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IOL News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Transport Department races to clear 733,000 driving licence backlog after machine failure
The Transport Department aims to clear the 700,000 backlog in driving licence card printing within three to four months after its machine was fixed following its breakdown in February. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The Transport Department is racing against time to wipe out backlogs totalling more than 700,000 outstanding driving licence cards to be printed after its printing machine broke down in February, when its electronic cards were damaged. Responding to sets of parliamentary questions from parliamentarians from Rise Mzansi, EFF and MK Party, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said the driver's licence card machine has now been fixed and is currently dealing with the backlog of driving licence cards that must be printed. 'As of 15 May 2025, the backlog count is estimated at 733,000 cards,' said Creecy. The backlog was down from 747,748 outstanding cards recorded on May 2. The machine has suffered major breakdowns totalling 129 days from 2022/23 to date, with only 38 days recorded in the current financial year alone. 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 The department incurred R11.9 million in repairs and maintenance costs and sent R4.3 million in overtime payments during the same period. Creecy said the card production facility has since extended working hours for the staff members in the card production facility to ensure the reduction of the backlog. 'The services of card production have been restored. Already over 200,000 cards have been printed. We hope to clear the backlog within three to four months,' she said in reply to EFF MP Babalwa Mathulelwa dated May 12. She had previously indicated to EFF MP Lencel Mashidika Komane late in May that the backlog could be resolved in six to seven months. Creecy explained that the current driving licence printing machine, introduced in 1998, operates on outdated technologies that the Original Equipment Manufacturer no longer supports. 'The current equipment is obsolete, and we are in the process of mitigating the risk of equipment failure with an interim solution,' she said without elaborating. Last year, Creecy said in parliamentary replies that a service provider had been appointed to assist the department in rolling out the new driving licences. Three machines were to be procured – two for the primary site and one for a disaster recovery site – at a cost of R334 million each. She had stated that the tender has been finalised and a service provider appointed to deliver a turnkey solution for the personalisation of smart card driving licences after advertising of the tender, both local and international had an equal opportunity to bid. But the announcement of the new service provider never went ahead after the Auditor-General found non-compliance with procurement processes, a move that prompted Creecy to seek a court order to block the awarding of the contract. Asked long-term measures to ensure the critical national service related to the printing of driver's licences was never compromised, Creecy said the department intended to acquire a new machine. 'However, as a result of procurement irregularities noted by the Auditor-General, the minister directed that a declaratory order on the tender be sought to ensure that no further possible irregular expenditure occurs,' she said in a reply to Komane. She gave a similar response when asked by Rise Mzansi MP Songezo Zibi about the progress made to acquire a new driving licence card printing machine. 'The minister has directed that a declaratory order be sought from a competent court on the tender to acquire a new machine, to ensure that no further irregular expenditure occurs.'
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Sharemax rescue vehicle on the brink as creditors circle
The moment Nova enters liquidation, its entire debenture debt becomes due and payable. Nova's previous head office in Pretoria, also the former head office of Sharemax. Picture: Moneyweb One of Nova Property Group's service providers has filed liquidation applications against the holding companies of six of its shopping centres – a move that could have serious consequences for former Sharemax investors. If Nova, the entity responsible for repaying these investors (who became debenture holders in terms of the Sharemax rescue scheme), is placed under provisional or final liquidation, all outstanding debentures would become immediately due and payable. Liquidation would also allow for a comprehensive investigation into the events that led to the group's financial collapse and the conduct of its directors and other key stakeholders. Bright Light Solar (BLS), a company that installed solar systems at several Nova shopping centres, filed the liquidation applications last week. BLS claims Nova owes it more than R4 million in unpaid electricity bills and R80 million in penalties for contractual breaches. It further alleges that Nova acted in bad faith and has abused legal processes to delay payment. 'Given the respondent's clear inability to pay its debts and its repeated attempts to delay enforcement, liquidation is the only appropriate remedy,' BLS CEO Kevin Shames claims in court papers. 