Author: The Bulrushes
The Pretoria High Court on Thursday ruled that the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO) was at odds with the Constitution. The Act sought to introduce a points demerit system for violations of traffic laws. OUTA – the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse – challenged the constitutional validity of AARTO and the Amendment Act. OUTA has repeatedly pointed out the problems with the AARTO Acts, which are also administratively complicated and rely on chaotic municipal systems. The Acts also usurp the exclusive executive competence of local government (under Part B of Schedule 5 of the Constitution) to enforce traffic…
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…