Author: Silver Sibiya
After it embarked on protests bringing the Joburg CBD to a standstill over two days, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) had denied claims that its demonstrations are motivated by the ANC as part of acampaign to frustrate the DA-led multi-party coalition government in the municipality. While labelling claims that SAMWU was working with the ANC as “rubbish” the union’s Gauteng Provincial Treasurer Mpho Tladinyane said the union is demanding the implementation of a 2016 wage deal referred to as politically facilitated agreement (PFA), which was meant to regularise payments between staff. “Where we take our mandate and instructions…
The ANC in Ekurhuleni has accused the City of Ekurhuleni of human rights violation for its decision to cut water to households that are unable to pay their rates and services. The party laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in a bid to force the metro to reinstate supply to affected households on Thursday. ANC Deputy Regional Chairperson Jongizizwe Dlabathi said the DA-led coalition government’s credit control policy allowing for water cuts amounts to a human right violation. “They [municipality] cut water when the customer is unable to pay the account and we strongly feel as the caucus…
The new City of Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell says her government will “hit the ground running” following her reinstatement as the executive in charge once again. This follows her removal last month after a motion of no confidence against her was passed. Today (Tuesday) at the Germiston City Council she defeated the ANC’s Jongizizwe Dlabathi, who received 99 votes while she received 124 votes. Thanks to the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) who voted for her after the negotiations with the ANC were unsuccessful. EFF has 31 seats at the council of 224 members while the ANC occupies 86 and the…
Scores of people travelling to the United Kingdom (UK) have been left stranded at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. That’s because their home country the UK banned flights from South Africa with immediate effect from Friday. The British government took this decision after South Africa announced that it has detected a new COVID-19 variant currently known as B.1.1.529. Karah Browne, who holds dual SA and UK citizenship, said the travel ban is disappointing. “I’m upset. Luckily I have family here. If I was all alone, as a 20-year-old, what would I do with no cash on me? I can’t get in a…
Residents of Kokotela informal settlement in Lenasia south of Johannesburg say they will rebuild their shacks that were demolished by the Red Ants on Wednesday. The area was established in 2017 and some residents were evicted during the hard lockdown last year. One of the residents who requested to remain anonymous said it is unfair that they are being evicted and those who were at work will find their homes demolished. “I feel very bad because because we’ve been working very hard to build here for them to just come and take our shacks,” she said. “And what is more…
The reason behind a spike in new positive COVID-19 cases in Gauteng has been traced to City of Tshwane and young people are currently the most affected. This is according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service. The NICD’s Acting Executive Director, Professor Adrian Puren, said the institute observed an increase in the seven-day moving average for new COVID-19 cases and the percentage testing positive in Gauteng, particularly in Tshwane amongst 10 to 29-year-olds over the past week. “Additionally, the NICD has recently identified a cluster amongst the 20–44 age group…
Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema, says he is happy that the ANC has been pushed down by getting below 50% of the votes in local government elections. Malema said when the EFF was formed in 2013, the party leadership’s mandate was to bring down the ANC’s control of the government. The EFF’s CIC, addressed a media briefing at the IEC Results Operations Centre in Pretoria on Thursday, before final results were officially announced. It was, however, clear at the time that the ANC had lost significantly. In the final results the ANC achieved a majority in 161 municipalities, the…
ANC acting Secretary-General Jessie Duarte, has admitted that the governing party no longer enjoys the overwhelming support it used to get and now needs smaller parties to co-govern municipalities. This as lead-in results for this week’s local government elections show that there are more hung municipalities in 2021 than in the previous municipal polls in 2016. The ANC is the biggest loser judging by preliminary results out so far. “The preliminary results indicate that we will have more hung councils than in the previous local election. This will necessitate the need for coalitions or other forms of cooperation with other…
Some residents of Dlamini section in Soweto on Monday barricaded roads in a service delivery demonstration meant to prevent voting from taking place. Some even marched to ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, to voice heir concerns. Dlamini is among parts of the most populous parts of Soweto that have been without water and electricity for months. Soweto features a lot in the story of South Africa’s liberation, including hosting the 1955 People’s Assembly that adopted the Freedom Charter. Over the years parts of what is South Africa’s biggest township have experienced water and electricity cuts and residents say they have…