Latest news with #Msweli
TimesLIVE
11-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Family raised alarm on light aircraft crash which claimed three students
A light aircraft crash claimed the lives of three students after it departed Virginia Airport in Durban on Sunday afternoon. The aircraft was last tracked flying over Ladysmith before losing contact, which prompted a large-scale search and rescue operation. KwaZulu-Natal transport and human settlements MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC) notified authorities that the student-piloted aircraft had gone missing shortly after 3pm. The aircraft was en route to Johannesburg and scheduled to refuel in Greytown after a change in flight plan from the original stop in Mnambithi. KwaZulu-Natal traffic anchor Ayanda Msweli said the alarm was first raised early on Monday morning by the family of student pilot Nqobile Biyela. 'The student pilot's mom, who was in Johannesburg, and another relative in Empangeni, contacted us at about 7am to report the aircraft missing. The student's aunt clarified that the mother would follow up as they were urgently seeking help to locate the [aircraft].' According to Duma, his department, in collaboration with the ARCC, mobilised to assist in the search, taking into account severe weather conditions as forecast by the SA Weather Service. The department also worked closely with the head of department Siboniso Mbhele, co-ordinating efforts with local transport forums in Umgungundlovu and Uthukela districts and activated community leaders to assist. The wreckage of the aircraft was discovered on Monday morning in the Midlands, confirming the deaths of the three occupants — student pilots Biyela, 23, and Lulama 'Lwazi' Msane, 23, and medical student Siphesihle Buthelezi, 20. Duma expressed his condolences, adding the crash happened in Youth Month. 'Our hearts go out to the families and friends of these promising young individuals. This is a tragic moment for all of us.' According to Msweli, the aircraft was one of a group of three flying from Durban to Johannesburg. 'Three aircraft left Durban for Johannesburg. The plan was to refuel in Mnambithi, but it was changed to Greytown.' The first aircraft encountered difficulty during its approach and crash-landed in a nearby field near Greytown Airport. 'That plane wasn't able to land properly and crashed in bushy terrain,' said Msweli. 'The two pilots on board were not injured.' The second aircraft landed safely, refuelled and continued its journey. The third plane, flown by Biyela, never made it to its destination. 'It crashed into a field filled with gumtrees. There were three people on board,' said Msweli. Duma said the crash is being investigated by SAPS and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and a report is expected from the SACAA accident and incident investigation division within 30 days. 'The report will serve as a source of comfort for the families. We are aware that postmortem examinations will be essential in identifying the causes, injuries and survival factors of this crash.' Eagle Air, the aviation school at which the students were training, said the loss was a blow for the aviation industry. 'As a close-knit aviation family, we feel this loss profoundly. This is a painful moment for all of us — one that hits close to home. We are heartbroken by this devastating loss and extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed.' In honour of the victims Eagle Air announced the temporary suspension of its flight operations. 'We will close our flight school for the coming week to provide space for mourning and reflection. This time will be dedicated to supporting the families, our staff, our students and the broader community who are grieving.'
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Pick n Pay Kingsburgh employee dies at till: Store remains open for hours
PICK n Pay Kingsburgh staff and shoppers were left traumatised after one of the supermarket's employees collapsed and died at the till on May 5. Also watch: Women carry dead body into Old Mutual after 'failure' to pay out funeral claim [Video] According to witnesses, the incident happened around 14:30 but the corpse lay on the shop's floor while operations carried on as usual in the store until it was removed at 17:30. An employee who spoke on condition of anonymity said she was left deeply disturbed after they had to work with a dead body in the store. The employee also confirmed that the deceased was a foreign national. Ayanda Msweli, a broadcaster who works closely with the provincial government, arrived at the scene around 16:30 before the body was processed and removed. He decried the fact that the store did not close to protect the staff from the trauma of seeing their dead colleague. 'They had to continue working as though nothing had happened, regardless of the trauma they had suffered from losing their colleague so abruptly. From around 14:30 until 17:30, Pick n Pay continued business as usual with no regard for the mental health of its workers, not to mention the rights of customers whose religious beliefs do not permit them to be in the same vicinity as that of a corpse,' said Msweli in the statement. Questions regarding the incident were sent to Pick n Pay, but a response had not been received at the time of publishing. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Rethinking the built environment: How strategic facilities management is reshaping South Africa's future?