'The respondent has repeatedly employed procedural tactics to evade its obligations, and the court should not permit further obstruction.' ALSO READ: Nova breaches the Companies Act for the eighth straight year Solar disputes and unpaid claims According to court papers, BLS installed solar solutions at Nova's Waterglen, Carletonville, Tarentaal, Witbank, Village and Florida shopping centres. In terms of the agreements, Nova would buy electricity from BLS at favourable tariffs for 25 years. However, Shames claims that soon after the commencement of the agreements, Nova started to default on payments despite collecting payment from the shopping centres' tenants. By May 2024 Nova was more than R4 million in arrears for all centres. Shames claims that Nova and BLS later concluded a repayment agreement stipulating that Nova would settle its arrears by October last year. Kevin Shames, CEO of Bright Light Solar. Image: Bright Light Solar website However, Nova failed to make the payments and subsequently issued summonses against BLS for R4.3 million, claiming that BLS did not comply with an oral agreement concluded in October 2021 requiring BLS to install batteries at the centres. Nova also amended the summonses on several occasions. Shames vehemently denies that such oral agreement was ever concluded and claims the summonses were only aimed at delaying repayment. 'This was a coordinated and premeditated litigation strategy aimed at manufacturing a fictitious dispute where none existed in an attempt to obstruct the liquidation applications which had by that stage become inevitable,' he states. BLS subsequently cancelled the electricity supply agreements and warned Nova that it may initiate liquidation proceedings. However, Nova rushed to the court and obtained an urgent ex parte order interdicting BLS from initiating winding up proceedings. The court later set aside the interdict with a punitive cost order, and the judge criticised Nova for failing to provide full disclosure. Shames labels these actions as abusive and in bad faith. 'The abusive ex parte application [and] the mala fide proposed amendments to summonses demonstrate a pattern of conduct that was not initiated to pursue any genuine disputes but were instead a deliberate and bad faith attempt to obstruct legitimate winding-up proceedings.' ALSO READ: Irba surprisingly withdraws SCA application to appeal former Sharemax auditors' judgment Nova to defend Nova chair Connie Myburgh claimed in response to Moneyweb questions that BLS's applications are 'vexatious, opportunistic and without merit'. 'The applications are an abuse of legal process, launched merely for the sake of embarrassing and extorting the Nova Group, under circumstances where Bright Lite Solar [sic] is owed nothing by the said subsidiaries, and there are serious factual disputes between the subsidiaries and Bright Light Solar, as set out in summonses issued by the subsidiaries against Bright Light Solar, late last year.' Myburgh also stated that the Nova companies claim more than R80 million in damages from BLS. 'Notwithstanding the above disputes and damages claims, Bright Lite Solar [sic] deemed it appropriate to issue liquidation proceedings in a totally inappropriate manner, and merely as an extortive defence mechanism.' He also stated that the liquidation applications do not render debentures payable. (Read Myburgh's complete response here). ALSO READ: Irba expert witness questioned at Sharemax disciplinary hearing Debenture repayment obligations If the Nova companies are indeed placed into provisional or final liquidation, the debentures will become immediately payable. This is specified in the Nova Debenture Trust deed, which forms part of the Schemes of Arrangements (SoA) that tasked Nova with repaying former Sharemax investors. The original SoA required Nova to repay investors by 20 January 2022, but the group was not in a financial position to do so. The board claimed it had complete discretion to delay repayments – a position disputed by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and the group's auditors at the time. According to Nova's most recent set of annual financial statements (AFS) for the year to the end of February 2024, outstanding debentures amounted to R2.2 billion. ALSO READ: SA's most spectacular case of corporate capture Not the first liquidation application BLS is not the first company to initiate winding-up proceedings against Nova subsidiaries. In 2023, the Quatro Group – which provided security, cleaning, and related services to Nova shopping centres – applied to liquidate 12 Nova entities after the group failed to settle outstanding payments. Quatro later withdrew the applications following a settlement agreement with Nova. However, Nova has yet to honour the agreed repayment. The City of Mbombela cut the electricity supply to two shopping centres for non-payment of their municipal bills in 2023. The City of Mbombela cut the electricity supply to two of Nova's shopping centres in Nelspruit due to the non-payment of its municipal account. This photo shows a notice on the door of the Bazaruto restaurant in Courtside, which had to close its doors. Image: Lowvelder The most notable failure by Nova to pay its debts involves the bridging finance group Beneficio. This case also saw numerous legal challenges from Nova. The case dates back to the late 2010s when Nova borrowed money from Beneficio at an astronomical interest rate of 1% per week as commercial banks refused to lend money to Nova. Nova defaulted on repayments in 2020, prompting Beneficio to sue for about R60 million. However, as in the current BLS case, Nova counter-sued, claiming the interest rate was usurious. However, the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal have dismissed all of Nova's applications. Nova has now approached the Constitutional Court, which means the legal process has been dragged out for more than five years. ALSO READ: Liduidators sue Highveld Syndication BRP and Nova chair for R110m Nova's financial position It is perhaps not surprising that Nova is facing liquidation applications. Its most recent AFS revealed a factually insolvent company. The liabilities exceeded its assets by R90 million, while the short-term liabilities amounted to R323 million, which included R188 million due to creditors, R74 million to repay loans, and outstanding tax of R62 million. The company ended the year with accessible