Latest news with #R7
TimesLIVE
11 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Ugandan women rebuild traumatised lives after Gulf abuse
Emily Ounyesiga, 38, beams with pride as she talks about the bakery she runs in Uganda's capital Kampala — a vibrant, bustling space filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries. In 2017 Ounyesiga was duped by a recruitment agent and trafficked to work as a live-in nanny in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. She was promised a monthly salary of $400 (R7,220) — six times more than she could earn in Uganda. Instead, over four years, Ounyesiga was enslaved, starved, raped and jailed. 'When I returned to Uganda, I was so sick and frail,' the mother of two told Context/the Thomson Reuters Foundation via a video call. 'But I was luckier than most. I got help. I was taken to a hospital to get treatment, provided with a place to stay and given training where I learnt baking and was able to rebuild my life. Now, I feel I have a bright future.' Ounyesiga is one of just a few African women who, after being exploited as domestic workers in the Middle East, have managed to forge a new path with support from international charity EverFree. The organisation operates in Uganda and the Philippines, providing survivors of human trafficking with shelters, medical and psychosocial care and skills training. Monica Kyamazima, head of EverFree in Uganda, said the charity has helped hundreds of young women but many more remain trapped in poverty and suffering after returning from the Gulf. In 2024 the charity supported 353 survivors of human trafficking.
Eyewitness News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Floyd Shivambu: 'I don't beg for membership of political organisations'
JOHANNESBURG - Floyd Shivambu said he would not beg to remain a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party after announcing his ambition to establish a new party. At a media briefing in Midrand on Thursday, Shivambu said he had convened a committee that would look into whether there was a need for a new political party in the country. This move comes on the back of Shivambu recently being demoted as the MK Party secretary-general to an ordinary member. ALSO READ: • Shivambu alleges R7 million is looted monthly from MK Party's coffers • Shivambu stands firm on not rejoining EFF, describing it as a 'cult' • 'I will never resign from the MK Party,' says Shivambu • Shivambu claims fake intelligence report on him wanting to overthrow Zuma led to his removal as MKP SG "I have not resigned from uMkhonto weSizwe and I will never resign from uMkhonto weSizwe."
IOL News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Floyd Shivambu's explosive allegations: Corruption, drug use, and a new political party
Floyd Shivambu dropped a few bombshells during his media briefing in Gauteng on Thursday. Image: Floyd Shivambu/X Former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu, dropped a few bombshells during his press briefing in Gauteng on Thursday, where he announced plans to launch a new political party. Among some wild claims, Shivambu alluded to some in leadership who were linked to corruption, others fighting among themselves, and even someone sniffing drugs. Speaking to reporters at the Mhulu Boutique Hotel on Thursday, Shivambu exposed allegations of fund embezzlement and political sabotage, signalling a significant shift in his political journey. Shivambu further claimed that he was targeted for attempting to halt the alleged siphoning of approximately R7 million per month from the party's coffers. 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 'Zuma is surrounded by political scoundrels who exploit his kindness and gullibility,' Shivambu said. 'They fabricate fake intelligence reports to mislead him and justify their theft. This season, they've been withdrawing at least R7 million monthly from our coffers.' He further alleged that these illicit activities were known internally and that party members had urged the perpetrators to cease their actions, fearing the party's de-registration. 'We raised these issues internally because we want transparency and accountability. But instead of addressing the matter, I faced hostility when I intervened,' Shivambu added. In a dramatic turn, Shivambu announced his intention to leave the MK Party and establish his political organisation. 'I am forming a new party — not funded by any individual but rooted in the collective will of South Africans,' he declared. 'Political parties should not be personal fiefdoms; they must represent enduring ideals beyond any single leader.' He dismissed bizarre allegations circulating on social media about supernatural powers and conspiracies targeting Zuma as 'absolute rubbish,' emphasising his commitment to rational politics and transparency. In a candid and unfiltered tone, Shivambu also criticised certain party members for allegedly engaging in drug use and inappropriate behaviour, including tweeting late into the night. While he did not specify names, these remarks highlighted the internal tensions and moral concerns he claims are plaguing the organisation. Throughout his address, Shivambu vehemently denied any misuse of party funds during his tenure. 'I have never used party resources for personal travel or gain. All discussions around forming a new political entity are open and inclusive,' he insisted. Shivambu took a swipe at his former party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), calling it a 'cult' that lacks political integrity and ideology. He said no self-respecting person would join it. 'The EFF is a cult, I agree.' Shivambu's revelations come at a volatile time in South Africa's political sphere, where allegations of corruption and factionalism have become commonplace. The last straw was that he was not resigning from the MKP because it aligns with his political beliefs but he would open space for a new political party. IOL has reached out to the MKP for comment. IOL Politics