In South Africa, the annual sequence of public holidays – including Good Friday (April 18), Family Day (April 21), Freedom Day (April 28), and Workers' Day (May 1) – often leads to extended periods of reduced occupancy in facilities across various sectors. These quieter times, while offering employees much-needed rest, present unique challenges for facilities management. With fewer people on-site, potential issues such as equipment malfunctions or security breaches may go unnoticed, emphasising the critical need for automated and proactive facilities management systems. 'Extended periods of low occupancy can unmask underlying issues within a facility,' notes Mandla Msweli, Chief Operating Officer at Broll Integrated Facilities Management (Broll IFM). 'With fewer people around, dormant or hidden faults are often revealed. Implementing smart technologies and automated monitoring ensures that we maintain optimal operations, even when buildings are less populated.' This scenario underscores a broader trend in South Africa's built environment: the shift towards intelligent, integrated facilities management solutions that not only respond to immediate challenges but also anticipate and mitigate potential risks. Regulation as a Catalyst for Outsourcing The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) No. 85 of 1993, along with the South African National Standards (SANS 1752:2017), set clear mandates for safe, healthy, and functional workplaces. These laws require organisations to maintain systems and assets that ensure the safety and well-being of all occupants. Failing to do so can result in severe financial and legal consequences. Moreover, government-driven initiatives such as the Public Works Facilities Maintenance Policy (2019/2020) stress the importance of condition monitoring, asset performance, and proactive maintenance. These policies have propelled public entities – and increasingly, private businesses – to seek out experienced IFM providers who can guarantee compliance through systematised, forward-thinking operations. 'Facilities managers today are not just caretakers – they're compliance officers, sustainability drivers, and operational strategists,' notes Msweli. 'That's why our clients turn to us – to simplify the complex.' Smart Technology Meets Strategic Oversight A recent independent survey revealed that 59% of businesses have successfully reduced operational expenses and gained a competitive edge through outsourcing facilities management. This shift toward external service partners is also fuelled by the rise of intelligent, tech-enabled management systems. Broll IFM's Integrator Delivery System offers a connected ecosystem of services. From predictive maintenance to IoT-based monitoring and energy management, this platform enables seamless integration with client systems, consolidating multiple services under one streamlined contract. 'By entrusting non-core activities to experts, companies can streamline operations and allocate resources more effectively,' adds Msweli. The result? Lower operating costs, improved asset life cycles, enhanced user experience, and better compliance tracking. From Reactive to Proactive: Culture Change in Facilities In markets like South Africa, infrastructure development often outpaces facilities maintenance. Broll IFM is actively changing that narrative by embedding teams into client cultures – adapting to the unique demands of each site while shifting operations from reactive firefighting to proactive planning. 'Our track record shows that we move facilities from 80% reactive maintenance to 80% planned, proactive care,' says Msweli. 'This doesn't just prevent breakdowns – it builds resilience.' This philosophy reflects Broll IFM's belief that while technology enhances efficiency, it's the human touch that drives meaningful change. Their diverse client portfolio, ranging from State-owned facilities and private multinationals to industrial zones and educational campuses – demonstrates their adaptability and industry-specific focus. Driving Excellence in a Complex Environment Facilities management in South Africa isn't just about keeping the lights on. It's about navigating an increasingly complex ecosystem of infrastructure, compliance, sustainability, and technology. By blending people, processes, and platforms, companies like Broll IFM are not only reshaping facilities – but redefining the future of the built environment. 'We've positioned ourselves as a leader in capability and expertise in emerging markets,' says Msweli. 'Because delivering safe, sustainable, and smart facilities isn't optional anymore – it's essential.'
Daily Maverick
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Gqeberha court stops ‘mind-boggling' reinstatement of municipal manager guilty of financial misconduct
The Gqeberha Labour Appeal Court has ruled that it is illegal for an arbitrator to order that a municipal manager, found guilty of financial misconduct, be reinstated in local government. A judge from the Labour Court in Gqeberha has stopped an award, made by an arbitrator in the Local Government Bargaining Council, saying it would be illegal to reinstate a municipal manager who was found guilty of financial misconduct. Judge Peter Kroon made the ruling in the case of the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality – based in Cradock but responsible for the towns of Cradock and Middelburg – against its former municipal manager Xolela Msweli. 'Public confidence in government institutions depends on the officials who are duty-bound to serve the people, doing so diligently and with integrity. Public servants are the stewards of the trust of the populace. Accountability, whether disciplinary, civil or criminal, is one of the measures embraced by the Constitution… to combat the culture of impunity which haunts our administration,' Kroon said. He added that the Municipal Systems Act provides that a person, found guilty of financial misconduct, be barred from employment in local government for 10 years. 'The mischief which the Legislature sought to eradicate in the above section was the hasty welcoming back of municipal employees (who had been dismissed for financial misconduct) into the fold of Local Government. One might say that it was the intention of the Legislature that employees who are dismissed from a municipality for financial misconduct should take at least 10 years, as it were, to rehabilitate themselves before they can be re-employed by a municipality,' Kroon added. 