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The Citizen
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Corruption claims lives and sparks protest in Ekurhuleni
The suspected assassination of a corruption buster has reignited protests and public outrage in Ekurhuleni. City of Ekurhuleni forensic audit head Mpho Mafole was shot and killed on the R23 highway near Esselen Park. Picture: Facebook On Monday, 30 June, City of Ekurhuleni forensic audit head Mpho Mafole was shot and killed on the R23 highway near Esselen Park. It did not take long before his death was labelled an assassination. Rumour has it that the forensic investigator had discovered what caused a R2 billion shortfall in the city's budget. In fact, it was not what, but who was responsible for the shortfall because of their illegal actions of deleting electricity charges on just over 1 600 municipal accounts. And for identifying the culprits, he was killed. The South African Federation of Trade Unions did not beat about the bush in describing Mafole's death an assassination: 'Mpho Mafole was assassinated. This was no robbery or random act of violence.' Ekurhuleni's biggest township, Tembisa, mobilised for a shutdown of the area yesterday. ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni mayor to suspend electricity tariff hike after protests in Thembisa The reason for the protest? An electricity surcharge ranging from R110 to R204 per month for all households and businesses in the municipality – except for indigent households. Is there a link between the R2 billion budget shortfall that led to the suspected assassination of the auditor and the introduction of the electricity surcharge? No-one has officially made that link, but it does not take a rocket scientist to connect those dots. The last time Tembisa went on what was then called a total shutdown, it resulted in severe destruction of municipal properties and infrastructure. There was even a change in leadership at mayoral level because the then DA mayor Tania Campbell was accused of responding too slowly to the frustrations of residents, especially with regards to electricity tariffs. ALSO READ: Thembisa protest turns violent: Ekurhuleni mayor calls urgent meeting as residents and police clash Some of the municipal buildings and infrastructure that was burnt down because of those protests has not even been repaired and the city is back in the same standoff. There is a reason a lot of people accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of being his usual self in appointing a commission of inquiry to investigate the alleged corruption in the ranks of the South African Police Service. His usual self in that he wants a prolonged investigation, which is preceded by a period of inaction such as the one the country is in right now as it awaits the finalisation of the terms of reference for Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to begin his investigations and, even then, the outcome isn't guaranteed to root out corruption. There is nothing more dire and more pressing than the assassination of the lead corruption buster in a metropolitan municipality. If Ramaphosa and his Cabinet are serious about fighting corruption, a R2 billion shortfall that results in the assassination of a top government official should warrant a response so immediate and severe that the country is left in no doubt about the seriousness of government in fighting corruption. Residents can be blamed for using violence in ensuring that they are heard, but the truth is the people with all the power in the equation are those in charge. ALSO READ: Soccer star's 'special treatment' after deadly crash concerns grieving mom [VIDEO] The shortfall in the budget – due to corrupt officials writing off electricity bills on accounts – is within the control of government. Passing that on to residents as a surcharge is not only disingenuous, but it also simply gives criminals behind government desks the right to continue with their corrupt acts. It is only when there are direct responses to the deaths of people like Mafole and Babita Deokaran that those who continue to loot government funds will think twice before doing it. Justice for residents isn't only when killers are convicted, it is ensuring that they do not suffer for the corruption of government officials.
