Latest news with #Mamabolo
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Malalane attorney's fraud case: Failure to secure legal counsel results in another delay
The fraud trial of suspended attorney Zietta Janse van Rensburg was postponed again today (July 23) after she appeared in court without legal representation. The case has faced numerous delays since July last year, several of them due to her failure to secure legal counsel. ALSO READ: Trial postponed again: Zietta Janse van Rensburg returns to court in June Magistrate postpones attorney's fraud case to September Magistrate Jacob Mamabolo asked about her legal representation and who Janse van Rensburg had indicated as her attorney during her previous appearance. She replied that Johannesburg-based attorney Marco Lamberti had been appointed and that his contact details had been shared with the state. 'He has another matter in Randburg but was due to be here today,' Janse van Rensburg explained. Mamabolo's response was to postpone the matter to September 1 – and he instructed Janse van Rensburg to appear with a legal representative. 'Are you aware that at the present moment, you are by yourself?' he asked. Prosecutor says Onderberg attorney sent him WhatsApp messages, emails Before she could respond, state prosecutor Tobie Steyn intervened, questioning the accuracy of her claims. 'Ms Janse van Rensburg is placing certain information on record as if it is the truth,' said Steyn. He went on to say that he had been contacted by Adv Hennie van Rensburg, who had read in a newspaper article that he had supposedly been reinstated as her legal representative. Steyn said the accused then started sending him WhatsApp messages and emails on the matter. He told the court that he had never spoken to Lamberti but confirmed that he was copied on an email. 'But it is not my responsibility to confirm with her lawyer,' he added. He requested that the court reiterate the need for the attorney to appear personally to be placed on record. Complainants will be unhappy about accused talking to state, warns magistrate Mamabolo further instructed Janse van Rensburg not to have direct contact with the prosecutor. 'Only a witness may contact a prosecutor. You are absolutely not allowed to, and it is uncalled for. Should the complainants hear of this, they will not be happy,' he said. In response, Janse van Rensburg told the court she had taken it upon herself to make arrangements to save costs, since Lamberti would otherwise have to appoint a corresponding attorney to attend in his absence. ALSO READ: The Onderberg's Zietta van Rensburg implicated in 'serious misconduct' Mamabolo reminded her that she had the right to apply for Legal Aid, appoint her own lawyer, or represent herself. 'If you want to continue on your own, it's also fine,' he said. Janse van Rensburg confirms Joburg attorney for September court date He then asked her to suggest a date when her attorney would be able to appear in court. Janse van Rensburg said she was in a difficult position and requested permission to step outside and call Lamberti. The magistrate declined to adjourn the matter for this reason, but the prosecutor suggested that the case stand down briefly to give her the opportunity. Janse van Rensburg returned with confirmation that Lamberti would be available on September 1 and said she had already instructed him to represent her. Lamberti is the same attorney who previously withdrew from representing murder accused Sonell Joubert after not receiving payment for his services. Lowvelder attempted to reach Lamberti for comment, but he was unavailable at the time of publication. Read original story on
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng MEC warns municipalities to improve financial health and service delivery
Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance, Jacob Mamabolo, has warned municipalities to improve their finances and service delivery to residents. Image: File Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance, Jacob Mamabolo, has warned municipalities to improve their finances and service delivery to residents. This comes as reports of infrastructure and service delivery have reportedly collapsed in some Gauteng municipalities. Mamabolo stated that while the provincial government does not wish to adopt a confrontational stance towards non-performing municipalities, it will not tolerate refusal to comply with the country's laws Mamabolo spoke during a post-budget press briefing at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Wednesday. "We promote good relations with our municipalities, and we do not believe in confrontation. This is the approach we are following. However, this does not mean we cannot enforce the laws of the country. All our municipalities must comply with them as non-compliance will not be tolerated or accepted." 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 ✕ Regarding the turnaround strategy adopted by the provincial government, Mamabolo indicated that they will not impose this strategy on affected municipalities but will allow them the space to prioritise their immediate challenges. Early this year, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, presided over the implementation of the Municipal Performance Turnaround Strategy targeting distressed municipalities as well as the introduction of policy and legislative support measures to strengthen local government, while Mamabolo also introduced the new municipal performance management system. "Our budget is to make sure we turn around these municipalities. We are now in a better position to implement and roll out our turnaround strategy. Municipalities have gone to IDPS, and of those, each municipality must say which priorities they are tackling in the next three years. But we are not going to impose our turnaround strategy, they must decide themselves which issues they want to resolve," he added. Gauteng MEC for health and wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, who delivered hers on Tuesday, also briefed the media alongside MEC for human settlements, Tasneem Motara on key budget-related issues within the health department. On health infrastructure delivery, Nkomo-Ralehoko announced that her department has allocated R1.7 billion (Health Facility Revitalisation Grant and Equitable Share) for maintenance and new capital projects, with R100 million having been ring-fenced to support the department's recapitalisation programme specifically for laundry services and theatres. "Already, theatre refurbishments are advanced at Carletonville and Bheki Mlangeni hospitals. We are moving forward with key projects such as the Daveyton new hospital, Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital with 287 new mental health beds, and the upgrading of Johan Heyns Community Health Centre into a district hospital to meet the needs of the community," she said.
