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Top 10 stories of the day: Why KT Molefe wants bail

Top 10 stories of the day: Why KT Molefe wants bail

The Citizen9 hours ago
Here's your daily news update for Wednesday, 6 August 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
News today includes controversial businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe insists that being charged with murder should not automatically disqualify him from being granted bail.
Meanwhile, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says he plans to meet with the Independent Development Trust (IDT) board following allegations that the entity's suspended CEO, Tebogo Malaka, attempted to bribe a journalist.
Furthermore, Gayton McKenzie, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader and current Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, has vowed to take legal action against the Open Chats Podcast after a viral clip surfaced showing its hosts making derogatory and racist comments about the coloured community in South Africa.
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DJ Sumbody murder: Here's why Katiso 'KT' Molefe thinks he should get bail
Controversial businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe insists that being charged with murder should not automatically disqualify him from being granted bail.
Molefe appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for his formal bail application.
Controversial businessman Katiso Molefe appears for bail application at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg on 6 August 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda /The Citizen
The alleged mastermind was arrested alongside three hitmen in connection with the murder of South African artist Oupa John Sefoka, widely known as DJ Sumbody.
CONTINUE READING: DJ Sumbody murder: Here's why Katiso 'KT' Molefe thinks he should get bail
New roles for Joburg leaders as Dada Morero reshuffles his mayoral committee
Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero is set to restructure his mayoral committee
The Citizen has reliably learnt that Morero has decided on Loyiso Masuku as the MMC for Finance.
Johannesburg City Council meeting at the Connie Bapela House in Braamfontein. Picture: Neil McCartney / The Citizen
Masuku previously occupied the position of MMC for Group Corporate & Shared Services.
CONTINUE READING: New roles for Joburg leaders as Dada Morero reshuffles his mayoral committee
Macpherson breaks silence on IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka bribery attempt
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says he plans to meet with the Independent Development Trust (IDT) board following allegations that the entity's suspended CEO, Tebogo Malaka, attempted to bribe a journalist.
On Wednesday, news publication Daily Maverick released video footage of a meeting between Malaka, IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane, and journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson. Picture: Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu
The meeting reportedly took place over the weekend, on 3 August, at a restaurant near Stellenbosch, Western Cape.
CONTINUE READING: Macpherson breaks silence on IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka bribery attempt
Lesufi suspends two community safety officials amid financial irregularities probe
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has suspended the provincial community safety head of department (HOD), Nontsikelelo Sisulu, and the department's chief financial officer, Mduduzi Malope.
The duo was suspended with immediate effect on Tuesday, 5 August 2025.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. Photo: The Citizen/Nigel Sibanda
Lesufi explained that the suspensions are a precautionary measure to ensure fair and unbiased investigations.
CONTINUE READING: Lesufi suspends two community safety officials amid financial irregularities probe
'It's racism' – Gayton McKenzie plans legal action against Open Chats podcast
Gayton McKenzie, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader and current Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, has vowed to take legal action against the Open Chats Podcast after a viral clip surfaced showing its hosts making derogatory and racist comments about the coloured community in South Africa.
In the video, the podcasters claimed that coloured families engage in incest and described the community as 'crazy'.
Minister Gayton McKenzie. Picture: Gallo Images/Die Burger/Jaco Marais
The remarks have sparked public outrage, prompting political leaders, civil society and ordinary citizens to demand accountability and legal barriers.
CONTINUE READING: 'It's racism' – Gayton McKenzie plans legal action against Open Chats podcast
Here are five more stories of the day:
Yesterday's News recap
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The JSE displays an unhealthy obsession with secrecy
The JSE displays an unhealthy obsession with secrecy