cash of R600 000 in its bank account. Nova chair Connie Myburgh (left) and Nova CEO Dominique Haese. Image: Moneyweb Nova's financial position has deteriorated significantly since 2022, when the CIPC forbade the company from selling more fixed assets. That came after Nova sold 19 of the 28 investment properties it was entrusted with (mostly shopping centres). According to Moneyweb's calculations, the total proceeds from these sales amounted to R636 million, of which only R176 million was returned to debenture holders. Since 2018 alone, Nova has generated R350 million from asset disposals – but has paid only R96 million to settle debentures. Nova ostensibly used the balance of around R460 million to fund operational expenses. ALSO READ: The dark underbelly of the business rescue industry Millions more for directors if Nova continues to trade The only winners in the Nova saga seem to be the executive directors. Myburgh and CEO Dominique Haese have collectively earned R100 million from the scheme's inception in 2012 to February last year, roughly R50 million each. Nova has always contended that its remuneration is market-related. Trustee response Jean-Pierre Tromp, the trustee of the Nova Debenture Trust who acts on behalf of debenture holders, said: 'As this is the second set of liquidation applications in two years, it echoes the concerns I raised with the CIPC as to whether the Nova Group is still a going concern.' He is also concerned that Nova may offer some of the property assets in the group as security as part of a settlement agreement, which would be to the detriment of debenture holders. Tromp added that the application wasn't surprising as Nova's latest AFS shows that debt levels have increased to a 'very worrisome level'. 'I have serious doubts as to whether the executive directors are managing the group of companies to the benefit of the debenture holders. I also question the role the independent directors are supposed to fulfil in an oversight function as per King IV [corporate governance code].' ALSO READ: NPA asks Hawks to reopen Sharemax investigation CIPC investigation into Nova's solvency has ground to a halt Nova's financial distress and failure to repay debenture holders led the CIPC to intervene in 2021, issuing directives for the company to prove it wasn't trading insolvently and later barring further asset sales. Nova appealed to the Companies Tribunal, where the matter remains unresolved. The CIPC broadened the scope of its investigation into Nova to include the role regulators, such as the South African Reserve Bank, played in the collapse of Sharemax and other failed property syndication schemes. This 'inter-regulatory' process has since stalled, and has consequently delayed action against Nova as its financial position worsens. Moneyweb queried the CIPC about Nova's 2024 financials before learning of Bright Light Solar's liquidation application. In response, Ndileka Cola of the CIPC stated that the 'Commission continues to monitor the financial performance and conduct of Nova PropGrow Group Holdings Ltd'. 'Enforcement action against the board is being actively considered based on the company's financial position, cash flows, and governance conduct.' Moneyweb asked the CIPC last week whether it was aware of the liquidation application, at which point Cola terminated communication. 'Subsequent to the response sent to you last week, please be informed that the CIPC will not be communicating on this matter until it has been concluded,' she wrote in a statement. ALSO READ: Jacques Pauw calls AfriForum 'outright stupid' on Modise, calls for Sharemax prosecution Harrison and White Concerns about Myburgh's involvement in the timing of liquidation proceedings have previously surfaced in other cases. During the 2010s, Myburgh served as a legal advisor to Harrison and White (H&W), a company placed in liquidation in 2017. A Section 417 inquiry into the events preceding the liquidation found that Myburgh had 'colluded with the company's directors and management' to delay an inevitable liquidation application by more than three-and-a-half years, giving time for the company's assets to be stripped. The Master of the High Court subsequently referred the Section 417 report to the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate possible fraudulent conduct by several individuals, including Myburgh. At the time, Myburgh denied wrongdoing and accused Moneyweb of unlawfully publishing the Section 417 report. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The South African
28-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs news: Appollis, Nabi, Mayele, Bobby Motaung scandal
If Nasreddine Nabi's demands are anything to go by, Kaizer Chiefs are set to have another busy offseason following a ten-player haul in the last winter window. The Tunisian coach made a public statement saying he expects AmaKhosi to equip him with the means to purchase fresh talent in the coming months and hinted at leaving if that isn't the case. 'I wouldn't be honest if say that I'm gonna stay if the club doesn't allow me to get all the tools to succeed next season because they have promised, and myself, I have promised the fans that I want to build a successful team that will compete in every competition to win trophies.' 'That's the condition for me to stay [at Chiefs] because I don't feel that I want to go through what I went through this season.' According to reports, long-term target and Bafana winger Oswin Appollis could be one the club's first offseason arrivals. 'What we believe is that apparently the talks involving Appollis and Kaizer Chiefs are at an advanced stage,' an inside source revealed. Another attacker on Kaizer Chiefs' radar is Pyramids' Fiston Mayele, who confirmed that the two parties had begun talks in December. Sowetan rivals Orlando Pirates is also in the race for the 30-year-old, denting the Glamour Boys' chances of landing the in-form striker. According to reports, Kaizer Chiefs Football Manager Bobby Motaung is facing charges from Pent Up Investment CC, which has accused him of owing the company approximately R4.3 million after a property deal went awry. 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 South African
