Latest news with #Vilakazi
The South African
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
'Boy, don't give up': Orlando Pirates star told to fight for his place
Orlando Pirates legend Benedict 'Tso' Vilakazi has urged Bucs striker Tshegofatso Mabasa to fight for his position. The 28-year-old did not start many games last season under Jose Riveiro but could be down the pecking order once again under the new coach. Mabasa is currently on 46 goals for the Buccaneers and needs just seven goals to break Tso's record. Although his goalscoring record is on the line, Vilakazi has urged the Orlando Pirates striker to fight hard to earn his place back in the starting eleven. 'Boy, don't give up; continue to work hard. Yes, I've seen in some pre-season games that you were not that featured like other strikers,' Vilakazi told the Omniaudioafrica YouTube Channel . 'But don't give up. You know what I'm talking about. You know you went to Swallows because you didn't get game time, but you did very well and came back and continued where you left off. For me, it shows character,' the former Orlando Pirates midfielder added. 'You can't keep a good man down. Boy, they can bring 20 other strikers, I'm telling you from my heart, but I don't think they will close you down and make you not be seen. You're a once-special player who knows the poles.' 'So far in my eyes, at Pirates, you're the only striker where even when I'm sleeping and you say, 'Who do you want to put in as a striker?' It's always going to be you.' Orlando Pirates open their 2025/26 season against Polokwane City this Saturday in the MTN8. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Legal battle erupts as Ingonyama Trust pursues former chair over millions
THE former chairperson of Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB), Judge Jerome Ngwenya, who is being accused of hoarding millions borrowed by Ingonyama Holdings from the ITB SABELO NSELE The Ingoyama Trust Board (ITB) is pointing fingers at its former chairperson, Judge Jerome Ngwenya, for hoarding R41 million of its funds. The members of the board said they're at their wits' end attempting to recoup R41 million in loans that were borrowed by its investment arm, Ingonyama Holdings, when Ngwenya was still the chairperson of the board. Ngwenya is one of the directors of Ingonyama Holdings, and the board has failed several times to remove him from this position. The interim chief executive of ITB, Siyamdumisa Vilakazi, said they have taken legal action against Ngwenya. Vilakazi said Ingonyama Holdings was registered in 2019, and in 2021 it borrowed millions of rand from ITB. Vilakazi said Ngwenya has refused to answer where this money went. "This money was paid in three caches. The first batch was R10 million in March 2021, followed by another R10 million in July and then R21 million in November. Since then, Ingonyama Holdings has never produced any financial reports of its expenditure. The Auditor-General keeps asking when this money is going to be paid back," said Vilakazi. He said they've applied twice to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) to have Ngwenya removed as the director of Ingonyama Holdings. They've failed in both instances, according to Vilakazi, as Ngwenya's lawyers keep opposing the removal. "Today we are saying we are distancing ourselves from Ingonyama Holdings. We want people to know that Ingonyama Trust has been taken over by some people. That's why we have taken legal action." He said he can't explain further on their multi-pronged legal approach since there are ongoing investigations. "There are also suspicions of corruption that are being probed by the Hawks," said Vilakazi. Attempts to get Ngwenya's comment were met with anger. He asked how the board has failed to take away Ingonyama Holdings from him if the company truly belongs to the Ingonyama Trust. Ngwenya challenged this reporter to send proof of the registration of Ingonyama Holdings, attempts to remove him as the director of the company, and the details of the legal action allegedly taken against him before he could proceed with answering questions. The deputy chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust, Advocate Linda Zama, said it was a mistake to have Ngwenya as both chairperson of ITB and a director of Ingonyama Holdings simultaneously. Zama, who was a member of the ITB when Ingonyama Holdings was given R21 million in loans, said she opposed this decision; however, she was outnumbered when the board voted on the matter. The matter caused her to resign from the board.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Ingonyama Trust faces challenge in refunding over 1,600 residents
