Latest news with #AlanBeesley
The Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald
ActionSA demands Meth's dismissal for 'failing' to address unemployment
ActionSA has called for the dismissal of employment and labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth for her 'failure' to address the unemployment crisis in the country. In the first quarter of 2025, the unemployment rate increased by 1 percentage point to 32.9% from the fourth quarter of 2024, leaving millions of people without jobs and others discouraged to look for work. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said Meth had failed to present a plan to address the issue. ' There is a glaring absence of any meaningful strategy, either in planning or implementation, and despite full awareness of South Africa's worsening unemployment crisis, Meth has failed to present a coherent plan to stem job losses, support the informal economy or tackle the systemic barriers that keep young people out of the workforce,' Beesley said. 'ActionSA believes that something has to give. Sitting on our hands while millions suffer is simply not an option. We are committed to using every available lever to ensure that South Africa's unemployment crisis is addressed with the urgency it demands.'
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Political parties urge immediate action as unemployment hits 32. 9% in South Africa
Political parties criticise the GNU's inaction as job losses mount. Calls intensify for Budget 3.0 reforms, a basic income grant, and policies that create real opportunities for struggling citizens. Image: Ron Lach/Pexels Political parties have stressed the need for urgent action, economic reform, and stronger leadership in response to South Africa's deepening jobs crisis. This comes after Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) on Tuesday reported that the official unemployment rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, up from 31.9% in Quarter 4 2024. The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged work seekers, also increased significantly to 43.1%, the highest level in nearly three years. According to StatsSA, 8.23 million South Africans are now jobless, while millions more remain outside the labour market entirely. ActionSA Member of Parliament, Alan Beesley, criticised the Government of National Unity's (GNU) response, saying: 'South Africa's unemployment crisis is spiralling out of control, and the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU) remains missing in action. Behind every number is a young graduate sending out CVs with no response, a breadwinner sitting at home with no income, and families forced to choose between electricity and food.' Beesley said that just last week, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille revealed that her department now receives up to 10,000 applications for job openings, forcing them to rely on artificial intelligence to shortlist candidates. ''This is a stark sign of the desperation gripping South African households and the overwhelming pressure on even the most basic job opportunities. 'This worsening crisis is being fuelled by the GNU's lack of urgency, policy indecision, and total absence of accountability. GDP growth remains stuck below 1%, interest payments now consume 22 cents of every Rand in tax revenue, and not a single GNU Minister has signed a performance agreement.' ActionSA has called for urgent reforms in Budget 3.0, warning that: 'Without bold action, this government will be remembered not for national unity, but for a national unemployment crisis.' 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 ✕ GOOD Party, secretary-general, Brett Herron, noted the seriousness of the crisis, saying: 'Unemployment is getting worse, not better. The official unemployment rate has climbed to a shocking 32.9%, nearly 25 million South Africans of working age have no income to support themselves or their families.' Youth remain hardest hit, with 46.1% of those aged 15–34 unemployed, and 45.1% not in employment, education, or training (NEET). South Africa's stagnant economic growth has fuelled almost two decades of rising unemployment, he said 'South Africa is not just facing an unemployment crisis, it's facing a crisis of dignity. Every lost job means another family pushed into poverty. Every discouraged worker is a symbol of a broken economic system.' He criticised the GNU's failure to act decisively, despite President Ramaphosa's commitment in the State of the Nation Address to build on the Social Relief of Distress grant as a foundation for 'a sustainable form of income support.' The ongoing budget impasse, he said, has stalled progress. Moreover, GOOD renewed its call for a basic income grant of R1,000 per month, saying: 'This isn't charity, it's economic justice and moral obligation. Supporting people means supporting recovery.' 'All ten parties in the GNU agreed to create a fairer, more just society. The time for action is now.' Democratic Alliance (DA) Employment and Labour spokesperson Michael Bagraim highlighted that approximately 300,000 jobs were shed in Quarter 1 2025. 'The DA's fight for growth and jobs within the GNU is exactly what needs to be accelerated in the current economic environment.' Calling for urgent reform, Bagraim stressed that: 'A job is more than income, it is hope for the future, security and dignity. ''Our country needs a growth agenda that unlocks barriers to investment, such as eliminating job quotas and economic and labour regulations that protect narrow interests and not all South Africans,'' he said. 'Time has long run out for discussion on jobs and growth. South Africa must now act, if we are to turn this around.' Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
IOL News
04-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
ActionSA calls for Budget reform amid manufacturing sector crisis
ActionSA called on the coalition government to prioritise genuine economic reform when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled what the party described as 'Budget 3.0' on May 21. In a statement released on Sunday, ActionSA Member of Parliament Alan Beesley emphasised the critical state of South Africa's manufacturing sector and the urgent need for decisive action. 'After over a decade of [African National Congress] ANC-driven policy failure, South Africa's manufacturing industry is bleeding,' Beesley said. 'Unless bold steps are taken, the Minister might as well include an annexure to his Budget Speech listing the companies likely to follow ArcelorMittal in closing their operations and shedding thousands more jobs.' Godongwana is expected to re-table the 2025 Budget Review on 21 May, following the announcement by the National Treasury that it has withdrawn the proposed 0.5% Value-Added Tax (VAT) increase, which was scheduled to be implemented on May 1, 2025.
