PIC suspends two top officials
The board of the embattled Public Investment Corporation has suspended the institution’s Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Dlamini, and its Chief Investment Officer, August Van Heerden. The PIC manages the government’s R3.6 trillion assets, gearing much of this into developmental endeavours. It has been the subject of controversy for years. In June an anonymous report emerged that alleged malfeasance on the part of Dlamini. It appears that not all the allegations were true. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said a thorough audit would be conducted before any steps were taken, but it is not clear whether this has been done.
Corruption-accused former eThekwini mayor joins MKP
Zandile Gumede, who was executive mayor of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality between 2016 and 2019, has joined the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party. She is facing charges – along with 22 others – related to alleged corruption in a R320 million solid waste tender during her mayoralty. She was previously a member of the ANC. She is to serve MKP as its deputy convenor for KwaZulu-Natal. Welcoming her, MKP secretary general Sibonelo Nomvalo referred to Gumede’s “unquestionable credentials” and said she would make a large contribution to the province.
Video clip prompts outrage about army brutality
A soldier deployed in Elsies River as part of Operation Prosper has been filmed slapping and kicking a woman. The 21-second clip has been widely circulated on social media. The footage was apparently taken during a raid in which drugs and cash were seized. A police officer is visible trying to separate the woman and her associates from the soldier, but he does not do much to halt the assault. The video has led to calls by civil society and activists for accountability. The deployment was controversial as soldiers are not trained for policing duties but for confronting an armed enemy. The police have indicated they will investigate allegations of unlawful conduct.
IDAC head in hospital ahead of testimony
Andrea Johnson, the head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), was rushed to hospital before she was due to appear before the Madlanga Commission. She was to have discussed an email sent to Major General Feroz Khan setting out the contents of an assault docket against him. Her advocate said that she had some “serious health-related issues”, without going into more detail. Chair of the Commission, Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was scathing about the medical certificate provided, saying that it provided no specific information, but was “one of those useless so-called medical certificates”. Johnson’s appearance has been postponed indefinitely.
Trump announces Iran port blockade
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the US would be reimposing a blockade on Iranian ports. He said that “the Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran”. The US, he added, would become “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT”, and this would (“as a matter of FAIRNESS”) be reimbursed by a tariff of 20% on all cargo shipped, through the waterway. The International Maritime Organisation responded that no country had the right to charge such tariffs. Iran described it as “piracy”.
Sources: BBC, News24