30 June 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it welcomes further progress in the fight against pension fund crime in the Northern Cape, where municipalities reportedly owe more than R100 million in outstanding pension fund contributions. This follows the arrest of the former Municipal Manager of !Kheis Local Municipality, Joseph Floyd Leeuw, on 30 counts of contravening the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956.
The DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader, Harold McGluwa, who is also a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) said Leeuw stands accused of failing to pay over pension deductions for the period of October 2019 to June 2022, resulting in late payment interest ballooning to R8 545 980. McGluwa said they are relieved that more municipalities are being exposed for robbing employees of their hard-earned pensions.
“The DA has been actively fighting against municipal pension fund crime in the Northern Cape for years. In 2017, the DA laid a criminal charge against Kai !Garib for failing to pay over contributions to third parties, also reporting our concerns to the Office of the Public Protector in 2020.
“In October 2022, we protested outside the Upington Magistrate’s Court following the arrest of the former Municipal Manager of Kai !Garib Local Municipality, Johnny Mackay for pension fund crime totaling more than R9 million.
“In October 2023, the DA laid criminal charges against the Renosterberg MM for pension fund crime. In October 2024, we picketed outside the Petrusville Magistrate’s Court, following the arrest of multiple senior managers of Renosterberg, in relation to pension fund prejudice suffered to the value of R73 563 652,” he said.
McGluwa further said the DA also came out in full support of the arrests of the Municipal Manager of Kamiesberg, Rufus Beukes in November last year, as well as the ex-CFO of Thembelihle Local Municipality earlier this year, both in relation to contravention of the Pension Fund Act. He added that late payment interest in these cases exceeds R2 million and R6 million respectively.
“Pension crimes are an assault on the future and dignity of municipal employees. The DA will continue to monitor all five criminal cases closely. We hope that they will expose the true extent of pension injustices suffered and allow for a swift remediation process to unfold for affected employees,” said McGluwa.
11 March 2025- The Democratic Alliance leader in Northern Cape, Harold McGluwa, who is also a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (NCPL) said foremost priority remains health and education. McGluwa who was part of the Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) debate in Kimberley said, they acknowledge that the health budget is substantial, however, the latest District Health Barometer released by the Health Systems Trust, reveals inefficiencies in budget allocations.
He further said some districts like Namakwa, are spending excessively, while others, such as ZF Mgcawu district, are under-resourced. McGluwa added that, the disparity is reflected in the recent picketing by hospital staff at the Dr Harry Surtie Hospital, who are advocating for improved patient services.
“One sign reads, “Fix the system, save lives,” which also applies to our Emergency Medical Services, particularly concerning ambulance availability. We must ensure that every child receives quality education. Early Childhood Development (ECD) is facing numerous challenges, particularly in townships where many parents are unable to afford necessary support.
“We welcome the commitment to no retrenchments of educators as we strive to improve educational outcomes. This implementation highlights that our government is no longer merely a rubber stamp for decisions. It means that the GNU works for the country and its people,” he said.
McGluwa said it is important to strengthen the Technical and Vocational sector. He said they must strengthen the TVET colleges, shifting the focus from a mining to a university city with the Sol Plaatje University.
“This change will require close collaboration with the department of higher education, to ensure we align our educational system with the evolving job market. I saw Deputy Minister, Dr Gondwe, visited the Kuruman TVET already. Additionally, to combat the issue of impregnators of minors, we also need to begin initiatives at schools and workplaces.
“We must stop the sexual assault of minors who are not old enough to consent. Clinics and hospitals must voluntarily avail critical information to law enforcement. Social development must play their role as well,” said McGluwa.
He said water infrastructure project of R2.5 billion in the capital city is a significant step towards resolving the ongoing water crisis in Kimberley. McGluwa said they acknowledge that contractors have been appointed, and they trust that Saul’s commitment to resolving this issue is genuine.
“However, it is crucial that we engage skilled and capable contractors who can complete their projects. There have been instances where contractors, such as the one who handled the roads in Rietfontein, abandoned their work, leaving projects incomplete since 2023. I appreciate your initiative Premier to engage with the mining sector, which has been long overdue.
“The contributions of the 35 mining companies can significantly bolster the Northern Cape economy, creating jobs across various sectors. As you rightfully say, the Northern Cape is the second-best province in the country that created jobs. Premier, you know that the Western Cape is the best province in the country,” he said.
McGluwa said Boegoebaai Harbour project is a long-time in the making with blended financing and international partners. He said its potential to be a game changer for the Northern Cape must be safeguarded through transparent and accountable management and the inclusion of the local community in order for them to benefit.
“On the topic of renewable energy, it is crucial that we harness our renewable power potential. The establishment of new substations and power lines throughout the province, in partnership with Eskom, will unlock our renewable energy capabilities and integrate solar power into the grid.
