Latest news with #Ngcobo
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Zandile Gumede case: State witness confirms former City Manager's role in waste tender decisions
Former eThekwini City Manager Sipho Nzuza. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers A State witness has told the Durban High Court that the former City Manager of eThekwini Municipality was well within his rights to sign letters of award for the waste collection tenders in 2017. The R320 million Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender fraud trial involves former Mayor Zandile Gumede and 21 other accused who facenumerous charges including money laundering, racketeering, fraud, corruption, and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act and the Municipal Systems Act. In 2017 the Solid Waste Unit had to urgently appoint service providers to collect waste in the City as the contracts of existing service providers were due to expire on December 31, 2017. Moreover, the State witness who in December 2017 worked at the tenders and contracts unit has admitted under cross examination that Sipho Nzuza, the former City Manager was within his rights to require or ask the former deputy head of Supply Chain Management, Sandile Ngcobo about the letters of awards on December 28 2017. Ngcobo is also an accused in this matter. This is as the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) chaired by Ngcobo approved the Solid Waste unit to approach experienced service providers to collect waste in eThekwini. The BAC gave it approval on December 19,2017 for the Solid Waste Unit to get new service providers to collect waste. It also approved their quotations. This witness told the court that she did not take the BAC decision to the Executive Acquisitions Committee (EAC). The EAC was an advisory committee established by Nzuza to assist him to make decisions. In giving various reasons for this, the witness on Thursday told the court that these decisions did not go to the EAC because she was on leave and the agenda was prepared days before the EAC. She had also told the court that she was responsible for drafting the agenda for all the committees and decision circulars. Despite the urgency of the matter, the witness said the BAC decisions about the solid waste tender reached the EAC on January 29, 2018. Nzuza's counsel, Advocate Credo Mlaba put it to the witness that Nzuza was faced with a situation where the waste was not going to be collected in the City and on December 28, 2017 he approached Ngcobo for an update on the waste collection and asked him to attend to the letters of award, as this was an emergency. 'Nzuza said it would have been impossible for him to wait for January 29, 2018 as the BAC decisions did not make it to the EAC meeting on December 21, 2017. Would you like to comment on that?' The witness said it was understood this was Nzuza's role and the witness also agreed with advocate Jay Naidoo SC, counsel for Gumede that the SCM policy and regulations authorised Nzuza to sign the letters of awards based on decisions taken by the BAC. However, she said if he solely signed without consulting EAC, he would be disregarding his own internal policy.
The South African
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs star midfielder earns surprise contract extension
Kaizer Chiefs have made a bold move by securing midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo's services until June 2027. Following a dramatic turnaround in form that silenced doubts about his future at the club. Initially on the brink of a loan move, Ngcobo has proven his worth to the Amakhosi technical team. Despite early season struggles, including a minor injury and challenges adapting to the new coach's system. The talented midfielder has clawed his way back into the squad's core. At the start of the campaign, Chiefs reportedly considered sending several players out on loan to gain match experience. Ngcobo featured on that list, casting doubt on his long-term role at Naturena. However, a trusted source close to the club has revealed a significant shift in the Chiefs' stance. 'The club values Mshini as one of their best players. Yes, it's true there were some setbacks at the start of the season which included a minor injury and the coach apparently not understanding his style of play but all that is behind him and that's why the club is believed to be happy to exercise his one-year option though his initial contract already runs until June 2026. This means his new contract should now run until June 2027,' the source disclosed, as per Soccer Laduma. Ngcobo's extension sends a strong message that Kaizer Chiefs are committed to nurturing and investing in local talent. With his contract now set to expire in 2027, the club appears ready to build its future midfield around the 25-year-old. This development marks a turning point in Ngcobo's career, and a potential turning point for a Chiefs side aiming to reclaim domestic dominance through strategic squad management and trust in their youth pipeline. Is this a good decision by Kaizer Chiefs to keep Ngcobo? 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
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Court backs Ithala, but customers say ‘Nothing has changed'
