Latest news with #ThulaniNgwenya
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Police union celebrates pivotal SAPS reforms aimed at boosting officer morale
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) president, Thulani Ngwenya. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Beyond SAPS detectives, three specialised groups, namely K9 handlers, mounted patrol officers, and armourers, will at last see their roles reflected in a formal rank structure, which could mark a turning point, said the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Friday. Popcru President Thulani Ngwenya described a joint meeting in Pretoria with the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, and the SAPS leadership as a milestone in South Africa's criminal justice landscape. Ngwenya said the largest union in the criminal justice cluster, Popcru, was instrumental in securing a host of reforms aimed at improving working conditions, addressing rank stagnation, and boosting morale across the police service. He said this included the scrapping of the controversial expeditious dismissal process, new promotion pathways for officers and civilian staff, and the reopening of enlistment for experienced former members. 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 Mchunu discussed issues related to human resources in the police and strategies for improvement. He said that in April, the SAPS convened the National Policing Summit under the theme: Efficiency In Action: Optimising South Africa's Policing Potential. 'The summit brought together key stakeholders and role-players in policing and crime prevention. From it emerged a number of outcomes which are already being implemented. I want to assure the public that we will keep them informed on our progress every step of the way.' According to Ngwenya: 'This day marks the halfway point of a long-fought struggle to reclaim the dignity so often denied to public protectors who serve at the coalface, safeguarding our nation against a violent criminal element. For the first time, police management and labour shared a single platform to give the country a line-by-line account of changes coming to the SAPS.' Ngwenya added that an enduring pain point for police officials has been the controversial expeditious dismissal regulations that allowed for the abuse of disciplinary procedures to unfairly punish officers. The union has criticised the expeditious process for undermining the principles of natural justice, bypassing fair hearings, and fast-tracking the dismissal of members without due process. 'This flawed and biased system has now been discontinued, ensuring that officers will not be dismissed without a proper hearing and a reasoned decision,' he said. The SAPS is further finalising a promotion pathway for officers who have gone 20, 24, or 28 years without promotion. The union has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the lack of regular promotion opportunities drained morale and loyalty, as members felt their dedication was not recognised. Ngwenya welcomed the number of 30,393 officers who have been appointed in the past three years, but cautioned that far more police officers are needed. 'South Africa's criminal element is growing faster than the SAPS can manage. While appointing 11,000 units this and next year is a good start, we need more than double that to catch up," he said. Ngwenya said that Popcru has also successfully pushed the SAPS to review the scarce-skills benefits offered to members with specialised expertise – including hostage negotiators, divers, airborne units, coastal skippers, and vessel handlers. The union again highlighted a mass exodus of highly skilled officers to better-paying jobs as evidence that the SAPS must improve incentives. The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, said that between 2018 and 2023, more than 57,000 police officers have progressed to higher ranks. These promotions include: Constable to Sergeant: 35,639 Sergeant to Warrant Officer: 6,107 Warrant Officer Band 1 to Warrant Officer B2: 15,405
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How this mining company turned R10,000 into just R125 in five years
Sable Exploration and Mining (SEAM) has incinerated 99.55% of investor value since 2019 – turning R10,000 into just R125 – while reporting a R47 million annual loss, seemingly operating without a CEO, and its auditors have questioned its ongoing viability. Image: SoraAI Sable Exploration and Mining (SEAM) has incinerated 99.55% of investor value since 2019 – turning R10,000 into just R125 – while reporting a R47 million annual loss, seemingly operating without a CEO, and its auditors have questioned its ongoing viability. Yet it continues to attract investment, a history of failed rebrands, and joint ventures with entities like Boo Wa Ndo, whose owner publicly seeks funding to "make the dream a reality'. Five years ago, the stock was trading at 11c and has lost 99.55% since then. Your loss from your investment would be R9,875. The industrial metals and mining company, which received a demand for an annual general meeting on 10 December 2024, is currently worth R2.8 million. In fact, it is doubtful as to why the company still even exists. Its auditors, CM & Associates Incorporated, questioned its ongoing viability as a business in their opinion statement in the latest annual report, given that it incurred a net loss of R47 million for