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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has taken tough action taken against departmental heads following the release of a damning forensic report revealing that at least R1.8 billion in budget underspending and missed service delivery targets in the province.

On Sunday, Lesufi addressed the media on the outcomes of the recently concluded a set of forensic investigation reports, which have been finalised by the Provincial Forensic Audit Unit. This latest release follows an earlier briefing held on 24 June 2025, where the Premier made public the outcomes of 47 forensic reports.  

"On the 17th of July, I responded to matters from our ethical council that responded to members or heads of departments who could not finish or conclude their lifestyle audits. I also indicated on the 17th of July that there were departments that underspent seriously. The total underspending at the time was R1.8 billion. It has now gone to R1.3 billion after the authorisation of some of the transactions that we requested be carried over. To me, this was a serious underspending by heads of departments. Some departments have missed their departmental performance targets, and we took serious exception," he said.

Lesufi said some of the reasons are due to service delivery challenges, and as a result, he has acted to ensure that this does not continue.

"With the serious challenges of service delivery, we cannot afford departments that are missing their targets. We also found some audit outcomes, which indicated that some departments are not performing ideally. Within that context, I have decided to reshuffle and reset heads of departments and remove other heads of departments from their responsibilities. From the 1st of August," he stated.

Responding to Lesufi, the DA Provincial Chief Whip in the  Gauteng Legislature, Mike Moriarty stated: "Our experience is that this Premier has the habit of creating positive spin to cover failure. For example, he refers to having previously issued 47 such reports, and now he is following this up with others.

"The fact is, we have examined those previous reports, and indeed, they only relate to 37 cases and not the 47 that he claims. Moreover, these reports are heavily redacted and convey no information as regards people implicated therein and give no details regarding the disciplinary and criminal consequences that should have arisen in this case."

Lesufi said the affected changes and reshuffle to HODs and other personnel, include e-government, infrastructure, education, treasury, COGTA, transport, human settlements, agriculture, environmental development, education, health, among others.

"I am pleased that I have appointed a new HOD for the Department of Economic Development, Mr Matlatjo Moholwa, who brings a wealth of experience into public service. He has served as part of economic research and chief economist in the City of Johannesburg and the lead economist for the Land Bank, and Deputy Director General in Mpumalanga and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. With the challenges that we are going to have with the US in terms of the tariffs, and the need for us to reposition the economy of Gauteng, we needed a chief economist to lead us in this department," he stated.

*This article was first published by IOL News

Those with petrol-powered vehicles can look forward to some relief at the pumps from Wednesday, August 6, but diesel is looking set to increase by a significant margin.

Month-end data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) is pointing to petrol price decreases of 29 cents for 95 Unleaded and 33 cents for 93 Unleaded, while diesel prices are expected to rise by between 63 cents (50ppm) and 66 cents (500ppm). This follows July's petrol and diesel price increases of up to 55 cents and 84 cents, respectively.

In the case of petrol, 95 Unleaded should recede to around R20.79 at the coast and R21.58 in Gauteng, where the slightly less expensive 93 ULP is expected to retail for R21.46. The wholesale price of 50ppm diesel is predicted to reach R19.28 at the coast and R20.04 inland.

These predictions are, however, based on unaudited data from the CEF. The final and official fuel price adjustments will be announced by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy early this week.

What’s driving fuel prices this month?

International product price movements are the driving force behind the August price adjustments, while a slightly stronger South African rand provided relief to the tune of around five cents.

It’s not unusual for diesel prices to rise during the winter and summer months, due to international demand patterns. In the northern hemisphere’s summer, for instance, increased travel and economic activity can drive up prices.

However, the main reason for the mid-2025 surge in diesel prices is due to the European Union's restrictions on Russian fuel, Total Energy CEO Patrick Pouyanne told Bloomberg.

“We think that stronger diesel prices will become a persistent feature on the global market,” he said. “The sources of diesel are now coming from the Middle East or from US refineries further away, so it has increased the cost,” Pouyanne said.

Following the August price adjustment, 50ppm diesel will be around 60 cents more expensive than it was at the beginning of this year.

95 Unleaded petrol, on the other hand, will be priced almost identically to its January 2025 level of R20.80.

Both petrol and diesel have seen two increases and four decreases this year.

*This article was first published by IOL News

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has called on newly appointed Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela to urgently address allegations of widespread tender irregularities and mismanagement within South Africa’s Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

In its latest investigation, Outa highlights serious governance failures at the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA), raising broader concerns about the performance and accountability of the SETA system, which is allocated R21 billion annually through the Skills Development Levy.

