A single sitting of the Johannesburg council can cost R600 000, with the lion's share going toward catering.

Former Speaker Vasco da Gama has claimed the taxpayer coughs up these eye-watering amounts for sittings, with catering costs R800 per person, including guests during special meetings.

But Speaker Colleen Makhubele says the last council meeting, at the beginning of August, cost the city less than R400 000.

As 270 councillors munch their way through three courses, the city is crumbling.

At the end of the 2022 financial year, the City's debt was R24-billion, and its unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure rose to R20.8-billion.

Its finances were so bad that it had to hire a panel of debt collectors to try and scrape back revenue, which it failed to collect.

Now, it can't even pay the debt collectors.

The City needs R4.3-billion a month to operate, but apparently, none of this has gone into renewing infrastructure - not even for its seat of power.

The Metro Centre building has been abandoned since 16 September lest it becomes another deadly inferno.

The failed maintenance has led to the stalling of decision-making, and the decision-makers may be unable to sit this month if they can't decide on a venue.

After a fire in the Metro Centre, the council did not sit last month because it could not afford the R1-million cost of alternative venues (without catering), and the Brixton Multipurpose Centre, which the City owns, was unavailable.

The Brixton Centre will be available on 31 October if the council can't use its R280-million council chamber.

Despite the hall being free, Makhubele said it could cost more to use the hall because it would need more security and be made fit for purpose.

And governance does not come cheap.

In Johannesburg, council meetings usually run for two days. With the changes in government, there have also been six extraordinary council sittings this year, some of which were three days long.

The costs go toward catering for 270 councillors for breakfast and lunch and security and medical personnel.

Breakfast, which the EFF could not resist at the extraordinary meeting on 5 September, consists of savoury sandwiches, yoghurt and muesli, fruit and muffins and a beverage in takeaway packs.

The dining hall has buffet tables laden with food.

Lunch sees the tables creaking with stews and rice, pasta and meat. Salads and vegetables have their own table with cans of cool drinks.

On that particular day, the council had to wait an hour to reach quorum, and many were absent.

The EFF, the speaker was told, was having breakfast.

The council still had to pay the council costs if the quorum was not met again.

Makhubele has denied that the cost was as high as R600 000, saying that the last council meeting at the beginning of August cost the city R390 353.70, including VAT for breakfast and lunch and catering for Kosher and Halaal diets.

The eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has 222 councillors at each sitting, but it pays R550 000 a sitting.

They meet at the International Convention Centre (ICC), which costs between R500 000 and R650 000 a time.

This is in stark contrast to the uMngeni Local Municipality an hour away, with mayor Chris Pappas at the helm.

The council only has 25 councillors and the costs remain nil because they use their own venue and do not cater.

"The only time we incur costs for a council meeting is at our annual budget, when we use a bigger venue. Here, the costs are for bottled water and a sound system. This year, it totalled less than R15 000," Pappas said.

The City of Cape Town Municipality spends "just over R300 000" for 231 councillors.

Speaker Felicity Purchase said: "We no longer provide catering, which has saved us considerably."

Back in Gauteng, the Tshwane Municipality also does not cater for its 214 councillors.

Vanessa de Sousa, Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana's spokesperson, said due to the cost containment policy, the only costs were for the interpreters.

"In May, we p...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will not take action against Deputy Health Minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo in connection with allegations of sexual assault until Parliament's processes have run their course.

Sunday Times reported that Dhlomo was accused of sexually assaulting a parliamentary staffer at his state-provided home in Rondebosch, Cape Town on 5 September.

The complainant is a male parliamentary researcher and works for an opposition party.

According to the complainant, Dhlomo groped him after he was led to his bedroom. This was reportedly not the first time Dhlomo tried to lure the man to his house.

News24 approached Dhlomo for comment, but the request was ignored.

National Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said: "Note that Deputy Minister Dr Dhlomo takes these allegations seriously, he will allow the investigation process to unfold without him making public statements on the matter to avoid jeopardising [the] process."

Parliament's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo confirmed that a sexual harassment complaint involving a national Cabinet minister had been submitted to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

"The speaker is treating this allegation with utmost seriousness as it concerns a potential breach of the ethical code for members of Parliament. Consequently, she swiftly advised that the matter be referred to the ethics committee of Parliament for a thorough investigation.

