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IOL News
8 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
EEskom employees pocket R3bn in overtime during turbulent year
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has disclosed that R10 million was paid to Eskom board members and R3 billion in overtime to employees. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers ESKOM employees pocketed R3 billion in overtime during the 2023/24 financial year. This was for work outside the normal working hours that was approved for an emergency during a standby period, breakdown of plant, pre-arranged plant maintenance, commissioning of plant, authorised construction work on site or critical personnel shortages only for short periods not exceeding one month, among other things. 'Approximately 92% of the workforce is eligible for overtime,' said Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. He was responding to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Mandla Shikwambana, who enquired about the annual expenditure on overtime for Eskom employees and the circumstances under which overtime was paid. Shikwambana also wanted to know whether the 22 board meetings, averaging two meetings per month, as reported in the 2024 annual report, were pre-planned and the reasons for not planning them. He also asked the total remuneration of each board member and whether the board members were subject to individual performance reviews. The board of directors was paid more than R10 million in board fees. He said 22 board meetings were held, and at least 10 were pre-scheduled for the period between April 2023 and March 2024. He said non-executive directors had not been paid per meeting but had received a fixed annual fee based on their committee allocations. 'This fixed fee implicitly covered participation in up to eight scheduled board meetings. The remaining 14 meetings that exceeded the planned schedule did not attract any additional fees.' Board chairperson Mteto Nyati was paid R1.3m, Fathima Gany R1,081,000, Claudelle von Eck R1,061,000, Clive Le Roux R1 058 000 and Tryphosa Ramano R1,018,000. Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Image: Jairus Mmutle/GCIS Other board members - Leslie Mkhabela, Busisiwe Vilakazi, Bheki Ntshalintshali, Tsakani Mthombeni, Ayanda Mafuleka and Lwazi Goqwana - were paid amounts ranging from R933,000 to R676,000. Ramokgopa said the amounts paid included fees for both board meetings and sub-committee meetings. The additional meetings had been convened on an ad hoc basis to address urgent and time-sensitive matters that had required the immediate attention of the board. 'Several of these engagements had been necessitated by unforeseen and evolving developments. These additional meetings had not resulted in any additional payment of fees to the non-executive directors,' he said. The additional meetings had primarily dealt with the group chief executive recruitment, National Transmission Company of South Africa board of directors recruitment, and the unbundling matters. CAPE TIMES
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Joburg council faces critical debate on DA's no confidence motion against mayor, speaker
Joburg mayor Dada Morero along with speaker Nobuhle Mthembu and chief whip Sithembiso Zungu will be the subject of a motion of no confidence debate in council over two days next week. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers The City of Johannesburg council will debate the DA's motion of no confidence in mayor Dada Morero, speaker Nobuhle Mthembu and chief whip Sithembiso Zungu. On Thursday, the council's programming committee approved the debate scheduled for two days, June 25 and 26. The DA in Johannesburg accuses Morero of failing the city's more than six million residents. In its motion of no confidence in the mayor, the DA accuses Morero, who is also ANC regional chairperson in Joburg, of not leading with integrity, with his administration being marked by mismanagement, patronage networks and a disturbing lack of transparency. According to the party, Joburg, the country's economic hub, is falling apart. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Under the current leadership, basic services are crumbling, communities are being neglected, and the very machinery of local government is grinding to a halt. Johannesburg deserves better,' the DA said. Zungu is also an ANC councillor. According to the DA, Mthembu of ActionSA has failed to uphold her constitutional role as an impartial guardian of council processes. 'Instead of ensuring fair and robust oversight, she has consistently shielded the mayor, undermining council's ability to hold the executive accountable,' added the party. It also accuses Mthembu of being bias and stifling critical decision-making, suppressing legitimate scrutiny and eroding the democratic integrity of the council chamber. The DA said her actions were evident in her protection of ineffective officials and disregard for procedural fairness, which it believes demonstrate that she is no longer independent but Morero's political ally. The party urged all councillors, irrespective of political affiliation, to support its motions and join it in fighting for a city that works for all its people. Morero and Mthembu, the DA said, have turned council into a political playground while residents suffer the consequences of poor governance. 'The DA will not stand by while Johannesburg is hijacked by narrow political interests. We owe it to every resident to fight for a council that works, a mayor who leads and a speaker who upholds the rules with fairness and impartiality,' the party explained. The ANC leads the government of local unity in the Joburg council with ActionSA, the EFF, Patriotic Alliance, IFP, African Independent Congress, Al Jama-ah and the PAC, among others. In January, ActionSA councillor Sarah Wissler was elected chairperson of section 79 public safety committee, beating the DA's Solomon Maila by 169 votes to 67.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Insights from the Joshlin Smith case: A prosecutor's perspective on human trafficking
