Latest news with #Section79
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Progress on streetlight petition for Ward 82 slow as residents demand action
Progress on streetlight petition for Ward 82 slow as residents demand action A petition submitted to the Tshwane Council calling for streetlight repairs in Ward 82 remains unresolved, despite complaints from residents and questions about the speed and fairness of service delivery in the metro. According to the metro, the matter is scheduled to be revisited at the Section 79 Committee meeting on August 21. Councillor Siobhan Muller, who represents Ward 82 in the east of Tshwane, raised the issue during a Council sitting where she submitted the petition. She alleged that during the session, one of the MMCs shouted that he would come and 'switch off the lights in Ward 82'. The metro did not respond to the allegations made against the MMC. 'This is the kind of treatment residents in the east of the city are getting from the new ANC, EFF, and ActionSA-led administration,' said Muller. She called out the mayor and asked, 'Where are you to protect all the people who pay rates and taxes and pay your salary?' Some residents argue that progress has been slow and that Ward 82 may not be receiving the same level of attention as other areas. Among them is Herman Le Roux, a resident of Lynnwood, who has been battling the streetlight issue for two years. Le Roux added that they have sent files and maps, but they're not getting any support. 'The issue of streetlights poses safety and security risks. We need to get it fixed.' In response, Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba confirmed that the petition had been formally accepted. 'The speaker of the council officially acknowledged the receipt of the petition during the Council meeting, during which the ward councillor submitted the petition on behalf of the residents of Ward 82. Bokaba said the petition was referred to the relevant department for investigation. 'The petition, along with the departmental feedback, will be brought back to the committee for further deliberation and resolution,' he added. He said the matter is scheduled to be revisited at the Section 79 Committee meeting on August 21. Bokaba stated that the metro's Petition By-law provides a 90-day window to resolve it. 'Councillors may raise issues in Council or write formally to the Section 79 chairperson for petitions or the speaker to follow up on outstanding petitions.' ALSO READ: Court battle looms as metro moves to revive scrapped levy Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] 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.
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Sahyog is ‘wolf in sheep's clothing', X Corp tells Karnataka HC
X Corp on Friday accused the Union government of using the 'innocuously named' Sahyog portal as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' to issue illegal content blocking orders that bypass statutory safeguards, escalating its legal challenge against what it calls an unconstitutional censorship mechanism. Sahyog is 'wolf in sheep's clothing', X Corp tells Karnataka HC Appearing before the Karnataka High Court, senior advocate KG Raghavan argued further on the company's core content that the government was misusing Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act and Rule 3(1)(d) of the 2021 IT Rules to circumvent due process protections upheld by the Supreme Court in the landmark Shreya Singhal case. 'It is innocuously named but it is a wolf in sheep's clothing. We are a responsible business and we will abide by the law of every country we operate in. But the question is what is the correct law?' Raghavan told Justice M Nagaprasanna. 'The same grounds of sovereignty, integrity, public order are used under Section 69A. Then why use Section 79 at all? This amounts to a dangerous circumvention of law,' he argued. The hearing represented the latest round in X's challenge to the government's directive mandating social media platforms join the Sahyog portal, a centralised system for content takedown requests that the company argues violates constitutional principles. X's core argument centres on the interpretation of Section 79 of the IT Act, which provides 'safe harbour' protection to intermediaries from legal liability for user-generated content. The platform contends this provision is a protective shield rather than an empowering mechanism for government officials to issue takedown orders. In detailed written submissions filed on Friday, seen by HT, X introduced a 'preceding order' theory, arguing that intermediaries lose safe harbour protection only when there is a court order, a Section 69A order, or another statute that explicitly authorises blocking. The company argued that 'unlawful act' in Section 79(3)(b) must refer only to those three circumstances. 'It is pertinent to mention that the government adopted this interpretation only recently — 25 years after S.79 was enacted and 16 years after the current version of S.79(3)(b) went into effect,' X stated in its submissions, adding that thousands of officers across central ministries, state agencies and police departments now believe Section 79 gives them authority to direct content blocking. 