Ithala Bank users remain in limbo despite a recent High Court ruling in favour of Ithala SOC Limited. Customers say little has changed on the ground as they cannot access their funds or resume normal business operations. The Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling, handed down on May 9, interdicted the South African Reserve Bank's appointed repayment administrator, Johannes Kruger, from interfering in the operational management of Ithala. The ruling confirmed that the Ithala board retains full operational authority and that Ithala may carry out all legally permissible transactions, excluding deposit-taking. ABSA Bank was also interdicted from blocking transactions related to salaries and operational expenses. However, for many Ithala clients, the judgment has yet to translate into practical relief. Groutville farmer Zodwa Mthembu said she was devastated to find that she still could not access her accounts even days after the court ruling. 'I went to the Ithala branch in Stanger, and they told me they haven't received the go-ahead to process withdrawals,' said Mthembu. Mthembu, who operates several small businesses through her Ithala accounts, said the shutdown has dealt her a triple blow. 'Since the bank closed shop in January, I've had to survive on personal loans to keep things going. I, too, need rescuing,' she said. Hydroponic farmer and Vella Villa Project founder Mhlengi Ngcobo echoed her concerns, saying that while the legal victory is welcome, the financial damage done over the past few months has been severe. 'We're still in crisis mode. The road to recovery is going to be long and hard. Many of us are small-scale farmers who rely on every cent,' said Ngcobo. Mthembu and Ngcobo are among the 257 000 Ithala depositors left in limbo after the provincial state-owned bank ceased operations in January, after failing to meet banking regulations and financial stability requirements. At least five other farms across iLembe are also affected. Despite operating under special exemptions from the South African Reserve Bank, Ithala never obtained a banking licence and primarily served KwaZulu-Natal residents. A repayment administrator was appointed to manage withdrawals, but legal battles have caused delays, leaving depositors uncertain about how much they will recover and when. KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodger reiterated his commitment to ensuring the institution is not only protected but restored to full functionality. 'Ithala serves a niche market of mainly rural residents. Attempts to systematically shut it down are short-sighted and demonstrate a total disregard for rural livelihoods,' he said. Rodgers said the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) will continue engaging with legal counsel to enforce the ruling and support affected communities. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Star
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Black winemakers set to sparkle at Johannesburg Cap Classique, Champagne & Bubbles Festival
Partnered Content | Published 5 hours ago Several black-owned wine brands – including Amari, House of Azari, Khulu Fine Wines, Nanola Wines and Siwela Wines – will be in attendance at the upcoming Johannesburg Cap Classique, Champagne and Bubbles Festival, which takes place on May 24 and 25 at the Inanda Polo Club in Sandton from 11am to 4pm. This year, the hugely popular annual event will feature some of South Africa's finest Cap Classiques including several from black producers which it is hoped will continue to unlock greater opportunity for their economic participation in South Africa's wine industry . Says Sazi Ngcobo, co-founder of Amari: 'We will be pouring and selling our Amari Lush at the festival, and we'd love attendees to visit our stand, say hello and have a taste. It's a lush Cap Classique embodying a balance of structure and a resounding elegance from Chardonnay, with a hint of honey to round it off.' In the long term Ngcobo sees Amari as an international brand. 'Our plans are to launch a Brut, followed by a Rosé (Amari Blush) and then we plan to take on Africa, with our focus markets being Nigeria, Angola and Ghana. Our ultimate goal is to be a globally recognised brand that is proudly South African.' Three years ago, Pretoria-based Siphiwe Katjene's lifetime dream came true when she launched her very own Cap Classique brand called House of Azari. The name, she says, is rooted in Arabic and signifies 'divine assistance, power, strength, fire, a pioneering spirit and a spiritual idealist.' Katjene will be showcasing her three Cap Classiques at the festival including her Nectar Rosé, a Pinot Noir Cap Classique with an aroma of strawberries and raspberries , layered with subtle spices and floral notes; her Brut Blanc De Blancs 2020, awarded a score of 90 in the Tim Atkin 2023 SA Wine Report, that embraces the true essence of Chardonnay grapes, with a vivacious dance of crisp acidity, green apple notes and a hint of toasted brioche; and her Brut Rosé, an elegant Pinot Noir/Chardonnay bubbly, light pink in colour with aromas of red berries, cherries and subtle hints of grapefruit. 'I'm proud to say that this wine was a warded a Gold medal at the Intercontinental Wine Challenge 2024,' she says. Also at the festival will be Kwanele Nyawo, CEO and co-founder of Khulu Fine Wines with Niël van Staden. Nyawo spent almost 14 years working for an insurance company before embarking on an entrepreneurship journey. Together with Van Staden, she started Mzansi Craft Wine and Khulu shortly thereafter. 'Khulu means 'great' or 'extravagant' in isiZulu. Niël and I wanted to create a luxury wine brand those words would apply to, as we both love the good things in life.
The Herald
16-05-2025
- The Herald
Gunmen open fire on Eastern Cape family, killing three and wounding two
Five family members mourning the death of a relative were shot by two armed men who stormed their Mangweni location home in Dalasile, Ngcobo, on Thursday. Three people aged between 30 and 50 were killed. The other two were wounded and taken to hospital for treatment, Eastern Cape police spokesperson W/O Majola Nkohli said. The motive for the attack is yet to be established. Eastern Cape police commissioner Maj-Gen Thandiswa Kupiso said: 'We have assembled a team of seasoned detectives who are on the ground hunting for the suspects. Police are urging the community to assist us to piece together the events that led to this incident.' Anyone who can assist with information relating to the suspects is requested to contact the investigating officer Det-Sgt Sandiso Madinga on 071-475-2105, or Crime Stop on 08600-10111. TimesLIVE
