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IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Tshwane's draft policy aims to manage informal settlements and generate revenue
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya says the city has a draft policy on informal settlement management aimed at curbing the growth of informal settlements. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The City of Tshwane's draft policy on informal settlement management, currently open for public input, aims to curb the growth of informal settlements and explore revenue-generating opportunities. One approach is to electrify these areas, potentially generating revenue and reducing the city's annual expenditure of R1.5 billion on service provision. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said the city wants to limit the number of informal settlements growing in the metro while doing something about the existing 502 ones. 'There used to be 220 informal settlements in the city but after Covid, that number grew up to 502.' 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 ✕ She said the city spent about R1.5bn to provide services to informal settlements, but suggested there ought to be 'a better way of doing this'. The draft policy follows an investigation by the Cities Support Programme team, which found that upgrading or relocating all existing informal settlements would require R32.5 bn, far exceeding the current budget and resources. The report reveals that the city's current approach to informal settlement upgrading follows a standard township establishment process, which is unsustainable given the significant funding required to upgrade or relocate all existing settlements. Moya said the city is exploring alternative approaches to service delivery, such as metering informal settlements and allowing residents to pay for electricity, and improving sanitation services beyond just water tankering. 'So, that is the work that we have now proposed to the council and it is now with the community,' she said. Her comments were in response to a query about the city's plans to resettle or upgrade informal settlements in Olievenhoutbosch, following a recent mass shooting involving rival gangs at a tavern in the Choba informal settlement that claimed six lives. She was, however, not in a position to provide details about the city's plans specifically for the Choba informal settlement. Regarding the mass shooting at Choba informal settlements, Moya said: 'We obviously condemn such incidents and we don't want to hear more of those. We have heard of the Enyobeni incident. We don't want those things to be normalised in our society.' She said the city will prioritise protecting its residents and ensuring compliance with regulations, including enforcing tavern closure times. She expressed concern that Olievenhoutbosch has been neglected for years, as visible in the area's condition, and noted that allowing chaos to persist often leads to undesirable outcomes, such as lawlessness. 'The years of neglect are catching up with us because that level of lawlessness was never supposed to happen in Olievenhoutbosch,' Moya said.
IOL News
4 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Tshwane's tree-planting initiative in Mamelodi celebrates G20 legacy
The Executive Mayor of Tshwane Nasiphi Moya planting symbolic legacy trees in commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day in Mamelodi East. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The City of Tshwane embarked on a tree-planting initiative in Mamelodi township on Monday as part of its commitment to the G20 legacy project. The effort aims to make residents feel included in the international event's activities and follows a commitment made during the June Shepherd meeting co-hosted by Tshwane and the City of Johannesburg. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said the tree-planting event coincided with the Nelson Mandela Day celebrations, which were officially observed on Friday. 'This is part of our G20 commitment. We hosted the Shepherd meeting earlier in June, and part of that was for legacy projects, which means we must do something even if it is in the name of G20, where the residents of Tshwane would feel that they were part of that milestone that we have achieved as the city in co-hosting the G20,' she 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 Next Stay Close ✕ A team of municipal officials from the horticultural department, community members, and leaders joined hands in a collaborative effort to plant trees. The initiative is part of the city's broader goal to green its townships and beautify its parks. Moya said the city aims to not only beautify its parks but also prioritise greening them, as these open spaces are utilised by the community. 'We just want to beautify our city. One of the things that we have seen is that townships are naked, but when you go to the suburbs, they are green and beautiful,' she said. She emphasised that the city needs to educate communities about the importance of greening spaces, as some residents cut down trees, citing obstruction of their homes. 'We need to teach them about the importance of greening our spaces, especially as we are fighting climate change,' she said. The city has set a target to plant 300,000 trees by December and has called on residents to come and collect trees from the municipality. 'That is the ideal target that we want to contribute to Gauteng because there are provincial and national targets,' Moya said, noting that on Monday, they planted 28 trees at Mandela Park in the township and at a local preschool. The tree-planting initiative also aimed to tackle hunger in collaboration with a non-profit organisation called Backyard Farmers. Moya said: 'Our people are hungry, and that is why we are collaborating with the Backyard Farmers to promote to our people that you don't need to wait for help while you have a piece of land.' Thabang Shongwe of Backyard Farmers welcomed the city's initiative to combat hunger, describing it as commendable. 'We are fully behind the mayor's climate action plan. This is part of our community greening programme where we go to communities and hand out trees,' he said. On Friday, Moya visited Ga-Rankuwa, where the city donated blankets to beneficiaries of the Ikageng Centre, specifically supporting visually impaired children. She said that aligning the tree-planting initiative with Mandela Day is crucial, as it reflects the legacy of a healthy nation they aim to leave behind and addresses climate change through nature-based solutions.