“The SETA model is failing. These institutions are bleeding public funds while the youth they should serve are left stranded,” said Wayne Duvenage, Outa CEO.

“We’re dealing with recycled leadership, dodgy tenders, and investigations that are hidden or ignored. That’s not oversight; that’s a cover-up.”

In response to Outa’s request for a meeting, Mandla Tshabalala, from the Department of Higher Education and Training, confirmed that the ministry has acknowledged receipt of the request.

“We have received the request from Outa and we are still to gather reports from the SETAs,” said Tshabalala.

“It has only been a few days since the appointment of Minister Buti Manamela, so we do not have all the information at the moment.”

At the centre of Outa’s investigation is the CETA, where the organisation said it had found evidence of alleged poor procurement practices and a culture of intimidation towards whistleblowers.

Outa reviewed two key forensic investigations:

A 2019 report by Gobodo Forensic and Investigative Accounting, commissioned by the Department of Higher Education and Training, which identified irregular tender processes and employee victimisation.

A second report by Duja Consulting, commissioned in 2020 at a cost of R18.9 million, which flagged irregularities in all 24 bids assessed and recommended disciplinary action. The final report was submitted to then Minister Blade Nzimande in 2021 but has not been made public.

Outa also reviewed two legal opinions commissioned on the Duja report. “When R18.9 million is spent on a forensic investigation and the report ends up buried, that’s not negligence, it’s contempt for the public,” said Rudie Heyneke, Outa Senior Project Manager.

One whistleblower who reported procurement improprieties was cleared of allegations and reinstated, but now faces renewed disciplinary proceedings, which Outa said it believed to be retaliatory.

Outa said its investigations into INSETA, the Services SETA, and the MICT SETA revealed similar issues. These include alleged questionable contracts, over-priced tenders, non-functional training centres, and possible conflicts of interest involving service providers.

At the Services SETA, Outa questioned over R1 billion spent on skills development centres, many of which are reportedly vandalised or non-operational. INSETA’s appointment of a company in an R18 million contract to clean historical learner records also raised concerns, particularly due to links between the company and former board members.

Outa said it would submit its findings and supporting documents, including the draft Duja report, to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training to aid in oversight.

“We’re calling for a frank conversation with Minister Manamela,” said Duvenage. “It’s time for a reset. The sector desperately needs transparent leadership, independent boards, and the political will to act on evidence that’s already been paid for.”

*This article was first published by IOL News

President Cyril Ramaphosa has conceded that South Africa is grappling with the United States’ decision to impose a 30% tariff on local imports, but insists the country is not alone in facing mounting global trade challenges.

In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa described the new US tariffs as a stark reminder of the urgent need to adapt to increasingly turbulent headwinds in international trade.

“The US is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner by country, and these measures will have a considerable impact on industries that rely heavily on exports to that country and on the workers they employ, as well as on our fiscus,” he said.

Sectors such as agriculture, automotive and textiles have historically benefited from duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which now faces disruption.

Ramaphosa said that South Africa’s trade relationship with the US has historically been complementary, saying local exports “do not compete with US producers and do not pose a threat to US industry”.

“Largely, our exports are inputs into US industries and therefore support the United States’ industrial base,” he said. 

“South Africa is also the biggest investor from the African continent into the US, with 22 of our companies investing in a number of sectors including mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and the food chain.”

The 30% tariff was recently announced by the Trump administration and will take effect on 7 August. 

South Africa is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa singled out for the steep tariff, reflecting deteriorating relations between Pretoria and Washington.

Other African countries, such as Lesotho and Zimbabwe, will face a 15% tariff from the same date.

The announcement is a significant blow to South Africa’s economy, particularly as the government had been working to strengthen trade ties with the US. 

This included deals on liquefied natural gas imports, easing poultry import regulations and investments in US industries.

Ramaphosa defended South African imports, arguing they ultimately benefit US consumers through greater variety and lower costs.

“For example, citrus production is counter-seasonal and does not pose a threat to US production,” he said. 

“Furthermore, production by US companies has been on the decline due to low yields, citrus greening disease and other factors unrelated to competition from imports.”

South Africa, the world’s second-largest citrus exporter, has helped to stabilise supply and prices in the US market.

“We have been engaging the United States to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. All channels of communication remain open,” said Ramaphosa. 

“Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries.”

He said the government would continue to engage with US officials while also accelerating efforts to diversify export markets, particularly within Africa.

“With a view to helping our producers and exporters aggressively explore alternative markets, we have established an Export Support Desk to assist affected producers,” he said.

Ramaphosa added that details of a support package for companies, producers and workers impacted by the tariffs would be announced soon.

