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IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC leadership shake-up: Disbandment of regional committees in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal ANC coordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu and convener Jeff Radebe are under pressure from Luthuli to revive the party in the province. Image: Supplied After reconfiguring the provincial executive committee four months ago to rebuild structures following last year's humiliating defeat, the KwaZulu-Natal ANC has disbanded regional executive committees, which will be replaced with task teams. The decision was made recently, and the process was expected to kick off in KwaDukuza, where the party's national leadership was expected to announce that members would form the regional task team on Monday. The ANC provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi confirmed that the party has decided to disband the regions, adding that most of them, if not all, have had their terms lapsed. 'Yes, the process will affect all the regions, and we hope by the end of the month, we will have finished the process,' said Sibisi. 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 ✕ He said the party has not decided whether it will allow the regions to go to their elective conferences before next year's local government elections or hold conferences after. Sources within the party said the decision was prompted by branch audit outcomes, which the reconfigured provincial task team undertook after it was established. The sources said the audit outcomes revealed that many branch executive committee members were sympathetic to the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, and the ANC felt it should disband regional executive committees as they appeared to have lost control of the branches. According to the sources, the party's focus will be in eThekwini and KwaDukuza. Although the ANC did not perform badly in KwaDukuza, the municipality with a budget of R3.2 billion rand is seen as one of the strategic municipalities that the party wanted to keep at all costs. The eThekwini, which is the only metro and one of the largest regions in the country, with a voting population of close to two million, is the party's main strategic point. The region, which has been the party's stronghold for decades, fell to former president Jacob Zuma's MKP in last year's elections, which relegated the ANC to third place. The region is expected to be a battleground between the ANC and the MKP. The eThekwini regional executive committee's term expired in April. It has been under former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, who has been a 'ceremonial' chairperson after she was forced to step aside soon after she was elected in 2022 because of corruption charges she was facing. Gumede is still on trial for the R320 million Durban Solid Waste tender scandal.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng couple in financial distress blames Absa for reckless lending on R3. 2 million home loan
A Gauteng couple took action against Absa bank after alleging reckless lending practices that have led them into a spiralling debt of over R5.1 million. A Gauteng couple has launched legal action against Absa bank, alleging that reckless lending practices have pushed them into a spiralling debt of over R5.1 million. Christian Daniel De Klerk and his partner, who have been long-standing customers of the bank, argue that their financial well-being was jeopardised when they accepted a second home loan from Absa without receiving an appropriate affordability assessment. Initially, the De Klerks secured a R1.9 million home loan from Absa in 2011 and, for nearly a decade, they successfully met their repayment obligations. However, following the collapse of the husband's legal practice in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the couple were granted a temporary three-month payment holiday. Ironically, during the same month, they said Absa approached them with an offer for a second loan, amounting to R3.2 million. Despite their precarious situation, the couple accepted the offer. Meanwhile, the husband remained unemployed until June 2024 and the couple faced mounting debt because of missed repayments from 2022. They maintained that their current income was inadequate to service both the new instalments and the arrears. Nevertheless, they submitted that they could meet the loan obligations under terms similar to those agreed upon in March 2020.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Financial distress: Couple accuses Absa of reckless lending after accepting R3. 2 million second home loan
A Gauteng couple took action against Absa bank after alleging reckless lending practices that have led them into a spiralling debt of over R5.1 million. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers A Gauteng couple took action against Absa bank after alleging reckless lending practices that have led them into a spiralling debt of over R5.1 million. Christian Daniel De Klerk and his partner, long-standing customers of the bank, claim that their financial wellness was compromised when they accepted a second home loan from Absa without being given a suitable affordability assessment. Initially, the De Klerks secured a R1.9 million home loan from Absa in 2011 and, for nearly a decade, they successfully met their repayment obligations. However, following the collapse of the husband's legal practice in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the couple were granted a temporary three-month payment holiday. Ironically, during the same month, they said Absa approached them with an offer for a second loan, amounting to R3.2 million. Despite their precarious situation, the couple accepted the offer. Meanwhile, the husband remained unemployed until June 2024 and the couple faced mounting debt because of missed repayments from 2022. They maintained that their current income was inadequate to service both the new instalments and the arrears. Nevertheless, they submitted that they could meet the loan obligations under terms similar to those agreed upon in March 2020. In seeking respite, the couple brought their case before the National Consumer Tribunal (NCT), voicing their primary grievance against Absa's alleged failure to conduct a proper affordability assessment before approving the second loan. They argued that Absa did not request essential financial documentation such as proof of income, detailed expense records, or even a credit history report—critical assessments that would typically inform responsible lending practices. The couple contended that granting them a loan while the husband was unemployed amounted to reckless lending. In addition, the couple alleged that Absa also failed to provide clear information regarding the loan's terms, conditions, interest rates, and penalties for missed repayments, all of which they argue have contributed to their current financial hardship. As a result of these alleged contraventions, the couple said that they are