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News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff
GOOD Statement by Brett Herron ,GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament 11 June 2025 Today, on International Day of Play, the GOOD Party stands in defence of every child’s right to play – safely, freely, and with dignity. Play is not a privilege. It is a right, enshrined in Article 31 […]
The post INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PLAY: A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE appeared first on For Good.
We visited hostels in Gugulethu which were overcrowded and falling apart
Former PRASA regional manager and Cape Town businessman won’t be back in the dock for more than a month
GOOD Statement by Siyabulela Mamkeli,GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor 10 June 2025 The GOOD Party is appalled by the inhumane and unsanitary conditions witnessed at Heideveld Hospital. A symptom of a public healthcare system that is broken, underfunded, and in desperate need of urgent intervention. GOOD has seen deeply disturbing footage of a young […]
The post GOOD SHOCKED BY DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AT HEIDEVELD HOSPITAL appeared first on For Good.
GOOD Statement by Jonathan Cupido ,GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor & Caucus Whip 06 June 2025 Today’s events at the Mfuleni taxi rank are yet another tragic reminder of a system in crisis, a lived reality for too many commuters who navigate our public transport interchanges in constant fear. The GOOD Party is deeply […]
The post MFULENI TAXI RANK SHOOTING: A LIVED EXPERIENCE OF A FAILING SYSTEM appeared first on For Good.
Immigration official rejected the asylum application of a man from Chad who was imprisoned solely for homosexuality
GOOD Statement by Patricia de Lille ,GOOD Leader & Minister of Tourism 04 June 2025 The GOOD Party extends our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and all music lovers mourning the passing of Rashid Lombard, a cultural icon whose contributions helped shape the soul of our nation. A recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga […]
The post RASHID LOMBARD: A GIANT OF JAZZ, JUSTICE, AND JOURNALISM appeared first on For Good.
The GOOD Party is calling for urgent action against an allegedly irregular and unqualified medical practice exploiting the healthcare vacuum in Atlantis, putting lives at risk and undermining trust in the health system. A chronic lack of access to adequate provincial healthcare has left the community of Atlantis vulnerable, and into that void stepped Sister […]
The post HEALTHCARE HIJACKED: GOOD PARTY DEMANDS CRACKDOWN ON UNQUALIFIED PRACTITIONER EXPLOITING ATLANTIS COMMUNITY appeared first on For Good.
GOOD Statement by Brett Herron ,GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament 03 June 2025 Today, a female body was discovered during a community search for missing teenager, Chanelle Plaatjies. Chanelle was reported missing by her mother on May 28. We do not yet have confirmation that the body is hers nor […]
The post CHANELLE PLAATJIES IS MORE THAN A NAME: THE WESTERN CAPE’S FAILURE TO PROTECT ITS GIRLS appeared first on For Good.
Union Against Hunger shines light on the right to food
GOOD Statement by Brett Herron ,GOOD Secretary-General 29 May 2025 George Councillor Chantelle Kyd was the MMC for Planning in a coalition municipal government led by the DA, and the leading advocate in council for transparency around investigations into the collapsed George building, which claimed 34 lives last year. But when the Council meets to […]
The post GEORGE BUILDING COLLAPSE: GOOD EXITS COUNCIL COALITION AFTER PLANNING MMC BANNED FROM SPEAKING appeared first on For Good.
GOOD Speech by Brett Herron,GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament 29 May 2025 *Note to editor: This speech was delivered by GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament Brett Herron during today’s interpellation on public land under the authority of the Western Cape Government. A week ago, I stood here […]
The post VACANT LAND: FROM OCCUPATION TO OWNERSHIP appeared first on For Good.
One of the most high-profile cases, which was meant to serve as evidence of a deeply entrenched culture of racism at Stellenbosch University (SU), has ended in the accused being found not guilty. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is pleased that this attempt to make a scapegoat of him is now over. The case […]
The post Theuns du Toit found not guilty of crimen injuria and malicious damage to property appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
GOOD Statement by Rosa Louw,GOOD George Municipality Councillor 27 May 2025 The GOOD Party supports the precautionary suspension of Monde Stratu, the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) municipal manager, and John Daniels, head of GRDM’s roads department, as resolved at today’s Special Council Meeting. The suspensions follow serious allegations of misconduct linked to the Roads Agency Function […]
The post GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY: GOOD PARTY SUPPORTS PRECAUTIONARY SUSPENSION OF SENIOR MUNICIPAL MANAGERS appeared first on For Good.
