Tag Archives: transparency

World Netball places Netball South Africa president, Cecilia Molokwane under precautionary suspension

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Picture: Netball South Africa president, Cecilia Molokwane

By REGINALD KANYANE

1 May 2025- The Netball South Africa (NSA) said it acknowledges the public discourse currently circulating in media reports and on social media amid precautionary suspension of its president, Cecilia Molokwane by the World Netball. Netball South Africa (NSA) said it remains fully committed to upholding the principles and values of corporate governance, including accountability, transparency, institutional integrity and the prioritisation of athlete welfare above all else.

Netball South Africa spokesperson, Karabo Mokgalagadi said they can confirm that, World Netball, the international governing body, has instituted a disciplinary process involving Molokwane and placed her under precautionary suspension. Mokgalagadi said in accordance with the instructions received from World Netball, NSA has been directed not to interfere in this process.

“World Netball has clarified that the investigation into the allegations is being conducted in accordance with its disciplinary regulations. It has confirmed that all actions taken thus far align with its published policies, including the jurisdiction outlined in Clause 4.1 of the World Netball disciplinary regulations.

“Additionally, World Netball emphasised that this is a procedural, rather than punitive step, intended solely to determine whether there is a case to answer,” she said.

Mokgalagadi further said Netball South Africa respects all applicable governance frameworks and is fully cooperating with World Netball in the interest of due process and lawful resolution. She added that the situation in which they find themselves is difficult for all concerned, however for the good of the sport, they must ensure that any allegations put to them are addressed with complete integrity and respect for the individuals involved.

“During a recent parliamentary session, questions were raised, including specific line-item expenditures from NSA’s past financial records. In keeping with Parliamentary House Rules, Netball South Africa’s leadership (CEO) requested time to consult the appropriate records to ensure the accuracy of our responses.

“It is not only within our rights, but also our responsibility to ensure that the information submitted to Parliament is factually correct and verifiable,” said Mokgalagadi.

She said despite this, NSA leadership was unfairly pressured to respond immediately to detailed financial queries, specific to the 2023/24 Financial Year. Mokgalagadi said such expectations are inconsistent with standard Parliamentary practice and risk undermining the integrity of governance processes.

“In terms of the Parliamentary rules regarding oral questioning, NSA is within its rights. The manner in which these questions were posed raises serious concerns.

“Safeguarding is a fundamental policy in sport and must never be taken lightly. However, the interrogative approach directed at our leadership risks undermining the very principles this policy seeks to uphold,” she said.

Mokgalagadi said while they acknowledge that gender should not exempt anyone from accountability, it equally must not render them vulnerable to politically motivated targeting. She said the Portfolio Committee has seen 6 Federations (Boxing SA, SANABO, Basketball SA, Athletics SA, Swimming SA), but none of them has trending videos on social media platforms published by a Member of Parliament (MP) for public humiliation.

“Is this because NSA is a women led federation? We confirm that a detailed written response addressing all financial queries is currently being consolidated and will be submitted to Parliament in line with proper procedure.

“It is critical to clarify that the Netball World Cup 2023 was overseen by a separate and independent World Cup Board, registered under CIPC, with its own Directors, and funded by government amongst others, distinct from the current board and leadership of Netball South Africa – noting that the President of Netball South Africa and the former CEO were part of the 2023 NWC Board,” said Mokgalagadi.  

She said the concerns and financial reports around the 2023 Netball World Cup should be accounted for by the 2023 NWC Board. Mokgalagadi said those two entities need to be separated.

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The people expect the Government of National Unity to succeed

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Picture: The RSA president, Cyril Ramaphosa

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

16 September 2024- On Wednesday last week, the leaders of the parties that form the Government of National Unity (GNU), met to reflect on how the GNU is working. Three months have passed since 10 parties represented in Parliament signed a Statement of Intent committing themselves to work together in government and parliament to advance the country’s interests.

The parties agreed to certain fundamental principles, including to respect the constitution and the rule of law and to promote accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance. The parties also agreed on a common minimum programme that would form the basis of the work of the GNU.

At its first Cabinet Lekgotla in mid-July, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, drawn from the GNU partners, together with Directors-General and other officials, developed priority actions to give effect to the minimum programme. Since these priority actions were outlined in the Opening of Parliament Address on 18 July 2024, Ministers and Deputy Ministers have been hard at work to implement the tasks assigned to them.

For a few Ministers and Deputy Ministers, being in the executive is a new experience and for some it has been quite an adjustment. But with the support of their departments, they have all hit the ground running.

