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IOL News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Senzo Mchunu refutes DNA backlog crisis in forensic labs
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says the historical DNA backlog, which was at one point standing at 241 152 and increased by 4.33% to 251 603, was eradicated during 2023. Image: GCIS Police Minister Senzo Mchunu firmly refuted allegations of a substantial backlog of forensic exhibits in the South African Police Service (SAPS) laboratories. This after EFF MP Rebecca Mohlala asked in parliamentary questions about concrete steps the police has taken to address the persistent and massive DNA backlog that continued to delay justice for victims of rape and femicide amid thousands of forensic samples remain unprocessed for years, perpetrators remain at large within communities and affected families are left in a prolonged state of uncertainty. 'How does the SAPS justify the ongoing backlog crisis when the lives and dignity of women urgently depend on timely forensic intervention?' Mohlala asked. Mchunu said the assertion that there was a persistent and massive backlog of exhibits at the police forensic science laboratory (FSL) was invalid. 'The FSL has had an increase in the volume of exhibits received. Registered case entries for analysis, increased by 63.21% from 307 826 in 2021/22 to 502 407, as at the end of the 2024/25 financial year,' he said. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ 'A total of 284 529 case entries were finalised during the 2021/22 financial year, and comparatively, the FSL has finalised 358 684 case entries, as at the end of 2024/25 financial year.' He also said the registered case entries for analysis increased by 118 549 from 2023/24 383 858 to 502 407 in 2024/25. 'A total of 343 973 case entries were finalised during the 2023/24 financial year, and comparatively, the FSL has finalised 358 684 case entries, as at the end of 2024/25 financial year.' Mchunu said the main contributor to the case exhibits were reference samples used for DNA intelligence purposes. He pointed out that the police have four forensic science laboratories in the country, of which three are fully operational in Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. 'The KwaZulu-Natal laboratory is only partially utilized after flooding in 2022, however, an alternative accommodation solution has been sought, and it is at an advanced stage, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the FSL.' The minister stated the process with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on alternative accommodation for Kwa-Zulu-Natal would be inclusive of the DNA processing Laboratory that was never there before. There is 'on-going discussions with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on appointment of a permanent contractor to resolve any facility challenges immediately.' Mchunu also said the SAPS has established a project with the National Prosecuting Authority to ensures the prioritisation of cases for the timely analysis of DNA exhibits as well as ensure the provisioning of the required reports, known as 212 Statement), to prevent the withdrawal of cases due to an outstanding DNA report. 'A total of 55 702 gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF)-related DNA reports were provided for GBVF cases since the commencement of the project, until 31 May 2025. Furthermore, a total of 127 078 DNA reports (212 statements) were generated for other types of offences requiring DNA analysis,' he said.
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
BRICS: The key to a new World Order through expansion
At the 2023 BRICS Summit in South Africa, six more countries were accepted as members into BRICS. Image: GCIS THE annual BRICS Summit, to be attended by heads of state, takes place in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro in early July. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is expanding at the speed of light. At the 2023 BRICS Summit in South Africa, six more countries were accepted as members into BRICS. They were Ethiopia, Egypt, UAE, Iran, Qatar and Argentina. Argentina pulled out soon afterwards following an electoral victory by a pro-West Libertarian Party led by President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires. Yet as things stand, up to 40 countries are knocking on the door of BRICS. They are led by the great Asian regional powerhouse, Indonesia. I paint a picture of the role of BRICS in global affairs to illustrate its emergence as a power of great significance. The BRICS Summit in Brazil takes place at a time of extraordinary changes in geopolitics, underscored by the rapidly unfolding disintegration of Western hegemony that has held firm since the end of WWII in 1945. The US, the major glue that has led the West as a united front through formations such as Nato, among others, has unleashed tariffs on Europe in a move that has shaken the foundation of the Western alliance. Under President Donald Trump, Washington's main focus is to 'Make America Great Again', or 'America First' foreign policy that has left the globalists reeling. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The scramble to keep together the crumbling cookie is a spectacle to watch. Just this week at the Nato summit at The Hague, Trump had to be cornered into grudgingly endorsing Nato's Article 5, which refers to the principle of 'an attack on one is an attack on all'. In fact, so desperate was Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte to have Trump not mess up the meeting that he called Trump 'Daddy'. For far too long, Europe has been scavenging on the US. 'The European Union was born to screw the United States,' Trump lashed out in February this year. It is the EU to raise its budget spending on defence to at least 5% of its national budgets, Trumped insists, and the West has had to reluctantly agree for fear of being totally abandoned by Washington. In contrast, the rise of the Global South as a force to be reckoned with is intertwined with the impact in the growing importance of BRICS in geopolitics. Across the entire Majority World, the common message is of solidarity, togetherness, cooperation and mutual pursuit of common goals. For instance, Brazil will hold the BRICS Summit under the theme: 'Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance'. As the Global South works hard to strengthen its collective rising power in the 21st century, the Global North is grappling with growing schism between member-states, particularly in the ranks of the EU, where Western Europe continues to subtly treat former Soviet Union Eastern European countries as inferior. Addressing the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (Spief) last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin