JSE SME programme drives growth as BoTong Civils reports 418% revenue jump:
In an initiative aimed at unlocking the growth potential of South Africa’s most promising business sector, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has marked the induction of the fifth cohort of its Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Rise Enterprise Accelerator Programme.
This year’s intake includes 12 high-potential companies, predominantly operating within the ICT and technology sectors, reflecting the country’s growing shift toward digital innovation and scalable enterprise solutions.
The programme continues to position itself as a critical enabler in South Africa’s economic ecosystem, offering structured support in areas such as funding readiness, market expansion and operational excellence.
Highlighting his company’s growth trajectory and underscoring the transformative impact of the programme, BoTong Civils founder Dr Danny Tong — representing one of the most successful businesses from a previous cohort — praised the JSE for supporting the SME sector.
“Our journey through the JSE SME Rise Enterprise Accelerator Programme has reinforced that growth is not just about winning work but about being ready to absorb it.
“The programme has enabled us to put proper board structures in place, strengthen our balance sheet, improve operational efficiency, adopt technology and build the systems and operational discipline required to scale.”
Tong said credibility, built through the programme, had changed market perception. “Credibility shifted the conversation in the market, helping stakeholders take us seriously, opening doors to partnerships and positioning our business to raise capital responsibly and compete for larger opportunities.”
After its participation in SME Rise, BoTong Civils recorded a 418% increase in revenue compared to the previous financial year. The company has secured more than R70 million in funding, raised more than R200m in guarantees and built an order book exceeding R3 billion.
With ambitious plans ahead, the business is targeting a listing on the JSE’s AltX within the next two years, alongside a long-term vision of growing its order book to more than R100bn.
SME Rise, the JSE Group’s flagship enterprise development solution, continues to bridge the gap between SMEs and broader capital markets.
By connecting private companies to growth opportunities, funding mechanisms and international expansion pathways, the initiative is shaping the next generation of business leaders.
The JSE said the SME Rise Enterprise Accelerator Programme signalled its “commitment to South Africa’s future prosperity through nurturing today’s aspiring change-makers”.
Describing the programme as “a uniquely South African offering”, the JSE said it embodied “our determined contribution to economic growth”.
As the fifth cohort embarked on its journey, the JSE said, the programme’s track record — “exemplified by success stories like BoTong Civils” — set a compelling precedent.
“In a challenging economic climate, initiatives like SME Rise are not just supporting businesses; they are redefining what scalable, sustainable growth looks like in South Africa.”
Outcry after names removed from petition in Abdul Aziz Panjwani killing case:
A public petition demanding arrests in the killing of a 22-year-old Malawian man has been quietly altered to remove the names of several alleged suspects, fuelling concerns among campaigners and relatives about transparency in the investigation.
The petition, which had gathered more than 2 800 signatures, originally listed six men witnesses said had been present during the incident that led to Abdul Aziz Tofik Panjwani’s death.
The names of five individuals have since been removed and replaced with a single marker: “[Redacted]”.
Five other individuals whom witnesses reportedly linked to the incident were questioned and released. They are: Jaques Vertue, Jibrael Lambat, Jacob Rendere, Adam Khan and Waseem Hamdani.
The change followed complaints from families connected to those named, according to people involved in promoting the campaign.
Panjwani died in the early hours of 5 April after an incident at WheelHouse Cottage in Senga Bay, a lakeside resort in Salima district in central Malawi. Relatives said he was assaulted by a group of men before a vehicle ran over him several times. He died before reaching the hospital.
Abbas Panjwani, a relative of the deceased, said the family’s understanding of the events come from several accounts provided by people at the gathering. “Abdul Aziz Tofik Panjwani had attended a gathering at WheelHouse Cottage in Senga Bay,” he said.
“As people were leaving, a confrontation occurred in the parking area involving several individuals. During this incident, a vehicle was involved, resulting in him sustaining fatal injuries, including severe head trauma.”
He said the family was calling for a thorough and transparent investigation. “At this stage, the full sequence of events remains unclear and it is critical that all facts are properly established through a credible investigation,” he said.
Police arrested Aman Khansia, who they said was driving the vehicle involved in the incident. He was remanded to Maula Prison in Lilongwe. Khansia, who is reportedly in the UK, was briefly released on account of an undisclosed illness before being returned to custody.
