Tag Archives: Northern Cape

PSA Committee concerned about cost and capacity in rolling out lifestyle audits

NEWS Leave a comment

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

1 April 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration today noted the practical challenges, including high costs and the administrative burden involved, in implementing lifestyle audits across the public sector. The committee received briefings from several provincial governments, including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Western Cape and North West on their efforts to implement lifestyle audits.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Jan de Villiers said the meeting forms part of the committee’s ongoing oversight to hold departments accountable for implementing the lifestyle audit framework in the public service. De Villiers said they noted that while progress has been made, lifestyle audits remain at an early stage of institutionalisation.

“We are still working towards making lifestyle audits a standard and embedded practice within the public service. There is not yet a uniform approach applied across provinces.

“However, I commend the progress that provinces have made in developing and using lifestyle audits. There is a need to strengthen gaps identified in the Department of Public Service and Administration’s (DPSA) framework,” he said.

De Villiers further said the committee noted from the presentations that lifestyle audits appear more effective when conducted by independent bodies rather than by departments. He added that it seems more appropriate that independent bodies lead and implement these audits, whether the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) or external audit services.

“It is difficult for ethics officers or internal departmental officials to act as the “police” of their own institutions. The committee noted that the SIU is not properly empowered, where there is only a secondment, and that a presidential proclamation remains the most effective way to ensure that the SIU is fully empowered.

“Regarding internal capacity and other administrative challenges, the committee noted difficulties officials faced in accessing the required financial records. Lifestyle audits often present a significant volume of work,” said de Villiers.

He said it is important to explore how this can be more effectively automated. De Villiers said they must look at how technology can be used to streamline the auditing process.

“The technical processes between the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the Auditor-General (AG), National Treasury and even the banks are still being developed. There must be ways to make compliance easier for auditees, as obtaining the required documentation, such as bank statements, can be complex and costly.

“On the issue of costs, the committee noted that lifestyle audits are costly to implement and should be budgeted for accordingly. There may be a need for legislative and budgeting reform through the National Treasury regarding how provinces are expected to fund these audits,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Committee not surprised by racism at Duineveld Hoerskool in Upington

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: Teacher, Jaco Liebenberg/Twitter

By BAKANG MOKOTO

14 August 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education said it has noted with shock and disgust social media images of the “blackface” incident involving an educator at the infamous Duineveld Hoerskool in Upington, Northern Cape.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Joy Maimela said she is utterly shocked that an educator would partake in an incident that clearly has been identified as racist behaviour. Maimane said, however, she is not surprised that racism once again poked out its ugly head at the school.

“During an oversight visit by the committee in October last year, the committee noted several exclusionary practices at the school and urged the Northern Cape Education Department (NCED) and the national Department of Basic Education to address this.

“The latest incident allegedly occurred at a school function last week and went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage. In the video, the educator, Jaco Liebenberg, can be seen with his face painted black and wearing a black wig,” she said.

Maimela further said it’s the second incident of racism at the school in less than a year. She added that, in September last year, a video went viral of a learner repeatedly using the k-word.

“In the video, which has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people, the pupil and three others join a live TikTok chat with a man identified as content creator @UncleSeeno, calling him a “k***** and a n*****”.

“During an oversight visit late last year, we highlighted concerns that the school application forms and all its policies were, for example, only in Afrikaans,” said Maimela.

She said that it reeks of exclusionary practices for any parent not understanding the language. Maimela said by default, they are excluding any person that does not speak Afrikaans.

“The committee noted the swift action by Northern Cape MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo by placing the implicated teacher on suspension on the understanding that the investigation will unfold free from intimidation.

“Although we commend the action, the issue is broader than this incident. During our visit, we were assured the school is undergoing social cohesion programmes for learners,” she said.

Maimela said clearly learners are not the only ones in need of such sessions. She said they will interrogate the matter further with the provincial education department to establish what progress, if any, has been made with these sessions.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo to meet with Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and Phokwane Local Municipality over water challenges

NEWS Leave a comment

By REGINALD KANYANE

2 September 2024- The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo will on Monday, attend two meetings in Vryburg, North West and in Jan Kempdorp, Northern Cape, to bring intervention in water supply challenges in those areas. Seitlholo will first interact with Phokwane Local Municipality (PLM) in Northern Cape and North West’s Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District (DRSMDM), regarding that provides water services between the two provinces.

The Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson in North West, Katlego Bolokang said the meeting will also deliberate on debt and billing systems of the two municipalities, infrastructure maintenance and institutional arrangements in terms of providing water services provision within these areas.

“The following meeting by the Deputy Minister will be an introductory meeting with the Vaalharts Water Users Association, which oversees one Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme, one of the biggest irrigation projects that lies between Northern Cape and North West.

“Seitlholo’s Transboundary Water Supply Scheme Meetings will commence at 34 Market Street, Vryburg from 9am until 12pm. He will then meeting members of Vaalhaarts Water Users Association at Vaalharts Water Offices in Jan Kempdorp from 1pm until 3pm,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com