Let’s wrap up some of the top stories happening in South Africa this week.
DRIVERS FOR UBER AND BOLT REPORTEDLY CAME UNDER GUNFIRE AND HAD THEIR VEHICLES SET ON FIRE IN SOWETO
Violence erupted between taxi drivers and ride-hailing service contractors, possibly affiliated with Uber, Bolt, or both, resulting in at least two injuries. The incidents took place at Maponya Mall in Soweto, where witnesses identified taxi drivers as the perpetrators. A video posted via Twitter captured an altercation in which a man struck another individual with a blunt weapon, followed by another man vandalizing a car by smashing its windows.
20 NEW CHOLERA CASES DETECTED IN HAMMANSKRAAL
The Gauteng health department says 20 new cholera cases have been detected in Hammanskraal this week.
The death toll remains at 25, with the cause of the contamination still unknown.
The City of Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brink, says they have also committed to assisting with the burials of those who lost their lives due to the cholera outbreak.
Meanwhile, calls have been made for the city to release the water test results in order to know the source of the contamination.
MPUMALANGA CONFIRMS IT’S FIRST CHOLERA DEATH
As the country grapples with a cholera outbreak that landed in Hammanskraal and Pretoria first, Mpumalanga has recorded its first death.
A 73-year-old woman from Om Phaphamang Section in Phake passed away from the diarrheal disease after she presented with symptoms,
10 512 PEOPLE RAPED DURING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY AND MARCH
Police Minister Bheki Cele says the country has had a total of 10,512 rape cases between January and March this year.
Compared to the same time last year, the number of rape cases has seen a decrease of 306.
Cele says that although they welcome this decrease, the number of rape cases in the country is still alarming.
In the 10512 cases, 4768 of them took place at the home of the perpetrator or victim.
CONDOLENCES CONTINUE TO POUR IN FOR AUTHOR AND BROADCASTER, EUSEBIUS MCKAISER
Condolences have been pouring in following the news of the death of renowned author and broadcaster Eusebius McKaiser.
The 45-year-old passed away on Tuesday after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure at home.
McKaiser contributed to the Mail & Guardian and Sunday Times and was on radio at stations such as Talk Radio 702 and Power FM.
HEALTH MINISTER TO TABLE THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS CONTROL BILL SEEKING TO BAN SMOKING INDOORS
Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla will be tabling the Tobacco Products Control Bill to Parliament, which seeks to ban smoking indoors.
This bill proposes a completely smoke-free indoor policy, a limited number of outdoor areas, and a ban on the sale of vending machines with stern warnings on cigarette packaging.
The department of health says this aims to reduce tobacco-related illness, disability, and deaths.
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA SAYS THE RISK OF A NATIONAL BLACKOUT REMAINS EXTREMELY LOW
President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africa that, currently, the possibility of a national blackout is low.
Ramaphosa was speaking during the Presidency’s budget vote in Parliament on Wednesday.
This comes as the country is in stage 6 load shedding, with winter days looking darker as Eskom battles to keep the lights on.
“The situation will improve as we return these units to service towards the end of this year. Until then, our best hope of limiting the severity of load shedding is to reduce demand on the grid,” said Ramaphosa.
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