Latest news with #PhandoJikelo
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
How informal settlements threaten South Africa's military bases and national security
Informal settlements are encroaching on key South African military bases, posing significant challenges to national security and operational readiness. Image: Phando Jikelo / Independent Newspapers Informal settlements have encroached onto 10 key South African National Defence Force (SANDF) military bases, with one reported to have cows and goats in a kraal. This has also impacted a training centre and an ammunition depot. The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans received a briefing by the Department of Defence (DoD) on informal settlements during an engagement with the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) on Wednesday. The DoD suggested a collaborative effort to deal with the matter. 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 DoD listed the following bases as being compromised in the country, posing challenges to national security: Tamboerskloof - Western Cape. Wingfield Naval Stores Depot (NSD) - Western Cape 93 Ammunition Depot - Northern Cape Combat Training Centre - Northern Cape Gauteng: Defence Works Training School Marievale Military Base Lenz Military Base Defence Headquarters Wallmansthal 43 SA Brigade The DoD stated that the encroachment of illegal settlements on military bases is a significant issue and poses serious challenges to national security, operational readiness, and the safety of both military personnel and civilians. At the Marievale Military Base, the settlement has relocated inside the unit boundaries due to the lack of a perimeter fence. The DoD stated that there is continuous theft of vehicle parts, electric cables, office equipment, and other items from the military base. The department further stated that undocumented nationals are living inside the unit, and within the unit, one member owns a kraal of goats and cows. The Lenz Military Base and Defence Headquarters also did not have a fence, where theft from the SANDF was rife. Informal settlements are also located near the SANDF Military Health Service Headquarters. Theft of vehicle parts and scrap metals was rife at the 93 Ammunition Depot, Jan Kempdorp, where the base's security lights were also removed. The DoD said illegal electricity connections, theft of military vehicle parts, and fitting machine parts were rife at the Defence Works Training School. At the Wallmannsthal base, it was reported that the water supply was rerouted by illegal connections to the settlement. The department reported that illegal mining was taking place at the Duncan demolition range in the Northern Cape, which was halted on May 22, 2024. In the DoD brief report, the SANDF said these settlements pose a risk and may have individuals or groups that pose a threat to the base, for e.g., criminals, insurgents, or spies. The department is aware that a hostile relationship between informal settlement dwellers and military personnel can result in unrest and or violence. According to the department, it has gone to the courts to take the matter up legally. It said that if it works with the DHS, it is confident that solutions can be found. The DoD stated that the proliferation of squatters and informal settlements, as well as temporary housing, causes a number of social issues, including theft, crime, and environmental risks. According to the department, the informal settlements are characterised by a lack of basic services, pollution, overcrowding, and poor waste management. These characteristics negatively impact the environment, posing a risk and susceptibility to health problems associated with informal settlements. The proliferation of squatter colonies and informal settlements is a problem that the SANDF is not immune to.
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Cape Town mayor can learn from finance minister's budget
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis should table a revised Draft Budget and deliver a Budget that is realistic, linked to the CPI of 4.5%, to make it affordable to ratepayers, says the writer. Image: Phando Jikelo EXAMINING the history of the growth in the City of Cape Town budgets, it can clearly be seen that since 2021/22 Budget growth picked up substantially. The Capital Budget grew from a modest R3.7 billion to a humongous R12.7 billion in only four years. Taken against the South African economy which has a growth rate of 1.4% (revised down from 1.9%) the City's Budget growth of around 9% per year, is totally out of proportion with the rest of the country. In the latest National Budget the minister announced that future grants to municipalities will be lower due to National Budget constraints. Yet, the Mayor of Cape Town will not budge on his aggressive Capital Expansion for future projects. In the light of the national government's financial constraints, a Metro like the City of Cape Town simply cannot continue as if it is not part of the larger country. The disastrous results of this Mayor's lack of strategic vision, are clearly visible after the latest Budget fiasco with the COCT Draft Budget for 2025-26. Ratepayers have reached the end of their ability to absorb the ever increasing number of fixed charges the City introduces to fund their ambitious expansion plans. The link to property values which creates an exponential rate of tariff increases can simply not be implemented in this tight fiscal environment of national growth of only 1.4%. On 28 May 2025, the Mayor should therefore table a revised Draft Budget and deliver a Budget that is realistic, linked to the CPI of 4.5%, to make it affordable to ratepayers. 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 ✕ The new fixed charges must be removed and above all, an alternative to the link to property values to determine the water fixed charge must be found. (A simple flat rate as what is applied for electricity is suggested.) The Mayor should demonstrate the same restraint as what was shown in the national budget. The finance minister was forced through effective opposition in a GNU where no single party had the majority to push through what it wanted. Sandra Dickson | STOP City of Cape Town
News24
22-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
Godongwana says he is winning political battle to bring down debt
Phando Jikelo/SA Parliament Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once.
