Orlando Pirates, a renowned Premier Soccer League (PSL) team, has recently received backlash on social media for their statement regarding Thembinkosi Lorch’s conviction for assaulting his exgirlfriend, Nokuphiwa Mathithibala. Lorch, a star player for the team, was found guilty by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court for the incident that occurred in September 2020. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 23.
The Constitutional Court recently denied the application for leave for a direct appeal by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) former Director General, Mr. Kgathatso Thlakudi. This decision was made in response to Mr. Thlakudi’s appeal of a Labour Court ruling that found his suspension lawful. The DPE considers this ruling as further validation of their claim that Mr. Thlakudi was evading responsibility for the misconduct that arose from a complaint involving unethical behavior in a recruitment process.
The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, led by Hon. Aaron Motswana, is taking proactive steps towards transparency and accountability. On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, a virtual oversight meeting will be held to discuss the Department of Finance’s 4th Quarter Performance Report and the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) Expenditure Report for the 2022/23 financial year.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZuluNatal (KZN) is calling for the former KZN Health MEC, Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo, to be held accountable for the alleged corruption involving the procurement of mobile clinics in 2013. This case emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in government departments and the need for adherence to procurement procedures.
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Thembi Nkadimeng, has recently expressed her support and appreciation for the 2021/22 audit reports released by the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) on 31 May 2023. The audit reports provide valuable insights into the performance of individual municipalities across the country under the theme of “A culture of accountability will improve service delivery.”
The Office of the Health Ombud in South Africa is bidding farewell to its first Ombud, Professor Malegapuru William Makgoba. His nonrenewable sevenyear term comes to an end on May 31, 2023. Professor Makgoba played a vital role in shaping the office’s work during his tenure, and his unique perspective and dedication to his role contributed to the growth and development of the Office of the Health Ombud.
South Africa ranks 69th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index. Corruption in government institutions is a pervasive problem that undermines public trust and diverts resources from important public services. The Gauteng MEC’s celebration of the arrest of a corrupt official is a small but significant step towards combating corruption in the country.
During his address, Deputy President Mashatile touched upon a range of topics that have been affecting South Africa and its citizens. Apart from acknowledging the devastating impact of the COVID19 pandemic, he also spoke about the government’s efforts to combat it.
On May 22nd, 2023, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, held a briefing that covered several pressing issues. The agenda included topics such as the issuance of an ID to Thabo Bester, the revocation of a South African passport, and Dr. Nandipha Magudumana’s urgent court application against the State.
The North West Provincial Legislature Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts has scheduled MFMA public hearings for May 24th, 2023. The hearings will focus on the 2019/20 audit reports of Mamusa, Kgetleng, and Ditsobotla Local Municipalities and aim to promote transparency and accountability in local government.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has made a significant step in the fight against fraud and corruption in South Africa by recovering R71.4 million linked to Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) claims. ### Misappropriation of TERS Funds
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been investigating fraudulent claims submitted to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) under the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS). The investigations have uncovered a web of deceit and exploitation, emphasizing the significance of transparency and accountability in the allocation of public resources.
The University of South Africa (Unisa) is currently facing intense scrutiny over allegations of excessive spending on nonessential items. This has raised concerns about governance failures and misplaced priorities at the institution. ## Controversy Over the Curtains
The South African Information Regulator has taken a major step towards increasing transparency and accountability within the country’s political parties. In a recent announcement, the Regulator revealed plans to conduct a series of assessments of political parties’ compliance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2, 2000 (PAIA).
Assuming the role of Eskom CEO in January 2020, André de Ruyter soon discovered why it was considered the most challenging job in South Africa. In his newly published book, “Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom” by Random House Publishers, the former CEO takes readers on a journey through boardrooms and government meetings, unveiling the inner dynamics of the stateowned enterprise.
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) is scheduled to hold a series of virtual Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) public hearings. These hearings aim to scrutinize the 2021/22 audit reports of various key organizations. The primary objective is to provide a platform for indepth discussions and gather essential insights into the responses to questions arising from the Auditor General’s reports.