State Prosecutor Advocate Zelda Swanepoel Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers Nearly a month after three people were sentenced for trafficking Joshlin Smith from Saldanha, the case remains a hot topic. While questions still surround the whereabouts of the green-eyed girl who captured the hearts of the nation, the State Prosecutor during the trial, Advocate Zelda Swanepoel, spoke about her perspective on the case. On May 29, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Kelly Smith were sentenced to life imprisonment plus 10 years for trafficking in persons and kidnapping. Speaking on Thursday, Swanepoel said the moment she heard about the Joshlin case, she knew this was going to be difficult, as we (South Africa) had no precedent for a case of this kind. Limited evidence, a deluge of rumours, the ongoing investigation, criticism against the section 204 (State witness - former accused Laurenia Lombaard) witness, the need for corroboration, the reality that many witnesses suffer from drug addiction, and more were the challenges she knew they would face during the trial. Joshlin Smith has been missing since February 19, 2024. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'We knew from the start. We were aware of conflicting versions. We foresaw this,' she said. The strategy was to rely on their most important witness, Lombaard, as well as Steven Coetzee. He testified that Kelly expressed she would be selling her children and how, by the next year (2024), Saldanha would look like a Netflix movie with cars, police, etc, alluding to how the area looked after Joshlin was reported missing on February 19, 2024. The State told the story from the beginning, from when two officers responded to the call of a missing child and presented their evidence in chronological order. 'We set the scene to prove that Joshlin was indeed missing,' Swanepoel said. 'Although we had to be innovative and adjust our strategy, we stuck to the initial plan for most of the trial. I usually draw up an action plan for a trial She also expressed her disappointment that the convicted traffickers, especially Kelly, did not testify during the trial. She said in South Africa, there is no offence called human trafficking, and they realised there were gaps, but then decided to take this matter on trafficking in persons, whereby the person becomes the commodity, objectifying the person for the person for exploitation. This would fall within the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (PACOTIP). Challenging Swanepoel said the most challenging matter in this case was the media presence. 'I felt like I was under a microscope all the time. My facial expressions, everything was out there,' she explained. She also explained that getting witnesses ready, knowing there was so much media attention. Witnesses also had nowhere to hide as everyone would be watching as they delivered their evidence. 'This case was extremely difficult and emotionally draining. We went on a rollercoaster ride of emotions all the time. It was extremely exhausting; we also had to drive in every day from Cape Town to Saldanha, bringing the law to the people. We were constantly working. Adapting to the trial plan. Behind the scenes, I was transcribing, which is tiring, documents had to be translated,' Swanepoel said. She said they also had to adjust to the tempo of the trial as the court sat full days, full weeks. 'The trial was 40 court days, which is a miracle. But, this means everybody adapted and cooperated,' Swanepoel said. She said the other challenges faced were from some critics, the political party's involvement, with criticism levelled throughout the trial. As well as the criticism expressed on social media. 'It is important to respect the role of law enforcement. It is also important to remember, we are all human,' she said. Success Swanepoel said the success was the landmark ruling in this case. This is the first time a conviction has been handed down for a trafficking in persons case where the child is sold and has not yet been found. 'The court found the specific exploitation in the form of slavery,' she said. This case was also filled with many firsts for her as a prosecutor. 'Doing a PowerPoint presentation whereby we illustrated a timeline of the events. We also produced an electronic mind map that illustrated different arguments. I have never used this for court. It worked, and the court incorporated some of our timeline in the judgment. ' Swanepoel said. She also praised the media's involvement. 'Because of the media, justice was brought to the people. I would like to say thank you for all their dedication every day. Throughout the process, they treated everyone with respect,' Swanepoel said. Jacquen Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith were sentenced to life imprisonment. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
Standard Bank sees resilient 5-month earnings, keeps 2025 guidance despite macro volatility
