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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has resolved to launch a full committee inquiry into allegations of maladministration, financial mismanagement, wasteful and reckless expenditure, and related financial misconduct at the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

SCOPA made this decision after months of repeated attempts by the committee to obtain truthful, complete information from the RAF Board and executive management to little avail.

“The committee cannot perform its work effectively if state entities do not provide it with complete and truthful information, with adequate context and supporting information,” SCOPA said on Tuesday.

Some of the issues of concern for the committee include but are not limited to:
•    Failure to perform adequate background checks on senior management and executive appointments who nonetheless have access to and manage significant sums of public funds despite having a deeply concerning employment and disciplinary history involving allegations of reckless financial management decisions.
•    Subsequent refusal by the RAF to disclose to the committee where such funds are kept and for what purpose.
•    Failure to appoint critical officials such as a Chief Claims Officer, Head of Claims Operations, Head of Legal, Chief Corporate Support Officer, Head of People Management etc, for an unacceptably long time while decisions with a significant financial impact on the RAF are being taken, alternatively not being taken when they should.
•    Apparent failures of governance with a direct impact on the rule of law, the authority and powers of Parliament as well as Chapter 9 institutions tasked with performing oversight on behalf of the South African people.
•    Numerous whistleblower accounts relating to supply chain irregularities involving more than R1 billion while internal management controls appear to not be applied.

“These allegations point to failure by the Board to properly oversee management’s decisions and actions in line with their statutory mandate.

“The volume of complaints and related documentary disclosures to the committee about the RAF make it necessary to examine them thoroughly and make such recommendations as may be necessary to ensure that the institution does its work within legal and constitutional prescripts, and serves the public interest as intended. 

“An inquiry will also give everyone involved or implicated the opportunity to state their case under oath and receive a fair hearing before the committee draws its conclusions,” SCOPA Chairperson Songezo Zibi said.

The committee will approve terms of reference on 1 July 2025, and the inquiry will take place after the August recess. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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The Department of Employment and Labour has implemented several measures to minimise the disruption of services caused by the continued closure of its Klerksdorp Labour Centre in the North West province. 

In a statement on Tuesday, the department said this interruption is due to ongoing issues with the PC Pelser Building, which has been prohibited from use since January 2024, due to non-compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation and compromised structural integrity.

The department explained that the Klerksdorp office has been operating from the City of Matlosana Local Municipality premises since the prohibition of the PC Pelser Building. However, this temporary accommodation has not met the required standards, prompting the department to prioritise the health and well-being of its officials and clients.

“The department acknowledges that the current situation has negatively impacted service delivery. The department is unable to provide its full range of services due to the inaccessibility of the building.

“To mitigate the impact, the department has implemented several measures. The department will utilise mobile offices (buses) and conduct outreach campaigns to continue service delivery. A satellite office has been secured in Wolmaransstad, which will operate five days a week, starting from 17 June 2025 (07:30am–4pm),” the department said. 

The department said its Potchefstroom office will receive additional personnel to handle the increased demand resulting from the temporary suspension of services at the Klerksdorp office.

These outreach campaigns will be rolled out throughout the district, with schedules shared in advance to notify clients of upcoming visits.

“The department appeals to clients for patience as it actively investigates long-term sustainable solutions to ensure uninterrupted service delivery. Clients who can visit other nearby labour centres, such as those in Potchefstroom and Lichtenburg, are encouraged to do so.

“The department, in collaboration with other stakeholders, is committed to resolving the issues with the PC Pelser Building to restore normal operations as soon as possible,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za 

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The Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) has reaffirmed its commitment to combating corruption within the country’s immigration and border management systems.

Launched officially on 25 March 2025, the forum serves as a critical platform for collaboration among key law enforcement, civil society, government and business to address systemic corruption and illicit activities in the sector.

Chaired by Advocate Andy Mothibi, the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the forum held its quarterly meeting recently, which brought together high-level stakeholders, including Michael Masiapato, the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), as well as representatives from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). 

