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In his weekly letter to the nation on Monday President Cyril Ramaphosa said that government is working to close the capacity gaps that led to the unpreparedness of the country’s law enforcement in dealing with the July 2021 unrest.

Ramaphosa admitted that there are serious challenges facing policing in South Africa, and gave his assurance that government is working to overcome them.

Among the interventions are the re-organising and reprioritising of resources, improving capacity and strengthening law enforcement capacity across the board, and using the Expert Panel report on the unrest as a basis for organisational reform.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the growing public frustration and anger at the levels of crime in the country.

Last month’s robbery and gang rape of eight young women in Krugersdorp caused nationwide outrage and led to calls for decisive action against armed illegal mining gangs operating in the area.

“Like all government departments, the South African Police Service (Saps) is feeling the effects of the country’s fiscal crisis, several years of understaffing and State capture. Police members also work in a dangerous environment where they often have to face violence, injury or death,” Ramaphosa said.

He pointed out that crime in South Africa cannot be eradicated without a strong, capable, professional police force.

The capacity of the Saps is one of the issues flagged in the Expert Panel report into the July 2021 unrest, which, the President said, government is taking steps to address.

“Having restored much-needed stability to the leadership of the Saps, our focus now is on closing capacity gaps that led to our law enforcement authorities being found unprepared to deal with the events of last July,” Ramaphosa said.

He particularly noted that understaffing and lack of adequate training has severely impacted community and Public Order Policing.

Government has allocated funding for the recruitment of 12 000 new police trainees, and the first cohort is undergoing basic training. The Saps Public Order Policing Units will receive an additional 4 000 members and arrangements are being made for appropriate training for members.

“Drawing on the lessons of last July’s unrest, we are working to improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the private security industry in the fight against crime,” Ramaphosa said.

He explained that close coordination with all stakeholders, including business, is needed so that resources and crime intelligence are shared to improve public safety and deal with crimes that disrupt economic activity.

Through its national intervention units, the Saps has also been making progress in combating organised crime, including drug syndicates, gangs and illegal mining.

The Saps is establishing a task team to tackle illegal mining, alongside other task teams that will deal with construction site extortion, copper and cable theft, and theft and vandalism of economic infrastructure.

HARD AT WORK

Ramaphosa said besides the successes of effective policing in tackling economic crimes, the hard work of the Saps in dealing with broader crime often goes unacknowledged.

He said in the last financial year the Saps Crime Investigations secured 206 life sentences against 209 accused, of which 154 were for murder and rape. The Saps Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units secured 356 life sentences against 266 accused. Suspect tracing operations resulted in over 13 000 arrests.

“Given the high levels of crime in our society, there is clearly much more that must be done. But these figures do show that many criminals are being arrested and successfully prosecuted. They are not being allowed to get away with murder,” he stressed.

The Hawks have started work with the NPA Investigating Directorate on cases emanating from the State capture commission, he added.

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has announced that unions have suspended their strike at the tax body and have reported for duty as the wage negotiations process continues.

Sars said in a statement on Friday that the Public Servants Association (PSA) suspended its industrial action first and the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) suspended its strike on Monday.

This comes after strike action caused disruptions at customs offices and branches around the country. At the height of the action, as many as 18 branches around the country were closed during the day, with Sars urging taxpayers to use its online services instead of visiting branches.

Sars said the suspension of the industrial action allowed all parties in the wage negotiations to work towards progressing the talks and settling the dispute.

"In light of this announcement by the two unions, striking employees are back at work and Sars operations, including trade facilitation at our borders, are continuing as usual," Sars said.

Sars said follow-up discussions, as well as the national bargaining process, would resume soon.

Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolisi told Fin24 that the union returned to duty as Sars worked with labour to resume wage talks in a bid to break the deadlock.

"Yes, I can confirm that we have suspended the strike action on the eighth to give space for negotiations and discussions at the Sars National Bargaining Forum," said Nkolisi.

The demand from organised labour is a CPI plus 7% wage increase, but Sars has previously said this demand would be unaffordable until it received further funding.

The 20 suspects arrested for their role in the July 2021 unrest have been released on R3 000 bail in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The group appeared in a packed courtroom, with several wearing African National Congress regalia.

The group were warned to return to court on 26 August with the State saying that more arrests were imminent within the next seven days.

There were no well-known public figures among those arrested.

Police Minister Bheki Cele's ministry has spent R8-million on accommodation, entertainment and catering between 1 April 2019 to 17 June this year, while the rest of the police force spent more than R3-billion on the same services over the same period.

