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The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gauteng still the epicentre of violent crime, says DA
The party also raised alarm over the province's rape statistics, which contributed 19.1% to the national figure. Despite a slight drop in murder statistics, Gauteng remains South Africa's crime capital, leaving residents vulnerable and communities gripped by fear. This is according to the DA in Gauteng on Tuesday, which has called for urgent, targeted action to tackle violent crime in the province. Murder remains unacceptably high According to the fourth-quarter South African Police Service (Saps) crime statistics for 2024-2025, Gauteng recorded 1 439 murders, a 10.8% decrease from 1 614 in the same period the previous year. 'Of of these murders 765 happened in public places using firearms. This shows that criminals are running rampant with little fear of being caught in the act,' said DA Gauteng shadow MEC for community safety Crezane Bosch. The party also raised alarm over the province's rape statistics, which contributed 19.1% to the national figure, again placing Gauteng second. Of particular concern was the report that seven rape cases were reported at educational facilities. 'It is worrying that most rapes in the province continue to happen in the residences of the perpetrator or victim (859), followed by public places (336),' Bosch noted. ALSO READ: Gauteng government splashes R2.9 million on near-empty office used mainly for photocopies, says DA Amapanyaza under fire Bosch criticised premier Panyaza Lesufi's continued praise of his crime prevention initiative involving the deployment of crime wardens, also known as Amapanyaza. 'The truth is that Gauteng continues to fail to apply the basics of policing. Until this is fixed the province will remain a hub of crime,' she said. ALSO READ: DA reaffirms 'longstanding' opposition to expropriation with nil compensation DA outlines alternative crime strategy As an alternative, the DA has proposed a more coordinated and technology-driven approach. 'A DA-led provincial government in Gauteng would prioritise collaboration between provinces to combat criminals who move across borders to evade detection and prosecution,' Bosch said. She added that under a DA-led government, technology would be deployed in crime hotspots, particularly in townships rather than just central business districts. The party would also expand police infrastructure. 'The DA would increase the number of police stations, fill police vacancies and revitalise police reservists,' she said. NOW READ: Gauteng hospital security bill soars to R2.54bn amid patient care crisis
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Gauteng government splashes R2.9 million on near-empty office used mainly for photocopies
The Gauteng government owns 41 abandoned buildings and has resorted to leasing them as a 'temporary measure'. The Gauteng provincial government is under fire for not using its building in the Johannesburg CBD. Picture: Gauteng DA The Gauteng provincial government has been accused of using a building it is renting for R2.9 million per month solely for making photocopies. The building is believed to have five floors and is situated on 55 Fox Street in the Johannesburg CBD. DA members of the provincial legislatures in Gauteng, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, told The Citizen that the party had been reliably informed that Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) staff would only use the building when there was a need to use the printer. Oversight inspection reveals empty building 'The DA Gauteng has been reliably informed that these offices are not being fully utilised but only used by GDE employees to make photocopies. 'This is unacceptable because the Gauteng Provincial Government pays R34 104 005,07 monthly for office rentals for various departments,' she said. Rasilingwane, along with other DA officials, went on an oversight inspection on Wednesday to investigate why the building is not being fully utilised. However, the team was stopped by security at reception. Rasilingwane said that when she arrived at the building in question, she was informed that it was not safe to enter. 'They told us that it is not safe to enter the building, but if that is the case, why is the province paying for this building? 'They told us people have been moved to the other building because that building is not meeting Occupational Health and Safety Standards,' she said. It was still not clear if the province is being billed municipal rates for that building. However, Rasilingwane said, upon investigation,n she discovered that the province rents five buildings from the same owner or company, 'This is a blatant waste of government money, and we need an explanation for this. 'I will be posing further questions in the legislature about what we know about these buildings and the exact reason why the education department cannot use a building that is being paid for monthly,' she said. The Citizen contacted the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to enquire about its office at 55 Fox Street. However, GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said the provincial Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) is best suited to respond to the questions about the building. 'Hi please interact with DID,' Mabona said. ActionSA laments wasteful expenditure Meanwhile, ActionSA provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni told The Citizen that he was alarmed by the amount of money being spent renting buildings for government departments. He said the provincial government owns 41 buildings which have been abandoned. 'This blatant display of mismanagement and inefficiency is a slap in the face to already overburdened taxpayers. 'This wasteful expenditure is a shocking indictment of government's fiscal mismanagement, poor asset oversight, and a total disregard for the efficient use of the public purse,' he said. Ngobeni said the province claimed that it is renting the buildings as a temporary measure. 