September 30, 2024.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines:

ActionSA to file criminal charges against Thembi Simelane

Schreiber unveils Home Affairs’ plans to 'restore integrity' to SA's national security

And, Mashatile sees South Africa's growth accelerating in 2025

ActionSA to file criminal charges against Thembi Simelane

ActionSA will file criminal charges against Justice Minister Thembi Simelane tomorrow, with the South African Police Service in Polokwane, relating to her alleged corrupt involvement with a VBS Mutual Bank loan, while the Democratic Alliance is urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to take "decisive action" against her.

It has been alleged that while serving as the mayor of Polokwane in 2016, Simelane took a loan of R575 600 from Gundo Wealth Solutions, the company that brokered “unlawful” investments of R349-million into VBS Bank on behalf of the Polokwane municipality, amongst others.

Political parties have been calling for Simelane to step aside from her ministerial role while the allegations against her are investigated, with the DA reiterating its call for Simelane to step aside.

DA spokesperson on justice and constitutional development Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach said the recent disclosure of “glaring inconsistencies” in the so-called loan agreement with VBS corruption-accused Ralliom Razwinane, deepened the conflict of interest facing the Minister.

The party said the discrepancies in the document - such as contradicting payment dates and the strong suggestion that it was backdated - undermined any claim to transparency and raise serious questions about the Minister’s integrity.

Schreiber unveils Home Affairs’ plans to 'restore integrity' to SA's national security

In marking 100 days in office for the Government of National Unity, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber highlighted that over the next five years all the department’s services must become fully automated, digitised and must be offered online “at the fingertips of clients from the comfort of their own homes”, announcing the ‘Home Affairs @ home’ approach.

Schreiber’s new strategic vision hopes to turn the Department of Home Affairs into a digital department during his term of office. He envisions an “ambitious” new future where no one visits a Home Affairs office in-person to access routine services.

He said ‘Home Affairs @ home’ would contribute to restoring the integrity of South Africa’s national security.

Mashatile sees South Africa's growth accelerating in 2025

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile has said economic growth in the country is expected to accelerate next year as the country recovers from output-sapping power cuts and as the nation’s new coalition government focuses on investing in infrastructure.

Mashatile said he thinks that by next year the country could grow about 1.5%.

He said government is shifting more resources to economic activity and wants to grow the economy, particularly through infrastructure investments, new roads, dams and new railway lines.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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