Top 10 stories of the day: Ramaphosa defends BEE Woman awarded R580k after arrest
In today's news update, President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), while NDPP Shamila Batohi faces growing pressure to clarify her claims of political interference in the NPA.
Additionally, a woman wrongfully detained for 10 days has been awarded nearly R600 000 in damages by the SCA.
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News today: 7 June 2025
'Is it greed or jealousy?': Ramaphosa fires back at critics of BEE, Transformation Fund
President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on 16 September 2022. Picture: AFP / Saul Loeb
President Cyril Ramaphosa has come out swinging against critics of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), questioning whether their opposition is rooted in 'greed' or 'jealousy'.
Ramaphosa was speaking during his keynote address at the gala dinner of the Black Business Council's annual summit held at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Centre in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
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Batohi could appear in parliament to explain allegations of corruption inside the NPA
National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi. Picture: Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) wants the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi to appear before parliament next week to give more details about allegations of rogue elements inside the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
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Wrongfully arrested woman wins nearly R600k after ordeal that led her to consider suicide
Picture: iStock
A woman who endured a harrowing 10-day detention after a wrongful arrest has been awarded nearly R600 000 in damages by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).
Cynthia Nobuhle Khedama initially sued the Minister of Police for R1 million over her arrest and detention,
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Rebuild VBS, urges ANC treasurer-general
VBS Mutual Bank customers at long queues outside the bank in Thohoyandou, Limpopo. Picture: Gallo Images / Antonio Muchave
ANC treasurer-general Gwen Ramokgopa has pleaded with the Reserve Bank and National Treasury to assist the Vhembe community in Limpopo to rebuild the collapsed Venda Business Society (VBS) Mutual Bank.
More than 53 people have been charged for theft, corruption, fraud, money laundering, contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and racketeering for stealing and looting more than R2 billion of VBS money since 2018.
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R42m water storage facility installed, but taps run dry in Xanthia village
A resident of Majakaneng Village fills up containers with water on 3 February 2015. Picture: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Veli Nhlapo
A R42 million water reservoir tank built in Xanthia Village, Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, 10 years ago has never been used since its completion.
This is according to the residents, who confirmed that the construction of the reservoir did not assist in bringing a sustainable water supply to the area.
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READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: K-word teacher loses labour case | Amerikaners' future uncertain | NPA sabotage claims
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Daily Maverick
an hour ago
- Daily Maverick
UPL lawyers fight NPA prosecution decision on Durban chemical blaze
The National Prosecuting Authority has finally reached a decision on prosecuting the Indian UPL agrochemicals group — more than four years after thousands of tons of poisonous chemicals went up in flames at a warehouse north of Durban. A tide of farm chemicals poured into the environment north of Durban in July 2021, killing more than four tons of fish and other aquatic life. It also led to the prolonged closure of several swimming beaches north of the city, while thick clouds of poisonous black smoke swirled around parts of the city for several days, sparking concern about the long-term health impact on people exposed to the fumes. Now, in response to questions from the Daily Maverick, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that KwaZulu-Natal's director of public prosecutions (DPP) has reached a decision on laying criminal charges against UPL in criminal case docket CAS 06/09/2021. While the NPA did not state explicitly what the decision was, or the exact nature of the charges, a spokesperson confirmed that UPL had been notified of the provincial director of public prosecutions' decision, and that the company was now 'requesting a review of the decision' — strongly indicating that representatives of the Mumbai-based agrochemicals group will end up in the dock shortly if their latest legal representations to the national director of public prosecutions are rejected. UPL has consistently argued that, as one of the many companies whose premises were looted or set alight by arsonists during the July 2021 unrest, it was not responsible for the consequent chemical spill, which led to ecological damage to large sections of the uMhlanga River lagoon, the closure of beaches and widespread air pollution. UPL, the fifth largest agrochemicals company in the world after Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta