A potentially severe El Niño event could further strain SADC countries still recovering from devastating floods, prompting calls for stronger early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster financing.

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A Tanzanian court has struck Pula Group’s $195 million damages claim against companies associated with Patrice Motsepe from the court roll – but stopped short of deciding whether confidential information was misused to support a competing graphite project, as Pula alleges. The High Court of Tanzania found that Pula failed to join to the proceedings two companies central to its case: Australian-listed Evolution Energy Minerals and its Tanzanian subsidiary Ngwena Tanzania, which operates the Chilalo graphite project in the Ruangwa district, not far from Pula’s own graphite project. Pula cited Patrice Motsepe and three of his companies as respondents: African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), African Rainbow Capital (ARC), and ARCH Sustainable Resource. The dispute dates back to 2019 when ARM signed a 24-month confidentiality agreement with US-based Pula Group while considering an investment in Pula’s Ruangwa graphite project in southern Tanzania. Pula says it provided ARM with confidential geological, commercial and strategic information. ARM undertook not to use that information for a competitive purpose or in any way detrimental to Pula. Pula later discovered that an associated company, ARCH Sustainable Resources Fund, had invested in Evolution Energy Minerals, the Australian company developing the nearby Chilalo graphite project through Ngwena Tanzania. ARCH was sufficiently close to Motsepe and ARM to have received confidential information in breach of the agreement and then act on it, according to Pula’s court filings. ARC denies receiving or using Pula’s information and says it was not a party to the confidentiality agreement. The two companies not present in the court – Evolution and Ngwena – will have to be joined to the proceedings for the case to continue. Ruling not entirely in Motsepe’s favour The Tanzanian court ruling didn’t go entirely in Motsepe’s favour, with the finding that Tanzania had jurisdiction in the matter – despite an earlier South African court ruling that the confidentiality agreement was concluded between ARM (not ARC) and Pula Group, and that its subsidiary company Pula Graphite has no contractual rights in terms of this agreement, nor can it suffer damages as a result of the alleged breach. The Tanzania court took a different view, ruling that the SA judgment was “inconclusive and immaterial” for purposes of the Tanzanian proceeding, but did not make a decision as to whether the confidentiality agreement had been breached. Ambassador Charles Stith, chairman of Pula Group, said: “This is an important judgment because the court has affirmed central elements of the case Pula has advanced from the outset. “It rejected the challenge to Tanzania’s jurisdiction, rejected the attempt to use the subsequent South African proceedings to terminate our case, and made important findings concerning Mr Motsepe’s controlling interest and capacity to influence ARC.” Pula says three key elements of its claim were established by the Tanzania court: the relationship and common control between ARM, ARC and ARCH; the investment links through the Evolution and Ngwena entities; and the operation of the competing Chilalo graphite project during the relevant period. The ruling delays its search for justice, says Pula, but does not derail it. Among its options are to appeal the ruling, apply for a review, or start fresh proceedings citing Evolution and Ngwena as respondents. The company says it is taking advice on the best way forward. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has ordered an urgent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving educators and pupils at Curtis Nkondo School of Specialisation in Emdeni, Soweto. The investigation follows a sexual harassment complaint involving an educator that was referred by the school principal to the Johannesburg Central District Dispute Management Office on Friday, 7 August. Grade 11 pupil makes complaint According to information formally submitted by the school, a Grade 11 pupil alleged that an educator made an inappropriate sexual remark to her during the second term. The pupil’s written account describes the interaction and states that she later felt offended and hurt after understanding the meaning of the alleged remark. A second pupil who said she was present during the interaction also submitted a statement that substantially supported the allegation. The educator has denied making inappropriate remarks and provided his own account of what happened during a subsequent engagement at the principal’s office. The department said it was also aware of broader concerns raised by pupil formations and members of the school community about other educators allegedly being involved in separate incidents. However, it stressed that the number of educators allegedly implicated had not been established. “The Department must establish precisely how many complaints have formally been lodged, which educators are implicated in each complaint, the nature of each allegation, when each incident was allegedly reported and what action was taken,” it said. Investigation to look back to 2022 The probe will also examine claims that complaints about inappropriate conduct may date back to 2022. The department said it would examine school and district records to determine whether complaints were made during that period, who received them, how they were handled, and whether officials fulfilled their responsibilities. Maile said the department would act against officials if evidence showed that a pupil safety complaint had been ignored, concealed, or discouraged from being reported. “We are dealing with extremely serious allegations. Schools must be places of safety, learning, and development,” Maile said. “No educator or official has the right to use a position of authority to sexually harass, exploit, intimidate, or violate a pupil.” He added that the department would “establish the facts and act decisively wherever wrongdoing is established”. The department will also determine whether precautionary measures are necessary against any implicated employees. It stressed that such measures would be intended to protect pupils and the investigation and would not constitute a finding of guilt. Pupils urged to report concerns The GDE said it was particularly concerned about pupils who may fear intimidation, retaliation or not being believed when reporting sexual harassment or other misconduct. It said pupils who come forward must be treated with dignity, sensitivity, and confidentiality and must not be victimised for reporting alleged wrongdoing. Departmental records also show that the school received psychosocial support in April after the death of a Grade 12 pupil. During that intervention, pupils raised concerns about feeling misunderstood or dismissed and expressed a need for educators to receive similar support. Maile said the department wanted to create an environment where pupils could report inappropriate conduct without fear. “The first responsibility of adults in our schools is to protect children,” he said. The department has called on parents, pupils, teachers, pupil formations and others with relevant information to formally report it so that allegations can be documented and investigated. It also urged the public and media to protect the identities of affected pupils and avoid publishing information that could identify them. “We will neither protect perpetrators nor prejudge allegations. Our responsibility is to protect pupils, establish the truth and ensure accountability,” Maile said.