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
More than 12 000 foreign nationals awaiting trial amid overcrowding crisis
The number of foreign prisoners waiting for trial stands at 12037 (19 percent) of the 61000 remand population in the South African prisons. Image: Picture: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has disclosed that 12 037 foreign nationals are currently awaiting trial in prisons across the country for the contravention of the Immigration Act. The number of foreign prisoners waiting for trial constituted just 19% of the remand population in the country's prisons. Groenewald revealed this when asked during a question and answer session in the National Assembly this week whether he intended to initiate bilateral engagements with the South African Development Community (SADC) countries to deport offenders who were foreign nationals to alleviate correctional facilities from the overcrowding. 'Currently there are no bilateral agreements with neighboring countries due to the fact that South Africa does not have an enabling domestic legislation to regulate and facilitate the transfer of sentenced foreign offenders, including South Africans incarcerated in foreign countries, to serve their sentences in their countries of the region,' he said. 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 ✕ This takes place as the country's prisons are bursting at the seams with sentenced prisoners totaling 104 000 inmates in facilities that cater for 108 000 beds. 'There are enough beds for the sentenced inmates in our facilities. Our problem comes with the remand detainees, not only the foreign remand detainees, but all remand detainees, and then we talk about almost 61 000 remand detainees,' Groenewald said. He observed that there were people who have been in remand for more than 10 years and they still have not had their criminal cases finalised. 'We are looking at the matter, and of course, the solution will be that we also have remand detainees who couldn't afford a bail of around about R100. There is about 1 227 who couldn't afford a bail of less than R1000.' Groenewald stated that the implementation of the Immigration Act in relation to deportation of those not entitled to stay in the country fell within the scope of the Department of Home Affairs. 'The Department of Correctional Services is responsible for identifying foreign nationals in its detention facilities and reporting such individuals to the Department of Home Affairs. The Department of Home Affairs then establishes the nationality of such offenders and initiates the deportation of those who stay in the Republic of South Africa.' Asked if he has engaged fellow ministers in the security cluster to find a way of dealing with legislation and other things to minimize this issue of overcrowding, Groenewald said there was quite a lot of progress. 'We already started last year. There is a process to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, and part of that will also be to amend the legislation in such a way that we have legislation that will make it possible to deport of these illegals back to their countries of origin,' he said. But, Groenewald indicated that there was a willingness from Lesotho to see where they could exchange and deport South African's prisoners in their country with their nationals to their home country. 'In Namibia, same situation occurs there. So the good news is that we are in a process, and I would like to see that we take all steps possible to enhance it.' He stressed that South Africa must have enabling legislation to do so. 'At this stage, we lack that legislation, and that's why I said we're in the process to see how we can make legislation.' Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the deportation of illegal foreign nationals continued with the available funding and the deportees with financial means engaged in self-deportation. Schreiber said subject to the ongoing budget process, the intended budget allocation for 2025-26 was R23.2 million, up from R21.3m allocated the previous year. 'The number of deportations annually has increased from 14 589 in 2020 and 39,672 in 2023 to 46,898 in the previous financial year. This is an 18% increase year on year and it does means South Africa now does deportation than countries like France and Germany combined,' he said.