GOOD Statement by Brett Herron ,GOOD Secretary General & Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament 27 May 2025 The Western Cape Government has once again turned to its favourite scapegoat, National Government, calling for the devolution of policing powers as if that alone will put an end to the bloodshed on our streets. This […]
The post DEVOLUTION ISN’T A CURE, IT’S A DISTRACTION appeared first on For Good.
The DA has outrageously washed its hands of responsibility for transforming the culture of gangsterism in the Western Cape until it is given control of the police.
The party has been running the governments of Cape Town and the Western Cape for nearly two decades, more than long enough to implement its policies and programmes, but it takes no responsibility for gangsterism, which it blames solely on incompetent national policing.
The post DA RESPONSE TO RUPERT ABROGATES RESPONSIBILITY FOR WESTERN CAPE GANGSTERISM appeared first on For Good.
People must be able to access asylum system even if they don’t have valid transit visas
Colder weather expected next week
South Africans can brace themselves for cold weather conditions in the new week as two cold frontal systems are expected to develop from Monday until Friday.
According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), the two cold frontal systems are expected to develop from 19 until 23 May 2025 with a high likelihood of disrupting the current mild to warm weather conditions that has been prevailing for some days.
“On Monday, 19 May, a cold front will make landfall over the south-western parts of the country, resulting in wet, cold, and windy conditions over the western parts of the Western Cape. While this system will not be intense, it serves as a precursor to the more significant weather system that will follow the next day.
“On Tuesday, 20 May, the above-mentioned weather conditions will spread to the east, affecting the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape,” the weather service said.
This continued impact of the weather conditions will be due to a well-developed cold front, resulting in isolated to scattered showers and rain.
Rainfall accumulations are expected to range between 15 to 25 mm, with a possibility of reaching 30 to 50 mm in mountainous areas.
“The persistent and continuous rainy conditions may lead to localised floods, particularly in areas with poor drainage and low-lying regions. Strong and gusty westerly to north-westerly winds, with wind speeds averaging between 55 and 65 km/h, are expected across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and the Eastern Cape more especially over the interior.
“Possible impacts might result in outdoor activities being disrupted with a high likelihood of localised damage to infrastructure, uprooted trees, increased traveling time on the roads, problems for high sided vehicles, especially along the national routes through the provinces as well as disruptions to power lines,” SAWS said.
For maritime operators and coastal residents, westerly to north-westerly gale-force winds (65-75 km/h) are expected along the coastline, particularly from Alexander Bay through to Plettenberg Bay.
These high winds will result in very rough seas on Tuesday and Wednesday, leading to sea conditions that could impact small vessels and coastal activities.
There is also a possibility of abnormal waves along the south-eastern coast, with wave heights of 5 metres to 6.5 metres, occasionally peaking at 7 metres, with a 10 seconds wave period on Wednesday.
“In addition, freezing levels are expected to drop considerably, creating conditions favourable for some snowfall over high-lying areas and a general drop in temperatures. These very cold conditions are expected to spread to the central and the eastern parts of the country from Tuesday late evening, persisting until Friday morning, 23 May 2025,” SAWS said.
The weather service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to the weather systems and will issue subsequent updates as required.
Updates may be followed on X (@SAWeatherServic), Facebook (South African Weather Service) or other SAWS-supported social media platforms. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 05/18/2025 - 12:10
The countdown is on! From 20-22 May 2025, the vibrant city of Cape Town will host Enlit Africa, the continent's most electrifying gathering of power, energy and water professionals. This is not just an event—it's a call to spark transformation, forge connections and power a sustainable future for Africa and beyond. With a dynamic programme bursting with innovation, inspiration and actionable insights, Enlit Africa is set to be the unmissable epicentre of Africa's energy and water revolution.
A powerhouse of vision and innovation
Enlit Africa 2025 is where the brightest minds, boldest ideas and cutting-edge technologies converge to shape the future of Africa's power, energy and water sectors. Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, this three-day extravaganza will bring together utilities, policymakers, innovators, investors and thought leaders from across the continent and the globe. Expect nothing less than a high-voltage experience, with over 200 expert speakers, thousands of attendees and a programme designed to ignite change and challenge the status quo
From the Keynote Stage, where global visionaries like Sabine Dall'Omo, CEO of Siemens South Africa and Bronwyn Williams, Futurist at Flux Trends, will set the tone for transformation, to the Strategise Stage, tackling critical topics like nuclear energy and regional interconnectors, Enlit Africa is a catalyst for progress. The Innovate Stage will showcase breakthroughs in smart grids and digitalisation, while the Power Hub dives deep into generation and distribution advancements, including the game-changing potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and green hydrogen.
