Daily news update: IEC releases party donations report, Carl Niehaus fired and Zuma, Thales corruption trial postponed

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‘Broke’ ANC declares R10 million as IEC releases party donations report

Releasing its first quarterly report on political party donations, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that a total of nearly R31 million has been declared.

Addressing the media on Thursday, IEC deputy chairperson Janet Love said only three political parties disclosed donations over R100,000 as required by the Political Party Funding Act.

“The parties which made the declarations of direct donations, constitute two political parties that are represented, and one unrepresented political party which are the African National Congress [ANC], the Democratic Alliance [DA], and ActionSA.”

ANC dismisses Carl Niehaus with immediate effect

The African National Congress (ANC) has dismissed Carl Niehaus with immediate effect and further told him to collect his personal belongings from ANC security at Luthuli House on Friday between 10am and 11am.

This follows his latest stunt in which he informed the public of his intent to lay criminal charges of theft, fraud, corruption and various statutory charges against the national office bearers of the ANC and the ANC.

Less money, more problems for ‘big spender’ Hamilton Ndlovu

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) have been granted an order by the Special Tribunal to freeze assets belonging to personal protective equipment (PPE) tender-linked businessman Thabiso Hamilton Ndlovu – to the tune of R42 million. 

This follows the tribunal granting a preservation order on Wednesday, which interdicted, restrained and prohibited Ndlovu from disposing of his assets, cash and properties, pending the SIU and NHLS’s review application.

Online applications for 2022 academic year open on Monday in Gauteng

The Gauteng department of education has announced that phase-two online applications for 2022 will begin on 13 September 2021.

Parents and guardians can log on to www.gdeadmissions.gov.za from 8am. The deadline for applications is Friday, 8 October 2021.

This applies to parents wanting to register children for Grade 1 or Grade 8 in the 2022 academic year but currently not in a public school in Gauteng.

“We are also glad to announce that parents and guardians who were not able to apply on time during phase one for pupils in Grade 7 at public schools in Gauteng will be able to apply under phase two,” said department spokesperson Steve Mabona.

Zuma, Thales corruption trial postponed once again

Former president Jacob Zuma’s special-plea hearing to remove the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) prosecutor, Billy Downer, from the arms deal corruption trial has been postponed and will heard on 21-22 September.

Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Piet Koen postponed the case on Thursday morning during a virtual hearing after the NPA and Zuma’s lawyers reached an agreement.

“The order I grant is as follows: the matter is adjourned in the absence of the first accused [Zuma] and the representative of the second accused [Thales] to 10:00 hours on 21 and 22 September 2021 in open court in Pietermaritzburg,” Koen said.

Calls for probe into Sisulu aide’s R1.7 million travel bill

A former government adviser and confidant to former minister of human settlements, water and sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu has claimed more than R1.76 million for travel and accommodation expenses.

This was revealed in reply to a parliamentary question by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Mphumzi Mdekazi was already earning a whopping salary of R142,920 as an advisory committee member, for just 15 days of work a month.

Mdekazi has frequently been accused of wielding inappropriate influence within both big-budget departments and is widely rumoured to be the driving force behind Sisulu’s presidential ambitions. 

Johnson quits Ahly, but no contact from Pirates (yet)

Cavin Johnson has quit his job as assistant coach at Al Ahly and is back in South Africa, but as yet, Orlando Pirates have not expressed an interest in hiring him as their new head coach, Phakaaathi understands.

ALSO READ: Orlando Pirates youngster eager to learn from senior players

Johnson joined as Ahly assistant coach when Pitso Mosimane was appointed head coach at the Cairo giants at the end of September 2020.

The former SuperSport United, Platinum Stars and AmaZulu head coach was part of the technical team that masterminded back-to-back Caf Champions League victories, but his time in Cairo is now over, a source told Phakaaathi on Thursday.