Author: The Bulrushes

The 49-year-old man accused of setting fire to the Parliament buildings has been sent to a psychiatric hospital for observation after his second appearance on Tuesday at Cape Town Magistrate’s Court. Zandile Christmas Mafe was represented by Advocate Dali Mpofu. The fire at Parliament took two days to bring under control and by the time it was doused the roof had carved in. Cracks had also appeared in some of the walls On Tuesday, the court heard that the defence had. Unlike his first appearance, this time Mafe was well-groomed – gone was the unkempt hair and shabby clothes. The…

A court on Monday rejected a decision by Australian border officials who ruled that Serb tennis ace Novac Djokovic did not meet the criteria for an exemption to entry requirements. Djokovic, who donated $25 000 to help Australia during the deadly bushfires in 2020, was given a Covid-19 vaccine medical exemption to enter Australia because he contracted the illness last month. However, overzealous border control officials took exception and erroneously cancelled Djokovic’s visa citing the lack of documented medical proof. But on Monday a court in Melbourne found that Djokovic had complied with all the rules and rejected a decision…

Tefo Mohapi, CEO of iAfrikan Media, has survived the worst of COVID-19 and lived to tell the tale. For three months Mohapi’s life hung on a thread. For all that time he was intubated as he lay in his hospital bed fighting to stay alive. The virus had attacked his lungs so badly he needed a ventilator to help his breathing. Several times Mohapi’s family was told by doctors that there was nothing more they could do. Recounting his battle to stay alive, Mohapi said he tested positive for Covid-19 last year on 19 July. “I tested positive for Covid…

South Africa has lifted the curfew in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations and much bigger crowds will be allowed to party. After a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the Presidency said: “Based on the trajectory of the pandemic, the levels of vaccination in the country and the available capacity within the health sector … the curfew will be lifted”. The Presidency added: “There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people. Gatherings are restricted to no more than 1 000 people indoors and no more than 2 000 people outdoors. “Where the venue is too small…

Fired South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) chief operating officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng, has denied receiving a “success fee” of R11 million and says he is appealing the court ruling ordering him to pay back the money. “I was not paid R11 million as the court found,” said Motsoeneng on Wednesday. “The Judgment ignored the facts presented in court including the records of the SABC – I was only paid around R6.7 million. Last week on Friday the high court in Johannesburg found that the SABC’s decision to pay Motsoeneng an R11.5-million “success fee” in 2016 for a broadcasting deal he concluded with MultiChoice should…

Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant recipients who have received an SMS from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) can now collect their R350 grants. A government notice says on Twitter that grant recipients can collect the money from Boxer or Pick n Pay. “Remember to take your ID and cellphone when collecting your grant,” says the notice. SRD is a temporary provision of assistance intended for persons in such a dire material need that they are unable to meet their families’ most basic needs. SASSA said it has made great strides in making payments for the special Covid-19 SRD Grant. “To date, the agency…

The Gauteng Division of the high court in Pretoria on Tuesday granted former president Jacob Zuma leave to appeal its earlier ruling that the 79-year-old’s medical parole was unlawful. Last week on Wednesday Judge Keoagile Elias Matojane revoked Zuma’s medical parole and ordered that he returns to prison to serve out his 15-month sentence for contempt of court. However, after hearing arguments on Tuesday from Advocate Dali Mpofu for Zuma, and others, the judge was persuaded that perhaps another court could arrive at a different conclusion on the legality of the former president’s medical parole. In agreeing to grant leave…

Taxi operators – including minibus-taxis, metered taxis, and e-hailing partners – are in line for a massive windfall of more than R1 billion after the industry and transport department finally agreed on the criteria to qualify for the COVID-19 relief. “I am pleased that we have since resolved these differences and have partnered with the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) to manage the disbursement of the funds on behalf of the Department,” said Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula in a communique on Monday. Last year in July, Parliament allocated R1,135 billion Taxi Relief Fund. The once-off payment to taxi operators was to…

