Latest news with #HermanMashaba
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
City accused of wasting money investigating its forensic investigators
GFIS was formed in 2016. It was meant to save the city from losing money through corruption and fraud. While the City of Johannesburg is facing financial challenges, it has spent R12 million investigating its own corruption-fighting unit, Group Forensic Investigation Services (GFIS). In a statement on Monday, ActionSA accused the City of Johannesburg of wasting money on investigating GFIS. GFIS has been accused of carrying out spying activities on some ANC councillors, but there has not been tangible evidence despite numerous investigations. 'We strongly encourage those seeking to continue this witch-hunt to instead demand answers as to why over R12 million has been squandered on it to date, with no preliminary report ever seeing the light of day and, after years of work, making no progress. 'This witch-hunt, set to cost residents a total of R40 million or more, simply cannot be justified and, given the city's dismal balance sheet, is an expenditure it cannot afford for what is nothing more than a vendetta-driven exercise that was rightly questioned and suspended pending a review,' said the party's Marcel Countriers. GFIS is one of Herman Mashaba's legacy projects in the City of Johannesburg. He launched this corruption-busting unit to fight the abuse of municipal funds. Mashaba's legacy project Countriers said the current administration in the city is trying to erase Mashaba's good work as mayor of Johannesburg. 'ActionSA will always stand firmly by the fight against corruption launched by Herman Mashaba during his tenure as mayor. 'To the deep displeasure of those who had been looting the city blind, the corruption-busting unit he established, namely the Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS), investigated over 6 000 cases involving transactions worth R35 billion, marking one of the most decisive anti-corruption efforts in any municipality in South Africa's history,' said Countriers. Will GFIS close down? Critics said there seems to be a coordinated effort by the current administration to try to close down this corruption-fighting unit. 'Unsurprisingly, attempts to exacerbate the city's current regression have found eager champions in failed former mayor Thapelo Amad, who seems determined to accelerate the decline through unscrupulous demands for pointless witch-hunts. 'This is only aimed at distracting from the fight against corruption by unjustly targeting the very efforts that put an end to the large-scale corruption which brought Johannesburg to its knees,' he said. ALSO READ: '-Move Ramaphosa from Chiawelo to Houghton': Joburg ANC fight heats up Still no evidence of spying Mashaba has denied that GFIS has been used to spy on ANC councillors. This matter was also reported to State Security, but it also did not find any negative findings against GFIS. Last year, a GFIS forensic investigator was shot dead in Johannesburg. It is believed that he was investigating corruption involving members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD). At the time, the city had also proposed extra protection for their GFIS investigators. NOW READ: Morero given ultimatum over MMC's joy ride to KZN
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Thanks but no thanks: Herman Mashaba insists ActionSA uninterested in joining GNU
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says his party has not been approached to join the GNU, and he is uninterested in joining the governing coalition. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers As the African National Congress considers expanding the size and reach of the Government of National Unity (GNU) by adding more parties to the coalition currently governing South Africa, opposition party ActionSA insists it is not interested in joining the ruling arrangement. Mashaba said so far, he has only heard from media reports that the ANC wants to approach ActionSA for negotiations around GNU inclusion, but his party has not heard a word from Luthuli House. 'I can tell you as the leader of the party, the national chairperson, and our senate, which is the highest decision-making body of our party, we are hearing it from the media. 'I am not really sure. Perhaps there is another ActionSA somewhere in this country that the ANC is engaged with, I don't know through what channels. Definitely, not the party that I represent,' Mashaba spoke to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. The business mogul said last year, when the GNU was formed, his party was invited to join but declined the offer. 'Even right now, I cannot see how ActionSA can play that role. The only role that ActionSA will play is to take away our independence and the role that we are playing as an effective opposition. That is something that we will not allow anyone to really compromise us in that regard,' said Mashaba. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'There is no reason, and I want to make it really clear, particularly to our supporters, to know that ActionSA will not really be part of a 70 percent government. I think a one party government is not good for our democracy here in South Africa and anywhere else in the world.' He said South African voters have made it abundantly clear that they want a vibrant, multi-party democracy and ActionSA will make its contribution as a 'constructive opposition' in the National Assembly. On Tuesday, IOL reported that ANC veteran and National Executive Committee (NEC) member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has emphasised the need for the ANC to rebuild its structures on the ground and focus on local government to restore trust with the people. With the upcoming local government elections, Dlamini-Zuma stressed that the ANC should prioritise strengthening its branches and delivering services to communities. Service delivery remains a challenge in South Africa. This includes inadequate infrastructure, insufficient resources, and issues of maintenance and accountability. ANC veteran and National Executive Committee (NEC) member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the Independent Media offices on Tuesday. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Dlamini-Zuma highlighted the importance of building strong branches. "Our branches must be built properly because the strength of the branch is what they do in the community… We are going to the local government elections, and we should be concentrating on that right now." In 2017, Dlamini-Zuma lost the battle to become the ANC president to Cyril Ramaphosa, who won with 2,440 votes. Dlamini-Zuma got 2,261. However, under Ramaphosa, the party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result that put South Africa on a new political path, in which the ANC was forced to form the Government of National Unity (GNU) with the DA and other small parties. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Daily Maverick
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
The Gathering 2025 — Unfiltered. Bold Ideas. Big Names. One Defining Conversation
