Top 10 stories of the day: Millions spent on empty Gauteng schools
In the news today, school construction projects in Gauteng that have cost almost R1 billion are yet to see pupils or teachers in classrooms.
Meanwhile, the Information Regulator is investigating a complaint against Truecaller by several companies and individuals for violating the Protection of Personal Information Act.
Furthermore, the R44 000 raised on behalf of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will be donated to a trust of the South African Police Service.
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Seven incomplete Gauteng schools leave R955 million in the dust
School construction projects in Gauteng that have cost almost R1 billion are yet to see pupils or teachers in classrooms.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) provided an update on seven school development projects, some which were in their fourth year of construction.
Inkululeko yeSizwe Primary School in Vlakfontein in July. Picture: Supplied / Democratic Alliance
Among the worst cases is Inkululeko yeSizwe Primary School, near Vlakfontein, which remains a shell while pupils enrolled at the school are taught in old shipping containers.
Contractors broke ground on the new development in late 2020 and the provincial government allocated R137 million for the project.
CONTINUE READING: Seven incomplete Gauteng schools leave R955 million in the dust
SA companies lodge complaint against Truecaller app for violating Popia
The Information Regulator has confirmed it is investigating a complaint against Truecaller by several companies and individuals for violating the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia).
Truecaller is a mobile app that helps users identify unknown callers, block spam and scam calls, and manage their communication more effectively.
The Truecaller app. Picture: The Citizen
Companies have complained that the Trucaller app harms their businesses because it flags their numbers and charges a fee to whitelist them.Read more Logitech unveils recycled, spill-resistant keyboard and mouse
The Information Regulator's spokesperson Nomzamo Zondi said Truecaller has been accused of interfering with the privacy of an individual.
CONTINUE READING: SA companies lodge complaint against Truecaller app for violating Popia
Campaign raises R44k for Mkhwanazi … but it won't go to the commissioner
The funds raised on behalf of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will be donated to a trust of the South African Police Service (Saps).
This is according to national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Picture: Gallo Images / Darren Stewart
A BackaBuddy campaign was launched by social media users last month to raise money for Mkhwanazi to buy two cows as a gesture of gratitude following a widely publicised media briefing held last month by Mkhwanazi.
The campaign exceeded its R35 000 target, raising R44 000 in total.
CONTINUE READING: Campaign raises R44k for Mkhwanazi … but it won't go to the commissioner
Joshlin Smith case: NPA ready to fight appeals in SCA if necessary after latest verdict
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it will oppose any further appeals by the three convicted people in the Joshlin Smith case should they take their case to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).
On Wednesday afternoon, the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town delivered its judgment on the leave to appeal applications after hearing submissions from both the state and the defence.
Jacquen Appolis, Steveno van Rhyn and Kelly Smith during the Joshlin Smith trial. Picture: Gallo Images/Jaco Marais
Joshlin's mother, Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, together with Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis and Van Rhyn, had sought to appeal their convictions and sentences.
The trio had been sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking, along with an additional 10 years for kidnapping, in connection with Joshlin's disappearance.
CONTINUE READING: Joshlin Smith case: NPA ready to fight appeals in SCA if necessary after latest verdict
Here's how much National Treasury has spent on consultants in two years
The National Treasury has spent hundreds of millions of rands on consultants for specialised projects over the past two years.
This was revealed in a written parliamentary reply from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Picture: iStock
Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) MP Wouter Wessels requested details on whether the National Treasury had appointed any consultants in the last two years, including the nature of their work and the duration of their contracts.
Godongwana detailed an extensive list of service providers and revealed that R350 million (R350 902 028.62) was paid to at least 30 consultancy firms between April 2023 and June this year.
CONTINUE READING: Here's how much National Treasury has spent on consultants in two years
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The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Homeowner vindicated after CoJ's ‘illegal use' property rates declared unlawful
High Court orders the City of Joburg to reverse all charges levied against a Randburg property since July 2019. The City of Johannesburg's (CoJ's) conduct in levying property rates on a Randburg woman's home, based on the tariff applicable to properties put to an illegal use, has been declared unlawful by the High Court in Johannesburg. Sylvia Maria Lampe has operated a home exercise studio for 42 years and was granted permission by the Randburg Town Council on 19 January 1984 to run her studio from the property. Some 25 years later in 2017, the CoJ, which had succeeded the Randburg Town Council's rights and obligations, determined that Lampe did not have its consent to operate her business on the premises. ALSO READ: Charged R1 083.63 on your City of Johannesburg bill this month? 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'It failed seriously to oppose the bulk of Ms Lampe's claim. In the end, it pursued a far-fetched justification of one portion of the penalties it has imposed. 'Had the city engaged reasonably and sensibly with Ms Lampe from the outset, this application would never have been necessary,' he said. ALSO READ: Johannesburg homeowners uproar over soaring property rates Attempts to resolve consent issue Lampe sent two letters to the CoJ after it determined that she did not have its consent to operate her business from the property. She explained that her business was being operated in accordance with the licence she obtained from the Randburg Town Council in 1984 and that, accordingly, she did have the necessary consent to operate her business. Therefore, the property was not being put to an illegal use, and the notice should be withdrawn. Judge Wilson said those letters were ignored, and the CoJ in July 2019 increased the property rates levied against the property. Lampe told the court that from that month her municipal account included an additional R9 400 per month in rates and taxes. This was levied on the basis that the property was being put to an illegal use because the CoJ had not consented to its use as a home exercise studio. Lampe could not afford these charges and did not pay them, but she lodged a new application with the CoJ for consent to run her business from the property. ALSO READ: Bad news for business and property owners as municipal rates spike Electricity disconnected, later reversed by court The CoJ responded to Lampe's refusal to pay the additional rates by terminating her electricity supply and suing for the outstanding amounts. However, the electricity disconnection was reversed by order of Judge Bashier Vally on 5 March 2020. Judge Vally also ordered the parties to 'hold a debatement regarding the penalties charged' to Lampe within 30 days of his order. 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Judge Wilson said the CoJ did not seriously oppose the relief sought by Lampe in respect of the illegal use charges levied on or after 20 October 2020, the date on which it gave its consent for the use of the property to run her business. He said the CoJ in its answering affidavit says that it is 'attending to reverse the penalty costs charged on and after 20 October 2020,' but highlighted that the answering affidavit was deposed on 6 September 2021. 'I have nothing before me that indicates that Ms Lampe's account has since actually been corrected to the extent the city concedes it should be. 'However, the city can suffer no prejudice from an order that it implements such a correction. If it has already done so, then so much the better,' he said. Judge Wilson said the only real dispute before him was whether Lampe is entitled to the reversal of the penalty charges levied between 1 July 2019 and 20 October 2020. 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The CoJ's point, as far as he understands it, seems to be that Lampe might have had a business licence from the Randburg Town Council but that did not mean the Randburg Town Council had consented to the use of the property in terms of its Town Planning Scheme of 1976. 'I find that proposition far-fetched. 'It beggars belief that the Randburg Town Council would have issued a business licence that authorised the illegal operation of Ms Lampe's business from the property nominated in the licence,' he said. Costs were awarded against the CoJ. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
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The Citizen
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