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Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said on Friday the signing of the Cooperation Agreement to Combat Crime is a testament to the shared commitment between his department and the Western Cape government to fight crime, further announcing that the South African Police Service (Saps) has begun discussions with departments in the justice system, to strengthen relations.

The Cooperation Agreement to Combat Crime led by Mchunu, is in partnership with Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Earlier on Friday, Mchunu released the crime statistics for the last quarter of the previous financial year and the first quarter of the current financial year, with the Western Cape province recording the highest increase in murder cases, putting the ratio of murders committed per capita, per province at 15.3%.

Mchunu noted that this is a concern but is confident that Saps is up to the task of overcoming it.

He highlighted that the new collaboration is grounded on several key objectives.

"Together, we will create a shared safer city and consequently, a safer South Africa vision, one that unites us in purpose and action. We will develop robust programmes and infrastructure to support crime prevention and law enforcement, enhancing the economic performance of our communities and ensuring that safety and prosperity go hand in hand," he said.

He highlighted that the efforts are not only guided by a shared vision but also by the constitutional framework that governs policing in the country.

"We recognise that effective governance is essential for achieving these goals. Therefore, we will work diligently to ensure a conducive governance platform, one that supports transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in all our actions," he added.

Mchunu said the partnership will focus on building internal capacity, ensuring that the Saps, the provincial government through the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, the Metro Police and the City Law Enforcement Officers assisted by the Community Policing Forums (CPFs), and Neighbourhood Watches cooperate in action, coordinate efforts, collaborate in practice, all within a framework of shared resources.

He wants the partnership to leverage technology and data to enhance its crime-fighting efforts, by aligning its strategies and coordinating the implementation of its initiatives, saying this will maximise impact and ensure that actions are efficient and effective.

He expressed confidence in the Saps and other law enforcement in the Western Cape and in the City of Cape Town.

Meanwhile, he said the Saps has already started discussing how it will strengthen coordination with the justice system and other relevant departments.

"From now onwards the criminals must know we have signed a joint effort against them, and they must understand what this is going to mean," he stated.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in attendance at the signing, pointed out that the collaboration forms part of efforts to improve policing and community safety for all Cape Town residents, noting that the partnership pledges to make the best use of resources from the Saps, the provincial government and the City of Cape Town.

"We are committing to work more closely with community based organisations and civil society structures in the fight against crime. Community-based organisations are working to make our communities safer, supporting survivors of crime, and providing invaluable services to our people," he said.

Ramaphosa highlighted that under the new cooperation agreement, technology and resources, as well as information and best practice to improve the state of public policing will be shared.

He said the exchange of information on crime activity and suspects will make the province safer, while the exchange of information of new crime trends will ensure that the Saps "are one step ahead of criminals".

"Greater collaboration will make it easier to trace suspects and wanted persons who ...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) announced on Thursday seven wins in by-elections held across the country, attributing the victories to "a powerful vote of confidence" in the party's policies and leadership.

Fourteen municipal ward by-elections took place on Wednesday in the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape.

The by-elections were contested by an independent candidate and 51 political party candidates from 13 political parties.

"These victories are more than just electoral successes; they are a powerful vote of confidence in the DA's policies, leadership, and our commitment to saving South Africa," said DA leader John Steenhuisen.

He said the by-election results were a "clear indication" of the trust that South Africans had in the DA to deliver effective governance and improve citizens' lives.

In the Western Cape, the party successfully secured victories in Cederberg, Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

In Ward 2, Cederberg, the party surged from 15.96% in 2021 to 40.58% in 2024.

In Ward 17, in Stellenbosch, the DA's support grew from 74.81% in 2021 to 96.28% in 2024 and in Ward 58 in Cape Town, the party increased support from 84.44% in 2021 to 98.32% in 2024.

In the North West, the DA won the ward in Madibeng, and in Gauteng, it won wards in Johannesburg and Tshwane.

Steenhuisen highlighted that in Ward 92 in Tshwane, the DA grew from 33.6% in 2021 to 59.17% in 2024, while in Ward 89 in Johannesburg, the party's support increased from 68.1% in 2021 to 96.34% in 2024.

In Ward 87 in Johannesburg, the DA grew from 65.2% in 2021 to 83.17% in 2024.

Steenhuisen said the DA was trusted by voters, "whether on a national level, where we fulfil our promise to govern in the best interest of the country, or at the local level, where we consistently demonstrate that where we govern, we govern well, to the benefit of all people".

DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said that the DA was highly encouraged by the results in Tshwane, reaffirming that voters believe in the DA's ability and proven track record of good, clean governance.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has appointed former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Mzwanele Manyi as its chief whip in Parliament with immediate effect.

The MKP expressed confidence in Manyi's leadership, saying he would further strengthen the party's commitment to serving people with integrity and dedication.

Manyi replaced Sihle Ngubane, who the party said would continue to serve as an ordinary member of the National Assembly participating in the committees to which he had been assigned.

Ngubane was previously removed as secretary-general and replaced with Arthur Zwane before being appointed as the chief whip.

Manyi was sworn in as an MKP MP on Wednesday with former State agency executives former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa CEO Lucky Montana, former Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama and former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe.

The party also swore in Gezani Eric Kobane, Thulani Innocent Gamede, Thembinkosi Siboniso Mjadu and Nompumelelo Matilda Gasa.

Manyi resigned from the EFF earlier this month following the resignation of the party's former deputy leader Floyd Shivambu, who is now the MKP's national organiser.

The MKP said Manyi brought a "wealth of executive experience", as he had served in government as a director general and led as a corporate executive in the private sector.

"His extensive expertise will add impetus to the ongoing work within the party, whilst building upon the solid foundation laid by honourable Ngubane," the MKP said.

ActionSA will join the African National Congress (ANC), the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), as they team up to vote out Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink through a motion of no confidence.

ActionSA is in a coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane.

The DA is fighting two motions against Brink, in court, brought by the ANC.

In a statement on Thursday, Brink said he learnt from a media briefing, given by ActionSA, the ANC and the EFF, outside Tshwane House, that ActionSA would join the motion against him.

"I've just learnt that ActionSA's Tshwane caucus leader has told media outside Tshwane House that the party is leaving the Tshwane Multi-Party Coalition. I haven't received any notice to this effect, but in light of what has happened up to this point I can only assume that this is the party's position. A coalition that is making progress brought down for no clear reason. A betrayal of coalition partners and the people of Tshwane. Sabotaging the builders to let in the breakers," Brink said on X.

No formal coalition agreement between ActionSA, the ANC, the EFF and the ACDP has been announced, yet.

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) wants national and provincial governments to use legislation, and other measures, to support and strengthen municipal capacity to allow them to better perform their functions.

This follows the release of the Auditor-General of South Africa's 2022/23 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) audit outcomes, which indicated that of the country's 257 municipalities, only 34 received clean audits.

Salga noted that, overall, consolidated audit outcomes, compared with 2021/22, have stagnated, with four municipalities dropping from unqualified without material findings to unqualified with material findings, which it said was concerning.

The association called for more efforts to assist municipalities achieve unqualified audit outcomes.

Salga said municipalities should aim to achieve clean audit outcomes, steered by capable administrative and political leadership and management that pursued sound financial management, institutionalised compliance, implemented internal controls, established processes, adhered to standard operating procedures, and fostered a culture of accountability and high performance.

It urged municipalities to adopt best practices from best performers with clean audit outcomes, institutionalise controls through digital innovations and ensure stringent performance management for all officials, including those lower than senior management.

It said municipal councils and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs must ensure the functionality of oversight structures and continuous capacity building of Councillors throughout their term of office.

Salga pointed out that service delivery, financial sustainability, and compliance with legislative frameworks were fundamental for municipalities, emphasising the national and provincial government's constitutional mandate to adequately support municipalities in addressing challenges and achieving their mandate of service delivery and development.

"The three spheres of government should develop fit-for-purpose programmes, coordinate and align programmes (at national and provincial levels) for municipalities to address, achieve significant improvements and impact, and extract accountability and consequence management," Salga advised.

Meanwhile, Salga observed that the MFMA audit outcomes indicated a 45% reduction in the number of municipalities with disclaimed audit opinions, saying it was commendable and needed to be replicated to improve financial governance in municipalities that were still in the red zone.

"Municipalities such as Mopani, Madibeng, Kgathelopele and Khetlengrivier have improved and moved out of disclaimed audit outcomes, for the first time, after several years of disclaimed audit opinions," it noted.

Salga said it appreciated Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke's report, which highlighted areas that needed special attention, including revenue losses, unspent grants, inadequate budget for repairs and maintenance, insufficient capacity and skills, and governance failures.