Arlindo Fernando Timane, 44, received a six-year prison sentence for fraud after using someone else’s South African ID to secure a job at a quarry in Kareepoort, Brits. North West police spokesperson Colonel Anne Magakoe said Timane worked at the quarry for about six years and earned roughly R900 000 during that period. The rightful ID holder uncovered the fraud when he approached the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to file his tax returns. He discovered income linked to an employer he had never worked for and reported the matter to police in Brits. Fingerprints expose identity fraud Police launched an investigation and used fingerprint verification from the Department of Home Affairs to confirm that Timane was not the rightful holder of the identity document. The investigation also established his nationality, leading authorities to charge him with contravening Section 49 of the Immigration Act, Act 13 of 2002. Investigators from the Bojanala Sub-District 1 Commercial Crime Investigation Unit collected evidence from the quarry’s human resources and finance departments, SARS and the rightful ID holder, whom they traced to Mpumalanga. The evidence helped the National Prosecuting Authority build a strong case against Timane, which ultimately resulted in his conviction and sentence. Police warn against fraudulent employment North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Adams warned people against using fraudulent documents to secure employment or financial benefits. He said police would not tolerate such conduct and warned that offenders would face the full might of the law. Adams also praised the investigators and other role players for uncovering the fraud and securing the successful prosecution.

Lions spinner Bjorn Fortuin will captain the side as the Proteas take on Namibia and Zimbabwe in a T20 International (T20I) Tri-series from 28 August to 6 September at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The squad will remain in the capital city for a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against the hosts from 9-13 September, which will be the first-ever 50-over series between the two nations. Titans all-rounder Duan Jansen has earned his maiden national call-up after impressing domestically. His Titans teammate and all-rounder Eathan Bosch is the other uncapped T20I player in the squad, while batters Connor Esterhuizen (Lions) and Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors), along with Dolphins seamer Nqobani Mokoena have received their first ODI call-ups. The squad is bolstered by the inclusion of nationally-contracted players Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi and Kwena Maphaka. The Proteas will depart for Windhoek from OR Tambo International Airport on 25 August. Proteas Men’s Squad – Namibia White-ball Tour Bjorn Fortuin (captain, DP World Lions), Eathan Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Connor Esterhuizen (DP World Lions), Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors), Rubin Hermann (North West Dragons), Duan Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lutho Sipamla (DP World Lions), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), and Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins). South Africa A (SA ‘A’), meanwhile, will host Bangladesh A in a two-match four-day series from 23 August-2 September, before contesting a three-match one-day series from 6-12 September. Fixtures T20I Tri-Series Friday, 28 August at 14:00 Namibia vs South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek Saturday, 29 August at 14:00 South Africa vs Zimbabwe – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek Monday, 31 August at 14:00 Namibia v Zimbabwe – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek Tuesday, 01 September at 14:00 Zimbabwe vs South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek Thursday, 03 September at 14:00 Namibia vs Zimbabwe – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek Friday, 04 September at 14:00 Namibia vs South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek Sunday, 06 September at 14:00 Final TBC vs TBC – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek ODI Series 1st ODI – Wednesday, 09 September at 09:30 Namibia vs South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek 2nd ODI – Friday, 11 September at 09:30 Namibia vs South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek 3rd ODI – Sunday, 13 September at 09:30 Namibia vs South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek *Keep an eye on TheSouthAfrican for all your cricket news

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