Latest news with #LebogangMaile
IOL News
23-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng government lost R300 million to ghost workers, says MEC Maile
Gauteng Finance MEC, Lebogang Maile, said Gauteng government was owed about R300 million paid to ghost workers. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Gauteng provincial government is owed about R300 million 'mistakenly paid' to ghost workers who either retired, resigned, or deceased, according to Finance MEC, Lebogang Maile, who said 'it's not a huge problem' but rather 'isolated incidents'. In an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday, Maile attributed the financial loss to the government's payroll system not being linked to the Department of Home Affairs. This gap, he said, has allowed payments to continue long after employees have left the public service. 'The system for instance is not linked to home affairs. If someone passes on, the system will not know until we are made aware, once we are made aware, we will act immediately. But it's not a huge problem. So it's isolated cases. 'I think we're out about 300 million for such... Yes [It is a lot of money], but over a period of time. There's no little money in public government,' he said. However, Maile said they have resolved to have a panel of experts to help collect or recover the money. According to him, this would be much needed to finance education, the road infrastructure and service delivery-related services. 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 ✕ The provincial government has been battling with paying ghost workers. Earlier this year, IOL reported that the Gauteng Department of Health had to freeze the salaries of 66 employees who failed to verify their employment status. This was through the department's Ziveze (Reveal Yourself) campaign, launched in October 2024, designed to eradicate ghost workers from its payroll system amid growing concerns over wasteful expenditure. "We have limited resources at our disposal and cannot afford to waste money on ghost employees while hundreds of healthcare workers are looking for employment and thousands of people require access to healthcare services," said Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. IOL Politics
IOL News
12-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
GLB commission of inquiry into corruption is just for show, while solutions are readily available
The sins of the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) are obvious, and the solution is readily available, says the writer. Image: Supplied The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is not fooled by the Committee of Inquiry set up by the Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, into the affairs of the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB). Maile established this committee to obscure evident corruption that has escalated within the GLB for many years. The sins of the GLB are obvious, and the solution is readily available. GLB's incompetence can be addressed through retooling its business processes. Its corruption can be purged through forensic investigation and ruthless prosecution of those guilty. On Sunday, 15 June 2025, MEC Maile announced the appointment of a 15-member committee of inquiry to investigate the affairs of the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB). This committee has been tasked with probing allegations of corruption, bribery, and the long processing times for liquor licenses within the board. He also announced the dismissal of five GLB personnel. However, it is understood that these dismissals took place long before the announcement was made. In truth, the GLB is a small portion of what the Gauteng Provincial Government does. Its budget of R80 million is tiny compared to the overall budget of R1.6 billion in Maile's Department of Economic Development. This represents 5% of the department and is a minuscule portion, 0.046%, of the total provincial budget. Maile's actions are like trying to fasten a button with a sledgehammer. These committees are expensive, and previous ones have taken an unreasonably long time to achieve anything. Just like Makhura's e-tolls committee, and the committee that was headed by Trevor Fowler to look into the state of municipalities. These inquiries have a tendency of essentially achieve nothing at all. This committee is likely to take 10 months to do its work at an estimated cost of R6 million. If the solution is so simple, why has Maile set up this committee? He is merely trying to have the appearance of acting decisively. The MEC's move is fatally flawed for four reasons: Firstly, during the length of time it takes to do its work, the stealing within GLB will continue. Secondly, the exercise will cost a lot of money. Thirdly, the committee will be buried in an avalanche of complaints, allegations, and documents, while the real nuggets are hidden. Perhaps this is what Maile wants. Not all the perpetrators are his enemies. Any friends that he exposes could turn on him and his allies. Finally, the eventual report will cover so much ground that the real priorities will be difficult to identify. No sooner had the committee been identified than allegations emerged that various committee members are tainted in one way or another. One may validly query whether it is wise to appoint previous employees of the GLB, such as Mpho Mosing and Jennifer Rankeng. Fhedzisani Pandelani was a previous board chairperson. 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 Ms Nalini Maharaj is a board member at the Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB), which is now also under scrutiny. If members of the committee were part of the problem, can they be part of the solution? But Maile already has information on the failings of the GLB. He has received adequate correspondence, a series of court actions, responded to various questions in the House, and hosted meetings where complainants and staff tabled grievances. Is he unable to comprehend the issues with the information he has? When the committee does get down to business, it will inevitably conclude the following: The application process is far from transparent. The much-vaunted online system is useless and costly. Once an application has been made on the system, the entire process thereafter is a manual one. The administration of the GLB is poorly managed. The process from beginning to end should take no longer than three months. However, most applications take longer than six months, while some have been outstanding for years. No one knows the actual size of the backlog. The board says one thing. The administration says another, and the applicants will tell you the full story. Objectors will advise that the Board does not make it easy to remain vigilant against undesirable liquor outlets. The GLB has a habit of bringing in arbitrary and unannounced changes. The GLB has been taken to court more often and has lost almost all the cases. The policy and legislation are overdue for review as they currently have major loopholes, permit unnecessary obstructions, and create a huge opportunity for bribery. as they currently have major loopholes, permit unnecessary obstructions, and create a huge opportunity for bribery. Restaurants get licenses, and the owners then sell to others who convert the restaurant into a place of entertainment. These become incredible nuisances. The GLB website is a joke. Other provinces have websites that are far more informative about applications in process, hearing dates, and approved licenses. When the committee finalises its report, it will recommend the following actions: Forensic investigations should be conducted in various areas of the GLB's operations and the transactions that arose from these in the past seven years. The recommendations of the investigators should be implemented. Management and various members of the board should be replaced. Business process analysts should be brought in to recommend changes. There should be immediate changes to the tracking and reporting of GLB work, and these reports should be available publicly in a suitably summarised form. IT experts should be asked to make recommendations to overhaul the GLB website and the online system. Various policy amendments should be effected and implemented. Legislative processes should be initiated to amend the Gauteng Liquor Act and its regulations. The irony is that all of the above can be kick-started with immediate effect. If this were done, 10 months and R6 million could be saved. There is no logical reason to appoint this committee. Consequence management doesn't happen often enough. Apart from Maile's need to be seen to be taking action, the only explanation that makes sense is that various connected people, currently profiting from a corrupted system, will be shielded. Mike Moriarty MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Maile heeds DA Gauteng's call to release a MERO report
