Category Archives: IOL

IOL: Voter apathy to hit ANC hard in poll

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http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/voter-apathy-to-hit-anc-hard-in-poll-1.1063147

Voter apathy to hit ANC hard in poll

May 1 2011 at 08:01pm
By CHRISTELLE TERREBLANCHE

Independent Newspapers

In three weeks, the ANC may have to face the fact that its dwindling support among the total voting-age population has been pushed below the one-third margin. Photo: Independent Newspapers

In three weeks, the ANC may have to face the fact that its dwindling support among the total voting-age population has been pushed below the one-third margin.

Since 1994, the ruling party’s support among all eligible voters has dropped steeply, from 53.8 percent to 38.8 percent in 2009.

Although the ANC has won all national elections with a convincing two-thirds majority, those who become disaffected tend to stay at home rather than vote for another party, according to political analyst for the Institute for Security Studies Collette Herzenberg.

The declining share is further amplified by the fact that between 4.5 and 9 million South Africans have simply not bothered to register as voters over the past 15 years.

Given that the last census was in 2001, there is currently no accurate estimate of the entire voting-age population. These two trends, along with the low turnout of registered voters during previous local government elections, makes it likely that there will be a further slide in overall support for the ANC.

The last two municipal polls saw only 48 percent of registered voters make their mark.

Despite the lack of accurate data, this could mean that anything between 12 million and 20 million eligible South Africans may choose not to exercise their right to vote on election day, May 18.

The latest voter drives from the IEC bumped up the number of registered voters to 24 million, indicating at the very least 4.5 million “missing voters” – but this could be as many as 7 million, according to some estimates.

The one wild card in this month’s election appears to be the growing politically active population under 29, who are now disproportionately represented on the voters’ roll. About 73 percent of them have registered over the last few years, according to the Afrobarometer. Although they make up about 23 percent of eligible voters, they make up 27 percent of all registered voters.

Herzenberg and others’ research shows they generally lack the close party affiliation of previous generations. It is, therefore, these young adults who hold the key to new voting patterns and election outcomes.

A 2007 Community Survey conducted by Stats SA put the population at 48 million, and a mid-year estimate in 2010 took the figure up to nearly 50 million. This means that just under half of the total population are now registered as voters, instead of the probable 60 percent estimated to be older than 18.

This would put the number of eligible, potentially registered voters closer to 30 million than the current 24 million who are registered. Herzenberg says in a chapter of the 2009 book Zunami! that indications are that the population is growing at a faster pace than the growth of the voters’ roll of 27.6 percent.

While 65.9 percent of those who voted in 2009 came out in support of the ANC, they represented less than 40 percent of the total voting-age population – shorthand for those who are eligible to make their mark. The 2009 elections saw a slightly higher turnout of registered voters after years of slow decline.

Indications are that, among disaffected communities, there is greater organisation to stay away from the May 18 polls as a form of protest than in previous elections.

For instance, shack-dweller organisation Abahlali BaseMjondolo is campaigning on a “No land No housing No vote” ticket for a mass stayaway.

Although the DA believes it would be able to give the ANC a proper run for its money in more cities and towns than those where coloured and white populations dominate, Herzenberg’s research shows that former ANC supporters choose overwhelmingly to withdraw from the democratic process, rather than vote for alternatives.

Some disaffected voters did come out of their self-imposed exile from the ballot box in 2009 to vote for Cope, but the infighting in the party may see them turn their backs on the polls once more.

Herzenberg says that although too little data is available to adequately see trends in local elections, there is enough evidence to show that the stayaway tendency is enhanced at municipal level.

“People don’t participate because they don’t have anywhere to cast their votes when they become disaffected with the ANC as you would expect in a normal democracy, but you rather see complete withdrawal in growing numbers,” she said.

A recent survey by the Human Sciences Research Council showed that about half of those who feel alienated from the ANC would nevertheless vote for the ruling party.

On the flip side this means that another half of dissatisfied supporters are not planning to cast their ballot for the ANC.

Support for the opposition has also declined since 1994 if measured against the total voting population – from 32 percent to 17 percent in 2004, yet increasing again to 20 percent in 2009. The ANC’s overall share of all voters, however, continued to drop slightly countrywide in 2009 except for a significant increase in KwaZulu-Natal.

