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Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
NCOP adopts ethics report that will see several MPs, Cabinet ministers fined for not disclosing interests
CAPE TOWN - The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has adopted a joint ethics report that will see several MPs and members of Cabinet fined for not disclosing their interests. The committee's report was earlier adopted by the National Assembly, but required the NCOP's adoption before the penalties of up to R10,000 could be implemented against them. Those who failed to disclose their public and confidential interests include the likes of Deputy Minister of Public Works Sihle Zikalala, as well as Minister in the Presidency Maropene Ramokgopa. The NCOP on Thursday considered the report of the joint committee on ethics and members' interests on non-disclosure of members' interests for 2024. It found several members in contravention of the code of ethical conduct and disclosure of members' interests. Co-chairperson of the committee, Henni Britz, reminded members about some of the penalties imposed on the transgressing MPs. "In respect of the Honourable Sihle Zikalala, the member failed and or neglected to submit both the public and confidential disclosure by the due date of 14 October 2024, and therefore the committee recommends to the House that a penalty of a reprimand in the House, a fine of R10,000 for a first offence be imposed." All nine provinces represented in the NCOP supported the adoption of the report, which means the sanctions against the MPs will now come into effect.
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Pakistan has been behaving and acting like a rogue state": Manish Tewari in South Africa
Johannesburg [South Africa], May 29 (ANI): Congress leader Manish Tewari, who is part of the all-party delegation visiting key capitals including South Africa as part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach said on Thursday that Pakistan has been behaving and acting like a 'rogue state'. He also stated that the delegation during their visit to South Africa conveyed the need to isolate states using terorrism as an instrument of state policy, in an apprent reference to Pakistan. 'African National Congress and India have a long-standing relationship which is underpinned by the mutual respect for Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. The Indian delegation very clearly conveyed it to the African National Congress, our interlocutors, that there is a need to isolate those states which use terrorism as an instrument of state policy...,' he told ANI He also said that Pakistan sponsored terorism has been creating 'instability' in Aghanistan and Iran as well. 'We also sensitised them about the fact that it is not only India which has been hit for the past 4.5 decades by terrorism being sponsored from Pakistan. Pakistan has been creating instability in Afghanistan and Iran. Pakistan has been behaving and acting like a rogue state, now going back many decades... The African National Congress expressed its solidarity, saying that they will not be a party, and will not, in any manner, endorse a state which uses terror as an instrument of state policy...,' Tewari added. Earlier today, John Steenhuisen, Federal Leader and Minister of Agriculture of South Africa extended support to India in its fight against terrorism and said that it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror. 'India bought a very important message to South Africa today. We condemn the use of terror anywhere in the world, and it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror... Any measures to counter terrorism need to be welcomed. As democracies, we need to find ways to combat terror globally... India is a very important strategic partner for South Africa as both are members of the BRICS,' John Steenhuisen told reporters. Steenhuisen's comment came after a meeting with the NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule-led delegation in Cape Town. Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Supriya Sule said, 'We held detailed discussions. They promised to stand with India. The G-20 Summit is going to be held here. India has deep bilateral relations with South Africa.' Sule-led delegation held talks with Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) of South Africa along with Members of the Parliament of South Africa and conveyed India's stance on combating terrorism. In a post on X, India's High Commission in Pretoria stated, 'Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Province (NCOP) of South Africa, P (Les) Govender, along with other Members of the Parliament of South Africa, met All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, MPs from India at the National Council of Provinces of South Africa. Delegation members explained the background of terrorist incidents in India, including the Pahalgam Attack, and conveyed India's united message of Zero tolerance for terrorism.' The members of the delegation are Members of Parliament Supriya Sule, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna devarayalu, Anand Sharma, former Minister of Commerce & Industry, V Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, and Syed Akbaruddin, Former Permanent. Representative of India to the UN. On April 22, terrorists killed 26 people, including a Nepalese national in Baisaran valley in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7 in response to the attack, which targeted terror bases and led to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI).
