Latest news with #Unica
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Unica fires back to 'clear the disinformation'
In a bold statement sent to stakeholders yesterday, Unica sought to 'clear the disinformation' surrounding serious allegations of human trafficking and the employment of undocumented foreign nationals. Unica Iron and Steel (Pty) Ltd has broken its silence, launching a scathing counteroffensive against what it calls a 'concerted effort by sinister agents' to discredit the company. In a bold statement sent to stakeholders yesterday, Unica sought to 'clear the disinformation' surrounding serious allegations of human trafficking and the employment of undocumented foreign nationals. The response comes after a series of raids by the Department of Home Affairs following controversy over the company's operations. The company denied that the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) had uncovered systemic violations following a whistleblower its official rebuttal, Unica expressed 'great concern' at what it described as malicious and baseless rumours being perpetuated by repetitive false statements. 'We are a big organisation, we employ 1100 people, 96% of which are South African. We pay competitive salaries, in many cases above our competitors. The department of Home Affairs has been to our site many times and they found no evidence of the issues cited in the media' the CEO Mohammed Qasim said. 'These false allegations, including human trafficking and the employment of undocumented foreigners, are categorically denied,' the statement read. The company emphasised that it has been the subject of multiple recent inspections by the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour, none of which have resulted in adverse findings. 'Most importantly,' the statement continued, 'no arrests were made of undocumented nationals, and no adverse findings were issued against any employee, local or foreign, by Home Affairs.' The company added that the most recent inspection occurred just a week ago and strangely coincided with a scheduled visit from representatives of the IDC. Unica is currently locked in a legal battle with the IDC, following the latter's decision to blacklist the company, its directors, and associated entities based on a forensic audit prompted by the anonymous allegations. The audit accused Unica of financial irregularities, immigration breaches, and fraudulent transactions, including R6 million in payments to related entities like KGN Engineering. Seeking legal recourse, Unica filed an urgent High Court application in February 2025. The court granted an interdict temporarily preventing the IDC from maintaining Unica on its delinquent register. According to Van de Merwe Attorneys, who are representing Unica, the IDC has since formally removed Unica's name from the list pending the outcome of a broader judicial review. In closing, the company vowed to 'maintain its sound business principles, good products, and exceptional service' in the face of adversity. 'We will continue to provide job security to our employees and contribute meaningfully to the South African economy. We are deeply grateful to the communities of Hammanskraal and Babelegi for their unwavering support.'
The Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
The Rise, Fall, and Fight of Unica Iron and Steel
Once a pillar of South Africa's steel industry, Unica Iron and Steel (Pty) Ltd now finds itself entangled in a legal storm threatening its very existence. At the heart of the turmoil lies a bitter dispute with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), sparked by allegations of immigration violations, financial misconduct, and misrepresentation. The controversy began with an anonymous tip-off to the IDC. The whistleblower alleged disturbing human rights abuses at Unica's Babelegi, Hammanskraal facility, including claims of human trafficking, modern slavery, and the employment of roughly 100 Indian expatriates with expired or fraudulent visas. Prompted by these claims, the IDC launched a forensic audit, which unearthed a series of troubling irregularities. The audit report was damning. It revealed the employment of undocumented foreign workers, misappropriation of millions of rands, and questionable transactions involving related entities such as KGN Engineering, Unica Plastics, and Unica Textiles. Payments totalling R6 million to KGN Engineering between June and November 2023 were deemed irregular, and the IDC accused the company of using labour brokers to dodge immigration regulations. In response, the IDC blacklisted Unica, its directors, and affiliated entities, citing violations of its Delinquent Policy. The backlash was immediate. Unica's Managing Director, Mohammed Asif Qasim, firmly denied the allegations. He blamed administrative delays by the Department of Home Affairs and lingering COVID-19 disruptions for any compliance lapses. Qasim stressed that Unica had always sought to operate within the law and was actively engaging with government departments to resolve the issues. Despite these assurances, the fallout was swift and severe. The Department of Home Affairs raided Unica's premises shortly after the IDC's report. Officials reportedly found several undocumented workers on-site, strengthening the case against the company. With Unica's name blacklisted, clients began to waver. Gavin Marshall, a senior manager at major industry player Macsteel, voiced concerns about continuing the supplier relationship, reflecting the unease spreading through the sector. Unica, however, was not prepared to go down without a fight. In early February 2025, the company filed an urgent application in the High Court, seeking interim relief from the IDC's decision. The court granted a temporary interdict, preventing the IDC from listing Unica and its directors on the delinquent register pending a full judicial review. This legal lifeline, though, did little to repair the reputational damage. At its height, Unica Iron and Steel employed over 1 100 people and was a critical contributor to the local economy. Its rapid growth and consistent delivery had earned it respect across the industry. But the storm of allegations has cast a long shadow over its legacy. Now, as the legal proceedings unfold, the company's future hangs in the balance. The outcome of the judicial review will not only determine Unica's fate but may also redefine how development finance institutions and industrial players navigate the complex terrain of compliance, ethics, and accountability. Van de Merwe Attorneys, on behalf of Unica Iron and Steel, responded: 'At the outset, we state that our client denies any wrongdoing on its part. The aspects that you require our client to respond to formed the subject of an urgent court application brought by Unica Irion and Steel against the IDC. ''The result of the urgent application was that the IDC consented to remove the name of our clients from its delinquent list pending the outcome of a review application to review the decision of the IDC. ''We received confirmation from the IDC that the names of all the applicants had been removed as per the court order. We enclose a copy of the court order for your.''