Ingonyama Trust Board acting CEO Siyamdumisa Vilakazi says spending over R4 million to reimburse homeowners who paid rental fees to occupy traditional land in KwaZulu-Natal will not financially harm the board. Image: Ingonyama Trust Board website THE Ingonyama Trust is facing significant hurdles in its mission to refund more than 1,600 residents from whom it illegally collected funds between 2007 and 2021. More than R4 million is awaiting restitution, but the trust has only successfully contacted just over 200 individuals so far, leaving a vast majority untraceable. The interim chief executive of the board, Siyamdumisa Vilakazi, said they are continuing with their efforts to trace people. "Tracing all of them is difficult, as some have died; others in the deep rural areas have network problems where they stay. There are 1602 people who need to be refunded. We've only managed to trace 208," said Vilakazi. Vilakazi said there could be more people who show up who say they were also paying the trust. "However, so far only 1620 people are in our records," said Vilakazi. The trust is paying back people who were paying for residential leases. He said the residential lease was different from the money paid by subjects who are under traditional authorities, as those funds are kept by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The residential leases were paid between 2007 and 2021 until it was discovered that the trust has no authority to collect such funds. "It was different amounts. In some areas, people were paying R1200 per year," said Vilakazi. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ While hoping to have all refunds processed within the next 18 months, Vilakazi mentioned the possibility of additional individuals coming forward claiming they were also subjected to the trust's leases. In June 2021, Judge Isaac Madondo in the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled that the Ingonyama Trust's residential lease programme was unlawful and unconstitutional. The court declared the leases invalid and ordered the trust to refund all money collected from residents under the programme. This ruling stemmed from a challenge arguing that the Trust's actions violated residents' constitutional and customary law property rights, specifically by converting permission to occupy (PTO) rights into lease agreements. The matter was brought to court by the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) and the Rural Women's Movement. The previous board tried to appeal the decision unsuccessfully. The deputy chairperson of the ITB, Advocate Linda Zama, said they decided to abide by the court's ruling and directive. She said she's unaware why the previous board decided to charge residents. She said she knows that there are people who are opposed to their decision to refund residents. SUNDAY TRIBUNE
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Cross-examination of state witness in eight accused murder trial continues
Cross-examination of state witness Sibonelo Vilakazi continued at the Middelburg High Court today. Zenzele Mzikayise Yende (48), Werner Potgieter (48), Moses Dlamini (59), Masodeni Elliot Msongelwa Dlamini (61), Cornelius Lourens Greyling (26), Sikhumbuzo Zikalala Nhlabathi (25), Mzwakhe Dlamini (48), and Nkosinathi Msibi (26) are accused of the alleged murder of Sifiso Thwala and Musa Nene, and the alleged attempted murder of Sthembiso Thwala on August 9, 2020. They are also facing kidnapping charges. Vilakazi was being questioned by opposing counsel on his statement he made to Warrant Officer Nhlapo and his evidence in court. Counsel said his statement and his evidence in court were contradictory because in his statement, he did not mention who took out one of the victims from the Toyota Corolla to be assaulted, but mentioned in court that it was Nkosinathi. Vilakazi responded by saying the only error he made was forgetting to mention that aspect, but that it was indeed Nkosinathi who took out one of the victims from the car. He further added that at the time he made the statement, he could not recall certain aspects of the incident, but he now had a clearer memory of what transpired that day. According to opposing counsel, Vilakazi's evidence in court contradicted his statement to Nhlapo on various aspects. Vilakazi replied that on the day he made the statement, Nhlapo told him he may forget some of the things that happened that day, but advised him that should he remember anything, he must mention it in court, but be careful not to mention things that never happened. Vilakazi had testified in court previously that on the night of the incident, Msongelwa instructed him and Nkosinathi to fetch rocks for him, which they did. Msongelwa then allegedly took one of the rocks, placed it on the ground, took Thwala's foot, and placed it on the rock. He then allegedly proceeded to take another rock and hit Thwala on the foot, multiple times, until he bled. It was Msongelwa who allegedly used pliers on Thwala to further assault him. Counsel then asked Vilakazi why he didn't say in his statement that it was he and Nkosinathi who fetched the rocks and took off Thwala's shoes. Instead, Vilakazi told Nhlapo that it was Msongelwa who did that. Vilakazi responded that the officer must have recorded it wrong, because he told Nhlapo that he and Nkosinathi were the ones who fetched the rocks and took off Thwala's shoes, on Msongelwa's instruction. Counsel then told him that the contradictions in his evidence in court and his statement were lies. Vilakazi replied by insisting that he had never told lies, although some confusion might be there between the two statements. More witnesses are expected to testify next week, as the trial is ongoing.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Ingonyama Trust Board severs ties with Ingonyama Holdings amid R41 million loan controversy
