Latest news with #R562
The Star
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
DA reports Emfuleni municipality to SAHRC over severe service delivery failures
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a decisive step in the fight against government negligence by reporting the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The party has formally requested the SAHRC to investigate the Municipality, citing persistent and severe service delivery failures. According to the DA, these ongoing issues have condemned residents to inhumane living conditions, stripping them of their constitutional rights to access water, proper sanitation, and a safe environment. The Star has been running a series of stories recently, highlighting the plight of Emfuleni residents. DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala expressed deep concern over the deteriorating living conditions in Emfuleni, citing ongoing sewer overflows that have polluted homes, roads, and even the Vaal River. He warned that the situation has created a public health and environmental crisis. "Residents have been subjected to raw sewage in their living spaces for years, and now they're also battling water shortages caused by crumbling infrastructure and unattended leaks," said Chabalala. Chabalala further highlighted that financial mismanagement has deepened Emfuleni's service delivery crisis. Despite the urgent need to repair failing sewer, water, and road infrastructure, the municipality returned R636 million from its Municipal Infrastructure Grant. In addition, it incurred a wasteful expenditure of R562 million on employee overtime, with no visible improvements in basic services. The Star revealed that between 2019 and 2024, Emfuleni Municipality poured a staggering R202.6 million into 71 contractors to fix its failing sewer infrastructure. Yet, despite this massive spending, the sewage crisis remains relentless, with virtually no accountability for the continued collapse, leaving communities exposed and suffering. In 2024, The Star also revealed a dire crisis as a sewer pipeline collapse poisoned water supplies, forcing desperate residents to boil their water for survival. This blatant neglect by the municipality has recklessly endangered public health, hitting hardest in already vulnerable communities like Sebokeng and Palm Springs. In his letter to the SAHRC, Chabalala underscores the severe water crisis residents endure, marked by frequent outages and dwindling pressure caused by unresolved leaks and failing infrastructure. Despite spending R65.25 million on water tankers in 2023 alone, countless communities remain without reliable water for weeks, compelling them to buy water or travel long distances just to meet their basic needs. Makhosonke Sangweni, Emfuleni Municipality Communications Manager, told The Star that while the municipality is unaware of the latest Human Rights Commission application, it is addressing a previous complaint. He said, 'Remedial action is being implemented in terms of Section 63 of the Water Act by a coordinated effort involving all spheres of government, led by the National Government.' He explained that the turnaround intervention programme, funded by the national government, has appointed Rand Water as the implementing agency to improve water and sanitation services, with a special focus on addressing sewer spillages and overall sanitation issues within the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Sangweni explained that Emfuleni's under-expenditure was a result of a directive from the Department of Cooperative Governance's MIG office during the 2019/2020 financial year, which ordered the municipality to prioritise sanitation-related projects. 'The decision came after the Human Rights Commission hearing into sewer pollution in the Vaal River,' he said. He added that at the time, Emfuleni had already allocated over R100 million to fully designed capital projects that were ready for construction. 'However, those projects were removed from the implementation plan by DCoG,' Sangweni stated. Sangweni reported that in the 2024/2025 financial year, the municipality received an allocation of R160 million, with 61% of that amount spent by the end of December 2024. He said this improved rate of expenditure is a positive sign, indicating potential progress in enhancing service delivery for local residents. During a recent ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team Lekgotla held over two days at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, Premier Panyaza Lesufi addressed the state of filth and decay affecting municipalities across the province, expressing deep concern over the deteriorating conditions. 'Comrades, our province and our municipalities are dirty, dirty, dirty. I attended the May rally in Sharpeville, Executive Mayor Sedibeng auwaaaaaaaaa banna (Nooooooooooo Man),' Lesufi said, in disgust. He issued a stern rebuke to ANC officials leading the Sedibeng District Municipality and Emfuleni Local Municipality, holding them accountable for the persistent service delivery failures and unacceptable living conditions in those areas. 'If we cannot get the basics right, we have no legitimate right to claim that our people should still have confidence in us. If we can not get the basics right, we are no longer representing our people; we are misleading them. If we can not get the basics right, then we are betraying the service delivery; (This) is deplorable,' Lesufi added. The DA has committed to closely monitoring the progress of the SAHRC investigation, expressing hope that it will lead to real, tangible change for the people of Emfuleni. The party maintains that residents cannot continue to endure the inhumane conditions they currently face and deserve urgent intervention and relief. The Star [email protected]
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA reports Emfuleni municipality to SAHRC over severe service delivery failures