Police questioned five other individuals who witnesses allegedly linked to the incident. They were released after questioning.
The family said they had struggled to obtain clear information about the progress of the investigation. “We are still awaiting a comprehensive briefing on the progress of the investigation,” Abbas Panjwani said.
“There is a lack of clarity regarding the handling of suspects and the direction of the case. While individuals who were present have been identified and questioned, there is a clear need for greater transparency and communication.”
The online petition, titled Justice for Abdul Aziz Panjwani: Demand Immediate Arrest of All Suspects, was launched on 12 April on Change.org. It argued that six individuals had been identified in connection with the incident but only one had been arrested.
The petition was circulated widely on social media and among diaspora networks, attracting signatures from countries including Malawi, South Africa and the UK.
But the names of the five additional individuals were later removed from the document without any notice to signatories that the content had been changed. Campaigners said the change followed complaints from families of those named, whom they described as influential business figures with political connections.
For supporters of the campaign, the disappearance of the names has become one of the most visible developments in the public response to the case.
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has presented a different account of what happened that night.
According to investigators, the confrontation began during a birthday gathering at WheelHouse Cottage and initially involved a dispute over a Bluetooth speaker. Police said tension escalated after alcohol was consumed.
One group left the venue but later returned to retrieve a cellphone left charging at the bar. As the individual walked toward the parking area, the other group followed and a fight broke out between Panjwani and the driver of the vehicle.
During the altercation, an unidentified person fired a gunshot into the air. In the confusion that followed, the driver attempted to leave the scene.
Police said Panjwani jumped onto the moving vehicle and sustained injuries that later proved fatal.
MPS deputy spokesperson superintendent Alfred Chimthere said the decision to charge only the driver was based on available evidence. “The one who drove the car is the suspect, as death was caused by the moving vehicle,” Chimthere said. “The rest had their statements taken as well.”
He said the director of public prosecutions would determine whether additional charges would follow. Police also warned against what he described as “trial by public opinion”. “The law does not allow us to arrest passengers if there is no evidence linking them to an offence,” he said.
Several witnesses dispute key aspects of the police narrative. Witnesses, including the individual who discharged the firearm, reportedly told investigators that the gunshot was fired in an attempt to disperse people who were assaulting Panjwani.
They also contested the claim that Panjwani jumped onto the vehicle. According to these accounts, after the confrontation, the group entered their car and fled. As the vehicle left the scene, it ran over Panjwani multiple times.
If substantiated, that version of events could alter the legal interpretation of the incident. Police said investigators had found no evidence linking additional individuals to criminal wrongdoing.
Alongside the official account, unverified allegations have circulated from a confidential source claiming knowledge of the investigation. The source alleged that a relative of one of the men questioned by police had a financial connection to WheelHouse Cottage.
The relative denied the claim, saying he did not own the property. The source further alleged that potential evidence at the venue was removed shortly after the incident and that police officers at Salima police station received payments from an individual locally known as “Chipie”, reportedly the father of the driver on remand.
The allegations have not been publicly substantiated and no bribery investigation has been announced.
Chimthere said the police service would welcome scrutiny from independent institutions. “MPS is open to all independent institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate such allegations,” he said.
Questions have also been raised about how the crime scene was secured. The incident occurred at about 5am but police only reportedly secured the site at about 3pm on the same afternoon. By then, the source said, the area had been cleaned.
Chimthere said criminal investigations and traffic officers attended the scene and that the victim was taken to Salima District Hospital, where he died while receiving treatment. A postmortem was conducted at that hospital.
The vehicle allegedly involved in the incident was impounded and remains in police custody at Salima police station, he said. Police did not confirm whether forensic examinations have been conducted to determine how many times the vehicle may have struck the victim.
Questions have also circulated on social media about conditions at Maula Prison after posts suggested the suspect was able to update his online location while in custody.
Chimthere added the Malawi Prison Service would be better placed to respond to those claims.
The case has drawn wider attention partly because it touches on longstanding debates about inequality in Malawi’s criminal justice system. Legal scholars have previously documented disparities in criminal justice outcomes, noting that poorer defendants often face harsher treatment than wealthier suspects.
