Latest news with #Powers
Daily Maverick
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
MPs recommend that ad hoc committee probes Mkhwanazi's allegations within 90 days
A joint committee meeting in Parliament has also recommended that the committee should identify any legislative or policy failures that may have contributed to the policing crisis. Parliament's police committee chair, Ian Cameron, says the formation of an ad hoc committee to probe KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's allegations of police corruption is a 'positive process'. Cameron was speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Tuesday, 22 July, about the policing scandal that has exposed rival factions in South Africa's law enforcement arena. Watch: Inside Mkhwanazi's claims: South Africa held hostage by criminal cartel A joint meeting of Parliament's police committee and its justice and constitutional development committee on Tuesday agreed to adopt their report recommending to the National Assembly that an ad hoc committee be formed to investigate Mkhwanazi's allegations. The decision followed a directive from National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza earlier this month asking the committees to come up with an appropriate approach to oversight concerning the allegations. The committees had considered options including conducting a full investigative inquiry under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act and exercising their conferring powers in terms of National Assembly Rule 169 — which dictates how committees can or must consult or meet with each other. Ultimately, it decided on the ad hoc committee because it is 'task-specific and time-bound'. 'The Committees are acutely aware of the need for the National Assembly to ensure an expeditious process. The Committees, therefore, recommend the establishment of an ad hoc Committee in accordance with National Assembly Rule 253,' stated the report. 'This is because the scope of an ad hoc committee is task-specific and time-bound, contrary to the general oversight function of portfolio committees, which, in contrast, is ongoing and often requires juggling competing priorities.' The recommendation of an ad hoc committee comes after Mkhwanazi held a press conference on 6 July and claimed that a drug cartel in Gauteng was controlling a high-level criminal syndicate that extended into the South African Police Service, the Police Ministry, Parliament, official prison structures, the judiciary and other law-enforcing authorities. He also alleged that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, along with several other figures, including the deputy national commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya (who has since been told to take special leave), had undermined investigations into political killings and organised crime. President Cyril Ramaphosa has since announced that a judicial commission of inquiry will probe Mkhwanazi's allegations, and placed Mchunu on leave with immediate effect. Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe is filling Mchunu's position until August, when Firoz Cachalia, the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council's chairperson and former Gauteng community safety MEC, will take over. Cameron said Ramaphosa's response to Mkhwanazi's allegations felt 'like burying one's head in the sand'. 'None of these inquiries or judicial commissions have really shown any form of result — apart from destroying tax coffers. [They haven't] shown any form of real justice,' said Cameron. Good result However, Cameron said he was 'confident' that the ad hoc committee in Parliament could 'have a good result'. 'It depends on how the Speaker also structures it — we don't have a direct say over that. Then that ad hoc committee would sit and determine their terms of reference, and obviously that is the critical part,' he said. 'We don't want to unnecessarily have duplication over anything that the commission is doing, but I think Parliament is already perfectly positioned to do the relevant interrogation of many of the allegations that have been made, and hopefully then we would be able to see quicker results and recommendations.' Cameron said the report was expected to be tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday, 23 July. The committees have recommended that the ad hoc committee process be concluded within 90 days from it being formed. 'We have recommended three months for the ad hoc committee process, and hopefully we'd be able to get through it in that time. I don't think it needs to take much longer for the scope of what we would look at,' said Cameron. While the terms of reference are expected to be decided only once the ad hoc committee has been formed, the committees, in their report to the National Assembly, have recommended that, in addition to Mkhwanazi's allegations, 'consideration is given to identifying any legislative and/or policy failures or gaps that may have contributed to this matter'. DM
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Broncos roster: OG Ben Powers (No. 74) returns as starter on offensive line
Broncos Wire's 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at seventh-year guard Ben Powers, No 74. Before the Broncos: Powers (6-4, 310 pounds) was originally selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round (123rd overall) of the 2019 NFL draft out of Oklahoma. In Power's rookie year, he only played in one game before becoming an entrenched starter in 2020. In his second season, Powers dressed for 16 games, starting seven of them. In 2021, Powers started 12 of 13 games played in, transitioning from right guard to left guard for the first time in his career. In 2022, Powers started all 17 games, including Baltimore's lone playoff game. Despite having won the full-time job with the Ravens, the team let Powers walk in free agency the following spring. Broncos tenure: Powers didn't wait long to sign with the Denver Broncos at the outset of 2023 free agency. With the Broncos, Powers immediately slotted into a starting role. In 2023, Powers started all 17 games, including 100 percent of offensive snaps in addition to time on special teams, playing 1,134 total snaps (per Pro Football Reference). In 2024, Powers again started all 17 games and Denver's singular playoff game, playing a total of 1,172 snaps during the year (PFR). Chances to make the 53-man roster: 100 percent. Powers and the rest of the Broncos' starting offensive linemen return for the second-straight year. Powers is solidly in command of his spot on the line, ready to protect sophomore quarterback Bo Nix and hopefully kickstart last year's underwhelming rushing attack in 2025. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Nkabane finds herself in hot water again after failing to attend important Parliament meeting