“We hope SANRAL will facilitate local companies’ involvement in the R14 billion road projects. Regarding Infrastructure and Municipal Improvements, I commend the discussions with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS),” he said.
McGluwa said the Northern Cape MEC for Roads and Public Works, Bentley Vass will be excited to collaborate with Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo on constructing dams that will undoubtedly mean a lot and improve water quality and the reliability of water supply to the communities. He said it is imperative that they expedite this process, as the deadline of 2030 is too far in the future.
“The commitment by the Premier to strengthen municipalities through improved infrastructure funding is commendable. However, it is concerning that some municipalities are returning unspent funds back to the National Treasury. Sewerage issues are indeed affecting business and tourism in the province, let alone creating a health risk to communities.
“The ongoing failure to get the Homevale Wastewater Treatment Plant fully operational is central to addressing the growing spills along the R31 and the N12, as well as the extremely high-water level at the Kamfers Dam. Sol Plaatje had to face this matter in court. It is concerning in all municipalities with Kimberley and Upington contributing largely to the sewage spills into our dams and rivers,” said McGluwa.
He said Sol Plaatje also lost R80 million in grant funding due to the gross underspending of grant allocations, while Kimberley residents struggle with water shortages and sewage spills. McGluwa said they must collectively hold municipalities accountable for their expenditure to ensure that these funds are utilised effectively.
Picture: The Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul
By BAKANG MOKOTO
6 March 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Northern Cape said the Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, must address growth and jobs in the province with even greater speed. The DA provincial leader, Harold McGluwa, who is also a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, said they have noted Saul’s announcement of the 60 000 jobs master plan in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) today.
McGluwa further said they welcome all initiatives that can take the four out of every ten people in this province from unemployment and poverty into jobs. He added that it is high time that they see the maximum potential of fisheries formally unleashed.
“We anticipate that the upgraded Upington airport must become a central transport hub. The long overdue upgrade of our power grid through the mentioned Eskom investment will also be a gamechanger for renewable energy and the green economy and must be stubbornly pursued.
“We do, however, urge Saul to move with greater speed. He has only four years left to change course from a poor, broken province, to a thriving and vibrant provincial economy,” said McGluwa.
He said they want to see the province capitalizing more on the state-owned construction company, in conjunction with provincial and national Public Works, to transform the provincial landscape, and especially the capital city of Kimberley, into a massive construction site with the R2,5 billion investment into water infrastructure. McGluwa said Saul must also guard against turning the state into a giant employment agency and must ensure that ongoing insourcing initiatives are properly budgeted for and sustainable in the long-term, to avoid a potential salary-induced debt crisis in the future.
“On the services front, much more must be done to stabilize the health department, starting with the overdue appointment of a fit-for-purpose Head of Department and decisive action against corrupt officials, who are robbing the poor and vulnerable of health care.
“Improved financial management must also be prioritised in Education, to mitigate the current funding crisis facing schools across the province,” he said.
6 March 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Northern Cape said it expects the Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul to focus attentively on growing jobs and the economy during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) today. The DA’s provincial leader, Harold McGluwa, who is also a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in Northern Cape Provincial Legislature said, they want to see more outcomes of the State-Owned Construction Company that Saul announced at the start of his first term in 2019.
McGluwa said it must turn the entire province into a large scale construction site. He further said Saul must break the silence on the State-Owned Mining company to stop illegal mining costing the province millions in lost revenue.
“Ongoing late payments to SMMEs must be curbed from harming small businesses because they cause critical services like health to suffer when suppliers hold back on medicine deliveries and the repair of service vehicles gets put on ice.
“We hope that growing water crises across our towns will be announced as a provincial priority. We welcome the R2,5 billion investment into Sol Plaatje’s water infrastructure and want to see it transform the capital city of Kimberley into a building site of its own, ending the Kimberley water crisis once and for all,” he said.
McGluwa added that corruption must be acted on, not only spoken about. He said Saul must explain the government’s response to the disciplinary recommendation that Roads and Public Works CFO, Bradley Slingers, be fired.
“Where disciplinary hearings haven’t taken place for HODs and senior management members implicated in wrongdoing, this must be corrected. Saul must also give us a report on lifestyles audits conducted with the Special Investigative Unit (SIU), as well as consequence management implemented to address uncovered irregularities.
“The Northern Cape needs hope, the repair of basic services like health and education, and movement on the Premier’s promises made over the last six years. He must focus more on selling vandalized government buildings and moving ahead with initiatives, like the mega city and convention centre, promised in Upington,” said McGluwa.
He said they anticipate that Saul will come with tangible solutions and express a genuine willingness to work together for the betterment of all the people of the province.
The Guardian 