Latest news with #R19m
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- The Citizen
Community slam delays on broken Zone 7 road
The U-Road next to Zone 7 Stadium is still in bad shape, with no tar and sewage water flowing all over, despite promises to fix it in 2020. Ward 42 Councillor, Ayanda Ngubane of the DA told Sedibeng Ster that about R50m was spent on the project, but the road is still incomplete, and no sewer system was installed. He said building materials were left on site and later stolen. Back in 2020, then Gauteng Minister of Human Settlements, Human Planning, Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs Lebohang Maile said in the legislature that the road would be finished that year. The work of a contractor who was paid more than R19m out of a R33.8m tender was terminated when the job was 85% done. Since then, nothing has changed. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the residents decried the project. 'We're tired of unfinished projects. Where did the money go? Elections are coming, and soon politicians will be back begging for votes,' said one community member. Ngubane said U-Road was supposed to connect Zone 7 Ext 1 to Nguna Road and include a bridge, but that was never built. 'This road has become a crime hotspot, and many people have died here,' he said. He added that the road is now unusable for cars, overgrown with grass and full of sewage. 'The DA will send follow-up questions to the MEC for Roads and Transport to find out when this road will finally be completed.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
R50m later… U-Road is still unfinished
SEBOKENG. – The U-Road next to Zone 7 Stadium is still in bad shape, with no tar and sewage water flowing all over, despite promises to fix it in 2020. Ward 42 Councillor, Ayanda Ngubane of the DA told Sedibeng Ster that about R50m was spent on the project, but the road is still incomplete, and no sewer system was installed. He said building materials were left on site and later stolen. Back in 2020, then Gauteng Minister of Human Settlements, Human Planning, Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs Lebohang Maile said in the legislature that the road would be finished that year. The work of a contractor who was paid more than R19m out of a R33.8m tender was terminated when the job was 85% done. Since then, nothing has changed. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the residents decried the project. 'We're tired of unfinished projects. Where did the money go? Elections are coming, and soon politicians will be back begging for votes,' said one community member. Ngubane said U-Road was supposed to connect Zone 7 Ext 1 to Nguna Road and include a bridge, but that was never built. 'This road has become a crime hotspot, and many people have died here,' he said. He added that the road is now unusable for cars, overgrown with grass and full of sewage. 'The DA will send follow-up questions to the MEC for Roads and Transport to find out when this road will finally be completed.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
30-06-2025
- The Citizen
R19m in fake luxury goods seized in Bloemfontein crackdown
SAPS confiscated counterfeit goods worth over R19m and apprehended six foreign nationals in a series of targeted operations in Bloemfontein. The raids were spearheaded by the National Counterfeit Goods Unit, with assistance from the Public Order Policing team in Bloemfontein, officers from SARS Customs Division, brand protection representatives and private security personnel. Bloemfontein Courant reports that search and seizure warrants, issued under the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964, were executed at selected retail premises in Bloemfontein's city centre last week. 'Over the course of two days, more than 13 000 counterfeit items were confiscated that included clothing, shoes, bags and jewellery,' says police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk. '[The] majority of the seized items are imitations of high-end luxury brands.' Six foreign nationals were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002, with one suspect also facing an additional charge of resisting arrest. 'SAPS remains committed to disrupting and dismantling the illegal trade in counterfeit and illicit goods to protect consumers, safeguard legitimate businesses and support the South African economy,' adds Van Wyk. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Suspended Road Accident Fund boss tight-lipped over allegations of interference
Road Accident Fund CEO has been place on a special leave amid an ongoing investigation. Image: Sapa ALLEGATIONS of possible interference by executives and staff in an investigation into a controversial R79 million lease deal led to the suspension of Road Accident Fund's chief executive officer Collins Letsoalo, says the fund. Letsoalo, whose term expires in August, will still receive his salary and other benefits. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is currently investigating the RAF for alleged corruption and maladministration. Letsoalo has been implicated in several allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption, primarily centered around a controversial R79 million lease deal for the RAF's office in Johannesburg. The SIU preliminary report alleges that Letsoalo interfered with the procurement processes by overturning the bid committee's decision to favour property management company Mowana Properties, which ultimately secured the contract. The allegations were extended beyond the lease to include irregularities in other RAF contracts such as a R19m cleaning and security contract that was irregularly extended over six years, as well as R313m backlog project that was unlawfully awarded with inflated costs. Transport Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the decision against Letsoalo was taken by the RAF board during a meeting. Hlengwa announced the suspension during a Standing Committee on Public Accounts meeting on Wednesday, where the RAF was expected to give an update on the SIU investigation. Hlengwa said this was a precautionary measure and did not constitute disciplinary action. He said the board exercised its fiduciary duties in terms of the Road Accident Fund Act, 56 of 1996, the Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999, and in alignment with the principles of good governance as set out in King IV. Hlengwa added that the decisions did not imply any prejudgement or adverse finding against Letsoalo. 