The growth of pro-ANC votes was less than the growth of opposition votes in 2009. The DA increased its total votes by over a million in 2009 – a whopping 52.5 percent increase on its 2004 performance. – Political Bureau

Forensic audit of Sutcliffe, Mlaba et al

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http://www.citypress.co.za/SouthAfrica/News/KZN-launches-probe-into-city-administration-20110317

KZN launches probe into city administration
2011-03-17 11:50

Paddy Harper

A wide-ranging forensic investigation into the embattled eThekwini Municipality after months of allegations of corruption and maladministration levelled against city manager Mike Sutcliffe, his administrative team and councillors, has been launched by KwaZulu-Natal’s Local Government Ministry.

The probe comes in the wake of a city appointed audit being suppressed by city officials and a damning auditor general’s report nailing Sutcliffe’s team for using emergency funding regulations to pay out more than R500 million in irregular expenditure for sub-standard low cost housing projects around the city.

Local government MEC Nomusa Dube said yesterday the earlier audits had provided prima facie evidence of maladministration and failure to abide by regulations around supply chain management and tender procedures and that her ministry had decided to step in and get to the bottom of the matter.

The new probe, which will be carried out by an experienced company of independent forensic auditors and would dovetail with separate investigations by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and other state agencies, would cover:

» Irregular expenditure caused by poor budget controls;

» Failure by city officials to follow supply chain management procedures around key infrastructure and housing projects;

» The failure of city official and councillors – including mayor Obed Mlaba – to disclose their financial interests;

Irregular tender procedures and awards;

» The illegal rental and sale of RDP houses;

» Irregularities in staff appointments and abuse of travel and other allowances;

» Fraudulent practices in the Durban Metropolitan Police; and

» Irregularities in the city’s development and planning department.

Dube said the probe would also take in any other information which came to light from the public and officials and said “serious steps’’ would be taken against any city official or councillor who refused to cooperate.

Earlier probes have been hampered by the refusal of key city officials to both cooperate and hand over documentation to investigators.

Dube said that while the city was “not collapsing’’ it was clear that “something wrong is taking place in the city’’.

She said when the probe was completed the city would be forced to take “decisive action and corrective measures’’.

Criminal charges would be laid against any official or councillor found guilty of corruption, fraud or maladministration, while civil action would be taken to recover city funds paid out illegally.She was unable to provide an exact timeframe for the probe to be completed, saying it would be retrospective and would “go as deep as it needs to go.”

– City Press

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article973466.ece/Mayor-and-city-boss-to-be-probed

Mayor and city boss to be probed
Mar 17, 2011 10:11 PM | By NIVASHNI NAIR

Durban mayor Obed Mlaba and city manager Mike Sutcliffe are to be investigated as part of a wider probe into alleged fraud and corruption in the eThekwini Municipality.

KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance MEC Nomusa Dube said yesterday: “There is something wrong in this municipality and we believe that we need to investigate.

“We have been monitoring the latest developments in the municipality with keen interest and utmost concern.”

The ANC called on Dube to order a forensic investigation after the auditor-general found that the city had irregularly spent R535-million and the Ngubane audit implicated Sutcliffe and three officials in irregular housing contracts of R3.5-billion over the past 10 years.

Mlaba allegedly had shares in a company that nearly landed a R3-billion tender to convert the city’s waste to energy.

Dube said yesterday the investigation would cover:

*Irregular expenditure resulting from inadequate controls over the budget and payment processes;

*Non-disclosure of interests by councillors and officials;

*Irregularities in the awarding of contracts, payments and performance management of telecommunications;

*The alleged illegal rental and sale of RDP houses;

*Irregularities in travel and overtime allowances and appointment of staff; and

*Alleged fraudulent practices in the metro police.

The outcome of the investigation would compel the municipality to take decisive action and corrective measures and would lead to criminal and civil prosecutions if unlawful activities were unearthed, Dube said.

The forensic probe would begin immediately.

