Let’s wrap up some of the top stories happening in South Africa this week.
FIRSTRAND NAMES FIRST BLACK FEMALE CEO
Mary Vilakazi has become the first Black CEO of JSE-listed FirstRand Group. Vilakazi, who originates from Alexandra township in Johannesburg, will take the reins as CEO, succeeding Alan Pullinger, who has been with the company for 26 years and at its helm for the last five years.
She will be the group CEO effective from April next year.
SPRINGBOKS, PROTEAS FACE POTENTIAL FLAG AND ANTHEM “BAN” AT WORLD CUPS
South African national sports teams, including the Springboks and Proteas, face the risk of being unable to participate under their national flag or sing their anthem at international tournaments due to non-compliance with the latest World Anti-Doping Code (Wada). The country has reportedly missed the deadline to amend the outdated drug-free sport act as required by Wada.
This development comes at a crucial time as the Springboks are currently competing in the Rugby World Cup in France, and the Proteas are set to participate in the Cricket World Cup in India, both under the threat of not representing their nation with the flag and anthem. South Africa has a limited window of 10 days to fully comply with Wada’s requirements before October 13th, as the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture expedites efforts to adopt the Amendment Bill in response to this urgent situation.
R75 MILLION SPENT ON SECURITY FOR BRICS SUMMIT
Police Minister Bheki Cele has disclosed that an expenditure of R75 million went towards ensuring security during the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg in August. The revelation was made in response to a question posed by DA MP Delmaine Christians.
Minister Cele further provided insight into the extensive security measures implemented during the summit, revealing that 5,000 members of the South African Police Service were deployed, and 726 SAPS vehicles were utilized to safeguard the event. The allocation of significant resources highlights the importance of security for such international gatherings.
SABC SECURES CRICKET WORLD CUP 2023 BROADCAST RIGHTS FROM MULTICHOICE
The SABC has successfully secured the broadcasting rights for the Cricket World Cup 2023. After fruitful negotiations with rights holder Multichoice (SuperSport), both parties have inked an agreement that ensures the SABC fulfills its role as a public service broadcaster by delivering this global sports spectacle to the nation.
Cricket enthusiasts can rejoice as the SABC will air all South African matches, including the semi-finals, final, and the captivating closing ceremony. The tournament can be enjoyed for free on various SABC platforms, such as SABC 3 (DSTV 193, DTT, and Analogue), sabcsport.com, and SABC Plus.
TWO SOWETO BOYS TRAGICALLY DIE AFTER ALLEGEDLY CONSUMING POISONOUS BISCUITS
The Naledi township in Soweto is in mourning following the heartbreaking loss of two young boys, aged 4 and 6. Reports indicate that the boys had consumed biscuits from a local spaza shop.
Tragically, the two boys have lost their lives as a result, while two other children who also ingested the same items are under medical care in the hospital.
In response to the incident, community members have taken action by closing down spaza shops in the area. Their allegations suggest that shop owners of Pakistani nationality have been selling expired products, raising concerns about the safety of goods sold in these establishments.
SOUTH AFRICA LAUNCHES BORDER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY TO CURB CRIME
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has revealed that border guards successfully recovered over 140 stolen vehicles that were being smuggled into neighboring countries. These interceptions occurred during the guards’ deployment last year and highlight the need for enhanced border management.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) was recently launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The BMA aims to strengthen border control by implementing a coordinated approach across the country’s various entry points. Motsoaledi expressed satisfaction with the performance of the existing 200 border guards but announced plans to increase their number to 600 to further bolster border security.
HEATWAVE HITS GAUTENG, EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL SUNDAY
Gauteng residents are facing scorching temperatures as a heatwave sweeps across parts of the province. Weather experts predict that temperatures will continue to climb until Sunday.
The South African Weather Service has issued a warning about the heatwave, which will bring consistently high temperatures to regions including Gauteng, the western highveld of Mpumalanga, central and western sections of Limpopo, and the eastern areas of the North West and the Free State. Residents are advised to take precautions to stay safe during this period of extreme heat.
RETAILERS PLAN TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF EGGS SOUTH AFRICANS CAN PURCHASE AS THE COUNTRY RUNS LOW ON STOCK
South Africa is grappling with a severe shortage of eggs, prompting retailers to take action to manage the situation. Both Woolworths and Pick n Pay have announced measures to ration eggs to customers, aiming to ensure a steady supply during the nation’s worst-ever avian influenza outbreak.
Woolworths has implemented a limit of six eggs per customer for whole egg purchases in their stores. Meanwhile, Pick n Pay is urging customers to shop responsibly and will restrict purchases to one or two egg packs per customer, depending on the region. These measures are intended to prevent stock depletion and maintain availability for all customers.
SENZO MEYIWA MURDER TRIAL ADJOURNED UNTIL MONDAY
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has been adjourned until Monday, 9 October 2023. This delay comes as the defense requests additional time to consult with their clients and to thoroughly review the data extracted from the cell phones of accused individuals 2 and 5.
Prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi has informed the court of his intention to call upon a cell phone analyst from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to provide testimony regarding the data extracted from the aforementioned cell phones.
JOBURG FOOTBRIDGE COLLAPSE DISRUPTS TRAIN SERVICES
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is grappling with the aftermath of a footbridge collapse between Jeppestown and George Goch train stations in Johannesburg. PRASA’s engineers and senior management are conducting assessments to determine the extent of the damage, which has forced the suspension of train services between Johannesburg and Germiston.
The incident, which occurred just before 2 pm on Wednesday, resulted in two pedestrians sustaining injuries. Emergency services promptly transported them to a nearby hospital for treatment. Investigations into the cause of the bridge collapse are underway as PRASA seeks to restore train services in the affected area.
AYEPYEP CAPE TOWN RETURNS TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS AND REOPENS FOR BUSINESS
Following a legal settlement, Ayepyep Cape Town has returned to its rightful owners, the family of the late DJ Sumbody (Oupa Sefoka), and is has now reopened for business. Back in August, The Ayepyep Lifestyle was temporarily closed due to escalating fears of violence, extortion, and gang-related activities.
TRAFFIC OFFICER SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR ACCEPTING BRIBE OF R200
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has welcomed the imprisonment of a provincial traffic officer in Limpopo who was found guilty of accepting a bribe of R200 from an undercover anti-corruption agent.
The Mokopane Magistrate Court, on Monday, 2 October 2023, sentenced Vincent Madiga (53) to three years of direct imprisonment, ruling out the option of a fine. Madiga’s conviction and sentencing resulted from a joint operation named “Operation Siyabangena” carried out by the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit of the RTMC and the Hawks in 2018.
With this conviction, Madiga is no longer eligible to work as a traffic officer, effectively removing a corrupt element from their ranks.
CAPE TOWN MAN’S CONVICTION OVERTURNED FOR ERECTION PILLS THEFT
A Cape Town man’s conviction for stealing erection pills, which led to a fine or imprisonment, has been overturned due to a legal procedural mistake. Josquin September’s right to legal representation was not adequately explained during the trial. He had been accused of stealing a pack of Erect Capsules worth R109.95 from a Dischem Pharmacy in Paarl Mall. Initially, he pleaded guilty, but discrepancies in the court records led to the conviction’s reversal.
Share your thoughts on this article and join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.
