Daily Archives: July 27, 2025

Action SA calls for abolishment of deputy ministers

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

27 July 2025- Action SA has gazetted its Notice to introduce the Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill which, if passed, would represent the most significant overhaul of the bloated Executive of 32 Ministers and 43 Deputy Ministers since the dawn of democracy in 1994.

Action SA said this Amendment follows a series of governance failures. 

Action SA Parliamentary Leader and Member of Parliament (MP), Athol Trollip said the latest being President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu on “special leave” amid allegations of interference in police investigations and ties to criminal elements. Trollip said in response, Ramaphosa announced that Prof Firoz Cachalia, currently a non-MP and non-Minister, would be appointed as acting Minister of Police. 

“Thus surpassing the two current police Deputy Ministers. However, until Cachalia is formally sworn in under Sections 91(3) and 95 of the Constitution, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe is presiding over the police portfolio in an acting capacity.

“This is in addition to other questionable ministerial appointments, such as that of Thembi Simelane, who was implicated in the VBS corruption scandal and yet was appointed as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development before a late-night portfolio swap with Mmamoloko Kubayi, then Minister of Human Settlements,” said he said.

Trollip said they have called lid criminal charges against Simelane. He said this exposes serious structural flaws in the current constitutional framework. 

“Firstly, Deputy Ministers are not constitutionally empowered to act in the absence of their Ministers, rendering them useless in moments of executive disruption. If Deputy Ministers cannot step in during a crisis, what purpose do they serve beyond being instruments of cadre deployment and financial waste?

“Secondly, the President’s unfettered prerogative to appoint and dismiss ministers without any form of parliamentary oversight results in questionable appointments that escape proper scrutiny,” said Trollip.

He said given that Ministers occupy positions of significant power and influence within the Republic, a higher standard of accountability and transparency must necessarily be applied to their selection with the ability of parliament to also dismiss them.

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DA concerned about illegal racing

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By REGINALD KANYANE

27 July 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said innocent lives in Johannesburg’s suburbs, including Rosebank, Fourways, and Midrand, are put at risk due to the reckless and illegal practice of street racing. DA said these dangerous races often occur in the early morning, transforming quiet suburban streets into hazardous racetracks.

DA Gauteng spokesperson for Community Safety and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Michael Sun said they have been inundated with complaints from concerned residents and they demand that Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, urgently intervene and halt this alarming trend. Sun said a tragic incident recently occurred at approximately 5:30am on 12 July 2025 on Jan Smuts Avenue in Rosebank.

“Reports indicate that three vehicles were racing on the wrong side of the road when they collided. One of the racers died at the scene. Tragically, an innocent Uber driver was also struck head-on and lost his life.

“The occupants of the other two racing vehicles fled the scene, leaving behind a devastating aftermath. This is not an isolated incident. Every weekend morning, residents along Cedar Road in Fourways are jolted awake by the deafening roar of modified engines and motorbikes speeding through their neighbourhood,” he said.

Sun further said on 13 July 2025, yet another incident was reported on Allandale Road in Midrand. He added that at approximately 8:50am, ward councillor Annette Deppe, witnessed a group of six or seven high-powered vehicles racing down the public road as if it were a private speedway.

“Despite ongoing incidents, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), appear unable to apprehend illegal racers. This sheer lack of service delivery is particularly concerning, as reckless driving is a criminal offence under the National Road Traffic Act.

“Penalties for this offence can range from fines and imprisonment to the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license in severe cases. The DA Gauteng has engaged the Chief of JMPD and relevant SAPS Station Commanders to demand urgent intervention,” said Sun.

He said the communities cannot become battlegrounds for ego-fuelled speed chases. Sun said they will be tabling questions to Lesufi in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain how many illegal racing incidents were reported in the past five years, how many people were killed, and whether gangs or drugs were involved.

“A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that both the JMPD and SAPS fully exercise their constitutionally guaranteed powers to curb the scourge of illegal racing.

“We would also explore the creation or support of safe, regulated facilities where motor enthusiasts can enjoy their sport without endangering the lives of others. The DA will continue to fight against this deadly trend and ensure it is halted before more lives are lost,” he said.

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‘We just have to pick ourselves up’

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Picture: Banyana Banyana players

By OBAKENG MAJE

27 July 2025 – Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has admitted that it was not their day after the South African senior women’s national team suffered defeat to Ghana in a CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 third and fourth place play-off match played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Friday night.

The South Africans went down 4-3 on penalties after both sides were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. Ghana finished third to claim a bronze medal, while Banyana Banyana returned home with a fourth-place finish.

“We started very slowly, got into the game and got a goal when we pressed. But they came out guns blazing for most of the second half, especially that first 15 minutes. We couldn’t get our foot on the ball to slow the game down, and to take control.

“They were just better than us in the second half and eventually went to penalties, we always knew that we had a chance. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the penalty shootout this time around, so congratulations to Ghana. We live on, and we’ll then start preparing for what’s forward,” she said.

Ellis further said in the six matches that the South Africans have played in this tournament. She added that they managed two wins in open play – defeating Ghana (2-0) and Mali (4-0).

“They drew against Tanzania (1-1), beat Senegal on penalties in the quarterfinals before going down 1-2 to Nigeria in the semi-finals.

“I think some of the games took a lot out of us, but we always knew either getting to the final or getting to the third and 4th place playoff we still had another game. We had five substitutes really because we’ve also picked up some injuries along the way, but that’s not an excuse,” said Ellis.

She said they just have to pick themselves up, these things happen in football. Elliss said one got to give credit to the opponents, in most situations they were better than them and she was not going to sugar-coat that.

“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due,” she said.

Ellis made five changes to the team that lost to Nigeria – bringing on Sibulele Holweni, Regina Mogolola, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Noxolo Cesane and Hilda Magaia in place of Karabo Dhlamini, Tiisetso Makhubela, Fikile Magama, Refiloe Jane and Gabriela Salgado.

“We dust ourselves off and move on. We can’t look back too much. Yes, it was not a great campaign, but we got into the semi-finals and came very close to getting to the final, so we’ll just move on.

“Like every team that comes to a tournament, we had ambitions of winning it, but we didn’t get there. Unfortunately, we did not do well today,” said Ellis.

She said Mbane is the only player that played every second of every match in the tournament. Ellis said this was also the final appearance for South African forward Jermaine Seoposenwe in the national team colours as she announced her retirement before the start of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the South Africans will fly out of Morocco on Sunday and are expected to land in South Africa on Monday evening.

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