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
IEC warning: These rising threats could endanger future elections in South Africa
IEC officials briefed Parliament about the 2024 general elections. on Tuesday. Police officers are seen at the Berario Recreation Centre IEC voting station on 27 May 2024. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has raised concerns about the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation, warning that it could undermine the integrity of future elections. On Tuesday, officials from the IEC presented their report to parliament's home affairs portfolio committee, reflecting on the 2024 general elections. LIVE interactive map, latest news, multimedia and more! View Map The IEC's voters' roll recorded 27.78 million registered voters, but only around 16 million citizens turned out to vote in the national and provincial elections held on 29 May. The 2024 elections were also notable for the inclusion of independent candidates for the first time. These candidates competed alongside 70 political parties. The elections were not without complications, including false information, technical glitches, long queues, and subsequent court challenges. IEC report on 2024 elections During Tuesday's meeting, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo reported to MPs that last year's elections saw a slight 1.1% decrease in the number of spoilt votes compared to the 2019 elections. 'We ran efficient logistics because nearly 30 million ballots of each of the ballot types were produced and distributed within a one-month period,' Mamabolo said. He noted that enhanced accessibility measures had been implemented for people with disabilities, many of whom were among the 1.4 million citizens who utilised special voting. The IEC official also confirmed that no incidents of double voting were recorded during the 2024 election. However, Mamabolo conceded that there were still areas requiring improvement, emphasising that there is no such thing as a 'perfect election'. 'There will always be challenges because you are dealing with a programme of a massive scale,' he told the committee. ALSO READ: IEC rejects application of Islamic party that wants to bring Sharia law to SA Mamabolo explained that, although voter‑management devices and the real‑time leader board at the IEC results centre encountered problems, there was no 'external penetration' of the commission's ICT systems. He emphasised that the two-hour interruption of the results board did not compromise the core election data, which remained fully secure. Among the other areas identified for improvement were better communication with voters regarding their designated voting stations, as well as enhancing the quality and training of election staff. The IEC also aims to educate young people in order to encourage higher voter turnout among the youth. Mamabolo added that the IEC plans to intensify youth‑focused education campaigns to encourage greater turnout among young South Africans. 'It's a persistent challenge and requires even more effort and resources to try to turn it around.' Fighting misinformation and disinformation A major concern highlighted was the rise in misinformation and disinformation leading up to the elections. 'In the last month towards the election, there was an escalation of disinformation and what we had prepared was willfully enough to deal with what one could refer to as the deluge of misinformation and disinformation and that presented a great challenge for the election,' Mamabolo said. READ MORE: 'Can you imagine our system being hacked': MPs sceptical of IEC's e-voting proposal He stressed the importance of improving the IEC's capacity to respond to digital threats in future elections. 'We've got to think of technologies as well as human capacity to better deal with the space because anything short of an ability to deal with disinformation means we are placing an election at risk.' Mamabolo warned that social media was a difficult area to monitor. 'There are new types of social media technologies that have been launched almost on a daily basis, but still to preserve the integrity of the election, we've got to manage this area a lot more better than perhaps we were able to do on this occasion.' Voting station logistics and security measures Mamabolo later indicated that 95% of voting stations during last year's elections were permanent structures, mostly schools. 'This is good because it costs more to establish a temporary voting station than it [does] to get a temporary site.' According to Mamabolo, the commission aims to further reduce the number of voting stations by 936 in the next general elections. On election security, Mamabolo explained that priority committees under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJoints) had primary responsibility for safeguarding election materials, among other things, while the South African Police Service (Saps) was tasked with securing voting stations. 'In terms of the inside of a station, the presiding officer maintains operational authority inside the boundaries of the voting station and outside of the voting station, it is not the purview of the presiding officer. 'So if people are drinking alcohol outside of the boundaries of the voting station, that is not within the purview of the presiding officer, but is the purview of the South African Police Service to deal with disruptions.' READ MORE: IEC official accused of stealing election ballot boxes sees discharge application rejected He said while there were isolated incidents, they were swiftly resolved without disrupting the voting process. However, Mamabolo raised concerns about the behaviour of certain political parties, stating that they were involved in security breaches at some election facilities. 'We've had very unfortunate incidents that were noteworthy, where some parties went to our local storage sites, even attempted to break in at the provincial warehouse. 'I think we have to do more, perhaps, to dissuade political parties from actions such as those, because if anyone is disaffected by the manner in which the election process has been run, they can vindicate their rights in terms of the electoral justice framework that is part of our legislation.' Despite these issues, the protection of personnel, election materials, and processes was effectively maintained throughout the elections.
