Author: Larson Thebe
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has recalled two batches of Benylin Paediatric Syrup, after high levels of diethylene glycol were detected in a batch of the Syrup. Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headaches, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death. The authority said the syrups are from the affected products come from batches 329303 and 329304. “The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) received a report from the Nigerian National Agency for…
The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has called for maximum restraint in the Middle East. This after Iran launched hundreds of more than 200 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday. Tehran said it was in retaliation to a strike earlier this month by Israel at its consulate in Damascus, Syria, that killed its officials and Syrian residents. Iran’s attack prompted the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday. “The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of adevastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to…
The African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa said he has no regrets in granting his predecessor Jacob Zuma remission of sentence. Zuma was granted “special remission” last year August, shortly after he reported to the Estcourt Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal, to complete his 15 months sentence, after he defied the Constitutional Court order to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. Ramaphosa’s comments come a the “special remission” has now emerged as a legal tussle between the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Zuma, as the IEC is arguing that Zuma isn’t eligible to contest a…
Sibanye-Stillwater has announced that talks for the retrenchment of more than 4000 employees and contractors at its South African gold operations. The company says reductions will be at all its operations and regionalhead office where employee numbers were surplus to current and future activities. “Sibanye-Stillwater advises stakeholders that it will enter into consultations in terms of Section 189A of the Labour Relations Act, 66 of 1995 (S189) with organised labour and other representatives of affected non-unionised employees, regarding the proposed restructuring at its SA gold operations and its Southern Africa region services functions.”Further to previous restructuring concluded during 2023 and…
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has lodged an urgent and direct appeal to the Constitutional Court to challenge the Electoral Court judgment that set aside its decision to bar former President Jacob Zuma from contesting this year’s elections. This after the IEC disqualified Zuma from the candidate list of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) for a parliamentary seat. MK reinstated Zuma as their presidential candidate following Tuesday’s judgement. The IEC said it wants clarity on the Electoral Court judgment. “The Commission believes there is substantial public interest in providing certainty on the proper interpretation of section 47(1)(e) and…
For the first time in sporting history, athletes who win a gold medal at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, will be awarded $50,000, about R940 866. This was announced by the World Athletics, becoming the first international federation to award money at an Olympic Games, for athletes who achieve the pinnacle of sporting success. The federation say a total prize pot of US$2.4 million has been ring fenced from the International Olympic Committee’s revenue share allocation, which is received by World Athletics every four years. The money will be used to reward athletes who win a gold medal in each…
The Electoral Court has set aside the decision by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to disqualify former President Jacob Zuma to contest this year’s elections. The IEC barred Zuma from the polls, as it argued that he is ineligible to run for a parliamentary seat due to his criminal record, after he was sentenced to a 15-month prison sentence imposed by the Constitutional Court in 2021. This after he defied the court’s order to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. “The application for leave to appeal is granted. The appeal succeeds. The decision of the Electoral…
Tensions are rising in the so-called ‘multi-party charter’ a pre-election pact aimed at unseating the ANC and preventing a possible EFF takeover. On Monday EFF announced that it was to challenge the Democratic Alliance in a bid to force the official opposition to bind itself that it will not work with the ANC under any circumstances. This comes after the DA through its Leader John Steenhuisen and Federal Chairperson Helen Zille hinted at working with the liberation movement claiming this would be done to avoid it collaborating with the red berets an arrangement that the official opposition describes as “doomsday”.…
The Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has attributed the almost two weeks of no loadshedding in the country to planned maintenance at Eskom. This as today marks the 12th consecutive day without load shedding. “The ramping up of planned maintenance is very important. If you look at the period December 2023, going into January of 2024, we took out 18% of the total generation capacity, about 9000 megawatts at a go, for planned maintenance. “We are beginning to see these machines coming back into service. They are coming back on load and adding to the capacity of the grid,…
South Africa has welcomed the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) adoption of a resolution calling for Israel to be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip and demanding a halt to all arms sales to the country. This is the first time that any top UN body has taken such a resolution since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated six-months ago. The Geneva-based HRC is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.…