Daily Maverick

time30 minutes ago

  • Daily Maverick

The JSE displays an unhealthy obsession with secrecy

When a company lost big on the stock market in 2020 and suspected possible market manipulation, it attempted to get information from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The JSE stonewalled them, baldly citing privacy and commercial confidentiality issues. This story of one company fighting to access information from a South African public body is playing out every day, across all spheres of government, and illustrates a culture of secrecy in our public administration. Five years ago, a small company, Inhlanhla Ventures, was placed in a difficult financial position. It had been investing in shares on the stock market through a broker. As part of their agreement, the broker would provide credit to Inhlanhla to invest – and then hold shares as security for those loans. However, if the value of any shares held as security dropped below a certain percentage, the broker was entitled to demand additional security or repayment of the debt. If Inhlanhla failed to comply, the broker would be entitled to take ownership of the shares held by it in settlement of Inhlanhla's debt. During the first quarter of 2020, the broker at that point held all the shares owned by Inhlanhla as security. A substantial part consisted of shares in enX Group Limited, a public company listed on the JSE. In May 2020, as a result of an unexpected, rapid and substantial decline in the price of the shares in the Inhlanhla portfolio, particularly the enX share price, Inhlanhla realised that the broker would be entitled to foreclose on the bulk of Inhlanhla's securities. Given the decline of the enX shares, which dropped from 700c per share at the beginning of April to as low as 320c per share on 14 May 2020, Inhlanhla was left with little option other than to relinquish its portfolio to the broker. However, a couple of days after the broker assumed ownership of those shares, the share price rose significantly, meaning the broker benefited handsomely. A rat? Inhlanhla thought it smelled a rat. By examining the trade in enX shares between April and June 2020, Inhlanhla believed that there were grounds to suspect market manipulation. If that was the case, Inhlanhla might be entitled to restitution for the losses it suffered. But it did not have access to the details of all the trades made in respect of the shares, and so it could not get conclusive proof to back up its suspicions. And so, Inhlanhla filed a request for access to information on the identities of the buyers and sellers of the shares and the sale values with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia). They also narrowed down their focus to the key period from 3 May to 19 May 2020. Public body The JSE is a public body and gets its powers and responsibilities from the Financial Markets Act (FMA). It – like all public and private bodies – is bound by Paia and so must disclose any information requested unless there is a legitimate ground (as set out in the legislation) for it to refuse the request. The JSE refused the Paia request from Inhlanhla, stating baldly that the information sought contained personal, confidential or commercial information and it was prohibited by the FMA and Paia from disclosing such information. As we have previously explained, the Information Regulator (IR) is a new body to which someone unsatisfied with a refusal of their Paia request can file a complaint. Believing that the JSE was incorrect in refusing their request, Inhlanhla approached the regulator. The Information Regulator investigates The IR issued an investigation report, finding that the JSE had no justification in refusing the request, ordering it to disclose the requested information to Inhlanhla. However, this order remains preliminary and Inhlanhla is waiting for a final decision from the IR's enforcement committee. In any case, lawyers acting for the JSE have already written to Inhlanhla, putting the company on notice that if the regulator rules in Inhlanhla's favour, the JSE will go to court to review that decision. This is why this story of one company seeking to get information from one public body in 2020 is relevant. The experience of Inhlanhla is just one example that illustrates South Africa's broken access to information system and how a culture of secrecy within our powerful institutions operates to stymie accountability. Similar stories happen every day, all over the country, with all sorts of public bodies. Municipalities, national government departments and state-owned entities all regularly refuse Paia requests, often based on a misguided interpretation of the law. Although the IR provides a useful mechanism before having to go to court, the delays in accessing the information sought are often ruinous or make the information eventually disclosed irrelevant because of the passage of time. The JSE's trite response The reasons given by the JSE in its refusal of the Inhlanhla request are also reasons we see repeatedly. One common refrain we hear from public bodies is that they cannot disclose the information because doing so would violate a statutory obligation they hold to protect