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Starlink proposal: Mashatile says Cabinet holds final say on policy changes
Deputy President Mashatile assured MPs that all policy changes, including EEIP ownership rules, must go through Cabinet. Nothing will be changed unless the Cabinet decides so. This is what Deputy President Paul Mashatile told parliament regarding Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi's decision to gazette a policy directive, the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP). It proposes to relax the longstanding requirement that foreign ICT investors must hold at least 30% equity in partnership with historically disadvantaged Black people in SA. Cabinet holds authority to approve changes — Mashatile Mashatile addressed oral questions from members of parliament (MPs) in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday afternoon. Answering a question from uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party's MP, Seeng Mmabatho Mokoena, the deputy president clarified the need for ministers to follow proper procedures when identifying issues with legislation, emphasising that the Cabinet holds the authority to approve any changes. Mashatile stated that any changes to legislation must be presented to Cabinet and then to parliament for approval, as the 30% ownership requirement for licences is enshrined in law. ALSO READ: 'I'm viewing my options,' says Lesufi on availability for ANC's top positions 'It may well be that as a minister, once you have made your determination, Cabinet may not agree that you are right,' he said. He added that no minister has the power to change any law through regulations. 'Nothing will be changed unless Cabinet decides it should be so,' the deputy minister said. Regression of social cohesion Mashatile was responding to questions about the regression of social cohesion in South Africa, as outlined in the 2024 SA Social Cohesion Index (SASCI) research report. The study revealed that South Africa's overall cohesion level was moderate at 53.3. This reverses a prior decline but with significant provincial and dimensional variations — Limpopo showed the highest provincial cohesion, while KwaZulu-Natal had the lowest. Chief Whip of the NCOP, Kenneth Mmoiemang, raised concerns about opposition to the government's efforts to address historical inequalities and promote economic transformation. Watch Mashatile respond to questions in the NCOP here: ALSO READ: South Africa needs more leaders like Mujica Mashatile responded by outlining various programmes and measures aimed at advancing transformation, including Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and the National Development Plan. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing transformative legislation enacted by the previous administration. 'Indeed, if someone wants to make some changes to any of these laws, that must then come to Cabinet and then back to parliament. There will be no shortcut, because laws are made and passed by parliament,' he said. 'There will be no shortcut' EFF MP Mathapelo Siwisa asked the deputy president about efforts to address income inequality since taking office. Mashatile said that growing the economy and providing opportunities for people to make a living are crucial for social cohesion. He emphasised the need for municipalities and mayors to work together to address local challenges. Mokoena later inquired about the deputy president's alleged accusations of corruption. Mashatile emphasised the importance of providing evidence in allegations and noted that courts of law are the appropriate forums for establishing authenticity. ALSO READ: MP claims Mashatile shooting used to justify VIP protection boost The deputy president acknowledged the existence of several allegations against him and mentioned the proactive steps he has taken, including presenting himself before the ethics committee in parliament and the ANC's integrity commission. 'But let me assure you, honourable members of the house, that I will continue to subject myself to the relevant institutions as established through our own constitution,' he said. There was an allegation that Mashatile did not declare certain things to remain transparent; he said the register in his office will be updated in a timely manner to prevent such issues. Corruption allegations He added that his office's media team is responsible for ensuring prompt responses to press and social media issues. 'I want to conclude by affirming my unwavering commitment to fully cooperate with the ethics and integrity committees of parliament as well as other law enforcement agencies or state institutions that may require clarity on any matter concerning these allegations,' Mashatile said.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mashatile: Cabinet must follow processes for legislative changes
Deputy President Paul Mashatile says ministers wishing to change a passed law must come and make a presentation to the Cabinet. Image: Kopano Tlape / GCIS Deputy President Paul Mashatile said on Thursday that there are no laws previously passed by Parliament that will be changed willy-nilly. Responding during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mashatile confirmed there was a concern that there are those who sought to undermine some of the transformative legislation that has been passed, particularly by the previous administration. 'But the government is resolute that those laws passed by the previous administration must be implemented as they were enacted by Parliament. So we are quite resolute on that,' he said. Mashatile also said that if a minister wanted to make some changes to any of the laws, he or she should take the particular legislation to Cabinet and then back to Parliament. 