Latest news with #ActionSA
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Trollip says ActionSA aware uphill battle in efforts to scrap deputy ministers ahead
CAPE TOWN - ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said the party understands it will face an uphill battle in its efforts to have deputy ministers scrapped from Cabinet. The party has announced the Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill, seeking to overhaul the size of the country's executive. ALSO READ: ActionSA's Trollip: Deputy ministers are redundant doormen and doorwomen for their ministers ActionSA said the Cabinet is bloated with 32 Ministers and 43 Deputy Ministers. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister, an outsider, despite there being two deputy ministers in the ministry. Trollip said they have a big mountain to climb trying to pass the bill. "We will have to get 2/3 support in Parliament, and it's obvious that parties that are in the GNU [Government of National Unity] that are benefitting from Cabinet posts and deputy minister positions are unlikely to support it. But we will remind a number of those parties that when we were in opposition, they were very much pro in getting rid of deputy ministers and cutting the size of the Cabinet." He added that deputy ministers are a waste of taxpayers' money. "Also, we've looked at other countries with much bigger populations and much bigger economies where they run the country with no deputy ministers and 20 Cabinet ministers. So, we believe that we can run this country or should be running this country with 20 cabinet ministers and no deputy ministers."
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
ActionSA opens corruption case against Polokwane mayor
POLOKWANE – The Limpopo police confirmed that a case of alleged tender irregularities has been registered against the Polokwane Mayor, John Mpe and other senior officials at the Polokwane Municipality by ActionSA. The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said a case was opened on Monday at the Polokwane Police Station and that it relates to alleged violations of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act for contracts awarded between January, 10, 2023 and July, 28, 2025. The case was opened by ActionSA's provincial chair Victor Mothemela, alongside fellow party members. 'We will not stand by while politically connected individuals squander the economic future of South Africans for the benefit of foreign interests,' an ActionSA statement read. 'Where there is smoke, there is fire. As the leadership of ActionSA, we have decided to open a criminal case of corruption against John Mpe and his entourage,' Mothemela told party members. Mpe is expected to provide a comprehensive report to the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), today, regarding allegations of tender kickbacks, political patronage and financial maladministration in the city's municipality. He has labelled these claims as politically motivated smear tactics, denying wrongdoing and emphasised that foreign-owned companies lawfully participate in procurement processes if compliant with tax and legal requirements. The Coghsta MEC, Basikopo Makamu, told Polokwane Observer on Friday (July 25) that he wrote to Mpe inquiring about the validity of municipal financial statements being circulated on social media. Read more: Polokwane mayor faces deadline over tender kickback claims Meanwhile, Hadebe confirmed that due to the gravity of the allegations, the case opened by ActionSA has been referred to the Hawks for further action. On Friday, the EFF called for a full investigation, including possible intervention by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and called for the Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba to place the Polokwane Municipality under administration.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
ActionSA demands an apology from Dean Macpherson over 'Hobos' remark in Pietermaritzburg Court
ActionSA KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chairperson Zwakele Mncwango demands that Dean Macpherson apologise for offensive 'hobo' remarks, describing them as dehumanizing and indicative of racial bias in political leadership and courtroom conduct toward Black members. Image: Tumi Pakkies Independent Newspapers ActionSA KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chairperson Zwakele Mncwango has called on Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, to publicly apologise for remarks allegedly made during court proceedings in Pietermaritzburg, where Macpherson reportedly referred to over 500 Black ActionSA members as "hobos". This comes after the DA and ActionSA took the eThekwini Municipality to the Durban High Court over the city's ongoing sewage crisis. The matter was heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Thursday and Friday. In a statement, Mncwango expressed deep concern and disappointment, stating that whether or not the term was used with racial intent, 'the impact of your words cannot be separated from the painful racial history of South Africa.' He criticised Macpherson for using such language, saying: " Referring to a group of predominantly Black South Africans using a term historically associated with poverty, disposability, and social worthlessness is not only deeply offensive, it is dehumanizing,'' he said. Mncwango condemned the remarks as a 'racial affront' that reinforces the racial hierarchies South Africa continues to dismantle. He argued that when such language comes from a senior political figure, 'it sends a disturbing message: that Black people, when politically opposed or inconvenient, can be reduced to derogatory labels and dismissed as less than equal.' Mncwango also accused Macpherson of discriminatory behaviour during the court proceedings. He alleged that Macpherson instructed Black Democratic Alliance (DA) members to give up their front-row seats in court to accommodate White and Indian party members. 