Public Protector – praag.org

Madonsela fighting to fund black immigrants

When the National Empowerment Fund ended a tender to a Pretoria company, the black owner became “suicidal”.

Had the Fund destroyed a white-owned company, it would have been just fine. The agency’s task is to fund black-empowered businesses.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that the agency contributed to the demise of Best Care Medical Supplies, which is owned by Naomi Ngwenya.

The company imports and distributes medical supplies to three provincial departments of health and the Department of Defence.

Ngwenya complained to Madonsela after the agency withdrew her R5-million grant in 2012.

A Zimbabwean by birth, she received a letter from the agency on August 10 2012 approving her funding. But barely a month later she received a letter informing her that her funding had been withdrawn as the agency had received information that she was naturalised as a South African citizen after 1994.

Releasing the report titled “Stringed Along” in Pretoria yesterday, Madonsela said by this time Ngwenya had incurred expenses. Ngwenya had been applying for funding since 2010 and the issue of her identity had never been raised, Madonsela said.

Madonsela recommended that the agency apologise to Ngwenya and compensate her for the “trauma”.

She also recommended that the agency revise its procedures.

Conditions at Baragwanath hospital bad

Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela has expressed concern about the conditions she found at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto during a surprise visit to the facility.

This is part of her office’s on-going national stakeholders dialogue. The visit also served as an inspection-in-loco for the systemic investigation.

The Public Protector is conducting an investigation following a complaint from a group of doctors at the hospital.

The complaint primarily relates to irregularities and inefficiencies in the procurement of hospital medicines and equipment leading to interruptions in essential services.

Meanwhile, Madonsela says it appears government has no plan in place to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Her office’s ongoing national stakeholder dialogue and public hearings seek to strengthen government’s ability to deliver on the MDG’s.

“We are going around the country talking to people about their experiences of maladministration. Mainly maladministration to the country’s goals on millennium development,” says Madonsela.

She adds: “Our duty is to fight against maladministration and ensuring that access to quality health care is not undermined. I don’t seem to think that there is a plan or at least we haven’t visited a single province where there is a plan on how to end poverty.”

South Africa lacks skills for nuclear – Greenpeace

Greenpeace Africa and the South African History Archives have lodged a formal complaint with both the Public Protector and SA Human Rights Commission with regards to the second refusal by the Minister of Energy to publicly release the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR).

The review was compiled by the Department of Energy to assess South Africa’s readiness to build nuclear power stations in SA, and was discussed with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at a closed workshop in SA in October 2012. Senkhu Maimane of SAHA said the people of South Africa have as much right to know the contents of the review document as the IAEA.

The process was meant to establish South Africa’s readiness to develop nuclear power stations in the country. There are 19 criteria[1] set out by the IAEA that must be assessed. This includes funding and financing, legislative framework, radioactive waste, and the independence of the regulatory body amongst others.

These criteria clearly show that South Africa lacks the capacity to build new nuclear power stations. We have neither the money nor the skills to develop nuclear power. So the question is: why would the Department share the document with the IAEA but not share it with South African civil society? What has the government got to hide? said Greenpeace Africa energy campaigner Ferrial Adam.

Greenpeace Africa plans to seek legal advice on the rejection of the Protection of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request.

The continued secrecy and lack of engagement with civil society will lead to poor governance and corruption as we have already witnessed in the arms deal. The issue of transparency is a critical one concluded Adam.

Malema’s business partner to appear in Pietersburg Magistrate’s Court

Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s business partner Lesiba Gwangwa will appear in the Pietersburg (ANC name: Polokwane) Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Gwangwa, who is chief executive of On-Point Engineers, will appear on accusations of tender fraud with other Limpopo businessmen and government officials.

According to a City Press report, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has said Malema made millions from a R52 million fraudulent tender by On-Point Engineers.

The newspaper reported that Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust was one of two shareholders in On-Point.

Although Madonsela could not find any evidence that Malema interfered in the tender process, she found that he benefited “improperly” from the contract, City Press reported.

Her investigation found that On-Point acted corruptly.

Madonsela recommended that the tender be immediately cancelled, and that the National Prosecuting Authority and the Asset Forfeiture Unit consider criminal action and that the Master of the High Court investigate the flow of money into Malema’s trust.

Malema is scheduled to appear in the same court on Wednesday for alleged fraud and money-laundering related to the On-Point tender.

On Tuesday, the police cordoned off streets surrounding the courthouse.

The accused were to hand themselves over to the police before their court appearance.

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Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the police were implementing their security plan the day before Malema’s appearance.

He said they wanted to be prepared for a planned night vigil for Malema, and ensure people were safe. – Sapa