and BASF, has also claimed that the security measures and 'state-of-the-art safety features' at its brand-new Cornubia chemical warehouse were overwhelmed during the riots. However, it later emerged that UPL had rented space in a newly built goods warehouse (shared with a clothing retailer), apparently without any specific environmental impact studies or detailed assessments on public health impacts while storing hazardous compounds at Cornubia, a mixed-use commercial, residential and light industrial development at Umhlanga. Health risks Roughly three months after the incident, a preliminary compliance report by the Green Scorpions environmental inspectorate noted that the National Water Act and National Environmental Management Act recognised that 'any unlawful, intentional or negligent conduct' that results in serious pollution or degradation of the environment or water resources was considered to be criminal conduct. At the time, the inspectorate said that: 'Further investigation is required to determine whether UPL, as a result of its failure to comply with specific legal requirements (either in terms of the National Environmental Management Act or other relevant legislation), acted negligently by creating a point source of pollution which resulted in significant environmental impacts, despite the fact that the fire was started by other individuals… 'Had the relevant licences been applied for, the environmental assessment processes that would have been required may have identified risks that could have been avoided, or could have been guarded against,' read the report. 'The desirability of storing large quantities of agricultural chemicals in close proximity to people and sensitive environments would have been evaluated. Bypassing these processes, no doubt, contributed to the seriousness of the pollution that resulted.' According to the compliance report: 'It is the view of the investigative team that UPL may not have undertaken the necessary (Major Hazardous Installation risk) assessment.' Since then, a human health risk assessment commissioned by UPL has suggested that residents living in the immediate vicinity now face increased risks of cancer, heart disease and other health impacts due to the toxic dust particles they inhaled while the warehouse burnt or smouldered. UPL responds In a statement at the weekend, UPL said it 'cannot comment on an ongoing investigation and open case'. However, it continued to engage with all relevant authorities and governmental departments. 'Despite suffering substantial damage from the riots, UPL South Africa has made extensive efforts to contain the aftereffects of the incident and has committed enormous resources to this effort. 'In the immediate aftermath of the event, UPL South Africa instituted an extensive and ongoing rehabilitation and remediation plan of the affected area under the direction of a team of independent experts and a Rehabilitation Action Plan approved by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).' Last week, a public meeting of the Cornubia Multi-Stakeholder Forum was held at the Grace Family Church in uMhlanga to discuss the ongoing treatment of chemically polluted water that is still being stored in a dam close to the fire site. At this meeting, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment was scheduled to provide an update on the status of the proposed criminal charges against UPL. Department officials were not present to provide this update, but UPL attorney Norman Brauteseth told the meeting that he understood that criminal charges were still being investigated against UPL — as well as the Fortress property group (which developed the Cornubia warehouse) and Tongaat Hulett and eThekwini Municipality (joint landowners of the Cornubia development). Limited charges Significantly, however, the NPA said it was not aware of charges against Fortress, Tongaat Hulett or eThekwini. A spokesperson said: 'The NPA received one docket addressing a criminal complaint against UPL. We are not aware of the other matters you mention. 'The matter is at an advanced stage, and we can confirm that the NPA is addressing legal representation from UPL. 'A decision was taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), and this was brought to the attention of UPL through their legal representation. UPL has now written to the National Director of Public Prosecution, requesting for a review of the director of public prosecutions KZN's decision.' A spokesperson for Tongaat Hulett Limited said: 'We don't have any knowledge of a criminal investigation against Tongaat Hulett Limited on this matter. Since the incident, as an impacted party we continue to actively engage with the authorities and UPL on the remediation work undertaken by them as land owned by Tongaat Hulett Limited surrounds the UPL warehouse.' A Fortress spokesperson said: 'No — we are not aware of any criminal investigation (against Fortress).' The eThekwini Municipality said: 'We are not aware of the matter in question.' Regarding Brauteseth's comments at the Grace Family Church last week, UPL said: 'In 2021 the findings of a governmental joint preliminary investigation into the incident recommended that the role that all parties played should be investigated, including not only UPL but also Tongaat Hulett, Fortress, and the relevant authorities.' DM
eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
DA rejects GNU expansion
