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IOL News
03-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Tshwane deputy mayor faces allegations over R21 million unpaid municipal bills
The DA's spokesperson on finance in Tshwane, Jacqui Uys, accuses Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise of protecting a property he leases from power disconnection, despite it owing R21 million in municipal bills. Image: Supplied The DA in Tshwane has accused Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, also the MMC for Finance, of protecting a former Morula Sun property he leases from the North West Housing Corporation (NWHC) from having its power disconnected despite it owing the metro R21.7 million in unpaid bills. Modise is the face of Tshwane Ya Tima revenue-collection campaign, which aggressively targets customers with outstanding municipal bills, often disconnecting their services. In recent months, the city has collected revenues from defaulting customers and businesses by disconnecting them from the grid. DA Tshwane spokesperson on finance, Jacqui Uys, claimed that Mzansi Resorts, formerly Morula Sun, owes the City of Tshwane R21,7m in outstanding rates, taxes, water, and sanitation charges. 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 ✕ 'Mzansi Resorts is managed via a lease agreement with the NWHC by Mzansi Exhibitions and Events, a company owned by Tshwane Deputy Executive Mayor Eugene Modise, on the Morula Sun property in Mabopane,' she said. She said that although the municipal account is in the name of the NWHC, the lease agreement with Mzansi Exhibitions and Events specifies that Mzansi and Gold Rush Pty (Ltd), which leases a portion of the property, are liable for the city's bill. Uys said: 'In a recent City of Tshwane Finance oversight meeting, the DA raised concerns on the high outstanding municipal debt of the NWHC. This prompted city officials in the meeting to cite the NWHC's claims that they cannot settle their bills as their lessees do not pay their rent.' The controversy surrounding Modise's company comes after the DA in the North West province last week exposed that Modise owes the NWHC more than R12m in unpaid rent for its property. Modise has outright denied owing the entity, saying he would not allow political gimmicks to damage the relationship between his party and the NWHC. He claimed his administration has revitalised the entity, curbed crime, and halted vandalism. According to him, since the lease agreement, his company has had expensive, crucial renovations and makeovers of the property. Uys said that Modise's unpaid debt to the NWHC is hindering their ability to pay the City of Tshwane, which in turn affects residents, the city's financial recovery, and service delivery. She questioned the disparity in treatment, citing examples of provincial-owned facilities having their electricity cut off for non-payment, while Modise's Mzansi Resorts seems to be exempt. Responding to the allegations, Modise hit out at Uys, saying she is 'struggling with nostalgia'. 'Mzansi does not have an account with the city, and she can take it to court and satisfy her deep hatred for African excellence,' he said. He suggested that Uys needed basic economics training, implying she has lost touch.
The Citizen
22-06-2025
- The Citizen
Free after 2 years in foreign prison: SA engineers back on home soil
After enduring more than two harrowing years behind bars in Equatorial Guinea, Frik Potgieter, from George, and Langebaan resident Peter Huxham have finally returned to South African soil. The two men, who were detained in Equatorial Guinea on 9 February 2023, have returned safely to South African soil following a presidential pardon granted by the President of Equatorial Guinea. Their families confirmed their release last night (21 June). 'This brings an end to an ordeal of anguish, uncertainty and unwavering efforts by many to secure their freedom,' said family spokespersons Shaun Murphy and Francois Nigrini. 'We are overwhelmed with relief and joy. The last two years and four months have been unimaginably painful for both our families. Today, we are finally able to say: Frik and Peter are safely back home,' the families' spokespersons said. Shock after drug charges Potgieter and Huxham are both engineers who were working for the Dutch company SBM Offshore in Equatorial Guinea when they were arrested at their hotel in Malabo on drug-related charges after it was alleged that a cocaine shipment was discovered on the same international flight the men were on. They were convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. In addition, they were ordered to pay $5M USD (R93,7m at the time of publishing) each in damages, with additional fines to be shared between them. Potgieter and Huxham vehemently denied all charges from the outset and were shocked that any allegations related to drugs would be brought against them. Their arrest in 2023 came two days after the high court in Cape Town authorised the attachment of a R300m superyacht, Blue Shadow, owned by Equatorial Guinea's vice-president Teodorin Nguema Obiang. The court order related to civil matter between Obiang and another South African. The long fight for freedom In July 2024, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that the Potgieter and Huxham's imprisonment was unlawful and violated numerous international human rights obligations. The UN also called for their immediate release at the time. The families expressed deep gratitude to all those who supported them throughout the ordeal. This includes Frik and Peter's employer, SBM Offshore; the South African and UK governments; international diplomatic partners; parliamentarians; legal teams; Hostage International; civil society organisations; and members of the media. They also extended their thanks to former Minister of International Relations, Dr Naledi Pandor, and current minister Ronald Lamola, who both travelled to Equatorial Guinea as presidential envoys on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Thousands of individuals across the globe signed petitions, supported media advocacy campaigns, offered emotional support and kept the families in their thoughts and prayers. 'Their return home is the result of collective efforts over many, many months, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who played a role in securing their freedom,' said the families. 'This has been a long and difficult journey. We want to thank every person who stood with us – your support carried us through our darkest moments.' The families have now asked for privacy as the men begin the process of recovery and healing. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
