Three times Ramaphosa placed ministers on ‘special leave' — What it means and why it matters
In 2020 Ramaphosa put Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, who was communications minister at the time, on special leave.
Ndabeni-Abrahams was the first person in Ramaphosa's administration to be put on special leave after an apparent violation of Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
She was placed on two months' special leave, one month of which was unpaid after she was pictured having lunch with ANC NEC member Mduduzi Manana. The image, shared on Manana's Instagram, sparked widespread outrage as the country was under strict stay-at-home orders.
Addressing the matter, Ramaphosa made it clear public officials must lead by example during times of national crisis.
Despite her claim that she was there to collect personal protective gear, the president did not accept the explanation.
Ndabeni-Abrahams was also directed to publicly apologise to the nation.
In 2021 Zweli Mkhize, who was health minister at the time, was placed on special leave during a corruption investigation into a R150m contract awarded to Digital Vibes, a communications company linked to two of his former aides.
The contract related to government Covid-19 messaging raised red flags and drew scrutiny from the Special Investigating Unit.
'This period of special leave will enable the minister to attend to allegations and investigations concerning contracts between the department of health and a service provider, Digital Vibes,' the presidency said. Mkhize later resigned as minister.
Though not a directive given by the president, a leader who took special leave in 2024 is Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula after she came under investigation for corruption and money laundering after allegedly extorting a bribe from a contractor while she was minister of defence. A trial is ongoing. At the time she was speaker of parliament.
'This decision by myself is meant to protect the integrity of parliament and ensure its sacred duty and its name continue unblemished,' she said in a statement.
While the concept of special leave has become more visible under Ramaphosa's administration, former presidents dealt with misconduct through other measures. Former president Thabo Mbeki fired then-deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge in 2007 after she defied his directives.
During former president Jacob Zuma's era, pressure mounted when former deputy higher education minister Mduduzi Manana was caught on camera assaulting a woman at a nightclub. Zuma demand his resignation.
One of Zuma's most infamous non-actions was when he failed to reprimand ministers implicated in the Nkandla scandal, as ordered by then public protector Thuli Madonsela. It took a Constitutional Court ruling in 2016 to compel him to issue a symbolic reprimand, which critics labelled a 'joke'.
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The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Ramaphosa: Police probe within year
Here's your daily news update for Friday, 25 July 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes with some South Africans voicing their concern that the judicial commission of inquiry into the police will take too long, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday it mustn't take more than a year. Meanwhile, South Africa's law enforcement and criminal justice systems are a mess because the people running them are either corrupt, incompetent, or leave under a cloud because of political plotting, say experts. Furthermore, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa has led to a significant increase in meat prices over the past three months. Weather tomorrow: 25 July 2025 Most provinces are in for a cloudy and wet day, while rough seas are expected to affect navigation between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Ramaphosa says Madlanga commission mustn't take more than one year With some South Africans voicing their concern that the judicial commission of inquiry into the police will take too long, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday it mustn't take more than a year. Two weeks ago, Ramaphosa announced his decision to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Picture: Gallo Images Among these were claims that police minister Senzo Mchunu – now on special leave – intervened to disband the KZN political killings task team in order to shield individuals linked to politically connected crime syndicates. CONTINUE READING: Ramaphosa says Madlanga commission mustn't take more than one year Evidence challenged in Jayden-Lee Meek murder investigation The investigating officer in the Jayden-Lee Meek murder case faced intense scrutiny during Friday's proceedings in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court, with the defence questioning critical evidence and investigative procedures. Investigating officer Nceba Diko outlined multiple red flags in suspect Tiffany Meek's behaviour while defending his investigative methods against accusations of procedural failures. Tiffany Meek in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court for a bail hearing in the murder case of her son, Jayden-Lee Meek. Picture: Gallo Images Defence attorney Noven Naidoo on Wednesday had presented Bolt e-hailing records showing Tiffany Meek left her mother's house at 5.12am on 14 May, contradicting security guard statements that placed her at the residence between 4am and 5am. CONTINUE READING: Evidence challenged in Jayden-Lee Meek murder investigation How political interference hollowed out Saps and NPA South Africa's law enforcement and criminal justice systems are a mess because the people running them are either corrupt, incompetent, or leave under a cloud because of political plotting, say experts. The instability at the top then permeates down to the lower levels of both the police and prosecuting authorities, leading to the gradual collapse SA is witnessing at the moment, they said. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu/Michel Bega Both the South African Police Service (Saps) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have seen their organisational and political heads come and go with depressing regularity, often under a cloud. CONTINUE READING: How political interference hollowed out Saps and NPA Ramaphosa motion of no confidence: MK party requests secret ballot The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has requested a secret ballot in a proposed motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party's deputy president, John Hlophe, wrote to speaker of parliament Thoko Didiza on Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: GCIS He gave several reasons why the MK party wanted the vote to be done through a secret ballot. CONTINUE READING: Ramaphosa motion of no confidence: MK party requests secret ballot Bad news for meat lovers in South Africa The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa has led to a significant increase in meat prices over the past three months. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. Picture: iStock Over the past months, SA has seen outbreaks in Gauteng, Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Free State. Recently, the department of agriculture lifted restrictions in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces after implementing intensified efforts to contain the spread of the disease. CONTINUE READING: Bad news for meat lovers in South Africa Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Gupta house sold | Meyiwa accused want charges dropped | Tammy Taylor victim speaks

IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Community leaders call for action against illegal cannabis stores in Chatsworth
Residents said outlets were "freely selling" cannabis products close to schools and religious organisations. Image: Reuters COMMUNITY leaders in Chatsworth are urging authorities to take action against the proliferation of illegal cannabis stores, highlighting concerns about public safety and the impact on local youth. They said outlets were "freely selling" cannabis products close to schools and religious organisations. This comes soon after Mmamoloko Kubayi, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, confirmed that regulations required for the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act to be implemented would be finalised by March 2026. In a parliamentary response to DA MP Tobias Chance, Kubayi said the Act could only be implemented once her department had received feedback from all concerned departments. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ These include the departments of health; agriculture; trade, industry and competition; social development; small business and development, the Presidency, and the SAPS. Yugen Pillay, chairperson of the Chatsworth Community Policing Forum (CPF), said despite the use of cannabis being decriminalised for private use, the public needed to remember that the sale of cannabis was still illegal. 'People are openly selling cannabis. The law regarding the sale of cannabis is quite clear. I have tried many times to get law enforcement to act on this, but they are still awaiting direction from their legal department. A directive that was unfortunately not forthcoming. 'It seems that the legal departments cannot decipher the legislation, and in the meantime, these stores are mushrooming all over. 'The use of cannabis can act as a gateway drug, and because it is so easily available, more and more people are using it. We are calling on the police to clamp down on these stores and start shutting them down," said Pillay. He said SAPS had issued a stern warning that the establishment of illegal dispensaries or outlets, online sites and social media platforms, which are marketing and selling cannabis and cannabis-related products to the public, remained illegal, except where specifically allowed in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Act. 'Despite warnings, cannabis stores continue to open everywhere. Some of these illegal businesses, purporting to operate legally, are also being sold to members of the public as franchises authorised to deal in cannabis and cannabis-related products. 'Dealing in cannabis remains a serious criminal offence. Police are mandated to and will act, not only against businesses that sell cannabis illegally, but also against the customers who buy these products." Cyril Pillay, the chairperson of the Chatsworth Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum, said: "The increase in cannabis stores in our community is adding to all the social ills we are facing. It is compounding our problems and leading to the degradation of our society. This is also adding to the social economic challenges that already exist. 'People are complacent and due to poor monitoring, we have more than one cannabis store per area. We need proper monitoring and more police operations to curb this." Denzil Devan, a community leader in Mobeni Heights, said the sharp increase in cannabis stores across communities highlighted a significant gap in legislation. 'While liquor outlets are bound by strict zoning laws, such as maintaining a set distance from schools, cannabis stores are exploiting the absence of similar regulations, allowing them to operate virtually anywhere. This loophole poses serious concerns for public safety and urban planning,' he added. Devan said it was more concerning that outlets have included smoking lounges and cannabis bars. 'Many of these outlets have evolved into cannabis smoking lounges or cannabis bars, which likely goes far beyond what Parliament intended when it moved to decriminalise cannabis for personal use and regulate products like cannabis oil and hemp. Without clear policy direction and enforcement, we risk creating unregulated environments that normalise public consumption and weaken community standards." Jakes Singh, the former chairperson of the Chatsworth CPF, said various cannabis stores have opened near schools and religions institutions over the last two years. 