Latest news with #R10-million
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Former Tshwane metro director arrested in connection with R11m fraud
A former accountant within the Tshwane metro was arrested and appeared in court recently in connection with illegal transfers of around R11-million into fraudulent municipal accounts. An internal investigation had identified Tienka Abbort, along with two colleagues, as allegedly being involved in swindling the municipality out of millions in eight months. The investigation uncovered more than 200 transfers amounting to more than R10-million from various municipal user [customer] accounts into a ghost municipal account. Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro can confirm a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the illegal transfer of about R11-million into fraudulent municipal accounts. Mashigo said the former director and accountant within the city, who had been evading arrest in connection with the case, was finally apprehended. 'She appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning, June 3.' According to Mashigo, the arrest follows an intensive tracing operation led by the city's Forensic Services Division, working in close collaboration with the police. 'Tienka Abbort's identity is disclosed as she has now appeared in court, and the city is compelled to alert customers who may still be targeted in further attempts to perpetuate this scam,' explained Mashigo. He said during her court appearance, the accused requested bail of R5 000. The National Prosecuting Authority refused and requested that bail be set at R200 000. However, the court ultimately granted her bail at R50 000, subject to the following strict conditions: – She must surrender all her travel documents, – Report twice a week to her nearest police station, and – Remain at her current residence unless she informs the investigating officer. Mashigo said that at the time of reporting on this matter, the accused had not yet paid the bail amount. 'The investigation remains active and will now focus on uncovering any potential collusion between Abbort and the account holders who unlawfully benefited from these transfers,' Mashigo continued. He said the city's Revenue Management Division is currently reviewing the affected accounts and will initiate reversal processes where necessary to ensure full compliance with credit management policies. 'We strongly urge residents to be vigilant against individuals or groups posing as agents who claim that they can 'clear' a municipal debt. These schemes are fraudulent. Although they may appear to offer temporary relief, balances will be reinstated, and participating residents may face criminal fraud charges and lose any money paid to syndicate members,' he explained. Mashigo encouraged residents in debt to visit any of the city's customer care walk-in centres to make legitimate, sustainable arrangements. City Manager Johann Mettler expressed gratitude to the Forensic Services Division team for the sterling work to root out corruption in the city. 'Their commitment has gone beyond traditional practices. They are not only identifying and reporting criminal conduct but also ensuring there is follow-through regarding accountability.' Mettler said that while the division does not possess the power to make an arrest, its determination has allowed law enforcement to act swiftly and effectively. 'We believe the city's fight against financial crime would be significantly strengthened by designating forensic investigators as peace officers under the Criminal Procedure Act. A move that could enhance our capacity to act decisively and in real time,' Mettler said. 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! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Judgment against Hlophe is an important step to protect the integrity of SA's legal system
You simply cannot keep Dr John Hlophe out of the news. This time he is at the receiving end of a judgment of a full bench of the Western Cape Division of the High Court which upheld applications by the Democratic Alliance, Freedom Under Law and Corruption Watch that the National Assembly had incorrectly appointed Hlophe as one of the six members of Parliament to serve on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in terms of section 178 (1) (h) of the Constitution. The judgment was penned by Judge Nobulawo Mbhele from the Free State, and judges Annali Basson and TP Mudau from the Gauteng Division of the High Court, all of whom were designated to hear this case given Hlophe's previous position as Judge President of the Western Cape Division of the High Court. The reader is reminded that after a 16-year protracted legal process costing the taxpayer approximately R10-million, the President removed Hlophe from office as a judge in terms of section 177 of the Constitution. The question, therefore, given his impeachment as a judge, arose as to whether the National Assembly (NA) could legally designate Hlophe as a member of the JSC. The first question of importance