He said the intervention would also assist industries seeking to expand into regions such as the rest of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and other existing trade agreement markets.

“Strengthening regional value chains will be key to building resilience for our export markets in the longer term,” he said.

“Much as strengthening and establishing alternative value chains will take time, this moment presents us with an opportunity to push forward with the implementation and expansion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”

Ramaphosa stressed the need to reduce South Africa’s dependence on specific export markets, calling it a “strategic imperative” to build economic resilience.

“In the coming months, we will be scaling up our trade missions into new markets in Africa and beyond, as well as the National Exporter Development Programme, whose aim is to grow the pool of export-ready companies,” he said.

Relations between South Africa and the US have been under strain since Donald Trump’s return to office. 

Trump has opposed several South African policies, including land expropriation, which he controversially claimed allowed land to be taken from white farmers. 

The Presidency has firmly denied such claims, including that one of genocide on white farmers.

Ramaphosa met with Trump in May in a bid to mend relations, but no progress was made as things had gone worse.

Despite growing tensions, Ramaphosa insisted that South Africa is not alone in facing high tariffs.

“A number of export-reliant developed and developing economies, including several on the continent, are also grappling with these measures,” he said. 

“The international trading system is changing. Complacency will not serve us, and building resilience is imperative.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola will be having a joint press briefing on Monday morning to address the issue of high tariffs.

The briefing will take place at 10 a.m. at the Germiston Civic Centre, in Ekurhuleni.

Meanwhile on Saturday, ANC NEC member Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa told journalists there had been a “spirited and robust” discussion on the US tariffs. 

He said negotiations between the US and South Africa were ongoing, and expressed confidence that the two nations “would be able to find each other”.

*This article was first published by IOL News

By Abigail Visagie

In today’s hyper-connected world, where news spreads at lightning speed and social media fuels instant reactions and public outcry, activists flood courtrooms with pamphlets demanding justice, blurring the line between fairness for victims and the accused.

As rallies turn into courtroom demonstrations, while social media hashtags evolve into public verdicts, the judicial process faces unprecedented scrutiny. Judges and juries must now navigate not only legal arguments but also the weight of public opinion amplified online.

While many see this activism as a vital force for accountability, others warn that it risks undermining the impartiality of the courts and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

In 2023, it was nearly impossible not to know the names of Lerato Masiu, Lesego Mamello Motaung, and Machaka Radebe. They stirred national outrage and filled timelines and news headlines alike.

Marked by mystery, fear, and untimely tragedy, their cases gripped the nation, striking deep at the heart of communities and fuelling a wave of public pressure that may have complicated judicial proceedings.

Though they once dominated public discourse, these cases now sit in uneasy silence, unresolved and haunting. They remain lodged in the public memory, raising troubling questions about accountability, transparency, and whether the justice system is capable of delivering closure to families, friends, and a nation still watching.

Motaung, who was 22 years old at the time, left her home in Uitsig on 30 October 2023 to go to work - but never made it. Her aunt reported her missing, and to this day, both Motaung and her alleged abductors remain unaccounted for.

Similarly, Masiu’s whereabouts remain unknown after she was reported missing in November 2023. It is alleged that she was abducted by an unidentified man disguised as a police officer, who claimed to be investigating a Facebook-related matter involving her. In a chilling turn of events, he took Masiu from her home—right in front of her mother—and vanished.

The case of 16-year-old Radebe further fuelled public outrage. She was allegedly kidnapped from her home in Bloemfontein in December of the same year. Just two days later, her body was discovered in Phase 9 with multiple stab wounds.

In a blog post published in June 2025 under the headline Inside South Africa’s Criminal Justice System: Who Gets Bail and Why?, Northern Cape-based law firm Engelsman Magabane noted that public outcry often erupts when individuals charged with serious crimes are granted bail.

The firm stressed, however, that courts are guided by legal principles, not public sentiment. As Judge Dennis Davis once remarked: “Justice cannot be served by sacrificing constitutional rights on the altar of public outrage.” It further said that the constitution demands fairness for both the accused and the victims. The legal system must remain objective, ensuring that each case is judged on its merits, not emotions.

Yet, gender-based violence (GBV) activists argue that public pressure and demonstrations are crucial tools for drawing attention to stalled investigations and pushing authorities to act with urgency.

Frustrated by recurring delays and what many see as systemic failure, Buang Basadi founder and former Free State Premier, Sefora Ntombela, has called for a national conversation on reinstating the death penalty.

“When you brutally kill our daughters, we die with them,” Ntombela told Journal News this week.