"Furthermore, the speaker has taken steps to ensure a supportive environment for the alleged victim by directing that the administration of Parliament immediately arrange professional counselling. In light of the person against whom a complaint is made is also a member of the Executive, the speaker has also informed the president," he said.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told News24 that the president would allow due processes to run their course and "await the outcome of the investigations".

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests confirmed it had received a complaint against Dhlomo.

The co-chairpersons of the committee, Bekizwe Nkosi and Lydia Moshodi, said their work would be guided by the relevant rules.

Furthermore, they said any complaint was guided by the principle of promptness, fairness, and consistency.

"The complaint was officially tabled in a scheduled meeting of the committee held on 20 October 2023. During this meeting, the committee decided to consider the matter through the establishment of a subcommittee scheduled to sit in November to hear the matter. Furthermore, the committee is precluded by the code from making running commentary on a complaint," it said.

Police are reportedly also investigating the matter after a complaint was filed at Rondebosch SAPS.

Democratic Alliance MP and spokesperson on health, Michele Clarke, said the DA took allegations of such a nature very seriously and urged the committee to conclude the in-depth investigation as soon as possible and make their findings public.

"The accusations of sexual assault against the [deputy] minister are of serious concern and we hope that the truth of the matter - whatever it may be - would be revealed soon," Clarke said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the Cairo Summit for Peace on Saturday as the fighting between Israel and Hamas enters its second week.

On the invitation by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ramaphosa will attend the summit, which is expected to host European leaders as well as Arab and Gulf leaders.

The Peace Summit will discuss the ongoing conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip, with a focus on humanitarian support and the resumption of the peace process.

Ramaphosa has decried the attacks on civilians and the extensive loss of life as the fighting continues.

"South Africa has repeatedly called for the immediate cessation of hostilities, return of hostages and the urgent opening of humanitarian corridors. South Africa stands ready to join the global effort that will bring about lasting peace to the Middle East," the Presidency said.

A recent voter opinion survey conducted by think tank the Brenthurst Foundation, in collaboration with international strategic communications and campaigns consultancy SABI Strategy Group, has found that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) faces significant competition from coalitions, ahead of the 2024 elections.

The survey found that, compared with 12 months ago, a coalition government is now more likely, with ANC support dropping from 48% to 41%. Political parties under the umbrella of the Multi-Party Charter, which was recently constituted, have a combined total support of 36%.

There is a five-point difference between the combined vote of the Multi-Party Charter and the ANC.

The majority of survey respondents hold the ANC responsible for the country's problems over the last three decades.

The survey highlighted the decrease in support for the ANC as rooted in its inability to govern the country, in particular, the key provinces such as the Western Cape and Gauteng.

However, President Cyril Ramaphosa continues to enjoy the highest positive favorability rating of all politicians tested, although this has also decreased since November 2022, from 48% to 42%.

In assessing the country's foreign policy imperatives, 40% of respondents in the survey preferred an association with Western countries and democracies over the 28% who responded that they preferred a pivot the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) alliance.

Despite Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF's) leader Julius Malema testing as the most unfavorable politician among the survey's respondents, the rising support for the EFF from 11% in 2022 to 17% today has been noted prompting fears of an EFF-ANC coalition.

Download the full survey here

African National Congress (ANC) deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane says that the Israeli embassy in South Africa must close its doors and the ambassador must leave his diplomatic station.

Pleading for an "end to Zionism", she added the ANC also wants a boycott of all goods imported from Israel.

"Down with the Israeli government, down. Down with the killing of people and the bombing of hospitals, down. The Israeli embassy must leave South Africa. The embassy must close, and the ambassador must go. Boycott Israeli products," Mokonyane said as the crowd cheered.

She was speaking at a march to the Israeli embassy in Pretoria on Friday, which was held to show support for Palestine as fighting between the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and Hamas continues in Gaza.

Thousands of people - both Israelis and Palestinians - have died since the war began on 7 October. With the IDF preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, the ANC has increased its well-known support for Palestine.

Dressed in ANC T-shirts and carrying the Palestine flag, they marched on Friday.

Protesters held posters calling for an end to the oppression of Palestinians.

Supporters of Palestinians from the general public were also at the march, as well as representatives from the Palestinian ambassador's office.

South Africa does not have an assigned ambassador in Israel, only a liaison office.