personal, private or confidential information. Often, the public body refers to the Protection of Personal Information Act. Here, the JSE also said that the FMA prevented it from disclosing any confidential information. But this must be a misreading of the law, as Parliament could not have intended the FMA to act as a justification to refuse Paia requests. And, in fact, Parliament did not exclude Paia from the obligations under the FMA. The Act states that confidential information cannot be disclosed 'unless disclosure is required or permitted in terms of a law or court order'. Paia is one of those laws. The IR, in its investigation report, confirmed that one of the objectives of Paia is to 'promote transparency, accountability and effective governance'. It is a vital cog in the constitutional framework which enables citizens to hold powerful institutions, government bodies and individuals to account. The JSE's reliance on the FMA is a betrayal of these principles. The JSE's stance is particularly galling, because as the IR's investigation report points out, its claims of blanket confidentiality on the details of who trades shares in listed companies, exactly when they do it, and how much they pay, go to the heart of a transparent market – especially when there are claims of market manipulation. As the IR report notes, our courts have emphasised the non-private nature of how companies conduct their affairs, especially when they involve publicly traded securities. The FMA, the regulator said, also supports this principle by promoting transparency in the financial markets. Early in South Africa's constitutional democracy, the Constitutional Court, in Bernstein v Bester, explained that a company's business was not a purely private matter. The Supreme Court of Appeal, in Nova Property Holdings v Cobbett, confirmed that this principle extended to companies' securities registers, which were 'not inherently private'. The IR investigation found that disclosure of information in this case was not unreasonable, as it pertained to market activities conducted under the regulatory oversight of the JSE. Commercial harm? The JSE also stated that it could not provide the information that Inhlanhla sought because to do so would violate the mandatory protection of commercial information of a third party. This is also an oft-seen tactic – the bald claim that commercial harm would result from the disclosure of the information. The IR stressed that a public body cannot make this claim as a 'mere assertion' and had to provide evidence of how disclosure would actually harm the relevant third party. But, despite the multiple court judgments explaining that disclosure of information must be the default and that access to information should be granted unless valid, specific and justified grounds for its refusal exist, public bodies like the JSE continue to issue bald refusals – and so the IR investigation rejected this claim, too. The JSE also claimed it owed a duty of confidentiality to third parties and so could refuse disclosure in terms of Paia. However, the JSE failed to seek third-party consent (as it was obliged to) and also failed to identify any agreement with third parties which provided such an undertaking of confidentiality – again, leading the IR investigator to reject the JSE's reliance on the ground of refusal. Public interest override Paia provides that, notwithstanding other prohibitions, the public body must assess whether the disclosure of the records would reveal evidence of a substantial contravention of, or failure to comply with, the law and whether the public interest in the disclosure of the record clearly outweighs the harm contemplated in the grounds of refusal. The IR investigation noted that Inhlanhla had furnished the JSE with an analysis of the Traded enX Shares over the period 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020 and that it had clearly invoked concerns regarding 'substantial contravention of the law', in the form of market manipulation. The IR took the view that the JSE had simply not properly engaged in the balancing exercise required by Paia to determine whether the public interest override would apply, and found that mandatory disclosure in the public interest was relevant or applicable under the circumstances. Where to from here? As mentioned earlier, the IR enforcement committee still needs to review and make a determination on the investigator's preliminary report. After that, either party can take the IR decision to court – as the JSE has already indicated it will do if it is ordered to make the requested disclosures. As the Inhlanhla story demonstrates, the process to challenge a refusal is so onerous and so lengthy that often someone seeking access to information is forced to give up. It's hard not to think that the public bodies know this and so know that – despite their misreading of the law and judicial precedent – their refusals of the public's Paia requests will probably go unchallenged. With public bodies defaulting to secrecy rather than transparency, and our access to information mechanisms taking years to resolve complaints, is it any wonder that we're in an accountability vacuum in South Africa? DM

