Author: Silver Sibiya

President Cyril Ramaphosa raised concerns about what he believes to be the exclusion of minorities in South Africa’s political landscape at the celebration of 40 years since the formation of the mass movement called the United Democratic Front (UDF). “As a government, we have expressed our determination to ‘leave no-one behind’, which is in keeping with the spirit of the great UDF. The reality is that despite our gains, millions of our citizens feel left behind. “Many Coloured and Indian compatriots who were the backbone of the UDF feel excluded from our nation’s political life, and point to their under-representation…

A large contingent consisting of a private security company Black Ant and law enforcement officers swooped into Jerusalema Informal Settlement near Florida in Johannesburg on Friday following a shootout alleged to be involving illegal miners which forced the residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge at Florida Police Station. The residents, mostly women and children, sought shelter amid allegations that shacks belonging to illegal miners who are accused of terrorising the community were destroyed during the night in which sounds of machine gun fire were heard. Police said about 30 people slept at the police station on Thursday night.…

Leaders from the DA, IFP, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, United Independent Movement, Spectrum National Party and Independent South African National Civic Organisation (Isanco) are currently participating in a national convention in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. The party’s leaders say the aim of the convention is to negotiate a pre-election agreement ahead of the 2024 General National Elections should ANC drop below 50%. IFP leader Velenkosi Hlabisa, during the media briefing held in Emperors Palace ahead of the talks said the voters should choose a better government to better their lives. “The IFP is here today because we believe that there is…

The City of Joburg is investigating claims that a member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of Economic Development Nomoya Mnisi tried to get officials to fund a recent ANC Youth League activity using municipal resources. Makhubele briefed the media yesterday and said the allegations made by the opposition were being probed after she received a letter of complaint from ActionSA on Thursday and she informed Mnisi about it. Mnisi allegedly ordered the former acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO) working at Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), Sipho Mzobe, to pay for an ANCYL event held in Sandton, for three days in July,…

Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said women are still being marginalised in the transport sector and there is gender inequality in the sector that still needs to be addressed. Chikunga said this while delivering a keynote address to a gathering of women in the transport sector in Johannesburg as part Women’s Month activities. “Gender disparities, limited access to resources, and societal biases can actually hinder the progress of women. It is our collective responsibility to create an enabling environment for them,” she said. Chikunga, however, acknowledged that there are some changes. “At least now in the aviation sector, we are…

The Department of Correctional Services’ decision not to send former President Jacob Zuma to prison and then release him on special remission has sparked debate with some analysts and opposition parties arguing if it was the right decision. Zuma is part of the 9 000 prisoners who benefitted from a remission of sentences announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to low-risk offenders to ease overcrowding in correctional facilities, worsened by this week’s fire at Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre near Louis Trichardt, Limpopo. However, Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Ramaphosa released Zuma because he feared that there was going to be…

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela does not rule out the possibility that some of the police officers are working with illegal miners popularly known as Zama-Zamas. Mawela together with the Tactical Response Team (TRT) Amabherethe, crime prevention wardens and other law enforcement officers spent Thursday raiding mine shafts and informal settlements rooting out illegal miners. Mawela led the crackdown in Jerusalema, Florida Mine Shaft and New Canada following complaints by residents that they were being terrorised by groups of illegal miners who operated in abandoned mine shafts in the west of Johannesburg. In most mine shafts the police were…

City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, has warned that law enforcement authorities won’t hesitate to use lethal weapons, when confronted by criminals. Tshwaku’s comments come after Sunday’s shootout between the police and illegal miners at Matholeville near Roodepoort when he paid a surprise visit, catching the criminals off guard who then fired shots at the MMC together with members of the JMPD who had accompanied him. The police returned fire and chased the suspects who ran up to the mountains in-full view of the community. Tshwaku said they went to the area…

Some residents of Riverlea and other surrounding areas have criticized yesterday’s illegal mining imbizo held by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele saying it was another talk shop and won’t bring any permanent changes in their area that has been invaded by illegal miners. Following recent deaths of five suspected illegal miners and the violent gun violence between the warring factions fighting turf wars, Rivelear residents took to the streets in protests against what they said were a lack of police action in dealing with the scourge. Cele was forced to come to the area where he promised to deploy…

The City of Johannesburg says it has made a breakthrough in its investigation over the causes of the Lillian Ngoyi explosion a few weeks ago which claimed the life of one person, had 48 others hospitalised and destroyed 34 vehicles and infrastructure. Lilian Ngoyi Street popularly known by its original name Bree Street is one of the busiest taxi ranks in the Joburg CBD and also houses thousands of minibus taxis which ferry commuters in and out of the city daily. Joburg City Manager Floyd Brink said on Wednesday the cause of the explosion was methane gas which is lighter…