Author: Gomolemo Mothomogolo
The Legal Service Ombud, Judge Siraj Desai says his office has a responsibility to investigate complaints about unscrupulous lawyers and to “protect public interest in relation to the rendering of legal services”. Desai said his office must ensure fair and effective investigation of complaints of alleged misconduct against legal practitioners. “Let’s emphasise one important factor right at the beginning, the office of the legal ombud is intended to be an independent office. Independent from government, independent from the Department of Justice. “We are currently reliant on the Department of Justice for our funding. But in the course of the next…
The family of slain Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa says it is disappointed that the trial has been postponed yet again and his sister Nomalanga Meyiwa said the family was not informed on time because if the court officials did, they wouldn’t have travelled to court on Monday. The trial was scheduled to sit at the North Gauteng High on Monday until Thursday this week however it was postponed to July 17 due the presiding judge, Tshifhiwa Maumela taking ill. Meyiwa’s sister Nomalanga Meyiwa said: “We are very disappointed because we were hoping we will go into the courtroom and…
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has come up with contingency plans to try and minimise disruptions to the exams scheduled for Monday amid ongoing labour protests. Workers affiliated to Nehawu and the Academic and Professional Staff Association (APSA) downed tools this week demanding a 7% salary increase across the board. Wage negotiations between labour unions and management deadlocked when the employer put a 5% offer on the table. SMU Spokesperson Dr Lusani Netchitomboni said the university, as we speak, is putting in place measures to make sure that exams are not interfered with. “What is also helpful for us…
Major General Shadrack Sibiya has been appointed Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection, the Deputy National Commissioner Fannie Masemola announced on Friday. Sibiya’s appointment comes into effect from July 1 and he also got promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. “Major General Sibiya brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position having started his career as a student constable in 1989 at the Hammanskraal SAPS Academy. He started off his career at the Knysna SAPS in the detective environment and worked his way up the ranks. He has also served in various organisations and we are confident…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has apologised to the residents of Hammanskraal while admitting the government has failed to provide them with clean running water. Ramaphosa visited Temba Stadium on Thursday after the cholera outbreak in the area which claimed the lives of people and conducted an oversight visit at the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant said to be at the centre of water crisis in Hammanskraal. The death rate from cholera in the country now stands at 31, with Gauteng as the epicenter accounting for 29 deaths while the Free State and Mpumalanga recorded one death each. Ramaphosa conceded that the residents…
Eric Marakalala, arrested for pouring petrol and setting alight his girlfriend Lindiwe Zitha – sister to former Banyana Banyana player Kabo Zitha – has died in a police holding cell in Mamelodi on Tuesday. The incident happened in Mamelodi on May 31 and the 55-year-old Marakalala was arrested and charged with attempted murder at the Mamelodi Magistrate Court on June 1 and remanded in custody. On Wednesday, police confirmed Marakalala died in police custody and they have launched an investigation. “The suspect that was arrested for attempted murder after he allegedly burned his girlfriend died in police cells on the…
Commuters are urged to use alternative transport after Tshwane Bus Service (TBS) suspended operations due to an illegal strike. “Tshwane Bus Service (TBS) Management would like to inform its loyal commuters that operations have been suspended this afternoon due to an illegal strike by South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) affiliated members,” said Lindela Mashigo in a statement. Mashigo said workers are demanding a salary increase and they have started engagement with workers to ensure that they return to work. “The members are alleged to be aggrieved about overtime payments and salary increases. The City’s management will institute labour processes…
Police Minister Bheki Cele says police have approach 10 people ‘of interest’ as investigations continue into the murder and rape of the Grade 12 learner Palesa Malatji from Ntsako Secondary School in Soshanguve, Tshwane. Malatji allegedly left school in the afternoon after attending extra classes but never arrived home. The Department of Education said her body was found next to Echibini Secondary School in Soshanguve on May 26. On Saturday, Cele attended the funeral services of the17-year-old Malatji in Soshanguve together with some politicians including the EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. Cele said much as he was hoping to give the community…
Hammanskraal families hit by the cholera outbreak have pleaded for assistance and for the government to resolve the water crisis saying “water is life”. While the source of the cholera outbreak is yet to be determined, the deadly disease has claimed 23 lives in Hammanskraal. Refilwe Lebogo lost her husband Sello Mmakou to cholera while her two children aged 12 and 6 survived. “The government knew for the longest time that there were water issues in Hammanskraal. I am calling on them to fix the water issue in the area. Water is life. We need water to survive and now…
The City of Tshwane and the Department of Water and Sanitation have come up with a plan to fix the Rooiwal Waste Treatment plant which is at the centre of the Hammanskraal water crisis. In 2021, the South African Human Rights Commission ordered among others that the two spheres of government come up with an implementation plan to fix the Rooiwal Waste Treatment Plant (RWTP) in a published study – Report of the Gauteng Provincial Inquiry into the Sewage Pollution of the City of Tshwane’s Rivers and the Roodeplaat Dam The two spheres of government released their implementation plan on…