Cape Town — National Treasury Warns of Entrenched State Capture Graft in Government
Ismail Mamoniat, the new deputy director general of the National Treasury, has said that state capture corruption runs so deep in government that budgets are plundered before they're able to be used for service delivery, Eyewitness News reports. Mamoniat called for intervention to curb the graft, saying: "There are people waiting to loot those amounts. Some of it has become deeply entrenched, we're going to need mechanisms on the ground to deal with that type of corruption." He added that legal action against state capture needs to be accelerated, citing a case at the Tembisa hospital which is being probed over potential financial mismanagement. "I think the important thing is that we also respond too slowly. So even if there is consequence management our investigative processes take too long. In this instance, you saw all the payments in Tembisa Hospital, I believe the system can act much faster," he said.
City of Johannesburg to Assist Soweto Residents Displaced by Floods
Over 300 residents displaced at the Nancefield Hostel in Soweto, and the informal settlement nearby, will be subject to new accommodation plans made by the City of Johannesburg, The Sowetan reports.
This comes after flash floods and torrential rains in the area forced hundreds to abandon their homes. The provincial human settlements department issued a statement saying a contractor had been appointed for the community hall where affected residents would be accommodated. "The department will be working hand in hand with the city to outline further measures to be put in place," the statement added. Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said the oprganisation would remain on high alert to monitor potential flooding in low-lying areas along with informal settlements.
Family of Kidnapped 8-Year-Old Girl Grateful for Her Return
The family of 8-year-old Abirah Dekhta, who was abducted from her lift club vehicle in Amber Court, Gatesville 10 days ago, have offered their thanks to all involved in her safe return, IOL reports. The Rylands Primary School pupil was found in a shack in Town Two, Khayelitsha following a joint effort between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and City of Cape Town law enforcement officials using state-of-the-art technology. "Our family, alhamdulillah, is happy to see her ... We are happy to see her back here ... All the family and everyone who was busy looking for her, alhamdulillah, thank you all," family member Suhel Gordhan said. "The intelligence-led integrated operation saw forces descending on the township where the young girl was found. She has since been sent to a doctor for a medical assessment," provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said, adding that an investigation into the abduction will continue with several suspects already facing questioning.
Eskom Battles to Stave off Total Collapse of National Grid
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has said that South Africa's energy crisis is worsening at a faster pace when compared energy data of the past ten years, Eyewitness News reports. This comes ahead of an annual report by the research group which is expected to determine how severely load shedding has escalated in 2022, a landmark year which noted the first implementation of stage 4 power cuts. As Eskom struggles to prevent a total collapse of the grid, its deteriorating infrastructure and power stations continue to have pushed power cuts to record highs, according to the CSIR.
Engineers Departing South African En Masse Leave Infrastructure in Dire Straits
Findings made by the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) have determined that the shocking rate of infrastructure decline over the past decade can be attributed to a critical engineering skills shortage, BusinessTech reports. The latest Infrastructure Report Card (IRC) noted key points regarding the nation's public infrastructure with the most vital segments deteriorating quickly and at risk of collapse without urgent governmental intervention. According to SAICE, the nation faces a debilitating lack of engineers with the requisite skills to maintain public infrastructure with the last 20 years indicating a shocking number of civil engineers leaving the country. The issue has also been noted by Eskom which has increasingly sought the expertise of individuals capable of maintaining its aging power stations, even through crowdsourcing.
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SAICE adds that this lack of engineers can be noted in both the public sector along with municipalities. “Operation and maintenance activities are complex and require a cadre of skilled technical professionals if we are to avoid compromising the lifespan of assets through neglect,” SAICE said. “Most municipalities are desperately understaffed in these crucial positions or staffed by people who do not have the required training or experience. At the level of leadership, engineering professionals are under-represented in the boards of state-owned companies and senior management in all spheres of government.”