Gauteng's MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile. Since 2020, the DA has been calling on the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) to release a MERO report, as is done in the Western Cape. It is heartening to see that our plea did not fall on deaf ears, says the writer. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng welcomes the release of the long-awaited Municipal Economic Review and Outlook (MERO) report by MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile, this week. Since 2020, the DA has been calling on the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) to release a MERO report, as is done in the Western Cape. It is heartening to see that our plea did not fall on deaf ears. This crucial report provides proper data on service delivery pitfalls in our municipalities and highlights gaps and improvements needed. Gauteng municipalities are in serious trouble when it comes to financial sustainability due to increasing debt, decline in revenue collection and mismanagement of funds. This has severely affected the delivery of basic services, such as water, electricity, roads, and sanitation to our residents. This report is a step in the right direction to fix municipalities in the province. Where the DA governs in the Western Cape, it has long been implemented, and now Gauteng is following. The DA Gauteng will closely monitor the implementation of the MERO report and hold MEC Maile to account. Mike Moriarty MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
NCC takes action against 45 suppliers for Consumer Protection Act violations
The National Consumer Commission has clamped down on expired food and non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act. Image: Picture: Lebogang Maile/X The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has launched a significant crackdown on 45 suppliers across South Africa for serious violations of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Following a comprehensive series of inspections, the NCC uncovered alarming practices that raise urgent concerns about consumer safety in the marketplace. From selling expired food products to failing to provide proper labelling, these violations threaten the well-being of consumers and undermine trust in the food supply chain. During the inspections, the NCC identified numerous instances where suppliers were found selling unsafe goods, including dairy products, meat products, maize meal, eggs, snacks, biscuits, and noodles. Alarmingly, some items lacked essential expiry or best-before dates, which violates Section 55(2) of the CPA. This critical regulation is designed to protect consumers by ensuring that they are provided with safe, usable, and quality goods. The absence of date markings hinders consumers from making informed decisions about the safety of their purchases. Further violations were uncovered as inspectors noted that suppliers were offering items such as wors and chicken pieces without the required proper labelling. This lack of compliance contravenes Section 24 of the CPA, which mandates that all goods must have trade descriptions applied, ensuring that labels do not mislead consumers about the products sold. Of particular concern was the discovery that numerous suppliers in rural and peri-urban areas displayed everyday goods like noodles, sugar, soup, and canned foods without any visible pricing. This practice violates Section 23(3) of the CPA, which stipulates that all products for sale must be clearly priced, enabling transparency and informed consumer choice. The lack of visible pricing can lead to confusion and exploitation, particularly among vulnerable consumers. 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 ✕ The NCC also observed a troubling trend of suppliers failing to issue complete sale records or receipts, contravening Section 26(2-3) of the CPA. Consumers are entitled to receive accurate sales records that include pertinent information such as the supplier's name and address, product description, quantity, price, and total amount paid, including VAT. Without these records, consumers may find themselves at a disadvantage, lacking essential documentation for their purchases. In response to these violations, the affected suppliers have been ordered to rectify their practices immediately. They must remove and destroy non-compliant goods from their shelves, label all products appropriately, ensure visible pricing, and provide accurate sales records with every transaction. The NCC is currently conducting advanced investigations into other suppliers to ensure adherence to the CPA. For those businesses that neglect to comply with the terms of the Compliance Notices, the NCC has made it clear that it may escalate the matter to the National Consumer Tribunal. Suppliers could face administrative fines of up to R1 million or 10% of their annual turnover, a significant penalty aimed at enforcing compliance and protecting consumer rights. Mr. Hardin Ratshisusu, the NCC's Acting Commissioner, highlighted the agency's commitment to consumer safety, stating, 'Food safety remains our top priority. This enforcement is part of targeted action to stem the sale of unsafe products to unsuspecting consumers. The NCC will continue collaboration with other regulators to ensure compliance with the CPA and related legislation.'
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
ANC still doesn't get the e-toll message
Gauteng's e-toll failure proves public anger can topple poor policy—and maybe the politicians behind it. It's your fault – you e-toll boycotters – that the Gauteng government cannot fix the potholes or the broken traffic lights. And you've deprived others of vital public services, like health. That was the message yesterday from Gauteng finance MEC Lebogang Maile – the latest in a long line of ANC luminaries who have failed to acknowledge their role in the most financially disastrous infrastructure project in the history of this country. The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project cost R20 billion in 2010 money for, effectively, just over 190km of improvements and the odd new interchange… at a cost which must have been pretty close to a world record rate per kilometre. Then, the ANC tried to charge commuters on the 'user pays' principle, utilising all sorts of voodoo economics to try to prove the improved roads would actually save us money. ALSO READ: Gauteng's budget: A fresh coat of paint on a crumbling province? Even now, they still deny that e-tolls were a further tax on an already-overtaxed population. No wonder there was a revolt. As the Gauteng government must now pay off the accumulated debt of those 'refuseniks', perhaps the ANC would do well to reflect on how powerful popular protest can be. If it destroyed e-tolls, imagine what a similar sort of anger could do to you…
