Author: Gomolemo Mothomogolo
The Tshwane EFF has accused the DA-led coalition government of lacking the political will to resolve the impasse between the striking workers and the municipality. On Thursday, the red berets took to the streets demanding the reinstatement of over 100 workers, salary hikes to be implemented and security guards to be insourced amongst other things . Tshwane leader, Obakeng Ramabodu said the metro has money to pay workers however there is no political will to pay the salary increases. “The councillor of this council must vote that all the workers must be reinstated but also they must be paid their…
The South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) said although the majority of its multi-billion Rand tenders are being awarded to big construction companies it will continue to push for transformation in the sector. The SANRAL statement comes in the light of a court interdict from some of the big construction companies which have dragged the road agency to court in a bid to halt the awarding of new construction tenders under the Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP). However, Sanral CEO Reginald Demana warned that pending the outcome of the court battle, SANRAL might be forced to review its PPP but promised…
The Family of a seven-year-old who died in a blaze in Cemetery View Informal Settlement watched in horror as she screamed for help as the fire ripped through the plastic shack while her father tried in vain to beat the blazing fire to rescue his daughter. The child – Selena Leoma became one of the three victims of the tragic fire that has devastated the community, destroyed 300 shacks and left 2 000 people homeless. Selena’s father, Mafa Leoma said he was at the shops when the fire broke out and he ran back home and tried to assist his…
Some residents of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality are the hardest hit by the disruption of services delivery with dumping sites increasing rapidly following an impasse between workers and municipality over salary hikes. In July workers afflicted the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (Imatu) downed tools demanding a 5.4% salary hike despite the metro pleading poverty. Earlier this week, City of Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink assured residents that the municipality is busy with “catch up plans” to clean up as it battles with service delivery disruptions. “There are catch up plans in…
A 5-year-old girl and a man died on Saturday night after fire destroyed 300 shacks in Woodland Cemetery Informal settlement, Tshwane, the City of Tshwane Emergency Services confirmed in a statement. Tshwane Emergency Services Department acting spokesperson Peter Motolla said they received a call at about 20:19 on Saturday on a grass fire at Plastics View. “On our arrival we realized that it wasn’t at Plastics View but at Woodland Cemetery. We started extinguishing the fire and we counted 300 shacks that have been burned down and 2 000 people left homeless. “On our rescue we discovered two bodies of…
Culture expert, Musa Xulu from the Xubera Institute for Research and Development believes more still needs to be done to preserve South African cultures calling for heritage knowledge to be taught at schools as a subject. Xulu was speaking on the eve of Heritage Day celebrated throughout South Africa to recognise the diverse cultures and identities of communities. Xulu said cultural traditions need to be taught in schools to preserve the rich South African heritage to ensure learners are able to develop their identity through cultural education. “The only thing that can promote and preserve heritage is, if it is…
The case against the two men accused of selling space cookies to about 90 learners at Pulamadibogo Primary School has been postponed to 29 September for further investigations. Amukelani Nyalungu (19) and Ofentse Maluleka (21) are charged with eight counts of attempted murder and more charges are expected to be added once the investigation officer has finalised collecting over 20 statements from the victims. Earlier this week, 90 learners were taken to nearby health facilities after experiencing nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting after allegedly consuming space cookies. Community members demonstrated outside the Soshanguve Magistrate Court also calling for the men…
The parents at Pulamadibogo Primary School are up in arms and are demanding the banning of street vendors following an incident on Wednesday where 90 learners were rushed to hospital after they allegedly consumed muffins laced with weed bought from a street vendor. On Wednesday, the Gauteng Department of Education confirmed that about 90 learners were rushed to nearby health facilities after they had allegedly consumed muffins laced with weed. The parents said most of the pupils were discharged while four were still receiving treatment. However, on Thursday teaching and learning continued while parents monitored the school to ensure their…
The residents of Kameeldrift, Tshwane lost everything when strong winds ignited a fire from the dumping site destroying at least 90 shacks last night, leaving scores without shelter. The residents said the fire started from a nearby dumping site when the strong winds blew it towards the informational settlement on Wednesday night between 9:30 and 10 pm, witnesses have said. Florina Mojela said the fire spread rapidly due to the strong winds and she lost everything in the blaze and was still traumatised from the experience. “It was between 21:30 and 22:00, I had just finished bathing and there was…
The Economic Freedom Fighter Students Command (EFFSC) has not ruled out taking the legal route after recommendations that eight of its candidates should be disqualified for allegedly contravening elections rules. The EFFSC University of Pretoria’s marketing, media and communication officer Thokozane Zwane said the legal team of the EFFSC UP is constantly briefed on the situation at the university. “We are waiting for IMB and IEC to release final results of the elections and then we will take it from there,” Zwane said. Last week, when preliminary results were released, they showed that the EFFSC had secured a clean sweep…