LIMITING FINANCIAL LOSSES

The report also indicated 360 material irregularities - including non-compliance and suspected fraud - with an estimated collective value of R7.34-billion in the audited financial year.

Only R924-million was protected through, for example, recovery of financial loss or in the process of being recovered, the report highlighted.

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs pointed out that the protected amounts were far less than the material loss, calling on Maluleke to use the additional powers that had been assigned to her office to force municipalities to limit financial losses and improve audit outcomes.

The committee has asked the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, led by Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, for a plan of action to address the situation outlined by the Auditor-General.

"The plan must include measures to eliminate repeat ...

Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies chairperson Khusela Sangoni Diko said that the South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC's) funding issue is "a burning platform" which, if left unresolved, could be an "urgent existential crisis" to the public broadcaster.

The committee wants greater public funding of the SABC so that it can deliver on its legislative public service mandate.

This view was expressed on Tuesday after a briefing from the broadcaster on its progress in implementing its performance and turnaround strategy.

Diko pointed out that the SABC's public mandate was funded partly, up to 56% - government grants accounted for 45% of this and TV licences accounted for 11%.

"In the current financial year alone, the unfunded mandate will cost R2.1-billion, which includes R829-million for content, R453-million for signal distribution and R886-million for operational overhead allocations. The SABC generates up to 83% of its revenue from commercial activities, including selling of airtime, content exploitation and advertising," she added.

The committee said it supported greater public funding of the SABC and called on the public broadcaster and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to suggest funding options for the committee's consideration, using the SABC Bill currently before Parliament.

Diko noted that the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies should "work hard to foster public and private partnerships", as well as develop ways to regulate over-the-top services.

Meanwhile, the committee congratulated the SABC on "significant progress" in implementing its performance and turnaround strategy.

The committee noted a projection of reduced financial loss from R1.1-billion incurred in the 2023/24 financial year to R500-million by the end of the current financial year.

The committee also welcomed the department's intervention to mediate between the SABC and Sentech on the R1-billion debt owed to Sentech.

Following backlash from civil society organisations and political parties calling for Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane to account for her alleged involvement with Mutual Bank VBS, President Cyril Ramaphosa has requested a detailed report and briefing from her on the matter.

Early this week, media reports revealed that while serving as the mayor of Polokwane in 2016, Simelane took a "commercial loan" of R575 600 from Gundo Wealth Solutions, a company that brokered "unlawful" investments of R349-million into VBS Bank on behalf of the Polokwane municipality, amongst others.

On Tuesday, civil society organisations called on Simelane to "fully and transparently" respond to the recent VBS allegations levelled against her.

In a joint statement, Freedom Under Law, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Judges Matter and Defend Our Democracy said perceptions of corruption and conflicts of interest caused significant harm to public confidence in governance institutions and the rule of law.

The organisations pointed out that it would be untenable for such serious allegations against a Minister in such an important portfolio to remain unanswered.

ActionSA has since approached the Public Protector to urgently investigate allegations made against Simelane, highlighting that should there be sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, the party would write to Ramaphosa, requesting the immediate removal of Simelane as Justice Minister.

The Democratic Alliance also expressed concerns, noting it had submitted a request to the chair of the Justice Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Simelane to appear before the portfolio to answer to the allegations.

The EFF called for Simelane to immediately resign and also urged law enforcement agencies to act swiftly in holding her accountable.

The party said Simelane's actions were not merely unethical; they were criminal.

The GOOD party said it was "completely untenable" to have Simelane embroiled in the VBS fraud and corruption scandal.

"Unfortunately, that means that Simelane cannot remain the Minister responsible for a justice system that may well have to investigate and prosecute her if the allegations sustain a prima facie case. Equally, she cannot remain at the helm if a decision not to prosecute is the ultimate outcome and is to have unimpeachable credibility," GOOD stated.

South Africa intends to compel banks to disclose more information about their mortgage-lending practices to boost access to home loans among previously disadvantaged citizens, Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said.

The government plans to change the Home Loan and Mortgage Disclosure Act, a law promulgated in 2000 that requires lenders to provide details of home loans they've approved, Kubayi said at a briefing in Pretoria on Monday. The proposed amendments would enable the state to investigate consumer complaints about home loans and raise penalties for lenders over non-compliance, she said.

"We are calling for a review of the legislation and polices that will make it even for private sector, especially our financial institutions, to be able to assist us to provide shelter for South Africans," Kubayi said.

An analysis of recent data has shown waning affordability and a decline in home-loan approvals, especially among middle-income earners, the minister said.

