After failing to defend a claim for outstanding payments, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison has paid a service provider more than R90 million, including interests. Makanyoga General, a security company previously contracted by the department to render services at government sites, obtained a default judgement in 2023 after taking the government to court over a R75 million payment dispute. This is according to the department’s reply to a parliamentary question by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Mpumalanga…

Two Grade 10 learners from the Vhembe East District in Limpopo have committed suicide after failing Grade 10.  The separate incidents happened at Mphaphuli High School and Thohoyandou Technical School on Wednesday after the two male pupils received their report cards. In a statement released on Friday, December 13, the Limpopo Department of Education said it was discomforted by the news of the learners’ passing. Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. “The Limpopo Department…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has pounced on a Free State municipality over suspected tender irregularities and maladministration involving water supply contracts.  Assisted by the Hawks and the South African Police Service (SAPS), the unit’s members swooped on the Masilonyana Local Municipality’s premises in Welkom. They seized documents relating to tenders for the Brandfort Water Treatment Works and Raw Water Pump Stations and the upgrading of the Brandfort Sports Centre Phase II including payment records and electronic devices.  The SIU…

The future of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality in Limpopo looks uncertain again after the by-elections failed to produce an outright winner. Even though the African National Congress (ANC) won the majority of the votes in the December 4 by-elections, it will need the help of the Economic Freedom Fighters or Democratic Alliance (DA) to govern the hung and chaotic council until the 2026 Local Government Elections. This is because the by-elections in the iron mining town produced no outright victory,…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed two prominent South African universities’ payment of R800 million back to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).  The University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of the Free State (UFS) paid the NSFAS R450 million and R438 million, respectively, following an investigation by the SIU. Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson for the SIU, said on Friday, December 6, the funds repaid by Wits and UFS were unallocated from 2016 to 2021. These funds were…

Vhembe ANC regional executive committee (REC) member Simon Mavikane has fired a broadside at chairperson Tshitereke Matibe, accusing him of presiding over the VBS scandal and seeking a fourth term for selfish reasons.  He says Matibe, Limpopo’s Economic Development, Environment and Tourism MEC, treats the chairperson position like a chieftaincy to which he is entitled till death. Premier Phophi Ramathuba appointed Matibe as MEC after the May 29 general elections.  Mavikane, a senior official in the Collins Chabane Municipality in…

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in Limpopo says it’s all systems go for the by-election in the Thabazimbi Local Municipality on Wednesday, 4 December 2024. The Provincial Electoral Officer, Nkaro Mateta, says the commission is ready to receive the over 51,000 registered voters expected to cast their ballots. Addressing the media on Saturday, she reiterated that 21 political parties and five independent candidates will compete for control of the troubled council in the Waterberg region.  The Umkhonto…

A Gauteng woman who allegedly sold off her two-year-old son to unknown buyers will spend Christmas in custody after she gave up her bail application in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Keneilwe Shalaba (32) faces charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and providing false information to the police after allegedly trading off her child Kutlwano to unknown men who then disappeared in a silver grey Polo early in November. The incident happened around the Boipatong area in…

A sheriff has attached Makhado Local Municipality’s vehicles over outstanding payments to a security company, which accumulated over R2.5 million in areas.  The movable assets – including a tractor loader backhoe (TLB), a Toyota Dyna half truck, and a Toyota Hilux – were impounded from the Limpopo municipality’s offices in Louis Trichardt on November 19 after the Limpopo High Court issued a warrant of execution.  The municipality was one of many that unlawfully invested funds in the now-defunct Venda Building…

A 32-year-old Gauteng woman who allegedly sold her two-year-old son to unknown individuals will remain in custody until she possibly applies for a bail application on Friday, November 29. The unnamed woman appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on Monday on charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and making a false statement to the police. Lumka Mahanjana, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson for Gauteng Division, has confirmed the woman allegedly sold the child to unknown people on…