Latest news with #politicalinterference
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Madlanga inquiry into police corruption to hear first witness in August
Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga The inquiry established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of criminality, corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system will begin hearing public testimony in August, its chairperson, Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, said on Monday. Ramaphosa set up the inquiry in response to Madlanga said the commission has begun its preparatory work, including the appointment of senior personnel and the scheduling of the first witness consultation. 'Our first consultation with a witness is imminent. We are mindful that South Africa is eager to see the first witness in the stand. We too are keen to see that happen,' he told a media briefing. While Madlanga would not name the first witness, he confirmed that the commission would consult Mkhwanazi 'imminently'. Mkhwanazi alleged in a media briefing earlier this month that Mkhwanazi said 121 case dockets were removed from Mchunu, On Monday, Madlanga said the commission is treating the matter with urgency but must follow procedures, including consulting witnesses, assessing information and determining the need for follow-ups before public hearings can begin. 'The fact that General Mkhwanazi made the allegations does not make us ready to start hearing evidence immediately,' he said. He added that public hearings will take place in Gauteng, with a procurement process under way to secure a building. Madlanga assured the public that this would not delay preparations. 'We are proceeding full steam ahead. The lack of infrastructure does not affect progress on the commission's preparatory work,' he said. The commission will also establish facilities for members of the public to lodge relevant information, both in person and online. 'We consider it important that the public be afforded an opportunity to contribute,' Madlanga said. The commission has appointed a high-level team of professionals, with advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo serving as co-commissioners. Advocate Terry Motau is the chief evidence leader, with Lolita Vukuza appointed as the commission secretary. Peter Gous is the chief investigator and Jeremy Michaels the commission's spokesperson. 'We believe this team is up to the task and will deliver on the mandate,' Madlanga said. The commission is expected to submit an interim report within three months and conclude its work in six months. Madlanga reiterated that the commission is bound by a timeline and said the interim report by the end of its first three-month period may include recommendations for immediate action. Madlanga also outlined the terms of reference, which include investigating the South African Police Service, metro police departments in Gauteng, the National Prosecuting Authority, the State Security Agency, the judiciary, correctional services and any executive members responsible for the criminal justice system. The inquiry will look into whether these entities have been infiltrated by criminal syndicates, including attempts to shield politically connected individuals and obstruct justice. Asked about witness safety, Madlanga said each case would be assessed to determine whether protection was required. Given that some implicated parties are still in the system, this is 'receiving serious consideration'. He said the commission is also empowered to conduct search-and-seizure operations when necessary, but would do so in a way that 'does not alert the intended persons'. When pressed on whether arrests could follow, Madlanga said: 'I cannot give a categorical answer at this stage.' He added that litigation challenging the commission's legitimacy is pending before the constitutional court, and the commission would abide by the court's ruling on whether it would be interdicted or continue. Mkhwanazi's disclosures include allegations that the police service is compromised at senior levels and that attempts were made to destabilise it, including efforts to frame national commissioner Fannie Masemola and remove senior officials. Mkhwanazi said Mchunu had tried to 'smooth the waters' between him and Sibiya, whom he referred to as 'a criminal'. He also alleged that Mchunu misled parliament about links to Brown Mogotsi, a man with alleged ties to organised crime, and Vusumuzi 'Cat' Matlala, a business person who allegedly benefited from police tenders despite criminal allegations against him. Ian Cameron, the chairperson of parliament's police portfolio committee, said Mkhwanazi had effectively 'He was fully aware of the risks — physical or career-related — and acknowledged this publicly,' Cameron said. Parliament is establishing an ad hoc committee to Madlanga declined to provide a budget estimate, which he said would be determined by the justice department. He said it was too early to estimate how many witnesses would testify. He confirmed that the commission's rules — including procedures for public access and media attendance — will be published.
