Latest news with #Thobela
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Nkomazi Local Municipality CFO suspended
The CFO of the Nkomazi Local Municipality, Steven Thobela, has been put on suspension pending an investigation into his alleged financial misconduct. The municipality suspended Thobela with effect from last week Friday, June 13, following a council resolution that was taken at the KaMdladla Community Hall. 'The suspension stems from several allegations of financial misconduct against the CFO. The suspension will allow proper investigation to be undertaken and also allow the official to clear his name if the allegations are not true,' said the municipality's spokesperson, Mbuso Malale. Sipho Mathaba has been appointed as an acting CFO pending the finalisation of the investigations against Thobela. Malale refused to elaborate on the merits of the investigations saying it was sub-judice. Thobela's suspension comes just a month after the municipal manager (MM) Xolani Mabila resigned without giving reasons. ALSO READ: Nkomazi court sentences rapist to 12 years in jail According to Malale, the reasons for Mabila's resignation remained close to his own chest, but unconfirmed reports suggested it was related to alleged corruption within the municipality The suspension of the CFO and the resignation of the MM come in the midst of serious corruption allegations by the DA against the municipality. The DA councillor in the Nkomazi Local Municipality, Nhlonipho Dlamini, said the party urged the provincial Department of Co-operative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) to intervene in the alleged corruption within the municipality. The DA in Nkomazi will write to Coghsta to investigate municipal officials implicated in the delay of upgrading the Naas Water Treatment Works project. The project which aimed to alleviate water challenges for residents around Naas and neighbouring towns was initiated in September 2020. However, the project has cost the municipality over R39m to date and has been delayed by more than two years,' said Dlamini in a statement. 'It is understood that the project was supposed to be completed in different phases. However, according to the Auditor-General's 2023/24 Management Report, the municipality has poorly managed this project. These are some of the alarming findings that the AG flagged,' added Dlamini. 'These items include mechanical and electrical equipment to the value of R2m. The municipality stored some of the equipment to the value of R7m off-site while there is no written agreement with suppliers regarding warranty and insurance,' said Dlamini. ALSO READ: City of Mbombela sounds alarm on tender scam According to him, at some point, the contractor had halted the project due to cash flow problems and that the municipality had failed to impose penalties against the contractor. 'The municipality paid for equipment before it was procured by the contractor from the supplier (up to 15 months in advance). It was also revealed that at some point the municipality failed to efficiently dispatch water tankers to communities affected by the upgrading of the Naas water treatment works project,' Dlamini said. 'Coghsta must intervene and regulate the implementation of infrastructure projects. It cannot be business as usual while money meant for service delivery is misused,' added Dlamini At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Star
13-06-2025
- Climate
- The Star
South African experts urge proactive climate response following fatal floods
JOHANNESBURG, June 13 (Xinhua) -- With at least 78 people confirmed dead due to recent floods in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, experts are urging local communities to become more proactive in responding to increasingly frequent extreme weather events. "The frequency of extreme weather events is definitely growing, especially over the eastern half of the country. Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are often impacted due to their geographic position. Many weather systems either start or end in those provinces," said weather forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela from the South African Weather Service. The South African government on Thursday announced a state of national disaster in four provinces, namely KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, and Western Cape. "We issued weather warnings for Monday and Tuesday, including orange level 6 warnings for disruptive rain and disruptive snow over the high-lying areas in the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal. So the lead time was actually good -- people had time to prepare and decide not to send people to school or take other actions," Thobela said. Echoing Thobela, senior meteorologist at Africa Weather Siphesihle Kunene also emphasized the need for stronger and better collaboration between weather services, disaster management, and local communities to reduce fatalities associated with inclement weather. "Creating clear protocols and direct communication channels that can rapidly reach affected populations would help. A more robust public alert system with a bigger 'mouthpiece' to raise awareness is needed," he said.
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
It's chilly but no doomsday cold front for Gauteng
Gauteng experienced its first cold snap this weekend as the country prepares for the coming of winter. The South African Weather Service (Saws) has dismissed reports of a looming doomsday cold front across the country. The misleading reports come after Gauteng experienced its first cold snap this weekend, and as the country prepares for winter. Aphelion phenomenon The weather service said a 'hoax message' has been making rounds on various social media platforms claiming that there will be a cold spell countrywide, due to the Aphelion phenomenon, until the month of August 2025. By definition, Aphelion is the point in Earth's orbit furthest from the Sun. According to research, it is expected to occur on July 3rd at 3:54pm. 'It is important that we emphasise that the distance variation does not significantly impact temperatures or seasons in South Africa,' assured meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela. Thobela said reports of the Aphelion phenomenon about to hit the country are ' false and misleading.' ALSO READ: Get your blankets out: Cold snap to hit Gauteng this week Fake news Thobela said seasons are determined by the Earth's axial tilt, not its distance from the Sun. 'As such, we plead with the public not to circulate misleading information. According to our seasonal climate watch, issued on the 2nd of May 2025, minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be above normal for most parts of the country during the winter season, above normal meaning that the temperatures are expected to be warmer than what we would get during our winter months. 'The Republic of South Africa will continue to be affected by different winter weather systems that are known to drop temperatures, like the cold fronts and cut-off lows. 'In addition, the southern coastal regions are expected to have below normal temperatures for the remainder of the winter period,' Thobela said. El-Nino Thobela added that the El Niño—Southern Oscillation (ENSO) returned to a neutral state and is predicted to remain there for the foreseeable future. 'It is important to note that ENSO has limited influence on South Africa during the winter season and is not expected to have a significant impact. 'However, as winter begins, the focus is over the south-western parts of the country, as well as along the east and south coastal regions. These areas are expected to receive below-normal rainfall early, mid- and late winter,' Thobela said. The weather service said it will continue to monitor any further developments relating to the weather systems and will issue subsequent updates as required. ALSO READ: Extremely high fire danger conditions expected in parts of Western Cape