The decision to downgrade the country's diplomacy was based on the SA government's continued disapproval of Israel's actions in the Middle East region.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who is also the ANC Gauteng chairperson, briefly addressed the protesters ahead of the march, warning the party's coalition partners against supporting Israel.

The comment may have been aimed at the Patriotic Alliance (PA) - the only coalition partner that has expressed support for Israel. PA leader Gayton McKenzie and his deputy, Kenny Kunene, visited Israel earlier this year.

"We will forever stand with those who stood with us during apartheid. We do not change like weather. You stand with us. We will stand with you ... we are unashamed that we stand with the people of Palestine.

"All those political parties that are in coalition with us and have decided to stand on the side of Israel must know it's over with us. We do not care whatever they bring ... We stand with Palestine," he added.

Opposition party, the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach told Parliament on Thursday that appointing Kholeka Gcaleka as the new Public Protector of South Africa will be "settling for less" as the DA believes she is not experienced to run the office independently and impartially.

Parliament is expected to vote, today, on whether Gcaleka will take over the Public Protector's office following the impeachment of Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

Gcaleka has been acting in the position since last year.

Breytenbach argues that the Public Protector's office demands a high level of ethical conduct and integrity and is not convinced that Gcaleka on her own will be able to run the office.

"I am afraid, on her own history, Gcaleka does not meet that high standard. We should not settle for less. We should not settle. This position is too important to settle for possibly the best of a very mediocre bunch. Is this the type of dubious mediocrity we want to appoint into one of the most important offices in our Constitutional democracy. I should think not," said Breytenbach.

The DA also stressed that Gcaleka has done nothing to improve the performance of the Public Protector's office.

Gcaleka was a prosecutor in the National Prosecuting Authority, with some experience in litigation but the DA says she was not there long enough to be described as an experienced litigator, and it says while there, she did not conduct herself with distinction.

"She was peripherally involved in the [Richard] Mdluli matter, which cannot be regarded as a success, since his conviction was on the basis of such watered down charges that the murder of Oupa Ramogibe remains unaccounted for to this day," added the party.

Bulk supplier Rand Water says the Tshwane and Johannesburg metros have made strides towards improving their water supply - using fragile systems that have teetered on the brink of collapse.

This after the City of Tshwane issued a mayday warning on Wednesday, urging residents to conserve water as reservoirs took strain.

In a statement, it said it was continuing to experience an increase in water consumption, which was likely to result in no water "for a longer period as the city reservoirs drop extraordinarily from time to time".

On Thursday, Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo said there had been a huge improvement overnight, especially in Garsfontein, which was critical.

Despite this, the area is still affected by the low Carina Reservoir. The reservoir also affects Alphen Park, Erasmusrand, Monument Park, Waterkloof Waterkloof Ridge, Waterkloof Park, Waterkloof Heights, Sterrewag, and Groenkloof.

The Tshwane metro's water comes from two sources: Rand Water - which treats bulk water from the Integrated Vaal River System - and Magalies Water - which provides water to areas in Gauteng, the North West, and Limpopo from the Crocodile and the Pienaars rivers.

Last Friday, Rand Water warned the City about water supply from the Wallmannsthal Water Treatment Plant, north of the city, which had been compromised by the sharing of water from the Roodeplaat Water Treatment Plant, "resulting in low water supply against high demand by consumers".

The municipality operates Roodeplaat.

Vandalism that week also halted water treatment.

Unlike Tshwane, Johannesburg does not have its own water supply and must rely on Rand Water.

Rand Water is struggling to keep up with demand, which has continued to exceed the consumption agreement with the municipalities.

Maroo said the South Hills tower, which has been in dire straits, was also improving and was supplying high-lying areas.

The entity released its yearly consumer stats on Tuesday.

Despite agreeing on 1 045 megalitres (where a megalitre = 1-million litres) daily, Johannesburg has not met this target from 5 September 2022 to 16 September.

The graph shows a significant drop in consumption in July, during the planned interruptions to expand the Rand Water system. Since the start of September, the water consumption has been above the 1 493 mega litre mark - this was last year's water target.

The 1 045-megalitre target is 30% less than last year and is designed to help combat the growing consumer base.

The city loses 24.1% of this water to leaks.

The Tshwane metro has also not met its 434-megalitre agreed on consumption and recorded consumption above last year's 620-megalitre target from September 2022 to 2023.

Ekurhuleni, which gets its water from Rand Water, spent most of the period below last year's 813-megalitre agreed usage but did not meet the current target of 569 megalitres.

