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TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Orange Farm library doors remain closed a year after handover
The handing over of a library to Orange Farm residents five days before elections last year was a political stunt by the Gauteng government aimed at swaying their votes because the multimillion rand facility is still not open to the public more than a year later. This is the view of the DA in Gauteng and some Orange Farm residents who have cried foul over the suspiciously timed handover of the R13.7m 'state-of-the-art' library just days before the general elections in May last year. 'If you look at the timing of the opening, it looks like it was political. They wanted us to vote for them [ANC]; it was a campaign of some sort. You never know,' said a resident who asked to remain anonymous. Despite the fanfare during the handover, the library in Drieziek remains quiet, its doors locked with dust piling on the windows. Outside, the grounds are showing signs of neglect, with the newly planted grass beginning to wither under the sun. The facility, which took nearly a decade to complete, was ceremoniously handed over by then Gauteng sport, arts, culture and recreation MEC Morakane Mosupyoe, five days before the polls. But according to the department, the City of Johannesburg was not ready to take over or operate the facility. The answer to a question by the DA's Kingsol Chabalala in the legislature last week shows more than R3m was also paid to 10 security companies to guard the facility during construction.
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Chinese Consul General Pan Qingjiang donates R250,000 equipment to support Soweto school
Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe, with Consul General of China in Johannesburg, Pan Qingjiang, and Caroline Monageng, principal of Progress Comprehensive High School during the handover of the R250,000 equipment. Image: Supplied The Consulate General of China, working in conjunction with the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, has donated educational support equipment and school furniture to Progress Comprehensive High School, in Pimville, Soweto. Since his arrival in South Africa in 2024, Consul General of China in Johannesburg, Pan Qingjiang has prioritised education among South African learners in Gauteng and Free State - provinces serviced by his diplomatic mission. At the handover of the R250,000 donation, which was also attended by Gauteng Speaker Morakane Mosupyoe, the Chinese diplomat said the school furniture initiative is another manifestation of the many collaborative projects. 'I am greatly honoured to be here at the furniture handover event alongside the esteemed Speaker, Ms Morakane Mosupyoe. The consulate has maintained close collaboration with the Speaker in many areas to promote friendship between China and South Africa,' said Pan. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. 'One of our commitments is to support education and young learners. Today's furniture donation is another manifestation of our many collaborative projects. 'It is really a great pleasure today that I stand before you, on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg, announcing our support for Progress Comprehensive High School with 200 desks and 550 chairs,' he told the gathering. 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 ✕ Consul General of China in Johannesburg, Pan Qingjiang, and Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe, interacted with officials and community members at the donation at Progress Comprehensive High School in Soweto. Image: Supplied He added that the donation programme is a token of support for education in the Soweto community from the Chinese Consulate which reflects the People's Republic of China and South Africa's 'consistent and strong common commitment and dedication' to the unparalleled bilateral ties. 'China and South Africa enjoy traditional friendship featuring comradery plus brotherhood. Under the guidance of our two presidents, China-South Africa relationship has been elevated to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. We are gratified to note that between the two countries the political mutual trust has deepened, practical cooperation has flourished, cultural exchanges have broadened,' said Pan, a seasoned diplomat who has served in different Chinese missions. 'This makes the China-South Africa relationship a model for China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation. 'As the Consul General of China in Johannesburg, I'm so proud and encouraged that sub-national friendship and cooperation between China and Gauteng and the Free State, which are the consulate's consular districts, has yielded new results in various fields. Amity between people holds the key to the relationship between countries.' Pan added that his consulate will spare no efforts to further engage with people across Gauteng and the Free State, from all sectors. The Chinese diplomat also saluted the Gauteng provincial authorities represented by Mosupyoe for the 'continuous and valuable support'. The Chinese Consul General has saluted the Gauteng provincial authorities, represented by Speaker Morakane Mosupyoe for the 'continuous and valuable support'. Image: Supplied 'Both China and South Africa attach great importance to education. Nelson Mandela once said, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world'. We firmly believe education makes a difference to individuals, to the communities and to the nations,' said Pan. He highlighted that the Consulate General of China in Joburg has undertaken the annual 'Driving Education Culture' competition and has carried out a series of activities in collaboration with local governments, universities and schools, communities and other partners with the aim of fostering a caring and enabling environment for education from the whole society. 'To celebrate Youth Month (June), we will be hosting a short video competition to select China-South Africa learner correspondents. All students of Progress Comprehensive High School are warmly invited to participate,' he said. The Chinese Consulate in Johannesburg has revealed the 2025 Driving Education Culture competition for learners in Gauteng and Free State. Image: Supplied Touching on international affairs, Pan said the world today is far from being tranquil. 