Posts tagged with 'government'

 

R11m from SA Lottery goes to cousin of National Lotteries Commission boss

Posted on Leave a comment

The National Lotteries Commission has given more than R11m to a non-profit organisation (NPO) called I Am Made for God’s Glory, which has in turn paid R2m to a private company of which the sole director is the cousin of the chief operating officer of the National Lotteries Commission.

According to leaked bank statements, R2m was paid to Upbrand Properties by I Am Made For God’s Glory (IAM4GG), which received a R11 375 000 grant from the Lottery to develop an “integrated sports facility” in Limpopo.

The sole director of Upbrand is Kenneth Tomoletso Sithole, first cousin of NLC chief operating officer Phillemon Letwaba.

GroundUp has previously revealed how Upbrand received a R15m contract to build a rehabilitation centre near Pretoria at a time when Letwaba’s brother, Johannes “Joe” Letwaba, was a director of the company. Johannes Letwaba subsequently resigned, leaving Keneilwe Constance Maboa, the wife of Karabo Sithole, another fi
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Cash-strapped SAA cancels 38 domestic and international flights

Posted on Leave a comment

SAA has confirmed its cancellation of 38 domestic and international flights between OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town, as well as between Johannesburg and Durban’s King Shaka airports.

In a statement, the airline said: “These decisions are in line with SAA’s usual policy of reviewing flights and consolidating services with low demand. Furthermore, during the current process of business rescue, these cancellations represent a responsible strategy to conserve cash and optimise the airline’s position ahead of any further capital investment.”

The airline said it would be reviewing further schedule amendments over the coming days and would communicate any operational changes to its customers.

Those who have already booked the cancelled flights will be re-accommodated on alternative services including Mango.

Below is a list of all the cancelled flights:

The following domestic flights operated by SAA have been cancell
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Alexkor, SA state-owned diamond company is on life support

Posted on Leave a comment

South Africa’s state-owned diamond mining enterprise Alexkor is desperately in need of cash to pay expenses, but does the struggling entity deserve more funding?

Its marine-based concessions stretch from Alexander Bay to Port Nolloth, while its land-based concessions span the equivalent of 865km2. It mines the latter through its Pooling and Sharing Joint Venture (PSJV) with the Richtersveld community.

Despite carat sales having increased from 41 941 units to 70 061 in the year to end-March 2019, diamond sales only amounted to R209.9 million (2018: R208.7 million). Cost of sales was R152.9 million (2018: R126.8 million).

The reasons given for this poor performance: an oversupply of diamonds in the market, as well as the quality and size of the diamonds produced.

Land and shallow water diamonds achieved an average of $456.77 per carat (2018: $718.86), while diamonds from its deep water mining concession achieved an average price of $305.6
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

SAA director resigns from his post amid crisis at state entity

Posted on Leave a comment

SAA director Martin Kingston resigned from his post, and the move was welcomed by the communist-minded Numsa union as well as the trade union Sacca.

The two unions also said the rest of SAA directors should follow Kingston’s example and submit their resignations.

Kingston’s resignation comes after Bloomberg said in his report there is no reason why the director should be on the board.

Kingston apparently decided to resign when the company was placed under rescue because of the extremely poor results being delivered.

The shipping company is still waiting for Treasury to pay the promised R2bn earmarked to keep SAA afloat and is the second part of the R4bn initially promised to the shipping company by the government.

Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

#TheAfricanWay Toilet scandal – several senior ANC officials arrested after being awarded R650m tender to build 66,000 toilets

Posted on Leave a comment

Although nine people have been arrested who are suspected of being involved in the toilet scandal in the Eastern Cape, this does not mean that no more arrests can be made.

Those already captured are likely to include high-profile government officials, as well as so-called businessmen who have filled their pockets.

The nine were arrested by the Hawks in various provinces such as Gauteng, Natal, the Eastern Transvaal, and the Eastern Cape.

A tenth person was later arrested after those already in custody began untying their tongues.

The notorious Amathole District Municipality toilet scandal came to light in 2015, where R630m was awarded a tender to build 66,000 toilets in the Eastern Cape, but never became a reality.