For Panjwani’s family, the case has come to symbolise broader concerns about accountability. “We have noted attempts to prematurely characterise this incident,” Abbas Panjwani said. “We strongly caution against reducing a serious loss of life to incomplete explanations before all the facts are established.”
The family has raised concerns independently about the early handling of the case. “We have serious concerns about the initial handling of the situation, particularly in the hours immediately following the incident,” he said.
“A young life has been lost under circumstances that are not yet fully explained. Malawi is a country built on peace, not violence, and our justice system must reflect and protect those values.”
This article was made possible by a partnership with the Centre for Investigative Journalism Malawi (CIJM)
Tshwane CFO denies ‘tender-fixer’ role in R2.9bn security contract:
Tshwane chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi has denied acting as a “tender-fixer” in a R2.9 billion Tshwane municipal security contract, saying Sergeant Fannie Nkosi’s requests related to compliance checks rather than efforts to influence the outcome.
Under cross-examination at the Madlanga commission on Monday, Mnisi was questioned about seven companies Nkosi had prioritised for bid evaluation.
He rejected claims that he had favoured particular bidders, saying Nkosi had wanted to verify whether companies met the tender requirements.
Nkosi had compiled an “order of priority” listing Elshadia Security Services, Tau Tau Security, Two Cops in Security, Vision Acuity Security, Shumile Security, Vimtsire Security Services and Ngaphesheya Security.
Mnisi said he had told Nkosi on four occasions in March 2025 that he could not assess compliance because the tender process had closed.
“I believe his request was premised on the mistaken belief that I would be able to check whether the bidders were compliant,” Mnisi said.
However, under questioning from commissioners, he conceded that the WhatsApp messages did not explicitly support his claim that Nkosi’s requests had been about compliance checks.
A total of 57 companies bid for the contract, with seven ultimately appointed.
In one message, Nkosi wrote: “Afternoon, my brother. I trust you are well and your family. My sincere apologies for the delay in sending this message. The two vehicles for land are: 1. Ngaphesheya Security Service; 2. Elshadia Security Service. Have a blessed Sunday.”
Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson said the two security companies sent by Nkosi to Mnisi were selected as part of the seven that had received the contract.
“So, two of the seven out of 57 successful bidders just happen to be the two bidders Sergeant Nkosi was asking you to privilege through this process, even though at the time you say he was asking you to check for compliance,” he said.
Mnisi said he had engaged with Nkosi amicably to manage a personal relationship and to limit persistent communication. “Had I not treated this man in the manner that I did, I would have been constantly bombarded with this issue.
“Ideally, I should have said clearly: ‘I’ve told you before to stop it.’ But he is also a friend of mine, so I needed to deal with this matter delicately,” he said.
In another message, Nkosi wrote: “Afternoon, Captain. I trust you are well and your family. The above is from the red berets. Please check with Mfowethu if it’s the same as his from CIC (Juju) to confirm authenticity.”
Additional companies allegedly sent by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema in the exchanges included Gap, TSS, SSG, AET Security Services, Eagle Eye, Premium Security and Ratito Holdings.
Chaskalson said the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) deputy chief Umashi Dhlamini had assumed that Malema had sent Mnisi a list of companies linked to the tender. Mnisi denied having received any such list.
In a separate exchange, Mnisi shared an article quoting Malema as saying: “Tshwane proves governance can thrive without the DA.”
He subsequently texted Nkosi: “I’m okay, my brother. We are managing this guy. I just wanted to show you. Hbungulu will never win.”
Mnisi said he had not been referring to Malema and had never met the EFF leader. He said “Hbungulu” referred instead to ANC-linked Tshwane official Mpho Lekukela, whom Nkosi testified he had facilitated “peace meetings” with Nnisi.
Commissioners questioned Mnisi regarding a R14 million invoice sent to Nkosi related to purchase orders to Gubis 85 Security Services. The company allegedly received R59m from the City of Tshwane in unrendered services linked to outsourced security services to protect assets and property.
“You are discussing with [Nkosi] payment issues between Tshwane and service providers. At no point do you say to him: ‘This is not your issue, don’t involve yourself.’ You actually allow him to be involved to the point where you share with him processes,” said commissioner Sandile Baloyi.
Mnisi said that in hindsight he should have shared the documents with TMPD deputy chief Dhlamini instead of Nkosi.
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