The Democratic Alliance has reported the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission due to service delivery failures, directly impacting residents' health and well-being. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a decisive step in the fight against government negligence by reporting the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The party has formally requested the SAHRC to investigate the Municipality, citing persistent and severe service delivery failures. According to the DA, these ongoing issues have condemned residents to inhumane living conditions, stripping them of their constitutional rights to access water, proper sanitation, and a safe environment. The Star has been running a series of stories recently, highlighting the plight of Emfuleni residents. DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala expressed deep concern over the deteriorating living conditions in Emfuleni, citing ongoing sewer overflows that have polluted homes, roads, and even the Vaal River. He warned that the situation has created a public health and environmental crisis. "Residents have been subjected to raw sewage in their living spaces for years, and now they're also battling water shortages caused by crumbling infrastructure and unattended leaks," said Chabalala. Chabalala further highlighted that financial mismanagement has deepened Emfuleni's service delivery crisis. Despite the urgent need to repair failing sewer, water, and road infrastructure, the municipality returned R636 million from its Municipal Infrastructure Grant. In addition, it incurred a wasteful expenditure of R562 million on employee overtime, with no visible improvements in basic services. The Star revealed that between 2019 and 2024, Emfuleni Municipality poured a staggering R202.6 million into 71 contractors to fix its failing sewer infrastructure. Yet, despite this massive spending, the sewage crisis remains relentless, with virtually no accountability for the continued collapse, leaving communities exposed and suffering. In 2024, The Star also revealed a dire crisis as a sewer pipeline collapse poisoned water supplies, forcing desperate residents to boil their water for survival. This blatant neglect by the municipality has recklessly endangered public health, hitting hardest in already vulnerable communities like Sebokeng and Palm Springs. In his letter to the SAHRC, Chabalala underscores the severe water crisis residents endure, marked by frequent outages and dwindling pressure caused by unresolved leaks and failing infrastructure. Despite spending R65.25 million on water tankers in 2023 alone, countless communities remain without reliable water for weeks, compelling them to buy water or travel long distances just to meet their basic needs. Makhosonke Sangweni, Emfuleni Municipality Communications Manager, told The Star that while the municipality is unaware of the latest Human Rights Commission application, it is addressing a previous complaint. He said, 'Remedial action is being implemented in terms of Section 63 of the Water Act by a coordinated effort involving all spheres of government, led by the National Government.' He explained that the turnaround intervention programme, funded by the national government, has appointed Rand Water as the implementing agency to improve water and sanitation services, with a special focus on addressing sewer spillages and overall sanitation issues within the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Sangweni explained that Emfuleni's under-expenditure was a result of a directive from the Department of Cooperative Governance's MIG office during the 2019/2020 financial year, which ordered the municipality to prioritise sanitation-related projects. 'The decision came after the Human Rights Commission hearing into sewer pollution in the Vaal River,' he said. He added that at the time, Emfuleni had already allocated over R100 million to fully designed capital projects that were ready for construction. 'However, those projects were removed from the implementation plan by DCoG,' Sangweni stated.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Legislative subpoena adds to SAHRC complaint against Emfuleni municipality
The Emfuleni municipality has been accused of multiple service delivery failures and is subject to interventions under Operation Vulindlela. The Emfuleni municipality is being placed under increasing pressure by administrative forces. A complaint against the municipality has been submitted to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and officials have also drawn the ire of the Gauteng provincial legislature (GPL). Under phase two of Operation Vulindlela, Emfuleni is highlighted as one of the eight worst run municipalities in the country and is subject to national government intervention. SAHRC complaint The DA on Wednesday laid a complaint with the SAHRC, citing a violation of the right to access water and forcing residents to live in filth to due to regular sewerage spills. Emfuleni racked up R562 million in wasteful expenditure spent on overtime pay for service delivery projects that yielded little results. Additionally, the municipality returned R636 million of its municipal infrastructure grant despite its service delivery challenges. 'These failures reflect systemic corruption, mismanagement, and a disregard for residents' dignity,' stated the DA's SAHRC complaint lodged by Emfuleni North constituency head Kingsol Chabalala. 'The actions taken by the provincial government to place Emfuleni under administration, have not produced any significant advancements, and the residents still suffer due to poor governance at the provincial and local levels,' he said. Emfuleni municipality and the SAHRC were contacted for comment by The Citizen but no response had been received at the time of publication. GPL subpoena Emfuleni officials have been criticised by the GPL for not attending to service delivery requests and proposals set out by residents. The standing committee on petitions said that roughly only 12% of petitions submitted to the municipality received a formal response – some dating back to 2013. 