Latest news with #FreeState
News24
10 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
Which way for the NPA?
EDITORIAL: Which way for the NPA? The National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi, faced an expectedly challenging appearance before the justice portfolio committee this week. While the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) could draw some solace from last week's Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling in its favour in the Nulane case, significant concerns remain. Key issues include the NPA's mishandling of the rape case involving pastor Timothy Omotoso, as well as the Free State High Court's decision that the extradition of Moroadi Cholota - accused alongside former Free State Premier Ace Magashule in the asbestos corruption case - was unlawful. Adding to these concerns is the slow progress in prosecuting state capture cases, a point of criticism that continues to linger. With just six months remaining in Batohi's term before her expected retirement next year, questions are being raised about what lies ahead for the NPA. Notably, there has been little clarity or action from the Presidency on when the process to appoint her successor will begin. In this week's Friday Briefing, we examine the state of the NPA under Batohi's leadership. Has she delivered on her promises for reform since stepping into the role? News24's legal journalist, Karyn Maughan reflects on two cases where she argues the failure of NPA leadership to put out legal fires before they imploded fundamentally compromised the administration of justice. Casac's Lawson Naidoo explains why he believes the NPA has made some headway under Batohi's tenure. Additionally, News24's parliamentary reporter, Jan Gerber, evaluates Parliament's role in the NPA's challenges, including the impact of funding shortages on the institution. We also feature a Q&A with DA MP and former advocate Glynnis Breytenbach on what must be done to reshape the institution and restore its credibility. Lastly, advocate Lauren Kohn from the Law and Governance Academy of Southern Africa delves into the recent SCA Nulane judgment, shedding light on what it reveals about the current state of our judiciary. You can explore these perspectives and contributions in full below. Set up to fail or maliciously incompetent? What NPA losses tell us Despite high-profile court losses, prosecutions boss Shamila Batohi insists the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is doing a 'fantastic job'. But, Karyn Maughan writes that stance does not recognise how NPA leadership failures have jeopardised criminal accountability. here. Rebuilding justice: Nulane judgment offers redemption for the NPA While the NPA has issues that need addressing, it is difficult to agree with those who wish to portray the NPA as an institution in crisis, in need of a root and branch overhaul, argues Lawson Naidoo. Read the full contribution here. NPA crisis: A chronicle of a snafu foretold If you have been paying close attention to the National Prosecuting Authority's appearances before Parliament, as Jan Gerber has done, you wouldn't be surprised that the pawpaw has hit the fan at the prosecuting body. Read the full contribution here. Q&A with Glynnis Breytenbach | Saying NPA is 'doing a fantastic job' is 'bullsh*t' As scrutiny on the NPA intensifies after it bungled a number of high-profile cases, in-depth writer Muhammad Hussain speaks to DA MP and former prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach on what it will take to turn the leaky ship around. Read the full contribution here. SCA Nulane judgment vindicates the rule of law and NPA's important work The real impediment to justice and equity was an affront to the rule of law perpetrated not by the National Prosecuting Authority in the Thabete case, but rather by the guardian of the rule of law itself, the judiciary – an affront that is now embodied for posterity in the Free State High Court's shockingly incorrect legal findings as set out in its judgment, writes Lauren Kohn.
