Felix Dlangamandla
LTE Consulting, a politically connected consulting firm, paid millions to EFF leader Julius Malema and various ANC structures.
The company’s patronage appears to have secured political support for it in a botched Limpopo water project, and earn it favour in the awarding of lucrative government tenders.
LTE received more than R345 million out of Ekurhuleni from contracts.
Politically connected businessman Thulani Majola has dispensed his largesse far and wide, and across political divides - his patronage spreading as both the political landscape and his own interests have become more diversified.
Since 2016, he has paid more than R14 million to various ANC entities. He has also paid more than R3 million to Santaclara Trading, a front company of EFF leader Julius Malema (
Metrobus drivers embark on strike in Joburg Metrobus is facing strike action by drivers in Johannesburg. File photo. Image: City of Joburg/Twitter
Metrobus operations in Johannesburg were disrupted on Monday when drivers affiliated to the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of SA (Demawusa) embarked on a strike.
Demawusa spokesperson Dion Makhura said members downed tools because their employer was refusing to concede to their demands.
They included an 18% salary increase and a call on the company to address allegations of corruption.
“We are saying they must reinstate workers who were dismissed because employees who are connected to management are not charged for misconduct. They are just told to stop driving,” Makhura charged.
Read Part One here
Politically connected businessman Thulani Majola has dispensed his largesse far and wide, and across political divides – his patronage spreading as both the political landscape and his own interests have become more diversified.
Since 2016, he has paid more than R14-million to various ANC entities. He has also paid over R3-million to Santaclara Trading, a front company of EFF leader Julius Malema. To go through the documents used in amaBhungane’s investigation, click here to access the evidence docket.
Majola’s history of bankrolling the ANC predated his relationship with the EFF, but as the latter grew in political influence, so too did Majola’s financial support for Malema and his party.
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Activists affiliated with the #PayTheGrants campaign picketed outside Post Offices across the country on 30 April, demanding that the R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant be extended and increased immediately.
The grant was terminated as of 30 April. This means that no new applications will be processed from Friday.
GroundUp visited Sassa in Bellville in Cape Town, as well as Post Offices in Nigel in Gauteng, Eldorado Park in Johannesburg, and Makhanda in Eastern Cape.
In Bellville, about 20 activists picketed outside the Sassa office, where hundreds of beneficiaries were queuing for their disability grants.
Beneficiary Yvonne Klaasen said that she hasn’t received her disability grant since December, even though she has tried to collect it every month. She was among those not in support of the picket because she claimed that people were “using and abusing” the R350 grant.
Artist turns bullying trauma into art
By Murphy Nganga
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Cape Town - In a world where he grew up being bullied, contemporary artist Silas Motse transforms Cape Town s streets into a canvas of love, light and hope.
Born and bred in the Free State, Motse was not exposed to much. Experiencing being bullied at a tender age, Motse turned to art in effort to escape his bullies.
âWhen I was younger, the kids at school would constantly make fun of my ears. This resulted in me building a wall of defence because I was tired of being targeted. I would swear and retaliate back to scare them away. I used to have a book that I would use to threaten people away. In this book I usually drew funny caricatures of people. I remember that my father used to hunt, so everyone in the community knew this so they made fun of me. They would make fun of me surviving on rabbit meat because of my dad s work,â said Motse.