Cape Times 2022-10-13

THE ANC in the Western Cape has criticised the latest Annual Report of the Department of the Premier for revealing many plans and policies with little impact on the ground. ANC leader of the province, Cameron Dugmore, said the report validated their belief that the province had the “weakest premier ever with no ability to provide firm leadership, strategic direction and implementation”. The standing committee on the premier and constitutional matters met on Tuesday to deliberate the annual report for the year 2021/22. “Despite the rising unemployment in the province, the ANC notes that the premier publicly admitted that his government had not focused any provincial resources on public employment initiatives. ”It heavily relied on the Presidential Employment Initiative and EPWP to create employment opportunities,” said Dugmore. He also…

The ending of the state of emergency by President Cyril Ramaphosa has seen over three million people being disqualified from receiving the R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grants that sustained many families amid the high unemployment rate during his presidential tenure. The grant was announced by Ramaphosa when the country went into Covid-19 lockdown and many could not make ends meet, while thousands lost their jobs. Due to its impact on livelihoods, the distribution of the R350 grant was extended until March next year, to help many families navigate the tough economic times. However, while unemployment rates were stagnant, Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu revealed that the number of grant beneficiaries dropped by over three million. This, according to the minister, was a result of the amendments made…

THE disciplinary hearing against former water and sanitation Mayco member, Zahid Badroodien, who is accused of tampering with an electricity meter at his property, kicked off yesterday. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced on September 28 that the former Mayco member requested to step down from his position pending the outcome of the disciplinary hearing. The Cape Times is aware that five parties are represented in the Disciplinary Committee (DC) that is made up of seven members from the DA, two from the ANC, while the EFF, Good Party and the Cape Coloured Congress (CCC) party each have one member. The first day was apparently brief and the panel chaired by councillor Ian Nielson dealt with the terms of reference and clarity on issues raised. The next hearing date is expected to…

THE Office of the Auditor-General South Africa (Agsa) has painted a bleak picture of state-owned entities (SOEs) failing since President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration took office. MPs yesterday heard that some SOEs, under Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, have not submitted financial statements for 2021-22 and others were exempted from disclosing irregular expenditure for auditing purposes. Briefing the public enterprises portfolio committee, Agsa deputy business executive Fhumulani Rabonda said the department inherited audits that had not identified material irregularities in the first year of Ramaphosa’s administration. Rabonda said the picture had now changed to mostly “not so good” in the 2021-22 financial year. “The department could not manage to retain good audit status. “They are no longer clean but they sit with unqualified audit financial statements with findings on compliance,”…

THE inquiry into the fitness of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to hold office was yesterday rocked by calls for the recusal of evidence leader Advocate Nazreen Bawa. This after UDM leader Bantu Holomisa and Attorney Godrich Gardee, acting on behalf of chairperson of Black People’s national Crisis Committee, wrote to the Section 194 committee Qubudile Dyantyi requesting the recusal of Bawa as one of the evidence leaders. The requests are made at a time when the committee has not been sitting for two weeks now and is yet to resume with its work this month. In his letter, Holomisa said it had come to the attention of the UDM that Bawa was implicated in legal proceedings that called her conduct into question. He did not divulge what the allegations…

500g lean beef/ sirloin or silverside Spring onions 2 cloves garlic, grated 1/2 tsp grated ginger 1 medium green pepper 1 medium red pepper 1 medium yellow pepper 3 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper to taste 1/2 - 1 tsp crushed chillies 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp vinegar Cut the beef into thin strips. Add the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, crushed chillies and vinegar in a bowl. Add the beef strips and stir. Leave to marinade at least an hour. Cut the spring onions and peppers into thin strips. Heat half of the oil in a wok. Add the marinated beef and cook until the beef is soft, this depends on the cut of beef you’re using. Remove from the wok once the meat is soft. Add the…