'In this matter, the Arbitrator did in fact confirm that Mr Msweli was guilty of financial misconduct, yet he ruled that he could return to the municipality notwithstanding the fact that less than a year had passed since his dismissal,' Kroon said, explaining why he had overturned the award made by the arbitrator. 'On the face of it, it is arguable that the award is in direct conflict with a statutory prohibition,' he added. 'Accountability is an antidote to the bovine apathy which casts a shadow over our state organisations. Without accountability we see, in real time, the whittling away of the cornerstones of democracy and the inexorable descent into a regime where maladministration is normalised. 'When public servants who are guilty of malfeasance are led to feel safe in the knowledge that their misconduct will have no real consequences, the negative outworkings are pervasive. Service delivery is compromised. Those who suffer are the vulnerable and the powerless. The damage done by sustained unaccountability runs deep. It may take generations to undo. Often, many years after the fact, wasteful and expensive litigation must be embarked upon to right the wrongs which mismanagement and abuse of power have left in their wake,' he added. Msweli was dismissed by the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality in April 2021. But in September that year he was reinstated by an arbitrator at the bargaining council who ruled that his dismissal was substantively unfair. The arbitrator determined that, although Msweli was guilty of financial misconduct, the sanction of dismissal was nevertheless too harsh and he should be reinstated, but with no back-pay. The municipality, however, decided to take this ruling on review to the Labour Court. Kroon said the ruling that Msweli be reinstated could not stand. 'The overarching section 195 of the Constitution provides that administration within government must be accountable, that a high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and there must be an efficient, economic and effective use of resources,' he said, adding that these provisions are designed 'to ensure that municipalities fulfil their constitutional duty to deliver services to the communities they serve in a sustainable manner'. 'Municipalities have shown themselves to be vulnerable targets when it comes to corruption, nepotism, cronyism and even institutional capture. It is thus imperative that procurement should be free from any appearance of improper interference or influence,' Kroon added. 'National Treasury has, through its circulars, stressed that audit findings have revealed that municipalities have been guilty of unsound financial management, including the circumvention of official competitive bidding processes. It has frequently stated that the relevant provincial treasuries are available to assist municipalities should guidance be required.' He said it was not disputed that Msweli had appointed a service provider on a contract worth millions of rands without following any supply chain management procedures. Msweli argued that he was allowed to procure services under emergency provisions because they were pressed for time and faced losing potential funding. Msweli said he had reported the emergency deviation to the mayor and the mayor should have told the town council. The arbitrator found that supply chain management regulations were not followed in the appointment of the service provider and that Msweli did not take 'one step' to report what he had done. 'However, in my view, more could and should have been said about the gravity of the misconduct, having particular regard to the context within which it was committed as well as the disingenuous manner in which Mr Msweli mounted his defence and gave his evidence,' Kroon said. The judge said the nature of the agreement with the service provider was patently unlawful. In essence the municipality agreed that the company would draw up a business plan for them for free and then would get to do the work as the municipality receives the funding. 'This arrangement has the characteristics of what in legal parlance is called touting. To put it crudely, the arrangement was that the Service Provider, motivated by the promise of a large amount of open-ended work being given to it in the future, would compile a business plan free of charge. In my view, this type of quid pro quo arrangement in terms of which a service provider effectively 'buys' further work by performing other work for free [violates the Constitution],' Kroon added. 'This is for the obvious reason that, at the end of the day, the Service Provider will, in terms of the agreement, be given work worth potentially millions of rands to the exclusion of its competitors and without having to participate in a procurement process. Such a state of affairs would not only be unfair and untransparent, but it would provide fertile ground for abuse by the Service Provider and it would all but be a certainty that the Municipality would not receive the best value for money.' Kroon added that Msweli could not rely on the fact that the municipality's chief financial officer had stopped payment to this company. 'Msweli sought to make capital out of the circumstance that the Municipality did not suffer any financial losses and appeared to contend that he should, for that reason alone, effectively be immune from criticism or culpability. I find this argument to be contrived, cynical and self-serving. It is akin to contending that someone who drives home intoxicated is not culpable if he does not have an accident or that a security guard who falls asleep on duty is not culpable if, by good fortune, the premises, which he was supposed to be guarding, are not burgled,' Kroon said. 'Nothing further needs to be said about this argument, save to state that the absence of logic in it is surpassed only by its lack of substance.' He continued that it was also significant to him that when the CFO stopped the payment there was 'not so much as a semblance of an objection by Mr Msweli'. 'He did not, by way of illustration, confront the CFO and inquire from him as to how he, as a junior employee reporting to him, could effectively overrule him. He also did not attempt to justify his conduct… In short, he acted as one would expect an official to act who has been caught red- handed engaging a service provider without having followed any [supply chain management] procedures,' Kroon continued. 'He can consider himself fortunate that he has not been criminally charged. Either way, it is mind-boggling to think that an Appeal Court [in another case] can find that the type of conduct in question is deserving of a two- year custodial sentence, yet an arbitrator can take the view that the conduct was not sufficiently serious to warrant dismissal.' DM