Digital technologies company In2IT is playing a leading role in empowering female talent in ICT by providing equal opportunities for women in the sector. In2IT, which has seen the benefits of employing women and helping them progress in their careers, is urging other companies in the ICT sector to do the same. The company says empowering female talent in the ICTs has proven profitable as it has seen an increase in creativity and productivity. In2IT recently completed its first leg of the internship programme with more than 200 young graduates’ receiving globally recognised professional certifications, of which a significant number…

Hours after former president Jacob Zuma filed a notice to appeal the ruling revoking his medical parole and ordering him to go back to prison, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said it will also be appealing Judge Keoagile Elias Matojane’s ruling. The DCS doesn’t want Zuma back in prison. Earlier on Wednesday Judge Matojane ruled: “The decision of the first respondent [Mr. Arthur Fraser at the time] to place the third respondent on medical parole, taken on 5 September 2021, is reviewed, declared unlawful, and set aside. “The medical parole decision is substituted with a decision rejecting the third…

Former president Jacob Zuma whose medical parole was revoked on Wednesday by the high court in Pretoria has filed a notice of intent to appeal the ruling. Zuma’s notice of application for leave to appeal reads in part: “Please take notice that the former president JG Zuma (cited as the 4th responded under case No 2021/45997 in the above heading and the applicant herein) hereby applies for leave to appeal”. The 79-year-old former president moved swiftly to request leave to appeal against the whole judgment and order granted by Judge KE Matojane. When Zuma was released on medical parole he…

Former President Jacob Zuma’s medical parole has been revoked by the Gauteng High Court, which ruled on Wednesday that the 79-year-old must serve his 15-month sentence in prison for contempt of court. The matter to challenge the lawfulness of the medical parole was brought by the Helen Suzman Foundation and the Democratic Alliance. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said it, “notes the judgment delivered on 15 December 2021 by the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria, on the medical parole placement of the former president, Mr. Jacob Zuma. “DCS is currently studying the judgment and in due course,…

The UK has buckled under pressure and lifted the travel ban on 11 countries mostly in Southern Africa including South Africa. The UK imposed the Red List last month after scientists in South Africa detected a new Covid-19 variant now named “Omicron”. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has conceded that the Omicron variant has spread so widely in the UK and the rest of the world and the travel bans were serving no purpose. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has lambasted countries that had imposed travel bans for not using science to arrive at decisions and acting unfairly. Travel agencies in…

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 amid an exponential spike of the Omicron variant first detected by scientists in South Africa last month. “President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the viral infection today, Sunday, 12 December 2021,” said the Presidency late Sunday. “The President started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honour of former Deputy President FW de Klerk in Cape Town earlier today. “The President is in good spirits but is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service of the South African National…

The South African satellite known as SumbandilaSat (Pathfinder in Venda) is reaching the end of its life, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has announced. SATELLITE IMAGE: An image of Cape Town captured by SumbandilaSat SANSA said the satellite, which was launched in 2009 and took 1 128 high-resolution usable images will deorbit on Friday, 10 December 2021, The image data was applied in local research and on the Copernicus (previously GMES: Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) programme SANSA said the data also contributed towards disaster management like flood monitoring in Namibia and fire programme – later renamed…

A video of a man being shot in broad daylight while inside his car at an intersection in Sandton went viral before the police realised the victim was one of their own – Sergeant David Tsedu. This brazen shooting incident captured on video and posted on social media occurred on Thursday morning at about 11:00. Sergeant Tsedu, who was stationed at the City Deep Port of Entry, was driving along Katherine Street in Sandton when he was accosted by armed robbers and shot. The robbers shot and wounded Sergeant Tsedu before stealing his service pistol and other items. They fled…

Contestants Jacobus Rossouw, Evan Engelbrecht, and Frank Stevens have been named as the three top winners of the inaugural Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Virtual Trading Game competition. The top winners are from Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape respectively. The winners were announced during a virtual awards ceremony that was broadcast live on Facebook, on Wednesday, 8 December. They received a share of R60 000 in Satrix vouchers – R30 000 for first place, R20 000 for second, and R10 000 for third. “I would like to congratulate our top three winners. They did really well, and I wish them all the…

