Author: Larson Thebe
There’s been a breakthrough in the Diepsloot mob killings that left seven people dead on 1 December. Two bodies were discovered in the street in extension 13, and police suspect they were torched to death. Five others were found in extension 12 a few hours later. Police in Gauteng say five suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the murders which occurred on Friday night and Saturday morning in two different sections of the township situated north of Johannesburg. Provincial police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said an eyewitness identified one suspect who in turn led investigators to four of…
The death toll following last month’s accident at the Impala Platinum mine in Rustenburg’s 11 shaft, has risen to 13. This after one of the mineworkers who was injured during the accident succumbed to his injuries. “It is with deep sorrow and regret, that an employee who was hospitalised following the accident on 27 November, succumbed to his injuries, and passed away on Sunday. Implats has offered its condolences to and remains in close contact with his family,” the company said in a statement. This brings to 13 the number of employees who have passed on following the 11 Shaft accident,” read…
Finally, an 11-year-old African record has been broken as Banyana Banyana star Janine Van Wyk is now Africa’s most-capped international footballer of all time. Van Wyk received her 185th cap for South Africa on Monday in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON qualifier against Burkina Faso. She is now the most capped footballer, male or female, on the continent. The former Egyptian international, Ahmed Hassan, held the record of the most capped player in Africa for over a decade. Van Wyk, who made her debut for Banyana 18 years ago, has confirmed her imminent retirement. Last month the defender…
Electoral reform campaigners have expressed mixed feelings to the Constitutional Court’s ruling on two major cases where changes to the Electoral Amendment Act were sought. In a ruling delivered by Justice Nonkosi Mhlantla, the Apex court rejected the Independent Candidates Association’s demand for independent candidates to be allowed to contest for up to 350 seats while only reserving 50 to be exclusively for political parties. Currently independents can only contest for 200 seats while the other half is exclusively for political parties. Based on this arrangement, independents can never be a majority in the parliament or any of the legislatures…
The Department of Basic Education said there were no major compromises to the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. This was revealed by Minister Angie Motshekga during a media briefing in Pretoria, where the ministry was providing an update on the progress of the NSC and other developments in the sector. Her comments come as there are only three days left to go to the conclusion of the 2023 NSC examinations. “No leakage of question papers, contrary to some fake news reports that circulated earlier alleging that there was a leak. “I can categorically say that we have had a…
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government will ensure that the Pretoria High Court judgment ordering the Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to exempt public institutions from load shedding is implemented. The case was brought by some political parties and civic organizations, arguing that load shedding is unconstitutional and unlawful, especially when it affects public institutions. Addressing the media on the sidelines of the United Nations COP28 summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Ramaphosa said the government has noted the judgment. “The judgment really speaks to what we want to see done. We want our schools and hospitals to have the…
1 December is World Aids Day. Now in its 35th year, the first World Aids Day was declared in 1988 to raise awareness about HIV/Aids and break the stigma attached to the disease. This year’s theme is ‘Let Communities Lead’. Speaking at the launch of the latest report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS), which is also titled Let Communities Lead, the organisation’s deputy chief, Angeli Achrekar, during the week described communities as the “trailblazers” in this fight. “We want to use this World Aids Day as a moment to both honour communities but also to ask…
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has confirmed that the government supports the South Africa’s Football Association, SAFA, decision to withdraw from bidding to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and instead focus on putting together a bid to host the 2031 tournament. Speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria, Kodwa re-iterated that it was not the government’s prerogative to finance sporting bids, but to provide guarantees as has been the case in the past. “The government of South Africa was clear in November 2022 when supporting SAFA’s Expression of Interest in hosting the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup…
The North West Finance MEC Motlalepula Rosho has tabled the Adjustment Budget for the 2023/24 financial year, with an adjustment of R1 859 510. The MEC said the current financial constraints compelled the government to reassess its spending priorities and eliminate inefficiencies. “In these challenging times, cost containment becomes a necessary intervention, not because it is our desire, but because it is the responsible path forward. “Resources need to be directed where they are needed most without compromising the well-being of our people and jeopardizing our ability to deliver on our commitments to the citizens of the North West,” said Rosho who…
The Mineral and Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has described the death of 11 mineworkers and injury of more than 70 at the Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd mine in Rustenburg, as a disaster. He said his department will fully investigate the fatal accident, which occurred on Monday afternoon when miners were being hoisted up to surface level when the conveyance they were in, suddenly started descending rapidly. “It’s quite a sad incident and it dented our efforts to move towards zero harm in the industry. In 2022 we reduced the number of fatalities to 49, that was the lowest number. We will…