Latest news with #Mthembu
IOL News
23-07-2025
- IOL News
Allegations of bribery against ANC councillor in KwaZulu-Natal spark investigation
A councillor in Mandeni Municipality has been accused of soliciting a bribe from a contractor who was awarded a tender to tar a gravel road in her ward. Image: Independent Media / Archive An ANC councillor in Mandeni Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal north coast, is in trouble following a leaked phone call recorder voice clip in which she allegedly solicited a R100 000 bribe from a company that was awarded a tender to tar a gravel road in her ward. The allegation emerged after a voice clip circulated on social media, in which Ward 11 Councillor Lungile Mthembu was allegedly heard discussing a payment with a contractor known only as Gcabashe, who was awarded the tender in December last year. Speaker Phindile Sishi, who confirmed that the municipality was aware of the clip, told this reporter that she had called a council meeting on Friday in which Mthembu will be questioned about the allegation. Sishi said the tender was among many that were estimated to cost R2 million each to tar rural access roads. When contacted about the matter, Mthembu, who is the municipality's Community Services and Public Safety Portfolio Committee member, referred this reporter to the municipality's communication department. In the voice clip - which is in the possession of this reporter, Gcabashe is heard telling Mthembu that he could only pay her R10 000, but she complained that the amount was too small. 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 ✕ Mthembu complained that Gcabashe was rushing the road project, to which Gcabashe responded that he had to rush because it was too expensive to hire the machines. She then said she was checking how Gcabashe had arranged it, to which Gcabashe said he was going to see her with 'something'. She then said it was discussed in the council that there should be no subcontractors and purchasing of quarry stones, as it was available at the municipality. Gcabashe, who this reporter could not locate for comment, allegedly told Mthembu that he had already bought the stones from Inkosi Mhlongo for R100 per load 'as we had no choice'. Mthembu went on to ask why the stones were not sourced from the municipality, of which Gcabashe said it would have delayed the project, as there were many other people who collected them from the municipality. Mthembu allegedly asked how much Gcabashe was bringing without making it clear whether or not she was talking about money. Gcabashe said he was 'looking at my numbers', and said he 'did not know how much you are expecting'. 'How much is Gcabashe expecting to give us?' she asked. When Gcabeshe said it was R10 000, Mthembu exclaimed 'hawu!' Gcabashe asked how much they were expecting. 'Right now, we are discussing when the work has already been done and Indians have also taken the money. 'I want you, councillor, to state how much you are expecting,' said Gcabashe. She said since there was 'PR babu Magwaza, whom I work with, I think R10 000 is too little. If we can get something like R100 000,' she is heard to have said. Gcabeshe complained about the amount, saying the stones have already cost him a lot of money. 'The matter is that others who are with us get 300 000, others get 200 000, and as a person who is with us, give us 100 000,' said Mthembu. Gcabashe promised to come back to Mthembu 'as I am still busy with the consultant.' In a statement released on Tuesday, the municipality expressed concern about a voice recording, which it said was circulating on social media 'implicating two of its councillors in a plot to solicit money from a contractor.' The matter has been referred to the office of the speaker. 'It is being processed through relevant structures of council as guided by the relevant legislative frameworks, Code of Conduct for Councillors, as well as the Rules and Orders of Council. 'Furthermore, the municipality would like to reiterate its stance against any form of corruption and maladministration. 'We also want to caution all our staff and councillors to always uphold integrity and professionalism while executing their duties,' read the statement. Sishi told this reporter that Mthembu did not deny the allegations. 'But she said she was not asking for a bribe, but wanted to start a program in her ward,' said Sishi. Sishi said the municipality did not have a committee that had a responsibility to ask money from contractors for community projects. 'The councillor is also not allowed to ask for money from the contractor,' she said. EFF councillor Siyabonga Mdletshe said the solicitation of bribes was rife in the municipality, which caused contractors to abandon projects unfinished after they ran out of money to pay bribes. 'If a contractor is working in your ward when you demand payment, it is obvious that you are now selling the tender to that person. 'You demand that since you gave him to a tender, he must pay you, which is extortion,' said Mdletshe. The EFF said it had long warned that projects meant for the benefit of the people, such as roads, water infrastructure, sanitation, and housing, are instead used as bargaining chips by corrupt politicians to enrich themselves. 'The result is a collapsing municipality, rampant underdevelopment, and the erosion of public trust in local governance. 'We call on the South African Police Service and the Hawks to urgently investigate the voice note and the individuals implicated. 'We will also be writing to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to institute an independent investigation into all procurement and project management processes in Mandeni over the past five years,' the party said in a statement.