27-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs boss faces financial scandal
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club manager Bobby Motaung finds himself at the centre of a financial storm, with court papers filed to have his estate sequestered. According to a Sunday World report, Pent Up Investment CC has approached the Johannesburg High Court, claiming that Motaung owes the company more than R4.3 million linked to a property deal gone sour. Costas Couremetis, head of Pent Up Investment, alleges that Motaung has failed to settle the outstanding amount from a R9 million judgment issued back in November 2009. In a sworn affidavit, Couremetis detailed Motaung's failure to honour the full judgment amount. 'Pursuant to a failure by Lakeshore (Motaung was listed as the sole director of Lakeshore Trading) to make payment of the purchase price for the property in full, the applicant instituted proceedings… and obtained judgment on or about November 12, 2009 in a sum exceeding R9-million, plus interest and legal costs,' reads the court filing. The affidavit claims that as of January 2024, over R4.3 million remains unpaid. Despite not disputing the debt, Motaung allegedly made no significant effort to settle it. 'In fairness to the respondent, he has not sought to dispute the indebtedness… However, he has clearly not been able to pay the full sum… even after having been given various reasonable and generous indulgences over many years,' Couremetis added. What raised eyebrows, however, is the picture painted of Motaung's lavish lifestyle. 'The respondent has over all of these years lived a very opulent lifestyle, driving a Bentley… living in a large immovable property in… Houghton… wearing very expensive clothing and… watches… portraying the image of a very successful businessman… by virtue of the prominent position which he occupies at Kaizer Chiefs Football Club.' History of legal troubles This latest legal development adds to a string of past controversies. In 2016, a fraud and corruption case linked to the construction of Mbombela Stadium. Where Motaung was implicated, was dropped due to insufficient evidence. The same year, Sowetan Live reported that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) issued Motaung with a tax bill totalling R44.7 million. Then, in 2021, Sunday World revealed that SARS instructed liquidators to recover R90 million from a company. In which Bobby Motaung served as a director. While Motaung has remained tight-lipped in the face of these latest accusations. The unfolding legal battle could have lasting implications. Not only for his personal finances but also for his reputation at one of South Africa's biggest football clubs. Will Kaizer Chiefs' Bobby Motaung reputation still be intact? 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
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Chiefs' Motaung in hot water
'The indebtedness as it currently stands at the end of January 2024 is in the sum of over R4.3-million,' reads an affidavit from Costa Couremetis. Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung is subject to court papers aiming to have his estate sequestrated, according to a report from ALSO READ: Nabi drops hint over Chiefs future The news website reports that Pent Up Investment CC have filed papers in the Johannesburg High Court, with the company's boss Costas Couremetis claiming Motaung still owes him over R4.3 million with regards to a property deal. 'indebtedness' An affidavit submitted by Couremetis claims that Motaung has not paid almost half of the R9 million that he was ordered to pay in November 2009. 'Pursuant to a failure by Lakeshore (Motaung was listed as the sole director of Lakeshore Trading) to make payment of the purchase price for the property in full, the applicant instituted proceedings in the above honourable court and obtained judgment on or about November 12, 2009 in a sum exceeding R9-million, plus interest and legal costs,' read the papers. 'The indebtedness as it currently stands at the end of January 2024 is in the sum of over R4.3-million. 'In fairness to the respondent, he has not sought to dispute the indebtedness since the judgment was granted against him. However, he has clearly not been able to pay the full sum, as and when it was due, even after having been given various reasonable and generous indulgences over many years. 'The respondent has over all of these years lived a very opulent lifestyle, driving a Bentley motor vehicle; owning and living in a large immovable property in a very prestigious area, namely Houghton; wearing very expensive clothing and different, very expensive watches at our various meetings and generally portraying the image of a very successful businessman, who is extremely well off; and who occupies a considerable position in the eyes of society, throughout South Africa, by virtue of the prominent position which he occupies at Kaizer Chiefs Football Club.' ALSO READ: Nabi is wrong, Chiefs' league position is inexcusable This is not Motaung's first brush with the law. In 2016 a five-year long fraud and corruption case in which he was implicated, with regard to the building of Mbombela Stadium, was struck off the roll due to insufficient evidence. Tax bills? According to the Sowetan Live, Motaung was also slapped with a R44.7 million tax bill by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in June 2016. In September 2021, the Sunday World also reported that SARS had asked liquidators to recover R90 million owed to them by a company in which Motaung was one of the directors.
