ActionSA files complaint over R28m wasted on abandoned Boipatong project
The party's Gauteng chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni, said there is compelling evidence of financial misconduct, fraudulent expenditure and gross dereliction of duty by contractors and government officials.
'This project is a textbook case of how corruption and incompetence rob communities of dignity. We will not allow public funds to disappear while our elderly continue to suffer without care or protection,' he said.
Ngobeni said the project was initially implemented by the Emfuleni local municipality but later handed over to the Gauteng department of infrastructure development for completion.
'Yet, years later, no accountability has been taken for the failure to deliver the old age home — despite payments exceeding R28m to contractors and service providers.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
3 hours ago
- The Herald
Police probe murder of rugby player in Kariega
A 21-year-old club rugby player was shot dead in Kariega on Wednesday night. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said a case of murder was under investigation. The body of Allezahr 'LangNaweek' de Bruin, who played for the Gardens Rugby Football Club as a lock, was discovered in an outbuilding on a property in Grootboom Street, Greenfields, Kariega, at about 8.25pm. He had several gunshot wounds to his head and upper body, Beetge said. 'The motive and identities of the suspects are being investigated.' He said the police were appealing to anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the investigating officer, detective Constable Adams on 071-475-2283 or Crime Stop on 08600-10111. Information can also be communicated via the MySAPS app. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence. The Herald
Mail & Guardian
4 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
New higher education minister under fire for politically linked Seta appointments
Buti Manamela's appointment of three administrators has raised concerns from opposition parties and civil society about potential political interference. (@ButiManamela/X) New Higher Education and Training Minister The appointments have drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society who have raised concerns over their links to the ANC and the potential for political interference. Ironically, Manamela, who was previously deputy minister, was promoted after President On Tuesday, Manamela announced that Oupa Nkoane would oversee the construction Seta, Lehlogonolo Masoga would take charge of the services Seta and Zukile Mvalo would head the local government Seta. He said these appointments aimed to address longstanding governance failures in these institutions, including financial mismanagement, irregular expenditure and unstable boards. But the Nkoane, a former municipal manager at the ANC-governed Emfuleni local municipality in Gauteng, was implicated in a forensic report documenting the mismanagement of R872 million. Khakhau said this 'casts serious doubt' on his capacity to manage public funds responsibly in his new role. Masoga, a former Limpopo MEC and deputy speaker, was chief executive of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone when a communications contract worth R4.4 million was backdated. Khakhau said the backdating justified payments that would otherwise have been deemed irregular. She warned that appointing people with histories of alleged financial mismanagement could perpetuate cycles of corruption within the Setas. 'The issue we have with the three people that he has chosen to appoint is that two of them are implicated in corruption involving R872 million and R4.4 million,' Khakhau said, referring to Nkoane and Masoga. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP 'It seems like Minister Buti Manamela did not listen to our council because we wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt to say, 'Don't repeat the same mistakes of your predecessor,'' Lonzi said. 'Instead of trying to appoint dignified, honest, new board members with integrity to turn around our entities, there seems to be a continued capture which has been taking place in our Setas. 'This is just another ANC deployee being replaced by another corrupt ANC deployee to continue the corruption and the kleptocracy of the ANC government in its attempt to capture our government entities and institutions.' Manamela defended his appointments, emphasising the professional qualifications and experience of the three administrators. In a statement issued by his department, he said the administrators were chosen to stabilise the Setas, restore operational capacity and ensure that they could fulfil their roles in post-school education and training. 'We cannot allow governance failures to erode the public's confidence in our skills development system. These administrators have a clear mandate to restore integrity, enforce consequence management where necessary and ensure that learners and workers are not prejudiced by institutional weaknesses,' he said. In May, Manamela's predecessor Nkabane appointed 22 people to Seta board chair positions, many of whom were affiliated to the ANC. Her appointments were widely criticised for a lack of transparency and independent oversight. Parliament's portfolio committee on higher education summoned Nkabane to explain the appointments but she refused to provide details about the selection process and dismissed questions about the affiliations of the appointees. This prompted Ramaphosa to intervene, instructing her to withdraw the appointments and initiate a new, independent process. Nkabane was eventually dismissed in July. Opposition parties have argued that the choice of administrators linked to controversies risks repeating past mistakes. Civil society organisations have called for full transparency in the appointment process and for independent oversight to ensure accountability. Khakhau said the Setas play a critical role in South Africa's post-school education and training landscape. They are responsible for administering sector-specific training funds and supporting skills development initiatives across industries. Governance failures in these institutions have previously resulted in misallocated funds, delayed projects and a lack of accountability, undermining national skills development objectives. The DA has formally requested that Manamela reconsider the appointments and favour independent candidates. The party said it is essential for the government to demonstrate that appointments are based on competence rather than political connections. Civil society groups, including the Public Service Accountability Monitor have also voiced concern. Spokesperson Nombuso Dlamini said the appointments 'must be accompanied by full transparency and accountability measures to ensure that governance failures of the past are not repeated'.
Mail & Guardian
4 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Durban university denies student jumped to his death over funding
The Durban University of Technology (above) has rejected suggestions that one of its students committed suicide because he had not got financial support from the National Student Aid Scheme. The Durban University of Technology has rejected suggestions that one of its students committed suicide because he had not got financial support from the National Student Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Sphiwokuhle Madela, 27, who was in his third year of a BHSc in radiography, jumped to his death on Tuesday morning at the university's Steve Biko campus. According to student leader Naledi Mfeka, people who knew the student said that he had been stressed about his finances. 'Those who were close to him said he was worried that he would be forced to quit his studies because of funds. This was too hard for him to bear. He was afraid of disappointing his family. 'But we hope the investigation will be able to find out what went wrong,' she said. However, the university said in a statement that funding problems had nothing to do with Madela's death, saying he was dealing with personal matters. 'Mr Madela was fully funded by NSFAS, which was reflected in the last payment dated 4 August 2025. He was coded as both a returning student for both tuition and residence in 2025,' it said. In its response to a query from the Mail & Guardian, the student aid scheme said: 'NSFAS was honoured to fully fund this student's studies. 'We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and those affected by this tragic loss.' KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the incident was under investigation. 'Police in Berea have opened an inquest docket for investigation following an incident in which a 27-year-old student died in what is suspected to be a suicide at a university campus on Steve Biko Road Berea, Durban, on Tuesday morning,' he said. 'He sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene. Circumstances that could have led to the incident are being investigated.' Some student leaders suggested NSFAS was to blame for Madela's death. 'NSFAS has created this problem where there are scores of students who are defunded. Over 2 000 students have been defunded — the most we have ever seen,' student leader Smilo Mhlungu said. 'The students have to vacate their residences and abruptly quit their studies. You can imagine what that does to a student psychologically.' The department of higher education said it would allow the Durban University of Technology to conduct its internal investigation before commenting on the tragedy. 'Once the full report is received, the minister will issue a more comprehensive statement,' spokesperson Matshepo Seedat said. The government-funded NSFAS has in the past been sharply criticised for problems in disbursing support for students. Earlier this year, thousands of students at technical, vocational and training colleges were left without accommodation after being evicted by angry landlords who had gone for months without being paid.
