Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
gugile nkwintilatest news & developments
Unresolved: Spokes Sithole, who was born in the same year as Nelson Mandela, 1918, is one of the original claimants in the R1 billion Mala Mala land claim. He died at 108. Photos. Lucas Ledwaba
COMMISSION FOR RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS

Fruit of freedom withers under broken land deal

The death of Spokes Sithole at 108 exposes the broken promise of one of South Africa’s largest land restitution settlements, where freedom and land ownership have not translated…

  • Lucas Ledwaba
7 min read
Former members of the Umgeni Water Amanzi board have gone to court to challenge their removal by Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu
GUGILE NKWINTI

Umgeni Water board challenges its disbandment

The former members have said that an interim board has been appointed illegally and without being vetted

  • Paddy Harper
6 min read
Phineas Legodi was suspended pending an investigation into alleged maladministration at the entity a month after an interim board was appointed by human settlements, water and sanitation minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
AMATOLA WATER

Sisulu takes a win in the battle of the boards

Suspended Lepelle Northern Water chief executive Phineas Legodi loses another court battle

  • Paddy Harper
3 min read
Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. (David Harrison)
AMATOLA WATER BOARD

Sisulu axes another water board

Umgeni Water’s board in KwaZulu-Natal was appointed irregularly by her predecessor, the water and sanitation minister claims

  • Paddy Harper
2 min read
Basani Baloyi wanted the court to order her reinstatement and to declare that the public protector had breached her constitutional duty to act without fear, favour or prejudice.
BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE

Public Protector ‘played chess with the country’

A labour dispute between Busisiwe Mkhwebane and her former chief operating officer has laid bare allegations of political interference

  • Franny Rabkin
7 min read
Appealing: Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane wants former land minister Gugile Nkwinti to face the music for violating the executive ethics code and the Constitution. (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)
BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE

Bid to appeal Nkwinti order

The public protector says an interim order to prevent the release of her report is ‘an intrusion by courts’

  • Franny Rabkin
3 min read
Mail & Gaurdian
ANC

Editorial: Nail the farm-flippers

‘Over 25 years of democracy, the government’s attempts at land restitution have been lambasted for their slow pace and all-round inefficiency’

  • Editorial
2 min read
Unchecked: Mining companies accused of failing to comply with environmental regulations say that the water department is disorganised and understaffed. (Madelene Cronjé)
GUGILE NKWINTI

Big increase in mine water pollution

New data reveals a radical increase in the number of mines flouting water regulations

  • Andiswa Matikinca
  • Mark Olalde
5 min read
“No other person would be permitted to get away with the kind of obfuscation contained in the president’s affidavits,” Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane said in court papers. (Phill Magakoe/The Times/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
BEKENDVLEI FARM

Release of Public Protector report on Nkwinti interdicted

This prevents any action against Water and Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti until the dispute has been fully argued in court

  • Franny Rabkin
3 min read
Suspended Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane. (Deaan Vivier/Gallo)
BEKENDVLEI FARM

Mkhwebane’s own CEO gave her some of the evidence that nailed Nkwinti

The Public Protector says there was no conflict of interest as investigations “are at an arm’s length from him and he does not meddle in that space”

  • Franny Rabkin
6 min read
Minister Gugile Nkwinti. (Jaco Marais/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE

High court hears minister’s urgent application to halt release of PP report

An order is expected later on Monday or on Tuesday

  • Franny Rabkin
4 min read
Minister of Water and Sanitation Gugile Nkwinti said he would suffer reputational harm if the report was released. (Gallo)
BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE

Nkwinti launches last-minute court bid to prevent release of PP report

The former land minister says he will suffer reputational harm if Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane releases her report

  • Franny Rabkin
3 min read
Emergency: Members of the SANDF at the Vaal River water purification plant in Sebokeng in January. (Gallo/Netwerk24/Deaan Vivier)
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION

This is why we don’t have water

Protests, corruption, mismanagement — the department explains its failure to deliver water

  • Sipho Kings
4 min read
Unreformed: Redistribution, restitution and tenure, the three pillars of land reform, have failed to redress the inequalities created by colonial and apartheid governments. (Paul Botes)
DEREK HANEKOM

Search for ways to stop the land slide

Experts say an area-based approach is needed, but district and local government are not on board

  • Monty J. Roodt
8 min read
Illegal stormwater connections result in flooded sewage plants. With proper planning, the treatment of sewage can be turned into a process that creates clean water and provides much-needed jobs in poor communities. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CAPE TOWN

Enviro action plan for South Africa

Sipho Kings has compiled a list of tasks government should tackle this year to solve environmental problems and secure our collective future

  • Sipho Kings
7 min read
Toxic environment: Nomvula Mokonyane inherited a broken water affairs department in 2014. (Delwyn Verasamy)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Environment awaits ‘Mama Action’

We look at Nomvula Mokonyane’s history in the water department to see what the reshuffle means for new portfolio

  • Sipho Kings
7 min read
Patrice Motsepe called for a probe after Cameroon’s President Paul Biya earlier ordered an investigation.
CAPE TOWN

Crisis proofing South Africa’s water security

South Africa is a water stressed country but crisis point can be avoided

  • Staff Reporter
5 min read
Errol Velile Present
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

ANC ‘heist man’ to apply for bail

Errol Velile Present was one of four people arrested during a heist in Dobsonville, Soweto, earlier this month

  • Christina Pitt
1 min read
Workers at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters are aggrieved that the party is unable to offer them salary increases and bonuses and fear they may lose their jobs.
ANC

Axed ANC employee linked to at least 3 heists – Cele

Errol Velile Present was one of four people arrested during a heist in Dobsonville, Soweto, earlier this month

  • Jenni Evans
  • Tammy Petersen
3 min read
“Such behaviour goes against the very ethos of what Amakhosi stands for
CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS

Union plans to close taps countrywide

Nehawu will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike at the Department of Water and Sanitation on Thursday

  • Tehillah Nieselow
4 min read