
Joburg mayor Dada Morero reshuffles his mayoral committee
Masuku, who was the MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, replaces Margaret Arnolds, who was recently elected as Speaker of Council.
Morero also appointed Sithembiso Zungu, who served as chief whip as the new MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services. The appointments were effective from Wednesday, 6 August.
According to reports, Khazamula Chauke, also from the ANC, will be nominated by the party to replace Zungu as chief whip of the council, with Joseph Mofokeng as deputy chief whip at a future council sitting.
The metro municipality said these appointments are crucial as it seeks to strengthen financial governance, uphold fiscal discipline, and enhance revenue collection to serve its residents better.
'The executive mayor believes that the leadership, experience, and commitment to public service demonstrated by these appointees will significantly contribute to the success of the administration's service delivery agenda, facilitating the implementation of the city's turnaround plan as we collectively work towards building the Johannesburg we envision,' the municipality said.
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Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
How to balance WhatsApp's convenience with security in the workplace
WhatsApp has become Africa's favoured tool for work communication, with more than 90% of employees using it daily. However, this widespread use exposes organisations to data leaks, fraudulent account takeovers, regulatory noncompliance and productivity losses. Highlighting this threat, Meta recently announced that it had removed more than 6.8 million scam-linked WhatsApp accounts worldwide in the first half of this year alone. Despite these security challenges, WhatsApp remains deeply ingrained in professional communication across Africa. The annual 2025 KnowBe4 African cybersecurity survey reveals that 93% of respondents use WhatsApp for work communications, surpassing email and Microsoft Teams. Table: Lisakanya Venna Source: 2025 KnowBe4 Africa Cybersecurity and Awareness Report 'Many people prefer WhatsApp because it's fast, familiar and frictionless,' said Anna Collard, SVP content strategy and evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa, adding that these apps 'are already on our phones and embedded in our daily routines'. However, Collard warned bluntly that 'WhatsApp wasn't built for internal corporate use but as a consumer tool' and therefore 'doesn't have the same business-level and privacy controls embedded in it that an enterprise communication tool, such as Microsoft Teams or Slack, would have'. The convenience of WhatsApp comes at the cost of control and compliance, restricting organisational oversight. Data leaks the most pressing threat The biggest organisational risks were data leaks. 'Accidental or intentional sharing of confidential information, such as client details, financial figures, internal strategies or login credentials, on informal groups can have disastrous consequences.' This situation is aggravated by the fact that up to 80% of respondents in the study use personal devices for work, many of which are unmanaged, creating significant blind spots for organisations. Nicol Myburgh, head of the human resource business unit at CRS Technologies, echoed this concern: 'Sensitive information can easily be shared with unintended recipients or stored on personal devices without proper encryption or retention controls.' Myburgh emphasised that while WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption, this does nothing when a device has been compromised with malware. Personal devices not governed by IT policies posed 'a big risk, for instance, employee payslips, banking details, ID numbers and more'. This uncontrolled environment created critical compliance risks around data protection laws such as Popia (Protection of Personal Information Act), with the risk to individuals being intense, potentially leading to identity theft and fraud. Phishing, account takeovers, identity theft on the rise Collard revealed further dangers, stating that attackers love platforms where identity verification is weak. She recounted that, in her personal network, at least 10 people have reported being victims of WhatsApp impersonation and takeover scams. Adding to this, Meta announced that 'every day criminal scammers attempt to play on people's economic anxiety to trick people with too-good-to-be-true offers and pyramid schemes to earn quick money'. As part of ongoing efforts to protect users, Meta has introduced new anti-scam tools on WhatsApp, such as safety overviews for group invites and alerts when messaging unknown contacts, aiming to help users identify and avoid scams before they happen. Lack of oversight and policy gaps Notwithstanding these enhancements, WhatsApp's lack of comprehensive audit trails remains a critical issue. 'Informal platforms lack the audit trails necessary for compliance with regulations, particularly in industries like finance with strict data-handling requirements,' Collard explained. This impedes organisations' abilities to demonstrate lawful handling of sensitive data. Myburgh stressed the need for clear policies: 'A communication channel policy should be in place to govern what communication happens where.' How companies can establish secure communication practices Myburgh said additional measures companies can implement include: Disabling auto-downloads; Not sharing passwords, sensitive files, or login details via chat; Enabling two-step verification; Conducting ongoing microlearning campaigns on secure communication and phishing awareness; Using interactive simulations and role playing to train executives and frontline staff; Establishing clear escalation procedures to verify requests involving payments or sensitive data; and Encouraging a 'pause and verify' culture where employees feel empowered to question unusual requests, even from leadership. In addition to these procedural steps, understanding WhatsApp's built-in security features is crucial. WhatsApp encryption explained Myburgh agreed that while WhatsApp offers security tools, they should complement, not replace, organisational awareness and governance strategies. Tools such as WhatsApp's enhanced encryption transparency and safety overview 'are helpful but should be seen as complementary to broader awareness and governance strategies, not replacements for them'. WhatsApp's default security includes end-to-end encryption (E2EE), which encrypts messages on the sender's device and decrypts them only on the recipient's device, preventing anyone else – including WhatsApp itself – from accessing the conversation content. This encryption relies on cryptographic key exchanges between devices and employs the widely respected Signal Protocol to ensure message confidentiality during transit. Users can also opt for end-to-end encrypted back-ups to protect chat history from unauthorised access. 