News24 The Lead

Clocking in from jail? Overtime abuse with Mangaung on the brink

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It has been under national administration. And yet the financial books for the metro council in charge of Bloemfontein, Mangaung, remain firmly in the red. In short, the City’s liabilities exceed its assets. News24 investigative journalist Sipho Masondo reports to The Lead that the troubled council has allowed a culture of staff excessively billing for overtime. Even if said staffer is in prison! Meanwhile, there’s been headline after headline about the severe lack of basic services, such as waste removal. Later in the show, cellphone records show that former police minister Bheki Cele frantically tried to get hold of Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala one night. Finally, the all-star Boks team to take on our rivals, the All Blacks, next month has been announced. Hear who made the cut! You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Graeme's intro
  • 01:27 Crossing to Sipho Masondo
  • 21:12 Trending topic: Cele's calls to Matlala
  • 22:28 AD: Listen Up! With Tim Cohen & Mark Barnes
  • 23:22 And finally: Boks name All Blacks squad
  • 24:33 On This Day in SA History
25 Aug 2025 English South Africa News · Society & Culture

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