insert_link South Africa ActionSA Slams Mapisa-Nqakula’s Bid for Defense Dept. Funding Amid Corruption Charges ActionSA says it strongly objects to former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's attempts to have the Department of Defence and Military Veterans bear the costs of her upcoming corruption trial. She faces 12 charges of corruption and money laundering related to tenders at the Defence Department. ActionSA’s, Mohammed Rafeek Shah, says Mapisa-Nqakula’s claim that since the alleged crime was committed during her tenure as the minister of Defence, in some […] todayApril 23, 2024 16
South Africa City of Cape Town says it is putting 35-million-rand behind Project 1000 leadership in the coming year, as it aims to keep growing policing resources The City of Cape Town says it is putting 35-million-rand behind Project 1000 leadership in the coming year, as it aims to keep growing policing resources to help fight crime. The project builds on the work of the LEAP programme in partnership with the Western Cape government. Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, says investments are showing promising results, particularly in helping police combat gang, gun, and drug crime: todayApril 23, 2024 19
insert_link South Africa Johannesburg CBD Power Outage Hits Major Hospitals A power outage in the Johannesburg CBD has disrupted operations at major hospitals including Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital as well as Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital among others. Residents in Berea, Hillbrow, Parktown, and nearby areas are also affected. City Power attributes the outage to a burnt feeder-board at the Ridge substation. Meanwhile, in the east of Tshwane, thousands of residents have been without power since a fire at Mooikloof […] todayApril 23, 2024 8
insert_link South Africa The Limpopo Health Department begins the death registration of 42 bus accident victims The Limpopo Health Department has announced plans to start the death registration of the identified remains of 42 people killed in an Easter weekend bus accident. This process precedes repatriation of the bodies to their families in Botswana. The crash near Mokopane claimed 45 lives, with only an eight-year-old girl surviving. MEC Phophi Ramathuba confirmed that new specimens are being collected for three samples: todayApril 23, 2024 18
insert_link South Africa South Africans tasted the fruits of freedom and then corruption snatched them away – podcast By Gemma Ware, The Conversation and Thabo Leshilo, The Conversation Five years after his momentous election as South African president, Nelson Mandela stepped down after one term in office in 1999. Thabo Mbeki, his deputy, took over the mantle of the post-apartheid transition. Mbeki would lead the country for the next nine years, a period of relatively high economic growth which enabled South Africans to begin to […] todayApril 22, 2024 35
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s security forces once brutally entrenched apartheid. It’s been a rocky road to reform By Sandy Africa, University of Pretoria One of the important tasks that faced South Africa’s democratic government after 1994 was to reform the apartheid-era security apparatus. The African National Congress (ANC), which was voted into power, had a laudable vision in the 1990s for reforming the police, military and intelligence services. Determined that South Africans would never again be subject to the brutality of the security forces, […] todayApril 22, 2024 21
insert_link South Africa City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate’s draft budget for the 2024/2025 financial year is out for public comment until the end of the month The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate's draft budget for the 2024/2025 financial year is out for public comment until the end of the month. The Directorate's draft capital budget is just under 363-million-rand. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the directorate has a good track record of expenditure, investment, and delivery, both in the enforcement and emergency services environments. todayApril 22, 2024 21
insert_link South Africa S.A Union federation Saftu says it continues to play a crucial role in championing the rights of workers S.A Union federation Saftu says it continues to play a crucial role in championing the rights of workers, fighting against injustices in the workplace, and advancing the socio-economic interests of workers. Yesterday, the federation celebrated seven years since it was launched in April 2017. Saftu’s spokesperson, Trevor Shaku, says the diametric contradictions in the tripartite alliance have and continue to compromise Cosatu’s ability and capacity to legitimately represent workers: todayApril 22, 2024 18
insert_link South Africa Eskom Continues Load-Shedding Suspension, Marks 26 Days Without Power Cuts Eskom has announced the continued suspension of load-shedding until further notice, citing sustained generation capacity and ample emergency reserves. This marks 26 consecutive days without load-shedding, surpassing the previous record of 20 days in June 2022. The power utility plans to restore an additional 2,660 megawatts by the evening. Eskom reaffirms its commitment to eventually eliminating rotational power outages. todayApril 22, 2024 3
