South Africa Vision

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has concluded its investigation into the R15.3 million tender awarded by the Limpopo Provincial Government for the construction of 192 transitional residential areas, popularly known as Talana shacks.

The SIU investigation has revealed that the tender was fraudulently obtained. The appointed service provider, Aventine Group CC, made misrepresentations and forged documents of industry experts with no links to the company to influence the direction of the bid.

In July 2020, Premier Stanley Mathabatha referred allegations to the SIU with regard to the construction of shacks for hostel dwellers during the national state of disaster by the Limpopo Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements & Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA).

The SIU was, in terms of Proclamation R23 of 2020, directed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption, malpractice, maladministration and irregularities in the procurement of goods and services during the Covid-19 state of disaster.

Limpopo COGHSTA identified a number of densely populated informal settlements in Limpopo Province which made it difficult to observe social distancing as per Covid-19 regulations. Priority was given to two settlements, Talana Hostel in Tzaneen and Burgersfort Ext. 10, which required urgent attention in the form of a partial relocation.

The investigation revealed that COGHSTA appointed an implementing agent, the Housing Development Agency (“HDA”) for the establishment of transitional residential areas. HDA then appointed a service provider, Aventino, to construct 192 units to sum of R12.3 million. An extension of scope was approved to include the construction of 152 pit toilets and installation of three water tanks (10 000 litres), for additional fee of R3 million, taking the contract value to R15.3 million.

The service provider only managed to construct 40 shacks at Talana Hostel and submitted two invoices totalling over R2.5 million, which were paid between April and October 2020. In Burgersfort Ext.10 site, no structure was completed as there were only half build ones. In line with SIU Act 74 of 1996, the SIU has referred evidence pointing to criminal action against the director of the Aventine Ms Constance Mohlala to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action. As a result, Ms Mohlala was arrested by the Hawks in December 2020 -Polokwane Case: 384/12/2020- and she is facing criminal charges for submitting fraudulent documents to influence the direction of a tender.

Furthermore, the SIU made a referral to HDA recommending that the service provider be restricted from doing business with government. The matter has been escalated by HDA to the National Treasury for consideration.

In addition to the above mentioned referrals, the SIU is in the process of instituting civil proceedings in the Special Tribunal to review and set aside the R15.3 million contract and recover financial losses suffered by the State.

Source: Government of South Africa

The best support that can be given to the agricultural sector is a well-run, efficient, financially sound municipality

Yesterday, the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, accompanied by the Executive Mayor of the Cape Winelands District Municipality, Dr Helena von Schlicht, addressed local farmers in Tulbagh.

During the address, Minister Meyer highlighted the importance of agriculture in the Witzenberg region.

Minister Meyer: “The Agriculture Sector contributes 13% and agri processing another 12% to the economy of Witzenburg. The agricultural value chain employs 33 % of the labour force in the region.”

Responding to questions raised regarding rural safety and the support provided by the local municipality to the Agricultural Sector, Meyer stressed that the Western Cape Government viewed rural safety as a critical priority.

“It is for this reason that we have established a rural safety desk to monitor incidences of farm attacks. Through our court watching briefs, we can also ensure that reported cases are professionally investigated and prosecuted. For further information, please email [email protected](link sends e-mail) .”

“Growing the economy, creating jobs, and facilitating wellbeing and dignity within our communities is the strategic focus of the Western Cape Government. An attack on a farmer or an agri-worker is an attack on the dignity of our communities. It is also an attack on the rural economy of the Western Cape.”

“Agriculture is dependent on reliable water and energy sources as well as good rural road infrastructure. So, the best support that can be given to the Agricultural Sector by a municipality is a well-run, efficient, financially sound municipality that can provide water and energy security.”

“We also continue to engage with the relevant authorities to address the inefficiencies in the Port of Cape Town, which is bedevilling the export of agricultural produce from the Western Cape.”

“Commercial agriculture in the Western Cape contributed R 64.4 billion in revenue in 2017. Improving the Port of Cape Town operations ensures that agriculture continues to create jobs and grow the economy,” concludes Meyer.

Source: Government of South Africa

In an effort to ensure that all clients are attended to, the Mpumalanga Department of Employment and Labour through its entities led by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will be embarking on a campaign of “Taking services to the people of Secunda”.

The two-day campaign is set to take place from Thursday, 16 September 2021 at the Mall@emba.

