Special Tribunal Freezes Two Properties Bought With Lottery Funds
Funds meant for an agricultural project to benefit 1,900 unemployed people were used to buy homes for directors of non-profit organisations
Nelspruit
This May Be as Good as a Master’s Office Gets in South Africa
Sources close to the Bloemfontein Master’s Office rate it higher than Master’s offices in other major centres GroundUp has investigated
Government Admits to Major Challenges at Mbombela Master’s Office
Backlogs and a shortage of properly qualified personnel have led to a crisis at the office
This Might Be the Worst Master’s Office in the Country
Lawyers says backlogs in Mbombela have created an “unacceptable” situation with people waiting lengthy periods for routine matters to be finalised
More Than R36-Million in Lottery Money Has Been Spent on This Old Age Home in Nine Years. But It Is Still Not Ready
The home in eDumbe, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, is one of several projects under investigation by the SIU
No to Mbombela’s Proposed Electricity Tariff Increase of 11,6%
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) rejects the Mbombela Local Municipality’s (Mbombela/Nelspruit, Barberton, Hazyview, Kaapsehoop, Skukuza, White River) proposed 11,6% electricity tariff increase for the 2026/2027 financial year. This increase is unjustifiable and needlessly puts further financial strain on residents and businesses already struggling to make ends meet due to the high cost of living. […]
The post Freedom Front Plus says no to Mbombela’s proposed electricity tariff increase of 11,6% appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Mbombela Needs to Provide Clarity on Land Audit
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) demands clarity on the Mbombela Local Municipality’s land audit that has been dragging on for years. The ANC government should be held accountable for the lack of transparency regarding state-owned land in the Municipality. The Council resolved, as far back as 30 November 2017, that the finalised land audit […]
The post Mbombela needs to provide clarity on land audit appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Corruption-Riddled Lottery Projects Incomplete Despite Promised R65-Million
After three years of no progress, their fate is still to be decided according to the NLC
Residents Pay the Price for Mbombela’s Failure to Replace Faulty Electricity Meters
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is inundated with complaints from residents who are receiving fines because the Mbombela Local Municipality (Nelspruit, Barberton, White River) has failed to replace faulty prepaid electricity meters that the Municipality itself bypassed. The fines stem from the Municipality’s tariff policy, which treats any form of bypassing as tampering – […]
The post Residents pay the price for Mbombela’s failure to replace faulty electricity meters appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Mbombela’s 90-Day Amnesty Plan Rejected
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) was the only party to vote against the decision by the Mbombela Local Municipality (Mbombela/Nelspruit, Barberton, Hazyview, Kaapschehoop, Skukuza, White River) to grant a 90-day amnesty to residents with illegal water and electricity connections as well as tampered meters. The proposal, approved during the Municipality’s latest council meeting, allows […]
The post Freedom Front Plus rejects Mbombela’s 90-day amnesty for illegal consumption appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Mbombela Keeps Councillors in the Dark
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is deeply concerned about the failure of the Mbombela Local Municipality (Nelspruit, Hazyview, White River, Barberton) to keep councillors informed of critical matters, because it is hampering the implementation of council decisions. As the highest decision-making body, the Municipal Council relies on designated departments to execute its decisions. Poor […]
The post Mbombela keeps councillors in the dark appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
About Those Mbombela Officials Overseas Trips
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) condemns the decision of the Mbombela Local Municipality (Nelspruit, Hazyview, White River, Barberton) to send two additional delegates to the 2025 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, with taxpayers footing the bill. Mbombela’s water service provider, Silulumanzi, invited the Executive Mayor, Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, and the Municipal Manager, Mr Wiseman […]
The post Freedom Front Plus cannot endorse overseas trips for Mbombela officials appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Fidelity Fire Service Is Unlawful, Says City of Cape Town
But Fidelity says it is “confident that no existing laws prohibit or restrict” its private service
VF Plus Motion to Cut Services to Provincial and National Government Rejected
The ANC is putting itself before the residents of the Mbombela Local Municipality (Mbombela/Nelspruit, Barberton, Hazyview, Kaapsehoop, Skukuza, White River) by refusing to support the Freedom Front Plus’s (VF Plus) motion concerning the provincial and national government’s outstanding debt of R241 million. This amount is owed to Mbombela for services rendered over the past thousand […]
The post Mbombela: VF Plus motion to cut services to provincial and national government rejected appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Luxury Home of Lottery “Kingpin” Frozen by Special Tribunal
Non-profit organisation headed by Alfred Sigudhla received nearly R70-million from the Lottery
Government adopts improved approach to curb road crashes
Government adopts improved approach to curb road crashes
Over the last two months, government has adopted an improved approach to managing road safety and it has resulted in a decrease in road crashes.