News24
a day ago
- Politics
- News24
Deputy Chief Justice Madlanga addresses media on inquiry into Mkhwanazi's accusations
President Cyril Ramaphosa established the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate explosive allegations of political interference and police complicity in crime made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Trump interfering in Brazil's legal process
Trump interfering in Brazil's legal process Compare & Contrast We compare and contrast how Donald Trump stayed silent when Brazil's leftist leader Lula da Silva was jailed in 2018, but has been loudly condemning the current prosecution of his far-right ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro, as a 'witch hunt'. Video Duration 00 minutes 46 seconds 00:46 Video Duration 00 minutes 53 seconds 00:53 Video Duration 00 minutes 49 seconds 00:49 Video Duration 01 minutes 12 seconds 01:12 Video Duration 01 minutes 39 seconds 01:39 Video Duration 01 minutes 20 seconds 01:20 Video Duration 00 minutes 50 seconds 00:50
News24
6 days ago
- Politics
- News24
Tender fraud allegations rock KZN education dept, MEC accused of rigging
The NSNP Service Providers Association has called for an immediate suspension of the KwaZulu-Natal school nutrition tender. It cited tender rigging and political favouritism benefitting MEC Sipho Hlomuka's ANC campaign. Opposition parties in KwaZulu-Natal have joined the calls for an urgent probe into the school nutrition programme. Opposition parties in KwaZulu-Natal have called for an urgent probe into Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka after allegations of tender rigging and political interference in tender processes surfaced. Leading the charge against Hlomuka, the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Service Providers Association called for the MEC's immediate suspension and for an investigation into the current school nutrition tender process in the province. It claimed the school nutrition tender process had been marred by serious allegations of tender rigging, political interference, and gross procedural violations. According to the association, they had obtained concrete evidence confirming that the tender process was being manipulated to serve Hlomuka's political campaign interests. It produced a leaked list of allegedly preselected service providers, received weeks ago, which it claims showed that only individuals and companies that openly supported Hlomuka's bid to lead the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal had been positioned to benefit from the multimillion-rand tender. 'This is not only an abuse of public procurement, but also an exploitation of a constitutional programme meant to feed vulnerable school children – now turned into a campaign war chest for narrow political ambitions,' said the association spokesperson Thabang Mncwabe. Mncwabe said supply chain management procedures were deliberately undermined and that they were demanding an immediate cancellation of the current NSNP tender pending a full, transparent, and independent investigation. The KwaZulu-Natal education department has outright denied allegations of the wrongful awarding of school nutrition tenders. When asked about the claims on the sidelines of a school visit in Phoenix on Tuesday, Hlomuka said he had never sat in on any tender committees. He added that the NSNP's tender process was currently in its appeals period, and that those who felt they weren't considered because of irregularities or corruption could launch appeals. Hlomuka said: That appeal won't be dealt with by the department of education, but will be handled by the Treasury. That means that we would be called in by the Treasury as the department, not Hlomuka. 'I'm sure you have never heard that there is an MEC who sits in [on] tenders. But when people want to achieve their political scores, they would put the MEC [there], as if we sit in tender committees. I have never sat in tender committees. 'Whoever wants to appeal or claim that there is corruption, they can report to the treasurer or any law enforcement and we will take ourselves to account.' According to Mncwabe, the association has called on all current service providers to urgently lodge appeals with the KwaZulu-Natal Treasury to challenge the irregularities. He said: At the end of the day, no one is above the law. The NSNP is a national programme designed to eliminate hunger, not a political tool to buy votes or consolidate power. The MK Party demanded the immediate suspension of 'the rotten and illegal tender process'. 'Let it be clear, our country is not, and will never be, a feeding trough for ANC-linked elites. The people of South Africa have suffered enough and will no longer fund political dynasties while their children starve and services collapse,' it said in a statement. The EFF said it planned to pursue every legal and political avenue to challenge the tenders. 