Author: The Bulrushes

South African Airways (SAA) was back in the skies Thursday morning with flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Flights to and several regional destinations including Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka, and Maputo have also resumed. . SAA suspended its services earlier this year in March and went into business rescue. The struggling airline shed jobs and sought new business partners to try and revive its fortunes. Following months of preparation after exiting business rescue, SAA resumed domestic and continental services on Thursday. The leaner airline said the resumption of flights to Cape Town marked the return of SAA domestic flights. “Our…

The trial within the corruption trial against former president Jacob Zuma and Thales ended Wednesday with the defence insisting that the Pietermaritzburg High Court should find that Billy Downer has no title to prosecute in the main matter. Advocate Wim Trengove for the National Prosecuting Authority wrapped up his arguments supporting Downer’s case to prosecute Zuma. Advocate Dali Mpofu for Zuma took the opportunity to repel all the reasons advanced for allowing Downer to prosecute the 79-year-old former president. The former president, who did not attend the court case brought the special plea to court to have Downer removed from…

The Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on Wednesday ruled as unlawful that the Department of Tourism’s use of Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) as criteria to financially assist struggling businesses in the sector. Former Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane had insisted that support for distressed firms and establishments in the sector would be guided by empowerment (BBBEE) codes – a move Solidarity and AfriForum opposed in court. Judge Clive Plasket said the tourism minister committed an error of law and was not legally obliged, as she argued, to allocate funds based on BBBEE requirements. Judge Plasket overturned a previous ruling, delivered…

The charred body of a man who broke into an electricity transformer mini substation in Linden, Johannesburg, was found on Monday City Power said: “An unknown man was burnt to death early this morning in Linden after he vandalised the mini substation on 13th Street”. A bag and tools that included a spade and a hacksaw – were found near the body. City Power said an initial probe found that the man met his demise after he broke into the transformer substation to steal copper cables and other valuable components. “He tried to strip the live mini substation when it blew…

Caught out for misrepresenting its BBBEE status, Vicky Adey Consulting CC has agreed to immediately withdraw from each panel of contractors/service providers of any organ of state or public entity. These contractors/service providers included the Independent Development Trust, Coega Development Corporation and Department of Education Gauteng Province. In addition, Vicky Adey Consulting CC said it was voluntarily surrendering to the Construction Industry Development Board its CIDB grading for cancellation. Vicky Adey Consulting CC is a close corporation registered in South Africa. The  members are Olufunsho Adebayo Ademoye, a Nigerian born African male, and Phumudzo Nancy Muthelo, a South African born…

A Zimbabwe national and eight workers from Checkers have been arrested over multiple fraudulent medical certificates. Matters came to a head when as many as 19 Checkers’ employees based in Northmead Square in Benoni submitted 41 fraudulent medical certificates under the name of Dr. MLA Modisane. The workers used the fake medical certificates to cover up for absenteeism from work. Acting on this information, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Inspectorate Office in collaboration with the Ekurhuleni East Crime Intelligence and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Community Liaison Unit launched a probe into the matter. The investigation led to…

More than 90% of IT decision-makers in South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe have accelerated their cybersecurity due to the substantial emergence of digital ways of working. These are the findings of the latest 2021 research undertaken by leading pan-African technology group Liquid Intelligent Technologies. The study established some of the main concerns about cybersecurity threats and the most significant impacts of digital breaches on an organisational level. A critical insight from the research suggests that 79% of businesses from all three countries attribute an increase in cybersecurity threats to the advent of remote working. Data breaches like data extortion, data…

Arrested Zamaswazi Zinhle Majozi appeared in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court  on Monday facing charges of incitement of public violence related to last month’s deadly unrest. More than 300 people died in the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where shops were looted and vandalised. Haulage trucks were set alight and infrastructure was destroyed. At least 3 000 people were arrested for looting and public violence. A dozen others thought to be instigators were being sought by the police. Majozi is one of the people authorities suspect incited the week-long violence. The 36-year-old was arrested on Saturday, 28 August 2021 in Leondale. Majozi is alleged…

China responded strongly against the United States “slanderers” on Monday rejecting suggestions that the origins of COVID-19 have been traced back to Wuhan. Speaking from Pretoria, Chen Xiaodong, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, said the US was simply trying to “smear China” to cover up for its own poor response to the pandemic. He noted that on Friday, 27 August, the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence released “key takeaways of the Summary of Assessment on Covid-19 Origins”. US President Joe Biden also issued a statement on this matter. “The US spared no effort to hype up the…

Was it a record 10 or 11 babies? The number really doesn’t matter because it was a fake story that Nandos is not letting anyone forget. The new Nandos Prego and Chips ad takes the mickey out of the decuplets fable. Weeks after the incredible fable did the rounds, the mother of the imaginary babies was understandably sent to have her head read. When matters came to a head, the so-called hubby stopped taking donations – but that was after he scored one million rand from the owner of Pretoria News, Dr. Iqbal Survé. RELATED: Family Admits 10 Babies Story Was A Lie,…

Two men have been caught with steel-cutting equipment inside an electricity substation in Roodepoort. City Power said the arrests on Tuesday night came after security was beefed up to include heightened patrols of all its electrical installations across Johannesburg The collaborations forged with the community structures including the policing forums, neighbourhood watch groups, and ratepayers associations are helping to curb cable theft, said City Power. “The two were arrested last night after they cut the locks to gain access into the substation chamber in Florida,” said City Power. The thieves cut and stole cables inside the substation leading to power…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) on Tuesday rejected suggestions that it was somehow to blame for ZAR X stock exchange’s conduct that led to its licence being suspended. The PIC said it noted the decision of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) to suspend the licence of ZAR X stock exchange. The PIC – on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund – is a 24,14% shareholder in ZAR X. RELATED: South Africa’s Financial Watchdog Suspends ZAR X Exchange Licence “We have also noted the public statement by ZAR X that it has concluded a significant equity transaction with a…

African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League President Bathabile Dlamini has tested positive for COVID-19 and she has been hospitalised. The 58-year-old former social development minister’s poor health coincides with reports that the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to criminally prosecute her for perjury. Allegations are that Dlamini lied under oath during her testimony at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture. The ANC on Tuesday night confirmed that Dlamini had tested positive for Covid-19 and was being treated in hospital.. “We wish Comrade Bathabile a speedy recovery,” said the ANC. Calling for compassion the ANC said: “We ask…

South Africa has placed its police and security forces on “high alert” following disturbing messages on social media calling for a shutdown of the country on Monday. “Law enforcement agencies are on high alert,” the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) said on Sunday. The anonymous messages doing the rounds on social media are calling for a national shutdown. However, NatJOINTS said measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and security of South Africans “amidst threats of a national shutdown” on Monday, 23 August 2021. The NatJOINTS said it was aware of inflammatory messages on various…

Philanthropist, actress, and wife of billionaire Douw Steyn, Carolyn Steyn, has revealed that her husband’s dream of a helistop has come to reality. Carolyn tweeted: “Opening of the stunning new Steyn City Ultimate Helistop! My husband’s dream realised and I am so, so proud of him!” She also posted stunning pictures of the designated land area for the pickup of passengers. Carolyn has opened up their grand Palazzo Steyn home to the public through a Top Billing tour. The sprawling Johannesburg mansion is located within “Steyn City” city, which now has an impressive helistop. Opening of the stunning new Steyn…

A City of Johannesburg health worker stationed at the Parkhurst Clinic was arrested on Saturday night for selling fake COVID-19 negative test certificates to travellers for R500. Authorities said the 28-year-old man will appear in the Booysens Magistrates Court on Monday, where he will face fraud charges. The arrested man had been under surveillance for more than a week before authorities pounced. New Johannesburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo led the sting operation, which involved the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service department and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). “It is alleged that the suspect sells the fake Covid-19 negative test…

South Africa remains a very dangerous place to live with rapes, murders, carjackings, and cash in transit heists on the increase. In just three months, more than 10 000 rapes and over 5 700 murders were committed in the country. Releasing crime statistics on Friday for the 1st quarter of this financial year, Police Minister Bheki Cele said the period coincided with level five lockdown that kept almost everyone indoors and most businesses closed. “In the first quarter, the subcategories of crimes such as contact crimes, sexual offences, aggravated robberies, contact-related and property-related crimes have recorded a never seen before…

South Africa has reached the milestone of vaccinating more than 10 million people, Health Minister Joe Phaala said on Friday. His announcement coincided with the opening of registration for vaccinations for 18-year-olds and above – all adults. The minister said the date to register all adults has been brought forward by 11 days, owing to vaccine hesitation among older age groups. South Africa aims to vaccinate 40 million adults. Meanwhile, the latest daily figures of new Covid-19 cases led by the Delta variant have increased. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Thursday said 68 540 tests were conducted…

Rapper ProVerb got his jab on Thursday morning and he is proudly telling everyone how easy it was. The popular 40-year-old rapper whose mom is a doctor said: “I have just got my vaccination at the Houghton drive-through”. He earned the distinction of being the 15 000th person to get a jab at the centre run by the Muslim Association of South Africa. “Today we reached the 15 000 mark and couldn’t be more proud. Our 15 000th vaccine went to none other than SA star @ProVerb,” confirmed the association, which is providing free Covid-19 jabs to anyone who walks…

The former defence minister and senior African National Congress (ANC) member, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, was on Thursday elected as Speaker of Parliament. Amid murmurs of disapproval, Mapisa-Nqakula took her seat in Parliament and had to repeatedly say “order honourable members” before she could get her acceptance speech going. Detractors had pointed to allegations of wrongdoing as reasons for not voting for Mapisa-Nqakula as Speaker. News24 is reporting that Mapisa-Nqakula was under investigation for allegedly receiving a R5 million bribe from a defence contractor, blowing R7 million on aircraft charters and living it up at luxury hotels. Unfazed by the criticism, Mapisa-Nqakula braved…

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Science Centre has appointed Dr. Kim Bishop to the board of directors. The appointment of the well-known medical doctor and general practitioner coincides with Women’s Month. Announcing the appointment on Tuesday, board chair of the KZN Science Centre, Sunil Geness said: “We are jubilant to have a person of Dr. Bishop’s diverse skills, capability, passion, and experience”. Dr. Kim Bishop Geness added: “As such we are also doubly delighted that the occasion coincides with women’s month in South Africa”. Dr. Bishop’s appointment aptly comes close to the national science week – the annual celebration of science, engineering, and…

The missing cat is back and will make a public appearance Midweek. The Presidency said Deputy President David Mabuza will on Wednesday, 11 August 2021, address the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC). The HRDC summit is taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. Mabuza is the chair of the HRDC, a national, multi-stakeholder advisory body established with the objective of improving the foundation of human resources in South Africa. This objective is to be achieved by encouraging social partners to respond adequately to skills development needs that align with economic and social demands. Under the theme “skills required…

The Office of the Chief Justice has taken a hard line against hospitalised Jacob Zuma with the Monday announcement that the former president will appear before the high court in Pietermaritzburg. The 79-year-old former president is serving a 15-month prison term for contempt of court at the Estcourt Correctional Centre. Zuma was, however, taken to a hospital on Friday last week after a routine check up. He remains hospitalised with an undisclosed condition. Last week an agreement had been reached with the court for Zuma to attend his graft matter in person on Tuesday – after he objected to a…

Dr. Zwelini Mkhize has resigned as health minister, but he is not admitting to any wrongdoing and is taking the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report on review. When Dr.Mkhize threw in the towel on Thursday – ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle – he said he was going to court to challenge allegations that he unlawfully benefited from a dodgy Digital Vibes tender. Dr. Mkhize was replaced by Joe Phaalha as heath Health Minister. The former health minister told the president that he was only resigning because he was unable to perform his duties since he was placed on special leave…

Jailed former president Jacob Zuma has been taken to a hospital, the Correctional Services Department said on Friday. The 79-year-old former president, who is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court, has been admitted at a hospital outside the prison. Zuma is serving his sentence at the Estcourt Correction Centre, where he has been locked up for almost a month. Correctional services said, “a routine observation” promoted that Zuma is taken to a hospital. No details of Zuma’s ailment or condition were revealed. Zuma was scheduled to appear before the high court in Pietermaritzburg next week for a plea…