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Premier Spokesperson Matshidiso Setai has vehemently denied allegations of corruption against her, calling them baseless and a smear campaign intended to damage her reputation and remove her from the Free State Provincial Government.
In an interview with the Journal News, Setai responded to various media reports accusing her of fraud, forgery, and involvement in a R4.3 million financial mismanagement lawsuit with the National Department of Transport, where she served as the Acting Deputy Director General of Communications in 2008.
Setai asserts that these allegations are rooted in distortion and aim to eliminate her as an obstacle to corrupt activities in government procurement.
In September, media reports accused her of fraudulently creating a letter that forged the signature of former Acting Director General Dr Mafole Mokalobe from the Premier's office and sending it to the Head of the Department of Education, Advocate Tshwarelo Malakoane.
Previously, Setai emphasised that this is a smear campaign against her, intended to discredit her character.
"I will stop at nothing to ensure that corruption ends within the seventh administration of the Free State provincial government," she said.
According to the reports, Setai was allegedly placed on suspension after a KPMG report indicated that proper tender procedures were not followed for some of the projects issued by the department.
She reportedly faced 14 charges and was found guilty on 13 of them, including procurement irregularities, gross dishonesty, and gross negligence.
“We went to lawyers and there was an out-of-court settlement that we reached, initiated by the department itself, Setai said.
Based on the settlement agreement signed at the North Gauteng High Court, dated 3 October 2012 between Setai and NDOT an order of court was signed and therefore R4.3 million was paid to Setai by the department.
According to department of Justice, a settlement agreement ordered by the court, has to follow the same legal process should it be reviewed.
In September 2020, NDOT instructed National Treasury to change the status of Setais persal from dismissal to resignation.
In 2023, it is alleged that the Department of Transport wanted to revoke and review the settlement agreement.
Setai reveals that the department has not reviewed the settlement agreement from her case as they need to do it through the court.
"Based on all of those charges, the department opted to settle out of court, and the settlement letter was issued by them, resulting in my payment of R4.3 million.
"This amount included my outstanding salary and all legal costs, she said.
In response, Setai confirmed that she had heard about the department's intention to review the decision made in 2012, but noted that no court application has been lodged.
"To date, the Department of Transport has still not reviewed the agreement, so I don’t know where these media platforms are getting the information that the settlement has been reviewed.
"If there is a review outcome, I ask that it be issued now,” she said.
"What I can tell you is that there is ongoing litigation against the department, and our case is set for October 2028.
“This reflects their level of desperation against me. They are attempting to find dirt on me, but cannot succeed.
"I'm currently viewed as an enemy because I have halted corruption. I am a target because they are unable to steal from the government,” Setai said.
Red meat lovers and farmers are facing yet another blow after the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) confirmed a case of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in sheep in the Augrabies area, Northern Cape.
This comes as South Africa continues to deal with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which has disrupted livestock markets, restricted animal movements, and placed significant financial pressure on farmers across multiple provinces.
Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease that primarily affects domestic livestock, often leading to miscarriages and high mortality rates among infected animals.
IOL previously reported that the country has been battling FMD for several months, prompting key trading partners, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and China, to suspend imports of meat and related animal products from the country.
Two months ago, Minister of Agriculture by Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen also revealed that the Department has procured 900,000 doses of FMD vaccine to combat the ongoing and increasingly widespread outbreaks affecting several provinces.
“At the beginning of 2025, active FMD outbreaks were confined to KwaZulu-Natal. Unfortunately, by the end of May 2025, new outbreaks had emerged in other provinces,” said Steenhuisen.
However, as South Africa continues to struggle with FMD, the RMIS has also revealed that a new case of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has been confirmed in sheep in the Augrabies, Northern Cape, prompting increased surveillance and vaccination efforts to prevent further spread.
"RVF has been diagnosed in sheep in the Augrabies area. To prevent further spread, vaccination of at-risk animals is strongly advocated. RMIS has contacted OBP to determine current vaccine stock levels and will assist in coordinating the allocation of available vaccine to high-risk areas as a priority". RMID said.
The organisation added that it is working closely with local veterinary authorities to monitor the situation and ensure that all necessary biosecurity measures are implemented to protect livestock and support affected farmers.
"In addition, RMIS is working with local veterinary authorities to monitor the situation closely and ensure that all necessary biosecurity measures are implemented to protect livestock and support affected farmers".