'If your interpretation of Section 79 is accepted, then any officer in this country can decide what is lawful or not, on a purely subjective basis. This is absurd and shocking. It allows officers to be both accuser and judge,' Raghavan argued in court. The government has revealed that 38 intermediaries including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Telegram have joined the portal, with Meta currently testing integration. X remains the most prominent holdout, arguing the system allows thousands of government officials to issue content blocking orders without proper judicial oversight. Raghavan emphasised that empowering multiple government officials to issue takedown notices based on their discretion erodes the statutory safe harbour protection granted to intermediaries. He maintained that Section 79 should be understood as 'a statutory right, not an exemption granted at the government's discretion.' 'The fear psychosis being created undermines constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 19,' he said, arguing that procedural safeguards under Section 69A remain the only lawful route to block online content. The arguments built on X's broader constitutional challenge that the government is creating parallel blocking mechanisms that bypass safeguards required under Section 69A, which the Supreme Court upheld in Shreya Singhal provided proper due process protections are followed. X's written submissions also addressed several government arguments made in earlier hearings. The company rejected claims that internet speech should be subject to greater restrictions than traditional media, noting this argument was 'narrated by them in Shreya Singhal, which was rejected then.' X maintained that 'the right to free speech remains the same across all mediums, and the broader reach of the internet does not justify lowering the threshold for restrictions.' The platform also disputed the government's contention that the Shreya Singhal precedent is no longer valid because it relied on the US case Reno v. ACLU, which they claim has been questioned in later American rulings. X argued that Shreya Singhal 'remains binding in India under Article 141, no matter the status of Reno in the US,' emphasising that only a larger Supreme Court bench can overturn the precedent. The platform also cited three US Supreme Court cases to argue that laws like Rule 3(1)(d) and systems like the Sahyog Portal, which 'shift the burden onto people to prove their speech is lawful, violate the First Amendment [of the American constitution].' The Karnataka High Court will continue hearing the matter on July 29, when senior advocate KG Raghavan is expected to present arguments based on X's comprehensive written submissions filed on Friday.
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA denies claims of councillor's removal due to sangoma practices
Former DA ward councillor Nosipho Matakati is set to contest the ward 98 by-election on Wednesday under the EFF banner, amid controversy surrounding her expulsion from the DA. Image: Supplied/EFF The DA in Tshwane has dismissed claims that its former ward 98 councillor Nosipho Mtakati was removed from her position for being a sangoma. The DA said Mtakati, who is set to contest the ward 98 by-election tomorrow under the EFF banner, was actually expelled from the DA due to poor performance and allegations of being intoxicated on multiple occasions. The allegations that Mtakati was removed from the DA due to her sangoma practices emerged during a campaign stop ahead of the by-election, where both Matakati and EFF regional leader Obakeng Ramabodu made the claim. Ramabodu accused the DA of actively pursuing a campaign to replace black leaders at both national and local government levels, adding that Mtakati's removal from the party stemmed from her being a sangoma. 'We took her because we respect our culture. She is now contesting under the EFF banner. Please vote to retain her as ward councillor on July 9, 2025. Nosipho will continue to deliver services under ward 98,' he said. DA caucus chief whip Ofentse Madzebatela dismissed the allegations as untrue, saying that Mtakati's lack of commitment to her work as a councillor was the reason for her sacking. 'I can assure you that she was not removed because she is a sangoma and it is very sad when someone, who the party gave an opportunity to serve and the person failed to execute her duties,' he said. He said numerous complaints had been lodged against Mtakati, citing her unresponsiveness to public queries, unavailability to communities, and ultimately her poor performance as a legislator in the city. He alleged that Mtakati had skipped meetings of the Section 79 committee as well as council and caucus meetings, which ultimately led to her expulsion. Madzebatela said the DA took Mtakati through disciplinary processes, setting specific targets for her performance, including attending meetings and canvassing in her ward. However, she failed to meet these targets, even after revised targets were set by the national federal legal council. 'There are other councillors in the DA who are also going through the same process. It is not an issue of whether the person is a sangoma. It is an issue of performance. You will see that in the coming weeks there will be other councillors who will also be facing similar sanctions,' he said. The ward 98 constituency, where the by-election will take place on July 9, includes areas such as Wonderpark, Akasia, Orchards, Karen Park, and Amandasig. The DA is fielding Mickey van der Westhuizen, a dedicated community activist, in the by-election. The party claims Van der Westhuizen has its full backing and is committed to driving real change. Meanwhile, the ANC has nominated Papi Horoto, describing him as a loyal and capable cadre with a track record of activism.