the year to February. SEAM's then CEO, James Allan, who has since retired, noted in the annual report that it lost a 'considerable' amount in profit because of a joint venture partner's failure to provide funding for a project. IOL could not find a statement to shareholders indicating it had appointed a new CEO. The company also has a history of attempted buyouts and consequent name changes. In 2023, PBNJ Trading and Consulting offered shareholders 100c a share to buy out the rest of the company it did not already own. Only 9.8% of all the SEAM shareholders accepted the offer, resulting in PBNJ Trading and Consulting owning 59.9%. At that stage, its shares were worth 99c. In 2012, it listed under the form of Sable Platinum and its name was changed to Sable Metals and Minerals in March 'to more fully reflect the broader mineral interests of the company,' it said on its website. Consequently, it was approached by unnamed Middle Eastern investors who wanted to focus on diamond acquisitions, but they never came through with the funding. Regardless, the company's name changed to Middle East Diamond Resources Limited in January 2016. Because the promised investment never happened, trading in shares was suspended until 2022, by which time it had brought its accounts up to date and changed it name again, this time to Sable Exploration and Mining. Despite reporting losses, it has successfully attracted investment from Ironveld, which committed to funding the completion of a beneficiation plant to produce magnetite. SEAM has also signed a deal with Boo Wa Ndo for the latter to buy a 55% interest in the prospecting rights and mining permits over two properties in Limpopo. Boo Wa Ndo is apparently owned by Thulani Ngwenya, who says on his LinkedIn profile that he's seeking investment for his projects to 'make the dream a reality'. 'This transaction strengthens SEAM's asset base and aligns with its exploration mandate and will improve the cashflow,' it said upon announcing the deal. Interestingly, one of its independent executive directors is Hazel Bango-Moyo, a CA with more than 19 years of experience. Bango-Moyo, who this contributor has personally met, is exceptionally bubbly and has won awards. She started Primorial in 2017 to help small businesses grow by offering financial services advice, including support in filing their tax returns. IOL Business
The Star
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Disciplinary action against Ekurhuleni metro police officers for illegal strike
Staff Reporter | Published 4 hours ago The City of Ekurhuleni has initiated stern disciplinary proceedings against 389 officers of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) after their involvement in an illegal strike and blockade that caused major disruptions on March 19, 2025. The protest, which aimed to address ongoing grievances concerning labour conditions, led to significant disruption, severely affecting traffic flow and inconveniencing thousands of daily commuters, while also obstructing access to the vital OR Tambo International Airport. EMPD officers, recognised as personnel in essential services under South African law, are mandated to maintain public safety and order. 'As EMPD officers, these individuals are classified under essential services, mandated to uphold public safety and order. Their participation in prohibited strike action constitutes gross misconduct, undermining public trust and violating labour laws as stipulated in the Labour Relations Act. "All implicated officers have been issued pre-dismissal notices and are suspended from duty pending the outcome of their disciplinary hearings. They are required to submit any city-issued equipment, including vehicles, firearms, and official access cards, until the conclusion of the disciplinary process,' the statement read. It is further revealed that in light of the situation, the city has entered into discussions with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure an uninterrupted policing presence, reinforcing the city's promise to uphold public safety and service delivery. The alignment is further formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed between the city and the minister of police. When this happened, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) had framed the officers' protest as a justified response to ongoing grievances, including significant labour-related concerns such as salary disparities, cuts to overtime pay, and deteriorating working conditions. President Thulani Ngwenya has been vocal about the need to address these issues without allowing them to devolve into political grandstanding. 'These are workers' issues that require urgent and focused attention,' Ngwenya asserted. 'EMPD personnel provide their labour in exchange for compensation, and they are simply demanding that this compensation be fair and just. This is not a political matter but a labour relations matter that should be treated with the seriousness it deserves.' POPCRU has been unwavering in its commitment to protecting the rights of law enforcement officers and condemns the ongoing exploitation linked to austerity measures that have led to unfair salary adjustments for EMPD and other traffic officers. Ngwenya emphasised that these cost-cutting measures have imposed detrimental burdens on the officers, undermining both their livelihoods and their ability to serve the community effectively. Saturday Star