'Not enough checks are done. While a few of the stores are operating legally, most are illegal. Tuck-shops are even selling cannabis. Stores are mushrooming everywhere. Raids are done, and regulators are visiting to check, but it is not done all the time. Too many loopholes are leading to the increase of cannabis stores,' said Singh. Colonel Booysie Zungu, the spokesperson for metro police, said the rapid increase of unlicenced cannabis stores and dispensaries within the municipal area was a serious concern. 'We are working together to identify and dismantle illegal cannabis operations, including unregistered dispensaries, storage facilities, and unlicenced retail stores. These establishments often operate outside the boundaries of national legislation, posing a threat to public health and safety. 'This is in line with our crime prevention mandate and the provisions of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and Medicines and Related Substances Act. 'We are committed to enforcing municipal bylaws, disrupting illegal trade, and working to ensure that all cannabis-related businesses comply with applicable laws. We encourage the public to report suspicious activity through official channels." Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, the chief executive officer of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), said cannabis dispensaries were mushrooming and blatantly displaying copies of Sahpra licences, which were issued authorising cannabis cultivation and exporting of the cannabis flower. "Such licences do not authorise these so-called cannabis dispensaries. This is a matter of concern," said Semete-Makokotlela in a statement. 'It is highly unethical and illegal for any individual or company to claim Sahpra authorisation through forged documentation. We take this matter seriously, and we will work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that offenders are dealt with swiftly and decisively. The public must be protected from such deceptive behaviour." Sahpra warned the public to be vigilant and cautious when engaging with service providers that claimed to be licenced by the authority. Semete-Makokotlela said Sahpra wasin the process of sourcing a system that used barcoding as a means of authenticating these certificates. If you suspect that a provider is using a fraudulent Sahpra licence, you can call the authority on 0800 204 307. THE POST

IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
KZN political killings task team did ‘tremendous work,' says Ramaphosa, but Mkhwanazi disagrees
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the disbanded political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal, saying it did 'tremendous work,' before its closure. Image: IOL Graphics President Cyril Ramaphosa insists the disbanded political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal has done "tremendous work" over the years, despite claims from police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that the team's dissolution derailed more than 100 active murder cases. 'The political task team on the killings in KZN has been doing its work and has done tremendous work,' Ramaphosa said on Friday during a high-level meeting with the Northern Cape Provincial Executive. 'The killings then started coming down in KZN, the political killings. So the complaints that have been raised by the KZN police commissioner have to be investigated.' Mkhwanazi has accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who was recently placed on special leave, of political interference and protecting criminals. He alleged that Mchunu disbanded the task team in March, effectively closing 121 active dockets, many of which are tied to politically motivated assassinations. He said the cases were stored in the office of Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, who has also been placed on leave. Mkhwanazi said since its formation in 2018, the task team has handled 612 cases and secured more than 100 convictions. He said efforts to shut down the unit escalated after weapons linked to high-profile assassinations were uncovered. The top cop described the disbandment as 'a calculated move to shield a criminal syndicate embedded in law enforcement and politics.' In a December 2024 letter to National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, Mchunu claimed the unit had 'outlived its usefulness.' However, Masemola later denied authorising the closure. Mkhwanazi also alleged that investigations exposed links between criminal syndicates and politicians, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, and businesspeople. He also implicated Mchunu's 'comrade,' Brown Mogotsi, in communicating with businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, who had received a now-cancelled R360 million SAPS contract. Ramaphosa has since announced the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the corruption allegations. The commission will be led by Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. 'Those have to be investigated, and that is why I set up the commission. I expect that this commission, whose terms of reference are now out, will work very quickly,' he said. Ramaphosa said the commission is expected to deliver an initial report within three months and a final report within six months. He added that if more time is needed, he will consult with Madlanga. 'This is a commission that everyone in the country would like to see quick answers coming from,' he said. The commission has now been officially gazetted and will focus on alleged political interference, criminal syndicates operating within law enforcement, and deep-rooted corruption in the province. Meanwhile, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has filed a no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa regarding his choice to retain Police Mchunu rather than dismissing him. Instead, Mchunu has been placed on leave while a judicial commission of inquiry is set up. As a result, the party has taken its case to the Constitutional Court to contest President Ramaphosa's decision to put Mchunu on special leave, as well as the subsequent appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as the acting Police Minister. The party is requesting an urgent Parliament session to convene within the next two weeks to discuss and vote on the motion. [email protected] IOL Politics