The police's overall budget has dwindled during this time.

This was revealed in Cele's response to a written parliamentary question by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Janho Engelbrecht.

Engelbrecht asked how much had been spent on accommodation, catering and entertainment for Cele, his deputy Cassel Mathale, and all other police officials since he came into office on 29 May 2019.

However, the police's accounting doesn't break down costs from specific dates, and the amounts since the start of the 2019/20 financial year – 1 April 2019 – are given.

Taxpayers footed a bill of R7.5-million for accommodation, R6 986 on entertainment and R443 146 on catering for Cele, Mathale and ministerial staff over the period.

For other officials, the police spent R1.5-billion on accommodation, R1.8-million on entertainment, and R42.3-million on catering.

"Entertainment expenses relates to refreshments, in the form of coffee, tea, non-alcoholic beverages and biscuits, for visitors to the offices of all Senior Management Service (SMS) members in the Ministry and the SAPS including Station Commanders, which will not exceed two thousand rand (R2 000) per SMS member or Station Commander (irrespective of rank) cumulatively per financial year," reads Cele's reply.

"It should be noted that accommodation expenditure of officials in the SAPS, will realise at higher levels in instances where officials had to be accommodated away from their normal place of work, due to specific operational needs and deployment requirements, i.e. unrest periods, election, other events of national importance, detached duties, investigation of criminal cases, etc."

No explanation for the catering costs was provided.

The police's dwindling budget has been a concern during the period.

The Portfolio Committee on Police heard in April this year, when the police's budget for the 2022/23 financial year was presented, that the budget for visible policing would again decline, as it had the year before.

The police also continue to spend more money on protection services than on investigating so-called priority crimes, as the budget for protection services is higher than that of the Hawks.

The police's budget for the 2022/23 financial year is R100.695-billion, compared to the previous year's R100.474-billion.

Visible policing budget down

Committee chairperson Tina Joemat-Pettersson said at the time that, despite the nominal increase of about R225-million from the previous year's budget, their allocation in real terms had decreased by R4.1-billion.

According to the police's presentation to the committee, visible policing was the only one of their five main programmes that would receive less money this year than it did in 2021/22.

The police's administration will get R20.361-billion in 2022/23, an increase of R102-million from the previous year.

The visible policing budget for 2022/23 is R51.716-billion, a drop of R508-million.

Detective services get R20.760-billion, an increase of R427-million.

Crime Intelligence gets R4.362-billion, an increase of R65-million. Protection and Security Services get R3.496-billion, an increase of R35-million.

The police's chief financial officer remarked that these increases were less than inflation.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, better known as the Hawks, receives its budget out of the R20.760-billion budgeted for detective services.

It only gets R2.167-billion, or 10.48%, of this figure.

However, it increases by 4.67% from the previous year's R2.079-billion.

When the police made a similar presentation to the committee last year, they indicated that visible policing's budget had shrunk by almost R4-billion, with its sub-programme crime prevention absorbing most of the cut.

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African National Congress (ANC) veteran Dr Mathews Phosa has condemned leaders who use party ranks as a stepping stone to positions of power, and he stated that renewal of the ANC should not be about words but rather actions.

He was speaking during a seminar organised by higher education institution STADIO, at its Centurion Campus. Phosa is a recipient of the fellow of STADIO award for his contribution to good governance and ethical leadership.

He said people who were quiet about acts of corruption, kept “feeding the beast that continues to loot the State”.

He said, as a proud South African, he had lived by the principles enshrined in the South African Constitution, which he stated was a testament to the will of negotiators who finished their work in 1996 and was a reminder of what “we can do when we as South Africans have set our differences aside and look at a bigger picture”.

Phosa added that while the Constitution protected freedom of speech, growing noise and action called for people to be cautious when “we speak truth to power”.

“When we speak out against corruption, misuse of power, discrimination and sensitivity to the blood of the poor, some so-called leaders are quick to call us counter-revolutionaries, clever whites or clever blacks, protectors of minority interests,” he stated.

He said the current government had become hyper-insensitive to criticism while populist language has become fashionable. He said this did not move the country forward.

He warned that once there was a void of deliverables and little policy certainty, the “corruption monster” took over.

He also said the South African justice system was slow, politicised, big on statements but blind on action.

He pointed out that there were still political leaders who were “untouchable” despite damning findings by the Zondo Commission and other commissions and agencies, all while the electorate faced power cuts, lack of water and shacks for schools.