'This visible relegation of your own Black colleagues raises serious questions about the racial attitudes and internal culture within your leadership style. Such actions are not only humiliating but reflective of a discriminatory mindset, which should have no place in any democratic or representative institution,'' he said. He has since demanded that Macpherson publicly apologise to the Black ActionSA members he referred to as 'hobos,' to extend that apology to Black South Africans who ''saw in his remarks the reflection of historical wounds and systemic bias,'' and to reflect seriously on his conduct during the court proceedings, particularly his treatment of Black DA members, and offer them a direct apology for the discrimination they experienced. 'Even if you did not mean harm, the effect of your words and actions have caused real pain and reinforced racial hierarchies that many of us are fighting to dismantle,'' Mncwango said. 'Dismissing ActionSA members who are citizens, voters, and human beings as 'hobos' based on their appearance or political alignment is undignified, unacceptable, and racist.' 'It is clear that you are obsessed with ActionSA and its leadership. While I do not mind your political fixation on the party, I will never accept racism against black people in any form, whether subtle or overt.' He warned that failure to apologise would confirm the perception that Macpherson accepts the label of being racist. ''South Africa's democracy demands leaders who unite, not degrade; who uplift, not insult. I urge you to rise to the moment and demonstrate the humility, accountability, and leadership that your office demands,'' he said. [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
The Herald
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald
ActionSA demands apology after Macpherson allegedly calls black people 'hobos'
ActionSA has expressed concern about DA KwaZulu-Natal chair Dean Macpherson after he allegedly referred to a group of black people as 'hobos' during recent court proceedings in Pietermaritzburg. The DA and ActionSA took the city to the Durban High Court over a sewage problem on Thursday and things turned sour between the two parties. According to IOL, Macpherson allegedly told a reporter that ActionSA provincial chairperson Zwakele Mncwango had denied calling the police to disperse 'hobos', which he claimed ActionSA had recruited to come to the court to pose as its members while picketing. In a letter written to Macpherson, Mncwango said using the word 'hobos' to refer to black people is 'deeply offensive and dehumanising'. 'Whether or not this term was used with racial intent, the impact of your words cannot be separated from the painful racial history of South Africa,' Mncwango said. 'Referring to a group of predominantly Black South Africans using a term historically associated with poverty, disposability and social worthlessness is not only deeply offensive, it is dehumanising. 'In a country still grappling with the scars of apartheid, where the dignity of black people was systematically stripped for decades, language like this is more than an insult — it's a racial affront.' He said it sends a message that black people can be reduced to derogatory labels when politically opposed. 'Even if you did not mean harm, the effect of your words and actions have caused real pain and reinforced racial hierarchies that many of us are fighting to dismantle. 'Dismissing ActionSA members — who are citizens, voters, and human beings — as hobos based on their appearance or political alignment is undignified, unacceptable and racist.' The party condemned Macpherson's conduct during the court proceedings, where he allegedly instructed black DA leaders to vacate their front-row seats for white and Indian members. Mncwango called on Macpherson to issue a public apology. Failure to do so would confirm that he accepted the label of being called a racist, Mncwango said. 'It is clear that you are obsessed with ActionSA and its leadership. While I do not mind your political fixation on the party, I will never accept racism against black people in any form, whether subtle or overt.' TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
17 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
ActionSA demands apology after Macpherson allegedly calls black people 'hobos'
ActionSA has expressed concern about DA KwaZulu-Natal chair Dean Macpherson after he allegedly referred to a group of black people as 'hobos' during recent court proceedings in Pietermaritzburg. The DA and ActionSA took the city to the Durban High Court over a sewage problem on Thursday and things turned sour between the two parties. According to IOL, Macpherson allegedly told a reporter that ActionSA provincial chairperson Zwakele Mncwango had denied calling the police to disperse 'hobos', which he claimed ActionSA had recruited to come to the court to pose as its members while picketing. In a letter written to Macpherson, Mncwango said using the word 'hobos' to refer to black people is 'deeply offensive and dehumanising'. 'Whether or not this term was used with racial intent, the impact of your words cannot be separated from the painful racial history of South Africa,' Mncwango said. 'Referring to a group of predominantly Black South Africans using a term historically associated with poverty, disposability and social worthlessness is not only deeply offensive, it is dehumanising. 'In a country still grappling with the scars of apartheid, where the dignity of black people was systematically stripped for decades, language like this is more than an insult — it's a racial affront.' He said it sends a message that black people can be reduced to derogatory labels when politically opposed. 'Even if you did not mean harm, the effect of your words and actions have caused real pain and reinforced racial hierarchies that many of us are fighting to dismantle. 'Dismissing ActionSA members — who are citizens, voters, and human beings — as hobos based on their appearance or political alignment is undignified, unacceptable and racist.' The party condemned Macpherson's conduct during the court proceedings, where he allegedly instructed black DA leaders to vacate their front-row seats for white and Indian members. Mncwango called on Macpherson to issue a public apology. Failure to do so would confirm that he accepted the label of being called a racist, Mncwango said. 'It is clear that you are obsessed with ActionSA and its leadership. While I do not mind your political fixation on the party, I will never accept racism against black people in any form, whether subtle or overt.'
