Tourism Equity Fund: AfriForum praised as interdict halts vital relief
The Tourism Equity Fund was widely critised for requiring that businesses in the severely impacted sector be 51% black owned to qualify
After the North Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of an application by AfriForum and Solidarity to interdict the disbursement of stimulus payments by the government’s Tourism Equity Fund, the Democratic Alliance (DA) have applauded the organisations’ work to “reverse irrational racial barriers to relief funding”.
The decision follows criticism of the R1.2 billion fund’s race requirements, with only allocates funds to tourism businesses with more than 51% black ownership. While the ruling has been welcomed in political spheres, the suspension of vital relief payments is another devastating blow to businesses in one of the sectors most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Kubayi-Ngubane: I’ll abide by court order halting Tourism Equity Fund The North Gauteng High Court on Monday granted the interdict to AfriForum and Solidarity that prevents the disbursement of any money. Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane. Picture: GCIS.
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CAPE TOWN - Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane on Tuesday said she would abide by a court order stopping payments from the Tourism Equity Fund.
The North Gauteng High Court on Monday granted the interdict to AfriForum and Solidarity that prevents the disbursement of any money.
All payments have been stopped until the court challenge is finalised.
The two organisations launched the urgent application after Kubayi-Ngubane announced the department’s fund for the recovery of the tourism sector is only accessible to people who qualify for BEE.
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Ramaphosa âmanipulatedâ judge, former SSA boss claims in affidavit filed to Zondo Commission
By Mzilikazi Wa Afrika
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Johannesburg - President Cyril Ramaphosa allegedly âmanipulatedâ Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo regarding the handling of a court case involving former State Security Agency (SSA) director-general Arthur Fraser, to save the career of the inspector-general of intelligence, Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe, in 2018.
According to an affidavit deposed at the Zondo Commission by Fraser two weeks ago and seen by the Sunday Independent, Ramaphosa was allegedly âengaged in an irregular process that manipulated the legal process of the Republic of South Africaâ during a series of telephone calls between himself and Judge Mlambo, as well as between himself and former state security minister Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba.