First Take SA

COSATU has called on politicians to allow the Public Investment Corporation, PIC Board to complete its oversight work without interference. The federation says it is concerned about alleged attempts to disrupt investigations into suspended CEO, Patrick Dlamini and PIC deals including Acapulco and Lanseria Airport. COSATU has welcomed the Board's referral of the Acapulco matter to the SIU and is urging President Ramaphosa to issue a proclamation for a full probe with the Hawks and Auditor-General. We spoke to Matthew Parks, COSATU's Parliamentary Coordinator.

A 42-year-old former Emfuleni Local Municipality Fleet Manager is appearing in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court today on charges of fraud and corruption.
The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team alleges about R16 million was paid for 18 municipal vehicles, but only seven were delivered. Police say the arrest follows a probe into the irregular awarding and rollout of the fleet tender. Investigations are ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out.We spoke to Emfuleni Local Municipality spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni.

The Social Movement for Advocacy, Rights and Transformation, SMART is pressing SARS to crack down on widespread tax evasion in the spaza shop sector following damning findings by the Public Protector. The group says many outlets allegedly run by undocumented foreign nationals operate unlicensed, dodging taxes while using public services and infrastructure. SMART says this lost revenue is hurting South Africa's strained fiscus at a time of mounting debt and service delivery pressures. The organisation urges closer collaboration between SARS, Home Affairs, municipalities and other agencies to register compliant businesses and enforce the law fairly, without targeting nationality. We spoke to SMART Manager for Advocacy And Communication, Lehlogonolo Muthevhuli.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party is strongly opposing the appointment of retired Judge Takalani Raulinga as the first Ombud for the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, IDAC. In a formal letter to the Justice Minister and parliamentary leaders, party MP Mzwanele Manyi calls the move an error in judgement and wants it reviewed urgently. He points to the judge's long-standing alleged friendship with President Cyril Ramaphosa and past ANC membership as reasons to question his independence. In a media briefing yesterday, Judge Raulinga confirmed his office has already received multiple complaints against senior IDAC officials and investigations are underway, but he's refusing to name anyone involved. We spoke to Mr. Manyi.

The Cape Forum has backed the City of Cape Town's plan to set up its own detective service within the metro police. The civil rights group says it's a step toward full devolution of policing powers, which it has campaigned for since 2022. Forum Executive Chairperson, Heindrich Wyngaard says communities must still share crime information and that the Forum will protest at Parliament in August over its referendum campaign. We spoke to Wyngaard.