Let’s wrap up some of the top stories happening in South Africa this week.
President Cyril Ramaphosa to deliver his state of the nation address today
It’s all eyes on the President Cyril Ramaphosa tonight as he is set to deliver his State of the Nation Address, at the Cape Town City Hall.
This is the second consecutive year, where the address takes place outside the National Assembly after parts of it were gutted by a fire in 2022.
There have been threats from political parties and civil society organizations to disrupt the President’s speech, however chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Amos Masondo assured citizens that disruptions would be dealt with in a firm but fair way.
One of the major issues South Africans look forward to hearing about is how government plans to deal with the energy crisis affecting the country.
Eskom announced that there would be continuous load shedding for the next two years, does Mr President have a viable solution for this problem? We are yet to hear.
The address will be streamed and broadcast live on TV channels (SABC, eNCA) and radio stations, and also on YouTube (SABC, eNCA, News24).
The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) raises alarm on the safety of learners at schools
Just a month and a couple of weeks into the 2023 academic year, schools across the country have reported violent incidents on it’s premises.
Cases of stabbings, shootings, and different forms of bullying have been reported to various departments of education.
Last week, a Grade 10 learner from Geluksdal Secondary School in Gauteng was stabbed to death.
At Tlotlisong Secondary School in Ficksburg, Free State, a Grade 9 pupil allegedly poisoned himself and died following alleged humiliation by teachers in front of other learners.
Following the suicide, angry learners attacked teachers, damaged the school, police and teachers’ vehicles accusing them for being the cause of the learner’s death.
SADTU has called for psychosocial services at schools to create a safe space for learners.
The union says bullying is a major issue at schools and needs to be dealt with accordingly.
Palesa Matlamela’s killer, Roy Mphephu’s bail application postponed to 16 February 2023
After a back and forth regarding the docket of Roy Mphephu, the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has postponed the bail application to 16 February 2023.
Mphephu is accused of assaulting his girlfriend, Palesa Matlamela to death in September 2022.
According to reports, after assaulting Matlamela, Mphephu then took her to Edenvale Hospital where she was declared dead.
During proceedings, Mphephu’s docket of when he handed himself in at the police station could not be located.
After a break in court, Sergeant Lucky Mashaba told the court he had located the docket and read it out to the court, detailing how Mphephu handed himself in.
The Matlamela family will hear whether the man who murdered their daughter will receive bail or not at the bail application.
South African humanitarian organization – Gift of the Givers sends aid to Syria and Türkiye
Gift of the Givers has sent a team to assist in Syria and Türkiye after an earthquake hit earlier this week, affecting nearly 20 million people in both countries.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern European country and neighbouring Syria in the early hours of Monday.
Gift of the Givers says search and rescue operations have been affected by the freezing temperatures and rainfall.
The Humanitarian group has also opened its own hospital to assist the people of Syria and Türkiye.
The death toll continues to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Gauteng health confirms a third Cholera case this week
The Gauteng Health Department says a third case of Cholera has been reported in the province this week.
This case, is of the husband of the first confirmed patient in the province.
According to the department, he went to a health facility with symptoms and was immediately admitted on 4 February 2023 for tests to be conducted.
Earlier this week, two sisters were reported to have cholera after travelling from Malawi.
The department has further called for the public to practice proper hand-hygiene, wish includes the thorough washing of hands.
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