RAED I Home Affairs, SIU to launch anti-corruption forum in border management

The forum reviewed progress in the ongoing investigations and corruption prevention strategies in the sector to eradicate corruption.

The forum received a progress report on the fraudulent and corruption investigations related to the issuance of the following permits and visas:
– Permanent residence permits
– Corporate visas
– Business visas
– Critical/exceptional skills work visas
– Study visas
– Retired persons’ visas
– Work visas
– Citizenship by naturalisation

The forum noted the recommendations made to revoke all irregularly awarded visas and deportation of persons involved, as they have violated the South African laws. Criminal referrals were made to the NPA to prosecute all those who were identified in the investigations to have violated the law. 

The forum also noted with concerns the abuse of the Traffic Register Numbers (TRNs) that are issued in terms of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996. 

The preliminary investigations’ findings in the SIU Proclamation 191 of 2024 revealed the abuse and irregularities in the issuing of TRNs, which involves undocumented immigrants in South Africa. 

The forum resolved to intensify investigations in this space to root out fraud and corruption in the issuing of TRNs.

The forum also identified the spread of foot and mouth disease as an emerging risk that required increased scrutiny at ports of entry. Strengthening border controls to prevent illegal movement of livestock and contaminated products will be a priority in upcoming discussions.

The forum noted the corruption prevention initiatives undertaken in some of the border posts. The latest corruption prevention campaign was conducted on 16 April 2025 at the Lebombo Border Post in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.

The objective was to promote whistleblowing and raise awareness about corruption in borders. The theme of the campaign was: “If You See Something, Say Something.” 

The forum noted other corruption prevention initiatives that are planned in the coming quarters, in particular the corruption risk assessments that will be conducted at the border posts.

Advocate Mothibi emphasised that the forum’s work was part of an intensified, multi-agency effort to combat corruption, ensuring transparency and accountability in immigration processes. 

“This collaboration is vital to safeguarding South Africa’s borders and maintaining the integrity of our immigration system,” he said.

The BMIACF will continue to meet quarterly and progress reports  will be shared with relevant oversight bodies and the public when appropriate. – SAnews.gov.za 
 

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A cold front is expected to make landfall on Wednesday in the Eastern Cape, according to South African Weather Service (SAWS).

“Ahead of the frontal system, strong to gale force winds are expected over the interior of the Eastern Cape on Wednesday and Thursday, 26 June 2025,” SAWS said. 

As the cold front passes through the Eastern Cape on Thursday, the surface high pressure system will extend its ridge behind it, resulting in cold to very cold conditions in places across the province from Thursday to Friday. 

“Snowfalls of between 1 to 5 cm accumulation can be expected over the northern high-lying areas on Thursday. Very rough seas, with wave heights reaching 6m, and strong to gale force winds can also be expected in places along the Eastern Cape coast on Thursday into Friday,” the weather service said.

The SAWS has issued the following impact-based warnings:

• A yellow level 2 warning (high likelihood of minor impacts) for damaging winds resulting in localised damage to settlements (formal and informal) and localised runaway fires in places over Chris Hani District Municipality (DM), Joe Gqabi DM, Sarah Baartman DM, Raymond Mhlaba LM and Amahlathi LM on Wednesday, 25 June, and over the coastal areas between Plettenberg Bay and East London Thursday, 26 June.
• A yellow level 2 warning for damaging wind and waves resulting in difficulty in navigation of small vessels with a risk of taking in water and capsizing in the locality between Plettenberg Bay and East London.
• A yellow level 1 warning for disruptive snow resulting in traffic disruptions due to icy roads, and isolated cases of loss of vulnerable livestock and crops over Senqu and Elundini Local Municipalities.
• An intense cold front will be passing through the Eastern Cape on Thursday. The public and small stock farmers are advised that snow, cold to very cold and windy conditions as well as very rough seas can be expected in places over the province. – SAnews.gov.za