No accountability for Vaal River crisis, SAHRC report reveals
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) deems the pollution at the Vaal River to be beyond acceptable standards.
A report probing the pollution of the Vaal River finds that none of the government parties central to the saga has taken accountability for the pollution of the river which the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says is “beyond acceptable standards”.
BLAME SHIFTING BY PARTIES CENTRAL TO VAAL RIVER CRISIS
In a webinar hosted by the Mail and Guardian on Wednesday 17 February, outlining the contents of the report, it is revealed that the Emfuleni Local Municipality, the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) have over the course of the SAHRC’s investigation – which began in 2018 – shifted the blame to other parties – including one another – for the crisis at the Vaal River.
Confronted by a push from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for action and renewed charges of her alleged involvement in fraud with the money set aside for the late president Nelson Mandela’s funeral, a worried-looking Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane fired his Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba on Thursday morning.
He said he did so to allow Gomba time to prepare for the criminal case brought against her relating to the Mandela funeral funds.
Mabuyane said the SIU had recommended that he take action against Gomba and the former head of the Department of Health, Dr Thobile Mbengashe for their part in the R10-million scandal-riddled procurement of medical scooters for the province.
GCIS
The upcoming municipal elections is an opportunity for all parties to improve service delivery, says Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
She says politicians have to stop interfering in the administration and supply chain processes.
Parties have to send their best people to municipalities, she adds.
The upcoming local government elections is an opportunity for all political parties to improve service delivery in municipalities, says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Dlamini-Zuma spoke on Wednesday during the second day of a joint sitting of Parliament s debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
She noted the problems with service delivery in municipalities across the country.
A court will decide on Friday if Cogta Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma violated its order declaring lockdown regulations unconstitutional and irrational and should be jailed.
The opposition Democratic Alliance has announced plans to introduce the Draft Disaster Management Bill, which aims to change South Africa’s laws around how a…