Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Rand Water has announced major planned maintenance at its Palmiet and Zuikerbosch systems, which will lead to water supply interruptions between 29 May and 17 July 2026.

Rand Water said the maintenance will focus on critical electrical and pumping infrastructure aimed at improving system reliability, operational flexibility and long-term water supply stability.

According to Rand Water, some pumps will need to be temporarily shut down during the maintenance period, which may affect water supply to several municipalities, industries and direct customers.

“The planned maintenance activities are necessary to improve pump availability and standby capacity.  They also enhance operational flexibility across key Rand Water systems, reduce the risk of plant trips and equipment failures,” the utility said in a statement.

Rand Water said the work had been coordinated with Eskom and deliberately scheduled during the winter season, which is traditionally a low-water-demand period.

Key maintenance activities will include Eskom-related electrical maintenance at the Zuikerbosch and Palmiet systems; the installation and upgrading of motors at Zuikerbosch Raw Water Engine Room 4; replacement of critical valves and thrust bearings at Palmiet, Vereeniging and Foresthill systems; and M11 pipeline cross-connections within the Mapleton system.

The planned maintenance will affect parts of Gauteng, the North West, Free State and Mpumalanga.

Municipalities expected to be affected include the Metros of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, as well as local municipalities such as Mogale City, West Rand, Merafong, Rustenburg, Madibeng, Lesedi, Victor Khanye, Govan Mbeki, Thembisile Hani, Midvaal, Emfuleni, Metsimaholo, Ngwathe and the Royal Bafokeng Administration.

Rand Water said various industries, mines and direct customers, including Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), may also be affected.

In line with its commitment to operational transparency and excellence, Rand Water has issued a 21-day notice to all affected municipalities, industries and direct customers.

“The notification is intended to provide all customers with sufficient time to implement contingency measures and minimise potential water supply disruptions to consumers,” Rand Water said.

The utility added that regular updates on the maintenance programme would be communicated through its official channels, including social media platforms. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a series of major breakthroughs in the fight against COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) fraud.

This includes arrests in Mpumalanga, a conviction in the Free State and the preservation of assets obtained through the proceeds of crime.

“Together, these outcomes represent more than R27 million in UIF [TERS] funds that were siphoned from the state and are now preserved or recovered for the benefit of South Africans,” the unit said in a statement.

Mpumalanga ghost employees

In Mpumalanga, three people appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud involving ghost employees in the UIF-TERS scheme.

The three people – Fumu Mkalira Msiska, his wife Gladness Mkhonto Msiska and his brother-in-law, Bongani Zoran Mkhonto – allegedly fabricated employees and submitted fraudulent claims to the scheme.

“These ghost employees were used to channel public funds into private hands, depriving genuine workers of relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is further alleged that the funds were subsequently transferred from A and F Consulting to Khulani Quality Contribution, a company linked to Msiska’s wife. The brother-in-law, Mkhonto, allegedly acted as a runner by sourcing identification particulars used to facilitate fraudulent claims involving ghost employees and former workers of the company.

“When the SIU and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation [the Hawks] interviewed some of the people from the North West and Mpumalanga whose details were used for these claims, and their details were obtained through scams that promised special grants, they were receiving free driving licenses or the details allegedly stolen from the local Sheriff’s office,” the SIU explained.

The husband-and-wife duo were granted R300 000 bail while Mkhonto was granted bail of R3 000.

“The High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division, issued a preservation order against assets suspected to be the proceeds of crime, including three properties in Pretoria, Middelburg, and White River, which were preserved, along with household goods, office equipment and bank accounts, ensuring that unlawfully acquired wealth is safeguarded pending forfeiture,” the corruption busting unit said.

Additional assets frozen include:

• 2019, Land Rover, Range Rover L560,
• A 2011 Toyota Fortuner
• A 2005 Mercedes-Benz, C180 Kompressor
• A 2015 BMW X6
• A 2019 Mercedes-Benz V250 D,
• 2010 Caterpillar, backhoe loader

In the Heilbron Magistrates’ Court, a 51-year-old man, Ente Thibello Sekhoto and his company, Batlokoa Circle 12 Plaster Services were convicted and sentenced for fraud and money laundering.

