Let’s wrap up some of the top stories happening in South Africa this week.
SAPS IN KZN SAYS FALSE INFORMATION REGARDING THE ARREST OF THE KILLERS OF AKA AND TIBZ COULD JEOPARDIZE INVESTIGATIONS.
The police have urged the public not to spread unconfirmed details regarding the progress of the investigation into the murders of Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane.
This came after social media went abuzz regarding the arrest of four men, with claims that they were the killers of the two friends.
The three men were released after they were taken into custody along with two others in Belhar, Cape Town, on Sunday.
However, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, in a statement, said the reports of the arrests were “unconfirmed” and “misleading”.
“Police are appealing for space and time to investigate the matter without undue pressure and unwarranted scrutiny from armchair investigators, analysts, and faceless so-called sources who are claiming to be closer to the investigations,” added Netshiunda.
AKA’s family also released a statement asking the Megacy not to spread false and unconfirmed information.
THE SEARCH FOR RAPIST THABO BESTER CONTINUES
Following an investigation that revealed Facebook rapist Thabo Bester was still alive, a manhunt has been launched by the police.
Bester pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and one of murder in separate trials in 2011 and 2012 and was sentenced to an effective life term.
In May last year, the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein announced that Bester had committed suicide by setting himself alight in his cell.
However, GroundUp published a series of stories that revealed that Bester did not die in his cell; in fact, he escaped.
Bester is allegedly on the run with his partner, the self-described medical doctor Nandipha Magudumana.
OSCAR PISTORIUS SET TO HEAR HIS PAROLE FATE ON FRIDAY
After spending 10 years in prison, murderer Oscar Pistorius will find out on Friday if he will be let out on early parole.
Pistorius was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in 2014 after he was found guilty of killing his then-girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.
Steenkamp was shot and killed on Valentine’s Day, 10 years ago, when the paralympic champion fired four times through the bathroom door of his Pretoria house.
The 36-year-old told the court that he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar when he opened fire. The country waits with bated breath to hear Pistorius’ fate.
BAD NEWS FOR JOBURG RESIDENTS – MUNICIPAL SERVICES ARE SET TO INCREASE IN JULY
Joburg residents will dig deeper into their pockets as of 01 July 2023.
This is after MMC for Finance, Julie Suddaby announced that there will be an increase for municipal services.
Suddaby says Rand Water, Joburg Water, and City Power will discuss their increases and announce them in due course.
She says the increases are because the municipality has to be able to cover funds for tools and materials to fix infrastructure in the City of Johannesburg.
THE CITY OF TSHWANE FINALLY APPOINTS A NEW MAYOR
The Democratic Alliance’s Cilliers Brink has been appointed as the new mayor of the City of Tshwane.
This comes after the position was left vacant by the disgraced former mayor, Dr. Murunwa Makwarela, who had no choice but to resign.
Makwarela’s resignation came after it was found that he forged his insolvency certificate, which meant he did not qualify to be mayor.
Brink was up against newly sworn-in COPE Councillor Ofentse Moalusi, and he won by seven votes.
We are yet to see if there will be some form of stability in the city of Tshwane after some back and forth regarding leadership positions.
ALLEGED PARLIAMENT ARSONIST, ZANDILE CHRISTMAS MAFE TAKEN IN FOR PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION
For the next 30 days, alleged parliament arsonist Zandile Mafe will undergo psychiatric assessment.
The Western Cape High Court says this is in order to determine if Mafe is fit to stand trial.
Mafe was arrested for allegedly starting the fire that gutted important parts of Parliament on 02 January 2022.
He was charged with housebreaking with intent to commit arson, as well as arson, infringing the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Other Related Activities Act; alternatively, discharging or detonating an explosive or lethal device, and theft.
This decision comes after several court postponements when Mafe refused to get in the dock.
FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT SEES AN INCREASE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER 2022
Some good news in terms of employment in the country
Statistics South Africa has revealed that 48 000 more jobs were created in the fourth quarter of 2022.
However, both types of employment came in at negative 0.1 percent and negative 7.2 percent year on year, respectively.
Stats SA further revealed that despite the financial crisis, some companies still managed to pay bonuses to employees in December.
Some employees benefited from over ninety billion rand in bonuses paid out between September and December 2022.
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