'This is not merely a case of unethical governance, it is criminal looting of funds meant to feed impoverished children,' it said. The provincial DA has meanwhile formally written to KwaZulu-Natal Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), requesting an urgent investigation into the awarding of NSNP tenders. It alleged that there were companies linked to the wives of senior ANC figures in the province. The DA said it had called on Scopa to subpoena all procurement documents related to the awarding of the NSNP tenders, and investigate the bidding processes followed, including the scoring criteria and the identities of adjudication panel members. ActionSA's provincial chairperson Zwakele Mncwango has written to Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli requesting an urgent investigation. In the letter, the party said it was deeply concerned about the serious allegations of irregularities, corruption, and abuse of power within the departments of health and education. 'These allegations undermine the public's trust in the provincial government and its commitment to good governance, accountability, and transparency,' Mncwango wrote. 'It is particularly concerning that you [Ntuli] have remained silent on these matters, despite your previous rhetoric on issues such as illegal immigration.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US Fed independence under threat, say economists, but no one expects a July rate cut- Reuters poll
By Indradip Ghosh BENGALURU -The U.S. Federal Reserve's independence is under threat from mounting political interference, according to a clear majority of economists polled by Reuters, although no one expects a July interest rate cut despite a recent divergence in views among policymakers. President Donald Trump has made it almost a daily routine to personally attack Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the central bank's stance of holding rates due to tariff-related risks of higher inflation. A recent jump in inflation suggests businesses are now passing some of the tariffs onto consumers. Most Federal Market Open Committee members favor holding rates steady, but a few, including Governor Chris Waller and Trump appointee Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, have recently advocated a reduction as soon as July 30. Powell's term is set to expire in May 2026. Waller last week said he would accept the job as the bank's head if he was offered it by Trump. An over 70% majority of economists in the July 17-23 Reuters poll who answered an additional question, 36 of 50, said they were worried about the Fed's independence from political influence, including 10 who said they were very concerned. The remaining 14 said they were not. "I am more worried about the Fed's independence than I was a few months ago, and the main reason for that is the recent behaviour of Governors Bowman and Waller. It's very notable they are diverging from the consensus," said Philip Marey, senior U.S. strategist at Rabobank. "This year is still Powell's Fed. The current Fed is very cautious and wants to wait for the data and go only when they're sure ... It is kind of a policy paralysis at the moment and I don't think that will change as long as Powell has some grip on the FOMC," he added. All 105 economists said the Fed, which last cut its key interest rate to 4.25%-4.50% in December, will hold rates again at the conclusion of its July 29-30 meeting. Most respondents maintained their rate outlook or expected fewer reductions compared with a poll taken last month. A slight 53% majority of economists, 56 of 105, forecast a cut in September, in line with market pricing. But with less than half the year remaining, a clear consensus on where rates would be by end-2025 remains elusive. Economists are waiting for clarity on trade policies as a deadline for Trump's so-called "reciprocal" tariffs first announced in April approaches. That deadline of August 1 is itself an extension from a previous July 9 deadline. "Tariffs could affect things both in terms of higher inflation (and) it could slow the economy. The Fed doesn't know exactly what that mix is going to be and that's reason enough to wait," said Jonathan Millar, senior U.S. economist at Barclays. Just under two-thirds of forecasters expect one or two rate cuts this year, with nearly a fifth expecting no cuts at all. Interest rate futures are pricing in two reductions. The Fed will cut twice next year, poll medians showed. "We've had a very substantial easing of policy over the last few months just from the fact the dollar has weakened and improvements in equity markets. It's not as if things are really screaming out for a rate cut," Millar said. Inflation forecasts were broadly unchanged from last month, with economists forecasting it will average above the Fed's 2% target through at least 2027. The recent passage of Trump's signature spending bill, expected to add $3.4 trillion to an already enormous $36.2 trillion debt pile, poses a further risk of reigniting price pressures. The economy, which contracted 0.5% last quarter, is forecast to grow just 1.5% this year, a sharp slowdown from 2.8% in 2024. Next year, it was expected to expand 1.6%, a view that has remained steady since May. (Other stories from the Reuters global economic poll) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