Minister Macpherson to address media as exposé of IDT officials' bribery bid reverberates across SA
Minister Macpherson to address media as exposé of IDT officials' bribery bid reverberates across SA

Daily Maverick

time7 hours ago

  • Daily Maverick

Minister Macpherson to address media as exposé of IDT officials' bribery bid reverberates across SA

Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson is expected to respond to the details of an explosive exposé by Daily Maverick of an attempted bribery of one of its investigative journalists by the suspended Independent Development Trust CEO and her spokesperson. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has called for suspended Independent Development Trust (IDT) CEO Tebogo Malaka and her spokesperson Phasha Makgolane to face the law 'if they are implicated in bribery'. Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson is expected to address the media on Thursday following an explosive exposé by Daily Maverick of an attempted bribery of one of its investigative journalists by the two IDT officials. On Tuesday, Daily Maverick carried video footage and recordings of this blatant attempt to bribe its journalist, Pieter-Louis Myburgh. Suspended IDT CEO Malaka and spokesperson Makgolane attempted to pay Daily Maverick investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh R60,000 in cash over the weekend to suppress an investigation into Malaka's personal dealings and questionable IDT contracts. The IDT, a very important, if lesser known, government body, spends upwards of R4-billion each year on social infrastructure projects, such as building schools and clinics, and falls under the Ministry of Public Works. Macpherson last week released a forensic report into a R836-million oxygen tender awarded to a ghost company that was first exposed by Daily Maverick. The report recommended that Malaka be suspended. Malaka was placed on precautionary suspension on Friday. Now Macpherson's remarks at Wednesday's briefing are expected to set the tone for the government's broader response. The attempted bribe, which took place during a meeting in Stellenbosch, was captured on camera. Myburgh photographed the cash, delivered in a white Dior shopping bag, and recorded video and audio of the exchange. Makgolane also sweetened the offer with promises of R100,000 in monthly payments and influence over IDT tenders. In a statement on the briefing, his department confirmed that Macpherson would respond directly to the 'serious allegations by Daily Maverick that Malaka sought to bribe journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh'. Posting to social platform X yesterday morning, Macpherson said he planned to consult with the IDT board later in the day. The statement also warned that the matter appeared to be part of 'what is now likely a paid-for public campaign aimed at discrediting [Macpherson's] efforts to bring stability and good governance to the entity'. It suggests deeper political and institutional tensions may be at play, especially as Macpherson has been spearheading reform efforts at the IDT. On 22 January, the EFF accused Macpherson of 'brazen and corrupt interference' in IDT affairs, citing an incident where he allegedly instructed staff to process a questionable payment to a construction company. The party claimed that Macpherson had unfairly targeted Malaka and used the PSA oxygen plant tender as a pretext for political interference. EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini opened a criminal case of corruption against the minister on 22 January 2025. IDT promises full response While remaining tight-lipped on the details, IDT spokesperson Lerato Modisana said the IDT acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations. The IDT board convened on Wednesday, 6 August, to 'deliberate comprehensively on these matters'. However, Modisana said the IDT was not at this stage in a position to respond to specific media enquiries. The organisation pledged to uphold 'transparency, accountability and good governance' and promised that 'a detailed response will be provided in due course, once the board has fully considered all the relevant facts and implications'. What everyone wants to know Daily Maverick's exposé has garnered significant attention from other media, including radio broadcasts. Readers applauded Myburgh's efforts, while some wondered at the sheer audacity of the brazen bribery attempt. Reader Eddie Maulson summed it up: 'One is gobsmacked at the lack of thought that went into this outrageous attempt at bribery, not to mention the effrontery that these individuals show in their lamentable assumption that they could bribe a man of PLM's integrity in such a crass manner.' A history of red flags Malaka was already under scrutiny, having been placed on precautionary suspension days before the footage emerged on 1 August 2025, following the release of a PwC forensic report into the R836-million PSA oxygen plant project. That report, spurred by Daily Maverick investigations in October 2024, recommended disciplinary action for Malaka, citing her failure to prevent or address serious violations in the project's procurement. The IDT has long struggled with governance and accountability, facing repeated criticism over failed projects and procurement lapses, eroding public confidence in the agency's leadership. DM

South Africa faces economic repercussions from new US tariffs
South Africa faces economic repercussions from new US tariffs

IOL News

time7 hours ago

  • IOL News

South Africa faces economic repercussions from new US tariffs

The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has expressed deep concern over the impending 30% import tariff that the United States plans to impose on certain South African exports, effective from August 7. Image: IOL Graphics/Se-Anne Rall The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has expressed deep concern over the impending 30% import tariff that the United States plans to impose on certain South African exports, effective from August 7. This significant development has raised red flags about the potential repercussions for key sectors of the South African economy. During a recent meeting in June, the committee engaged with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to assess the state of South Africa's trading relationship with the US, as well as with other international partners. The newly announced US tariffs, which will affect multiple countries alongside South Africa, have serious implications for strategic sectors such as automotive, agriculture—particularly citrus—and steel, all integral to South Africa's economic fabric and job market. Historically, South Africa has enjoyed a robust trade relationship with the United States, which stands as the country's second-largest trading partner. In 2024, South African exports to the US accounted for approximately 8% of the nation's total global exports, valued at around R156.6 billion. This export composition is telling, with around 43% comprising manufactured products, predominantly autos and vehicle components, alongside mining commodities (50%) and agricultural goods (7%). 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 ✕ As the largest importer of US goods in sub-Saharan Africa, the South African economy has been bolstered by mutual trade benefits, generating a trade surplus with imports valued at about R120.2 billion in 2024. This partnership has fostered an environment where over 600 US companies, including prominent names like Ford, Coca-Cola, and Google, operate in South Africa, contributing to job creation on both sides: 132,000 jobs in South Africa and 7,000 in the US from South African corporations. In light of the new tariffs, the committee has raised alarms regarding the direct impact on the competitiveness of South African exports. The additional tariff will likely inflate prices for South African goods in the US market, potentially eroding demand and disrupting established value chains. Such changes could lead to declines in local production and significant job losses if alternative markets cannot be secured. There is also concern over how the tariffs may alter the current composition of South African exports. With approximately 43% of South African goods destined for the US being manufactured products, any reductions in this sector could pose severe challenges, especially when compared to the 38.7% of global exports that consist of manufactured goods. To mitigate these risks, South Africa recently introduced the 'Butterfly Strategy,' aimed at fostering industrialisation and diversifying trade partnerships. Key components of this strategy include a focus on product and market diversification, enhanced trade negotiations, and streamlined protocols to adapt to global challenges. The committee, alongside the government, urges renewed negotiations with the US, emphasising the crucial need for a viable trade and investment agreement to tackle ongoing issues.

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