In a bid to help mitigate the queues outside labour centres, a number of services will be rendered to the people. These include COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) enquiries, new UIF applications, claims assessment, processing of payments, resolution of UIF enquiries, work-seeker registration and inspection services.

Mpumalanga Chief Director of Provincial Operations (CDPO), Margaret Mazibuko said: “The province will be implementing the integrated services of the department in a single campaign in line with the district service delivery campaign. This requires government departments to work in an integrated manner to deliver service that is responsive, adaptive and brings development to where it is needed most, effectively, efficiently and economically.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Employment and Labour is encouraged by the high rate of compliance with labour legislation, which stood at 96% in one week of the joint blitz inspection in Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape.

The department on Monday applauded high compliance with labour legislation in the Sunday’s River Valley Local Municipality with some concerns that remain.

The Provincial Head of department, Nomfundo Douw-Jack said that the continued scourge of the employment of illegal immigrants remains a concern, which does not only impacts negatively on law enforcement but also the unemployment rate.

“Employees are encouraged to attend the information session as it will help them to understand their rights and responsibilities and be able to report employers who may be non-compliant,” Jack said.

The joint operation continues this week and will end with an advocacy session meant to empower employees about the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, National Minimum Wage Act, Unemployment Insurance Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, Immigration Act as well as information about COVID-19 and vaccination.

The advocacy sessions will be held on Thursday at Nomathamsanqa Hall in Addo and Mabhida Hall in Kirkwood.

The first week of the operations saw a total of 166 inspections being conducted with 79 in the farm sector, 33 in wholesale and retail sector, 16 in the hospitality sector and 38 in miscellaneous.

The inspections were conducted in the Addo and Kirkwood areas to ensure that employers in these sectors comply with legislation while employees get the protection of the law and being vaccinated at the place of work.

Five compliance orders and one written undertaking were served to non-compliant employers due to underpayment of their employees. A sum of R109 786.77 for underpayment of salaries of employees was recovered from employers who were not paying according to the prescribed rates.

The Acting Provincial Chief Inspector, Patiswa Mbongwana, who is also coordinating the joint operation said it is their collective objective to protect vulnerable workers whilst assisting employers to comply with the law.

The Department of Health also used the opportunity to conduct a COVID-19 education drive and vaccinated 158 workers in Sitrusoewer, Summerville and some of Farm Packhouses in Addo and Kirkwood.

The 71 alleged illegal immigrants who are Lesotho, Malawi and Zimbabwe nationals were detained and they appeared before court on Wednesday, 8 September 2021.

“All females who were detained got released because of their small children but warned to appear before court. Out of the 68 males, two were juveniles and two produced valid visas which left a total of 64 illegal immigrants detained pending deportation. One farmer paid an admission of guilt amounting to R5000 at Addo Police Station,” the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Unemployment, economic recovery and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be top of the agenda during this week’s Cabinet Lekgotla.

This is according to Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, who was briefing the media ahead of the start of the Lekgotla.

He said Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, Mayors and a variety of other stakeholders will be in attendance in order to create an atmosphere of improved integration between government stakeholders.

Gungubele said President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to open the Lekgotla on Tuesday morning.

“We expect the President to reflect on the… state of the country from the point of economic growth, ratio of investment to GDP, level of poverty, the number of people at work and a number of related issues, and of course the issues of inequality, and unemployment.”

The Minister in the Presidency said the Lekgotla will reflect on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the potential growth of South Africa’s economy.

“We had an ambition that at the end of this term, we [would be] at 2% [economic growth]. Now it’s common knowledge that the economy shrunk during the pandemic. The Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan is a major document… [that] will be interrogated as to how it has actually performed.”

Related to economic growth, Gungubele said food security and sectors which can be stimulated to create potential employment will also come into sharp focus.

“We will try to look at all sectors that we are trying to unleash, with the focus being absorption of employment, especially in the areas of agriculture and food security, [and] those areas which try to absorb the low-skilled base, and those that assist us with dealing with the desperation of food access,” he said.

In reply to questions regarding government’s ability to afford a basic income grant for all poor South Africans, Gungubele said the State is looking at different ways that it may be granted.

“The fact that… there are fiscal pressures doesn’t change the fact that we need to find innovative ways to make sure that we deal with [poverty]… We have to reach a stage where there’s not a single South African who has no access to food,” he said

Source: South African Government News Agency