
Police portfolio committee chairperson Ian Cameron has called for the urgent suspension of National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and the appointment of an independent acting commissioner. This follows Masemola facing four charges related to the Public Finance Management Act concerning a R360 million South African Police Service Saps health service tender. Masemola appeared in court, with his matter postponed until May 13. Cameron stated that Masemola's legal troubles reflect poorly on the police service and contribute to instability, especially with an acting police minister also in limbo. He emphasized the need for a replacement who has not been involved in the Madlanga Commission or ad hoc committee, highlighting that Masemola is the third national police commissioner in less than two decades to face criminal charges. Cameron stressed that the executive's indecision has weakened public confidence and blurred accountability within Saps, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to act decisively to restore institutional integrity and ensure leadership with an unquestionable track record.
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Must ReadThe Department of Home Affairs has revealed significant irregularities in Traffic Register Numbers TRNs issued to foreign nationals for vehicle documentation. TRNs are provided to foreign nationals and entities without South African ID numbers to register vehicles, apply for driving licenses, and conduct transactions on the eNatis System. An investigation was launched after 973 TRNs were issued from a small Northern Cape office in four months in 2019, a town with only 12,000 residents, compared to 130 from the province's largest office. Home Affairs found foreign nationals applied for TRNs in the Northern Cape and then duplicates in Cape Town within an hour, often using the same address. Forensic investigator Maria Mnisi noted that eNatis could capture applications without ID information and lacked mechanisms to verify submitted documents. Cross-referencing over a million TRNs issued between January 2000 and July 2023 against Home Affairs' systems showed that only 2.7% matched the National Immigration Identification System, and 747,350 were unmatched against the Visa Adjudications System. Of the 29,653 TRN recipients with files on the NIIS, only 1,677 were legal, with the rest providing false information. TRN holders allegedly used fraudulently obtained TRNs to acquire luxury vehicles, including 40 "elite supercars" and 327 Porsches, even after visa application rejections. Gauteng saw 244 Porsches, six Bentleys, four Lamborghinis, five Ferraris, and a McLaren purchased with T
Must ReadThe uMkhonto weSizwe Party MKP announced its intention to prioritize quality over cadre deployment when selecting mayoral candidates for the upcoming local government elections. Sibonelo Nomvalo, the party's secretary-general, stated that quality must supersede cadre deployment to avoid compromising service delivery, a pitfall he attributed to the ANC. Nomvalo emphasized that mayoral candidates must possess the ability to understand council reports, particularly those related to city budgets, highlighting the importance of experience, knowledge, and skills. He added that the party aims to deploy individuals who can effectively address the needs of the populace at the local government level. Regarding potential alliances, Nomvalo indicated that the MK Party would ideally collaborate with progressive, leftist parties following the elections. He also addressed and denied claims of factional battles within the party, despite recent suspensions of leaders, including the party's Chief Whip in parliament, Nthabiseng Mabatho Mokoena-Zondi, and previously the party's spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela. Nomvalo asserted that enforcing discipline is crucial for the organization's principles and to prevent anarchy.

The cash-strapped Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality in North West has had 13 vehicles seized by a sheriff due to an alleged unpaid R4 million contract with Vimtsire Protection & Security Services. This action follows a default judgment related to a security contract that was terminated early, with Vimtsire providing services between 2020 and 2023. The municipality disputes the R4 million claim, stating the outstanding amount is closer to R2 million. Municipal manager Lekgetho Mokgatlhe called the incident unfortunate, noting that the municipality plans to settle the R2 million debt in the first week of July after receiving its equitable share allocation. A source within the municipality indicated that the sheriff seized all available municipal cars, as many were inoperable. Odirile Selomo, a local SA National Civic Organisation leader, stated that the dispute originated from the municipality's demand for Vimtsire to pay R4 million for stolen cables under their supervision, which the company refused. Ramotshere Moiloa DA councillor Imaan Sayed Suliman commented that this setback is negatively impacting service delivery and maintenance operations.

Members of the Lusthof community, north of Pretoria, are mobilizing against farm attacks and murders following the killing of a farmer on Monday morning. Farm crime activist Petrus Sitho has urged for immediate intervention and invited residents and acting police minister Firoz Cachalia to a safety meeting on June 13 to discuss the ongoing violence. Tshwane district SA Police Service spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk confirmed that police responded to a house robbery and murder at a smallholding in Hammanskraal, where a 69-year-old white male was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Preliminary investigations indicate that three male suspects entered the main house, tied up the deceased's brother, and then shot the farmer when he opened his room door. The suspects stole household and garden items, fleeing in a silver Volkswagen Passat. No arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing. AfriForum community safety spokesperson Jacques Broodryk highlighted the government's silence on the 10 farm attacks and related violent incidents reported in May, emphasizing that the high levels of violence necessitate recognizing farm attacks as a unique and serious crime. Broodryk noted that victims, including farm workers, have been assaulted, tied up, and shot, with several attacks thwarted by local security and community safety structures.