Latest news with #DAKZN
IOL News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
KZN Education Department defends tender process for National School Nutrition Programme
DA KZN demands urgent intervention from Minister Gwarube over alleged corruption in the school nutrition programme, calling for accountability and protection of learners' right to food. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has sought to defend the process followed to award tenders for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), stating that the process was above board. In a statement, the department addressed allegations raised on social media platforms and some mainstream media organisations alleging that irregularities were involved in the manner in which the NSNP tender was processed. The MEC for the department, Sipho Hlomuka, has come under fire amid allegations that some of those awarded tenders had close links to him or to the ANC. There have been growing calls for the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, to intervene in the matter. He recently stated that he had asked for a report on the issue from the MEC. The department confirmed that it had received written questions from the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and Ntuli and said it would respond accordingly. 'From the outset, it is important that we place on record the fact that the process has been conducted in line with all the procurement processes and relevant prescripts.' 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 department stated that the process undertaken had various stages, which included the advertising of the tender, after which every eligible South African was at liberty to apply. It said after the advertisement of the bid, all bidders were invited to compulsory briefing sessions in all 12 districts, where they were taken through the requirements of the bid. 'All the bids received, amounting to approximately 20,000, were subjected to the same comprehensive evaluation criteria in line with all the Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes. All the bids were subjected to a standard evaluation process as set out in the bid document. It is also important to state categorically that evaluation and adjudication were followed in line with the prescribed procedures,' the statement continued. It added that the department is currently at a stage where it is dealing with appeals or objections. An unfortunate situation regarding this tender is that it attracts thousands of bidders who all have to compete for only 1,756 clusters across the 12 districts. 'We note with disappointment that once some bidders are not recommended for the award, they resort to delegitimising the entire process. The department, however, takes solace from the understanding that at the current stage, which is the appeals process, bidders will be afforded the opportunity to raise issues. While it is within their rights, in terms of the law, to raise their grievances after being unsuccessful, it is unfortunate that some resort to the circulation of misinformation. 'The department wants to place on record that it will respond to all the bidders who would have submitted their objections or appeals to the Bid Appeals Tribunal convened under the auspices of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury,' the statement concluded. THE MERCURY
IOL News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Minister Gwarube urged to intervene in KZN school nutrition scandal
DA KZN demands urgent intervention from Minister Gwarube over alleged corruption in the school nutrition programme, calling for accountability and protection of learners' right to food. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal said it will submit a formal briefing document to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, urging her to intervene in the province's troubled National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). This comes in response to serious allegations of corruption involving provincial Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka and other ANC-linked figures. DA KZN spokesperson on Education, Sakhile Mngadi, said the party welcomed the decision by Finance MEC Francois Rodgers to launch a preliminary investigation into the alleged misconduct. The DA believes this marks a significant step toward confronting political corruption in the province's education sector. Mngadi said: 'The MEC's response is a vital and encouraging step in the fight against entrenched political corruption, which continues to rob many of our learners of their basic right to food.' KZN Treasury spokesperson, Nkosikhona Duma, confirmed on Tuesday that while media reports have surfaced alleging tender fraud and bias in the NSNP, no formal representations have been received yet.
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Fairer and transparent KZN budget urgently needed
As one of South Africa's most populous provinces, KZN faces immense pressure to deliver quality services – with the departments of education, health, social development, transport, and public works serving as the central engines of service delivery. This is according to the DA in KZN, which says the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill forms the cornerstone of the province's fiscal framework. DA KZN Spokesperson on Finance, Tim Brauteseth, says this Bill determines how nationally-raised revenue is distributed across the three spheres of government. He says there needs to be a greater focus on the Bill's implications for KZN's government departments and municipalities. In education, Brauteseth said, while allocations have increased nominally, they fail to keep pace with inflation, rising pupil numbers, and infrastructure backlogs. 'This, while our rural schools continue to operate without proper sanitation, libraries, or digital access. We call for a ringfenced infrastructure grant for rural schools and performance-linked incentives for provinces that improve literacy and numeracy outcomes,' said Brauteseth. Meanwhile, in health, he said the provincial hospitals and clinics are under strain due to staff shortages, outdated equipment. Despite funds intended for medicine being ringfenced, he said poor management of medicine stockpiles hampers timely delivery, to the ultimate detriment of patients. Moreover, Brauteseth added that the social development allocations remain modest despite growing demand. 'During recent public hearings, citizens raised concerns about the funding of NPOs that deliver critical services. 'KZN's departments of transport and public works face similar challenges. Road maintenance and infrastructure upgrades are essential for economic development, yet funding remains unspent in the case of transport; close to R1-billion will remain unspent,' he said. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
01-06-2025
- IOL News
Court proceedings for DA leader's murder: Accused remain in custody
KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance leader Francois Rodgers, uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas, Deputy Mayor Sandile Mnikathi and councillors held placards outside the Howick Magistrate's Court, demanding justice for murdered uMngeni Municipality chief whip Nhlalayenza Ndlovu. Image: DA KZN/ Facebook One of the men accused of murdering uMngeni Municipality chief whip, Councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, was heard complaining about the conditions in Westville Prison when he and two other accused appeared in court for the murder. Ndlovu was shot dead at his home near Mpophomeni in December 2023. Last month, the man believed to be the main suspect, Zwelithini Buthelezi, an Induna at the Nxamalala Tribal Authority, was arrested and joined his two co-accused, Thobani Hlongwa and Khayelihle Shabalala, in the dock on Friday. KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Francois Rodgers, who was in court alongside uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas, Deputy Mayor Sandile Mnikathi and councillors, said Buthelezi did not apply for bail. The case has been postponed to July 9 for further investigations. All three suspects remain in custody. 'We welcome the fact that there was no bail application,' Rodgers said. 'What we don't welcome is the fact that this remains such a slow and tedious process.' Rodgers said they engaged with the forensic investigators the party appointed for Ndlovu's murder. One of the questions he asked was whether there was any collaboration between the South African Police Service and their forensic unit because they have pertinent evidence in this case. 'And again, the SAPS are giving our team the cold shoulder,' Rodgers said. He said in the bigger scheme of crimes, this was an insignificant issue. However, Crime Intelligence head General Dumisani Khumalo was in court on Friday. 'And you have to ask yourself why. Why is he here for a case that, as I say, in the bigger schemes of things, is fairly insignificant?' Rodgers said. 'The presence of General Khumalo, head of crime intelligence, at the hearing today also gives the impression that there is more to the brutal killing of Cllr Ndlovu. 'So there are lots of unanswered questions. But at the end of the day, we just want to see justice. We want to see justice for Nhlalayenza, for the family, for his friends and for the party.' Rodgers added that one of the accused was complaining about the conditions in Westville Prison. 'Well, you know, if he hadn't committed the crime, he wouldn't be in Westville Prison. 'Perhaps he should rather think about the family, the children, the wife, the friends of Nhlalayenza, than complaining about the conditions in Westville Prison,' Rodgers said. Rodgers said they continue to offer support to Ndlovu's family until there is justice and those responsible for his murder are brought to book. [email protected]
IOL News
15-05-2025
- IOL News
Outrage as laptops stolen from school's newly established cyberlab
Laptops were stolen during a break-in at the Sibongumbomvu Combined School in Ward 6 of the uMngeni Municipality. . Image: uMngeni Local Municipality/X A rural school in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands was robbed of laptops in its newly donated cyberlab. In a joint statement, DA Mooi Umngeni Constituency head Edwin Macrae Bath and DA KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi expressed outrage over the break-in at Sibongumbomvu Combined School in Ward 6 of the uMngeni Municipality. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, weeks after a brand-new cyberlab was handed over to the school by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies on April 15. Suspects stole 20 donated laptops, the school's IT equipment and they damaged infrastructure. 'This cyberlab was not just a room filled with machines—it was a bridge between rural learners and the digital future,' the statement read. 'Initial evidence suggests the crime was carried out by individuals with inside knowledge of the school's layout and security measures. It was targeted and calculated—a strategic hit against progress in one of our province's most under-resourced communities.' 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 ✕ [WATCH]: It's official! The opening is underway by Minister @SollyMalatsi, joined by Mr Dabie Francis, Principal of Sibongumbomvu Combined School, who unveiled the plaque and officially opened the brand-new Coding & Robotics Lab in Howick. — Dept of Communications & Digital Technologies (@CommsZA) April 15, 2025 The statement also revealed that police had not arrived at the scene by the time of the statement, which was distributed Wednesday morning. 'This delay is disgraceful, and it sends a chilling message that rural communities can be violated without response,' the statement read. In a letter, the DA requested KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to immediately deploy a dedicated task team to investigate the incident, demanding a clear timeline for arrests and public updates. The letter to Mkhwanazi said there has been a concerning delay in response from the police service. The incident appears planned and not opportunistic, possibly indicating an inside link. Prompt deployment of senior investigators is urgently requested to apprehend those responsible and send a strong message against targeting children's education. Increased police visibility and community engagement in rural schools are also crucial to prevent future incidents. On April 15, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi launched a Cyberlab and Robotics Lab in uMngeni with Software AG SA and uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas. Image: Solly Malatsi/X Then, in parliamentary questions to the KZN Department of Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, the party demanded accountability on the incident. Hlomuka was asked to provide details on: existing security infrastructure; prior risk assessments for the cyberlab handover; current security measures for high-value digital infrastructure in rural and township schools; the number of KZN schools receiving coding and robotics infrastructure since January 2023, and subsequent theft/vandalism incidents; immediate plans to replace stolen equipment; allocation of emergency funding for repairs; investigation into potential insider involvement; and collaboration plans with SAPS for high-risk school security. 'This is more than just a stolen resource. It is a stolen future. 'The DA calls on the community to speak up—do not protect those who steal from your children. Report them. Help ensure they face justice. If these criminals are allowed to walk free, the message is clear: rural learners don't matter,' the statement read. 'This tragedy reinforces the urgent need for a whole-of-society approach that the DA continues to advocate for—where government, communities, civil society, and law enforcement work together to protect and uplift our schools. Ensuring the safety and success of learners cannot rest on the shoulders of the state alone. It requires shared responsibility, active citizen involvement, and strong partnerships to create schools that are centres of hope, not targets of crime.' With only three days of training, the pupils had grasped coding and robotics. They demonstrated this to Communications and Technological Minister Solly Malatsi and uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas. Image: uMngeni Local Municipality/X The public is requested to contact Detective Branch Commander Warrant Officer Sindane at 033 845 6526 with any information relevant to ongoing investigations. In a separate incident, KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said Hilton police are investigating a business burglary case after suspects reportedly broke into a school in Hilton between May 13 and 14. 'Reports indicate that laptops, cellphones, router, TV, and other items were stolen,' Magwaza said. 'The matter is still under investigation.'