News24
a day ago
- Politics
- News24
‘The union has lost touch': ‘Tired' Nehawu members form breakaway union
Former Nehawu members formed the National Democratic and Servant Workers Union after a meeting in Tshwane, citing leadership and financial issues. It plans mass recruitment in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga to promote worker-centred representation. It accused Nehawu of undemocratic practices, financial mismanagement, and neglecting member-specific concerns. Fed up with what they describe as 'tyranny', at least 100 former National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) members have formed a breakaway union. The National Democratic and Servant Workers Union (NDASWU) was founded after a meeting in Tshwane over the weekend. One of the founding members, Zolani Masoleng, said a mass recruitment drive was in full swing in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga as a start. Masoleng said 1 000 members had been signed up in the first week. He told News24 one of the reasons that prompted members to break away was that Nehawu no longer represented the needs and aspirations of its members. 'Nehawu is no longer controlled by its members. There is a top-down approach. It has become painfully clear that Nehawu no longer represents the needs, priorities, and aspirations of a significant portion of its membership,' Masoleng said. Other reasons for cutting ties included a leadership deficit, alleged financial mismanagement, ineffective representation, neglect of sector-specific issues and a failure to support members. READ | ANC tells Mtolo to apologise to Nehawu as Mbalula moves to quash GNU tensions 'Organisational discipline has been weaponised to eliminate contestation through spurious suspensions and dissolutions of regional executive committees,' he added. Masoleng said member subscriptions, which typically range between R100 and R200, worth millions were being squandered and used to finance lavish lifestyles and endless court cases aimed at silencing dissent and sidelining alternative voices. 'There is an evident failure to represent members effectively during disputes, bargaining processes or legal challenges. The union has lost touch with the occupational realities and site-specific concerns of its members, Masoleng said, adding that there was a lack of legal representation to address grievances. READ | Bheki Mtolo issues public apology to Nehawu following threats of legal action Masoleng denied that the breakaway union comprised 'disgruntled' members. 'It's normal for your former lover to badmouth you when things go south. We expected that there would be sour grapes, but the reality is that people are tired and believe these things have to stop,' Masoleng said. He said the union would fill in gaps where Nehawu had no reach, including the private health sector, parastatals, higher education and artificial-intelligence based sectors.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Joe Brolly weighs in on Mayo's latest heartbreak: 'The culture is all wrong'
Joe Brolly has had his say on Mayo's elimination from the All-Ireland days after the county suffered their latest Championship heartbreak. Mayo were knocked out of the All-Ireland after a loss to Donegal on the hooter having clawed back to level the game with 20 seconds to go, which would have seen the Green & Red go through. The fixing of the game for Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon ruffled some feathers in the Donegal camp with Jim McGuinness outraged at the travel time for his side. Speaking on his Free State podcast, Brolly landed a jibe at Mayo's supporters for their unwavering hope, saying "They're a funny lot you know, the culture is all wrong, they're fundamentally not serious. "People from Mayo suffer from an incurable genetic condition, MHOS, Mayo Hopeless Optimists Syndrome. "The thing about them is that they can beat anybody, unless it's a final, and they have beaten everybody. So when a wee farmer from Bohola is painting his sheep red and green on the eve of an All-Ireland final, filled with euphoria, certain in the knowledge that on Monday Mayo will be champions, and his sheep will bleat triumphantly as the Mayo bus and cavalcade pass by on the way to the victory celebration. "On the Monday he has already forgotten because of MHOS and he's already looking forward, filled with the thrill of being All-Ireland champions in 2026, Mayo for Sam 2026. "It's a great way to be I suppose, but they're not serious, you know what I mean, they're not serious." When compared with Scotland's World Cup sides of years gone by, Brolly said: "The difference is that Scotland are a plucky underdog, Mayo is a superpower of Gaelic football, and the problem is that the culture's wrong. "It was exemplified by Donegal's winning score. Ten seconds to go, Mayo get the equaliser, they work really hard, just frantic all-out effort to turn Donegal over. "Donegal were really just trying to hold possession for the last two-and-a-half minutes, Mayo turned them over and they come forward, and with ten seconds to go they kick the equaliser... so they knew that - they had to know - that 'as long as we don't concede a score we're through to the knockout phase.' "A kickout comes, Donegal win it, Mayo don't foul, it's passed on to Ciarán Moore, who's sort of a human horse who must've stampeded up the pitch 120 metres at least 20 times... and so Moore takes off up the side line, and they let him go, and he gets in and kicks the winning score and Mayo are gone. "And had that been Mayo taking that kickout, a Donegal man would most certainly have stopped him in his tracks as soon as the ball was won... Donegal work on these things whereas Mayo are just hopeful. "It was all to no avail as we knew it would be, because they're fundamentally not serious, they're not there to win, that's ultimately not why they're there." Undoubtedly it has been a tough pill for the Mayo side and supporters, but had they waited for the hooter they could have worked the equaliser as a buzzer beater. Did the tension of the moment ultimately get to the side under Stephen Rochford's temporary care?