'Whilst provincial leaders claim that this is a temporary measure, it is quite disturbing that over R2.2 billion has been wasted on office rentals in the past five financial years, indicating failure to appreciate the urgency of addressing this matter,' he said. Meanwhile, DID had committed to respond to questions from The Citizen with an explanation concerning the GDE building on Fox Street. However, no response had been received by the time of publication. ALSO READ: 'I'm viewing my options,' says Lesufi on availability for ANC's top positions Why is Gauteng renting buildings for staff? However, responding to Legislature questions recently, the MEC responsible, Jacob Mamabolo said the current buildings the province owns did not comply with Occupational Health and Safety Standards. 'The lack of maintenance resulted in deterioration of GPG-owned assets, primarily office buildings, compromising their overall condition and usability. 'As the custodian responsible for providing compliant office buildings to GPG User Departments, DID explored alternative solutions including leasing from third parties to ensure the provision of required office accommodation, thereby fulfilling its mandate,' he said. NOW READ: Gauteng government reveals R2 billion spent on office rentals in five years
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng government faces criticism over R34 million spent on unused buildings
The DA in Gauteng has decried the state of hired buildings by various provincial departments, which are reportedly spending more than R34 million monthly in leasing privately owned buildings while the province has its own buildings that are not being utilised. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) is reported to own no less than 41 unused buildings, while many of its departments continue to pay millions in rental fees. This is an assertion made by the DA in the province. According to the document from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, 12 of these are in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) and the remaining 29 are in the Pretoria CBD. Due to financial constraints, most of these buildings do not meet Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards, making them unfit for use. The Democratic Alliance's (DA) provincial spokesperson for Infrastructure Development, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, and a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, condemned the lack of accountability shown by the Gauteng government over reports that the province is paying over R34 million monthly in building leases instead of refurbishing its own properties to save costs. On Wednesday, Rasilingwane conducted an oversight visit to one of the buildings on Fox Street in the Joburg CBD, where she and her team were denied the right to go ahead with their oversight visit to the building. The building is said to be one of the properties currently being rented by the provincial government, while many of the buildings owned by the province are said to be rotting away unused. The party stated that it has been reliably informed by some of the employees, as well as through its communication channels within the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, following an oral reply to MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, who has confirmed that indeed the province is paying millions in rental fees. "We wrote and sent questions to the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, who then responded to say the province has 41 buildings that are practically abandoned. We learned they are renting their head offices, including 11 buildings, one of which prevented our visit. This is a building meant to house the Department of Education. "We have just come out of this building where we have been denied access to conduct our visit when we have been reliably informed by some of the workers that the building is actually not being utilised while the government pays R2.9 million a month," she stated. Attempts to get a comment from the provincial Department of Infrastructure Development were unsuccessful at the time of going to print, with the Department of Education in the province having referred the matter to GDID for comment. The DA said it was unacceptable that the GPG pays R34 104 005,07 monthly for office rentals for various departments while the province has its buildings. "Following our oversight inspection, we will engage directly with the MEC for Infrastructure Development (GDID), Jacob Mamabolo, based on the findings," Rasilingwane further stated. [email protected]
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Driving towards a cashless future: South Africa's card payments boom
The South African card payments market is on a solid growth trajectory, driven by a growing shift toward digital payments, bolstered by enhanced financial inclusion, expanding payment infrastructure, and rising consumer preference for speed, safety, and convenience in everyday transactions. Image: Pixabay The South African card payments market is on a remarkable upward trajectory, with projections indicating it will reach R2.9 trillion by 2025. This growth is fuelled by a growing preference for digital payments, increased financial inclusion, and a rapidly evolving payment infrastructure that appeals to consumers seeking speed, safety, and convenience in their everyday transactions, according to a recent report from GlobalData, a leading data and analytics firm. GlobalData's latest Payment Cards Analytics highlights that the total value of card payments in South Africa registered an impressive growth rate of 10.3% in 2024, reaching R2.7 trillion. This surge is primarily driven by higher consumer spending and an expanding acceptance of card payments among merchants, underscoring a shift in the financial habits of South