'This protects the message in transit, but the fatal flaw lies with the individuals sharing the information and the devices storing the information,' Myburgh warned. Insider tip: However, if your company has a group chat, everyone in the group needs to have e2ee activated for the chat to be considered secure. If even one person in the group chat does not have e2ee activated, the WhatsApp chat will not be secure. DM How to activate WhatsApp end-to-end encryption To protect your backups with end-to-end encryption, follow these steps: Open WhatsApp on your phone and tap the settings icon (usually a gear symbol in the top-right corner⚙️ or three dots); In settings, tap 'chats' to access chat-related options; Next, tap 'chat backup' to see your backup settings; Tap 'end-to-end encrypted backup', which lets you protect your backup with extra encryption. Tap 'turn on'; Tap 'continue' to start setup. WhatsApp will allow you to either create a secure password or you can choose to generate a 64-digit encryption key. If you choose the encryption key, take a screenshot to save it and mail the screenshot to yourself. The password or key encrypts your backup, so choose something you can safely store but that others can't guess; NB: Save the key. WhatsApp does not have a copy of it. If you forget your key and lose your phone, WhatsApp cannot help you recover your backup; After you've set your password or key, tap 'done'. WhatsApp will begin preparing your encrypted backup in the background;

IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
R3. 3m awarded to municipal manager amid VBS corruption scandal
The West Rand District Municipality must pay its former municipal manager R3.3 million for terminating his contract despite him facing corruption charges of unlawfully investing R347m of its funds with the VBS Mutual Bank. Image: West Rand District Municipality / Facebook Former West Rand District municipal manager Moroashike Mokoena is set to be paid nearly R3.3 million by the municipality for terminating his contract while facing corruption charges of unlawfully investing R347m with the VBS Mutual Bank. Mokoena, 64, along with former chief financial officer (CFO) Romeo Mohaudi and erstwhile income and expenditure manager Mzwandile Mkhize, were arrested in June 2021 by the Hawks. Mokoena faces charges of authorising the municipality to invest more than R347m with the now defunct financial institution and the approval of various investment policies from time to time in contravention of the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA). At the time, the Hawks stated that Mohaudi caused R50m to be invested with VBS in contravention of the MFMA and the investment policy adopted by the Merafong Local Municipality. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The elaborate scheme saw the senior managers allegedly facilitating the investments and receiving corrupt gratifications from VBS officials through motor vehicle finance and mortgage bond facilities, as well as several other payments. Mokoena and the other former officials were later released on R50,000 bail each by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the case will return to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, next month for the continuation of the trial. Earlier, the West Rand District Municipality had, through an October 2019 council resolution, suspended Mokoena for three months based on how he managed the appointment process for the CFO. In December 2019, an investigation commissioned by the municipality recommended that Mokoena face disciplinary action should it be established that his contract has not lapsed. The following month, the municipality informed Mokoena that his appointment had lapsed in terms of the Municipal Systems Act after accusing him of failing to sign his performance agreement within 60 days, and as a consequence, there was no valid and binding contract of employment. Mokoena then referred an unfair dismissal dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, and a certificate of outcome certifying the matter as unresolved was issued. He then approached the Labour Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, to review and set aside the council resolution and to declare the termination of employment invalid. The Labour Court found that the municipality's letter informing Mokoena that his contract, which ran from December 2016 to November 2021, had lapsed was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law and facts. 'The applicant's (Mokoena's) contract of employment did not lapse as alleged. His contract of employment was therefore terminated by the first respondent (municipality), and that act of termination was invalid. Accordingly, the applicant's contract of employment remained extant (in existence) and he is therefore entitled to his declaratory relief,' Judge Molatelo Makhura ruled last month. The judge said that in the event that Mokoena's appointment lapsed, the municipality was duty-bound to allow him to show good cause, but failed to do so. Judge Makhura stated that he could not order Mokoena to resume his duties, and the municipality cannot be ordered to permit him to resume his duties because the fixed period has expired. He said the appropriate relief was the payment of Mokoena's remuneration for the remainder of his contract, between January 17, 2020 and November, 30 2021, which is an amount of just above R3.28m. 'The termination of the applicant's fixed-term contract of employment on January 17, 2020 is hereby declared invalid and/or void ab initio (from the beginning). 'It is declared that the fixed-term contract of employment between the applicant (Mokoena) and the first respondent (West Rand District Municipality) remained extant (in existence) and the applicant remained the first respondent's employee and municipal manager until 30 November 2021,' ordered Judge Makhura. Mokoena's successor as municipal manager, Elias Koloi, said he was on leave and undertook to delegate another official to respond, but no response was forthcoming. Abner Mabaso, Mokoena's legal representative, referred questions to the municipality.