'The special leave arrangement will remain in place until the conclusion of the relevant investigations by the SIU, or such earlier date as the board may determine. The board will review the situation on a monthly basis and communicate the updates,' said Hlongwa. He said that during this period, Phathutshdzu Lukhwareni will serve as acting CEO to ensure operational continuity. Hlengwa added that, as the shareholder, the Department of Transport Ministry supports the decision that the RAF board has taken and believes it was in the collective interests of the investigation, particularly as it is in the final stages. Scopa is in possession of the SIU's preliminary report. He said the Transport Ministry has not been briefed by the SIU on matters related to the investigation. 'We do not have the opportunity to engage the SIU either and therefore we do not have the benefits of the committee's perspective on matters related to the investigation, " said Hlengwa. RAF board chairperson, Zanele Francois, said alleged interference by executives and staff was the reason the board believes Letsoalo must be placed on special leave. 'The board is taking this very seriously, which is why we believe Mr Letsoalo must be distanced from the process while it runs its course,' she said. 'We felt it was necessary to give him time off to address personal conflicts related to this process, to reflect on his role, and to ensure the organisation is not brought into disrepute. The board also needs to show its support for parliamentary oversight structures,' she said, adding that the board was in communication with the SIU and would meet the unit in June as part of the ongoing investigation. Cape Times
The Star
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo on special leave after 'interference by executives and staff' into multi-million Rand probes
Collins Letsoalo, the CEO of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), has been placed on special leave as a precautionary step to facilitate the ongoing investigation by the SIU into a controversial R79 million lease deal for the RAF's office in Johannesburg. Transport Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the decision was taken by the RAF board during a meeting on Tuesday. Hlengwa revealed the latest development during a Standing Committee on Public Accounts meeting on Thursday, where the RAF was expected to give an update on the investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). This follows allegations of possible interference by executives and staff in the investigation process. Letsoalo, whose term expires in August, will still receive his salary and other benefits. The SIU is currently investigating the RAF for alleged corruption and maladministration. Letsoalo has been implicated in several allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption, primarily centered around a controversial R79 million lease deal for the RAF's office in Johannesburg. The SIU preliminary report alleges that Letsoalo interfered with the procurement processes by overturning the bid committee's decision to favor property management company Mowana Properties, which ultimately secured the contract. The allegations were extended beyond the lease to include irregularities in other RAF contracts such as a R19m cleaning and security contract that was irregularly extended over six years, as well as R313m backlog project that was unlawfully awarded with inflated costs. Hlengwa said that the decision was taken solely in the interest of good governance. He said this was a precautionary measure and did not constitute disciplinary action. He said the board exercised its fiduciary duties in terms of the Road Accident Fund Act, 56 of 1996, the Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999, and in alignment with the principles of good governance as set out in King IV. Hlengwa added that the decisions did not imply any prejudgement or adverse finding against Letsoalo. 'The special leave arrangement will remain in place until the conclusion of the relevant investigations by the SIU, or such earlier date as the board may determine. The board will review the situation on a monthly basis and communicate the updates,' said Hlongwa. He said that during this period, Phathutshdzu Lukhwareni will serve as acting CEO to ensure operational continuity. Hlengwa added that, as the shareholder, the Department of Transport Ministry supports the decision that the RAF board has taken and believes it was in the collective interests of the investigation, particularly as it is in the final stages. Scopa is in possession of the SIU's preliminary report. He said the Transport Ministry has not been briefed by the SIU on matters related to the investigation. 'We do not have the opportunity to engage the SIU either and therefore we do not have the benefits of the committee's perspective on matters related to the investigation, said Hlengwa. However, he admitted that the department was aware of the investigation but remained clueless about the outcomes. He said the department also expects the RAF to cooperate with the investigation until it reaches its logical conclusion and then receive the recommendations and outcomes of that investigation. 'However, I do believe that the board would have applied its mind in the matters before it and before this committee and the matters before the SIU to arrive at the decisions that they have arrived at,' he said. Meanwhile, the RAF board chairperson, Zanele Francois, said there were serious allegations, including possible interference by executives and staff in the investigation. She said this is the reason the board believes Letsoalo must be placed on special leave. 'The board is taking this very seriously, which is why we believe Mr Letsoalo must be distanced from the process while it runs its course,' she said. 'We felt it was necessary to give him time off to address personal conflicts related to this process, to reflect on his role, and to ensure the organisation is not brought into disrepute. The board also needs to show its support for parliamentary oversight structures,' she said, adding that the board was in communication with the SIU and would meet the unit in June as part of the ongoing investigation. RAF spokesperson Linda Rulashe said the fund would issue a statement once an official response was available. Letsoalo was approached for comment but said he did not want to speak to the media. * This story has been updated to include comment from the RAF and Letsoalo. [email protected]