At a meeting between the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Gauteng municipalities last month, Minister Senzo Mchunu said Gauteng's rapid population growth and "increasing water losses in municipal water distribution systems. have resulted in a situation where the peak demand for water from Rand Water's municipal customers is close to, and occasionally exceeds the available supply".

This meeting was held after Mchunu called on the various entities to explain how they would mitigate the water crisis.

He added that load shedding and a lack of proactive operations and maintenance in the infrastructure contributed to the challenges.

In response to the call, Rand Water said it was "chasing the demand caused by the ever-growing consumption".

Johannesburg Water said its mitigation plans included addressing pressure and reservoir management.

Tshwane said its non-revenue water statistics had improved over the years as measures were implemented to reduce the losses.

And the City of Ekurhuleni said it had turned its focus on correcting metering and billing and added that it was fighting repetitive vandalism of infrastr...

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate Israel for war crimes after a hospital was bombed in Gaza, killing more than 500 people and leaving hundreds injured.

But the government hasn't approached the ICC yet, Ntshaveni said at a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday.

"Israel's bombing of the al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital that killed well over 500 people and injured over 1 000 is, in fact, a war crime as hospitals are considered a safe haven under international humanitarian law.

"Cabinet calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate the bombing and the crime of genocide in this conflict and on the international community not to allow the perpetration of another holocaust under its watch. The Jewish Holocaust is enough stain in the history of mankind for the international community to fold its arms while the Israeli government perpetrates a Palestinian holocaust," Ntshavheni said.

Israel has denied responsibility for the hospital bombing and the country's defence force has blamed jihadists.

US President Joe Biden, who is in Israel on a solidarity visit, condemned the bombing but appeared to believe the version supplied by Israel.

Nthsavheni said the South African government did not need to wait for a briefing from anyone to believe that Israel was responsible for the bombing and added that the country "can't runway for taking responsibility".

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said what was happening to Palestinians was evil.

"They are stateless, and people are dying every day, and we are saying, let's have a two-state solution. We condemn the killing of Israeli citizens

"Joe Biden and other US presidents have said they support the state of Israel. For America, every solution to a problem is arms. That is the Americans' answer to everything. There is a problem in the Middle East, and their answer is, we will give you arms," Mbalula said

"Where does the notion of peace come in for a superpower like America? At some point, we must try and negotiate peace."

Greylisting

Turning to a different topic, Ntshaveni said Cabinet had also been briefed on South Africa's greylisting status by the Financial Action Task Force (FAFT) in February.

Several areas identified by the FATF showed that the country was not complying with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing standards.

Ntshavheni said the deadline to address the non-compliance was 2025. So far, the country is on track with its efforts to do so.

"Cabinet noted progress in addressing greylisting deficiencies identified by the FATF, rerating at least 14 technical compliance deficiencies and positive progress in 17 of 22 action items against the original action plan.

"Cabinet approved the Updated Operational Framework for Targeted Financial Sanctions to bind the conduct of all agencies involved in the process of designating people and entities in terms of amended section 23 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Amendment (POCDARATA) Act," she said.

The minister said a meeting at the end of October would consider whether the country had taken enough steps so far in adhering to the concerns raised by the FATF.

"The timeline for South Africa to be moved out of greylisting is 2025. That is why we continue to work to ensure we meet the obligation. The greylisting has an impact on the economy and performance of the country," Ntshavheni said.

New appointments

Meanwhile, Cabinet has approved Onderstepoort Biological Products Board appointments.

The following people were appointed:

Professor Peace Mabeta;

Dr Natalie Skeepers;

Mokutule Kgobokoe;

Sinovuyo Matai;

Rajesh Mahabeer;

Dr Len Konar;

Dr Linda Makuleni-Tompson

Kwazi Mshengu, who previously served as an ANC KwaZulu-Natal MPL and Education MEC in the same province, has been appointed board trustee at the Independent Development Trust.

This is his second board appointment in recent mo...

African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula expressed the party's condemnation of "genocidal actions" by Israel against Palestinian civilians, following the bombing of a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday.

The ANC is calling for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and The International Court of Justice to act to address what the party calls "genocidal crimes".

Addressing the media following the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, he announced that the party would work with NGOs and faith-based organisations for the formation of a global anti-apartheid movement against Israel.

