The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) on Tuesday added former public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba as the fifth accused in a corruption case involving former Transnet executives, at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

The case was postponed to 30 January for the disclosure of the docket, the provision of an indictment, and for a date to be set for the transfer of the matter to the high court.

IDAC issued Gigaba with a summons on 7 November to appear at the Palm Ridge court. He agreed to present himself, and his matter was combined with that of the other accused.

Gigaba’s court appearance relates to alleged offences between November 2010 and May 2014, during his tenure as minister of public enterprises.

He is charged alongside former Transnet group chief financial officer Anoj Singh, former group chief executive officer Brian Molefe, former Transnet chief executive officer Siyabonga Gama, and Thamsanqa Jiyane, who was chief procurement officer in the Transnet Freight Rail division.

The charges arise from the period in which Transnet embarked on acquiring locomotives to expand and modernise South Africa’s rail infrastructure. During this process, tender procedures were allegedly flouted and three contracts were irregularly awarded to supply 95, 100, and 1,064 locomotives under three different contracts, resulting in a loss of billions of rand for Transnet.

The state alleges that during his term as minister Gigaba, on various occasions, accepted and received undisclosed amounts of cash from members of the Gupta family, which are alleged to be corrupt in nature, and to which he was not entitled.

All the accused were presented with an updated charge sheet.

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There has been mixed reaction to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s announcement that the government will advertise 1200 jobs for doctors, 200 for nurses and 250 for other healthcare professionals at the cost of R1.78 billion.

While the African National Congress and the Congress SA Trade Unions welcomed the announcement, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA, which is affiliated to Cosatu, expressed deep disappointment about the number of nurses to be recruited.

Denosa spokesperson Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni said on Friday it was shockingly inadequate and downright insulting to the nursing fraternity.

“The health department has not only failed to respond meaningfully to the dire shortage of nurses across the country, but it has also shown a disturbing lack of shame in publicly announcing the recruitment of a mere 200 nurses, as though it were a breakthrough,” she said.

“This token gesture, coming after repeated calls for urgent and large-scale investment into nursing human resources, is a slap in the face to the thousands of nurses who are already stretched beyond capacity.”

National projections estimate that the country could be short by over 100,000 nurses by 2030 if urgent interventions are not made. In the Free State alone, there is a 28% vacancy rate.

Mabunda-Kaziboni said these shortages had devastating impacts such as compromising patient care, with fewer nurses caring for more patients.

A longer waiting period in hospitals and nurses emigrating due to untenable working conditions further compounding the problem.

Denosa acknowledged the minister’s reference to the procurement of hospital beds, mattresses and linen items. However, it was concerned that if these procurements were managed through the current tendering system, they would fall victim to corrupt practices.

“The tender system has become a breeding ground for looting and inefficiency, and unless transparency and accountability are prioritised, the funds allocated will be squandered, and frontline facilities will see little benefit,” said Mabunda-Kaziboni.

Cosatu spokeswoman Zanele Sabela sad described the recruitment drive as a progressive move by Motsoaledi and the Health Ministry, saying it spoke directly to the cries of professionals in this crucial public service sector.

She said Cosatu also applauded Motsoaledi for taking steps towards readying the public health system for the eventual implementation of the National Health Insurance, including the finalisation of an audit of hospital beds required.

ANC spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the intervention demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening the public healthcare system and ensuring that quality care was accessible to all South Africans.

“It reflects a serious and proactive response to the challenges facing the sector. The ANC has long recognised the urgent need to increase the number of healthcare professionals, particularly in under-resourced communities.

“While this measure may not fully meet the growing demand, it is a significant step forward. We are confident it will help ease pressure on healthcare facilities and enhance patient care,” she said in a statement.

Denosa has called on the Health Department to urgently implement a comprehensive nurses’ recruitment and retention plan, targeting thousands of new nursing appointments.

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The government has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting corruption, with Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi warning that not only does it threaten the future of the nation, it is a betrayal by leaders who South Africans have placed their trust in.

“Corruption is not only a scourge that threatens the very fabric of our democracy and the future of our nation. It is an administrative failure and an act of cruelty and betrayal of the nation by (an) evil alliance of the very same people we trusted to be our leaders – yet they are not, but unscrupulous individuals.

“Such acts threaten our democracy, hinder our country’s development and perpetuate inequality,” he said on Monday.

Buthelezi was speaking at the National Dialogue on Anti-Corruption that coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day.

He described corruption as “a cancer bleeding our resources, stealing from the poor and eating away at our future”.

The dialogue, which was led by the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council and the Public Service Commission, focused on fostering collaboration across all sectors of society.

Buthelezi said fighting corruption was a shared responsibility.

“The fight against corruption is not the responsibility of the government alone, but a societal challenge that requires the participation of every sector from government, private, civil, academia and most importantly, active and vigilant citizens.”

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2030 was presented as a robust roadmap for reform.

With its six pillars, it emphasises transparency, accountability and active citizenry as essential components to fight the scourge.

Buthelezi outlined several initiatives already underway to strengthen governance and accountability.

These included enhancing protection for whistleblowers.

“We must create an environment where exposing shenanigans and telling the truth thrives.”

He also highlighted the digitisation of procurement processes as a critical step to improving transparency and minimising irregularities.

Buthelezi stressed the importance of professionalising the public service through merit-based recruitment and ethical training to eliminate patronage and nepotism.