Across all parties, Ministers and Deputy Ministers are making headway in confronting the challenges the country faces. What is significant – and most welcome – is that the members of the executive have undertaken their work as part of a cabinet collective.

Although they are drawn from different parties, they have pursued the common GNU programme. They have worked in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration as Cabinet colleagues to serve the interests of the South African people.

They have each understood their role in advancing the three strategic priorities of the 7th democratic administration. The priorities are clear – a commitment to drive inclusive growth and job creation.

A clear focus to reduce poverty and to tackle the high cost of living. A resolve to build a capable, ethical and developmental state. Ministers and deputy ministers have been focused not on the interests of their respective parties, but on the common mandate they have received to build and develop the country.

There was general agreement among the party leaders last week that the GNU has made a good start. They believe that the GNU is working well and that everyone is playing a constructive role.

As party leaders, we nevertheless recognise that the parties in the GNU represent a range of political and ideological perspectives. There are issues on which we disagree and there will be times when differences between the parties will become more apparent.

A case in point has been the debate around the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which I signed into law last week. Even as the leaders were meeting last week, some parties in the GNU were publicly urging me not to sign the Bill, while others were saying that I should sign the Bill.

The constitution is quite clear on the responsibilities of the President with respect to signing legislation. Once a Bill has been passed by parliament, the president must either assent to the Bill or, if they have reservations about its constitutionality, refer it back to parliament.

Since, after considering all the various submissions, I had no such reservations about the BELA Bill, the Constitution obliged me to assent to it.

However, even as I signed the Bill, I noted that some of the parties in the GNU said they wanted to engage each other on parts of the bill dealing with issues of school admissions and language. To give the parties time to discuss these issues, I said we would delay implementation of the Act in order for parties to engage and come up with proposals, if any, on the relevant clauses.

In taking this approach, we are seeking to establish a culture of openness and dialogue among the GNU parties. We are also drawing on a long history in South Africa of engagement among parties on matters on which they seem far apart.

As times, agreement can be reached when matters come to a head at the last minute enabling all parties to focus on finding solutions and discovering that there is more that unites them than what separates them. We cannot guarantee that the parties that have requested timeout to engage will reach agreement on every difficult issue.

But we need to make every effort to find common ground. Following the meeting of party leaders last week, I am even more convinced that the GNU is essential for the growth and development of the country.

I am convinced that the GNU will not only survive, but that it will thrive. South Africans expect the GNU to succeed, and we will not let them down.

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Gcaleka: “We advocate for community engagement and constitutional democracy”  

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Picture: Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka/Google 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI 

Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka said the principles of South Africa’s constitutional democracy, established in 1994, adding that the rule of law, transparency, and accountability are the bedrock of the nation’s democratic framework.

Gcaleka said this during her lecture at the North West University (Mahikeng campus) on 11 July 2024. She further said the role of the Public Protector is to uphold and strengthen South Africa’s constitutional democracy. 

“Community engagement is essential for ensuring that the government remains accountable and responsive to the needs of its citizens. The Public Protector’s Office is a vital avenue for citizens to express concerns and grievances regarding public services. 

“The responsibilities of the Public Protector’s Office extend beyond oversight and it plays an important role in fostering a culture of transparency and responsiveness in public administration,” said Gcaleka. 

She also discussed the importance of effective complaints management frameworks. Gcaleka outlined how these frameworks are designed to ensure accessibility and fairness in handling public grievances. 

“We are making it easier for citizens to lodge complaints and ensure that their complaints are handled efficiently and justly, so that the Public Protector’s Office can more effectively address issues of maladministration and corruption.

“Our overview of the constitutional and legislative mandates, includes investigating instances of maladministration, enforcing executive ethics, combating corruption, protecting whistle-blowers and regulating access to information,” said Gcaleka. 

She added that these functions are crucial for maintaining the integrity of public institutions and for protecting the rights of citizens. Gcaleka said their role is to ensure that public power is exercised in a manner that is consistent with the constitution. 

“The role of citizen responsibility and political engagement, especially in the context of coalition governance is imperative. Informed voting and participation in political discourse are essential for ensuring that government officials are held accountable. 

“Additionally, we need to be wary against undue influence in coalition agreements. There is a need for vigilance and transparency in these processes. We must be vigilant to ensure that coalition agreements do not undermine the principles of democracy,” she said.

Gcaleka concluded her lecture with a call to action. She urged citizens to strengthen civil society, promote inclusive governance, and safeguard democratic principles. 

“We are committed to upholding the values enshrined in South Africa’s constitution. This commitment is essential for building a more just and equitable society, where the rights and freedoms of all citizens are protected,” said Gcaleka.

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