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The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Civil wife vs ‘customary wife': Widow's legal fight over late husband's R1.6m pension hits another delay
Tshifhiwa Shembry Mutsila has been embroiled in a legal battle with the Municipal Gratuity Fund for 10 years. After a decade-long legal battle, a widow will have to wait at least another three months to find out whether she is entitled to her late husband's full R1.6 million pension. Tshifhiwa Shembry Mutsila has been in and out of court since 2015, after another woman, Dipuo Masete, claimed she was also married to the deceased under customary law and financially dependent on him. Husband's death sparks battle over R1.6 million pension Mutsila married Takalani Emmanuel Mutsila in December 2003 in a civil marriage. The couple had five children. Takalani, who worked for the Ba Phalaborwa Municipality in Limpopo, died in December 2012 in a workplace accident. His dependants were entitled to R1 614 434.86 under Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act. However, Masete lodged a claim with the Municipal Gratuity Fund (MGF), saying she and her two children had been named beneficiaries in the deceased's life policy and that he made regular payments into her bank account. ALSO READ: Councils take pension billions Although Mutsila disputed the claim, the MGF board in April 2014 decided to split the death benefit -awarding Mutsila and her five children 47.5%, and Masete and her two children 52.5%. A private investigator hired by Mutsila later found that Masete was married to Malema Joseph Mphafudi under customary law and that he was the biological father of her two children. This revelation sparked a custody battle brought by Mphafudi against Masete in the Limpopo High Court. Masete did not dispute these findings. Adjudicator's ruling In May 2014, Mutsila challenged the MGF's decision with the Pension Funds Adjudicator. While the adjudicator invited both the fund and Masete to respond, the MGF requested a delay until the custody matter was finalised. The adjudicator subsequently found that the MGF had not properly identified the deceased's dependants and set aside the decision in September 2014. The fund was instructed to conduct a proper investigation and make an equitable distribution of the death benefit within three weeks of the custody case's conclusion. READ MORE: Thousands denied pensions as employers fail to pay The MGF, however, approached the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in April 2015 to overturn the adjudicator's decision. That application was dismissed in June 2018, and its appeal was rejected in November 2021. The high court found that the fund had distributed the pension before properly identifying dependants. SCA reversal Despite the earlier losses, the MGF was granted a special appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). It argued that the adjudicator lacked jurisdiction and that Mutsila should have lodged her complaint directly with the fund under section 30A(1) of the Pension Funds Act before approaching the adjudicator. The MGF also contended it had not been heard before the adjudicator made a determination. In July 2023, the SCA ruled in favour of the fund, finding the adjudicator had not given it the opportunity to respond to Mutsila's complaint. The court also highlighted that Masete's factual dependency had not been challenged. ConCourt judgment Mutsila then escalated the matter to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), where the appeal was heard in November 2024. Former MGF CEO Marthinus Jacobsohn argued before the apex court that the finding that Masete and her two children had been supported by the deceased was 'both rational and sound'. Judge Leona Theron, however, pointed out that the fund did not know about Masete's marriage to Mphafudi at the time of its decision and had failed to conduct a proper investigation within the 12-month period from the death of a member. 'The fund was not aware that he was the biological father of her children, that he was still alive, and that he could support the children financially. 'The only fact mentioned in the fund's founding affidavit filed in the high court and annexures attached thereto is that Ms Masete declared dependency on the deceased in the amount of R2 000. 'There is no evidence that the fund carried out any investigations to determine for itself or confirm this declared dependency. 'There is no allegation in the documents attached by the fund to its founding affidavit to the effect that the deceased either maintained Ms Masete's children, paid for their school fees and clothing, or provided them with shelter,' the judgment, delivered on 8 August 2025, reads. Theron also pointed out that Mutsila had not demonstrated exceptional circumstances warranting the ConCourt to replace the fund's decision with a new order. She, therefore, ruled that the case be sent back to the MGF for a new investigation as the dispute stemmed from their 'flawed decision'. 'It is important to note that the outcome of the custody proceedings between Ms Masete and Mr Mphafudi have no bearing on the order of this court,' Theron added. The ConCourt upheld Mutsila's appeal and ordered the MGF to make a fresh determination within three months of the judgment. The fund was also ordered to pay Mutsila's legal costs. NOW READ: This is what a divorce will do to your pension fund