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
The Rise, Fall, and Fight of Unica Iron and Steel
The IDC blacklisted Unica, its directors, and affiliated entities, citing violations of its Delinquent Policy. Once a pillar of South Africa's steel industry, Unica Iron and Steel (Pty) Ltd now finds itself entangled in a legal storm threatening its very existence. At the heart of the turmoil lies a bitter dispute with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), sparked by allegations of immigration violations, financial misconduct, and misrepresentation. The controversy began with an anonymous tip-off to the IDC. The whistleblower alleged disturbing human rights abuses at Unica's Babelegi, Hammanskraal facility, including claims of human trafficking, modern slavery, and the employment of roughly 100 Indian expatriates with expired or fraudulent visas. Prompted by these claims, the IDC launched a forensic audit, which unearthed a series of troubling irregularities. The audit report was damning. It revealed the employment of undocumented foreign workers, misappropriation of millions of rands, and questionable transactions involving related entities such as KGN Engineering, Unica Plastics, and Unica Textiles. Payments totalling R6 million to KGN Engineering between June and November 2023 were deemed irregular, and the IDC accused the company of using labour brokers to dodge immigration regulations. In response, the IDC blacklisted Unica, its directors, and affiliated entities, citing violations of its Delinquent Policy. The backlash was immediate. Unica's Managing Director, Mohammed Asif Qasim, firmly denied the allegations. He blamed administrative delays by the Department of Home Affairs and lingering COVID-19 disruptions for any compliance lapses. Qasim stressed that Unica had always sought to operate within the law and was actively engaging with government departments to resolve the issues. Despite these assurances, the fallout was swift and severe. The Department of Home Affairs raided Unica's premises shortly after the IDC's report. Officials reportedly found several undocumented workers on-site, strengthening the case against the company. With Unica's name blacklisted, clients began to waver. Gavin Marshall, a senior manager at major industry player Macsteel, voiced concerns about continuing the supplier relationship, reflecting the unease spreading through the sector. Unica, however, was not prepared to go down without a fight. In early February 2025, the company filed an urgent application in the High Court, seeking interim relief from the IDC's decision. The court granted a temporary interdict, preventing the IDC from listing Unica and its directors on the delinquent register pending a full judicial review. This legal lifeline, though, did little to repair the reputational damage. At its height, Unica Iron and Steel employed over 1 100 people and was a critical contributor to the local economy. Its rapid growth and consistent delivery had earned it respect across the industry. But the storm of allegations has cast a long shadow over its legacy. Now, as the legal proceedings unfold, the company's future hangs in the balance. The outcome of the judicial review will not only determine Unica's fate but may also redefine how development finance institutions and industrial players navigate the complex terrain of compliance, ethics, and accountability.
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Inside RTE star Joanna Donnelly's ‘elegant' Dublin home from DIY touches to ‘beautiful' green garden
RTE star Joanna Donnelly has given fans a glimpse at her "elegant" Dublin home with DIY touches and a gorgeous green garden. The meteorologist announced her departure from the national broadcaster during her final forecast on RTE's Nine O'Clock News on Monday night. Advertisement 7 Joanna Donnelly and her husband have three kids together Credit: Instagram / @joannadonnellyl 7 Joanna and her family live in Portmarnock Credit: Instagram / @joannadonnellyl 7 Joanna often shares snippets of her house Credit: Instagram / @joannadonnellyl The former contestant revealed that she left the station as she felt it was the family. The 54-year-old is married to fellow forecaster, Harm Luijkx, who hails from The . The couple bought their new-build in Portmarnock, Dublin, back in 2006. They live there with their three children, a daughter Nicci, and two sons, Tobias and Casper. Advertisement read more on joanna donnelly Joanna often shares snippets of her DIY projects and house renovations over on Instagram. The weather woman decided to spruce up her front door in 2023 after "15 years of abuse and bad paint jobs". And while she could have bought a new door, she wanted to do a DIY job on it. After stripping it with a heat gun, she sanded it "within an inch of its life" and painted the "ugly worn brass strip on the threshold with metal paint". Advertisement read more on the irish sun She got someone to take out the panels and replaced them with sidelights and "exquisite bevelled" door panels. Joanna coated the stunning new door and frame with "Unica paint" which was a "beautiful satin finish in an oil based paint". Joanna Donnelly breaks silence on exit from RTE She wrapped an absolutely breathtaking wisteria plant around the door frame. The mum-of-three was delighted with the results and said: "Love love love my finished project." Advertisement And her fans equally loved the results and called it "stunning and so elegant". Joanna also restored her beloved hawthorn hedge which was there when they moved in and was previously hidden b ehind a nondescript wood panelled fence . The meteorologist said she "loves the messy overgrown line of trees". She enjoys laying beside the "messy overgrown trees" in her hammock, which is strategically placed in front of the bushes. Advertisement 'FABULOUS' Joanna also likes to relax at her garden patio where she can pop on the fire in winter and enjoys BBQ's in the summer. Another place Joanna spends a lot of time in is her beautiful kitchen, which has sliding ceiling doors for the ideal indoor-outdoor living. They have a large dining table in the middle of the open-plan room and a white sofa in front of the fire place. Joanna often shares stunning snaps of the room perfectly decorated for family gatherings and occasions such as Christmas. Advertisement The author's friends and fans have gushed over the snippets shared on Instagram. Carmel said: "Just beautiful Joanna, it looks like a home and not just a house." Karen commented: "That's absolutely fabulous Joanna." Denise added: "Absolutely fabulous! Must be so lovely to come home to!" Advertisement 7 Joanna took on a DIY project on her front door two years ago Credit: Instagram / @joannadonnellyl 7 Joanna 'loved' the finish result of her door Credit: Instagram / @joannadonnellyl 7 Joanna relaxes at her garden patio Credit: Instagram / @joannadonnellyl 7 Joanna's fans have complimented her house and garden Credit: Instagram / @joannadonnellyl Advertisement
