors. 'The process of selecting members to serve on the National Gambling Board is under way and has not yet been concluded,' he said in response to DA MP Toby Chance's inquiry. The National Gambling Board has not had members since September 2014. He told Parliament on July 4 that the board appointment was under way and would be taken to the Cabinet for consideration.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
'He led by listening': Lassy Chiwayo remembers Mandela's quiet strength
Citizens and the world celebrates Mandela Day to honour the late former president, Nelson Mandela. Image: Supplied A former political prisoner, diplomat and liberation activist, Lassy Chiwayo, shared an extraordinary bond with the late former President Nelson Mandela during their time on Robben Island-one forged in resistance, hardship, and hope, saying his leadership was phenomenal. Arrested in the 1980s for his role in the anti-apartheid struggle, Chiwayo joined a generation of young activists who looked to Mandela not just as a leader, but as a moral compass in a deeply fractured nation. This as citizens were celebrating Mandela Day and sharing their experiences with the world about the late president. Mandela Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on July 18, Mandela's birthday. Mandela on December 5, 2013. According to Chiwayo, the meaning of Mandela Day means Ubuntu, caring for others more than you care for yourself, discipline, righteousness, a deep sense of conviction and self-consciousness that would not lead to any betrayal of another human being. The former South African consul-general to Shanghai, China, emphasised that Mandela was not someone who would betray anyone. 'He would never allow anyone to gossip about anyone, he is the type that when you go and tell him about some person says this or that. 'He would say no, wait a moment, I'll get back to you, leave you sitting comfortably on your chair and come back to you while still waiting,' he said, adding that he would delay you to ensure that the person you're gossiping about was in the room. 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 He said that was the kind of leadership that would be needed currently, especially in the ANC. 'Unfortunately what destroyed the ANC are people who gossip and those who are easily vulnerable to gossip,' he said. Chiwayo has spoken of Mandela not as an untouchable icon, but as a human being who mentored with quiet strength. "Madiba didn't preach, he listened, he led by example," Chiwayo recalled the moments. According to Chiwayo, Mandela taught the younger generation that freedom began with dignity, even in chains. Their conversations-often whispered in the shadows of concrete walls-planted seeds of leadership and reconciliation that would later shape South Africa's democratic transition. Mandela saw promise in Chiwayo's sharp intellect and unwavering courage. Decades later, that mentorship carried Chiwayo through his own trials in government and diplomacy. Though separated by time, their shared legacy endures: two men, once jailed for dreaming of freedom, now symbols of its cost-and its unyielding worth. IOL Politics