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How the SIU is battling funding challenges and whistle-blower protection
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) officials discuss challenges facing the SIU in fighting corruption and some of the unit's successes as highlighted in the recent research by the ISS. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is grappling with serious challenges that threaten its effectiveness in combating corruption. These challenges include ensuring the safety of its personnel and whistle-blowers, a financial squeeze due to an increasing caseload, an inadequate funding model, and an ineffectual debt collection process. The issues are highlighted in a new research by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), conducted in partnership with the SIU, examining the unit's successes and its challenges in combating crime. At a seminar hosted by the ISS in Pretoria on Wednesday, SIU head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, talked about the unit's funding woes, citing an unsustainable model due to state institutions owing over R1 billion. 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 ✕ Ad loading The SIU's funding consists of a 47% grant from Parliament and 53% from fees for services rendered. However, Mothibi noted that some state institutions are reluctant to settle the resulting invoices, often because senior officials are implicated in investigations. 'As we sit today, the debt from state institutions is well over R1 billion. It is really not acceptable.' He said that occasionally, the institution would arrange for ministers to intervene, resulting in some payments being made, but this approach 'is not sustainable'. He insisted, however, that the unit is currently financially sound. Mothibi emphasised the importance of whistle-blower protection, citing an incident during the Life Esidimeni investigation, where a witness received death threats and was subsequently protected under the National Prosecuting Authority's witness protection programme. He said from a whistle-blower protection standpoint, there is an opportunity for improvement, and the Department of Justice and Development is leading a project to enhance the legislation. He mentioned that the current legislation primarily focuses on employment-related protections, but they aim to broaden it to provide comprehensive whistle-blower protection, including witness protection. David Bruce, a researcher on policing and corruption, suggested a system is needed to prevent government officials implicated in wrongdoing from resigning and landing jobs in other institutions. 'To me, the important thing is that people who are implicated in corruption should not be permitted to continue working for the government,' he said. Colette Ashton, an anti-corruption lawyer, noted that corruption cases are often challenging to prosecute due to witnesses' reluctance to testify and alleged perpetrators using legal and financial secrecy, aided by professional enablers, to conceal evidence. David Lewis from the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Commission stated that the burden of proof in corruption cases can be a significant hurdle, rendering prosecution challenging. 'People weigh up the risk and the potential benefits of engaging in corruption, and eight times out of 10, they conclude that the risk is worth taking because the incidence of successful prosecution is low in every jurisdiction of the world, and that is just a fact we have to face up to,' he said. The ISS investigation into the SIU's work highlighted other key findings, including inadequate systems to enforce recommendations and unnecessary delays in the administrative processing of Presidential proclamations.
