Author: Silver Sibiya

Scores of people including healthcare workers from the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg were killed and others badly injured, when the tanker carrying Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) got stuck under a bridge and exploded on Christmas Eve. Part of the hospital was damaged, some houses caught fire and rais infrastructure was also blown up in the explosion. According to the Gauteng Health Department the number of fatalities now stands at 37, with additional body parts found around the area of the incident. Of the 37 people that have died, 12 are healthcare workers (10 government employees and two agency staff),…

Following a Newsnote expose, various City of Joburg departments are investigating allegations that trucks transporting hazardous material are parked in the middle of a residential area, Glen Austin in Midrand posing a threat to the lives of the residents including primary school pupils. The Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) , Joburg Emergency Services (EMS) and the Joburg Fire Department have promised to look into the allegations first exposed in a social media post by Glen Austin Residents Association chairperson John Mpatshoe. Mpatshoe also raised concerns about the storage of hazardous petroleum products in a residential area which posed a danger…

Following a Twitter post by Glen Austin Residents Association chairperson John Mpatshoe in which he complained and made allegations of storage of hazardous petroleum products in a residential area, Newsnote decided to investigate. Mpatshoe’s post came shortly after the explosion of a gas truck in Boksburg that killed 34 people and injured scores on Christmas Eve. The Boksburg tragedy has put public safety concerns from gas and petroleum tanks in the spotlight. Glen Austin residents are assailed by an awful fuel smell that immediately grabs your attention when you drive in there. In fact the smell is unbearable. We found…

In a strange twist, the ANC could not conclude its 55th National Elective and Policy conference in Nasrec, South of Johannesburg and will continue with the meeting on January 5. President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a closing address shortly after the adjournment was announced on Tuesday. At the time of the adjournment, delegates were still casting their votes in the election for additional members of the NEC. However, more than half of the delegates were not present at the plenary when the President was delivering his closing speech. Even the parking lots in and outside Nasrec that were jammed with cars,…

There is a new sheriff in town in the form of newly-elected ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula who has made it known already that he will stamp his authority at Luthuli House. In his maiden press conference at ANC 55th Elective Conference on Tuesday night, Mbalula said members who do not follow the party will be dealt with. Without mentioning names he lashed out at the ANC MPs who voted with the opposition parties for the adoption of the Section 89 Panel Report on Phala Phala that has found President Cyril Ramaphosa has a case to answer regarding the burglary…

President Cyril Ramaphosa retained his position, Gwede Mantashe also cemented his place after being re-elected as Chairperson and Fikile Mbalula replaced suspended Ace Magashule as Secretary General. There was an improvement in gender representation for the first in the top positions with three women – Gwen Ramokgopa elected Treasurer-General, and Nomvula Mokonyane and Maropene Ramokgopa as first and second Deputy Secretary-Generals. Former ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile won with a landslide victory and beat Justice and Correctional Service Ronald Lamola for the party’s Deputy President position with 2 178 votes to 315 at the results announced on Monday in Nasrec. Eastern…

With thousands of people including politicians, business leaders, journalists and political analysts descending on Nasrec, for the ANC 55th national conference, informal traders have used this opportunity to cash in by selling their wares. A most curious sight at the media centre is that of two, sometimes three girls in school uniform serving customers at a coffee shop called Huis van Cofifi. One of the two young girls who are pupils at Emshukantambo High School in Pimville Soweto, is 18-year-old Samukeliso Simelane, who says serving coffee is part of a school project where they have partnered with Huis van Cofifi,…

ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairperson Sboniso Duma says having former President Jacob Zuma as a delegate at the ANC’s Policy and Elective Conference will not interfere with the organisation’s work and programme Duma was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 55th ANC Elective Conference in Nasrec, Joburg on Saturday. Duma said Zuma will not cause any problems and will be kept inline and added that his presence was critical. “He is (Zuma) the branch delegate, he has been elected by his branch. He qualifies to be here so he is going to follow the line, he is going to…

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday reminded party members they need to show that they are worthy to be representatives of ordinary South Africans. Ramaphosa said this while delivering his political report at the 55th ANC Elective Conference in Nasrec on Friday. Ramaphosa said this while responding to unruly delegates who kept hackling and insulting him and party chairperson Gwede Manthashe. The President was interrupted a number of times mostly by some KwaZulu-Natal delegates when addressing members to a point where Manthashe had to step in and call security. The delegates kept singing and chanting “Phala Phala ” and “change”, while…

ANC Gauteng Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has warned that if load shedding and other socio-economic challenges are not resolved, the party risks losing the 2024 elections. This emerged during the party Provincial General Council, PGC, meeting on Wednesday night in Turfontein, Johannesburg. Lesufi, without mentioning the name of the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, called for the political head of the department that oversees Eskom to resign. “We will mobilize the biggest march ever in this particular province to go to their offices (Eskom) to demand one thing and one thing only, that the political head of that particular Eskom…