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The Citizen
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Limpopo Speaker denies R6m luxury car claims
POLOKWANE – Limpopo Legislature Speaker Dr Makoma Makurupetje has denied allegations of extravagant spending after media reports claimed that over R6m in public money was used to procure two luxury vehicles – one apparently for her personal use. In response to the claims, Makurupetje has called for a full investigation into the legislature's vehicle procurement practices. She rejected reports suggesting she bypassed National Treasury guidelines, which cap the cost of official vehicles at R1.2m. 'I was really shocked to hear that a vehicle was bought for me, and I deny the R6.5m expenditure,' she said. Makurupetje clarified that upon assuming office in June, the official vehicle used by her predecessor had already exceeded its mileage limit, and the deputy speaker's vehicle had been involved in an accident. As a result, a procurement process for new vehicles was already underway before she and her deputy took office. She disclosed that the vehicle assigned to her cost R1.4m, while a Mercedes-Benz purchased for the deputy speaker cost R1.5m. Although both figures exceed the Treasury cap, she explained that the purchases fall under the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act of 2009 and not the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), which applies to other government entities. Makurupetje has ordered a detailed review to determine whether Treasury guidelines were breached. She also revealed that she recently learned of a third vehicle, which she has never seen. She is awaiting a full report from Legislature to clarify this issue. 'If it turns out that I was misled by the Secretary regarding the procurement of any vehicle, I will take decisive action,' she said. The Speaker also referred to ongoing forensic audits within the legislature, which were launched following the resignation of the chief financial officer and the suspension of another senior finance official. She suggested that the recent media reports may be linked to resistance to internal reforms underway in the legislature. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- The Citizen
North areas suffer blow to the tune of more than R6m due to cable theft
North areas suffer blow to the tune of more than R6m due to cable theft The metro has disclosed that Region 1, encompassing areas such as Rosslyn, Akasia, Pretoria North, Soshanguve, and Winterveldt, has experienced 243 incidents of cable theft since November 2024. The cost of repairing infrastructure damaged by these thefts amounts to more than R6.78-million for materials alone, excluding labour expenses. The incidents have led to frequent power outages, disrupting daily life and business operations. Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo emphasised the broader impact of cable theft, noting that it is a significant contributor to service delivery interruptions. 'Out of 1.1 million outages recorded across Tshwane last year, a substantial portion of up to 30% is attributed directly to theft and vandalism of power infrastructure,' stated Mashigo. MMC for Finance Eugene Modise said the metro has allocated more than R565-million to the installation of CCTV cameras, the recruitment of 200 more metro police officers from January, and deployment of security personnel to protect its assets, including electricity infrastructure. 'Tshwane is woefully under-protected and we are pursuing a consolidated asset protection strategy that includes both physical security and advanced technological solutions,' said Modise. He added that the metro plans to incorporate modern technology, such as motion detectors and smart surveillance tools, to support and strengthen the efforts of ground security teams. Rosslyn, a key industrial hub in Region 1, has been particularly affected. The Rosslyn Improvement District (RID) has reported disruptions to manufacturing and logistics operations due to the outages. Nico Venter of RID said the district has collaborated with security companies to enhance security measures, including the installation of motion detectors and CCTV cameras at main entrances and increased patrols. 'We are putting up CCTV cameras and motion detectors in some of the electrical infrastructure in the Rosslyn area. And should any suspicious vehicle come into Rosslyn, it is going to be recognised,' said Venter. Residents have expressed growing frustration over the recurring power outages. Akasia resident Joyce Coetzee highlighted the daily challenges posed by the lack of electricity. 'We depend on electricity for everything, from running our appliances to maintaining a comfortable home, and even for our children's education. 'We've been living in the darkness too often lately, and it's unfair. Service delivery continues to be an issue, and our voices are being ignored.' The metro has taken steps to address the issue. Plans are underway to install surveillance cameras at substations undergoing refurbishment. 'This will assist the security personnel to see any intruders at our substations and react on time,' said Mashigo. He said the metro is exploring long-term strategies, such as replacing overhead cables with underground alternatives, to deter theft. However, the feasibility of this solution is limited by physical constraints, such as the availability of servitudes and space to install cables at the required depth of 1m to 1.5m. Residents are urged to participate in community policing forums (CPFs) and assist in neighbourhood patrols to safeguard infrastructure. 'Community members are at liberty to join the CPFs and/or assist in patrolling their neighbourhoods,' said Mashigo. Cable theft in Region 1 of Tshwane has posed a significant challenge, impacting both the economy and quality of life for residents. While the city is implementing measures to combat the issue, community involvement remains crucial in safeguarding essential infrastructure and ensuring consistent service delivery. Nicky Smit of Maximum Security said they continue to patrol the electricity infrastructure in the north in efforts to combat cable theft. Jacques Venter, Representative of the United Independent Movement, said the cable theft situation is not only a severe inconvenience but a blatant infringement on these citizens' rights to essential services. He said children need to go to school, be clean and eat a meal, while old and sick people depend on oxygen to survive. 'There are several old age homes as well as frail care facilities in Akasia that are dependent on electricity and water to care for people who desperately need medical care to be able to live, and without basic services, how would they survive? 'Should we just accept that they have to die because Tshwane has no urgency to attend to and fix the problem?' He said they demand transparency and accountability, not promises and misinformation. 'The residents were told to buy the needed fuses themselves, which cost them R3 600, which is, as a matter of fact, theft by Tshwane metro. 'They were also told by Tshwane Rosslyn that they can go ahead and fit the fuses themselves. The money that residents had to spend on fuses that were needed is unacceptable. Why was it not outsourced from another municipal area?' ALSO READ: Wonderboom airport positioned as SA's future cargo powerhouse 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!