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
'Zuma is surrounded by political scoundrels': Floyd Shivambu alleges theft of R7 million a month from MK Party
Thabo Makwakwa | Published 4 hours ago In a startling revelation during a media briefing at Mhulu Hotel in Midrand, Floyd Shivambu, former MK Party secretary-general, accused senior leaders of orchestrating a campaign against him for preventing the squandering of the party's funds. Shivambu alleged that he was targeted for attempting to halt the monthly embezzlement of approximately R7 million from the party's funds. '(Zuma) is surrounded by political scoundrels who use his kindness, sometimes gullibility, that comes with age. To write down fake intelligence reports on me to influence him in the wrong direction. And the reason they do that is because they want to steal money from MKP this season. 'And they are doing so now -withdrawal of not less than 7 million rands monthly from organisational coffers. We are talking about this because we raised it internally,' he said. Shivambu said they asked them to stop doing that because they ran a risk of getting the party de-registered. Shivambu, a prominent figure in the MK party, revealed that his efforts to investigate and stop financial theft within the party had made him a target. He claimed that some senior leaders had access to the party's coffers and were siphoning off millions of rands each month. He said he was met with hostility when he intervened. 'The party has had seven secretariat generals since its establishment, and all of them are gone, because questioning the money makes you a target . They were stealing around R7 million per month,' Shivambu asserted. He further accused certain factional elements within the party of fabricating a false intelligence report, claiming he wanted to overthrow MKP leader Jacob Zuma. Shivambu suggested that this report served as a pretext for justifying his removal as secretary-general . Earlier this month, Shivambu was demoted from his role as secretary-general and was informed that he would be redeployed to Parliament. The party cited his recent trip to Malawi, where he visited wanted fugitive Shepherd Bushiri, as the official reason for his demotion. Shivambu dismissed this explanation, insisting that internal power struggles and financial misconduct were the real reasons behind his sidelining. Responding to claims that he was at odds with other members of the MK party, Shivambu dismissed allegations of factional disputes, asserting that he refused to entertain internal divisions. 'Since the redeployment, there have been moves to overhaul the structures I helped establish when I was appointed National Organiser and later Secretary-General,' he said. Shivambu announced his intention to convene a committee to assess whether he should establish a new political party. Despite his demotion and ongoing internal conflicts, he made it clear he remains committed to the MKP. Shivambu's tenure in the MK party has been fraught with controversy. Shortly after joining the party, he faced disapproval from some supporters, and social media posts by Duduzile Zuma Sambundla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, publicly insulted him. Shivambu expressed his loyalty to the MK party despite the turbulence, stating, 'I am not leaving the party. I will continue to fight for its integrity and transparency within its ranks.' IOL tried to contact MK Party spokesman, Nhlamulo Ndhlela to respond to the allegations. He had not responded at the time of publication. This is a developing story. [email protected] IOL Politics
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Shivambu alleges R7 million is looted monthly from MK Party's coffers
JOHANNESBURG - Former Secretary General of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Floyd Shivambu says R7 million is being looted from the organisation's coffers every month by some of its members. He made these startling allegations during a media briefing, in Midrand, on Thursday. Shivambu, who was the MK Party's secretary general (SG) for seven months, says the organisation's finances are a mess. ALSO READ: 'I will never resign from the MK Party,' says Shivambu He says corrupt elements within the party have led to it having a high turnover of treasurer generals. 'Withdrawals of no less than R7 million every month from the organisational coffers. We are talking about this because I have raised this internally to say, 'stop what you are doing because you are going to get the party de-registered as a political party, because there is no sound reason on what has been happening and its things we can prove beyond any reasonable doubt'. Every SG who has ever raised that got to be removed as leadership of Umkhonto Wesizwe.' The MK Party has remained mum on the allegations of its former SG.