'Alarmingly, no senior accountable officials from Emfuleni were present to respond to the remaining seven petitions or to account to the committee or the petitioners,' the GPL said on Thursday. ALSO READ: Mashatile: How national government is aiming to reform local municipalities Issues addressed in the unresolved petitions include the hijacking of properties, municipal rates disputes, relocation of informal settlement residents and a government housing project. The lack of response by the municipality has prompted the GPL to take further steps to receive answers. 'As a result, the committee has taken a firm and decisive decision. Emfuleni municipality will be subpoenaed to appear before the committee in the coming weeks. 'This is to ensure full accountability and progress on the petitions which remain unresolved to this day. The residents of Emfuleni deserve answers – not continued neglect. NOW READ: Emfuleni sewerage disaster continues despite multiple contractors being paid millions
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Umzinyathi to hike water tariffs in a bid to rise to numerous challenges
There will be a 17% hike in the water tariff when Umzinyathi District Municipality's budget comes into effect in July. This was said at Umzinyathi District Municipality's IDP/Budget meeting on April 1 at the Moth Hall in Dundee, where community members and officials gathered. The meeting was addressed by the local mayors, including Endumeni Councillor AM Mkhize and Umzinyathi's acting mayor, Councillor TH Mchunu. This meeting was the first of four planned consultations across the district, with additional sessions set to take place in Nquthu, Msinga and Umvoti. The purpose of the meeting was to provide the community with an update on the district's budget plan and to discuss improvements in service delivery. One key area of focus was the growing population in the Umzinyathi District, which now stands at 649,261. Among the concerns raised during the discussions were issues related to water and sanitation, particularly in rural areas. Many attendees emphasised the urgent need to repair and replace outdated water pipes, drainage pipes and sewerage infrastructure, which have been causing ongoing problems such as burst pipes and overflowing sewage, particularly in the Marikana, Glencoe area. The district municipality is reliant on government grants to make it viable, with these grants totalling R562 million in the next financial year (with over R300 million going to water and sanitation upgrades and projects) but no work allocated for Dundee and Glencoe, where residents earlier this year marched on the Princess Magogo building to express their anger over extended water cuts, effluent pollution and a lack of infrastructural maintenance. The total operating budget is R694 million, with about 43% of this going to salaries, which is well above the government standard of around 35%. Despite a huge slice of the budget going to salaries, one of the challenges listed by Umzinyathi District Municipality is 'a shortage of staff', which has been impacted by 'a cost-cutting strategy'. It was also admitted that faulty water meters and a poor billing system have affected revenue collection, as has illegal connections and an ageing water infrastructure that has led to massive leaks and wastage. It was also heard at the meeting that more 'will be done to solicit funding from NGOs and provincial departments and seek partnerships with private funders'. HAVE YOUR SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Maverick
23-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
State housing CEO promises ‘morale-boosting' payment to staff, including R600K personal cheque
Under fire from whistle-blowers, National Housing Finance Corporation CEO Azola Mayekiso has promised to give staff a lavish once-off payment, which if approved will see her take home nearly R600 000 in bonus pay. National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) CEO Azola Mayekiso appeared to have a staff problem within her state-owned agency, a body which is supposed to broaden access to housing finance for low- and middle-income South Africans. Whistle-blowers were laying complaints against her on a protected hotline and petitioning Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements for assistance. In the just-over two years she had been in her post, four key executives had left under her leadership: two taking early retirement, one accepting a settlement and one resigning. To boost morale, Mayekiso promised a once-off special payment to all staff — this at a government agency which met just 39% of its performance targets in the last audited year. In an email sent to all NHFC staff on 31 March, Mayekiso wrote: 'You will be pleased to note that management took a proposal to the Board last week for a once off [sic] ex-gratia [sic] payment to all staff in order to boost staff morale in the organisation.' Mayekiso wrote that the NHFC board, whose membership terms have since expired without a replacement board in place, had approved the payment subject to Mayekiso obtaining permission from Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane. 'This ex-gratia [sic] payment will be a once off [sic] 13% of your CTC [cost to company] for all staff but it will be 11% for executives,' wrote Mayekiso. The latest NHFC annual report revealed Mayekiso to be on an annual package of R5,113,000, meaning that she stood to take home around R562,430 as a once-off payment. The remaining eight executives would cumulatively net more than R3-million. Mayekiso's email continued: 'From a timing point of view, I am sending the letter to the Minister today and she will have the month of April to object if she so wishes. Should she not object, then we will pay out these once-off payments at the end of April 2025.' The CEO added, 'I hope this gesture goes a long way towards boosting your morale.' On 16 April, Daily Maverick reported on the allegations of misgovernance against Mayekiso and the exceptionally high board fees earned by the outgoing NHFC board. Daily Maverick was informed by an NHFC insider, who asked for anonymity, that Mayekiso suspended a senior official on the day of the article's publication — and subsequently emailed all staff once again. In that email, Mayekiso defended herself against the allegations recorded in our reporting. She wrote that staff were free to continue to use the NHFC's anonymous tip-off line, but added: 'What will not be tolerated at the NHFC is the abuse of the whistleblower hotline.' Mayekiso then appeared to suggest that the actions of a whistle-blower had placed the promised all-staff payments in jeopardy. 