IOL News
01-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
RAF Plundered: MPs demand accountability amid R50bn scandal
IN A scathing exposé of the Road Accident Fund's (RAF) deep-rooted issues, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) last week revealed a shocking level of corruption and mismanagement within this critical state entity. The revelations, presented by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), painted a distressing picture of an organisation that has failed in its mandate to compensate victims of motor vehicle accidents while simultaneously serving as a cash cow for unscrupulous officials and service providers. Action SA's Alan Beesley minced no words when he declared: 'To me, that is absurd, and if that is the case, they should all be fired.' This was in response to the revelation that basic financial practices like periodic bank reconciliations — what he termed 'auditing 101' — were not being implemented despite the RAF's R50 billion annual turnover. The frustration among committee members was palpable, with the MK Party's David Skosana criticising the use of tentative language in the SIU report: 'The use of terms such as 'allegedly' when referring to malpractice by individuals in the SIU report could be likened to 'gossip'.' He emphasised the need for factual information at this level of investigation. Perhaps most concerning was the complete lack of vetting for RAF executives, as revealed by Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi: 'Not a single executive at the RAF has been vetted yet. All of them are in process, from the chief executive on down.' This failure extended to the chief investment officer, who had previously faced multiple charges of malpractice at the City of Johannesburg, only for those charges to be abandoned upon his resignation. The financial irregularities uncovered were staggering. The SIU reported that R141 million appeared to be an irregular payment lacking board approval. Particularly troubling was the cancellation of the panel of attorneys without a backup plan, potentially opening another channel for financial losses. As the DA's Patrick Atkinson pointed out: 'The 'huge loss' suffered by the RAF due to not having a proper panel of attorneys in place was because of the actions of the Board.' The ANC's Helen Neale-May highlighted a pervasive culture of non-compliance, noting that contract management had been 'blatantly flouted'. This was evident in various contracts under investigation, including: Siyenza contract: R313 201 152.98 Office Building contract: R17 000 000 Fleet contract: R53 166 897 Cleaning contract: R12 117 260.80 SAP contract: R1 811 764 Office Furniture contract: R40 000 000 All these contracts showed signs of procurement irregularities and fruitless expenditure, with investigations complete and matters being finalised for referral to civil litigation. The investigation revealed a shocking level of complicity from legal professionals. Duplicate payments to attorneys and sheriffs emerged as a major concern. While some law firms cooperated with the SIU, others had not honoured their Acknowledgement of Debt agreements. As the MK Party's Thalente Kubheka cautioned: 'Once the media run with it, they would 'lap it up' but some of the individuals mentioned in the report had not been given an opportunity to have a right of reply yet.' The EFF's Chumani Matiwane added: 'It was 'quite concerning' to hear that bribes might have been paid in relation to work demonstrated in the allocation of work to a single law firm.' He also highlighted the manipulation of criteria to favour specific suppliers in the Siyenza Project. Despite 20 matters already referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution consideration and 20 cases referred for disciplinary action, MPs expressed frustration at the slow pace of accountability. The DA's Farhat Essack captured the sentiment perfectly: 'There was 'absolutely' no accountability… The RAF was being 'plundered' and had become a cash cow for many individuals.' The chairperson announced plans to seek legal advice on handling sensitive information, acknowledging concerns about reputational damage before the right of reply. However, he maintained that Scopa needed to hold dear their responsibility to ensure 'people with valid claims were paid fairly and that this was done in a timely manner'. Adding to the list of concerns was the mention of ransomware attacks affecting the RAF's systems. While the SIU confirmed that no impact was detected in terms of the information needed for their investigation, Zibi emphasised the need for better cybersecurity measures: 'Ransomware should not be problematic, especially in institutions that process large sums of money like the RAF.' Zibi also announced plans to engage with other government departments, including the Minister of State Security and the Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies, to address systemic issues affecting the RAF's operations. He further emphasised the need for improved vetting processes and better support from state agencies. As the meeting adjourned, it was clear that the RAF faced a long road ahead in restoring public trust and implementing necessary reforms. The question remains whether these revelations will finally spur meaningful change or simply become another chapter in the fund's troubled history.
