Mapisa-Nqakula resigns to ‘protect’ parliament, ANC:
Under fire National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has resigned, a day after the High Court dismissed her application to stop the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) from arresting her on corruption charges.
Mapisa-Nqakula said in a media statement which was issued by parliament on Wednesday evening that she had handed her resignation to acting speaker Lechesa Tsenoli.
It would take effect immediately.
Mapisa-Nqakula is being investigated by the NPA and the Hawks over alleged corruption and bribery over a series of payments and benefits totalling R2.3 million from a military contractor during her term as minister of defence.
She had gone to court to try and prevent her arrest, but has subsequently agreed to hand herself over to the police.
The contractor, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the sole director of Umkhombe Marine (Pty) Ltd, has now turned state witness.
In her statement, Mapisa-Nqakula said she had decided to resign “in order to dedicate my time and focus to deal with the recently announced investigation against me by our country’s law enforcement agencies”.
“My resignation is in no way an indication of admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me,” she said.
“I have made this decision in order to uphold the integrity and sanctity of our Parliament, an apex institution of our system of government, representing the people of South Africa as a whole.”
Mapisa-Nqakula said that she could not continue in the role of speaker, given the seriousness of the allegations against her.
“As a country’s chief lawmaker, I hold a central responsibility to protect and preserve the integrity of parliament by ensuring that my actions ensure that its sacred work must continue without blemish,” she said.
She said that at the appropriate time, she would have the opportunity to “clear my good name” when the matter came before the appropriate forum.
“I maintain my innocence and am determined to restore my good reputation.”
“As a member of the ANC, I have spent half my life in the forefront of the struggle to defend the freedom and rights of all South Africans, 30 of those years in my capacity as a member of parliament and the executive.”
Mapisa-Nqakula said she had an “obligation” to step down to protect the ANC and her office, despite her innocence.
She said she had written to the ANC informing the party of her decision and thanking it for having trusted her with senior leadership roles over the years.
The ANC in a statement confirmed that the office of secretary general Fikile Mbalula had received her letter of resignation.
Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said that the former speaker had informed the party that she had done so in order to protect its reputation.
“We value her commitment to maintaining the image of our organisation, as it reflects our principles of organisational renewal that promote proactive responsibility-taking among members, rather than waiting for instructions to step aside,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said that the party “noted, and welcomes” the resignation and thanked the former speaker for her service.
Hlengwa said the decision was a “responsible” one as it allowed her to “focus on her legal matters without dragging parliament along any further” as parliament still had work to do which must continue without compromise or interruption.
“The IFP maintains that the law must apply without any fear or favour, and we implore the former speaker to subject herself to the legal processes until their legal and logical conclusion.”
Educor qualifications are valid, says department:
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has assured students that the qualifications they have obtained from Educor’s private institutions are valid.
“The qualifications issued or obtained during the period of registration and the phase-out period, remain valid and recognised,” said DHET spokesperson, Vali Mbele in a statement released on Wednesday.
The assurance was confirmed by the South African Qualifications Authority.
On 22 March, the department’s director general, Nkosinathi Sishi, issued a statement in the Government Gazette announcing that the department had decided to deregister Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus and Lyceum College as private higher learning institutes for failure to submit audited financial statements, including tax clearance certificates, since 2020.
Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus and Lyceum College are owned by Educor, the largest private education provider in Southern Africa.
Following the announcement, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande slammed Educor for its “gross governance and compliance failures”, which have left 13 000 students in limbo.
The department has, however, given the four colleges until December to “conclude the remaining examinations or assessments for the remainder of the current academic year”.
Nzimande has instructed that Educor and his department assist students affected by the cancellation. “We don’t want to leave students stranded,” said the minister during an address in Pretoria.
The higher education department has confirmed that they are currently handling student queries, “many of whom have expressed their frustration with the lack of communication and unresponsiveness of the four Educor colleges”.
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) previously told the Mail & Guardian that they had received complaints from students regarding Educor’s “maladministration”, which left them frustrated and unable to carry out their studies efficiently.
“These institutions should probably not be reregistered again because there has been no management or governance structure for the last two to three years, so these institutions have completely failed,” said SAUS spokesperson, Asive Dlanjwa.
