Latest news with #TheNewAge
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mabuza remembered as humble leader who resisted capture
David Mabuza is celebrated for his integrity, refusal to support the Guptas, and service to South Africa and Mpumalanga. Tributes continue to pour in for former deputy president David Mabuza, whom many see as the man who stopped a second takeover by Jacob Zuma through his proxies. Although he was initially on the Zuma faction slate before the ANC national conference election in 2017, Mabuza's last-minute withdrawal from supporting then presidential candidate Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was regarded as a betrayal by Zuma supporters. He joined the Ramaphosa camp, helping it to secure victory as he brought all of his massive Mpumalanga support base to back him against Dlamini-Zuma. Mabuza's switch from Dlamini-Zuma to Ramaphosa seen as turning point This was regarded as a wise move by many who believed Dlamini-Zuma's presidency would have ensured the continuation of the Zuma status quo, which was unpopular with voters. Dlamini-Zuma was loyal to the former president and the Gupta brothers, who were fingered for the corporate capture of the state, adored her. They selected Dlamini-Zuma as The New Age Newsmaker of the Year and she was one of the movers and shakers they believed in, along with Zuma himself. ALSO READ: David Mabuza's funeral date confirmed as Mokonyane dismisses ANC criticism claims The Guptas captured some provinces and offered their premiers extra publicity on the pages of The New Age and ANN7 TV channel. Gauteng under Nomvula Mokonyane, Ace Magashule's Free State, Northern Cape which was then led by Sylvia Lucas and North West under Supra Mahumapelo received special treatments on the Gupta publication and channel. While other premiers were eating from the Guptas' hand and, in turn, dishing out state advertisements to The New Age to keep it afloat after commercial advertisers boycotted it, Mabuza refused to cooperate or be captured by the Guptas. Blacklisted by Guptas He pulled out adverts from the Mpumalanga administration at the last moment after learning that the ads were earmarked to be published in The New Age. This caused Mabuza and then Western Cape premier, Helen Zille to be blacklisted by the Guptas. Zille's sin was to stop participating in the business breakfast shows organised by New Age, after discovering that it was a conduit to syphon off state funds. Zille called for transparency and accountability from the stateowned enterprises that were funding The New Age. ALSO READ: Remembering Mabuza: The man who 'dashed' the potential Zuma dynasty In its tribute to Mabuza, Cosatu said Mabuza, at 64 years of age, had led a full life: 'Comrade DD dedicated his time on earth in service of the people, not only in his home communities and the broader Mpumalanga province, but the entire nation.' The federation's parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks, praised Mabuza for the role he played as a student during the darkest days of apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s and as a teacher activist. Cosatu said Mabuza's experience as a teacher and principal made him a fitting choice as the first MEC for education in Mpumalanga after the democratic breakthrough of 1994. Raised profile of Mpumalanga Mabuza, alongside stalwarts Mathews Phosa, Thabang Makwetla and January 'Che' Masilela, raised the profile of Mpumalanga from the quiet Eastern Transvaal, to the land of the rising sun. It is a sign of how far South Africa has come that a young man born in poverty-stricken Phola, eMalahleni, can rise to be an MEC, a premier and a deputy president. History will remember 'DD', as he is affectionately known, as a humble leader, one who was not afraid to lead. NOW READ: Ramaphosa pays tribute to former deputy David Mabuza
Eyewitness News
24-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Auctioneer confident of selling Gupta brothers' Saxonwold properties
As you walk into the grossly opulent main Gupta home, you are met by two giant velvet chairs and The New Age newspaper rack where guests may have been offered a copy of one of the Gupta brothers' latest daily news offerings. The eight-bedroom ensuite house, with an indoor pool, is cold, with tile, granite and mirrors a clear theme in the house. But there are two more properties sandwiching the main house - one a more modest, three-bedroom older suburban house thought to be the staff quarters, and on the other side is a 17-bedroom massive ensuite building that resembles a guest house. Graham van Niekerk from Park Village Auctions said these properties, which would be sold separately, would likely draw different buyers. "I think the properties will sell. I think the key will be where that point is, as you've seen again, the properties are in a little bit of disrepair and are going to need some TLC, a good fixer-upper. Other than that, I don't see any difficulty selling the properties," said van Niekerk. The properties have a municipal value of about R5.5 million, R36 million and R21 million, respectively. The auction will take place on 24 July.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SIU probes state entities over controversialNew Age media breakfast events
SIU head Andy Mothibi says it is early stages of the investigation into The New Age business breakfast events that were held and supported by various institutions with SABC as platform used to host them. Image: File The SIU will widen its scope of investigation to include five state institutions in connection with The New Age (TNA) media breakfasts hosted by the SABC about a decade ago. Briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, SIU chief investigating officer Zodwa Xesibe said there was not much to report about the investigation emanating from the proclamation issued late last year. 'In respect of the investigation, in a sense, this was proclaimed as part of state capture recommendations. 'This investigation involves entities and one being Eskom, PetroSA, South African Airways, Transnet, the national Department of Human Settlements as well as the SABC,' Xesibe said. 'These are entities that were coerced to hold those business breakfast meetings by TNA at the time it was called The New Age and were paid by SABC.' She also said the SABC had a contract with TNA for the hosting of the business breakfasts. 'Our involvement in the SABC will be to follow the payment made by the state institutions to SABC and then to TNA,' Xesibe added. SIU head Andy Mothibi said they will be investigating the business breakfast events that were held and supported by various institutions with SABC as platform used to host them. 