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2011/03/18/leave-no-stone-unturned

‘Leave no stone unturned’
18 Mar 2011 | Mhlaba Memela

KWAZULU-Natal MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Nomusa Dube has appointed a forensic auditing firm to probe fraud, corruption and maladministration allegations in the eThekwini metro

Manase and Associates will lead an investigation into the affairs of the ANC-led municipality. This latest investigation will supersede all previous probes that were conducted into the affairs of the municipality.

The audit firm is tasked with unearthing any irregularities and maladministration concerning the awarding of tenders.

The municipality has hogged the headlines in the past few months following auditor-general Terrence Nombembe’s report indicating that R532million had been spent irregularly by the council.

Recently it also surfaced that mayor Obed Mlaba is part of a company that nearly landed a R3billion deal with the city to convert waste to energy.

The MEC said she had received representations and reports concerning allegations of maladministration, fraud and corruption.

“The documents include reports on an investigation requested by the accounting officer of the municipality undertaken by Ngubane and Company, the management letter of the auditor-general and an internal audit report,” Dube said.

She said it would appear from the findings of these reports that there is prima facie evidence of maladministration and a failure to comply with procedures and legislation.

“There is currently no evidence of any fraud and corruption,” Dube said. “The scope of these reports was, however, limited and it appeared to be additional areas of concern and further allegations, which have not been investigated.”

The forensic firm’s scope of investigation comprises allegations of illegal rentals and sale of RDP houses, non-disclosure of interests by councillors and officials, irregularities in the supply chain management in the awarding of tenders, payments and performance management in respect of telecommunications, human resource irregularities when recruiting, selecting and appointing staff.

Other allegations are the abuse of travel claims, overtime, allowances, development and planning offices, and non-compliance with street traders’ by-laws.

Dube said any other consequential matters that may arise will form part of the investigation.

“The eThekwini municipality still has a healthy balance,” she said.

Cosatu applauded Dube’s decision to institute a comprehensive forensic investigation into the affairs of the eThekwini municipality.

Secretary Zet Luzipho said the move is long overdue and appealed to Dube to “leave no stone unturned”.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/firm-to-probe-ethekwini-1.1043484

Firm to probe eThekwini

March 17 2011 at 09:38pm

A forensic auditing firm has been appointed to probe fraud, corruption and maladministration allegations in the eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu-Natal’s co-operative governance MEC said on Thursday.

“There is something wrong in the municipality and we believe there is a need to investigate,” Nomusa Dube told reporters in Durban.

The allegations relate to the awarding of tenders.

Auditor General Terrence Nombembe’s 2009/10 report indicated R532-million had been spent irregularly in the municipality, which runs the city of Durban.

The Mercury newspaper recently reported that mayor Obed Mlaba was part of a company that nearly landed a R3-billion deal with the city to convert waste to energy.

Dube said she had received representation and reports on claims of corruption, fraud and maladministration. Documents she received included a report following a probe by accountants Ngubane & Co, an eThekwini municipality internal report and the AG’s report.

“It would appear from the findings of these reports that there is prima facie evidence of maladministration and failure to comply with procedures and legislative provisions.

“In view of the seriousness of the allegations, we have deemed it appropriate to institute a forensic investigation.”

Dube however said the municipality would not be put under administration because it was not falling apart. “The municipality is not collapsing. It’s finances are okay.”

She invited whistle blowers to help the department get to the bottom of the problems. Dube said auditing firm Manase and Associates had been appointed to conduct the investigation, which would cover:

– Irregular expenditure resulting from inadequate budgetary controls, controls over payment processes and weak checks and balances.

– Non compliance with supply chain management policies for infrastructure and housing projects.

– Non disclosure of interests by councillors and officials.

– Irregularities in the awarding of contracts, payments and performance management of telecommunications.

– The illegal rental and sale of RDP houses.

– Abuse of overtime and travel allowances.

– Alleged fraudulent practices at the Durban metro police.- Sapa

IOL: Media slam DA’s Majavu blacklisting

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For the DA a journalist that takes the lives of poor people seriously is automatically biased. They are now exposed for their authoritarianism and bias to the middle classes.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/media-slam-da-s-majavu-blacklisting-1.1024818?

Media slam DA’s Majavu blacklisting

February 11 2011 at 11:13am
By Marianne Merten

The DA’s blacklisting of a Sowetan journalist sets a “problematic precedent”, says Jane Duncan, professor and chairwoman of the Media and Information Society at Rhodes University.