In light of Educor’s deregistration, the department has issued a stern warning to existing private higher education institutions, that the department “will not hesitate to cancel the registration of any institution that willfully violates the conditions of their registration”.
Mbele said that the department was on the lookout for individuals or groups who have been operating or intend to establish bogus institutions.
Since the deregistration of Educor institutions has been announced, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) — which has been advocating for labour practices at the four colleges — has called for the higher education department to “nationalise” the institutions.
“The department must nationalise these colleges and absorb the workers permanently,” said SAFTU in a statement.
SAFTU is also calling on the department to support students who are mid-way in pursuing their studies and to support the workers who worked at the institutions, from cleaners and security to lecturers and admin staff.
Although Educor has not released a statement, the group’s spokesperson, Surina Baijnath, told The Star that they are “extremely surprised” by the higher education department’s decision.
Baijnath has not confirmed whether Educor will be reregistrating its institutions.
Climate crisis: Huge blow to cocoa producers:
Chocolate prices set to soar as climate change affects Nestlé’s production
Chocolate-producing companies and consumers bear the brunt of climate change as cocoa farmers continue to increase prices caused by damaged cocoa beans, as a result of frequent extreme weather events including heatwaves and erratic rains.
In an interview with the Mail & Guardian, Nestlé’s Communication Executive Mota Mota said the rainfall, increasing heat waves and strong winds in West Africa have pressured the company (Nestlé) to implement sustainable practices and support resilience initiatives in their supply chains.
“Because of the extreme weather, there has been a delay in harvest, and supply shortages and the soaring cocoa prices are impacting both the chocolate manufacturers like ourselves [and] our customers — but also, more importantly, it’s impacting the cocoa farming families worldwide,” Mota said.
Cocoa, an essential ingredient for chocolate, comes from the seeds of the cacao tree. Nestlé owns over 2 000 brands reliant on cocoa for chocolate production.
Mota’s comments come after farmers in Côte d’Ivoire — the world’s largest cocoa producer, accounting for about 44% of global cocoa production — announced that their cacao trees were rotting and were producing less than the previous year.
Cocoa cultivation relies on a delicate balance of rainfall and sunshine. But in West Africa, encompassing countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon — major cocoa producers contributing approximately 70% of global supply — conditions for growth have been unfavourable.
From 1 October to 10 March 2024, cocoa exports from the Ivory Coast declined by 29% compared to the previous year. According to Trading Economics, the Ivory Coast cocoa regulator anticipates a 33% decrease in the April harvest, dropping from 600 000 metric tonnes to 400 000 metric tonnes.
According to the indicators released on Tuesday, the price of cocoa reached a new peak in March 2024, standing at approximately $ 8 500 per metric tonne.
This marks a significant rise from the previous month’s figure of around $ 6 030 per metric tonne. Overall, cocoa prices have surged by 98.36% since the start of 2024.
Speaking at a sustainable conference on Tuesday, Nestlé’s Business Executive Officer in the east and southern Africa region Zumi Njongwe said with cocoa prices hitting record highs, chocolate manufacturers are facing significant cost pressures, which will result in price increases as the company attempts to offset other input costs.
Mota said the effects of climate change on cocoa production are a growing concern for Nestlé, as cocoa is a vital ingredient for their products — and the main source of livelihood for many farmers in West Africa.
He said the challenges posed by climate change reflect a broader trend within the industry to address sustainability issues in their supply chains.
Amid the challenges posed by climate change on cocoa production, Nestlé has responded with proactive measures to address the growing concerns. These initiatives aim to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change while ensuring the sustainability of cocoa production and the livelihoods of farmers in West Africa, Mota said.
He added that continued collaboration between chocolate-producing companies, cocoa farmers, governments and other stakeholders will be essential to develop and implement effective strategies to adapt to the changing climate and ensure the sustainability of cocoa production in the future.
Mota emphasised the importance of investing in sustainable agricultural processes and practices that could modernise agricultural infrastructure and promote public-private partnerships. This will ensure that food security and sustainable growth remain the main priorities, he said.
Mota said Nestlé was taking steps towards cleaner energy in its production and was updating the company’s plastic range to be environmentally friendly in its quest to reach net-zero by 2050.
Submit and get free exposure here: Showcase Your Business | Advertise Your Special Offers.