CAPE TOWN - Higher Education Minister, Nobuhle Nkabane, has found herself in hot water again, after failing to attend another crucial meeting in Parliament on Friday. Nkabane was set to give members another briefing on the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board selection process, which was abandoned after an outcry that many of the appointees were aligned to the African National Congress (ANC). The Higher Education committee rejected a last-minute apology from Nkabane, with calls for action to be taken against her for being in contempt of Parliament. The committee resolved at its meeting in June to invite all those involved in the SETA board selection process, including panellists and Nkabane, for a follow-up engagement. The meeting also follows letters by some panellists, who distanced themselves from the SETA board selection process. Minister Nkabane issued an 11th-hour apology because she's attending a gender-based violence (GBV) event at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in the Eastern Cape. Committee chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, rejected the apology. 'Upon receiving the apology from the Minister I responded to her and indicated that I'm not accepting her apology because it does not make sense why she won't be available for today.' ANC Member of Parliament (MP), Gaolatlhe Kgabo, said action must be taken against Nkabane under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act. 'Chapter four dealing with disciplinary actions against members who are in contempt of parliament. And my understanding and interpretation of that is that both the minister and director general are guilty of such.' The committee has resolved to summon Nkabane to a meeting next week, including two other panellists who also failed to attend.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
DA reveals Mchunu is now under criminal investigation
The DA laid criminal charges against Mchunu, for lying to Parliament. The DA says it has received confirmation from the South African Police Service (Saps) that former Minister Senzo Mchunu is now under investigation. Last week, the DA laid criminal charges against Mchunu for lying to Parliament about his proximity to Brown Mogotsi. Criminal complaint The DA criminal complaint asked the police to investigate fraud and the breach of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Act by Mchunu. DA Deputy Chief Whip Baxolile 'Bax' Nodada said a probe has been launched against Mchunu. 'A senior Lieutenant Colonel has been assigned as investigating officer in the criminal matter against Mchunu, marking the seriousness with which the Saps is treating the case of their former Minister'. This is a developing story ALSO READ: WATCH: Cachalia issues warning to criminals
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Foster Cat Kept Crying—Woman Realizes 'She Was Trying To Tell Me Something'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A cat's nonstop crying after being brought home to a foster home helped the woman realize there was a meaning behind the meows—save her kitty brother. When Vivian Powers went to foster a new kitten, she was pulled in by a cat's grouchy face. The feline, named Sissy, seemed fearful, and Powers hoped she could give her the attention she needed before getting adopted. She fosters animals who need one-on-one time to feel safe. "My husband has a one foster at a time rule, and so I chose the most-fearful kitten to work with," Powers told Newsweek via email. However, she said she quickly learned that Sissy wouldn't stop crying for 48 hours straight. The terrified cat hid, unable to unwind. The only time she noticed Sissy not crying was when she played a cat video. Sissy fell silent, poking her head out at the meows. "That's when I knew she was a cat's cat," Powers said. She took another trip to the animal shelter in Germany to bring home a friend for Sissy. Her brother, Toto, was still in the shelter where they had been brought in four months earlier. Powers learned he was diagnosed with feline infectious peritonitis [FIP], a serious and often-fatal virus caused by a mutation of the feline coronavirus. Heartbroken, Powers immediately stepped in to foster Toto. She couldn't stand the thought of him dying in the shelter. She said a local woman offered to donate the medication only if she committed to keeping Toto through the full treatment. Powers happily accepted. "Sissy was very happy to see Toto when I brought him home," Powers said. "She was hiding on top of the bathroom cabinet, so I held Toto and showed him to her." Her July 5 TikTok video, posted to the account @pawsitiveinfluenc, shared Sissy's immediate transformation after Powers brought home her brother. From being scared and hiding, to coming out of her shell, Sissy used her cries to help get her brother back. Powers wrote on the video, "She was trying to tell me something," which ultimately led to saving Toto's life. Screenshots from a July 5 TikTok video of Sissy the foster cat crying nonstop for 48 hours. Screenshots from a July 5 TikTok video of Sissy the foster cat crying nonstop for 48 hours. @pawsitiveinfluenc/TikTok However, because of Toto's sickness, Powers said these kittens had different foster experiences. Toto barely moved due to his low energy. His treatment was "long and intense," lasting a total of 84 days. "What was really funny is that the moment he saw my dog, he ran for him and completely ignored Sissy," she said. "It was a love triangle." Another cat in the house, thankfully, helped Sissy come out of her shell. She understood her brother needed time to heal, which allowed her to gain independence. She played by herself, and watched TV with Powers and her husband. Her grouchy face softened. Now, both Sissy and Toto are with their forever families, making Powers feel that her role as a foster parent had been "fulfilled." Her dog's therapist ended up adopting Toto after helping him when Powers reached out for advice to relieve some of his discomfort. The therapist fell in love with Toto. Unfortunately, the male cat relapsed and was diagnosed with neurological FIP. Powers said he is on day 37 of 84 in his second round of treatment. "It was never about them being bonded; it was about how [Sissy] saved his life," Powers said. "She absolutely gets credit for it because I would have never gone to the shelter if it wasn't for her crying nonstop." Viewer Reactions Touched by the power of sibling love, the TikTok video reached over 3.6 million views and more than 613,000 likes as of Monday. "Her facial features literally changed, thank you," wrote one person. Another added: "Sobbing. They needed each other." A third user commented: "You can tell she was MAD. So cute she wanted her brother to be with her."