“The consequence of these actions is that we saw a 10% month-on-month decline in accidents in January 2025 compared with January 2024, and a 25% decline in accidents when one compares February 2025 with February 2024,” Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, said on Thursday.
As part of this strategy, the Department of Transport has deployed the National Traffic Police on key routes at month end, deepened cooperation and focused on high-risk areas amongst national, provincial and municipal traffic officers. It also focuses on arresting pedestrians who walk on highways.
During this period 21 282 fines were issued to drivers for speeding, and over 3 000 drivers were arrested for drunk driving during January and February. About 12 000 illegal vehicles were impounded.
The Minister was speaking during the launch of the 2025 Easter Season Road Safety Arrive Alive campaign, that is taking place from 20 March to 2 May 2025, under the theme: “It begins with Me”.
“We chose this theme because driver and pedestrian behaviour is responsible for 87% of road accidents and fatalities in our country. And so, reducing road fatalities and accidents is the responsibility of each one of us.
“The National Traffic Police, [including] South African Police Services provincial traffic departments, Cross Border Road Traffic Agency, Border Management Agency, the metros and local authorities, will work together to patrol routes leading to Limpopo, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, Free State, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. High visibility will also be maintained in Gauteng.
“We have identified the most critical routes across the country requiring additional resources and more focused monitoring over this period,” she said.
These include among others, the following:
- The N4 Nelspruit;
- Mankweng (R71);
- Libode on the N2, Mthatha’s R61;
- Parys (FS), R54;
- Harrismith and the N3;
- KwaDukuza, N2 in KZN and
- N4 Middleburg in Mpumalanga.
Over the next six weeks the department will focus on working with the bus industry to check vehicle roadworthiness and educate drivers on fatigue management ahead of the Easer weekend.
Meetings will also be held with faith-based sector to support safe and appropriate travel arrangements to the big events over the Easter weekend. Taxi ranks will be visited to inspect vehicles and safer driving practices will be promoted. -SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 03/20/2025 - 14:09
121 views
Forced removals will ‘never’ be perpetrated again – President Ramaphosa
Forced removals will 'never' be perpetrated again - President Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised that the deep historical wounds caused by the racist apartheid-era Natives Land Act are the reason the South African democratic government “will never allow forced removals again”.
President Ramaphosa was replying to the debate of the State of the Nation (SONA) address held on Tuesday and Wednesday in which many speakers based their remarks on the land question.
In January this year, President Ramaphosa promulgated the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 which states that property may not be expropriated arbitrarily or for a purpose other than a public purpose or in the public interest and subject to just and equitable compensation.
“A number of the speakers during this debate spoke about the land question, which I have in the past said was the original sin that was committed against the people of our country.
“Describing the Natives Land Act of 1913, Solomon T Plaatje described the Natives Land Act of 1913 as ‘an insidious law that rendered black South Africans pariahs in the land of their birth’. It is this Natives Land Act that plunged millions of people into poverty and deprivation, whose impact endures to this day,” the President said in reply to the debate on Thursday.
Some 57 years ago in Cape Town, the Apartheid government perpetrated what President Ramaphosa described as one of the “most painful chapters in the history of this country”.
At the time, the Apartheid government demolished District Six to give way for a “whites-only suburb” with some 60 000 people forcibly removed from their homes as a result.
“Over the course of two decades, the apartheid regime forcibly removed more than 3.5 million people in District Six, Sophiatown, Marabastad, Cato Manor, Kroonstad, Nelspruit and many other places across the country. It was one of the largest mass removals of people in modern history.
“There are some in this House today who have memories of their families being forcibly removed from their land. There are millions more across the country who still experience the effects of this monstrous crime.
“The people of this country know the pain of forced removals. That is why we will never allow forced removals again,” he explained.
President Ramaphosa emphasised that the tragic forced removals of the Apartheid government are part of the reason why the Constitution now:
• prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of property; and
• requires just and equitable compensation be paid in the event of expropriation for a public purpose or in the public interest
“Our experience of forced removals also explains the Constitutional requirement that the state must take reasonable measures, within its available resources, to foster conditions which enable citizens to gain access to land on an equitable basis.
