Mafia takes aim at education department, and official implicated in State Capture enters plea deal

Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:

• Education official placed on leave after extortion reports: Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade has placed the Department’s Chief Financial Officer on special leave following alleged death threats by extortionists. According to the statement released by the Department, extortionists are demanding that the CFO resign from her position or face death. Gade says a case has been opened with law enforcement agencies for investigation and has called other employees to report any work-related extortionists. [SABC]

• Former HOD enters corruption plea deal: The former head of the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management was sentenced to two years in prison or a R200,000 fine for his role in a R400 million tender fraud involving SA Express. He pleaded guilty to violating the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). He was charged alongside several individuals and airport service companies, as detailed in the second Zondo commission report and will testify against his co-accused in February 2025. [Daily Maverick]

• More illegal miners emerge: Twenty illegal miners resurfaced at Margaret Shaft in Stilfontein, as the number of miners who have emerged from underground neared 1,300 since the operation to flush them out began on August 18. The miners had been stuck for weeks in a 2km-deep shaft when police pounced on them at exit points. As illegal miners continue to come up, it has emerged that 96 undocumented children were detained after they were found to be part of the group. [Times Live]

• Calls for SIU grant fraud probe: The DA has called for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into potential grant fraud at SASSA, following a report revealing vulnerabilities in the agency’s ICT systems. SASSA manages welfare grants for 18 million beneficiaries, plus 8 million receiving the R370 SRD grant. Last month, Stellenbosch University students exposed possible SRD fraud, highlighting unauthorised applications using individuals’ ID numbers. [Business Day]

• Markets: The rand was steady against the dollar on Wednesday as the greenback eased after the release of a key U.S. inflation report. On Thursday (28 November), the rand was trading at R18.22 to the dollar, R22.83 to the pound, and R19.08 to the euro. Oil is trading at $72.69 a barrel. [Reuters]