was whether the dispute was moot, as Hlophe had resigned from the JSC before this dispute was heard by the court. The court, however, held that the dispute remained live because 'any further designation process by the NA must take place with this court's guidance on whether the NA had a discretion to consider the fitness of the nominee for designation to the JSC in terms of s 178 (1) (h) of the Constitution' and whether it had acted lawfully when it designated Hlophe for appointment to the JSC. Hlophe had raised the argument, supported by the MK and EFF parties, that he was eminently qualified to serve on the JSC because he has a doctorate in law and had served as a judge and because the Constitution had not provided specific qualifications or criteria for a person designated to the JSC. The court accepted that section 178 (1) (h) of the Constitution does not specifically constrain the power of the National Assembly to designate a member to the JSC, other than to require that half of the designated members must be from opposition parties. However, that on its own did not suffice to give definitive content to the appointment process. As the court pointed out, the National Assembly must act rationally, meaning that its action must be rationally connected to the purpose for which a power is exercised. Further, section 165 (4) of the Constitution requires that the National Assembly must assist and protect the courts to ensure their independence and impartiality, dignity, accessibility and effectiveness. The judgment noted that public confidence in the judiciary's composition and its role in the administration of justice is vital. While the test of 'fit and proper' was not expressly included for appointing someone to the JSC, the court referred to a judgment by the Constitutional Court, Helen Suzman Foundation v the Judicial Service Commission (2018). In that judgment, the Constitutional Court placed considerable importance on ensuring that those entrusted with the responsibility of nominating and designating lawyers for membership of the judiciary must be suitably qualified to do so. The court warned that a rule that threatened the ability to appoint the best candidates for the judiciary 'would have serious consequences for the judiciary and consequently our constitutional democracy as a whole'. To have an impeached judge as a member of the JSC effectively means that the National Assembly had appointed someone who might have been formally eligible, but 'was not substantially suited for appointment to the JSC'. Improper exercise In appointing Hlophe to the JSC, the Western Cape Division of the High Court said, the National Assembly was 'required to consider whether [he was] suitable for appointment'. The NA did not exercise such discretion, and indeed mistakenly laboured under the impression that it did not even have such discretion. As a result, the designation of Hlophe without any proper consideration of his suitability was an improper exercise of a discretion possessed by the National Assembly to ensure that a designee to the JSC was 'fit and proper for the purpose of nominating judges'. What is also significant was the manner in which the full bench treated the reaction of Hlophe and his MK party to a previous order in which a full bench had granted an interim interdict restraining Hlophe from participating as a member of the JSC. The MK party had reacted by referring to the 'incompetent, irrational, absurd and blatantly political judgment of the Western Cape High Court, which is regrettable but not surprising'. Neither the MK party leader, Jacob Zuma, nor Hlophe, nor the MK party had publicly distanced themselves from the scandalising of the court. Accordingly, having found that the presence of an impeached judge prejudiced the JSC's ability to discharge its constitutional function, the full bench held that derogatory statements Hlophe made about the retired judge Azhar Cachalia, representing Freedom Under Law, justified a punitive cost order. Both Hlophe and the MK party were ordered to pay the applicants' costs on an attorney and client scale. The judgment is of extreme importance. It asserts the centrality of the JSC to the integrity and legitimacy of the judiciary and the need to ensure that members of the JSC are suitably qualified for purpose. The National Assembly is not there to act as a rubber stamp confirming a political party's wish. That an impeached judge could be held up as a person who could sit on the JSC and contribute to the appointment of judges only has to be stated to confirm the irrationality of the National Assembly's initial decision. The judgment also represents an important step by the judiciary to protect the integrity of the legal system against the kind of flagrant abuse which has characterised this sad Hlophe saga. Is it too much to hope that in the future, courts will protect the integrity and reputation of the judicial institution by ordering punitive costs when litigants or their legal representatives engage in flagrant contempt for the judiciary and its process? DM
