Author: Malebogo Putu
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has given President Cyril Ramaphosa an ultimatum to implement Sections 4 and 5 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act by 13 December 2024, or face legal and industrial action. If the President does not comply, the Union will take legal action and embark on industrial action. In an urgent letter to the President, SADTU expressed concern that the Act has not been fully enforced, despite it being passed with extensive consultation and in line with constitutional mandates to redress past imbalances in access to quality public education. SADTU argues that there…
The deadline for submissions regarding the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act is fast approaching, with just three days left for public input. The Act, which was signed by President Ramaphosa on September 13, 2024, and postponed for three months for further consultations, has stirred significant debate across various sectors, particularly regarding its clauses on language and admissions policies. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been vocal in opposing Clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Act, arguing that they undermine parental and school governing body control over language policies. The DA believes the government’s power to dictate these policies…
As South Africa marks 30 years since the enactment of the Restitution of Land Rights Act of 1994, Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso delivered a speech on December 2, 2024, underscoring the achievements, challenges, and ongoing struggles in reversing the century-long injustices of land dispossession under colonial and apartheid regimes. The Act was a historic milestone aimed at restoring land to those who had been forcibly removed from it over the course of 342 years of oppressive rule. Reversing the Legacy of Land Dispossession Minister Nyhontso opened his address with a sobering reflection on the historical significance of land dispossession, which he…
The Gauteng Department of Health has stepped in to address the laundry crisis at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, following public outcry over dirty hospital linen. Nurses recently raised concerns about infection control, with images of soiled linen circulating on social media. In a statement, the department assured the public that measures are being implemented to restore normal operations. “The Gauteng Department of Health would like to reassure the public that several measures continue to be implemented to ensure the provision of clean linen to patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital,” the department said. The hospital’s ageing…
Two men, both aged 31, were arrested on Saturday, 7 December 2024, in connection with a stolen Toyota Quantum minibus during a joint patrol by Hoopdal and Cumberland police. Police Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba revealed that officers received information about a white Toyota Quantum stolen in the Lephalale area. Acting on the alert, they conducted a lookout and intercepted the vehicle traveling between the R510 and Sentrum T-Junction. Upon being stopped, one passenger unexpectedly exited the minibus, rolled on the ground clutching his stomach, and pretended to be in severe pain. The driver claimed he was rushing the man to the…
Police have arrested three men, aged 24 to 28, in connection with the alleged murder of a 23-year-old man who was reportedly caught breaking into one of their homes. Police Sergeant Josephine Rani stated that officers responded to a complaint of an assault on Sunday, 8 December 2024, at around 6:00 p.m. When they arrived at the scene, they found the victim lying lifeless in the yard of one of the suspects. Emergency services were called but declared the man dead at the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased had broken into the home of one of the suspects.…
A 34-year-old man, Willy Mxolise Mhlongo, was remanded in custody by the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 9 December 2024, on charges of fraud and contravening both the Customs and Excise Act, Act 91 of 1964, and the Counterfeit Goods Act, Act 37 of 1997. Police Lieutenant Colonel Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi revealed that the arrest followed a coordinated operation involving Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation officers and Komatipoort SAPS. Information was received at around 2:00 a.m. on Monday about a suspect transporting counterfeit goods from Naas, Nkomazi, to Gauteng. The team intercepted a Toyota Quantum on the N4 tollgate road…
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $140.6 million loan to Eswatini for the first phase of a road infrastructure program aimed at enhancing national and regional mobility, creating jobs, and supporting socio-economic development. The initiative, which focuses on the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions, is expected to create at least 200 well-paying jobs and address long-standing infrastructure challenges. The program will upgrade 105.9 km of paved roads, including the Siphofaneni-Sithobelath-Maloma-Nsoko (MR14) and Maloma-Siphambanweni (MR21) sections. These roads will be expanded to 12.3 meters wide, with 2-meter paved shoulders on each side, and adapted to withstand climate change impacts. This…
The lab, established through partnerships with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), STEMpower, DHL, and other stakeholders, aims to empower students and local residents with digital and STEM-related skills. Picture: Supplied. The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, officially opened a cutting-edge STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Lab at the University of Limpopo on Saturday, heralding it as a symbol of progress and opportunity for students and the surrounding community. “This STEM Lab represents hope, progress, and opportunity. For the youth in Mamotintane, Ga-Motholo, Mankweng, and nearby areas, it is a gateway to skills…
Law enforcement officers in KwaZulu-Natal intercepted a shipment of pure cocaine worth over R80 million at Durban Harbour on Monday, December 2, 2024. The drugs were hidden in a container disguised as kidney beans.Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the bust was the result of an intelligence-driven operation. Police had tracked the vessel, which departed from Brazil in early November, after receiving credible information about its illicit cargo. The ship, which made a stop in another country before arriving in South Africa, docked at Durban Harbour on Saturday, November 30.Following its arrival, the identified container was transported to a warehouse on South…