COVID-19 jabs could soon be a condition of entering public places as South Africa moves to ramp up vaccinations and tackle rising numbers of fresh cases seemingly fueled by the new Omicron variant. A decision on vaccination mandates is expected later this week when President Cyril Ramaphosa returns home from West Africa. He arrived on Sunday in Senegal on the last leg of his four-country West African. The visit to Senegal – at the invitation of  President Macky Sall – marks the end of Ramaphosa’s four-nation visit to West Africa which included Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana. On Monday Ramaphosa will participate…

Responding to calls to lift travel bans imposed on Southern African countries, France on Wednesday announced it was lifting the restrictions from Saturday. On Sunday the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa urged countries to follow the science rather than imposing flight bans in a bid to contain the new Omicron coronavirus variant. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was disappointed by the travel bans and called for their lifting. Shortly after South Africa discovered Omicron the UK and some EU members immediately imposed travel bans on the country and its neighbours. Hours after the travel…

Newtown’s First National Bank (FNB) Operations Manager, Zandile Sibiya, accused of stealing R4 million from her employer has appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. The 39-year-old Johannesburg woman was granted R10 000 bail on Tuesday. Allegations are that Operations Manager Sibiya fraudulently processed the forex payments with the International Banking Centre System transaction and transferred about R4 million into her bank account. FNB’s forensic analysis uncovered the anomaly and referred it to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation at the Johannesburg office for further investigation. Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said an extensive investigation was conducted which culminated in…

Struggling Eskom on Tuesday night said five generators had failed and load-shedding could be brought back at short notice. “While no load-shedding is currently being implemented, Eskom would like to request the public’s assistance in reducing the usage of electricity as the power system is constrained,” said the power utility. “Five generation units at various power stations have failed throughout the day.” A generation unit at Kusile and another at Majuba were taken offline to repair boiler tube leaks. Three other generation units at Kriel, Majuba, and Matimba tripped. Without offering an explanation, Eskom said the expected return to operation…

Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) marks its 12th hackathon by celebrating the culture of innovation that has seen young software developers find solutions for problems with security, mental health, water supplies, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant payments, healthcare, and education. The tech non-profit organisation has hosted 12 hybrid (physical and virtual) hackathons boasting high levels of engagement and collaboration. More than 1 000 hackathon participants harnessed their creativity and found innovative solutions for tackling today’s biggest community challenges. “Ever since we hosted the Hackathon last year we have come a long way and met a lot of incredible young talented developers with…

Alleged loan shark Yolanda Precious Mabuza – the owner of Humelela Cash Loans in Hazyview, Mpumalanga – has been released on bail. The 33-year-old Mabuza was arrested in Hazyview on Thursday by the Hawks and members of the National Credit Regulator from Gauteng. Mabuza, who is facing charges of Contravening the National Credit Act, appeared in the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The state alleges that her Humelela Cash Loans business is not registered with the National Credit Regulator – meaning it was operating unlawfully. “When the team executed the search warrant at her premises approximately 500 bank cards, SASSA grant cards,…

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on Thursday announced the final results of the local government elections that resulted in a record 66 hung councils, where no party had an outright majority. Announcing the results IEC Chair Glen Mashinini said the use of the new voter management system was a major milestone that eliminated any possibility of a person voting more than once. The African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday won 161 councils with majorities, the Democratic Alliance (DA) came a distant second having won 13 councils, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took third place winning 10 councils. While…

Thieves have taken advantage of load-shedding to steal cables leaving many businesses including the Joburg market unable to operate. “The lack of electricity has a disastrous impact on the quality and safety of agricultural products,” complained Christo van der Rheede, executive director at Agri SA. The cable thefts occurred on Tuesday. On Friday morning Van der Rheede said electricity had still not been restored. “This is unacceptable for a market that provides agricultural products to 15 million people daily,” said Van der Rheede. “Agri SA appeals to the Johannesburg City mayor and council to do everything in their power to…