Johannesburg's Mayor Dada Morero and his mayoral committee have assured residents that the city's financial situation will not lead to a widespread service delivery collapse. This comes after National Treasury announced that Johannesburg would not receive its almost R4 billion equitable share grant this month. Morero stated that funds are available to pay essential debts, including R1.4 billion to Eskom by mid-July and approximately R960 million to Rand Water this month. He also mentioned that the municipality has regularized R1.8 billion in irregular and wasteful expenditure, with a further R6.4 billion under consideration. While acknowledging that financial management is "okay" and not in a crisis state, Morero noted that more needs to be done to manage cash flow and revenue performance. Finance MMC Loyiso Masuku attributed the city's challenges to previous administrations, stating problems began "from 2016." However, former mayor Herman Mashaba dismissed these accusations, blaming both the ANC and the DA for years of neglect and political instability. Morero also addressed the Pikitup backlog, attributing it to a cash flow issue that has since been resolved, and discussed a R3.2 million debt issue at Thuso House, which he said was due to a two-year administrative delay. He highlighted a positive Moody's review and a R3.8 billion loan from the German Development Bank, while also engaging with Treasury for more lenient recovery methods.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Citizen.
Former EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi recently addressed a crowd in Tehran, Iran, while attending the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ndlozi offered condolences and thanked Iranians for their alleged support during South Africa's apartheid era, stating, "When South Africa was under the yoke of the oppressive apartheid, you the people of Iran helped us to defeat apartheid." He also expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine. His presence and speech have generated varied reactions among South Africans on X. Some users, like @PKamupingene and @Mangethe__, suggested his relationship with Iran could be an asset or that he would make a suitable ambassador. Mayibuye Mandela clarified that Ndlozi attended in a personal political capacity, not representing the South African government. Conversely, @DrLimukaniMathe questioned his focus on resistance abroad given domestic issues like xenophobia. The DA's spokesperson on international affairs, Ryan Smith, refuted Ndlozi's claims about Iran's anti-apartheid support. Smith stated that after the Iranian revolution, Iran imprisoned ANC's socialist allies and sold oil to the apartheid state in exchange for weapons during the 1980s sanctions, arguing that Iran helped sustain the apartheid regime. Smith acknowledged Ndlozi's freedom to express his views despite disagreeing with them.
The home affairs portfolio committee has endorsed the temporary repatriation camps at Musina and the Beitbridge border post following a two-day oversight visit. A committee member noted the centers facilitate controlled repatriations without violence, while the chair stated inspections addressed constitutional compliance concerns. The camps, established rapidly, had processed over 45,000 foreign nationals by Tuesday's inspection. The Musina facility can accommodate up to 20,000 people. Adrian Roos, a Democratic Alliance committee member, praised the inter-departmental coordination and emphasized the need to strengthen the Border Management Authority BMA through investment, biometric technology, and efficient legal migration pathways. He advocated for reforms that ease legal entry and complicate illegal entry, ensuring state-led enforcement over vigilantism. Earlier, Amnesty International raised concerns about humanitarian needs, including potable water, medical supplies, and disease prevention, for vulnerable individuals awaiting repatriation. They highlighted potential risks of interrupted healthcare, mental health challenges, gender-based violence, and exploitation. However, the committee stated the camps were meeting expectations, with chair Mosa Chabane affirming that the systems in place are lawful, efficient, humane, and operationally capable. The facilities were set up to manage the influx of foreign nationals departing after the unofficial June 30 deadline for illegal
Two school teams from Limpopo, South Africa, Robo-Kidz from Mashupye Tladi Primary School and Roborise from Bokamoso Secondary School, are competing at the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale in Geneva, Switzerland. The event, taking place from July 7 to 10, 2026, at the Palexpo International Exhibition and Convention Centre, features the junior and senior category winners from South Africa. Their participation follows success in local, provincial, and national competitions. The Department of Basic Education DBE highlighted this achievement as evidence of the growing impact of coding and robotics education, which is part of its strategy to equip students with future-focused skills. The DBE has been implementing a phased pilot program for the coding and robotics curriculum since 2021, aiming to expose students to computational thinking, problem-solving, innovation, and digital technologies, preparing them for careers in STEM fields. The Limpopo teams' success is attributed to the province's use of the Mathematics, Science and Technology MST Conditional Grant, which supports coding and robotics, student enrichment, teacher development, and laboratory resources. Approximately 90,000 students annually benefit from these programs through various science-related activities. Terence Khala, DBE's acting director for communications, stated that the students' achievement showcases the benefits of sustained investment in education that prepares young people for future careers