put it bluntly, saying: 'The dominance of the West is over.' Similarly, the foreign policy of China has consistently been premised on the principles of 'shared future', characterised by cooperation that leaves no one behind, great or small. The concerted mobilisation efforts by BRICS countries, marked by a geographic and ideological sense of solidarity borne from the era of liberation wars against colonialism and imperialism, are an emotional magnetic force that drives BRICS. South Africa, another key component of the strategic geopolitical bloc that is BRICS, will play host to the G20 Leaders' Summit at the end of this year under a similar theme that advocates for greater cooperation across the Majority World, as International Relations scholars refer to the Global South nowadays. South Africa's presidency of the G20 will focus on the theme: 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability'. The theme so irked the US that the Trump administration's Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted the G20 meeting of foreign ministers in South Africa. There have been unabating fears that the US could boycott the end-of-year meeting in South Africa as bilateral ties ad been frosty for an extended period. However, word in diplomatic circles is that the US has had a change of heart and will see Trump attend the G20 meeting. Relations between intra-BRICS countries continue to grow stronger by the day. India emulated the rest of the Global South when it refused to support the Western economic sanctions against Russia. Instead, India has been reselling Russian oil and gas to Europe under the obvious guise that the products were 'made in India'. The BRICS Bank, also known as the New Development Bank, is quietly positioning itself to counter the lending dominance of the US-led IMF and World Bank. Trade by BRICS countries accounts for 40% of the global trade, according to statistics. Additionally, the combined population of BRICS countries account for nearly 50% of the world's population. There are ample opportunities for BRICS to rapidly morph into the most powerful global body, more powerful than the sectarian G7 and the crumbling UN system that continues to be undermined by US-led Western unilateralism. There are a number of strategically aligned Global South entities that, working together, can achieve a lot more, and faster. For example, at this week's Eurasian Economic Forum held in the capital of Belarus, Minsk, President Putin made some telling remarks when he revealed that 'BRICS is working on a digital investment platform'. Putin explained that such an initiative could also be rolled out across the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Putin elaborated: 'We are developing this platform within BRICS, and these ideas could be implemented in the EAEU too.' The pursuit and formation of networks within and across the Majority World, nurturing of cooperative initiatives and unity of purpose are some of the major principles upon which BRICS can serve as a catalyst to the reformation of the Majority World into a true pole of power in international affairs.
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
Minister Ndabeni outlines steps to support small businesses and co-operatives
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni is confident that the legislative and policy interventions will make the support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises more coherent. Image: Kopano Tlape / GCIS Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni on Friday said her department was steadily moving towards closing policy gaps in order to remove constraints in a move to enable Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and co-operatives to thrive. 'We move from the premise that the small enterprise support ecosystem has legislative and policy gaps. To this end, we are steadily closing those gaps to ensure that constraints are removed, and a more enabling environment is created for MSMEs and co-operatives to thrive,' Ndabeni said. Speaking during the budget vote in the National Assembly, she said the amendment of the National Small Enterprise Act has led to the establishment of the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the Office of the Small Enterprise Ombud. Ndabeni also said the MSME and Co-operatives Funding Policy was approved by the Cabinet last year. 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 ✕ 'We are now working on partnerships to establish an alternative MSME credit rating system as well as a movable asset registry to address the lack of collateral among MSME borrowers. 'The current risk assessment models used by financiers (audited financial statements, credit history, collaterals) are not suitable for MSMEs, as they are mainly designed for big businesses. With an alternative credit data model, we can ensure that financiers are able to use alternative data like bill payments, e-commerce activity, mobile money transactions, and others to foster financial inclusion for the majority of MSMEs.' Ndabeni further said they were working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Commerce on the Transformation Fund. 'This will be a game-changer for MSME funding. We must enhance MSMEs' readiness to secure funding, particularly in poorer provinces, townships, and rural areas.' Ndabeni stated that they have recently approved the National Business Licensing Policy and were now amending the Business Licensing Bill to simplify business licensing and introduce preferential licensing for targeted empowerment and promotion of previously disadvantaged groups in economic activity for specific sectors. She added that the department was finalising the National Entrepreneurship Strategy, which focused on the individual entrepreneur and their needs at different stages of development. Another policy initiative was the Township and Rural Economic Development and Revitalization Policy, which will go to Cabinet this year. 'This policy will enable a more consolidated approach by the government when it comes to supporting township and rural MSMEs and co-operatives. The policy calls for the creation of vibrant township and rural small business hubs, which will require a more coordinated approach by the three spheres of government around zoning, business licensing, infrastructure provisioning, and investment.' Ndabeni was confident that the legislative and policy interventions would make the ecosystem more coherent and ensure that more MSMEs were better served, especially those owned by women, youth, people with disabilities, as well as enterprises from townships and rural areas. According to Ndabeni, the department was also instituting a new service delivery model. 'We are developing a robust monitoring and reporting framework for all ecosystem players, which we will present to the Cabinet this year. We are also establishing internal research capacity and undertaking sector-specific value chain studies to inform targeted interventions in productive sectors of the economy.' She also said they have created a research think-tank to support evidence-based policy and formal partnerships with deans of commerce from higher education institutions. 'We are also finalising the appointment of a new Small Business Advisory Body.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