'There will be no shortcut because laws are made and passed by Parliament, and it is this Parliament, both the National Assembly and the NCOP, that are safeguarding our laws. 'And therefore, we have made it clear to all the ministers, should you come across something you want to change, something that you have observed that needs to be changed, you have to follow that process back to Cabinet and back to Parliament, but laws that were passed will not be changed willy-nilly.' He was responding to ANC MP Kenny Mmoiemang, who observed that there seemed to be a semblance of opposition to the government's efforts that was beginning to emerge to undermine the effort to address the historical inequalities and promote the economic transformation agenda. Mmoiemang had referred to issues linked to black economic empowerment, preferential procurement, and the expropriation of land, saying there was beginning to be a message that there was a semblance of undermining the agenda of transformation by certain members of the Cabinet to undermine the agenda of transformation. 'What mechanism is the Cabinet putting in place, or measures that the Cabinet is putting in place to defend this agenda of transformation,' he said. Mashatile said there were a number of programmes that were in place to advance transformation in the country. 'You have correctly quoted the triple BEE Act that is in place to ensure that we empower those previously disadvantaged. That Act is currently being implemented by government departments, and also efforts have been made at the moment to ensure that we also ensure proper reforms for our procurement policies to advance triple BEE, which is really what is focusing on those previously disadvantaged to come into the mainstream of the economy,' he said. However, MK Party MP Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi asked Mashatile what he had done as the leader of Government Business to ensure that Communications and Digital Technology Minister Solly Malatsi was held accountable for seeking to undermine the transformation agenda by gazetting policy directives to relax black economic empowerment in the ICT sector codes. In response, Mashatile said there was no problem if a minister felt something they identified needed to be changed, but there were processes to be followed. 'You need to come to Cabinet and say, 'Cabinet, I found out that this piece of legislation is not enhancing transformation, it is inhibiting it, and I think we should change it in this manner'. 'Once Cabinet agrees, then those changes can be factored in and then, of course, if it's legislation, it requires coming back to Parliament, to the National Assembly and the NCOP.' He said Malatsi has already appeared before the portfolio committee, and it was raised that he needed to follow a particular process to deal with the matter, as it could happen that the Cabinet may not agree with his determination. 'We are waiting for the minister to come because that issue, if you recall, it's in the law, and that was a point that was made that… No minister has the power to change any law through regulations. So the minister, if he insists that there's something that needs to be changed, will come to Cabinet, because it is now tinkering with the law, so that is where we are. Nothing will be changed unless the Cabinet decides it should be so.' [email protected]
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We condemn use of terror", says South Africa Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen
Cape Town [South Africa], May 29 (ANI): John Steenhuisen, Federal Leader and Minister of Agriculture of South Africa, on Wednesday (local time) extended support to India in its fight against terrorism and said that it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror. 'India bought a very important message to South Africa today. We condemn the use of terror anywhere in the world, and it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror... Any measures to counter terrorism need to be welcomed. As democracies, we need to find ways to combat terror globally... India is a very important strategic partner for South Africa as both are members of the BRICS,' John Steenhuisen told reporters. Steenhuisen's comment came after a meeting with the NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule-led delegation in Cape Town. Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Supriya Sule said, 'We held detailed discussions. They promised to stand with India. The G-20 Summit is going to be held here. India has deep bilateral relations with South Africa.' Earlier in the day, Sule-led delegation held talks with Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) of South Africa along with Members of the Parliament of South Africa and conveyed India's stance on combating terrorism. The delegation members explained the background of terrorist attacks in India, including the April 22 Phalgam terror attack. In a post on X, India's High Commission in Pretoria stated, 'Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Province (NCOP) of South Africa, P (Les) Govender, along with other Members of the Parliament of South Africa, met All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, MPs from India at the National Council of Provinces of South Africa. Delegation members explained the background of terrorist incidents in India, including the Pahalgam Attack, and conveyed India's united message of Zero tolerance for terrorism.' The members of the delegation are Members of Parliament Supriya Sule, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna devarayalu, Anand Sharma, former Minister of Commerce & Industry, V Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, and Syed Akbaruddin, Former Permanent. Representative of India to the UN. (ANI)