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SIU takes aim at Hlaudi Motsoeneng for challenging court findings
The SIU to seek costs against former South African Broadcasting Corporation's CEO Hllaudi Motsoeneng for appealing a ruling of the Constitutional Court Image: Picture: Matthews Baloyi / January 28, 2015 The head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Andy Mothibi, confirmed on Wednesday that the agency plans to request appropriate costs against former SABC CEO Hlaudi Motsoeneng following his appeal to the Constitutional Court challenging previous adverse findings made against him. This development comes after Motsoeneng filed an application for leave to appeal to the apex court, subsequent to the SIU successfully overturning a R11.5 million bonus awarded to him, which must now be repaid. Briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Mothibi said Motsoeneng was challenging their findings from lower courts to the Supreme Court of Appeal all the way to the Constitutional Court. 'He is going back to the Constitutional Court to review or rescind their judgment. This is where we will be qualified to say there is abuse of court process. We will ask for appropriate costs,' he said. Mothibi charged that Motsoeneng was really abusing the legal process. 'This is really to show that, to a greater extent, he really believes that either he should not be investigated. I can't just put my head onto it.' However, Mothibi said anyone has the right to legal recourse. 'It is his right to challenge the findings that are adverse to him. In the context of litigation process, I am of the view he is really abusing the legal process, particularly once the Constitutional Court has made a ruling,' he said. Mothibi made the comments when the SIU briefed Scopa about the investigations it has conducted at the SABC. The investigations emanated from proclamations authorised between 2010 and 2024. Chief national investigating officer Zodwa Xesibe told the MPs that a proclamation was issued in 2017 following a parliamentary inquiry into the SABC affairs. Xesibe said the investigation covered contracts, including the sale of the public broadcaster's archives. SIU legal counsel Ntuthuzelo Vanara said one of the matters related to the R11.5 million bonus paid to Motsoeneng as 'success fee' that was set aside. 'The bonus amount increased from R11.5m because of interest to R18m. Of that amount, there has been R6m that would have been paid from his pension benefit. "We finalised this matter,' Vanara said. However, the court had ordered Motsoeneng's legal fees paid by SABC be repaid to the tune of R1.2m. 'He had apparently used SABC to pay his personal matters with a personal attorney. We recovered R851 981 together with interest.' The former CEO lost an appeal bid and SABC pension fund payout to the tune of R6.4m. Vanara also said a R52m contract with Vision View was set aside and R7m contract with Mott MacDonald, among others. In a presentation to the Scopa, the SIU reported that Mjayeli Security was appealing a court decision that set aside the contract it was awarded after it was found to have come second in the winning bidders.
Zawya
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Local EV startup Zimi gets $318,574 backing to pioneer vehicle-to-grid tech in South Africa
Zimi, a local provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for fleets, has received R6m in grant funding from the EEP Africa Trust Fund to support its V2G Integration of Electric Vehicles in South Africa project, an initiative aimed at unlocking the potential of EVs to supply power back to homes, businesses, and the national grid. The EEP Africa Trust Fund, a prominent financier of clean energy innovation across Southern and East Africa, recently approved a portfolio of 32 new projects from over 530 applicants — with Zimi among the few selected. 'Our project, supported by EEP Africa, positions Zimi at the forefront of energy and EV charging innovation,' said Michael Maas, CEO of Zimi. 'V2G technology is not just about electric vehicles — it's about transforming EVs into mobile energy storage assets that enhance grid stability, drive energy efficiency, and empower a more resilient, sustainable energy future for South Africa.' As load shedding and grid instability continue to affect South Africa's energy landscape, vehicle-to-grid solutions offer an urgent and practical answer. The announcement follows the recent launch of the Volvo EX90 in South Africa — one of the first EVs in the country with bi-directional charging capabilities. This allows the vehicle to supply power to external devices and infrastructures, laying the groundwork for V2G applications. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
