Author: Silver Sibiya
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan gets a mouthful from ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula for his slow pace in fixing underperforming State-Owned Enterprises including Eskom that has subjected South Africans to years of rolling electricity cuts. Mbalula was speaking during the ANC Women’s League conference currently underway in Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on a wide range of issues including ANC leadership and underperforming Ministers and those that he said were serving the people well.. “The Reserve Bank says the Repo Rate stays as it is and says fix load shedding, fix the logistics of the country. And then it says…
Some taxi drivers who work at the Bree Street Taxi are still terrified following the explosion on Wednesday late afternoon which destroyed Lillian Ngoyi Street previously known as Bree Street. The blast caused panic and mayhem claiming one life and injured 48 people who were admitted at various hospitals in the City. But only three people remain in hospital. The explosion also left destruction to 34 vehicles, mostly minibus taxis and damaged infrastructure and roads. Newsnote spoke to some taxi operators in the CBD and all were still shaken by the blast. Lungani Mahlabathini said he was even scared to…
There are still no answers from the Gauteng Government on what caused the gas explosion in the Joburg CBD on Wednesday evening which left one person dead, 48 injured and scores of homeless people without shelter. The experts who spent the night inspecting the damage to the surface, cars and buildings that initial reports said was caused by a gas explosion, have still not come out with any explanations on what caused the blasts. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed in a press briefing on Thursday morning that the government still has no idea what was the source of the ‘catastrophe…
Residents of Setjwetla in Alexandra are reeling from shock after waking up to find bodies of four men who were burnt beyond recognition. It is alleged the men were victims of mob justice and were killed by the same Setjwetla community. Community Police Forum member Emanuel Ramahlwe said the dead men were known to the residents and targeted because to various crimes that it is alleged they committed. Ramahlwe said they were found with weapons that it is believed they used to commit all kinds of crimes including house-breakings, rapes and robberies. “The community has been suspecting and keeping an…
Deputy President Paul Mashatile says President Cyril Ramaphosa will soon announce whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend next month’s Brics Summit in Joburg or not. Mashatile was speaking yesterday during a media briefing in Orlando West, Soweto, during the commemoration of the Nelson Mandela International Day. There has been strong public interest on what will happen if Putin comes to the country following an arrest warrant issued in March by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Russian President. The ICC is accusing Putin of war crimes in relation to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine since February 2022. Mashatile said…
The Gauteng Provincial Government says it is on track to establish a State Bank expected to assist businesses operated by previously disadvantaged groups. No timelines have been set and Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo said the province will immediately start consulting relevant stakeholders while briefing the media in Johannesburg on Thursday. While the national government has been talking about a State Bank for years now, Mamabolo said the province is well within its rights to start one independently. “It is envisaged that the state owned bank will address current market failures by, amongst other things, integrating small, micro, and mid-sized businesses (SMME’s)…
The West Rand Municipality calls on residents affected by the water shut down to store enough water although the work on the three-day work on the reservoir is almost completed. The communications officer for the water utility Godfrey Moutloali said residents must store water as a precautionary measure. “We have and are still encouraging our residents to store water for use during this time when Rand Water is working on the pumps. “We don’t expect a total shutdown of water but a reduced water pressure. This should just be a precautionary measure,” he said. Some business owners in the area…
The ANC Women’s League’s 13th elective conference has been postponed for another week because more preparatory work is still needed, said the league’s interim task team co-ordinator Maropene Ramokgopa while briefing the media on Tuesday. The conference themed “Advancing decisive action towards the full liberation and emancipation of women” is now expected to take place on July 21 to July 23 at Nasrec, Johannesburg. “Following the exhaustion of the issues raised, the meeting determined a need for more time to resolve the issues identified and which are critical to the convening of a successful Conference. “Accordingly, it has been resolved…
Families of the 16 patrons who were massacred at Mdlalose Tavern in Nomzamo Informal Settlement, Orlando East in July, last year say they have no hope in the country’s justice system. The families held a memorial ceremony on Sunday to mark a year since the incident. Several people were arrested and said to be linked with the shootings but the NPA recently withdrew charges against six men due to a lack of evidence linking them to the killings. The community, including relatives and friends from Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu Natal, local leaders and families were part of a ceremony. The majority of…
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has confirmed that a gas leak killed 17 people at Angelo Informal Settlement in Boksburg last night. The deaths have sent shockwaves across the country and internationally in what Lesufi described as the workings of illegal miners that have gone completely out of control. Lesufi was speaking to the media in Boksburg this morning and said the communities are under siege from illegal minors. “We are under siege. I’ve said it and I have presented this to those who are leading our law enforcement team. We are using law enforcement mechanisms in a new era that…