IOL News
14-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Winterveld residents urged to stop dumping waste in the Tolwane River
Department of Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo leads a river clean-up programme at the Tolwane River in Winterveld, as part of the month-long Clear Rivers Campaign by the department. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers Residents of Winterveld are being urged to stop dumping solid waste, including diapers, old blankets, plastics, and shrubs, into the Tolwane River, which runs through the township, to prevent water pollution. The call was made by Department of Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo during a clean-up campaign themed 'South Africa is a water-scarce country – clean up and protect our water resources' held on Monday. The initiative is part of the department's annual month-long Clear Rivers Campaign, held in July, which coincides with Mandela Month celebrations. The event was conducted in partnership with stakeholders and community members, raising awareness about the importance of protecting water resources for a sustainable future and environmental preservation. 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 ✕ Seitlholo highlighted that Gauteng's water is severely polluted, largely due to untreated or partially treated sewage flowing from water treatment facilities into rivers, tributaries, and ultimately dams. He said mining industries, particularly through acid mine drainage, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activities, are significant contributors to the pollution. 'It has become the responsibility of the Department of Water and Sanitation to come and communicate and place awareness on the crisis that we are facing and that is the pollution crisis,' he said. He mentioned that Gauteng's municipalities are responsible for discharging approximately 1.5 million litres of sewage daily into water resources, resulting in severe pollution. Seitlholo cited Vaal River, which is heavily infested with water hyacinth, as an example of water resources affected by pollution. 'We are finding a situation where the Vaalkop Dam in the North West, as well as the Boschkop Dam, have got 95% and 100% coverage of alien invasive species, water salvinia, and water hyacinth, respectively. These alien invasive species take up a lot of our water,' he said. He said the dire state of water resources is a major crisis in the country that is being overlooked. He noted that while people protest when water is not coming out of their taps, they rarely do so when sewage contaminates rivers and dams. 'Everybody is so fixated on the water from the taps, forgetting that there is the beginning of the value chain, and if we don't take care of the beginning of the value chain, then we are placing the security of the final product of the value chain at risk,' he said. Ward 19 Councillor Maqaleni Mazibuko expressed gratitude towards the department for identifying the area for the clean-up campaign. He said the event provides an opportunity for locals to understand the importance of water circulation and learn about the entire value chain that delivers water to their taps. He said many people will benefit most from the campaign because it highlighted the importance of taking care of water. Concern was raised about people consuming water directly from the river due to shortages, posing potential health risks. Mazibuko said: 'That thing is very problematic because at some point, our City of Tshwane fails to fix sewers in time, and some of the raw sewage is flowing directly into the river. I think from today, we are going to get a solution as to how we ensure that our water remains purified.'
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, John Steenhuisen in China for week-long visit
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is on a week-long working visit in the People's Republic of China. Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Media Deputy President Paul Mashatile is on a strategic Working Visit to the People's Republic of China, to participate in the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), as one of the key engagements. The tour of China started on Monday and is scheduled to continue until Friday. In its third year, CISCE is the world's first national-level expo dedicated to global supply chains. It is hosted under the auspices of the Chinese Central Government and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). 'This high-level participation by the deputy president and the South African delegation is a pivotal opportunity to advance the South Africa–China All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the New Era. It also reinforces South Africa's position as a gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa for trade, investment, and industrial cooperation,' said Mashatile's spokesperson, Keith Khoza. On this occasion, South Africa has been accorded guest country status, under the theme: 'South Africa: Your pathway to supply chain resilience'. 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 visit will mainly focus on: Promoting strategic sectors such as renewable energy, logistics, pharmaceuticals, mineral beneficiation, and the digital economy; Showcasing a robust pipeline of investable projects to attract targeted Chinese investment, particularly into Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and critical infrastructure; Enhancing bilateral collaboration on clean technologies, digital skills development, and industrial standards; and Advancing South Africa's objectives for supply chain resilience, accelerated industrialisation, and deeper integration within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework Khoza said in addition, the visit will include a dedicated bilateral programme aligned with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and the Ten-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2020–2029) between South Africa and China, with a particular emphasis on chapter two on mutual beneficial economic cooperation and trade. The visit is also part of the evolving strategic trajectory of the South Africa–China relationship and reaffirms both countries' commitment to deepening mutual cooperation in support of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. 'Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka; the Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams; Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia de Lille; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau; Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina, and Minister of Agriculture, Mr John Steenhuisen. For more than a decade, China has been South Africa's largest trading partner. This position has been held by China since 2008, when it surpassed the United States. China is also South Africa's largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade between the two countries accounting for a significant portion of China's total trade with the continent. IOL News