The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Beware of online car auction scams targeting South Africans
Weekend Argus Reporter | Published 5 hours ago As the digital marketplace grows, so do the deceptive tactics of criminals looking to exploit unwary South Africans searching for bargain car deals. A concerning trend has emerged where scammers clone the websites and advertisements of recognised auctioneers and banks, tricking unsuspecting buyers into paying hefty deposits for non-existent vehicles. The South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) has issued a dire warning for potential car buyers to exercise extreme caution when navigating online platforms. They emphasised the importance of utilising official company portals rather than relying on social media platforms that could lead them straight into the arms of fraudsters. Sonja Styger, Chief Administration Officer at SAIA, said these scams predominantly thrive on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. 'Cars advertised well below market value are enticingly 'reserved' for buyers willing to pay upfront,' she explained. However, it's crucial for buyers to remember that South African law prohibits selling auction assets at fixed prices. In many instances, these so-called sellers offer vehicles at predetermined prices, pressing potential buyers to pay a deposit to avoid losing the car to auction. 'It's a blatant red flag,' Styger warned. 'Scamsters know the general public may not understand how auctions work, and they capitalise on that ignorance. An auction doesn't have a fixed price — the highest bid when the hammer falls determines the price.' The deceptive nature of these scams extends beyond auctioneers. Even top vehicle finance providers in South Africa are being impersonated, creating fake accounts on platforms like TikTok and Facebook. These accounts use stolen branding to offer repossessed vehicles at knockdown prices. Buyers often find themselves asked to pay a 'reservation' fee to secure the car before it supposedly goes to auction. What makes these scams particularly insidious is their sophistication. Fraudsters mimic the communications and logos of legitimate companies with alarming precision, making it difficult for many individuals to discern the real from the fake. Here are some clear warning signs to watch out for: Fixed pricing: Auctions must adhere to South African auction law; fixed pricing for auction vehicles is illegal. Auctions must adhere to South African auction law; fixed pricing for auction vehicles is illegal. Payments through informal channels: Watch out for requests for payment via WhatsApp or direct bank transfers. Always opt for secure, verified platforms. Watch out for requests for payment via WhatsApp or direct bank transfers. Always opt for secure, verified platforms. Lack of verification: A reputable auctioneer will have a verifiable company registration and physical address. A reputable auctioneer will have a verifiable company registration and physical address. Poor ad quality: Be cautious of poorly written advertisements with vague vehicle details. Be cautious of poorly written advertisements with vague vehicle details. No refundable deposits: Genuine auctions, registered with SAIA, require a deposit for participation but never to secure a specific car in advance. Genuine auctions, registered with SAIA, require a deposit for participation but never to secure a specific car in advance. Inspection: Always view the vehicle beforehand. Never transfer money unless you're fully satisfied with its condition. To mitigate the risk of falling victim to these scams, SAIA urges consumers to rely on SAIA-registered auctioneers and check credentials before engaging. They maintain a verified list of trusted members on their website at along with contact details to help verify any social media listing or auction advertisement. 'If a buyer is unsure about an advert or auctioneer, take five minutes to contact us for verification,' advised Styger. 'Trust your instincts. If something feels unsettling, it's better to miss a great deal than to lose your savings to a scam that was never real to begin with.'