'We will be investigating at all the institutions. It is early stages. There are no outcomes yet on this one,' Mothibi said. In its presentation to Scopa, the SIU said it submitted a motivation for the proclamation in 2019 and 2022. It said matters forming part of the proclamation came to its attention while investigating certain affairs of the SABC when it became aware of a contract between the public broadcaster and TNA for three years. 'In terms of the agreement, the SABC would broadcast a series of events described as 'The New Age breakfast Briefing brought to you by the SABC hosted by TNA', which (would) be briefings hosted by TNA.' It also said TNA subsequently concluded agreements with Eskom, PetroSA, SAA, Transnet, and the national Department of Human Settlements. 'In terms of these agreements, the state institutions would pay 'sponsorship fees' to TNA in respect of the business briefings and would, in return, receive media exposure from the business briefings.' The SIU said it had received further information from the Zondo Commission, which found that the business briefings were not only irregular but wasteful. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the latest proclamation in October 2024. 'The proclamation period covers events which took place between 1 January 2011 and the date of publication of the proclamation, which is 18 October 2024 and includes matters which took place before or after the aforesaid period but are relevant to, connected with, incidental or ancillary to matters in the Schedule of the proclamation or involve same persons, entities or contracts investigated under the authority of the proclamation.' Xesibe said evidence obtained indicated TNA's involvement in SABC was intertwined with entities such as Eskom, Transnet, and PetroSA. 'The SIU has investigated this matter as far as possible and determined that it can only be investigated to the core with a further proclamation that would mandate such investigation.' Meanwhile, the SIU's presentation stated that an application was brought by the SABC to set aside the contract on which TNA's claim of R144m was based following the liquidation of the Gupta-owned company. SIU legal counsel Ntuthuzelo Vanara said the TNA claim against SABC showed the business breakfast briefings were conducted utilising equipment and airtime of SABC without money being paid. 'Because there was a claim for payment due to TNA, we were able to save R145m because the company has gone into liquidation and the liquidators did not pursue their claims against the SABC,' Vanara said. He stated that the SIU was pursuing the directors of TNA. 'We are to apply for a new date for a hearing against the directors,' Vanara added. Cape Times
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SIU broadens probe into state entities over controversial New Age media breakfast events
SIU head Andy Mothibi says it is early stages of the investigation into The New Age business breakfast events that were held and supported by various institutions with SABC as platform used to host them. Image: File The SIU will widen its scope of investigation to include five state institutions in connection with The New age (TNA) media breakfasts hosted by the SABC about a decade ago. Briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, SIU chief investigating officer Zodwa Xesibe said there was not much to report about the investigation emanating from the proclamation issued late last year. 'In respect of the investigation, in a sense, this was proclaimed as part of state capture recommendations. 'This investigation involves entities and one being Eskom, PetroSA, South African Airways, Transnet, the national Department of Human Settlements as well as the SABC,' Xesibe said. 'These are entities that were coerced to hold those business breakfast meetings by TNA at the time it was called The New Age and were paid by SABC.' She also said the SABC had a contract with TNA for the hosting of the business breakfasts. 'Our involvement in the SABC will be to follow the payment made by the state institutions to SABC and then to TNA,' Xesibe added. SIU head Andy Mothibi said they will be investigating the business breakfast events that were held and supported by various institutions with SABC as platform used to host them. 'We will be investigating at all the institutions. It is early stages. There are no outcomes yet on this one,' Mothibi said. In its presentation to Scopa, the SIU said it submitted a motivation for the proclamation in 2019 and 2022. It said matters forming part of the proclamation came to its attention while investigating certain affairs of the SABC when it became aware of a contract between the public broadcaster and TNA for three years. 'In terms of the agreement, the SABC would broadcast a series of events described as 'The New Age breakfast Briefing brought to you by the SABC hosted by TNA', which (would) be briefings hosted by TNA.' It also said TNA subsequently concluded agreements with Eskom, PetroSA, SAA, Transnet, and the national Department of Human Settlements. 'In terms of these agreements, the state institutions would pay 'sponsorship fees' to TNA in respect of the business briefings and would, in return, receive media exposure from the business briefings.' The SIU said it had received further information from the Zondo Commission, which found that the business briefings were not only irregular but wasteful too. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the latest proclamation in October 2024. 'The proclamation period covers events which took place between 1 January 2011 and he date of publication of the proclamation, which is 18 October 2024 and includes matters which took place before or after the aforesaid period but are relevant to, connected with, incidental or ancillary to matters in the Schedule of the proclamation or involve same persons, entities or contracts investigated under the authority of the proclamation.' Xesibe said evidence obtained indicated TNA's involvement in SABC was intertwined with entities such as Eskom, Transnet, and PetroSA. 'The SIU has investigated this matter as far as possible and determined that it can only be investigated to the core with a further proclamation that would mandate such investigation.' Meanwhile, the SIU's presentation stated that an application was brought by the SABC to set aside the contract on which TNA's claim of R144m was based following the liquidation of the Gupta-owned company. SIU legal counsel Ntuthuzelo Vanara said the TNA claim against SABC showed the business breakfast briefings were conducted utilising equipment and airtime of SABC without money being paid. 'Because there was a claim for payment due to TNA, we were able to save R145m because the company has gone into liquidation and the liquidators did not pursue their claims against the SABC,' Vanara said. He stated that the SIU was pursuing the directors of TNA. 'We are to apply for a new date for a hearing against the directors,' Vanara added.