'Lastly, you might be asking yourselves questions about the implications of all of this on the once off ex-gratia [sic] payment that was approved by the outgoing board. Well, there is an individual at the NHFC who shared information outside the organisation to discredit the process of the ex-gratia [sic] payment, citing it as irregular. So, I do not know what this therefore means for the ex-gratia [sic] payment, but I thought I should share that with you.' Daily Maverick understands that disgruntled NHFC staff may now look to their union if the promised payment does not materialise. Auditor-General not aware of payments In a lengthy response sent to Daily Maverick this week, Mayekiso defended the proposed ex gratia payments. 'The environment at the NHFC is one of low staff morale due to the fact that there have been no bonuses paid since financial year 2022/23. In an attempt to address this, management took a proposal to the Board for them to consider showing goodwill to employees given the solid turn around [sic] in performance, by paying a once off ex-gratia [sic] payment to motivate employees to continue with the hard work.' The most recent Auditor-General's report shows that the NHFC met just 39% of its targets for the latest audited financial year. Mayekiso maintains, however, that the payments are justified because this represents a major turnaround from the 2022/2023 financial year, when just 19% of targets were met. Mayekiso continued: 'The Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and National Treasury (NT) guidelines state that voluntary ex-gratia [sic] payments can be made without admitting legal liability. The PFMA and Treasury regulations provide frameworks for managing and approving such payments, including transparency and accountability.' Treasury spokesperson Cleopatra Mosana told Daily Maverick: 'The enabling legislation of a public entity generally regulates how the remuneration framework for the board and staff is determined. For some public entities, this is determined or approved by the executive authority of the entity after consultation with or with the concurrence of the minister of finance.' The NHFC was established in 1996 in terms of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No 61 of 1973) and falls under Schedule 3 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999). Neither of the above pieces of legislation appears to refer to ex gratia, or 'act of grace', payments. The Auditor-General of SA's (AGSA's) spokesperson, Khutsafalo Mnisi, told Daily Maverick on Wednesday that the AGSA was unaware of the proposed NHFC ex gratia payments. 'The NHFC's performance bonus is subject to both the company performance and the individual employee performance, as well as the availability of funds and subject to the approval of the board. All bonus payments are within the scope of the AGSA annual regularity audit, and if there are any payments or provisions for such in the current audit cycle, those will be subjected to the regularity audit process,' said Mnisi. Ex gratia payments in South Africa's state-owned entities have happened in the past — but almost always controversially, and seemingly in the thick of State Capture. In 2014, it was revealed that the SABC under the leadership of Hlaudi Motsoeneng had paid employees a once-off ex gratia payment as part of a bonus payout amounting to R65.76-million. In 2015, i t was reported that Eskom under the leadership of Brian Molefe would also pay some employees ex gratia payments. Thembi Simelane says no crisis at Human Settlements Asked by Daily Maverick this week if Minister Thembi Simelane intended to approve the ex gratia payments, spokesperson Tsekiso Machike said it would be inappropriate for the minister to answer the NHFC's request through the media. 'The minister applies her mind to each matter brought before her on its own merits,' said Machike. Appearing before Parliament's Human Settlements Committee on Wednesday, however, Simelane told MPs that the 'morale' of NHFC staff was a concern and added that they had not been paid 'performance upgrades' for 'donkey years' — suggesting she was sympathetic to Mayekiso's proposal. Simelane also told Parliament that young female CEOs deserved support, and dismissed much of the concern around the NHFC as 'trivialities'. The department issued a statement last week denying DA MP Luyolo Mphithi's claim this month that there had been a 'catastrophic collapse of governance across several housing entities under the Department of Human Settlements'. In it, Simelane 'registered her displeasure' at the fact that the NHFC did not currently have a board in place but said she expected the process of appointing a new board to be concluded by May. 'There is no crisis at DHS entities. Whatever challenges they currently experience, they are not insurmountable and are being attended to,' read the statement. Simelane was moved from her position at the Department of Justice in December 2024 by President Cyril Ramaphosa following damning reporting by Daily Maverick's Pauli van Wyk and News24's Kyle Cowan on a dodgy loan Simelane took from the now-collapsed VBS Mutual Bank. Since then, Simelane has been further accused of fraudulently billing Eskom while in a previous position, prompting the DA to lay criminal charges against her as an act of protest at the fact that Ramaphosa has maintained her as a member of his Cabinet. DM