suffering severe financial hardship, face the risk of foreclosure, and are enduring significant emotional distress, which has adversely affected their quality of life. In the answering affidavit, Absa argued the couple's application was time-barred as more than three years have elapsed since the alleged cause of action arose. Moreover, the bank submitted that the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria enforced the loan agreement in September 2024 and ordered the couple to pay over R5.1 million including interests and declared the couples' property executable. The bank added that the couple's case was frivolous, vexatious, and constitutes an abuse of the Tribunal's process. In their reply, the couple disputed the assertion that the matter was time-barred. They argue that the cause of action only arose in 2022 when they began defaulting on their home loan repayments. On this basis, they contend that the three-year period should be calculated from 2022, not from 2020 when the second home loan was granted. They also disputed the contention that the high court judgment precludes them from pursuing the complaint before the tribunal. They argue that the issue of reckless lending, which forms the crux of their complaint before the tribunal, and it was not adjudicated by the high court. Looking at matter, the tribunal said by law, the limitation period must be calculated from 2020 March when the alleged reckless credit was extended. Having filed their application for leave to refer in February 2025—almost five years post the alleged reckless lending—the tribunal indicated that they would be barred from considering the complaint, potentially closing the door on their search for justice. As a result, the application was dismissed. [email protected] IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
The South African
31-05-2025
- Health
- The South African
Future of SASSA grant for pregnant women hangs in the balance
Did you know that a SASSA grant for pregnant women has been on the table for some time now? First tabled in 2012, it's known as the Maternal Support Grant (MSG), and it's a shame it has been in limbo for more than a decade. At its heart, a SASSA grant for pregnant women hopes to address the fact that nearly one-third of children born in South Africa are stunted. This is due to poor nourishment of the mother. In fact, 2.5 million people live in nutritionally insecure households, according to the South African Medical Research Council. Even though it will cost billions annually, the savings a maternity grant will bring are said to be ten-fold. Image: File As such, mothers who are malnourished during pregnancy have much higher odds of poor birth outcomes. This includes low birthweight, poor neurodevelopment, and increased risk of chronic disease later in life. This is why the proposed SASSA grant for pregnant women came about. And many in civil society say the South African Social Security Agency should combine it as an extension of the existing R570 Child Support Grant. However, despite the draft policy being 13-years old, the Department of Social Development (DSD) says it still hasn't reached Cabinet. Last year, in November 2024, the policy was submitted to the Social Protection, Community and Human Development (SPCHD) Cabinet Committee. But it was sent back for 'further work,' saying poverty, unemployment and inequality need to be addressed jointly. In more than a decade, the DSD has not even presented the draft policy to Cabinet. Image: File Some worry a SASSA grant for pregnant women would 'incentivise child birth and create a dependency syndrome.' However, civil society says it has been more than a decade since the DSD commissioned research on the benefits of a SASSA grant for pregnant women. And in that time the body of evidence in its favour has only grown stronger. Therefore, the absence of income support for pregnant women is a big gap in the country's social security framework. According to advocacy groups, a SASSA grant for pregnant women would require in the region of R1.9 billion to R3.2 billion annually. However, the potential saving to public health would exceed R13 billion. It is therefore a critical investment into the future of the nation. But what do you think …? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
2026 election: Retief Odendaal to stand as DA's mayoral candidate for NMB metro
The DA's Retief Odendaal will be in the running for the mayoral chain in Nelson Mandela Bay's local elections in 2026. Retief Odendaal is the DA's mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. Picture: X/ @DAEasternCape The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced former Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) mayor Retief Odendaal as the party's mayoral candidate in the 2026 local government elections. According to Eastern Cape provincial leader, Andrew Whitfield, the announcement in effect 'declares our unequivocal intention to challenge for the governance of Nelson Mandela Bay in next year's election'. According to Whitfield, the DA's coalition partners started to turn the metro around during Odendaal's tenure as mayor between September 2022 and May 2023. Retief Odendaal's previous tenure as Bay metro mayor 'Under his leadership, we improved service delivery and cracked down on corruption. Nelson Mandela Bay also achieved its first unqualified audit in 12 years, under Odendaal. 'All this hard work was undone when the ANC, with the assistance of smaller proxy parties, such as the PA [Patriotic Alliance] and NA [Northern Alliance], returned to govern the metro in 2023,' Whitfield said. 'Like the back of his hand' – DA's Retief Odendaal He noted that Odendaal, who is a qualified attorney, currently serves as the DA's Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in the Eastern Cape legislature. 'Retief knows the administration of the metro like the back of his hand, and has a critical understanding of the problems facing Nelson Mandela Bay.' ALSO READ: Tensions boil in Nelson Mandela Bay metro ahead of council meeting Internal process Whitfield said the decision was the culmination of a competitive, thorough and exhaustive DA internal process of applications and interviews to select the best person for the job. 'The DA charges Retief Odendaal to lead a campaign that connects with the hearts of every person in Nelson Mandela Bay, that reaches every community, and tackles the serious issues facing this metro,' he added. Nelson Mandela Bay Metro: Years of extensive issues and challenges Since 2001, the municipality has been led by various mayors, including Eugene Johnson, Odendaal and Gary van Niekerk. The current executive mayor is the ANC's Babalwa Lobishe. In March this year, Lobishe unsuccessfully tried to get the council to write off R3.2 billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Nelson Mandela Bay has the highest amount of fruitless and wasteful expenditure in South Africa, which recently increased by R2 billion to stand at R24 billion. READ NOW: Infighting in Nelson Mandela Bay metro detracts from delivery
