Latest news with #NonhlanhlaMkhize
IOL News
12-06-2025
- IOL News
Gender-based violence allegations shake KwaZulu-Natal Premier's office after DG's resignation
Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize, the director-general in the Office of the Premier in KwaZulu-Natal resigned earlier this week. It has been alleged that her resignation came after a colleague threatened her. Image: KZN Provincial Government / Instagram The Office of the Premier in KwaZulu-Natal has been rocked by allegations of gender-based violence after the most senior civil service staff member in that office suddenly quit her post, allegedly after she was threatened by a male staffer. The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on the Office of the Premier, Mbali Frazer, raised the issue. She has written to Premier Thami Ntuli demanding an explanation regarding the resignation of Director-General Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize, who resigned suddenly this week. Frazer said it was alleged that Mkhize quit after allegedly being subjected to verbal abuse and threatening conduct by a senior male staff member in that office. Attempts to contact Dr Mkhize were unsuccessful yesterday. The Premier's office acknowledged Dr Mkhize's resignation a few days ago but did not give a reason for her resignation. 'As the first female Director-General of KwaZulu-Natal, she leaves behind a powerful legacy of transformation, collaboration, and excellence in public service. Her ability to foster unity across both the political and administrative spheres will have a lasting impact on the governance of our province,' the statement from the Premier's office said. Committee chair Frazer said in a statement, 'In my capacity as the chair of the Portfolio Committee on the Office of the Premier, Community Safety and Liaison, I wish to inform the people of KwaZulu-Natal that we cannot ignore the widespread serious allegations levelled against a certain official in the Office of the Premier. 'It is alleged that a youth manager in the Office of the Premier threatened to physically harm the first and longest-serving female Director-General, Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize. Her crime was refusing to sign off on an appointment letter related to the R100 million Youth Fund,' said the statement. 'As the Portfolio Committee, we believe that it would be an abdication of our responsibility not to allow Premier Thami Ntuli to address these serious allegations on an appropriate platform. In this regard, we have written a letter to the Premier requesting him to appear before the committee. As the committee responsible for oversight over the executive, we believe that such allegations warrant our attention. Threats to physically harm a senior female civil servant should be viewed seriously by all leaders of society across all political affiliations,' said the statement. The Mercury has seen a letter sent to the Premier and the Portfolio Committee about the incident. The unsigned letter alleges that on May 20, the youth directorate section submitted documents for the award of the Youth Empowerment Fund; however, the letter was returned the same day as there were no supporting documents. It states that the documents had not been seen by the Director-General because the practice in her office is that staff vet the documents. They vetted the documents that had been sent and found them non-compliant and sent them back. However, the official who sent the document allegedly made accusatory remarks towards the Director-General. It further alleged that on June 4, there was a heated meeting between the Director-General and the official over the matter where Mkhize was allegedly threatened. The letter further claimed that the police were called, and Mkhize subsequently resigned. 'The DG ended up tendering her resignation, which was not her plan, due to fear for her safety and life. Her resignation was tendered due to the severe nature of threats, as well as the emotional and psychological trauma,' the letter claims.
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
G20 Development Working Group focuses on global solidarity and action
Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa and KwaZulu-Natal director-general Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize during a pre-meeting briefing session ahead of the third G20 Development Working Group Meeting on Sunday. Image: South African Government The G20 Development Working Group convened on Sunday with an urgent mission to cultivate solidarity, equality, and sustainability in pursuit of transformative global change. This gathering, set against the backdrop of South Africa's G20 Presidency, signals a renewed commitment to multilateralism. The session commenced with a call to action reflecting the current global crossroads. During her opening address, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, said the global community is at a crossroads. Ramokgopa said humanity faces significant intertwined global challenges, including extreme poverty, inequality, geopolitical tensions, conflict, insecurity, climate change risks, extreme weather, and economic instability. Despite these complexities, there is potential for transformative progress and the realisation of dignity for all. 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 ✕ 'Notwithstanding all of these factors, our collective commitment and capacity as humanity to address and tackle these challenges and exploit the opportunities is key,' Ramokgopa said. She believes the working group must be a vessel for hope and action, where global ambition meets solutions to global challenges, practical delivery and where solidarity guides their solutions. Additionally, the working group should reinvigorate multilateralism, strengthen development cooperation, and forge collective solutions that leave no one behind. Over the next three days, topics will revolve around three priority areas central to the working group's mission: Strengthening Domestic Resource Mobilisation through curbing Illicit Financial Flows, which continue to deprive developing nations of the resources needed to invest in health, education, and infrastructure. The issue of Illicit Financial Flows remains a critical challenge for many countries, especially in Africa. Estimates indicate Africa loses around $88.6 billion annually due to Illicit Financial Flows. 'South Africa strongly supports the continued engagement of the Financial Action Task Force in identifying gaps and enhancing global cooperation and urges the G20 to adopt an even more development-centred approach to financial integrity, grounded in transparency, fairness, and capacity support,' Ramokgopa said. 2. Advancing Social Protection Systems to provide dignity, resilience, and opportunity for all, particularly the poor, women, youth, and vulnerable groups. Social Protection Systems remain a cornerstone of South Africa's fight against poverty and inequality. 'As part of our 'social wage', we continue to invest in income support, universal healthcare, education, housing, and access to basic services,' Ramokgopa said. The G20's High-Level Principles on Social Protection, adopted in 2021, affirm the critical role of social protection in building resilience and promoting inclusive growth. These principles must translate into global best practices and measurable outcomes. 3. Supporting access to Global Public Goods. This is essential for, amongst others, managing climate risks, promoting global health, and fostering digital inclusion. Ramokgopa said they should ensure that Global Public Goods governance and financing mechanisms are inclusive and just. South Africa has championed calls for fairer access to clean technologies, vaccines, and climate adaptation finance. Ramokgopa said she was encouraged to see the working group deepening its coordination with other G20 working groups and workstreams, including Finance, Climate Sustainability, Employment, and Anti-Corruption, to ensure policy coherence and systemic impact. The G20's strength lies in its ability to connect development, finance, and global governance, creating crucial linkages that underscore its unique role. 'I wish to welcome the important contributions of partner institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the International Labour Organisation, and the Financial Action Task Force in the work of this Group,' Ramokgopa said. 'I am confident that their insights will enhance our work and contribute to the practical tools and partnerships needed to build just, inclusive, and resilient societies.' Ramokgopa added that the negotiations are about the lives and livelihoods of billions of people worldwide, and the kind of future they collectively wish to shape.