Zulu King Misuzulu's Ingonyama Trust cut ties with its commercial arm, Ingonyama Holding, over a R41 million loan, which the latter allegedly refused to pay back to the mother body. Image: Independent Media Archives Zulu King Misuzulu's Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) has broken ties with its commercial arm, Ingonyama Holdings, following its failure to recover a loan of R41 million from the latter. ITB acting chief executive officer Siyamdumisa Vilakazi announced this during a media briefing held at the entity's headquarters in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday. Vilakazi accused former ITB chairperson Judge Jerome Ngwenya, who was late King Goodwill Zwelithini's right-hand man, of having hijacked the holdings, which is now allegedly refusing to pay back the R41 million. 'We therefore state categorically today that the Ingonyama Trust and the Ingonyama Trust Board have formally disassociated themselves from Ingonyama Holdings,' said Vilakazi. Ngwenya declined to comment when contacted by Isolezwe and did not respond to questions sent by this reporter. Vilakazi said the holdings took a loan of R10 million in March 2021, another R10 million in July 2021, and R21 million in November 2021, when Ngwenya was the chairperson of both the ITB and the holdings, which made it difficult for the ITB to hold its subsidiary accountable. He said the Ingonyama Holdings' failure to repay the money led to the Auditor-General raising questions about the recoverability of these loans. 'The amounts had to be accounted for in the consolidated financial statements of the Ingonyama Trust and its subsidiary. 'The board has been unable to perform any proper recoverability assessment because it does not have access to the financial records, including basic bank account records, of Ingonyama Holdings,' said Vilakazi. During the briefing, which was also attended by ITB's deputy chairperson, Advocate Linda Zama, it became clear that there was no love lost between Ngwenya and the current board, whose chairperson is King Misuzulu. Vilakazi described Ingonyama Holdings as a hijacked entity 'that carries no mandate whatsoever from the Ingonyama Trust or its board'. He said the ITB had formally informed all its stakeholders, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, and the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, about its disassociation with the holdings. Vilakazi said the ITB was currently pursuing civil and criminal actions against the holdings. Ingonyama Trust, which was formed in 1994, incorporated the holdings in 2019, but according to the new board, Ngwenya became the holdings' director and chairperson without a board resolution. Vilakazi said Ngwenya declined to step down as the director of the holdings when ITB instructed him to do so towards the end of last year. 'We characterise this as a fraudulent hijack of Ingonyama Holdings, aimed at obstructing legitimate shareholder governance and oversight. 'In response, the board lodged a formal complaint with CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) on 14 February 2025, requesting an investigation into these fraudulent acts, and the complaint was escalated to CIPC's Fraud and Risk Unit,' said Vilakazi. Vilakazi said the board also opened a fraud and hijacking case on February 18 this year at Pietermaritzburg's Alexandra police station. 'We continue to await a formal response from the Commercial Crimes Unit,' he said. Vilakazi said the board was astonished when it discovered that the Ingonyama Holdings' registered address was changed on March 22, 2024, without ITB's authorisation, from 65 Trelawney Road, Fillan Park, Pietermaritzburg, to 91 Oxford Road, in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. 'The circumstances under which this change was effected, and the identity of the filer, remain unknown but could only have been orchestrated by the removed directors (including Ngwenya) or those acting on their behalf. This conduct, too, is regarded as fraudulent,' said Vilakazi. The board said the king, who is Ingonyama Trust's sole trustee, was aware of the decision to cut ties with the holdings, although he was not present at the meeting where it was made. 'Although His Majesty is the chairperson of the board and the sole trustee, because of his status, it has not been possible for him to be physically present at board meetings. 'However, because this matter is very important, we have kept His Majesty informed via his private office as the protocol does not allow us to be in direct communication with him,' said Zama. Zama said Ngwenya was chairperson of the ITB between 1998 and 2023 because the Ingonyama Trust Act allowed King Zwelithini to nominate his preferred four people to sit on the board. 'The Act allows the sole trustee (the king) to appoint a nominee to be the chairperson of the board. The late king (Zwelithini) appointed Mr Ngwenya as his nominee as the chairperson of the board, which was very powerful. The question would be, what was the strength of that board?' Zama said that under the new ITB structure, it was the first time that amakhosi serving on the board were allowed to interrogate decisions. 'I am the oldest serving member of ITB, and when I joined in September 2021, the protocol did not allow the four amakhosi (who were members) to query what the king's nominee was saying. It was so abnormal that it became clear to me that we were in trouble. 'There was a decision that was taken in my presence, and I did not agree with transferring R21 million from ITB to Ingonyama Holdings because the chairperson (Ngwenya), who was wearing two caps, was conflicted, and when I was overruled, I tendered my resignation,' said Zama. However, she withdrew her resignation after being begged by the then DALRRD minister Thoko Didiza. She was appointed the deputy chairperson of the new ITB on May 23, 2023. [email protected]