IOL News
01-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SITA's financial meltdown threatens government services
Sita said it struggled to attract skilled ICT professionals, with most talent opting for private sector jobs. A VIRTUAL meeting of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on April 22 heard shocking revelations about the complete breakdown of governance at the State Information Technology Agency (Sita), with the Auditor-General of SA (AGSA) painting a picture of an institution in total disarray. The agency responsible for coordinating the government's information and communication technology systems has regressed to receiving a disclaimer of opinion — the worst possible audit outcome — with auditors unable to verify the accuracy of its financial statements due to missing records and systemic failures. Senior Manager at AGSA, Lufuno Mmbadi, delivered the damning assessment: 'The previous qualifications audit and the current disclaimer audit meant that the key role players within the Sita accountability ecosystem had failed to provide credible financial reports that were supported by reliable information. The financial statements could not be relied upon, as they were not supported by full and proper records of the financial affairs of the entity.' The audit regression comes despite some superficial improvements, including a reduction in irregular expenditure from R1.2 billion to R619 million. However, AGSA officials cautioned that this was largely due to multi-year contracts coming to an end rather than improved financial controls. Shockingly, the agency's procurement system remains entirely manual, with an average turnaround time of 123 days for basic requests — more than four months to process something as simple as a laptop order. The presentation exposed an institution in constant turmoil at the leadership level. Sita has had: Five different chief executives in the past five years No board for most of February 2025 An interim board appointed for just three months 60% vacancy rate at executive level Action SA's Alan Beesley expressed the committee's frustration: 'If there was no stability at the leadership and board level, there was no chance of turning Sita around. Everything rises and falls on leadership.' The human resource crisis extends beyond leadership. AGSA's Portia Nkuna explained that Sita struggled to attract skilled ICT professionals, with most talent opting for private sector jobs. Those who did join often left quickly due to the chaotic work environment and salary disputes. The audit revealed that 38% of service delivery targets were missed, with critical projects delayed due to resource constraints. Departments across government are feeling the impact: The SA Police Service (SAPS) cannot modernise its docket system Home Affairs struggles with IT system upgrades Critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities remain unaddressed The EFF's Ntombovuyo Mente-Nkuna highlighted the long-term consequences: 'More than eight years ago, Sita had been central to the procurement system failures in National Treasury and the SAPS system. Recently, the Minister of Police made a statement about making the SAPS system electronic — this same statement was made 15 years ago.' Multiple committee members described Sita as a feeding ground for corruption. The EFF's Chumani Matiwane was particularly scathing: 'A culture of impunity persisted when it came to repeated findings, because there was no consequence management. This meant that people were encouraged to continue doing wrong things because their actions would have no consequences.' AGSA identified two material irregularities — payments for unused software licences and services never rendered. While R50 000 was recovered in one case, disciplinary processes remain incomplete. Perhaps most alarmingly, departments are now bypassing Sita entirely, going directly to private providers for IT services, meaning the government was effectively paying twice for the same services. In contrast to Sita's meltdown, the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) showed some progress, improving from a disclaimer to an unqualified audit with findings. However, AGSA's Nathan Lawnet cautioned against optimism: 'The cost of the public mandate kept on increasing, and the SABC was not able to keep abreast with the competitive changes in the broadcasting sphere.' Despite receiving a R3.2bn bailout in 2019 tied to a three-year turnaround strategy, the state-owned broadcaster remains financially precarious: R2bn in unresolved irregular expenditure (some dating back six years) Only R687m of R4bn in TV license fees deemed recoverable Failure to meet digital transformation targets, including website upgrades Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi expressed particular concern about the SABC's inability to secure broadcasting rights for major sporting events, leaving millions of South Africans without access: 'The SABC's financial sustainability is precarious. It's losing bids for major sports events, and its digital transition is lagging. We cannot continue with business as usual.' Faced with this crisis, Scopa resolved on several drastic measures: Summoning current and former Sita leadership to account for years of failure Calling the Communications Minister and the Deputy Minister to explain the recovery plans Launching a forensic investigation into multi-year contracts Considering a complete overhaul or possible closure of Sita As the meeting concluded, AGSA's Madidimalo Singo offered a sobering perspective on the broader implications: 'The functioning of Sita was not only about sustainability, but also the overall functioning of the government. There were policy outcomes that the government had committed to. When Sita fails, service delivery fails.' With government departments increasingly bypassing the broken agency and critical IT systems left vulnerable, the clock is ticking for decisive action. The question now is whether Sita can be salvaged — or whether, after years of dysfunction, it is time to admit defeat and rebuild South Africa's government IT infrastructure from the ground up.