The South African
22-07-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Heavy rain, snow and storm warning for KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal braces for disruptive rainfall and potential thunderstorms as a strong weather system sweeps across the province this week, bringing wet and cold conditions. The South Coast will experience heavy overnight rain, while the North Coast is likely to be affected by the same system by the following afternoon. Forecaster Mduduzi Mthembu confirmed, 'We are expecting disruptive overnight rainfall in the South Coast region, spreading northwards towards areas like Richards Bay and the northern coast tomorrow.' ADVERTISEMENT Chance of snow in Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal Colder air could bring snowfall alongside rain over Lesotho and the Drakensberg Mountain range. Mthembu added, 'There's a good chance of snowfall in the high-lying parts of KwaZulu-Natal, especially in the Drakensberg.' Cold mornings, wet afternoons Residents in Pietermaritzburg and inland areas should also expect fog in the early mornings and isolated rainfall by the afternoon. Temperatures in Durban will remain mild, with overnight lows around 15°C and daytime highs near 21°C. How will you stay safe and dry during the storms? Let us know by leaving a comment below or 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 South African
22-07-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Gauteng to experience cold conditions and patchy rainfall
Gauteng residents can expect cold conditions and a chance of isolated thundershowers this week, as weather systems bring shifting patterns to the region. Forecaster Mduduzi Mthembu says partly cloudy skies will dominate over the central interior of South Africa, including Gauteng. 'This will result in cooler air flowing over the interior, particularly across the Highveld,' he said. Morning fog patches are expected in many areas, especially in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the eastern Free State and southern interior regions. These will clear up during the day, but Gauteng should prepare for another round of isolated rainfall and possible thundershowers in the afternoon. 'Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms could develop over the central interior and may spread northwards,' Mthembu noted. Overnight temperatures across Gauteng will remain typical for this time of year. The province can expect lows averaging 6°C, with maximum temperatures rising to around 18°C tomorrow in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The cold conditions are expected to persist into midweek. 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.
IOL News
16-07-2025
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality corruption trial: Defence questions Integrity Forensic Solutions' appointment
Sandile Ngcobo an accused in a corruption trial is challenging the appointment of forensic company. He is also accused in another matter with Zandile Gumede a former mayor of eThekwini. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Media In another corruption case involving former eThekwini Municipality officials, the defence has questioned the appointment of forensic company Integrity Forensic Solutions (IFS) and has filed an application to compel the state to provide a report stating that the company was irregularly appointed by the city. When IFS was appointed by the eThekwini City Integrity and Investigations Unit (CIIU) to probe into the irregularities of the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender of R320 million, it came across more than R3 million in tender irregularities. As a result, Nhlakanipho Ziphozinhle Mthembu, Inhlanzi Catering and Events (PTY) LTD, Sandile Ngcobo, Vuyiswa Ngcobo, and Mndeni Mkhize are charged with fraud, corruption, conspiracy to commit corruption, and money laundering. The State is alleging that Mthembu, Inhlanzi Catering, which is represented by Mthembu, Ngcobo, and Mkhize, unlawfully misrepresented to the municipality that lawful procurement processes in line with the Supply Chain Management (SCM) were followed by Sandile and Mkhize in awarding Mthembu a tender. 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 The State further alleges that the accused failed to declare a conflict of interest. Moreover, the State alleges that emergencies were created by Sandile and Mkhize, which allowed for the dispensing of the formal procurement processes. It also alleges that Mthembu and Inhlanzi catering were awarded the tender due to a cover quoting by Mkhize and was approved by Sandile. Sandile is a former deputy head of SCM and former Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) in the municipality. He is also charged in the DSW matter with the former mayor of eThekwini, Zandile Gumede. Additionally, the State alleges that between June 2018 and March 2019, Mthembu paid R100,000 in bribes or gratification to the married couple, Sandile and Vuyiswa, to act dishonestly in their positions. Vuyiswa, at the time, was the principal clerk in the municipality. According to the State, the money was used in the purchase of a property in Ballito for Sandile and Vuyiswa. All the accused are currently on trial at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court. Their trial was supposed to commence earlier this week on Monday and finish on Friday; however, counsel for Sandile and Vuyiswa, advocate Jimmy Howse SC, told the court that new evidence was dramatically exposed in the Gumede trial. He told the court that they approached the State to ask them to provide information about a report that stated that the appointment of IFS was unlawful. Howse told the court that the eThekwini municipality probed to the appointment of IFS. The company that probed was Masama Consulting, and it issued a report afterwards. 'The conclusions in that Masama report are that the appointment of IFS was irregular. Masama's report suggests further that the appointment of IFS was unauthorized and fraudulent,' Howse told the court. He said they were bringing an application to compel the State to give them this report and other annexures. Howse explained that the State had told them to obtain the Masama report and all annexures, including invoices to the municipality. 'Last month in the Gumede case, my client posed a similar application. Where the state said documents are not relevant, we must ask the municipality. We brought a compelling application. Madam Balton (Judge Sharmaine Balton) issued an order compelling the State to provide those documents,' Howse said. Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, counsel for Mthembu, Inhlanzi Catering, and Mkhize, said they would also be joining the application. State prosecutor advocate Bongi Mbambo said the investigation was done by IFS and the Hawks. She added that the State did not have the Masama report; Defence must approach the municipality. She said Masama did not form part of the docket. 'We are willing to consider the application that they want to serve us,' she said. The matter was postponed to Friday.
Eyewitness News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Joburg city council set to elect new Speaker
JOHANNESBURG - It's all eyes on the Johannesburg city council this week, as it prepares to elect a new Speaker. This follows the removal of ActionSA's Nobuhle Mthembu, who was axed through a motion of no confidence last week. The bid for her removal was tabled by the Al-Jama-ah party, which accused her of incompetence. The African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg is set to hold a meeting on Monday to discuss a possible replacement for Mthembu. This will be followed by a political management committee meeting, which includes all parties in the ANC-led coalition in the municipality. The ANC in Johannesburg refused to defend Mthembu in council last week after ActionSA withheld its support for Mayor Dada Morero during a motion of no confidence. ANC regional coordinator, Sasabona Manganye, said that the party's relationship with ActionSA was toxic. "They deserved to be removed. We are not apologetic. If they want to engage, the engagement will be led by our provincial leadership, but we have no relations with ActionSA in Johannesburg." A new Speaker is expected to be elected later this week.
