Queen Elizebeth ll loses Sovereignty over Barbados

Barbados is set to cut ties with the British monarchy, but the legacy of a sometimes brutal colonial past and the pandemic's impact on tourism pose major challenges for the Caribbean island as it becomes the world's newest republic.

Ceremonies on Monday evening into Tuesday will include military parades and celebrations, as Governor-General Sandra Mason is inaugurated as president, with Prince Charles heir to the British throne looking on.

In a speech to be delivered at the transition ceremony, Charles is due to focus on continued ties between the two countries.

Queen Elizebeth ll will be replaced with a Barbadian President in an inauguration ceremony to be held when the country celebrates independence on Tuesday.

It will mark the first time in three decades that the queen is removed as head of state. The shift is said to awaken discussions of similar proposals in other former British colonies that have Queen Elizabeth as their sovereign, which include Jamaica, Australia and Canada.

Done by Lizeka Tsotetsi

SA to stay on alert level 1 amid discovery of new variant

 President Cyril Ramaphosa address to the nation on Sunday night on developments on the Covid-19 pandemic. During his speech, he announced that South Africa will remain on lockdown alert level 1 even with the detection of the new variant, Omicron.

source: EWN

This comes amid a rapid rise in infections, the discovery of the new Omicron variant and an endless list of travel bans imposed against some Southern African countries, including South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that over the coming days, infection rates would be monitored and reviewed to ensure that the current safety measures are adequate or if change need to be made.

The increase in infections has for now been centered in Gauteng, although cases are also rising in other provinces. The president also urged those who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so, saying that it was the best way to fight the virus.

The president has condemned travel bans imposed on South Africa and called on countries with bans currently in place to urgently reverse their decisions before it damages our economy even further.

As part of lockdown alert level one regulations:

•         the sale of alcohol for onsite and offsite consumption remains permitted.
•         Public gatherings are restricted to 750 people indoors and 2,000 outdoors.
•         The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory and failure to do so is a criminal offence.
•         And the curfew remains in place from 12pm to 4 am.

By Danielle Mentoor

Brutal attack by officer on mother would failed to wear mask

Police officers are looking into allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal woman on her assault by police for failing to wear a face mask in public.

According to KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza, the young woman was "brutally" assaulted after failing to comply with Covid-19 regulations.

Khoza condemned the incident, saying the police officer allegedly hit the woman on the head with the end of his gun in front of her eight-year-old child. She was then dragged to the police station, where she was stripped naked and beaten, in the presence of other police officers.

The officer allegedly claimed Thusi had attacked him and she was denied access to healthcare services and kept in a police cell.

The victim only managed to get medical help after she was released. According to doctors they identified serious head injuries, and that her eardrums had been perforated.

A team of social workers was dispatched to provide psychosocial support to the victim and her child.

by Everngelista Muza

Police officer shot dead by robbers in Table mountain

Police responded to an armed robbery at a business involving four robbers on Friday morning inKillarney Gardens in Table View.

When officers arrived, the suspects, who had held staff at gunpoint inside the building, fired shots at police as they fled. During the shootout, two police officials were wounded, as well as two robbers.

One of the officers from Table View who sustained a gunshot wound to his head died on arrival at a medical facility in the area.

The police's Novela Potelwa said that two men were arrested and the other two are still at large.

by Evengelista Muza

Life sentence for two women over murder

In the Eastern Cape, a woman and an accomplice have been sentenced to life behind bars for the murder of her husband in Peddie.

Phumlisa Deyi and Khanyisa Ncumani were sentenced in the Bhisho High Court this week for the May 2020 murder of Deyi's husband.

A third person, Siyabulela Nzelani, has received a seven-year sentence for robbery.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that Deyi solicited the help of Ncumani to rob and kill her husband. Although motive for the murder has not been established.

Axed Absa director to bring bank to court

Fired Absa director Sipho Pityana has described his ousting as "outrageous" and "unlawful" as he prepares to mount a legal challenge against the bank's board to fight the decision.

The court challenge follows his action against the SA Reserve Bank's Prudential Authority, which he accuses of blocking his appointment as Absa chair.