“Today, District Six rings with the sounds of families who have been returned to the land that was taken from them. Yet, like the transformation of our society, the process of restitution is not complete. There is still much that needs to be done to heal the divisions of the past,” he said.
The President reflected on the continuous, “long and hard” road to building a nation free from the shackles of institutionalised racism and “united in its diversity”.
“We are firmly committed to the fundamental principle that South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
“We are firmly committed to a society that is non-racial and non-sexist. We want to live together in peace, harmony and equality. We want to see our country succeed and grow. We must not allow others to define us or to divide us,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 16:28
72 views
Security officers to appear in court
Security officers to appear in court
A group of security personnel are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Friday after they were found in possession of fraudulently acquired competency certificates.
In a statement on Saturday, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), said firearm competency certificates are required by law to certify that individuals are properly trained and qualified to handle firearms safely and responsibly.
“The Hawks' Nelspruit based Serious Corruption Investigation, Priority Crime Management Centre (PCMC) and a private security company's joint investigation paid off as 21 security personnel were summoned to court after they were found in possession of fraudulently acquired competency certificates in February 2024,” said the Hawks.
This as a third group made up of six suspects are due to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on Friday, 31 January, with the exception of the seventh suspect who has since passed away.
The appearance of the six follows on the appearance of the second group of seven suspects in court on Friday, 24 January. The first group of seven suspects appeared in court on 17 January.
“In both appearances, the suspects were released by the court and warned to appear before the same court again on 07 February 2025,” said the Hawks, adding that three other suspects (two women and a man) suspected to be the masterminds in orchestrating the fraudulent activities and receiving gratuity, will also be summoned to court on a date that is yet to be confirmed.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, warned that fraudulently acquired competency certificates poses a serious threat to the holder and other people.
The Major General said the unqualified competency certificate holder may increase the chances of accidents and damage to security reputation. He called on security companies to verify such reports with the issuing authority.
The directorate said the investigation was prioritised to ensure the safety of the inhabitants of South Africa by not allowing firearms to be in the wrong hands.
“The fact that the firearms were going to be in the hands of people who are entrusted to provide safety and security to human lives and property is one of the many reasons the investigation received priority attention.
The investigation was launched shortly after the private security company learned that some of their employees were in possession of fraudulently acquired and unregistered competency certificates,” said the Hawks. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 01/27/2025 - 09:52
4 views
Minister George applauds hefty sentence imposed on poacher
Minister George applauds hefty sentence imposed on poacher
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Dr Dion George, has applauded the 18-year prison sentence that was handed down to the 51-year-old Congolese rhino poacher and money launderer by the Middelburg Regional Court last week.
During a brief appearance in court on Wednesday, the suspect pleaded guilty to all charges, whilst his 15 co-accused are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela this month.
The sentencing comes shortly after the Minister attended a course at the Southern African Wildlife College where he not only gained invaluable ranger skills, but also vital insight into the complexities the country is facing on the issue of poaching and the illicit trade of wildlife and wildlife derivatives.
“I can assure South Africans that poachers’ reign of terror on South African wildlife is coming to an end. The sentence imposed on the Congolese poacher is indicative of our renewed zero-tolerance stance on all forms of poaching, and we believe that the justice system will also find the rest of the suspected syndicate members guilty,” George said.
George was, however, disheartened by the fact that the poacher, who operated in the Kruger National Park, worked in partnership with locals. Reports indicate that the members of the syndicate bribed Kruger National Park rangers in exchange for information that aided their illicit activities.
“These few bad apple rangers and locals will not taint the great work done by the many dedicated rangers we have working our parks. South Africans should continue to support the rangers who put their lives at risk and remain committed to protecting our country’s vulnerable wildlife,” he emphasised.
In sending out a strong message that poaching will never be tolerated in the country, the Minister has instructed the legal team to oppose bail for any poacher caught within the country’s national parks.
“This will send a clear message that poaching is economic sabotage, and those who engage in it will face the full might of the law,” George said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Sun, 01/19/2025 - 15:27
289 views
Alarming rise in HIV
Needle programs are officially supported, but the state often obstructs them
Corrupt traffic officers arrested in Mpumalanga
Corrupt traffic officers arrested in Mpumalanga
Law enforcement agencies have arrested a further 13 traffic officers in different towns in Mpumalanga in a clean-up anti-corruption operation aimed at restoring discipline and ethical conduct in the traffic law enforcement sector.