Mbalula said the party further characterised the "inhuman call by Israel" for one-million Palestinians to evacuate and desert their homes as "deeply concerning".

"The affected Palestinians have no safe refuge, effectively becoming trapped and vulnerable akin to mice in a corner ready for a slaughter. The NEC believes such a call is equivalent to an announcement of genocide, as it is very impractical, particularly noting that amongst the people to be moved out of this part of Gaza are patients admitted to hospitals, children and the elderly. The ANC strongly condemns the genocidal crimes that took place yesterday in the Gaza strip wherein a hospital was bombed," he expressed.

The ANC NEC further adopted a comprehensive solidarity programme with the people of Palestine "to bring about their right to self-determination and push for a genuine resumption of peace talks towards a lasting and just solution".

Elements of the solidarity programme included a Palestine Solidarity March on Friday to the Israeli Embassy, in Tshwane, and demands that the ICC investigate and report the cases of Israeli crimes against humanity.

"We call upon the International Court of Justice to accelerate the issuing of its advisory opinion on the conduct of the Israeli State against the Palestinian people," he stressed.

The ANC further wants a meeting with the South African Board of Jewish Deputies to engage on the current situation and the position taken by the ANC NEC.

LOADSHEDDING

Also discussed at the NEC meeting were issues closer to home, including the ongoing loadshedding affecting households and businesses, and tepid economic growth and stalled development.

Mbalula said that the NEC acknowledged that the appointment of a dedicated Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, was beginning to pay dividends as there was now a precise schedule to increase the energy availability factor of all power stations.

Mbalula said loadshedding was beginning to ease, as two units at Kusile power station would take power to the grid from the power station to 3 000 MW.

On the distribution of electricity in municipalities, Mbalula said the NEC noted with "grave concern" the vandalism and theft of transformers in Soweto, Sedibeng and many other areas in and around Gauteng, which had resulted in blackouts affecting thousands of households.

The NEC believes that over several years the introduction of the Electricity Amendment Bill will help further consolidate electricity distribution.

He said the ANC welcomed the latest report that Eskom, together with the Gauteng provincial government, was able to replace more than 40 transformers.

The NEC called for the accelerated replacement of transformers and called on the South African Police Service to formulate a programme to secure all transformers and other infrastructure at risk of similar theft and vandalism.

WATER AND SANITATION

The NEC received account of measures to address water and sanitation delivery across the country.

"We are encouraged by the positive developments of progress made as far as the water provision is concerned," Mbalula said.

Recently, many parts of Gauteng went without water for days and weeks, resulting in Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu announcing that water-shifting would be implemented as an immediate mechanism.

Mbalula said South Africa was not facing any imminent crisis in t...

Annual consumer price inflation ticked up to 5.4% in September from 4.8% in August, the second consecutive increase. It was in line with economists' expectations.

The main contributors to the increase were food and non-alcoholic beverages, which increased 8.1% year-on-year, housing and utilities, miscellaneous goods and services and transport, according to Stats SA.

The sizable step up in CPI doesn't bode well for interest rates, which are already at a 14-year high. In the twice-yearly Monetary Policy Review, which was published this week by the Reserve Bank, it was noted that "upside risks have strengthened in recent months, heightening uncertainty about the precise path for inflation".'

Not only have oil prices risen sharply, inflation expectations remain elevated and together with the increased intensity of loadshedding, that could feed into wages and prices.

Oil prices remain volatile as fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza continues. If the conflict spreads more widely throughout the oil-rich Middle East, there will be heightened risks for supply, meaning that crude prices may rise further.

Nonetheless, this will take time to feed into the South African economy and the latest figures from the Central Energy Fund suggest petrol prices could be cut by about R1.90 a litre in November, while diesel prices might be lowered by between 69c and 75c a litre.

The monthly change in the consumer price index was 0.6%.

"South Africa is also likely to experience drier weather conditions this year which could adversely impact domestic food production, particularly the 2023-24 summer harvest, with the effects likely exacerbated by the risks associated with global food markets," the Reserve Bank's report said, suggesting the Monetary Policy Committee may be compelled to hike interest rates.

A Reuters poll earlier this month showed economists expect the Reserve Bank to wait until either January or March before it considers cutting the country's repurchase rate, which is currently at 8.25%.

On 23 November the Monetary Policy Committee will announce what is scheduled to be its last interest rate decision for the year.