He said the Absa board had given him 48 hour's notice to resign as a director on 2 November, stating that his legal action against the Prudential Authority had resulted in a misalignment of interests between his and those of the bank.

He claims that former Absa CEO Maria Ramos informed the Prudential Authority about his sexual harassment allegations from 2020 when they were considering his suitability to chair the Absa board. Absa indicated to the authority that the bank intended to nominate him as chair. 

by Everngelista Muza

CGE determined to know why rapist was re-elected at Mayor

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) said it was determined to know how a convicted child rapist was able to stand for election despite his conviction.

Icosa's Jeffrey Donson has been re-elected as the mayor of the Kannaland municipality. In 2008, he was convicted of statutory rape and the indecent assault of a 15-year-old.

The rape occurred in 2004 while he was mayor. The commission's Javu Baloyi said he wants to know why he wasn’t in the sex offender register and why was a minimum sentence not prescribed when he was sentenced.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape said that it was reviewing its coalition partnership with Icosa that resulted in Donson's appointment.

by Everngelista Muza

Man found with body parts in fridge tries to commit suicide

A Soweto man arrested by after girlfriend discovered human remains in his fridge may undergo mental observation.

The case against Flavio Hlabangwane has been postponed to 30 November for the hearing of an application for the accused to undergo mental observation. The court wants the 26-year-old's to be closely monitored this comes after he tried to comitt suicide twice.

The court further ordered that Hlabangwane be detained at the hospital section at Johannesburg Correctional Services as he may require medical attention and or special care.

The identity of the victim still remains unknown.

by Everngelista Muza

Garden route experiencing the after math of heavy rains

Heavy rains and localized flooding along the Garden Route have interrupted municipal services and resulted in school closures.

Western Cape chief of disaster management Colin Diener said eight vehicles, which contained passengers, were rescued in Denneoord in George this morning.

The streets of George and surrounding areas were heavily flooded in the wake of stormy weather.

Families were evacuated from Hope Street in George South and Merriman Road in George Central. Seven Passes Road in Saasveld is closed due to a massive sinkhole.

Power outages were reported across the town, which resulted in the closure of the George Municipality Driving Licence Testing Centre. The new housing offices were also closed, as well as the cash hall in the main building of the George municipality.

Phone lines in the municipality were also affected, with intermittent connectivity on some administrative phone lines.

The WCED has ensured all matric examinations centres are open so that Grade 12 National Senior Certificate candidates are given the opportunity to write. Contingency measures have also been made to help candidates reach examination centres.

Several Go George bus routes were closed by midday, routes were gradually being reopened.

by Everngelista Muza

Education Minster Nzimande slams DA over language policy complaint to UN

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said that the Afrikaans language must not be used as a means to pursue a narrow and racist Afrikaner nationalist agenda.

This comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA) laid a complaint with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) over the minister's new language policy framework.

The party is calling for UN intervention to force Nzimande and government to recognize Afrikaans, as well as the Khoi, San and Nama, languages as fully-fledged indigenous languages in its new language policy framework for higher education institutions. They have accussed the minister of discrimination.

by Everngelista Muza

Tragic death for three young boys following a car crash

A case of culpable homicide is under investigation after three boys, aged four, five and an 18 old, died when their vehicle veered off the road along Bainskloof Pass in Wellington.

Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the driver a 60 year old woman was transported to the hospital.

He said the Bainskloof Pass road has been closed to traffic for roadworks and was only expected to open to normal traffic later this year, while only residents had access to the road.

Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) spokesperson, Johan Marais, said they were alerted to the incident at about 7pm and conducted a technical rescue.

Motorists have since been advised to steer clear of the area.

by Everngelista Muza

The Cape City Run returns this Weekend

Runners from all walks of life are expected to come together this weekend as the City of Cape Town gears up to welcome thousands of athletes for the 2021 edition of the Absa Cape Town 12k CITYRUN.

The World Athletics Label road race returns to the Mother City streets for the first time since 2019. The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This years race expects approximately 4 000 international, national and local runners.

The Cape Town 12k CITYRUN is the third biggest race on the events calendar for Western Province Athletics and usually attracts approximately 14 000 local and international runners, but this has been reduced due to the Disaster Management Act regulations.