Daily Maverick
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
‘Enough is enough' – Saftu threatens mass protests over NMB public fund mismanagement
The South African Federation of Trade Unions in Gqeberha said on Wednesday that it was 'deeply outraged, though not surprised' by the Auditor-General's damning findings on the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. The organisation has threatened mass action as a response to 'incompetence, mismanagement and a total disregard for working-class residents'. The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has threatened the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality with mass action to protest against what it has called the current coalition government's 'incompetence, mismanagement and total disregard for working-class residents'. Saftu secretary Mziyanda Mcanda said a meeting had been held with the Speaker of Council, Eugene Johnson, who had promised to address their concerns. But, he added, the latest Auditor-General's report on Nelson Mandela Bay was deeply shocking. 'The report confirms what workers, the unemployed and the poor have long known — that this municipality is being run into the ground by incompetence, mismanagement and a total disregard for working-class communities,' said Mcanda. Grant spending Despite being the only metro to receive the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) — a critical intervention aimed at improving bulk water and sanitation infrastructure — the municipality underspent the grant by 41%, according to this report. 'This is criminal negligence in a city facing chronic water insecurity and failing sanitation systems. Communities in KwaZakhele, Motherwell and Chatty continue to suffer water cuts and sewerage overflows, while the money meant to fix these issues lies idle due to so-called implementation challenges,' Mcanda said. 'Even more damning is the fact that 67% of senior management posts are vacant, the highest of any metro in the country. This leadership vacuum reflects a collapsing state — one that is either unwilling or unable to deliver even the most basic services. Workers inside the municipality are overburdened, demoralized and left without leadership or direction, while politically connected elites scramble for tenders and positions,' he added. Motherwell housing project He highlighted the plight of residents who had been promised housing through the Motherwell NU30 housing project, calling it 'another insult to our people'. 'The Auditor-General confirms that houses were approved for handover despite structural defects and no electricity. These are not homes; they are shells. People are being handed keys to hardship, not dignity. This is a systemic crisis. It cannot be reduced to administrative failures; it is the direct result of a capitalist state that serves private profiteers and political elites, not the working class. While public money goes unspent or wasted, our communities suffer hunger, evictions, floods and disease,' he said. Mcanda said the organisation wanted the urgent filling of senior vacancies with competent, accountable and community-oriented personnel. 'No more cadre deployment for corruption,' he added. They are also demanding the institution of a forensic investigation into the RBIG underspending and NU30 housing project, 'with consequences for those responsible'. He said they also wanted an emergency summit of affected communities, labour and civil society 'to chart a democratic, people-centred turnaround strategy for the metro'. Saftu's concerns were also echoed in a letter by faith leaders in the metro which was sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa in May. 'Enough is enough. We will not allow this municipality to continue failing our people. If these demands are not urgently addressed, Saftu Gqeberha will mobilise for mass action,' Mcanda added. DA says budget is morally indefensible Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said the proposed 2025/26 Nelson Mandela Bay budget was unrealistic and morally indefensible, as it passes the buck to ratepayers to 'fund the mismanagement of our inept ANC-led municipality'. In a pre-budget press conference held on Wednesday, Odendaal said the metro was haemorrhaging millions of rands due to its inability to spend grant funding. The budget will be discussed in a council meeting on Thursday. 'Over the last two financial years, the ANC-led administration's dysfunction has lost a staggering R900-million in grant funding meant to build roads, and water and electricity infrastructure. 'This inability to spend is a crisis and, as of April this year, the municipality had only spent 38% (R752-million) of its R1.934-billion capital expenditure budget. 'Against the backdrop of this continued mismanagement, the tariff increases in the budget are morally indefensible. Imagine losing money and then asking ratepayers to balance the books,' Odendaal added. He further said that the budget as presented to council was only funded because it assumes a 76% collection rate while the average collection rate for the 2024/2025 financial year is 72.15%. 'Ward-based budgets are also a major concern as very little budget has been made available for certain wards. The DA believes every community has the right to a fair allocation of resources,' he said. Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe, held a mayoral member committee meeting on Wednesday to address the findings of the Auditor-General, and stressed the critical importance of enhanced planning and accountability within all departments. She promised last week that she would address the vast underspending of Treasury grants at the city council meeting on Thursday. 'By Monday, a consultative report must be ready for virtual discussion to guide Wednesday's submission. With only three months left until the Auditor-General's review, we cannot afford to be caught off guard,' she said. Departments have also been directed to review current contracts, identify possible risks and define clear actions to avoid repeated deviations or contract extensions. 'Changing our culture doesn't take time; it takes consistency. If we focus on efficient, daily execution, our teams will adapt and we will start seeing real progress,' she concluded. DM
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Zwelinzima Vavi calls MK Party leader Jacob Zuma 'worst thing South Africa has ever experienced'
Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), Zwelinzima Vavi, believes that former President Jacob Zuma was the "worst thing South Africa has ever experienced". Former president Jacob Zuma was the "worst thing South Africa has ever experienced," general secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), Zwelinzima Vavi, said. "In my view, Jacob Zuma was the worst thing that this country has ever experienced and I'm not saying this because of the expectations we had about what he was going to do for the working class in South Africa," he said. Vavi was speaking during an interview on the EFF Podcast on Thursday. The veteran trade union leader said Zuma was the worst thing the country has ever experienced. In response, MK Party National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela defended Zuma, labeling Vavi as "irrelevant" and accusing him of using the former president's name to maintain his own relevance. "Vavi is an irrelevant trying to be relevant using President Zuma's name," Ndhlela told IOL.
