🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
DA lays criminal charges against former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi over London trip
via The Citizen13 min read
The Democratic Alliance in the City of Ekurhuleni has filed corruption charges against former City Manager Imogen Mashazi. This action follows media reports alleging that a service provider to the City of Ekurhuleni funded a R3.5 million trip to London for Mashazi on a private jet. Mashazi has maintained that municipal funds were not used for the trip and has not disclosed the source of the funding. However, reports suggest that a businessperson who accompanied her on the flight subsequently secured a significant tender with the City of Ekurhuleni. DA mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane stated that Mashazi allegedly violated several laws and abused her power by accepting the chartered flight without declaration. Rasilingwane claims the funding for the trip originated from XET Solutions, a company that held an active tender with the city at the time. XET Solutions was awarded another tender, A-ICT 04-2023, to continue work on the SOLAR system shortly after Mashazi's London trip. The SOLAR system was reportedly exploited by a criminal syndicate that siphoned R2 billion from the city. The DA questions Mashazi's role in this saga and emphasizes their commitment to accountability for corrupt officials.
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A 13-year-old child died and over 200 shacks were destroyed in two separate fires at the Plastic View informal settlement in Pretoria East in less than a week. On May 24, approximately 150 shacks were razed, followed by another fire on Thursday that destroyed about 100 shacks. City of Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson and deputy chief Nana Radebe-Kgiba stated that preliminary information suggests the Thursday night fire may have originated from a leaking gas cylinder in a shack where the deceased child was found. The child's parents and a younger sibling sustained burn injuries and were transported to a medical facility. Disaster Risk Management is assessing the situation to assist displaced families. City of Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya noted ongoing plans to relocate South African citizens from Plastic View, but the presence of foreign nationals has complicated these efforts. The settlement has experienced multiple fires over the years, including one in May 2023 that left 250 people homeless.
The Democratic Alliance in Tshwane has stated it will oppose any attempts to reverse disciplinary actions related to misconduct, violence, and criminality. This comes after the city's mayoral committee announced its intention to rehire 43 former employees who were dismissed during a violent, unprotected strike in 2023. DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink highlighted the significant damage caused by the illegal strike and emphasized that the DA-led government at the time took a firm stance against such actions. Brink confirmed that the DA has formally warned the city manager that legal action will be considered if reports of unlawful reinstatements prove true and proceed. Conversely, ANC regional secretary George Matjila has welcomed the decision to reinstate the 43 workers.
Must ReadSouth Africa is under increasing pressure to pass the Employment Services Amendment Bill and the Draft National Labour Migration Policy. This comes amid protests concerning foreign nationals, both documented and undocumented, allegedly taking jobs from local citizens. The Employment and Labour Minister, Nomakhosazana Meth, officially introduced the Bill in the National Assembly. A civil society group, March and March, has given undocumented migrants until June 30 to leave the country voluntarily, escalating street actions. While Ghana has begun repatriating its citizens and Nigeria plans to do the same, some Nigerian parliamentarians have opposed these removals. The issue has become a priority for the government and is expected to be a campaign topic in the November 4 local government elections. The Bill aims to tighten regulations for foreign nationals in the labor market, empowering the minister to set quotas for foreign workers by sector, occupation, or region. Employers would be required to prioritize South African citizens and permanent residents and implement skills transfer plans for local employees when hiring foreigners. Exemptions apply to small businesses, critical skills, ministerial waivers, and scarce skills. The policy complements the Bill by addressing perceptions that foreign nationals are favored in certain industries and will impose quotas on documented foreign nationals with work visas. It also seeks to restrict foreign nationals from obtaining business vi
Author and journalist Tara Roos's debut book, "Where To From Here," analyzes South Africa's current political landscape, focusing on the rise of coalition governments and their impact. Roos observes that politics in the country are increasingly driven by identity and consolidation, citing examples like the coloured vote in the Western Cape and Afrikaner voters aligning with the Freedom Front Plus. She notes that the system is not designed for coalition politics, leading to a fragmented environment where deals are often struck after votes are cast, creating uncertainty for voters. Roos argues that South Africans are united in identifying national problems like crime, economic issues, gender-based violence, and the cost of living, but diverge significantly on how to solve them. She highlights that parties offering direct answers to voter frustrations, even if contested, are gaining traction. For instance, the Patriotic Alliance has attracted coloured-bloc votes by addressing issues head-on, while the Freedom Front Plus capitalizes on Afrikaner frustrations. Roos also discusses the Democratic Alliance's challenges in expanding its reach in Joburg and Gauteng, attributing this to both performance and communication issues, particularly regarding messaging on policies like B-BBEE. She views Helen Zille's increased visibility in Johannesburg as a sign of both desperation and strategy for the DA, acknowledging that while Zille might attract votes, the party's animosity with others co