'Humanity is faced with so many common challenges in their endeavor of both peace and development. We are living in a global village and are one community with a shared future. We need to join hand in hand to move forward. The world needs cooperation instead of confrontation,' he said. 'China opens its arms to the world, opens its arms to you. I encourage you to know more and better about China, and China-South Africa relationship, and become envoys in the future of carrying on China-SA friendship. The Consulate will continue to spare no efforts to engage with you all for a closer bond of our two countries and people.' The donation event on Monday was also attended by chairperson of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature's committee on the scrutiny of subordinate legislation, Matshidiso Mfikoe; chairperson of the School Governing Body (SGB), Samson Marshall; principal of Progress Comprehensive High School, Caroline Monageng; officials from the Consulate General of China in Johannesburg. Matshidiso Mfikoe, chairperson of Gauteng Provincial Legislature's committee on the scrutiny of subordinate legislation, interacting with some learners during the donation ceremony. Image: Supplied Several members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, educators, learners, and parents also attended the event. On the other hand, Speaker Mosupyoe told the gathering that the school equipment donated by the Chinese will make a difference in the community. 'We gather here not only to mark the handover of much-needed educational resources, but also to celebrate the spirit of partnership and solidarity that rise above borders,' she said. 'Allow me to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation to the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Johannesburg, and your esteemed office, for this generous donation of R250,000 worth of educational support equipment and furniture. 'This act of goodwill is not just a gift to the learners of Progress Comprehensive High School, it is an investment in South Africa's future,' said Mosupyoe. Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe, speaking at the donation ceremony in Soweto. Image: Supplied She added that the collaboration comes at a critical time when schools in townships, particularly in communities like Pimville, Soweto, face mounting challenges, from under-resourced classrooms to infrastructural backlogs. 'In stepping forward, the Chinese Consulate has shown what true partnership looks like, responsive, practical, and people centred. As the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, we are committed to ensuring that every child has access to a quality, dignified learning environment, no matter where they are born or raised,' said Mosupyoe. IOL News
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
DA takes legal action against Gauteng Legislature speaker over blocked motion on Health MEC
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko faces growing scrutiny as the DA takes legal action, accusing her of failing to address Gauteng's cancer treatment crisis, causing unnecessary delays and preventable deaths among patients. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has filed court papers against the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Morakane Mosupyoe, accusing her of acting unconstitutionally by blocking a motion aimed at censuring the MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. The motion, brought forward by DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom, sought to hold the MEC accountable for her alleged role in the ongoing denial of timely cancer treatment to patients in the province,a crisis the DA says is leading to preventable suffering and death. As previously reported by The Star, at the centre of the dispute is the Gauteng Department of Health's (GDoH) handling of cancer treatment services. Civil society organisations—Section27, the Cancer Alliance, and the Treatment Action Campaign have taken the department to court, accusing it of failing to spend more than R784 million allocated to address the province's cancer treatment backlog. The DA further claims that a separate R250 million budget from the previous year also went unspent. The GDoH has denied these allegations, stating that it continues to engage with a range of interest groups. It insists, however, on adhering to policy-led governance and upholding the principle of separation of powers. The DA contends that the MEC's failure to effectively collaborate with advocacy organisations has deepened the crisis, leading to prolonged delays in life-saving radiation therapy and avoidable deaths allegedly surpassing those of the Life Esidimeni tragedy. The DA argues that Speaker Mosupyoe dismissed the motion on flimsy procedural grounds, thereby blocking debate on a critical public health issue. The party maintains that this undermines democratic oversight and silences legitimate opposition within the legislature. 'This is a scandalous situation,' said Mike Moriarty, DA Gauteng caucus chief whip. 'The fact that the ANC contrives to block normal democratic processes is appalling. But the DA will not roll over. We will go to court to stand for the rights of cancer patients and other Gauteng residents, whose livelihood is harmed by a dysfunctional and corrupt government.' The DA further accuses Premier Panyaza Lesufi's administration of wasting taxpayer money by appealing a previous court ruling that compelled the provincial government to provide life-saving cancer treatment. According to the DA, these ongoing delays not only jeopardise patient lives but also divert critical resources away from service delivery. 'Today, we are defending cancer patients and exposing whether the MEC is worthy of office. ''Tomorrow, it might well involve corruption and maladministration. Whatever the case, our constitution provides for robust debate in a legislature like the GPL,' Moriarty said. The DA views the Speaker's decision as part of a broader trend by the ANC to suppress opposition motions in the Legislature. However, it believes this case is too serious to ignore and is now asking the court to declare the Speaker's ruling unconstitutional, unlawful, and invalid, and to have it set aside. 'So that this motion can serve, and that it becomes a precedent allowing similar motions to be tabled in the future ensuring that any government, including Lesufi's ANC government, is held to account in the glare of public scrutiny,' said Moriarty. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