He said the ANC had lost respect from society, saying that party leaders once prided themselves as the leaders of society, but not anymore.

He said government's job must be to improve the lives of all who live in it, irrespective of race and gender.

“National Assembly must hold the government accountable and the judiciary must be left to do their job alone without fear of favour or prejudice,” he stressed.

He said South Africa had principled, young, brave people of all races and he urged citizens not to “sell their voices and their souls” by protecting the corrupt.

“It’s all in your hands,” he stressed.

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has asked Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence chairperson Jerome Joseph Maake to consider whether almost R2-million a month from the Crime Intelligence Fund was spent on sending an elite special task force to guard President Cyril Ramaphosa's private Phala-Phala game farm.

Former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa over the 2020 break-in, which was alleged to have involved significant amounts of foreign currency.

Fraser also contended that the President had used State resources to cover up the theft.

Mapisa-Nqakula said reports emerged that the Fund’s money was allegedly used to finance undercover operations to trace the thieves that had stolen money from Ramaphosa’s game farm.

Another allegation Mapisa-Nqakula has tasked the Committee to consider is whether Deputy State Security Minister Zizi Kodwa knew about the robbery and whether he chose not to report it to the authorities.

It is also alleged that Kodwa had joined head of the Presidential Protection Unit Major General Wally Rhoode during interaction with the South African and Namibian authorities.

The Speaker’s referral of the matter to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence comes after Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen wrote to Mapisa-Nqakula, asking her to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations relating to the farm.

Mapisa-Nqakula has since declined the request for the establishment of a committee, explaining that the matter could be considered by existing parliamentary structures, such as the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.

KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN’s) first woman Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube announced her new Provincial Executive Council on Thursday, a day after her election.

Former Premier Sihle Zikalala has been appointed Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC while the new African National Congress (ANC) chairperson in KZN, Sboniso Duma, replaces Ravi Pillay as Economic Development and Tourism MEC.

The Health MEC remains Nomagugu Simelane, Social Development MEC is Nonhlanhla Khoza, Human Settlements and Public Works MEC is Dr Nkululeko Ntuthuko Mahlaba and Peggy Nkonyeni is Finance MEC.

Dube-Ncube appointed Bongi Sithole-Moloi as Agriculture and Rural Development MEC; Sipho Hlomuka as Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC; Mbali Frazer is Education MEC; and Amanda Mapena is the new Sports, Arts and Culture MEC.

Addressing the media in Durban, Dube-Ncube said the province would fast-track issues relating to the revival of the provincial economy and relating to the creation of jobs.

She said her council was fully aware that the country and the province were facing serious economic challenges and that they would work collectively to improve the lives of the people in KZN and to improve the economic condition of the province.

Issues for her council to focus on included poverty alleviation, inequity in the economy and the unlocking of radical transformation programmes across the province.

She thanked the former Premier and outgoing MECs for their contributions towards creating a stronger province, socially and economically.

“We will do our ultimate best to ensure that all our public servants remain motivated. We also appreciate them as engines of change and central to the efforts that are aimed at ensuring solid service delivery. A government that is capable, effective and efficient will have to find models of ensuring that this is realised,” said Dube-Ncube.

Stage 2 load-shedding might be required at short notice from 16:00 to midnight on Wednesday.

Breakdowns at the Majuba, Tutuka and Kriel power stations have put a severe strain on the power generation system, Eskom said.

Stage 2 load-shedding may be required at short notice should any further significant breakdowns occur.

The delay in returning two generation units at Arnot, a unit each at Kusile and Hendrina power stations has exacerbated the electricity generation constraints.

Some 4 479MW in capacity is out on planned maintenance, while another 12 951MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.

The last round of load-shedding ended on Sunday.

Herman Mashaba says ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal is not in crisis, despite a series of resignations by regional leaders who cited elitism and racism as reasons for their departure from the party’s leadership structures.

ActionSA has disbanded its provincial executive committee following a meeting of its senate on Tuesday.

Party chairperson Michael Beaumont said in a statement that the decision was taken after observations that some members were intent on damaging ActionSA's image.

ActionSA eThekwini chairperson Busisiwe Ntshingila resigned this week in a letter to the party.

She described the party as being no different to the African National Congress (ANC).

Ntshingila wrote, "With each passing day, I realise that ActionSA is no different to the ruling party. Protecting self-interest and cadre deployment are worded differently, but ultimately implemented identically."

Another resignation came from Mohammed Khan, a regional chairperson in the uMgungundlovu region.