Eyewitness News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Concern over South Africa's first quarter jobs bloodbath
JOHANNESBURG - Close to 300,000 South Africans lost jobs between January and March this year. This is the highest number of job losses recorded over any quarter in four years. On Tuesday, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released its quarterly labour force survey, revealing an employment decrease of 291,000 in the first quarter of 2025. The country's latest unemployment figures have been met with concern by economists and trade unions, who've cast the blame squarely on the government's failures to prioritise its citizens. "These figures expose the complete failure of the government's macroeconomic policies, which continue to serve the interests of big business and the wealthy elite, while abandoning the working class and the poor," said South African Federation of Trade Unions spokesperson Newton Masuku. READ: Unemployment increased to 32.9% in Q1 - Stats SA Economist Dawie Roodt says he suspects a negative GDP outlook for the first quarter following the latest unemployment figures. "Of course, there are many reasons for that. The on-off budget. The instability in the Government of National Unity. The (Donald) Trump stuff, tariffs on and off. These all added to uncertainty, and in uncertain circumstances, people don't want to do business." The trade and construction sectors saw major decreases in employment, while transport and finance recorded the largest employment gains.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Manufacturing in crisis: Saftu and Cosatu warn of job losses amid declining production
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) are concerned about the loss of jobs as the manufacturing sector continues to decline. Image: Supplied The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have raised concerns about job losses amidst a decline in the country's manufacturing sector. This was after Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released data showing that manufacturing production decreased by 0,8% in March compared to the same period last year. This marked the fifth consecutive month of decline in industrial activity. The largest negative contributors were petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products and electrical machinery. On a quarterly basis, production fell by 2,3% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. It also decreased by 2,2% on a monthly basis - March 2025 compared to February 2025. Saftu attributed the decline to neoliberal policies, insufficient investment and an extractive economic structure. The federation called for policies that prioritise job creation and industrial development. On the other hand, Cosatu said it was concerned about the loss of jobs. The union warned that this would be worse as the expanded definition of unemployment, which includes those discouraged from seeking employment, remained unchanged at 41,9%. Saftu said also this confirms a long-term trend of deindustrialisation. Since 1994, Saftu said, manufacturing's share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined from 22% to just over 11% while capacity utilisation has dropped from 82% to 65%. 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 ✕ The union pointed to a decline in investment, both public and private, as a key factor in the manufacturing sector's struggles. The federation added that Gross Fixed Capital Formation was 14,93% of the GDP in 2023, which is down from 20% in the early 2000s. It said the private sector investment was 12,37% of the GDP, while public sector investment was just 2,5%. Saftu's general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, said these figures confirm that both the State and private capital have retreated from investing in the productive economy. Vavi said if aluminum and steel had been factored in, the deindustrialisation rates would be worse. 'Unless state policy changes, we can anticipate even worse bouts of deindustrialisation, because of the steel industry's crisis. Already the crash of steel output from a peak of nine million tonnes a year to around four million tonnes has required an ongoing bailout of ArcelorMittal foundries that were due to close,' he said, warning that US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on imports would also worsen the situation. 'Given the extreme animosity to South Africa from Trump and a new group of paleo-conservative imperialist powerbrokers in Washington, due to our government's (correct) labeling of Israel as genocidal and pursuit of affirmative action and land reform, we may anticipate far worse to come. There will likely be no renewal of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and intensified punitive tariffs on all exports are certain once the 90-day pause on South Africa's 32% tariff penalty is lifted in July. ' 'South Africa cannot overcome its crisis through austerity or corporate appeasement. Both the private and public sectors have withdrawn from investment. The time has come for a bold shift to a developmental state that leads investment, reindustrialises the economy, and places public goods over private profits. Power concedes nothing without a struggle — the working class must mobilise for a new economic future,' said Vavi. Cosatu called on the government to seek alternate trading partners to counter the impact of US tariffs. 'But at the same time ensure the continuation of AGOA or a similar trade agreement between the USA and SA that increases trade and investment opportunities between both countries,' said spokesperson Zanele Sabela, who added that South Africa also needs to accelerate the role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) to unlock trade with Africa.