Water Security Africa: A Vital Focus
Running alongside Enlit Africa, Water Security Africa will tackle one of the continent's most pressing challenges—sustainable water management. With sessions on desalination, smart metering and climate-resilient infrastructure, this dedicated track features trailblazers like Sean Phillips, Director General, Department of Water & Sanitation and Jay Bhagwan, Water Research Commission, who will share strategies to secure Africa's water future. Highlights include the Youth in Water Forum, spotlighting young innovators and a GreenCape-hosted workshop to scale water security initiatives.
Unparalleled networking and business opportunities
Enlit Africa is more than a conference—it's a networking powerhouse. Connect with peers, partners and pioneers at the Engage Networking Dinner (sponsored by Standard Bank) or the Networking Function (sponsored by Actom).
Dive into exclusive roundtables, masterclasses and the Projects & Investment Network, designed to turn ideas into bankable projects. For those looking to explore real-world innovation, site visits on 23 May to Robben Island, Western Cape Water facilities and more offer a front-row seat to Africa's energy and water infrastructure.
The Women in Energy programme on 21 May is a highlight, celebrating female leadership with the launch of Standard Bank's Future Females in Energy Initiative and powerful discussions on tackling gender-based violence (GBV) and fostering inclusive workplaces. With speakers like Candice Hartley, Chief People Officer at Eskom, this session is a call to action for equality and empowerment.
Why you can't miss Enlit Africa 2025
Programme highlights
For water enthusiasts, Water Security Africa offers roundtables on projects like South Africa's National desalination initiative and discussions on municipal water delivery with leaders like Shyam Misra, Group MD of Siza Water.
Join the movement
With just two weeks to go, now is the time to secure your spot at Enlit Africa 2025. Choose from a range of attendance options, from the Free Expo Visitor Pass to the Platinum Package, which includes exclusive access to strategic sessions, networking dinners and site visits. Visit Enlit Africa on www.Enlit-Africa.com or contact Vuyisa Mfobo at vuyisamfobo@wearevuka.com or +27 66 305 7203 to upgrade your experience.
Don't miss your chance to be part of the event that's lighting up Africa's energy and water future. Enlit Africa 2025 is where connections are made, ideas are born and the continent's sustainable tomorrow takes shape. Let's power up, innovate and transform—together!
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vuka Group.
Note: Programme details and speakers are subject to change.
For media inquiries, contact:
VUKA Group Media Team
Email: media@wearevuka.com
Website: www.Enlit-Africa.com
About Enlit Africa:
Enlit Africa celebrates 25 years in the African power, energy, and water sector. A game-changing event, it brings the top manufacturers, associations, institutions, and government leaders together to shape a sustainable, prosperous energy and water future for Africa. A leading power, energy and water conference and exhibition, Enlit Africa is designed to provide a unique platform to connect decision-makers and determine Africa's future direction of travel.
Enlit Africa takes place from 20 - 22 May 2025 at the CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa. The event is CPD accredited by the SAIEE and SAICE, thereby contributing to the professional development of industry experts.
For more information, please visit the Enlit Africa website at https://Enlit-Africa.com/ or contact our team at info@enlit-africa.com.
About The Vuka Group:
VUKA Group brings people and organisations together to connect with information and each other in meaningful conversations to reach the next level of growth in their industry ecosystem. With 20 years of experience in Africa, the group serves the Energy, Mining, Smart Mobility, Transport and Retail sectors, through a range of industry touchpoints across digital, print and in-person platforms. With a commitment to data at its core, the group is well-positioned to support industry stakeholders today and into the future. Operating from Cape Town, South Africa the group is actively involved in projects across continental Africa and boasts a diverse African team who take great pride in the work they do for the sectors and markets they serve.
G20 Development Working Group meeting to get underway
The South African Presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) is this week convening the second Development Working Group (DWG) meeting in the Western Cape.
“The G20 DWG plays a pivotal role in shaping global development priorities, focusing on reducing inequalities, promoting sustainable growth, and strengthening international partnerships,” the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation said.
Starting on Monday, 14 April and ending on Wednesday, 16 April, the meeting will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions on key development challenges and cooperative solutions.
The G20 is an international forum of both developing and developed countries, which seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues.
South Africa’s G20 Presidency commenced on 1 December 2024 and will run until 30 November 2025.
The gathering will bring together representatives from G20 member states, invited countries, and international organisations to deliberate on policies that foster inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
In alignment with the theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, the discussions will focus on three high-level priorities:
• High-Level Principles on Global Public Goods and Global Public Investment.