*This article was first published by IOL News
The SA Revenue Service (SARS) will implement a delayed 6.2% salary increase for its employees after it was rejected by Cosatu affiliate, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu).
SARS approached the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in a bid to make a settlement agreement with the Public Servants Association (PSA) an order of the court.
The tax revenue collection agency told the High Court that it entered into an agreement with the PSA to settle the dispute over the salary increases.
It insisted that its agreement with the PSA was also binding on Nehawu, which the union disagreed with.
The agency applied for its agreement to be made an order of the court that was binding on Nehawu.
Earlier this month, Judge Mncedisi Kumalo ruled that the settlement agreement was binding on all members of SARS’ bargaining unit, including members of Nehawu.
Nehawu had claimed in court that wage agreements should not be made court orders, but Judge Kumalo disagreed.
He said a 2014 Labour Appeal Court (LAC) ruling on the right of public servants to go on strike against the government was not binding on the present dispute over salary increases.
The LAC refused to make the settlement agreement an order of the court and its employees did not stop the court from making a wage deal an order.
“I am of the view that the decision does not prevent a court from making a settlement an order of the court. The court has, at the very least, as pointed out by Nehawu in its heads of argument, a discretion whether to do so,” the judge stated.
Judge Kumalo continued: “I accept that the settlement agreement between the parties was a compromise. It was open to SARS and PSA to decide how to settle their dispute regarding the judgment, that is, the implementation of the third year of the multi-year wage agreement.”
According to the ruling, it therefore did not constitute a variation of the main agreement in the strict sense.
“I accept the applicant’s (SARS’) submission that it does not fall foul of the non-variation clause in the main agreement,” explained Judge Kumalo.
He added that the agreement was in full and final settlement of the dispute arising from the non-implementation of the third year of the wage agreement.
“This court has discretion to make it an order of the court, and I am of the view that the circumstances in this matter call for it to exercise such discretion in the positive and make it an order of the court,” the judge stated.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said that South Africa's aviation sector was fully equipped and prepared to welcome international visitors attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit this weekend.
The OR Tambo International Airport, Waterkloof Air Force Base and Lanseria Airport will serve as entry points for the heads of states, who are expected to begin arriving on Thursday.
Creecy shared the details during a state-of-readiness media briefing in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday afternoon.
She said that the country’s ports of entry had met all security and safety requirements needed to manage the influx of international delegates.
"On the 25th of October this year, we had our first dry-run, which demonstrated the readiness of all the ports of entry and it set a benchmark for a high standard of operational excellence for this important leader summit."
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
The MPC will wrap up its deliberations on the central bank’s benchmark policy rate later Thursday afternoon, marking the biggest domestic economic event for the week.
All eyes are on the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on Thursday, as economists are split on the repo rate decision in the final meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) for 2025.
The MPC will wrap up its deliberations on the central bank’s benchmark policy rate later in the afternoon, marking the biggest domestic economic event for the week.
Some economists have labelled it as the conclusion of a period marked by elevated uncertainty and market volatility.
While 2025 was expected to be turbulent, economists at FNB said the path to a 7% repo rate was initially projected to be smooth, anchored by three consecutive 25 basis point cuts early in 2025.
However, external shocks from the new United States (US) administration’s tariff policies and South Africa’s fraught budgeting process disrupted this path, prompting a pause in March.
Despite these headwinds, inflation surprised to the downside and the rand held steady, allowing the MPC to resume rate cuts in May and July.
While some market participants think the next cut could be as early as this November meeting, FNB said the MPC is more likely to hold rates steady.
“With a limited probability of compelling data in the next six months, a premature cut could undermine credibility and complicate the future policy stance. However, this view is not without risk, as there is no clear consensus on how restrictive policy must be to guide expectations effectively. If rates are too tight, they may suppress inflation but at a destructive cost to economic growth and political stability.”
The Bureau for Economic Research said if the SARB does cut the repo rate, it doesn’t mean there will be consecutive interest rate declines in the next couple of meetings.
“The SARB is likely to keep a close eye on inflation expectations, its CPI forecast and will fine-tune policy as risks emerge and subside.”
The latest decision comes after inflation inched up marginally to 3,6% in October - from 3,4% in September - which is still some way above the new inflation target of 3%.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