The Herald
4 days ago
- The Herald
10 days on, no sign of Kamogelo Baukudi: Free State education MEC calls for public's help in finding him
This Sunday marks 10 days since the alleged kidnapping of grade 11 pupil Kamogelo Baukudi and despite police efforts to locate him, he remains missing. Free State education MEC Mantlhake Maboya has appealed to the public to assist police in finding Kamogelo and bringing him back home safely. 'We're concerned and would appeal to members of the public to assist us to assist the police, to assist the family so that we can bring back this boy to the family and the school,' Maboya said. The 19-year-old was allegedly kidnapped by two men impersonating police officers on June 5 . According to a TimesLIVE report, the complainant, Daniel Malebatso, allegedly arrived at Martie du Plessis Special School in Fichardt Park as usual to fetch Baukudi. Provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane said the two left the school premises with Baukudi driving the Suzuki Ertiga. Malebatso alleged that while driving on Vereeniging Drive in Ehrlich Park, they heard a siren sound from behind and were pulled over by occupants in a white Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab. Covane said inside the Toyota Hilux there were two unknown men, one wearing a police uniform and the other a blue tracksuit. The suspects' bakkie was allegedly fitted with blue lights on the grill and what appeared to be a police radio inside. Covane said the suspect wearing a police uniform told Malebatso the Suzuki Ertiga they were driving was suspected of delivering drugs. The suspects then allegedly separated Baukudi and Malebatso and instructed Malebatso to drive his vehicle in front of theirs while they followed to the Park Road police station. 'The two vehicles turned back and drove in a westerly direction on Vereeniging Drive. Malebatso alleged a truck moved in between the two vehicles and he did not see the Hilux again. He said one suspect was speaking Sesotho fluently and mentioned the name 'Thipe'. Cellphones belonging to Baukudi and Malebatso were found under a bridge on Ferreira Road.' The Free State department of education said it is working closely with the police and other stakeholders to ensure Kamogelo's safe return. Meanwhile, a 42-year-old police sergeant arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping case briefly appeared in the Bloemfontein magistrate's court last week and remains in custody. The matter was postponed to June 24 to allow for an identity parade to be conducted. The court heard the missing teenager is needed to identify the suspect, but the process cannot proceed as he is still missing. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
10 days on, no sign of Kamogelo Baukudi: Free State education MEC calls for public's help in finding him
This Sunday marks 10 days since the alleged kidnapping of grade 11 pupil Kamogelo Baukudi and despite police efforts to locate him, he remains missing. Free State education MEC Mantlhake Maboya has appealed to the public to assist police in finding Kamogelo and bringing him back home safely. 'We're concerned and would appeal to members of the public to assist us to assist the police, to assist the family so that we can bring back this boy to the family and the school,' Maboya said. The 19-year-old was allegedly kidnapped by two men impersonating police officers on June 5 . According to a TimesLIVE report, the complainant, Daniel Malebatso, allegedly arrived at Martie du Plessis Special School in Fichardt Park as usual to fetch Baukudi. Provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane said the two left the school premises with Baukudi driving the Suzuki Ertiga. Malebatso alleged that while driving on Vereeniging Drive in Ehrlich Park, they heard a siren sound from behind and were pulled over by occupants in a white Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab. Covane said inside the Toyota Hilux there were two unknown men, one wearing a police uniform and the other a blue tracksuit. The suspects' bakkie was allegedly fitted with blue lights on the grill and what appeared to be a police radio inside. Covane said the suspect wearing a police uniform told Malebatso the Suzuki Ertiga they were driving was suspected of delivering drugs. The suspects then allegedly separated Baukudi and Malebatso and instructed Malebatso to drive his vehicle in front of theirs while they followed to the Park Road police station. 'The two vehicles turned back and drove in a westerly direction on Vereeniging Drive. Malebatso alleged a truck moved in between the two vehicles and he did not see the Hilux again. He said one suspect was speaking Sesotho fluently and mentioned the name 'Thipe'. Cellphones belonging to Baukudi and Malebatso were found under a bridge on Ferreira Road.' The Free State department of education said it is working closely with the police and other stakeholders to ensure Kamogelo's safe return. Meanwhile, a 42-year-old police sergeant arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping case briefly appeared in the Bloemfontein magistrate's court last week and remains in custody. The matter was postponed to June 24 to allow for an identity parade to be conducted. The court heard the missing teenager is needed to identify the suspect, but the process cannot proceed as he is still missing.