Africans. Debit card payments held a significant share of the total card payments market in South Africa Image: GlobalData Banking and Payments Intelligence Centre Yasaswini Pujitha, Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, explains: 'The South African payment landscape is evolving rapidly, supported by a growing banking population, increasing adoption of contactless payments, and the development of payment infrastructure.' Pujitha further discloses that the average frequency of payments per card stands at 118.1 times in 2024. This figure highlights South Africa's robust usage rate compared to countries like Nigeria (51), Egypt (24.2), Morocco (10.9), and Kenya (5.3). A significant driver of the payments market is the predominance of debit card transactions, which accounted for 74% of the total card payments market by value in 2024. This trend is largely due to an expanding banking demographic and the increasing use of debit cards for low-value, day-to-day payments. The competitive landscape is further bolstered by the rise of digital banks and fintech companies such as Discovery Bank, TymeBank, and Bank Zero, all of which are innovating and refreshing traditional banking services. 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 ✕ Credit and charge cards hold the remaining 26% share of the card payment market in 2024, which is fueled by attractive benefits offered by banks, including cashback, rewards points, and discounts. This segment particularly appeals to the rising middle class and a younger, working population eager to leverage these advantages. The growing popularity of contactless payments is also a contributing factor to the robust card payment growth in South Africa. With banks and payment scheme providers actively promoting this technology, both consumers and merchants are embracing contactless solutions. A survey conducted by GlobalData in 2024 revealed that 68.4% of respondents in South Africa reported having access to a contactless card, and regularly utilised it for payments. Notably, the expansion of contactless payment options in transport services is particularly noteworthy. The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is implementing a nationwide rollout of contactless payment systems at toll plazas. Effective from 1 December 2024, magstripe card payments will be phased out at certain toll gates, leading to a complete transition to contactless payments by 31 May 2025. This initiative is being supported by financial institutions and payment providers like Visa and Mastercard. Pujitha concludes optimistically, stating: 'South Africa's payment card landscape is set for steady growth over the next five years, marked by increased adoption of payment cards amid a broader digital transformation. The proliferation of digital banks, a growing preference for contactless technology, and improving payment infrastructures will be the key drivers for this growth. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% between 2025 and 2029, reaching R3.8 trillion by 2029.' Cape Argus
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Infrastructure is lifeline of GNU
President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy Paul Mashatile preside over the first Cabinet Lekgotla of the Government of National Unity. The GNU's legacy will largely be determined by its ability to translate infrastructure vision into tangible implementation, transforming South Africa's infrastructure from a constraint to a catalyst for inclusive growth., says the writer. As South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU) charts its course despite challenges, the spotlight remains on delivery, and few areas are as urgent or promising as infrastructure. The stark reality is undeniable: despite years of investment and policy reform, much of South Africa's economic infrastructure continues to underperform. As President Cyril Ramaphosa candidly acknowledged in his State of the Nation address this year, 'In many cities and towns across the country, roads are not maintained, water and electricity supply is often disrupted, refuse is not collected and sewage runs in the streets.' These challenges are evident in three key sectors: Energy infrastructure Eskom has shown modest improvements but continues to grapple with significant operational challenges. A recent report by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research shows that load-shedding cost the South African economy approximately R2.9 trillion in 2023. While load-shedding has become less frequent, 'load reduction' continues to affect previously disadvantaged communities disproportionately, widening existing inequality gaps. Water infrastructure The Department of Water and Sanitation has reported alarming water losses in municipalities, averaging 41% due to theft, leaks and bad management. The breakdown in water infrastructure requires a fundamentally different approach to energy challenges, given that water is a finite resource in an already water-stressed country. The economic ramifications of water shortages are particularly severe, with some municipalities unable to support industrial expansion due to insufficient supply capacity. Logistics infrastructure Transnet's rail network remains critically underutilised. In its annual report for 2023/24, the parastatal acknowledges that it 'has faced several challenges that have threatened the sustainability of the organisation and compromised the efficiency of its operations'. The report also states that 'these challenges were further compounded by locomotive shortages and their unreliability due to wear and tear, critical equipment breakdowns, ongoing security incidents and infrastructure challenges.' Perhaps most concerning is South Africa's ports performance. The World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2023 placed Cape Town as the worst performer globally, while Durban – Africa's busiest container terminal – is ranked 398 out of 405 ports assessed.