The South African
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs (EXITS): R9-million fan-favourite
Kaizer Chiefs will look very different at the end of the up-and-coming PSL transfer window. Kaizer Chiefs are going to be trimming their squad. Meaning, several Amakhosi stars will leaving the club. Some players are linked with temporary exits (loans). Whilst, other Chiefs stars will be sold – permanently. The latest star linked with a departure is a fan-favourite. Samkelo Zwane is the latest Chiefs player facing a likely exit. According to SNL, Zwane could be loaned out for a season. Meaning, the talented young midfielder could be playing for another club in the PSL next season. This is because Amakhosi management still see a future for Zwane at the club. However, he is not a regular in the Chiefs midfield. So, a loan move will allow him to play more frequently. Meanwhile, he will grow and mature as a player while still belonging to Amakhosi. Therefore, the plan is to let him develope. So, he can return a stronger and better player. A total of over R10-million worth of Chiefs attackers are linked with likely exits. Ultimately, Ranga Chivaviro will likely be sold. Meanwhile, Tashreeq Morris is linked with a loan exit out of Naturena. Both players are in the same boat – they lack playing time and have failed to impress Nasreddine Nabi and Amakhosi management. Chivaviro has fallen out of favour with Nabi and Chiefs. Whilst, Morris scored a meager 2 goals across 20 appearances in all competitions since joining the Soweto giants from SuperSport United. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that these attackers are linked with exits. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
24-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Chiefs miss out on top 8, Stellenbosch qualify for Africa
JOHANNESBURG - Stellenbosch qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup and Kaizer Chiefs suffered the embarrassment of finishing in the bottom half of the Betway Premiership table on Saturday. A 0-0 draw at Cape Town City ensured Stellenbosch of third place and a second straight appearance in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League. They were semi-finalists this season. Sekhukhune United, who began the final round one point behind Stellenbosch, fell 3-2 at Golden Arrows and finished with nine men after Mokete Mogaila and Ngoanamella Rammala were red-carded. It was just the second time this season that Arrows scored three times and the Durban outfit ended a seven-match winless run in the richest African national league. The match took a decisive turn in the second half when Nhlanhla Zwane and Sbonelo Cele scored within 10 minutes to give Arrows a 3-1 lead. Winners of a record 53 domestic trophies, Chiefs were held 0-0 in Johannesburg by Polokwane City and finished ninth, missing out on a top-half finish for the second successive season. A top-eight position in South Africa is significant as it secures a place in a lucrative early-season knockout competition offering a winners-take-all R10-million prize. Chiefs ended a trophy drought since 2015 when they lifted the FA Cup by beating their greatest rivals, Orlando Pirates in the final this month. But the future of Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi after one season is charge is reportedly uncertain given a poor league record of just eight victories in 28 matches. "I regret missing out on the Top 8 competition, but we did win a trophy for the first time in 10 seasons," said Nabi, who joined Chiefs from Moroccan club FAR Rabat. "This has been a transitional season for Chiefs and we must build on our strengths and fix our weaknesses. It is obvious that we need forwards who can score regularly." The expulsion of Royal AM for failing to honour league and cup fixtures means no Premiership club will be automatically relegated. But the team finishing 15th must face the sides finishing second and third in the second division in a double-round mini-league for one Premiership slot. SuperSport United prop up the table, one point below Cape Town, but league officials have not adjudicated on their match against Arrows, which was abandoned at half-time three months ago. A blackout at the SuperSport stadium in Pretoria led to the match being halted with the clubs drawing 1-1 and the hosts lacked a generator to provide back-up power. str-dl/ea
eNCA
23-05-2025
- eNCA
SANParks clears five buffalo to be auctioned at wildlife festival
ADDO - South African National Parks has tested five buffalo in Addo Elephant National Park for diseases of concern, and all have been cleared. The buffalo will be auctioned off at the Kirkwood Wildlife Festival in late June, with the proceeds going towards conservation projects. This marks the 24th year SANParks has backed the festival. Kirkwood Wildlife Festival auctioneer, Johan Swart, says most buyers use the buffalo as breeding bulls and for hunting purposes. Swart says the festival attracts over 50 thousand visitors globally and generates R10-million in revenue.
