His alleged killers, Gert Bezuidenhout and Johannes ‘Johnny’ Jacobs, were arrested hours later in Uniondale and appeared in court on Tuesday, facing murder charges. The case was postponed to November 13 for a bail hearing. Lifman was previously on trial for the 2017 murder of ‘Steroid King’ Brian Waistein.
RAMAPHOSA CONGRATULATES TRUMP AS 47TH US PRESIDENT
President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Donald Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States.
Ramaphosa expressed eagerness to continue the strong and mutually beneficial partnership between South Africa and the US.
Trump triumphed over Kamala Harris in a tight race. Commentators suggest his approach to Africa may focus on economic issues. Ramaphosa also highlighted South Africa’s upcoming G20 Presidency, where they will work closely with the US, which will take over the role in 2026.
FORMER EFF CHAIR DALI MPOFU JOINS UMKHONTO WESIZWE PARTY
Mpofu, who served the EFF for five years from 2014, told SABC News that he believes the MK Party will lead the way toward much-needed unity and emancipation, emphasizing that he’s not leaving the EFF to reject it, but to pursue a path he feels aligns with his vision.
Mpofu’s departure follows that of former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, who also joined the MK Party in August, marking significant shifts in South African political alliances. Mpofu stated, “After much soul-searching, I’m joining MK because I believe it’s the vehicle through which we will achieve the much-needed black and progressive unity.”
PRINCE WILLIAM BRINGS EARTHSHOT PRIZE AWARDS TO CAPE TOWN
Gianluigi Guercia / AFP
Prince William visited South Africa this week, hosting his prestigious Earthshot Prize Awards in Cape Town on 6 November.
This year’s awards mark the first time the ceremony has been held in Africa, fulfilling William’s goal of returning to the continent where he initially conceived the idea for the prize during a trip to Namibia in 2018. The Earthshot Prize, launched in 2020, offers five awards of £1 million each to groundbreaking projects aimed at solving the planet’s biggest environmental challenges.
Hosted by Emmy-winning actor Billy Porter and South African presenter Bonang Matheba, the event dazzled with a star-studded ‘green’ carpet and performances from top artists, including Nigerian pop icon Davido and Tanzanian sensation Diamond Platnumz. Supermodel Heidi Klum and actor Nina Dobrev were among the celebrities announcing the five prize winners, who were celebrated for their impactful contributions toward sustainable development.
This year’s winning projects included a Kenyan initiative using solar-powered fridges to prevent crop spoilage, as well as a conservation effort that saved a rare antelope species from extinction. The Earthshot Prize covers five environmental goals, or ‘Earthshots’: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate. Closing the ceremony, Prince William encouraged global support, calling for unity in the “movement for change.”
110 GAUTENG LEARNERS FALL ILL FROM SUSPECTED FOOD POISONING
Emergency services transported the students for medical care, with 98 discharged and 12 still under observation.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed concern over repeated food safety issues in schools, stressing that student well-being is a priority. The Gauteng Departments of Education and Health are investigating, with additional updates to follow. Psycho-social support is available for affected learners and families.
FUEL PRICES INCREASE ACROSS ALL GRADES
Petrol price has increased from Wednesday (6 November) by 25c per litre for both 93 and 95 octane grades.
Diesel went up by 21c (0.05% sulphur) and 20c (0.005% sulphur), while illuminating paraffin and LPGas went up by 21c and 36c, respectively. In Gauteng, 95 petrol now costs R21.30 per litre, up from R21.05, while in coastal areas, it increased from R20.26 to R20.51.
The department cited both international and local factors for the price adjustments.
LEBOMBO PORT FORCED TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE DUE TO ESCALATING PROTESTS
The unrest, which began after post-election tensions, saw protestors advancing towards the border post, forcing officials to evacuate. Despite a brief reopening, the situation worsened after protestors reached the nearby kilometre 4 area, damaging infrastructure and seizing equipment. Border authorities have closed the port again for safety.
E-HAILING DRIVER ARRESTED FOR R650,000 FRAUD AFTER TOURIST’S CREDIT CARD THEFT
A 30-year-old Zimbabwean e-hailing driver faces a fraud charge after allegedly stealing and using a Danish tourist’s credit card details, leading to R650,000 in unauthorized luxury purchases in Europe.
The tourists had dozed off during their ride from Cape Town to Simon’s Town, where it’s believed the driver accessed the card information. When attempts to reach the driver failed, the tourist reported the incident.
Sergeant Henry Simons then cleverly booked the driver through the e-hailing app, leading to his arrest upon arrival at the court building.
RAMAPHOSA DEMANDS ACTION AGAINST USE OF BANNED SUBSTANCES IN FOOD FOLLOWING CHILD DEATHS
Monitoring the government’s response to this tragedy, Ramaphosa expressed his commitment to ensuring justice for the affected families.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that law enforcement agencies have completed some tests, which revealed the presence of a banned substance in the food consumed. “The President calls for rapid legal action against those responsible, aiming to bring justice and closure to grieving families,” said Magwenya.
In addition, Ramaphosa extended his condolences and support to all families impacted by this devastating incident.
OVER 200 ILLEGAL MINERS FORCED OUT OF SHAFTS IN NORTH WEST
The SAPS and SANDF have blocked routes to prevent supplies from reaching miners still trapped underground. Since Operation Vala Umgodi’s launch in December 2023, over 13,691 arrests have been made, with R5 million and uncut diamonds worth R32 million seized. Authorities continue monitoring the situation, aiming to bring all illegal miners to the surface for arrest.
HIGH DEMAND FOR KAYTRANADA’S SOUTH AFRICA TOUR TICKETS CRASHES TICKETING SITE HOWLER
The surge in demand caused the platform to crash, preventing visitors from accessing tickets, which led organizers to delay ticket sales to a later time.
With general tickets still on hold, the festival team shared an update: “Due to high demand, we’ve extended the final phase launch to address logistics.” Fans can expect an update on ticket availability by 11 November.
SAA LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM JOHANNESBURG TO LUBUMBASHI
Bloomberg via Getty Images
South African Airways (SAA) has launched its inaugural direct flight from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi, strengthening trade and connectivity with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The A320 aircraft took off from OR Tambo International Airport and landed at Luano International Airport in just over three hours. With five weekly flights, the route is designed to support both direct and connecting passengers, particularly benefiting business travelers heading to Lubumbashi’s corporate and mining hubs, as well as neighboring Zambia.
PSL ANNOUNCES R20 MILLION PRIZE FOR 2024/25 BETWAY PREMIERSHIP WINNER
This marks a significant boost in the league’s prestige, following the announcement of Betway as the new title sponsor in July.
PSL Chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza, along with Betway CEO Laurence Michel and SARGF Executive Director Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, emphasized the importance of responsible betting during the announcement. Further prize details for other teams will be revealed later.
Following an exciting series in Mzansi, the Boks will embark on their Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, with the match set to kick off at 6:10pm (local time). Fans can catch all the action live on SuperSport (211).
Springbok team to face Scotland:
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