Some names need no introduction, and this August they'll be on one stage – ready to be heard, challenged and engaged with. We're proud to confirm that The Gathering 2025: Changemakers | Impact Edition will host a not-to-be-missed panel titled 'Creation of New Urban Identity', led by none other than Daily Maverick associate editor and renowned political journalist Stephen Grootes. Joining him for this timely and necessary conversation are three political figures redefining South Africa's political landscape: Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA; Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi; and Mmusi Maimane, leader of Build One South Africa (Bosa). A new political identity? 'There is very little that is genuinely new in our politics – many of our parties have their roots in older parties, often from our apartheid past. But three parties appear to be competing for what looks like a new South African identity. It is largely urban, multiracial and multicultural. They are Rise Mzansi, ActionSA and Bosa. 'These parties might well be pointing the way to a future for our politics. Or, their projects might be doomed to failure. Find out first-hand what their leaders are planning, and how they see themselves, at The Gathering 2025.' – Stephen Grootes The Gathering 2025: A Day of Impact Date: 28 August 2025 Location: Cape Town International Convention Centre Time: 8am-6pm Event starts at: 9am Tickets: R325-R2,200 Buy tickets here. Prepare for a full day of bold conversations with the country's most influential changemakers across politics, technology, education, activism, the arts and more. New! Premium Access Ticket: Elevate your Gathering experience with all-day access to the Premium Lounge, including complimentary food and beverages, plus priority access to seating in The Auditorium for every main-stage moment. Already confirmed for the stage: Edward Kieswetter; Zingiswa Losi; Grace Matlhape; Mark Heywood; Alan Knott-Craig; Kyle Findlay and Aldu Cornelissen; Rachel Kolisi; Lisa Vetten; Larry Cooke; Styli Charalambous; Pieter-Louis Myburgh; Estelle Ellis; Ferial Haffajee; and Zukiswa Pikoli. Plus: A special performance of Round of Applause: Freshly Squeezed for Daily Maverick by Marianne Thamm. Want a ticket discount? Join Maverick Insider for exclusive perks, backstage access and a front-row seat to the truth. For media enquiries, please contact: Fran Beighton or Nicole Williamson: email: [email protected], [email protected] About Daily Maverick
TimesLIVE
23-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
SAHRC's 'pro-foreigner stance' comes under fire from ActionSA's Mashaba
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has slammed the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), accusing it of protecting the rights of foreigners. Mashaba was speaking in Durban ahead of his party's legal showdown with the eThekwini municipality at the Pietermaritzburg high court on Thursday. He was accompanied by the party's national chairperson Michael Beaumont and provincial chairperson Zwakele Mncwango on inspections of failed sewer infrastructure sites across the municipality. 'I am asking myself, when does this chapter 9 institution protect the rights of South Africans? The only time is when foreigners enter the country illegally,' said Mashaba. Mashaba's comments came amid national attempts to prevent foreigners from being admitted and treated at government health-care facilities from the end of June. The SAHRC said such practices are unethical and unlawful, and urged health and police authorities to act.
The Citizen
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Will forcing MPs to use public healthcare make it better?
If somebody important gets rushed into a government hospital, throwing somebody out of ICU to make way for them wouldn't be an issue. Another day, and yet another suggestion from ActionSA that public officials should be forced to use public services, as if that will somehow make those services better. If it's not public officials being forced to use public transport, it's that they must send their kids to public schools. The latest from the Herman Mashaba camp is that public servants should use public healthcare services. One can nearly hear the internal laughter of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at the idea (one that he has publicly supported). Presumably, he has no problem supporting it, given that he's doubling down on the National Health Insurance (NHI). It would be pretty silly to advocate for the eventual blending of private and public healthcare, but demand that his ilk continue to be allowed to use private healthcare. Perhaps that was the strategy of ActionSA all along: getting Motsoaledi to admit a personal lust toward private healthcare. If that was the reason, it's gone down as well as a quirky Helen Zille tweet. ALSO READ: Bara hospital: The good, bad and ugly However, the actual idea of forcing public officials to use public services to create some sort of political investment incentive is not just stupid, it's divorced from any South African context. Maybe that would work in a country where there's some sort of honour, even if it's among thieves, but this is South Africa. This is the country where we dare not even introduce self-service checkouts at grocers because we know how disastrous that would be. So not only do we have to embrace the imposed moniker of 'Plastique?' but we also have to accept that for the right people, the public purse will get them anything from a fire pool to a trip to the Cannes Film Festival. How is it that despite the Department of Health never having any money, there are still so many awesome doctors in public hospitals? There may be no medicine for the plebeians, but the lights are still on, and if somebody important or a friend of a friend gets rushed in, throwing somebody out of the ICU to make way for them wouldn't be an issue. The problem has never been that we don't have the facilities to deal with sick people. The problem has always been that we don't have enough facilities to deal with all the sick people who are not politically important. ALSO READ: 'I could die before surgery': Cancer patient lost in Gauteng hospitals backlog I don't think Motsoaledi cares which hospital he ends up in. He could be in a rural clinic in Limpopo, but if they had to fly in the best medical team and equipment, best believe they'll do it. Whether they'd do that for Sam Nje is less likely. You're dealing with a class of people who can walk into any school and bump their kids straight into the classroom on the day school starts, while the rest of us have to apply in utero just to get on the waiting list. This is why forcing them to use public services is hardly going to make the public services any better. Remember that strange aunty in your family? The one whose house had a great lounge that nobody was allowed in because it had to be preserved in case the Queen, Nelson Mandela and the Pope decided to come visit — simultaneously. That's all you'll create when you force public servants to use public services: the white elephant room that will remain vacant in case the deputy minister of transport gets hit by a taxi nearby. It's a sad state of affairs that one feels the need to incentivise public servants to serve the public. It's an even sadder state of affairs when trying to create those incentives is a losing battle. Maybe the answer should be to appoint public servants who are enthusiastic about public service in the first place. I wonder if they thought about that. NOW READ: Tshwane mayor faces outrage for Weskoppies Hospital power cut
