Cartoon of the day: 5 August 2025
Looting continues to cost the country billions, with the Treasury seemingly playing a losing game.
The City of Johannesburg is cash-strapped and has been given an ultimatum by the Treasury to correct wasteful expenditure.
Treasury has reportedly written to Joburg mayor Dada Morero to give him two weeks to respond with a plan to stop the squandering of funds and take action against offending officials.
It also reportedly threatened to withhold grant funding if the city's finances weren't brought under control.
ALSO READ: Lesufi reshuffles several heads of Gauteng departments after reports reveal misconduct
Making money
The City has meanwhile embarked on an aggressive revenue collection campaign to replenish its coffers
Its power utility, City Power, has been held several operations to disconnect individuals, businesses and whole communities that do not pay for electricity owed.
The DA in Gauteng claims the City is using Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers to collect revenue by setting a target for them to collect R7 000 in fines daily.
'This effectively turns law enforcement into a revenue-generating system rather than a public safety service,' the party's Michael Sun told The Citizen.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla denied the DA's claims.
'The JMPD would like to emphasise that our enforcement operations are conducted with the primary goal of maintaining safety and order on the city's roads.'
'As part of their duties, officers are expected to issue citations when a motorist is found to be in violation of traffic laws,' he told The Citizen.
NOW READ: Motorists could become targets of aggressive revenue collection operations by JMPD, says DA
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He said the rot in this process runs deep, and his party was demanding the dissolution and reconstitution of the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC), with all current members recused and investigated for possible collusion. 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. 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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. Next Stay Close ✕ Mngadi also demanded: A full-scale forensic audit led jointly by KZN's Office of the Premier. A report on all politically connected individuals, including Deputy Minister Sibiya and other officials, who may have benefited from the current contract cycle. The publication of beneficiary company lists, including directors, tax status, and CIPC registration confirmation. Mngadi said Sesiphambili Trading was registered by Sibiya in 2008 and is currently under the directorship of his wife, Simphiwe Sibiya. This places the deputy minister in the same boat as KZN Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka. A company run by his family was also reportedly linked to the tender. 'Evidence now suggests that a company registered under the deputy minister's wife's name is among those irregularly appointed as KZN NSNP service providers. The information comes amid widespread reports of politically connected ANC cadres and individuals benefiting from inflated and irregular contracts - a clear sign of systemic and coordinated looting of a programme meant to feed our poorest learners,' said Mngadi. He further stated that this crisis can no longer be treated as an administrative mishap. 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