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Tshwane launches new strategy to tackle GBV
In a decisive move to fight gender-based violence (GBV), the Tshwane metro officially launched a strategic response to co-ordinate and prevent these crimes that target women and children in the metro. The initiative was launched on May 28. Led by the MMC for Community and Social Development, Palesa Modise, the initiative marked a turning point in the city's approach to GBV. According to Section 79 chairperson for Community and Social Development, Rebecca Monchusi, the initiative addresses something South Africans have long demanded. 'It moves us away from symbolic condemnation towards co-ordinated, actionable prevention and intervention,' Monchusi said. She emphasised that GBV is not a peripheral issue, so it must be recognised as a national emergency. 'We are losing lives daily. In the third quarter of the 2024/25 reporting year alone, over 11 700 rape cases were reported in South Africa – an average of 130 per day. These are not just numbers, they are shattered families, silenced voices, and broken communities,' said Monchusi. She said that the multiparty initiative demonstrates the kind of proactive leadership that Tshwane desperately needs. Monchusi added that for months, civil society has been calling for GBV to be declared a national disaster, demanding urgent and co-ordinated action across all spheres of government. 'This initiative tells of the commitment of the multiparty government of the City of Tshwane and has the potential to shift the national tone. This is no longer about waiting for top-down solutions,' explained Monchusi. She said Tshwane is leading through action and the resolve of knowing that it is possible to respond with urgency, empathy, and strategy. She highlighted the importance of this strategy being rooted in partnership between the government, civil society, communities, and survivors themselves. 'Tshwane must not only react to the violence once it happens, but it must also work to prevent it, support those affected, and transform the systems that have allowed GBV to persist unchecked,' said Mochusi. ALSO READ: Brooklyn remains SA's top hotspot for vehicle theft despite national decline 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
30-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Tshwane BRT project faces R15 million irregular expenditure amid delays
The City of Tshwane is hopeful that a delayed project to construct a bus rapid transit route, known as Line 2C, in Pretoria East, will be completed this month. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers A Tshwane council report has revealed that an ongoing bus rapid transit (BRT) project in Pretoria East has incurred a staggering amount of R15 million in irregular expenditure. The DA first raised allegations of irregular expenditure on the project in March, but the city failed to respond to media inquiries about the claims. However, a council report showed that the project's budget was increased by R15 million due to delays, which also led to a request for a time extension to complete the project. The report cited specific delays, including late payment of the June 2023 payment certificate, prompting the contractor to request an extension. Other delays were the relocation of a 700mm bulk water main pipeline, which halted work on a 400m road section, and the construction of a new retaining wall for a median slip lane due to level differences between the east and westbound roads. The report noted that the project faced typical challenges for its scale, including delayed payments to subcontractors and labourers. This, according to the report, caused work to slow down at the start of the month, only gaining momentum after payments were made. The report was compiled after the Section 79 oversight committee for the municipal Department of Roads and Transport inspected the A Re Yeng Line 2B and 2C Lynwood Road Expansion project. The committee was updated on the project's progress and challenges, learning that it was 82% complete with an expected completion date of April 2025. 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 committee was informed that the outstanding work included walkways and a cycle lane, and despite challenges, the project timeline remained on track. Councillor Brendon Govender questioned the project's 82% completion status given the remaining work, and requested a more comprehensive report with detailed information. On the other hand, DA councillor Dikeledi Selowa asked questions about the project's expenditure, public participation outcomes, and the resurfacing of new roads. The project consisted of two work packages, which included upgrading intersections along Lynnwood Road and Atterbury Road, from University Road to Justice Mahomed Road. The work included upgrading the existing Kings Highway Culvert, sewer diversion, and water relocation. The construction involved relocating existing services like waterlines, widening intersections, and adding lanes. In March, the DA demanded a thorough investigation into the delays plaguing the construction of Line 2C, a BRT route in Pretoria East. At the time, Selowa expressed concern that the Line 2C route project had allegedly accumulated R15 million in irregular expenditure. She criticised the city for not fulfilling its promises, especially regarding replanting trees removed during the project. She also said the DA plans to scrutinise the project's financials to assess whether the city got value for money spent on each item. The city had previously approved an extension of time and variation of scope for the Line 2C project, pushing the completion date to April 18, 2025. Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the project missed the deadline due to persistent rains, 'and there is an extension of time until the end of June, which does not have cost implications'. Regarding the claim that the city incurred R15 million in irregular expenditure, he said: 'There is no irregular cost that has been incurred.' This decision was made due to changes in scope, including relocating a 700mm water pipeline and constructing a new retaining wall to prevent collapses. Mashigo had not yet responded to the DA's allegations that the BRT project had incurred R15 million in irregular expenditure due to delays, nor had he commented on potential consequences for those responsible, or the city's planned consequence management measures. He had also not confirmed whether the contractor met the April 18 deadline.