It was of concern if any political party that carried public power took a step to stem the flow of information in this way, she said on Thursday.

“If they have concerns, they are not dealing with the problem by refusing to provide information to that journalist. They should continue to take the concerns to the Press Ombudsman to establish systematic bias,” Duncan said.

“If the journalist is biased, it will come out in the wash.”

DA executive director of communications and research Ross van der Linde is quoted in Thursday’s Sowetan as confirming the party had cut all communication with Anna Majavu, adding it was not obliged to send information to any individual or organisation.

“Majavu is not a journalist. Some journalists and editors disagree with our policies and views, and they are entitled to do so. But Anna Majavu is a former South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) spin doctor, who has a particular political agenda,” he said.

The DA’s decision followed a complaint to the press ombudsman over a story which linked one of its MPs, and two metro police officers, to the shooting with rubber bullets of two children in Khayelitsha. The story was based on the outcome of an arbitration process.

In September, the press ombudsman directed the Sowetan to publish a correction of a sentence that incorrectly attributed a statement to the arbitrator, as well as a summary of the ruling. The newspaper was also reprimanded for a misleading headline.

The DA’s communication director, Gareth van Onselen, said on Thursday the newspaper had “failed properly to comply”, adding the DA had a long and detailed record of bias on the part of Majavu.

“There is no point in working with a journalist who is not interested in reporting the news,” he said.

Duncan disagreed and pointed out that the DA had been vocal in support of media self-regulation and freedom of expression. Cutting off communication was “completely inappropriate” and sent the message that the DA would only deal with journalists who gave it positive coverage.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said it was “deeply perturbed” by the reported blacklisting of Majavu. It said the move “flies in the face of the DA’s founding liberal values, including commitment to press freedom”.

Calling into question Majavu’s credibility as a journalist simply because she had worked for a trade union was “preposterous”.

Sanef called on the DA to rethink its position and lift the ban.

Meanwhile, the labour sector has come out in support of Majavu. Both the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and Samwu condemned the DA’s “dastardly censorship” and “immature behaviour”. – Cape Times

IOL: Meyerton residents battle for return of goods

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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20100304042029143C870851

Click here to see some pictures.

By Poloko Tau

Petrol-bomb flames licked at the bodywork of a police Nyala armoured vehicle as it manoeuvred through a barricaded street in Meyerton, south of Joburg.

Not even the presence of Vaal resident and Gauteng MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Nelisiwe Mbatha-Mthimkhulu could calm the Vaal town’s angry residents yesterday.

The protesters vowed not to disperse until families who had their furniture confiscated by the Midvaal municipality had their possessions returned, even after Mbatha-Mthimkhulu told them she had obtained an undertaking from the council to return the impounded furniture.

Meanwhile, Midvaal mayor Timothy Nast was ready to speak to the community, but the closest he could get to the protesters was about 300m, in an Nyala. The residents refused to listen to him until they had seen that the furniture had been returned.

A stalemate was reached, and the next few hours of waiting were tense.

Then, having lost their patience, the angry residents gave vent to their frustration. They started throwing stones and several petrol bombs at the police.

Mbatha-Mthimkhulu and Nast were bundled into the back of a police car, which sped to safety as the situation quickly became more volatile.

After the officials had disappeared, there were running battles between the police and the crowd. Officers fired rubber bullets at the protesters, who threw stones and petrol bombs at them.

When the Nyala drove into the township in pursuit of the mob, it was hit by a petrol bomb.

Speaking to residents later, some of them admitted owing the council money, but complained that it had attached furniture belonging to residents registered as indigents.

“Besides being indigents, there was no notice or a chance given to them to arrange for payment terms. This was unfair, but the council did not see it in that way and residents decided to protest to prevent more furniture being confiscated,” said resident Amelia Tshukudu.

Mbatha-Mthimkhulu said the council had admitted its mistake. “A list was given to the sheriff in which there was no indication as to who were indigents. This protest would not have happened had they not attached the possessions of indigents,” she said.

“The ward councillor was also not informed of the council’s intentions, as would have been normal procedure. People need to be informed of procedures,” she added.

Nast said the protest had “nothing to do with service delivery”.