The race will kick off at 7am on Sunday, November 21, at Woodbridge Island, and the finish line will be marked along Lower Long Street in the CBD.

Done by Lizeka Tsotetsi

Western Cape Economy decreases over Eskom loadshedding

 The Western Cape government has stated that the Western Cape economy is set to lose about hundreds of millions of rands in the latest round of load shedding announced on Tuesday by Eskom.

Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC David Maynier said It is estimated that in 2020 load shedding cost the Western Cape’s economy R75 million per stage, per day. Meaning that this latest Stage 2 load shedding is estimated to cost the provincial economy R150 million per day.

During a press briefing earlier this week, De Ruyter spoke about the current system challenges at Eskom and said the power utility was doing everything it could to reduce load shedding, but that unplanned outages created a significant risk.

 Done by Lucille Dyosi

Capetonians urged to cut down on non-essential water usage this weekend

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department has urged residents to reduce non-essential water consumption as the Faure Water Treatment Plant will be shut down.

The shut down will take place this weekend from Friday to Monday to allow for the insertion of a 2 400mm diameter bulk water pipeline.

The work forms part of the City’s 162 million Baden Powell Drive bulk water pipeline project to strengthen water supply to Khayelitsha residents.

In a statement the City said: “The new infrastructure, currently under construction, will be linked to the 2 400mm diameter pipeline to strengthen the water supply and boost water pressure in the eastern sections of Khayelitsha, which have seen rapid growth recently.”

The areas that will be affected by this work are the Cape Town Film Studios and Amazon. The Stellenbosch municipality may also be affected, considering the municipality’s drinking water is supplied from this bulk water main.

The City has requested residents in Eerste River, Strand and De Wijnlanden to store water in sealed containers for domestic use and to keep taps closed. Residents in these areas will be experiencing lower water pressure.

Done by Lizeka Tsotetsi

Department of Health Bridging the Gap in Vaccine Accessibility

The Provincial Health Department is on a journey to reaching 4 million vaccine doses by breaching the gap in vaccine accessibility ahead of the festive season and expected fourth wave of Covid-19.

The Health Department has opened a number of pop-up and in-residential vaccination sites across the province.

Provincial Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said the sites are the latest adjustment with the previous adaptation of setting up such sites at shopping centre, grocery stores and at Sassa pay points.

Since the start of the vaccine rollout, the province has administered 3 910 986 vaccines with 2 023 748 people (excluding the 12-17 years) fully vaccinated.

Van der Heever said the pop-up sites are in addition to the weekly vaccination sites and information on where sites can be found is uploaded on the department’s social media platforms daily, shared among community groups and communicated through community media channels.

 Done by Lucille Dyosi

 

Stage 2 Powercuts implemented from this Afternoon

Eskom has implemented stage two rolling blackouts from 2pm this afternoon until Saturday.

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has given an update on the country's fragile power system as the utility continues to battle breakdowns.

De Ruyter has said the Power Utility has insufficient generation capacity at their disposal and they have no alternative but to implement stage two load shedding from 2pm this afternoon until 5am on Saturday morning, the 20th of November

On Tuesday, five units at their aging and inefficient power plants went offline.

De Ruyter said they were also dealing with two boiler tube leaks at the Kusile and Medupi plants.

The Power Utility is urging all residents to reduce the demand on electricity when they have it.

 

Done by Lizeka Tsotetsi

 

Residents urged to use water sparingly

The Western Cape government has urged residents to continue using water sparingly even though major dam levels are high after good winter rains.

The average dam levels for the province stand at 81%.

Local Government Spokesperson, James-Brent Styan says the dams feeding the City of Cape Town are now 98% full. The Clanwilliam Dam is at 99% and Theewaterskloof at 100%

He said they are very grateful that they’ve had two good seasons of good rainfall. And are fortunate to be heading into the holiday season with the major dams quite full.

He added This doesn’t mean that they can get complacent, so they continue to urge consumers and the public to use water sparingly. As It is a scarce resource that will remain under pressure moving forward

 

Done by Lizeka Tsotetsi