South Africa takes action against foot and mouth disease with Botswana's vaccine support
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni addressing the post-Cabinet media held at Imbizo Media Centre in Cape Town. Image: GCIS Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has confirmed that South Africa is actively addressing the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) affecting four provinces. On Thursday, Ntshavheni indicated that the Cabinet also welcomed the arrival of much-needed vaccines, sourced from Botswana, which she said would help combat the FMD outbreak, which has spread to four provinces, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the North West. 'The vaccines are being distributed and administered free of charge to the affected areas, especially in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and those farms in other provinces where the disease has been identified. A second batch of vaccines is on order with the Botswana Vaccine Institute,' she said. Ntshavheni, who was speaking during a media briefing on the outcomes of a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, also stated that the Cabinet is 'deeply concerned about the escalation of hostilities between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, along with airstrikes by the United States of America. 'The ongoing attacks by both countries have led to loss of life, casualties, and destruction to property. Cabinet calls for an urgent de-escalation of hostilities, restraint, and full compliance with international law by all parties to prevent further human suffering. 'Cabinet further calls on the USA, Israel, and Iran to create room for constructive dialogue and give the United Nations the opportunity to lead the peaceful resolution of the dispute, including the inspection and verification of Iran's status on uranium enrichment, as well as its broader nuclear capacity. 'As a continent, we in Africa are still suffering the consequences of the balkanisation of Libya 14 years later, with the escalation of terrorism across the continent,' she said. Following the recent travel by President Cyril Ramaphosa to Canada for the G7 Summit, the minister said Ramaphosa had used the recent trip to mobilise support for the country ahead of the G20 Summit later this year, where he participated in the G7 Summit Outreach Session. 'President Ramaphosa used the opportunity of the G7 to urge for greater cooperation between the G7 and the G20, and mobilise support for reforms in the international institutions of global governance, such as the UN Security Council and the global financial system. 'The president's participation in the G7 clearly points out that South Africa does not hold an anti-West policy position, but we are ready to work with everyone to pursue South Africa's national interests and to advance the African agenda,' said Ntshavheni. She also welcomed the recent return of SA troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying the Cabinet has been updated on the process that has led to the return of the more than 1,700 troops who have been returning in small groups. 'About 1,718 SANDF troops have now arrived in the country, and more are expected to arrive over the next few weeks. Cabinet was updated on the phased arrival of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the SADC decision to terminate the SAMIDRC intervention,' she said.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Ramaphosa slams infrastructure budget underspending as 'treason' against South Africans
President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the impact of inadequate spending by provinces and municipalities. Image: Jairus Mmutle/ GCIS The failure by provinces and municipalities to spend infrastructure budgets has been described by President Cyril Ramaphosa as treason against South Africans. "The issue of underspending is quite an important issue, particularly when it comes to spending on infrastructure allocations such as housing, education, water, and roads. "I actually often characterise it as treason against the people of South Africa when monies that had been allocated are not spent and are returned to the National Treasury," Ramaphosa said. He was responding during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces in Cape Town, on Wednesday. ANC MP Kenny Mmoiemaang had enquired about whether the government has assessed the impact of inadequate spending by provinces and municipalities on their commitments to deliver quality and essential services to communities, particularly crucial infrastructure such as housing, schools, and roads. Mmoiemang also wanted to know whether the government has been engaging provinces and municipalities that continue to underspend and fail to adequately utilise their allocated service delivery budgets. In his response, Ramaphosa said inadequate or slow capital expenditure has, in many ways, hampered the delivery of services that are due to the people. "This results in delays in housing delivery, stalled infrastructure projects such as schools, water, as well as sanitation and waste management infrastructure projects." He blamed the inability of municipalities to spend their capital projects on poor management, poor planning, weak implementation capacity, and inadequate financial and supply chain management. Ramaphosa said there were interventions in place, such as the budget monitoring forums coordinated by the National Treasury to track in-year spending and detect low expenditure patterns at an early stage, and support programmes by the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Ministry. There were also capacity-building programmes that were organised by the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency, and the Cabinet has appointed an inter-ministerial committee to support distressed municipalities. Ramaphosa added that Operation Vulindlela is implementing reforms to strengthen local government, and dedicated groups have been established in eThekwini and the City of Johannesburg to address challenges with water and electricity infrastructure. "This innovative initiative is going to see great changes being introduced. These measures will help address the root causes of underspending and ensure infrastructure is maintained and expanded to improve service delivery."