Standard Bank Group on Thursday said its earnings for the five months to May 31, 2025 rose 10% year-on-year in rand terms, supported by a resilient performance across its African operations despite a challenging global and domestic macroeconomic environment. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Standard Bank Group on Thursday said its earnings for the five months to May 31, 2025 rose 10% year-on-year in rand terms, supported by a resilient performance across its African operations despite a challenging global and domestic macroeconomic environment. "Standard Bank group's operational and financial trends were strong, reflective of the continued momentum in the underlying transactional franchise across both South Africa and Africa Regions. Despite the considerable uncertainty and market volatility, the group's established and well diversified franchise continued to deliver a resilient performance," it said in a voluntary trading update. Africa's largest lender by assets said group headline earnings rose at a similar pace as in the first quarter. On a constant currency basis, headline earnings increased in the mid-teens compared with the same period last year. Return on equity (ROE) remained within the group's 2025 target range of 17% to 20%. Macroeconomic headwinds persist Global uncertainty, driven by geopolitical tensions and US trade policy, weighed on macroeconomic and monetary policy, the group said. Across the group's countries of operations, inflation moderated and interest rates began to ease, although more slowly than anticipated. Sub-Saharan Africa's GDP is expected to grow 3.8% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund forecasts. In South Africa, while the global uncertainty and the local budget-related wrangles weighed on confidence and demand, higher commodity prices and market volatility have presented opportunities, Standard Bank said. Margins under pressure, but fees and trading revenues strong Balance sheet growth has been slower than expected as elevated uncertainty and a delay in interest rate cuts negatively impacted demand for credit, particularly in South Africa. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Group net interest margin declined year-on-year, reflecting lower average rates and competitive mortgage pricing in South Africa. Net interest income was flat period-on-period. Standard Bank said the group's growing and increasingly entrenched client base drove continued strong growth in net fee and commission revenue, which was testament to the group's strategy of providing a full suite of relevant and appropriately priced solutions to our clients when and where they want them. "Market volatility drove client activity which supported robust trading revenue growth period on period." it said. Non-interest revenue grew by mid-teens period on period. Operating expenses rose slightly ahead of revenue growth, in line with expectations. Staff costs were pushed higher by incentive payments and increased hiring of specialist skills, while other costs were kept in check as higher growth in activity-related costs were moderated by slower growth in other areas, such as amortisation and premises-related costs. Credit impairment charges declined due to a slowdown in early arrears and fewer non-performing loan inflows in personal and private banking. The credit loss ratio for the period was slightly above the group's 70–100 basis point range, but lower than in the prior year. The group reaffirmed its guidance for the 2025 financial year, including mid-to-high single-digit banking revenue growth (in ZAR); a flat to declining cost-to-income ratio; and return on equity within the 17% to 20% target range.
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
TUT Vice-Chancellor could face lawsuit from Bapedi Kingdom over Sekhukhune campus dispute
The Bapedi people of Sekhukhune have threatened to take the Vice-Chancellor of Tshwane University of Technology, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke to court. Image: Thobile Mathonsi / Independent Newspapers The controversy surrounding the Tshwane University of Technology's (TUT) Sekhukhune campus has taken a dramatic turn, with the institution's Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, being dragged to court. The lawsuit follows Maluleke's alleged ignoring of a letter of demand from the Bapedi Kingdom to settle the matter out of court three weeks ago. The Kingdom had given Maluleke 14 days to respond to their letter regarding the establishment of a campus in Sekhukhune, or face a legal challenge, and claim Maluleke ignored it. The Bapedi Kingdom and TUT Sekhukhune campus coordinator, William Maphutha has made claims that TUT has failed to honour its commitment to establish a campus in Sekhukhune. The dispute between the Bapedi Kingdom and TUT centres around the university's decision to establish a campus in Giyani, which the kingdom views as a violation of the duty of good faith. Maphuta expressed frustration over the lack of response from Maluleke saying according to the brief he received from their lawyers, Maluleke had not responded to their demands. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Maphuta further revealed that they have written to both the Minister of Higher Education and the Portfolio Committee Chairperson, but there has been no response. Maphutha also claimed that that efforts to establish a university in Sekhukhune, had been sabotaged. He says he pioneered the project and accuses TUT of hijacking it without proper consultation. "We are law-abiding citizens, we trust and believe that the courts will come to our rescue," Maphuta said. "The level of arrogance from the management of the university is appalling, let alone the silent treatment from Prof Tinyiko Maluleke,' he said. Both Maluleke and TUT spokesperson Phaphama Tshisikhawe did not answer questions about whether they would challenge the court action. The only correspondence from Maluleke was a leaked letter he had written to the Bapedi Kingdom on May 16, appreciating the hospitality they received while visiting the kingdom during a meeting the day before. 'It was an honour and a privilege for our delegation to connect with the Bapedi Kingdom and to discuss opportunities for mutual growth… TUT is eager to continue this journey with the Bapedi Kingdom. We look forward to future engagements,' Maluleke wrote.