The South African
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Popcru rejects call to bring back corporal punishment in prisons
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has rejected Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald's call to reintroduce corporal punishment in South African prisons, calling it a dangerous step backwards for human rights and justice reform. Groenewald suggested the return of corporal punishment during a parliamentary budget debate, claiming it could address prison overcrowding caused by inmates who cannot afford bail. Over 60 000 people are in custody awaiting trial, with more than 2000 unable to pay bail amounts of less than R1000. 'We reject in the strongest terms the notion of using violence as a tool of correction,' said Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo, according to Jacaranda FM News. ADVERTISEMENT Constitutional Rights, which abolished corporal punishment under threat Mamabolo warned that the proposal undermines decades of legal progress, particularly the Constitutional Court ruling in State v Williams and Others (1995), which abolished corporal punishment in South Africa. 'Groenewald proposes not only a reversal of legal progress but an erosion of a rights-based society,' he said. Popcru argues that the justice system should uphold rehabilitation and reintegration, not corporal punishment. The union emphasised that correctional centres are not institutions for revenge or dehumanisation, but places meant for safe custody and positive transformation of offenders. Rising Costs and Overcrowding Groenewald told Parliament that overcrowding continues to place severe pressure on prison infrastructure and budgets. He revealed that the state spends more than R11 million daily to accommodate 24 000 foreign nationals in prisons. The union called for long-term solutions that address socioeconomic inequalities and the backlog in court processes rather than reverting to corporal punishment. ADVERTISEMENT Mamabolo stated, bringing back corporal punishment is unconstitutional, dangerous and a direct violation of human rights. Should the state prioritise cost-cutting and crowd control, or defend constitutional principles even in the face of growing pressure on the justice system? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
DA warns of ANC ‘cadre deployment plot' in Tshwane
DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink has accused the ANC-led coalition of plotting to replace senior municipal managers in Tshwane with politically loyal cadres. He believes that this move would reverse years of governance reform. Brink warned that 'it was only a matter of time' before the ANC-led coalition attempted to remove professional, apolitical managers to 'have its way' with the metro's administration, as seen in Johannesburg. 'In order to have its way with Tshwane, as it has done in Joburg, the ANC and its coalition partners need the city's senior management staffed by people appointed for loyalty instead of merit,' said Brink. He referenced a letter from Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, which is now publicly circulating, as the coalition's pretext for targeting current city officials. According to the letter, a recent senior appointment by the Tshwane council may be invalid due to an 'erroneous' interview panel composition. Specifically, that the panel had more than one councillor, which Mamabolo claims is irregular. However, Brink has dismissed this argument as a 'complete change' in legal interpretation and 'probably legally erroneous'. He noted that this same panel format has been used in other metros and that the MEC had already approved appointments such as that of City Manager Johann Mettler and seven others. 'The ANC now wants to use this as justification to clear out professionals and install pliant, deployed cadres,' he said. Brink also referred to findings by the Zondo Commission, alleging a long-standing ANC practice of deploying cadres to control procurement and direct public funds toward party-linked interests. 'As has been the ANC's practice over many years and a pattern discerned by the Zondo Commission, the deployed cadres can then help funnel taxpayers' money to ANC politicians.' He said the DA spent years fighting for a professional administration in Tshwane and would not allow political interference to reverse that progress. 'Even before the residents of Tshwane have had their say in a local government election, the ANC and their proxy parties want to reverse the progress,' he said. 'The damage and instability, which such a move will inflict, will prejudice the ability of future mayors to improve Tshwane's finances and governance.' Brink said the DA is closely monitoring the mayor and her coalition's next steps. Responding to the matter, Mayoral Office spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi confirmed that Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya has officially responded to MEC Mamabolo's letter and is awaiting feedback. 'We are committed to dealing with this matter in a manner befitting its importance and do not want to pre-empt our discussions with the MEC,' said Mgobozi. He assured that the mayor's office would brief the media 'at the appropriate time'. ALSO READ: Budget shortfall, not deficit – Modise slams DA claims Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