This brings the total number of arrested officials to 39 following the arrest of 14 officials in the same province on Monday while 11 other officers were handcuffed in Polokwane, Limpopo last week and a weighbridge master was caught in Belfast, Mpumalanga.
The 13 officers arrested on Tuesday were caught in a joint operation conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) National Anti-Corruption Unit, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and Mpumalanga based Crime Intelligence.
The 13 suspects were nabbed in Nelspruit, Kabokweni, KwaNyamazane, Hazyview, Barberton, White River and Calcutta just outside of Mbombela.
Some of the suspects have appeared in different magistrate courts and were all granted bail ranging from R2 500 to R10.000.
They are expected to hand over their passports to the investigating officer, and not leave their hometowns without permission from the investigating officer.
RTMC Chief Executive Officer Advocate Makhosini Msibi has welcomed the arrests and said they will send a message that corruption within traffic law enforcement will not be tolerated.
“Corrupt officials have for a long time operated with impunity and turned the noble duty of enforcing the law into a self-enrichment scheme. This must come to an end. South Africa deserves ethical officers who conduct themselves with discipline and integrity,” he said.
He commended all the officers involved in the investigations that led to the arrests to a job well done. He called on them not to rest until all the “rotten apples have been removed”.
Corrupt officers erode public confidence in the traffic law enforcement and create condition where motorists can violate the rules of the road without consequence leading to avoidable road crashes and fatalities.
The RTMC urges the public to report traffic fraud and corruption on Ntacu@rtmc.co.za or Whatsapp on 083 293 7989. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 09/18/2024 - 09:16
274 views
Young perfumer’s sweet smell of success
Young perfumer’s sweet smell of success
By Khanyisile Rasmeni
Phumulile Mkhonza of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga is growing as a perfumer and revolutionising the African fragrance industry.
Mkhonza is the owner of PSD Scent Perfumes, a business that she started in 2019 but only registered in 2022.
It specialises in high quality personal care products including perfumes for men and women, body lotions, body butters, tissue oils, home diffusers, and car air-fresheners.
Mkhonza enrolled for a three-month perfume-making course while studying at the University of Johannesburg for a degree in political science.
“I decided to launch my own perfume brand due to my love for perfume making. I registered the business while I was still employed. In August 2023, I decided to resign from my job and focus solely on my business,” she said.
The 31-year-old Mkhonza said she has distributors across the country who buy her products in bulk and resell them. Her footprint also spans across three African countries including Swaziland, Mozambique and Nigeria.
Mkhonza was guided by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) to start exporting her products beyond South African borders.
“I was able to establish relationships with other entrepreneurs based in these countries through the entrepreneurship development programmes [offered by Seda] that I have been part of,” she said.
In 2022, she received R671 000 from the Mpumalanga Office of the Premier’s Youth Development Fund Programme.
She further received financial assistance from Seda to purchase assets for the business in 2024.
Her business currently employs eight people.
The entrepreneur also holds an honours and master’s degrees in public management and governance.
For more information, contact PSD Scent Perfumes on 064 505 4838, or on WhatsApp at 072 060 6093 or on email at info@psdscent.co.za and www.psdscent.co.za.
You can visit the Mpumalanga Office of the Premier website at www.mpumalanga.gov.za or call 013 766 0000/2473. Visit Seda by logging on to www.seda.org.za or call 087 158 7991.
*This article first appeared in Vuk’uzenzele
Janine
Thu, 08/22/2024 - 10:05
220 views
Police record major successes in breaking syndicates, gangs
Police record major successes in breaking syndicates, gangs
With recent successes in arresting members of organised criminal syndicates and gangs, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has demonstrated its commitment and dedication to fighting serious and violent crimes.
This is according to SAPS National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, who briefed the media on Thursday.
“We are responding decisively to the war declared by criminals and we remain resolute in our efforts to fight crime and anyone who threatens the safety and security of law abiding citizens and have thus adopted an aggressive approach in ensuring that we stamp the authority of the state,” Masemola said in Johannesburg.
Providing an update on the countrywide police operations, Masemola said the recent successes in crime fighting shows that police are tightening their grip on serious and violent crime, thus putting them one step ahead of criminals.
