Author: Silver Sibiya
Following his landslide victory on Sunday, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has vowed to use his second term at the helm of the party, fighting to ensure the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) never rises to power. A buoyant Steenhuisen addressed the conference shortly after the results were announced and named the EFF leader Julius Malema as the number one enemy of the DA. “EFF doomsday will make the collapse of Zimbabwe look like a dress rehearsal. That’s why the DA will make it our number one priority to stop the EFF-African National Congress (ANC) coalition from taking over,” he…
The City of Joburg loses up to R4 billion annually to cable theft and vandalism and there had been more than 2 000 incidents of thefts of critical power infrastructure in the last 12 months, according to Joburg’s City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava. Mashava was speaking during an oversight visit in Naturena, where together with the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Infrastructure Services Jack Sekwaila were overseeing the replacement of underground cables with an overhead line system which makes use of low value aluminium conductors. “R2.9-million has been lost in Eikenhof alone this financial year, which cannot be tolerated.…
Newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille said she has told the SA Tourism Board that the proposed English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur FC R1 billion deal must be canned because it is unlawful and irregular. De Lille said after her recent appointment she sought and obtained legal advice regarding the controversial Hotspurs deal that was initiated by the Tourism Board during the tenure of former Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. However, in a letter responding to De Lille’s concerns, Tourism Board Chairperson Thozamile Botha said no transaction took place and therefore, there is ‘no Tottenham transaction to be cancelled…
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander in Chief Julius Malema said in a media briefing today his party has managed to release 230 people who were arrested during their shutdown on Monday. The shutdown led by the Red Berets was meant to put pressure on the government to fix Eskom so it can provide sufficient electricity, ending load shedding and for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down. Malema said about 150 000 people were part of the march across the country in all towns. Malema said many of those who were arrested were released without going to court. “Of the…
EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu said the highly anticipated national shutdown has achieved its purpose of closing down businesses across the country. Police came out in numbers anticipating a showdown with the EFF members everywhere they marched but so far there were no major incidents involving protesters. In an unprecedented move, the police even allowed private security companies to join forces and be part of those said to be protecting members of the public and property. Police Minister Bheki Cele started the day by elling the men and women in blue uniform to arrest whoever breaks the law during the…
Today the election of the new City of Tshwane Mayor expected to take the centre stage at the special council sitting with Cope announced a new PR councillor to replace disgraced former Mayor Dr Murunwa Makwarela. Makwarela resigned last week Friday after Gauteng High Court in Pretoria said his insolvency rehabilitation certificate was fake. He also quit as a Cope PR Councillor. In a statement today the Gauteng Provincial Chairperson Thomas Mofokeng said another Congress of the People (Cope) member Justice Thabang was found to have two ID’s and a criminal record. “Gauteng Province undertook a process to evaluate all…
ANC SG Fikile Mbalula has accused the DA-led multi party coalition at the City of Tshwane, of collapsing the municipality. The City still doesn’t have a mayor and mayoral committee after last week’s resignation of the Executive Mayor Murunwa Makwarela after he was to be still insolvent and trying to prove he has been rehabilitated by producing a fraudulent certificate. Makwarela, a Cope candidate, was appointed to the mayorship after the resignation of the DA’s Randall Willliams in February. The DA multiparty coalition took over in 2016 after ANC lost the local government elections. A new mayor is expected to…
The interdict against the Nehawu labour strike has brought relief to many patients, some of whom were scared to go to hospital because of the intimidation by the striking workers. Health workers under Nehawu had embarked on a strike that turned violent as some doctors and health practitioners were intimidated as they tried to get into hospitals to treat patients. Some patients were turned back from the hospitals and it was reported some even died because they couldn’t get life-saving treatment. Health Minister Joe Phaahla was quoted as saying the protest action may have caused the deaths of four patients…
The Executive Tshwane Mayorship is vacant again following the North Gauteng High Court decision that current Mayor Murunwa Makwarela’s rehabilitation certificate is ‘fake’ forcing him to vacate his seat with immediate effect. The coalition parties in the Metro DA, ActionSA, FF+, IFP and the ACDP have opened a case at the Brooklyn police station against Makwarela. Cope in Tshwane in the City confirmed in a statement that Makwarela has resigned as the Mayor. “We duly accepted the resignation of Dr Murunwa Makwarela as the Executive Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality following the questions raised over the legitimacy of his Rehabilitation…
In another twist to the Tshwane Executive Mayoral saga, Dr Murunwa Makwarela has been reinstated as the Mayor with immediate effect after his lawyer said there was proof that he had been rehabilitated following his sequestration in 2016. The law doesn’t allow council members who are sequestrated to be in public office. Yesterday his lawyers sent a letter to the Metro’s City Manager Johann Mettler informing him that Makwarela would be reinstated and added that as the withdrawal of the vacancy declaration was submitted within 21 days, Makwarela is able to return to his role as Tshwane Mayor. Mettler then…