• Mobilising Finance for Development and Means of Implementation.
• Building Resilience through Universal Social Protection Floors.
The G20 members represent around 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
It comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and two regional bodies, namely the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU).
The three-day meeting is taking place at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset. -SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 04/14/2025 - 10:08
6 views
Minister reaffirms commitment to efficient policing
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has reaffirmed the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) commitment to realising an efficient, effective, and responsible police service.
“… I want to reaffirm our commitment. We are committed to realising an efficient, effective, and responsible police service; one that reflects the values and aspirations of our democracy. This is non-negotiable,” the Minister said.
Mchunu was addressing a media briefing on the outcomes of the recently held three-day National Policing Summit.
“The people of South Africa demand policing that is efficient, effective, and accountable. The people of South Africa demand a police service that is worthy of their trust, and most importantly, the people of South Africa demand that we act.”
WATCH |
At Friday’s briefing in Pretoria, the Minister said that the priorities of the police are to reduce murder, remove unnecessary firearms from communities, remove drugs, fight gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and organised crime.
The police are also aware of the increases in crimes such as kidnappings, extortion, cash-in-transit heists and stock theft.
Additionally, police have classified the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape as hotspots.
“As a means of effectively reducing crime, we have identified several key enablers, inclusive of using and improving our technology, strengthening our crime intelligence, capacitating and upskilling our detective services, improving and expanding our forensic services and improving the general environment under which police officers work.
“We have made mention of the budgetary constraints, but we have also committed to maximising the budget allocated and the resources at our disposal.
“Business has also come on board and through that partnership, there are projects aimed at capacitating, particularly our detective services, improving our technology and increasing our laboratories,” he explained.
Operations Room
Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said that the summit engaged with seasoned researchers, academic leaders, the business sector, subject matter experts and community structures. The engagements were focused on how to turn the the tide, recalibrate and reposition the SAPS for the future.
“During the summit deliberations, we assessed the current state and performance of the SAPS, focussed on operational inefficiencies. We identified pragmatic strategies that will improve and advance maximum effectiveness in policing while strategically repositioning the SAPS to ensure long-term relevance, heightened professionalism and the restoration of public trust.
“The SAPS will establish a National Policing Summit Operations Room. This facility will house a permanent scoreboard that will track and trace progress on the resolutions of the summit periodically for the next five years.
“We believe that this significant move will hold the management of the SAPS accountable to the nation, as we commit to turnaround the policing direction of this country,” Masemola explained.
Visibility
The Commissioner added that the summit’s focus was not on theoretical discussion alone, but rather on diagnosing real operational challenges, understanding community perceptions and analysing systemic shortcomings.
“The summit placed special emphasis on rethinking how SAPS can maximise its impact within existing constraints while repositioning itself for long-term relevance, professionalism, and enhancing public trust in policing.
“The first day of the summit interrogated the difference between being seen and being felt in communities. While the SAPS often reports on patrols and deployments, the quality and impact of these efforts on safety perceptions was central to the conversation.”
Masemola explained that the discussions reflected a disconnect between visible policing efforts and actual community safety outcomes, prompting a call for a more intentional, impact-focused presence.
Masemola also hinted that the Summit touched on technology as a transformative tool in the modernisation of policing.
“Summit discussions addressed real-time crime tracking, GIS [ geographic information system] mapping, AI-driven analytics, and predictive policing. Participants discussed how these technologies can help SAPS anticipate criminal activity and deploy resources more efficiently.
“Emphasis was placed on data quality, interoperability of systems and the critical need for digital literacy within SAPS,” said the Commissioner.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially opened the summit that was held at Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Gauteng on Tuesday.
READ | President calls for holistic overhaul of policing
The Summit, among other things, addressed the high levels of crime in South Africa by reflecting on current policing approaches and developing more effective methods for the South African Police Service. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 04/11/2025 - 12:48
33 views
Security strengthened at Wynberg court following shooting
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) has ordered that security be strengthened at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court, in Cape Town, following a fatal shooting inside the court building earlier this week.
A high-level delegation, led by DJCOD Director-General, Advocate Doc Mashabane, conducted an oversight visit to the court on Thursday.
The delegation also included Acting Secretary-General in the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ), Advocate Marelize Potgieter, and the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, Advocate Nicolette Bell.
“The purpose of the visit was to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether any security lapses had occurred. This intervention formed part of government’s response, with the objective of reviewing and strengthening security protocols at court facilities," the department said in a statement.