“The SIU’s investigation found that Sekhoto fraudulently applied for relief funds on behalf of individuals who were not employed by his company, cheating the Unemployment Insurance Fund into paying R201 812.36 into his company’s bank account. The Department of Employment and Labour suffered direct financial loss,” the SIU said.

The corruption busting unit said the conviction and preservation order “demonstrate the effectiveness of SIU investigations in ensuring accountability and restitution of stolen public funds.

“The SIU continues to work closely with law enforcement partners, including the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, to ensure that perpetrators of corruption face the full might of the law. These outcomes reaffirm the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting public funds and restoring trust in institutions.

“The SIU is also authorised to initiate civil proceedings in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation and to recover financial losses suffered by the State, including funds paid for services not rendered,” the SIU said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), known as inflation, has risen by some 1.1% in April to reach some 4% mainly driven by rising fuel prices.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), this is the highest inflation has been since August 2024 when it stood at 4.4%.

“Consumers were dealt a painful fuel price blow in April. The index for fuel rose by 18.2% from March, the steepest monthly increase since the current CPI series began in 2008.

“Petrol prices were up by 15.2% and diesel by 35.4%. The price for inland 93-octane petrol rose from R20.19 per litre in March to R23,25 per litre in April. This is the fifth-largest increase for this grade in 50 years, and the biggest this century. Motorists using diesel felt the most pain. The average price for a litre of diesel jumped from R21.28 in March to R28.80 in April,” Stats SA said.

Furthermore, passenger transport services index climbed by some 3.1% between March and April, the “largest monthly rise since July 2022”.

“Following a 14.3% hike in March, the price of an air ticket jumped by a further 24.5%. This is the largest monthly increase in airfares since March 2008, when ticket prices rose by 32.4%,” the statistical service said.

Contrastingly, annual food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) inflation slowed for the third month in a row, decreasing from 3.6% in March to 2.9% in April.

“Meat registered the largest decline, easing from 11.6% in March to 9.4% in April. Beef mince inflation slowed from 22.2% to 15.3% and stewing beef from 22.6% to 8.7%. The rate for pork moderated from 19.5% to 17.7%.

“The cereal products category recorded its third consecutive month of deflation. Five of the 19 items in the category are cheaper than a year ago. These include white rice, maize meal, porridge, basmati rice and bread flour.

“Milk, other dairy products and eggs recorded its first annual increase since May 2025. The rate was 0.1%, up from March’s -0.5%. Powdered milk and eggs continue to occupy deflationary territory, at -3.4% and -5.8% respectively,” Stats SA highlighted.

The insurance index rose by some 1.3% owing to increase in medical aid contributions.

“Health insurance recorded a monthly rise of 1.8%, taking the annual increase to 8.3%.

“Several medical schemes increased their contributions earlier in the year, with the remainder implementing new premiums in April,” Stats SA noted. – SAnews.gov.za

Government has set aside R1.6 billion for activities related to the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with an additional R50 million allocated to provincial baselines – demonstrating that GBVF remains a whole-of-government priority within the policing budget.

Presenting the 2026/27 South African Police Service (SAPS) Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia said policing alone could not solve South Africa’s crime crisis and stressed the importance of coordinated action across government and communities.

“Policing alone cannot solve crime. Crime is driven by deep social and economic challenges that require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response,” Cachalia said.

He said the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy remains central to government’s approach, emphasising that preventing crime requires stronger families, safer schools, youth development, substance abuse prevention, better urban planning, stronger community partnerships and intergovernmental cooperation.

Cachalia said government remains firmly committed to tackling Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo leading initiatives aimed at improving the response to GBV.

The Minister also announced the implementation of a structured national community patroller programme aimed at improving visibility and strengthening community-based crime prevention in high-crime areas.

“These patrollers will not do police work, and will be properly regulated, community-centred and implemented under SAPS coordination, with appropriate vetting, training and oversight mechanisms,” Cachalia said.

He also commended the role already being played by community structures across the country in supporting law enforcement and strengthening social cohesion.

“Across the country, Community Policing Forums (CPF), neighbourhood structures, faith-based organisations and community volunteers continue to play an important role in strengthening safety and social cohesion,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za