“The solution is to open up the discussion about the death penalty. Families have faced delayed investigations, poor communication, lost evidence, and in some cases, complete indifference. Our presence in courtrooms sends a clear message that communities are watching. It may not always guarantee justice, but it ensures these cases don’t disappear into silence,” she added.

Buang Basadi has long supported families affected by violence, including the widely publicised case of 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi, whom Ntombela described as “particularly tragic and complex.”

Baukudi became the latest victim in a series of abductions in the Free State. He was allegedly kidnapped by two men impersonating police officers in Fichardt Park, Bloemfontein, and held captive for more than 20 days. He was eventually found alive in Wepener, roughly 110 km outside Bloemfontein, and reunited with his family.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane confirmed that the Baukudi case is active and ongoing, and has not been influenced by public opinion.

“The NPA opposed bail during court proceedings; however, the court exercised its discretion and granted it. The matter continues unhindered in court. The NPA remains committed to prosecuting based on available evidence, in line with the principle of acting without fear, favour, or prejudice.”

Commenting on public perceptions of justice, Nthabiseng Dubazana, attorney and director of Dubazana Attorneys Incorporated, said many suspects are “convicted in the court of public opinion” before receiving a fair trial.

“The public doesn't control how cases are handled,” she explained.

“But many suspects are judged guilty long before their day in court. Complicating matters, our SAPS personnel often lack the training and tools needed to uncover new evidence. Some cases grow cold, leaving detectives demotivated. That leads communities to believe public attention is compromising justice, when in fact, it is systemic challenges within law enforcement,” added Dubazana.

Meanwhile, SAPS spokesperson Captain Loraine Earle confirmed to Journal News that there are no significant new developments in the investigations into the disappearances of Masiu and Motaung. However, she said that all efforts to trace them are ongoing.

Captain Earle also urged the public to refrain from spreading conspiracy theories and unverified claims, warning that such actions complicate investigations and delay progress.

“Our investigations are guided by facts, evidence, and due process,” she said.

By: Lerato Mutlanyane

Ever since the huge fake alcohol crime bust carried out by the Free State South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Economic Development, Small Business, tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) in East End Business Park in Bloemfontein in March 2023, many thought this progressive development would reduce or slow down the illegal alcohol trade market. 

Two years down the line, this market continues to thrive relentlessly, leaving communities still widely exposed to the extreme dangers of consuming poisonous and possibly deadly alcoholic beverages.

The Bloemfontein bust saw large volumes of fake alcohol - estimated to be worth around R1 million - being confiscated, with a Chinese national being apprehended and charged with contravening the Consumer Protection Act, Counterfeit Goods Act, as well as non-compliance with the Business Act.

Despite making major headlines all over and with erstwhile DESTEA MEC, Thabo Meeko, warning perpetrators that their continued production and sale of illegal alcohol would lead to dire consequences, the trade persists regardless.

The consumption of counterfeit alcoholic beverages has a significant impact on society. New research by the Drinks Federation of South Africa (DF-SA) on the illicit alcohol market shows that the industry has grown by 55% since 2017, with the fake alcohol market said to be valued at R25.1 billion in 2024. These figures continue to rise, according to DF-SA.

A national consumer survey, involving a total of 707 respondents nationwide, was also conducted, highlighting the rapidly growing public concern in this regard. According to the survey, 80% of respondents are worried about the health risks of drinking unregulated fake alcohol; 49% of them claim to personally know someone who has been harmed by it, while 29% reported that they knew someone who has died from consuming fake beverages. 

This has prompted law enforcement authorities to upscale their effort in trying to clamp down on this trade.

“We have observed a steady increase in public awareness and reporting of counterfeit and illicit goods, including alcohol. Through intensified operations such as Operation SHANELA II, we’ve seen improved community cooperation and more targeted interventions, leading to successful confiscations,” said Free State SAPS Captain Lorraine Earle.

“SAPS has a dedicated National Counterfeit Goods Unit, which leads efforts to combat the illicit trade in counterfeit and contraband items. At the Provincial level, police officers collaborate regularly with stakeholders during daily operations to tackle these crimes,” she added.

According to Earle, the SAPS noted that these operations are a joint effort with other regulatory boards, such as the Liquor Board.

“We maintain a strong working relationship with the Free State Liquor Authority. Joint operations are conducted regularly to inspect licensed premises and identify non-compliant outlets, particularly those dealing in unregulated or counterfeit alcohol. A dedicated priority committee also monitors such activities. These collaborative efforts are vital in disrupting illegal supply networks.

“We continue to encourage consumers to purchase alcohol only from licensed vendors and remain alert to unlabeled or unusually cheap products. The fight against illicit trade remains a shared responsibility, and public support is essential to its success,” she concluded.