As part of immediate interventions, the Director-General has directed the installation of a security scanner, the tightening of access control to prosecutors' and magistrates' offices, and the enhanced vetting of court officials.
Furthermore, a report on the incident will be drawn up and submitted to DJCOD Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi and Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya.
“The department reiterates its commitment to ensuring that courts remain places for the dispensation of justice and not places where crime is committed,” the department said.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) said it views the incident in a “serious light”.
“The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, under whose delegation the Security of the Court falls, has been engaged on the enhancement of security in and around the court precinct.
“As the Head of the Judiciary in the Province, the Judge President of the Western Cape Division of the High Court wishes to convey condolences to the family of the deceased, and expresses regret and support to the Judicial Officers, officials and the public who witnessed the incident,” the OCJ said.
The incident is currently under police investigation. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 04/11/2025 - 09:35
158 views
State Attorney did not communicate with residents and failed to enrol the case properly
Systematic failures responsible George building collapse
An independent forensic investigation into the building collapse in George, in the Western Cape, has revealed systemic failures at multiple levels.
The report cites widespread non-compliance with regulatory standards and mismanagement by both the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and project personnel as key causes of the incident.
The findings, presented by Human Settlements Minister, Thembi Simelane during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, revealed a series of procedural and structural failures, including irregular project enrolment, inspection lapses, poor material quality, and violations of occupational health and safety (OHS) protocols.
The NHBRC initiated the investigation after the Neo Victoria project collapsed on 6 May 2024, killing 34 people and injuring many others. Several survivors are still recovering.
Homebuilder certification and grading process
The investigation uncovered serious irregularities in the registration process of the construction company. The firm misrepresented its capabilities and failed to disclose that it intended to construct a multi-storey building.
“This omission breached NHBRC’s policies, which require transparency regarding a home builder's intended project scope in technical capacity. By bypassing this rigorous process, a company in question compromised its registration and certification of the project,” Simelane said.
Enrolment certification irregularities
The enrolment process demonstrated significant non-compliance with the NHBRC's enrolment procedures, resulting in critical regulatory breaches and unauthorised approvals.
“The enrolment forms were processed on 11 July 2023 even though the construction start date was scheduled for 19 June 2023. Again, the official did not verify that a homebuilder was registered to construct despite the building plans showing that this was indeed a multistorey enrolment.
“Thus, a contractor was allowed to proceed with the construction of a multi-storey building without the proper enrolment. Even more disturbing was the unlawful use of other official’s credentials to enrol the first phase of the project. This demonstrated the breakdown in the NHBRC’s internal control system,” the Minister highlighted.
Deficient inspection model
The NHBRC inspections failed to meet internal protocols, and these included one inspection, which was conducted eight days after enrolment, exceeding the five-day window period, in line with the NHBRC’s inspection protocol.
“More worrying was that the inspection reports included units which were yet to be constructed.” the Minister noted.
Occupational health and safety adherence
The report revealed multiple OHS breaches, including unresolved safety concerns, the resignation of a safety consultant, and the complete absence of OHS enforcement protocols in NHBRC’s procedures.
Inspectors were not empowered to enforce safety compliance, leaving serious safety violations unaddressed. The investigation also revealed that several personnel performing critical tasks lacked qualifications in engineering or quantity surveying.
Significant shortcomings were found in the evaluation of the appointed technical manager, whose credentials were not adequately reassessed.
According to the report, this played a major role in the technical missteps observed during the construction.
The geotechnical report provided did not include crucial information, such as trial pit locations, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) test results, and geological maps. This information is essential for foundation design and site preparation.
Additionally, George Municipality approved the building plans after construction had already begun.
Recommendations
To prevent future incidents, the report issued comprehensive recommendations for reform within the NHBRC and the broader construction oversight framework.
These include clearly specifying the type of buildings a homebuilder is certified to construct on NHBRC registration certificates; establishing a peer review team to independently assess high-risk projects such as multi-storey buildings; conducting a comprehensive competency skills audit of inspectors and develops a thorough due diligence process to evaluate all information submitted during the registration phase.
“The report went further to recommend that technical managers be full-time onsite during critical stages of construction, that inspection be conducted within five days and that NHBRC staff must not be allowed to use another staff member’s login credentials.
“The outcome of the investigation has also made recommendations that implicated officials be held accountable for their actions.
“The charges that will be levelled against them include dereliction of duty, misconduct, negligence, dishonesty, and misrepresentation in official inspection reports. We will continue to monitor that this is done by following due process,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 04/10/2025 - 11:29
52 views