GBV, poverty, and exclusion haunting young people
Defiance of a system that continues to fail its youth. Defiance of violence, exclusion, and injustice.
The civic organisation, Not In My Name, says it's been 49 years since the Soweto Uprising and 31 years since democracy, but for many young people, especially young Black women, freedom remains a promise unfulfilled.
The organisation says the youth are still mourning, still fighting, and still demanding real change.
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IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
G20 Interfaith Forum: Addressing the challenges of global debt infrastructure
The 'Fishbowl Sessions' on debt/governance, moderated by Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers in the United States, Dr Mohamed Elsanousi, saw attendees crowdsource ideas on the issue of debt and global governance at the G20 Interfaith Forum. Image: Theolin Tembo Several core issues, such as food poverty, debt, governance, education and vulnerable communities, dominated the final day of the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20). The IF20 held an open dialogue on the issues. The forum convenes religious leaders, civil society organisations, government officials, multilateral institutions, and scholars to explore collaborative solutions to pressing global challenges. The IF20 event is intended to reflect and reinforce South Africa's G20 Presidency theme: 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability'. The Cape Town event is intended as a catalyst for action, fostering partnerships that transcend borders, beliefs, and sectors. The 'Fishbowl Sessions' on debt/governance, moderated by Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers in the United States, Dr Mohamed Elsanousi, saw attendees crowdsource ideas on the issue of debt and global governance at the G20 Interfaith Forum. 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. 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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 ✕ This session focused on seeking input from participants that highlights priorities, and work to make proposed recommendations more relevant and concrete. Attendees highlighted the impact of historical grievances and colonialisation, sovereign debt and local debt, how interfaith groups are custodians of community wealth and the responsibility owed to uplifting the community, as well as how the global debt infrastructure harms the African continent. The global debt system restructuring echoed a lot of the concerns raised at the African Union Conference on Debt, which took place from May 12-14, 2025. The draft declaration, which was adopted, acknowledged that public debt in Africa has increased significantly over the last decade, resulting in over 25 countries being either at high risk of debt distress or in debt distress, which has created a huge challenge as the rising debt service costs are draining vital public resources needed for development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals ('SDGs') and the AU Agenda 2063. The African Union Commission (AUC) intends to call for the reform of the global financial architecture, particularly reforming the G20 Common Framework to ensure that it delivers adequate and timely debt relief necessary for restoring and safeguarding debt sustainability. The 'Fishbowl Sessions' on debt/governance, moderated by Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers in the United States, Dr Mohamed Elsanousi. Image: Theolin Tembo During Thursday's discussion, Elsanousi highlighted how religious communities can come together to ensure funds remain recirculated within their respective community. One speaker highlighted that, 'we are not exempt from using the resources under our auspices to tend to needs we see in our communities'. Executive Director of the Christian Connections for International Health, Doug Fountain, was in attendance at the discussion, pointed out how, in the United States, there is a network of community banks that function in the same way. Elsanousi also pivoted the discussion to include the issue of corruption, noting that while South Africa has, in his view, an impressive GDP, but 'there are still problems', namely the 'impact of corruption on debt'. One of the attendees touched on how African countries 'get addicted to the debt, and finance a lot of corruption through the debt'. Another speaker questioned what debt reform is going to look like, 'we have to think (in a way) that we aren't dependent on that, but not sure how to get there'. Another individual, speaking of South Africa, said: 'We have a society where corruption is endemic… This nation has a serious problem not being addressed, and as long as there is corruption at that level, with municipalities not solvent (I am not sure how to fix that)… The problem then is when you ask to cancel the debt, the question is, where will that money go?' The issue of governance also arose with some speakers mentioning how incompetent people are being put in charge, not just in South Africa, but across the whole continent. They touched on how there is a need for leaders who govern in an ethical way, and have the correct priorities. DA MP, Andrew Bateman, who was in attendance, said that there is still a long way to go in rooting out the corruption and the impact of it, in making sure funds are spent appropriately. He also touched on how the Covid-19 pandemic played a role in the ballooning debt. 'The question is, when we do get a government that is willing to make steps of reform, will there be some kind of globally-backed initiative to make it easier for those countries, if they do meet the necessary criteria, to eradicate the corruption, to deal with mismanagement, to deal with overspending, to use funds responsibly, will that be met by globe initiatives to make it easier for those countries to get out of the situation they find themselves in. 'Right now, we spend as a nation about 22% of the tax revenue that we receive servicing the interest on our national debt - which is only expected to peak at 77% of our GDP this year, which is lower than that of developed countries, but it is not affordable for us, because the risk, and the inflation rate. 'If there were mechanisms that were in place, which state that if you do ABCD, then we will do the following to make it easier for your debt servicing costs to come down, that would make a significant difference.'