Khan accused party leaders of undermining members.

ActionSA women’s forum chairperson Monica Mgaga also resigned, saying people who had helped grow the party were overlooked for promotions.

Another member from the uThukela region said his resignation as chairperson was because of the party’s elitism.

"Here at ActionSA, we do not have value unless you enjoy close proximity to Herman Mashaba and you are white or Indian," MVJ Mlangeni wrote in his resignation letter.

In response to the resignations, Mashaba denied that ActionSA was like the ANC.

He said that as a new political party trying to grow its structures, hiccups were bound to be encountered.

'We don't have time to tolerate nonsense'

He accused Ntshingila, who said ActionSA was no different to the ANC, of bringing these "tendencies" into ActionSA.

"If people come into an organisation from the ANC and want to bring ANC tendencies into our organisation, we don't tolerate that. For us, we don’t have time to tolerate nonsense. We have a big project, and we will not allow people who are for sale and allow them to be bought and influence us," Mashaba told News24.

"She is part of these people trying to bring ANC tendencies into our organisation. She is the one who believes we are like the ANC. If she is not happy with ActionSA, she is welcome to leave. ActionSA is a voluntary organisation. If you are not happy, please step aside. We welcome her resignation. Our team and structures in KZN are happy with the decision."

Mashaba added that, with every member who resigned, there were several others waiting in line to join ActionSA.

ActionSA has no KwaZulu-Natal chairperson after the interim chairperson, Musa Khubeka, was removed from the position following allegations of misconduct.

Khubeka is facing a disciplinary hearing.

Mashaba said a new chairperson would be appointed by October.

He said the party was being more stringent in its interview processes for a provincial chairperson because of past experiences.

Former ActionSA provincial chairperson Makhosi Khoza had her membership terminated after facing a disciplinary hearing over public comments.

Her decision to accept a committee position in the eThekwini council had soured her relationship with ActionSA, ultimately leading to her membership termination.

Newly sworn-in KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said on Wednesday that the smooth transition of leadership between KwaZulu-Natal Premiers is a reflection of democracy and of the growing level of maturity within the African National Congress (ANC).

Dube-Ncube was chosen as the ANC's preferred candidate to take the top job, following the resignation of former Premier Sihle Zikalala.

She said in her acceptance speech that the country was celebrating the fact that the ANC had made a conscious decision to ensure that the sixth Premier was female.

“As women, we don’t take for granted the fact that you have made history. It is for the first time that we have a female First Citizen ever in this province. Under the Boer Republic of Natalia – a male was a leader. Under the Colony of Natal, which was proclaimed in 1843 – a man was a leader. Under the homeland of KwaZulu, which was granted self-government under apartheid – a male, was a leader. Ever since we attained democracy in 1994, men have been leading this province,” she pointed out.

She promised transparency, accountability and good governance in all spheres of government from her team who she said would work with chapter nine institutions, such as the Human Rights Commission, Public Protector and the Auditor General.

She also promised regular briefings on service delivery matters and said her team would maintain good working relations with all political parties.

RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT

“As I accept my new responsibilities I wish to make a firm undertaking that we will ensure that we are a responsive government that serves all the people, irrespective of their political affiliation. Ever since I joined the struggle for freedom as a young activist, all the decisions I have made, together with a collective over the past 28 years, have been solely aimed at the upliftment and the realisation of a better life for the people of KwaZulu-Natal. Nothing has changed and nothing will change. Where necessary, as guided by the ANC as governing party and honourable members, I will work with all categories of staff in the Office of the Premier in order to make an impact,” she vowed.

The Premier’s Office, she added, will seek the guidance of religious leaders, traditional leaders, captains of industry and ordinary members of society.

Dube-Ncube said her leadership will be assertive and visible to allow her office to coordinate key and priority government programmes to ensure the province achieved its Provincial Vision.

Under her leadership, her office would regularly monitor and evaluate all provincial government departments, public entities and municipalities to assess impacts on service delivery.

“Let me hasten to point out that we are not intending to usurp any functions, roles or responsibilities of other line function departments, but we need to have our finger on the pulse of this province and must be able to intervene where necessary as guided by the ANC, as a governing party,” Dube-Ncube explained.

She further promised that her office would be a responsible, clean and caring government.

“We want government employees to project the values of a caring government that responds to the needs of the people. We will deepen our democracy by creating space for ordinary members of society, civil society and human rights activists to partner with government to improve and assess the quality of service delivery using Operation Sukuma Sakhe as a tool,” she added.