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Here’s your daily news update for Sunday, 6 April 2025.
Photo: iStock / The Citizen / Cheryl Kahla
News today includes Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson giving an update on the claims of corruption and irregularities against him, saying he will not be deterred by smear campaigns.
Then, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula upset senior party leaders after setting up a secret negotiating team for the budget.
Meanwhile, Vaal Dam residents have been urged to evacuate low-lying areas after a fifth sluice gate was opened.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued alerts for “severe thunderstorms” in several provinces on Monday. Get the full weather forecast here.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson said he will not be deterred by smear campaigns, political pressure, or even threats on his life over a corrupt multi-million rand tender.
Macpherson provided an update on Sunday on the ongoing investigation into the R800 million oxygen plant tender, including claims of corruption and irregularities against him.
The minister announced in December that his department would be investigating a tender awarded to supply the Department of Health (DoH) with a series of air purification systems.
CONTINUE READING: WATCH: Macpherson not deterred by ‘political pressure or death threats’ over R800m oxygen tender
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula is reported to have upset senior party leaders after he set up a secret team to negotiate the budget with the DA.
Mbalula’s team was kept under wraps, with most of the ANC’s NEC members only becoming aware of it when it was brought up during a meeting last weekend.
The Sunday Times reports that ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe was “livid” and ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli accused Mbalula’s team of “undermining” his official negotiating team.
CONTINUE READING: Mbalula’s ‘clumsy’ secret budget talks angered ANC leaders – report
As rainfall continues to fall across the country, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has now opened a fifth sluice gate at the Vaal Dam, and urged residents to evacuate low-lying areas.
The water level of the Vaal Dam has increased over the last few days, according to officials monitoring the water resource that supplies Gauteng.
Heavy rains over the last few days have filled the Vaal Dam beyond its 100% capacity.
CONTINUE READING: Residents urged to evacuate after fifth sluice gate opened at Vaal Dam
Former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has criticised the Legal Practice Council (LPC) of playing politics, saying she will weigh her options and respond once formally served with the application to have her struck off the roll of advocates.
This follows confirmation by the LPC over the weekend that it is moving ahead with an application to disbar Mkhwebane — almost two years after her removal from office.
According to the council, the case is based on findings from the Section 194 parliamentary inquiry, which concluded that Mkhwebane was guilty of misconduct and incompetence during her tenure as public protector.
CONTINUE READING: Mkhwebane says move to strike her from roll of advocates is ‘politically motivated’
South Africa won’t easily host a Rugby World Cup tournament again, according to a prominent rugby boss who spoke to Afrikaans Sunday publication Rapport.
The last, and only, time South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup was in 1995. The Springboks won that tournament at the first time of asking.
South Africa have bid to host tournaments in the past, but not been successful.
CONTINUE READING: SA won’t easily host a Rugby World Cup again — report
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