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Independent oversight urged as corruption deepens in municipalities
Corruption in South Africa's municipalities: A call for independent oversight Image: SAPS Corruption casts a long shadow over South Africa's municipal governance, undermining service delivery and leaving communities that rely on water, sanitation, and electricity to bear the brunt of misused funds. As watchdogs and analysts warn, the rot begins at the top and filters down to the street level, where residents seek basic essentials. A string of reports over the past year has underscored the severity of the problem. In August last year, Duja Consulting released a report titled The Pressing Issue of Corruption in South African Municipalities. It argued that corrupt officials may demand kickbacks or artificially inflate contract prices to enrich themselves, driving up costs for municipalities and, by extension, taxpayers and ratepayers. The report cautioned that a forensic approach to addressing corruption is essential. Such an approach, it said, is needed to uncover and rectify misuses of resources and ensure that money earmarked for essential services reaches the people who need it. Corruption Watch (CW) has consistently highlighted the problem's local government dimension. A CW report for 2024 revealed that the organization received more than 2,000 corruption complaints in 2023. 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. 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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 ✕ Earlier, a 2023 CW report identified local government as a key area where corruption was prevalent. Of the five municipalities with the highest corruption reports, three metropolitan municipalities, Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Cape Town - collectively accounted for 71% of all reported incidents. The persistence of corruption at the local level has prompted calls for independent oversight. Speaking to IOL, Paul Maritz, director at FreeSA, argued that South Africa needs independent oversight in local government to curtail corruption. 'South Africa's bloated and often unaccountable municipal bureaucracies create fertile ground for corruption to thrive. Internal investigations rarely lead to consequences because they are conducted by systems that enable misconduct. 'To honour the Constitution's promise of transparent and ethical governance, we need a leaner, cleaner state – even at the municipal level – where independent oversight and public accountability are the norm, not the exception,' Maritz stated. Zakhele Ndlovu, a political analyst, contends that corruption has become entrenched in the country, especially in municipalities. 'It appears that 96% of members of municipal councils are incorrigible. It's not just a case of a few rotten apples. Corruption Watch has reported extensively on cases of corruption across municipalities. 'There is just no political will to deal with corruption. Whistle-blower complaints that deal with and detail corruption go unattended. We can't expect municipalities to investigate themselves because they are fundamentally compromised,' said Ndlovu. He referenced KwaZulu-Natal police head Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's claims of police criminal syndicates that are alleged to have infiltrated the criminal justice system and extended to local, provincial, and national governments. 'South Africa is a kakistocracy-cum-mafia state. Yes, while investigations into corruption are conducted, the findings are never implemented, just as is the case with the findings of commissions of inquiry.' Ndlovu warned of broader political consequences if inaction continues. He suggested voter turnout could slump in next year's local government elections as citizens lose faith in the political system. 'Citizens have lost trust and confidence in the whole political system. Our electoral system exacerbates the problem, which makes so-called public representatives accountable to the party that deploys them instead of the voters. Local government is supposed to be the sphere of government closest to the people, but that is not the case.'
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
DA fires councillor for helping ANC secure Beaufort West mayoral chain
Beaufort West new mayor, Castro de Bruin. Image: Facebook IN A dramatic turn, ANC councillor Castro De Bruin was elected mayor of Beaufort West, a DA-led council. The election of a new mayor this week comes after the resignation of former DA mayor Sias Reynolds. With 13 seats in council, there were five votes in favour of DA candidate Georgina Duimpies and seven in favour of De Bruin, while one councillor was excused. Acting municipal manager Amos Makendlana confirmed: 'Councillor De Bruin was elected on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 during the council sitting and will assume office with immediate effect. We congratulate Mayor De Bruin on this significant election and look forward to working together towards a better future for all residents. We wish him well on his new journey.' De Bruin is the Central Karoo regional coordinator of the ANC Youth League. 'For the past four months, Beaufort West has been without a mayor, following the resignation of a DA councillor. This leadership gap disrupted the municipality's work, slowed down service delivery, and left residents without the stable leadership they deserve. Today, that changes. The election of Mayor De Bruin an ANC councillor in a DA-led council is a historic moment. It shows the power of unity, resilience, and principled leadership to rise above political divisions for the good of the people,' said the ANCYL. 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 DA said it had terminated the membership of a second councillor who had broken rank and voted in favour of De Bruin. 'It is regrettable when personal ambitions hinder the recovery of an entire municipality. This morning, the DA terminated the membership of a second councillor. We hold our public representatives to the highest standards of service delivery and expect them to implement DA policies, which have a proven track record when applied effectively. A new councillor will be sworn in shortly, restoring our majority and enabling us to continue delivering for the community,' said DA Western Cape leader, Tertuis Simmers. Cape Times
