The media upheaval emerged in the aftermath of Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative, sounding the alarm on the looming food crisis, especially in vulnerable regions like Africa. But, was Africa merely a public relations (PR) pawn in the West’s strategy to corner Russia and sustain the initiative? Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Initiative, intended to facilitate grain and fertilizer exports to impoverished nations, sparked widespread criticism. The programme’s execution and impact were flawed, with Africa – a…

One of Russia’s largest phosphate-based fertilizers producers, PhosaAgro, has launched a digital education platform for African farmers amid calls by African heads of state for President Putin’s government to transfer agricultural technology.  Mikhail Sterkin, PhosAgro’s Deputy CEO for Sales, Marketing and Logistics, made the announcement at the on-going second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St Petersburg, Russia, on Friday.   Called Pro Agro Lectorium, the platform is expected to provide online lectures on a variety of topics. This…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has unveiled his blueprint for Africa, vowing to help build infrastructure and energy projects, ensure food security and develop new trade routes to boost trade between his country and the continent.  Addressing delegates to the second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg on Thursday, Putin said Russia would provide six African countries with free grain within the next four months after the collapse of the Ukraine grain deal.   Putin used his speech to once again lay into…

AFRICAN leaders have been urged to speak with one voice, pursue collective rather than individual interests, and work on obtaining concrete results during the Russia-Africa summit that begins in St Petersburg today.  The second summit, which brings together heads of state and business leaders from Russia and Africa, follows the maiden gathering which took place in the port city of Sochi in October 2019. It is expected to be officially opened by Russian President Vladimir Putin.  About 150 journalists, including…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has weighed in on the Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services’ controversial R134 million Khunotswana contract. It has requested all documents related to the tender as part of a planned investigation into fraud and corruption in the North West.  In a letter sent to Vuisile Joba Dliso, the chairperson of the North West Legislature’s Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC), the SIU in the province requested copies of all records submitted to the committee by the North West…

The North West Department of Public Works and Roads was advised to terminate a R47 million awarded to a contractor who had missed schedules before it ballooned to R79 million.  This was after the contractor, Khosi Vuyo Logistics, submitted a “faulty” construction programme to the consulting engineers in February this year relating to the refurbishment of the Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng.  According to a letter seen by African Times, The Bigen Group, a consulting engineering company which managed the…

A public hearing has revealed shocking developments within the Limpopo Department of Education, where supply chain officials and companies contracted to advertise tenders have been doing as they please without any consequences meted against them. The provincial Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) heard that some officials signed off tenders at their own discretion, disbursing monies that were not approved by the head of the department (HOD) and the chief financial officer (CFO). Scopa members also questioned how a scholar…

North West Public Works and Roads MEC Saliva Gaoage Molapisi ordered his department to terminate the controversial Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services contract after the Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC) demanded answers.  After initially ordering an internal probe into the R134 million Khunotswana tender, widely viewed as an attempt to cover up alleged tender fraud and corruption, Molapisi yesterday instructed the embattled head of department (HOD), Moss Kgantsi, to cancel the tender.  The contract was awarded to Oberon Matsuvuki’s Ndhuna Civils…

The contractor who abandoned projects in North West after pocketing R25 million pleaded poverty while driving to meetings and construction sites in new luxury cars, sources said. According to government officials, civil engineers and business associates, businessman Oberon Sungulani Matsuvuki rocked up for meetings with officials and civil engineers in expensive cars but continued to claim he had no money to complete projects.  This included a dark blue Lamborghini. African Times has been reliably informed that Matsuvuki’s company, Ndhuna Civil…

The North West Department of Public Works and Roads’ bid adjudication committee, chaired by Chief Financial Officer Peter Modika, tampered with procurement processes and changed the rules halfway through to benefit a preferred contractor that had no track record.   According to the complete tender record obtained by African Times, the committee changed functionality criteria to pave the way for MM Industries Pty (Ltd) to win a R44 million contract in January this year. The tender was for the patching…