“Through our high density operations that sees the Provincial Commissioner of each province actively taking part and leading operations on the ground, we have been able to secure the arrest of 766 237 suspects for various crimes.
“These include 161 752 wanted suspects for priority crimes, including murder, cash-in-transit armed robberies, sexual offences, rape, car hijacking and firearm-related offences.
“We have established and beefed up cash-in-transit task teams, particularly in the Eastern Cape, where a number of them have been recorded in the month of July. In the past month alone, 13 cash in transit robbers were arrested in the province while six suspects were fatally wounded during confrontation with police,” Masemola said.
The police have also registered a breakthrough with the arrest of at least ten suspects linked to ATM bombings in Gauteng.
Eight of the suspects were intercepted in Katlehong, Thokoza, and Soweto in Gauteng while another two were traced to Senekal in the Free State.
“These arrests were effected with the assistance of our partners in the banking sector and key stakeholders in the fight against crime. These suspects are being linked to more than 20 ATM bombings that took place in Soweto and the East Rand,” he said.
Furthermore, a gang of 44 suspects were intercepted by Gauteng police three weeks ago at a liquor warehouse in Kempton Park.
“The suspects were caught in the act of loading alcohol worth R15 million into four different trucks. The suspects have already appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate Court on a charge of business robbery,” the National Commissioner said.
Drug busts
In the last two weeks, a clandestine drug lab worth R2 billion was shut down in Limpopo where two Mexican nationals are among the five suspects arrested.
“In the Western Cape, R252 million worth of cocaine was seized at a roadblock in Stillbaai. A Russian national is among two suspects arrested in this case. In the same week, police also seized R40 million worth of dagga in Magaliesburg here in Gauteng.
“Mpumalanga has also registered a number of successes in relation to major drug busts. Between May and June this year, R4 million worth of dagga, R4 million worth of cocaine and R4 million worth of Crystal meth was seized in different parts of the province, including Nelspruit and Komatipoort.
“We have destroyed large quantities of drugs worth R2 billion in 12 months. These include cocaine, crystal meth and unregistered medicines. Through Operation Shanela, 21 161 criminals were arrested for dealing in drugs while 64 351 were arrested for being in possession of drugs,” the National Commissioner said.
The ongoing gang related violence in the Eastern and Western Cape and Gauteng continues to receive priority with the deployment of the Anti Gang Unit and specialised units in identified hotspots.
“Dedicated interventions are continuing and several gang leaders and members have been arrested in the past six months. These include 64 gang members arrested in Westbury. Thirty-four of them belong to the Fast gang group that were operating in Westbury, Langlaagte and Eldorado Park. During this period, 36 gang members from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo were convicted to a collective 350 year’s imprisonment,” he said.
In the last seven days, 106 firearms were confiscated during operations across the country. Forty of these firearms were seized in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Of the 106 firearms, 90 are hand guns, eight are homemade firearms, seven are rifles while one shotgun was seized.
In two years, more than 20 000 firearms have been seized from all corners of the country.
“In the Western Cape where we experience a lot of firearm related gang violence, 3100 firearms have been confiscated to date while in Gauteng, 673 firearms have been seized during tracing operations during a 12 month period,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 08/01/2024 - 12:16
79 views
SASSA, departments to offer services to Elandshoek community
SASSA, departments to offer services to Elandshoek community
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga and other key government stakeholders will provide services to the Elandshoek community, located on the outskirts of the N4 in Mbombela, today.
According to SASSA, the Integrated Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) aims to bring services closer to people and ensure that communities have full access to SASSA social grant services.
The Departments of Home Affairs, Health and Social Development and the local municipality will be joining SASSA in their outreach programme.
“The agency identified this area because it is an informal settlement and transport is costly for clients. This community travels 77 kilometres to reach the SASSA Nelspruit service office.
“The majority of the Elandshoek community depend on social grants and many are foreigners from Mozambique and Eswatini, some are naturalised citizens and make a living through seasonal employment at the agricultural farms,” the agency explained.
SASSA will be educating the public to empower them about social grant information.
“Access and equal opportunity are essential human rights, enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.”
The agency will render several services including grant application, Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) COVID-19 grant enquiries and change of payment method.
In addition, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), South African Police Service (SAPS), and the banking institutions will be also servicing the community.
For more information contact the toll-free number during working hours on 0800 60 10 11 or send a WhatsApp message to 082 046 8553. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 06/21/2024 - 10:32
291 views