“Through collective action, we can reclaim the values of integrity, accountability and transparency that should define our nation,” the minister told delegates.

Recognising the critical role of young people in shaping SA’s future, he called on the youth to actively combat corruption.

“The youth, as our country’s future leaders, must be empowered to champion integrity and accountability,” he said.

Buthelezi encouraged initiatives like civic education, community engagement and leadership development to nurture a generation committed to good governance.

“Their energy, creativity and commitment are essential in shaping a future that prioritises good governance over greed,” he added.

Buthelezi stressed the importance of involving communities in monitoring procurement projects.

“Every breach must be met with swift and decisive consequences. No individual, regardless of rank, is above the law,” he asserted.

The minister also pointed out that corruption could not be eradicated without addressing collusion between the public and private sectors, especially in the financial sector.

“There are no financial transactions that take place without the active participation and processing of the banking sector,” he said, emphasising the need for banks to adopt strict ethical standards and work actively to prevent illicit financial activities.

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Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has strongly supported recent efforts to criminalise the extortion tactics of the construction mafia.

Committee chair Mzwandile Masina expressed his approval of the proposed legal measures that will target those who demanded a 30% share of government contracts without offering any actual work.

“The government allocates 30% of the value of projects to small, medium and micro enterprises with a view to empower them, and those they employ. Unfortunately, this has led to thuggish behaviour with criminals demanding payment and bringing projects to a halt,” Masina said.

The 30% set-aside rule is a policy that aims to help historically disadvantaged individuals, offering them opportunities to grow within the mainstream economy.

However, the policy’s implementation has been marred by criminal actors who force contractors to comply with their demands for a percentage of the contract value, often without contributing to the work in any meaningful way.

Masina said these groups have caused significant delays on construction sites and have led to numerous projects being abandoned.

The committee heard in a briefing from the National Treasury on Thursday that the actions of the mafia have been a significant barrier to the successful implementation of the government’s infrastructure projects.

Contractors have been forced to abandon sites, leading to inefficiencies, cost overruns and the complete abandonment of projects in some cases.

A report from the National Treasury highlighted the challenges in enforcing compliance with the Public Procurement Act, which was designed to ensure fair participation in government procurement and contribute to industrialisation and inclusive growth.

Masina expressed concern over the widespread hijacking of infrastructure and housing projects in the name of the 30% empowerment initiative.

He said the measure was never intended for criminals to exploit, but for legitimate businesses and individuals eager to contribute to the economy and gain valuable skills.

“This intervention was never intended for criminals, but well-meaning South Africans who want to come into the mainstream economy, be equipped with skills and grow. This frustrates the good intentions of the government, and we call on law enforcement to act when the regulation is operationalised,” the chair said.

The committee has called for stronger law enforcement action to ensure that these criminal practices are eradicated once the regulation is fully operational, saying it remains firm in its stance that the government must act swiftly and decisively to curb these extortionist practices.

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The Democratic Alliance says it has made significant strides in the first 100 days of the Government of National Unity, focusing on transforming optimism into tangible action for growth and job creation.

Reflecting on the choices faced following the general elections, DA leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has emphasised the role played by his party in countering what he claims to be a disastrous future for the country.

“We could have left South Africa to the Economic Freedom Fighters  and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), which would have led to economic and social ruin. Instead, we chose to prioritise the nation’s future,” Steenhuisen said on Sunday.

He said this commitment has sparked renewed optimism among citizens, fuelling confidence in the country’s economic trajectory.

Central to the DA’s agenda has been a commitment to boost economic growth and lower unemployment, with specific key performance indicators established to measure progress.

Steenhuisen confirmed that DA ministers have begun a thorough evaluation of government programmes to eliminate those that failed to deliver value.

The aim was to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio below 70% within five years to avert a fiscal crisis.

He said collaborations with the Treasury and the Presidency had led to initiatives such as the concession of ports and rail systems, as well as reforms to enhance local government financing and infrastructure.

The party leader praised the Home Affairs @home initiative, which aimed to digitise services and alleviate the need for in-person visits and improve efficiency.

Steenhuisen said the party had ensured tourism revitalisation through the introduction of a Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, which would reignite tourism from key markets, including China and India.

In terms of new visa regulations, he said the DA has refined regulations for remote work and points-based work visas. It was designed to attract skilled labour and create thousands of new jobs.

Steenhuisen said investigations into corruption within the Department of Public Works had been initiated to restore public trust and ensure accountability.

It was also reviewing the 30% local procurement rule for construction projects in order to ensure it empowered genuine small businesses rather than criminal entities.

He said the DA had launched a comprehensive review of education financing, focusing on stabilising funding for the medium term.

It was also addressing a pressing public concern regarding backlog resolution at the Home Affairs Department, with it successfully clearing a backlog of 250,000 ID applications within a month.

Steenhuisen welcomed the party improving the contribution to GDP growth, by facilitating an economic impact study into reducing VAT and import duties on smart devices which aimed to enhance accessibility to advanced networks.

The party leader said the DA was intent on bringing development and progress to the country.

“Our focus remains steadfast on delivering real results for South Africans. We are dedicated to driving growth and job creation as we continue to transform optimism into meaningful action,” Steenhuisen said.

He said the party was in the process of viewing every department in which it was represented as an opportunity to drive growth and jobs, and to develop policy priorities accordingly.

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