“It is an ANC factional fight to make the Democratic Alliance-led municipality un-governable. These are people vying for positions in the coming local government elections,” he said.

“Some people in the municipality won’t pay, and they’re not indigents. We’ve made it clear that those who can’t afford to pay for services are welcome to apply for indigence.”

Last night the town was calm. Police said they had arrested 14 people for public violence.

Police spokesman Constable Tikoane Sonopo said the streets were still barricaded with rocks and burning tyres. “We will continue monitoring the situation throughout the night,” he said.

IOL: Sharpeville erupts

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Click here to see pictures of the protests.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20100224071842386C227413&singlepage=1

Sharpeville erupts
February 24 2010 at 07:48AM

By Poloko Tau and Sapa

Abram Mokoena has seen it all before. He was 14 at the time of the Sharpeville massacre, but yesterday, 50 years later, he was caught again between flying bullets and the violence that protest can trigger.

“I don’t know what hit me that day as I was fleeing to the police station.

“Just like today, people were running in all directions and dying like flies,” he said.

Yesterday, several protesting residents were injured by rubber bullets and 14 were arrested for public violence and damage to police vehicles.

The chaos erupted after a fiery meeting at the George Thabe stadium.

A crowd of about 2 000 people ran towards the Boxer supermarket and started stoning it, and police opened fire with rubber bullets.

This led to running battles between protesters and police.

Protesters also burnt tyres and blocked off Seeiso Street and the Vuka section of the township. A bus picking up passengers was stoned as it navigated its way through the area. One passenger was injured.

As the battles with the police continued, residents hurriedly dispersed and fled in all directions.

Some fell while others managed to jump safely over fences and escape the volleys of rubber bullets.

But yesterday’s protests weren’t aimed at getting rid of Afrikaans from schools – they were aimed at “asking those governing us to adhere to their 15-year-old promises”.

Concerned residents said the promises included tarred roads, houses, employment opportunities and youth empowerment projects.

“For a long time we watched from the sidelines while people from Soweto and other outlying places managed projects in Sharpeville while people from here continue to be unemployed,” residents’ leader Jabu Makhanye said at the meeting.

“The next we see of government people is when they come here and throw festivities in the name of the fallen heroes of the Sharpeville massacre while people around here starve.”

Makhanye said the residents would boycott this year’s Sharpeville massacre events if their grievances were not seriously considered and acted upon.

“We’re an angry community, tired of understanding all the time.

“We say Sharpeville youth deserve a chance to manage projects here, be employed and make some money,” he told residents.

Makhanye added that R22-million had supposedly been used to renovate the stadium, but there was nothing to show for it.

“Our council is corrupt and we want them to step down,” he said to cheers.

Lebogang Seale and Kim Tshukulu

Holding her baby firmly in her arms, Grace Mhlongo cried hysterically as she ran out of her store. Just moments before, she had been busy in her prosperous spaza shop in the densely populated Orange Farm’s Drieziek Extension 3.

That was until a rampaging mob targeted her store, tore down its walls of corrugated iron sheets and wood, before looting her stock.

Shortly before 8am yesterday, a mob of chanting residents from Extension 3 surged towards the Golden Highway and again barricaded the busy road with burning tyres, rocks, logs and rubble.

The police reacted by firing stun grenades, rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the mob.

When the mob turned on Mhlongo’s store, they started by throwing stones at the shop.

Within a few minutes, they had stormed into her store and scrambled for whatever goods they could find.

Mhlongo’s frantic wails could be heard from afar.

“My money! All my stock! What have I done wrong? Why?” she asked.

Yesterday marked day two of service delivery protests in Orange Farm, where residents say they do not have proper sanitation, housing and electricity.

In response to the protests, a delegation from the Joburg mayor’s office, led by mayoral committee member for housing and acting mayor Ruby Mathang, visited the township.

Residents grudgingly accepted the delegation’s undertaking that the laying of sewerage pipes – which had been their core demand – would resume today, after it was halted in December because of the alleged non-payment of funds to the contractor.

After the meeting, an uneasy calm settled over the area as residents surveyed the damage to property.

In total, police arrested 50 people, all of whom are facing charges of public violence and malicious damage to property. They will appear in court soon.