Several senior figures from the ANC are being held, but no names have been released while awaiting trial.

Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Controversial Panyaza Lesufi’s online registration system plunges schools across SA into total chaos

Posted on Leave a comment

The placement of pupils by the Department of Education has created new crises, leaving parents and pupils furious.

Cases have been reported from certain schools in the Central Transvaal region that are hopelessly overcrowded, which have apparently been criticized for evading the truth many pupils have not even be placed yet.

What is alarming, however, is that pupils are so misplaced that they are now up to 40 km away from the school they have to travel to every day.

The chaos that prevailed at many schools on the first day of school was fiercely denied by Gauteng spokesperson Lesufi of the education department

Educators believe that whites should immediately take their children out of the crowded classrooms and place them in private schools where adequate space and good teaching methods are applied.

The excellent academic achievements of BCVO schools have shown that pupils not only receive excellent education but also broaden their
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

SA in crisis while ANC eats cake, celebrating its 108 years

Posted on Leave a comment

The ruling Anc party,was holding a rally in Kimberley celebrating its 108 years.This celebration, which is usually accompanied by a jovial mood of song and dance by party leaders, members and supporters, happens during a time when the country has been plunged into several crises of epidemic proportions. Can the ANC really afford to celebrate? Can it afford to pop Champagne during such difficult times faced by the country?

Poverty levels are accelerating, inequality is deepening, unemployment levels have reached the highest percentage of 29.1% in the last quarter of 2019, the highest recorded by Statistics SA since 2008, with 9.6 million South Africans currently unemployed, 8.6 million of these being black.

The economy is battling to recover from a technical recession, with the country constantly facing a threat of being given junk status by rating agencies.

One of the major crises facing the country is the power utility Eskom, which has struggle
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Another black school up in flames reducing the number of schools for black learners

Posted on Leave a comment

Another school was burned down by the country’s “barbarians” reducing the number of schools meant for blacks.

The school, located in the Vanderbijlpark location, is an elementary school that suddenly leaves a large number of pupils without a classroom.

Although the authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident, it is the work of vandals who decided to burn down the school just a day before the first day of the term.

The Tokelo Secondary School in Evaton, started burning in the early hours of the morning, and no trace of the culprits was found.

The fire reportedly caused a loss of more than R4m and repairs are only expected to begin after the investigation has been completed.

Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Eskom with a debt burden of R450 billion may be the downfall of ANC regime

Posted on Leave a comment

Political analysts say the actions of high-ranking officials in Eskom could lead to the demise of the ANC government.

The pressure is mounting on the ruling ANC regime from the inner circles as well as opposing structures as well as from extreme groups to act against those responsible for the mess in which the power supplier is currently facing its debt burden of R450 billion.

The claims are varied, but many expect the ANC to take action against Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is closely concerned with Eskom’s problems.

The Red Brigade is demanding Gordhan’s sacking, while Deputy President David Mabuza himself helped to throw Gordhan under the bus.

There is also a feud against Ramaphosa, from people who believe he should have forced Eskom to stay with his company in order not to employ any loadshedding before January 13.

With all the turmoil, this could eventually lead to the disintegration of the ANC, wh
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Outcry over appalling state of Pretoria zoo – no suitable habitat and animals not been fed for days

Posted on Leave a comment

The national zoological gardens are the largest zoo in the country but visitors felt that management was failing to provide a suitable habitat for the animals.

The welfare and care of animals at the Pretoria zoo has been questioned by animal lovers, Rekord North reports.

Several comments were posted on their Facebook page.

The national zoological gardens are the largest zoo in the country but visitors felt that management was failing to provide a suitable habitat for the animals.

Concern was raised about allegedly underfed animals, the bad smell at the flamingos enclosure, some of the animals’ water that has not been replaced in days, and the elephants’ enclosure had no water during December’s scorching heat in Pretoria.

An animal lover who recently visited the zoo and asked to remain anonymous said that justice must be done.

“The animals are in bad condition. It looks like some of the animals have not been fed in da
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!