From 2018 through 2022, lenders received about 6-million applications for loans. Two-million of those were from previously advantaged groups, of which 1-million were approved, while 4-million previously disadvantaged people applied for home loans and 2.4-million were granted, according to the Human Settlements Department.

The rejection rate for previously disadvantaged groups is "concerning," despite banks citing poor credit records and a lack of affordability as a key driver, Kubayi said.

"We know that the banks don't think that it is necessary, but we do believe that we have a case to make in terms of forcing them to disclose when they have declined an application and the reasons they have declined," she said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is celebrating what it calls a resounding endorsement of its record of service delivery excellence, by the Auditor General (AG), with 63% of DA-run municipalities achieving clean audits.

On Tuesday, AG Tsakani Maluleke released the 2022/23 consolidated general report on local government audit outcomes, which highlighted that the City of Cape Town is the only metro that managed to achieve a clean audit.

Of the 257 municipalities across South Africa, 34 received clean audits, of which 58.8% were from the Western Cape.

The AG also commended the City of Tshwane for its improved audit outcome, which the DA said underscored the "stellar work" by Mayor Cilliers Brink to turn around the metro after years of "gross mismanagement" by the African National Congress (ANC).

DA Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson Cathy Labuschagne said 19 clean audits proved that DA governments were managing public funds responsibly, "ensuring that every rand is spent in a manner that directly benefits the community."

"Despite running 13% of municipalities in the country, either through outright majority or coalitions, 63% of DA-run municipalities achieved clean audits. In contrast, with 87% of municipalities in South Africa run by the African National Congress, only 5% managed to achieve clean audits," explained Labuschagne.

She said the AG's outcomes underscored the DA government's focus on "transparency, accountability, and sound financial management".

Meanwhile, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance and Local Government Deidré Baartman said the results still highlighted the work that needed to be done to ensure sound financial management to improve service delivery within local governments across the Western Cape.

"Clean audits are not merely a measure of good governance and financial management, they also speak directly to service delivery and the improvement of residents' lives," added Baartman.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said it was encouraging to see many of the DA's municipalities managing their finances responsibly.

The Western Cape government also noted Bitou and Oudtshoorn municipalities improving their audit outcomes over the 2022/23 financial year to achieve clean audit outcomes.

The two qualified audit outcomes in Knysna and Beaufort West municipalities, the adverse audit outcome in Laingsburg municipality, and the outstanding audit in Kannaland municipality is a cause for concern, said the Western Cape government.

It highlighted that the continued administrative and political adversity in these municipalities had placed their financial health at serious risk.

Civil society organisations Freedom Under Law (FUL), the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Judges Matter and Defend Our Democracy on Tuesday called on Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane to "fully and transparently" respond to the recent Mutual Bank VBS allegations levelled against her.

In a joint statement, the organisations said perceptions of corruption and conflicts of interest cause significant harm to public confidence in governance institutions and the rule of law.

Reports stated that Simelane, while serving as mayor of Polokwane, made two unlawful investments into the since-collapsed VBS Mutual Bank.

It is said that these payments appeared to be linked to kickbacks paid in exchange for the deposits into VBS by the municipality.

It is further alleged that these kickbacks were paid to a company which then used a significant portion of the kickbacks to pay towards a loan which was used for the purchase of a coffee shop by the Minister.

Simelane has claimed that the transaction was a legitimate commercial loan which was fully repaid.

However, the organisations pointed out that neither the loan agreement or proof of settlement of the loan have been provided.

The organisations said in recent years South Africa has, too often, suffered the effects of compromised individuals having a negative impact on the justice sector.

"We continue to see the harm caused to governance institutions by unsuitable individuals, and how difficult it is to repair the damage they cause," they said.

"Further questions arise too; even if there was a loan which was settled in full, the facts in the public domain raise serious questions about whether it was appropriate for the Minister to have entered such a loan in the first place, considering the apparent connection to unlawful deposits into VBS Bank by the same municipality of which she was mayor," said the organisations.

They pointed out that Simelane has the political responsibility for key law enforcement agencies which are involved in the fight against corruption and in investigating and prosecuting the collapse of VBS Bank.

The organisations also pointed out that Simelane will sit on the Judicial Service Commission in October.

"We therefore call for the Minister to account fully for her involvement in the incident. It would be untenable for such serious allegations against a Minister in such an important portfolio to remain unanswered," they pointed out.