MEC Plato calls for an urgent approach to the gang problem in the Cape

Jaimie-faith Poonah
30 April 2015

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety Dan Plato has called immediate action into the gang epidemic in the province.

In a statement MEC Plato said Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko has not made any decision on bringing back the Specialised Drug and Gang Units, a month after he made a commitment that he will consider it.

MEC Plato added that we should be seeing a far more urgent approach to tackling the Cape gang epidemic.

Ministerial Spokesperson Ewald Botha said Minister Nhleko publically announced to consider bringing back the Specialised Drug and Gang Units a month ago and specifically to reinstate the units without hesitation and there was a process stating him to share the details behind the plans to train the units how to capacitate them, where and when they will be deployed.

“People of the Western Cape want to know why it has taken more than four years of campaigning and a loss of countless lives before the national government has considered the introduction of these much needed specialised units.” Botha concluded.

Amcu and Anglo Platinum colludes on retrenchment

Jaimie-faith Poonah
30 April 2015

The National Union of Mineworkers is at loggerheads Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union after it accused Anglo American Platinum of scheming with the union.

This as Anglo Platinum is planning to retrench about four-hundred and seventy-four workers.

NUM’s Rustenburg Regional Coordinator Mxhasi Sithethi said in 2013 AMCU decided to embark on a strike misleading workers around retrenchment.

Sithethi said when people are about to be retrenched, you do not start striking because retrench means that the employer or capital is not in need of the labour, therefore leading the workers into a strike is really suicidal.

Sithethi said they concluded an agreement after a two week strike with Anglo Platinum agreeing that they are going to be a reclamation process, meaning some workers are going to be absorbed into the company to reclaim some machinery in the workstation.

Manhunt for four prisoners who escaped custody in Tzaneen

Lusanda Bill
30 April 2015

Limpopo police are on a manhunt for four prisoners aged between 26 and 43-years-old who escaped before appearing in the Modjadiskloof Periodical Court on Wednesday in Tzaneen.

Police Spokesperson Colonel Moastshe Ngoepe said these suspects were arrested during our special operations over the weekend. They were found to be illegal foreign-nationals in the country.

Ngoepe said we are still profiling them to check if they were ever wanted for other crimes previously.

Police are still unclear on how the four prisoners managed to escape under police guard.

 

SAMWU rejects latest wage offer from SALGA

Lusanda Bill
30 April 2015

The South African Municipal Workers Union has rejected the South African Local Government Association latest wage offer of 5.4.

This is the second round of wage negotiations of which SALGA has revised its offer from 4.4%. SAMWU has labelled this latest offer as ridiculous. The union says that SALGA is an employer that does not value or appreciate its employees.

SAMWU Spokesperson Papikie Mohale said SALGA has not shown commitment in negotiating in good faith instead they have been dragging their feet at the negotiating table.

Mohale said we want to make sure that a new agreement is reached before the current main collective agreement lapses at the end of June.

“However this can only be done if there is commitment from both sides of the table. It seems as although SALGA is only interested in ensuring that unions are committed to signing the Service Charter while neglecting bread and butter issues of our members” Mohale added.

 

A cyclist killed in an accident in Benoni

Lusanda Bill
30 April 2015

An accident this morning in Benoni left one person dead after he was knocked off his bicycle by a light motor vehicle.

It is believed that the driver of the vehicle failed to notice the cyclist crossing the road.

ER24 Spokesperson Russel Meiring said when paramedics arrived on the scene they found the man lying meters away from his bicycle on the side of the road.

Meiring said a light motor vehicle had stopped 50 meters on the side of the road. On assessment paramedics found that the man had sustained multiple fatal injuries in the collision and unfortunately nothing more could be done for the patient and he was declared dead on the scene.

“Fortunately the driver of the light motor vehicle did not sustained any injuries in the accident” Meiring added.

 

 

Body of an elderly man discovered inside the boot of a car in Mayfair

Lusanda Bill
30 April 2015

A body of an elderly man was discovered in Mayfair, Johannesburg after he was hijacked by three armed men on Wednesday night.

Police Spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela said the old man and his grandson were driving around Mayfair when they were hijacked by three males.

Makhubela said the suspects dropped the 23-year-old grandson and then continued with the elderly man, where they shot him and placed him in the boot of the car.

“We found the abandoned car in Dobsonville Soweto and no arrests have been made as yet” Makhubela added

58 suspects arrested over the long weekend

Mbasa Gqokoma
30 April 2015

Over 58 suspects were arrested on various charges over the long weekend including being in possession of drugs, drunken driving and violation of a protection order amongst other charges.

One suspect who was released on parole in January after serving 15-years in jail for murder and attempted murder was arrested after he was caught trying to steal a motorists cellphone while he was standing at a red traffic light, along Prince George Drive.

City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith says “one of our traffic officers was driving along Prince George Drive and spotted two man involved in a struggle in a Toyota Corolla at the intersection of Prince George military road.

Smith said “the officer stopped and discovered that it was an attempted robbery. When the suspects saw that they were going to be arrested, they ran. The officer called for back-up and two other officers arrived and the men were then arrested. We would like to commend all these person’s involved in apprehending this smash and grab culprit”.

Suspect arrested after found with an unlicensed firearm and ammunition

Jaimie-faith Poonah
30 April 2015

Eastern Cape police have managed to arrest a twenty-four-year-old suspect in Butterworth after he was found in possession of unlicensed firearm.

Police Spokesperson Captain Jackson Manatha said the firearm has been sent for ballistic testing to establish whether it was used in any crimes around the area.

Captain Manatha said they went to his shack at Bugeni informal settlement in Butterworth where they found him with a firearm with two rounds of ammunition.

 

Manatha said the suspect has since been charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

 

The suspect will be appearing in court later today.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for a debate on the Freedom Charter

Jaimie-faith Poonah

29 April 2015

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa while addressing the Freedom Charter Forum on Tuesday said the recent attacks on foreign nationals have no place in a country like ours which is founded on its Constitution, that guarantees the rights and dignity of all people.

He added that sixty-years later we celebrate the Freedom Charter as an enduring vision of a free and democratic society that continues to inspire and guide our struggle.

Ramaphosa said we should have a discall, a concerted drive to eradicate poverty and to reduce inequality, this imperative is central also to the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan and the outcomes contained in the governance medium term strategic framework.

Ramaphosa said as we grapple with this momentous task we need to turn to the Freedom Charter for guidance, inspiration and perspective.

Meanwhile while address the forum Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said over the last six decades there has been much debate about the ideological intent of the Freedom Charter.

He has encouraged for an in-depth debate on the charter.  

Ramaphosa said the Freedom Charter should indeed be debated. It needs to be interpreted and where needs be it needs to be critiqued and we want people to debate it fully and discuss the Freedom Charter.

Ramaphosa said we must understand that the Charter is not a set of policy instruments; it is a vision of a new society, as former President Oliver Thambo said to which we must give effect.

The Ministry of State Security responds to R2K allegations

Jaimie-faith Poonah
29 April 2015

The Ministry of State Security has responded to allegations made by the Right2Know campaign regarding monitoring and harassment.

R2K released a report on Tuesday titled “Big Brother Exposed” in which it documents the stories of activists and community leaders who have been monitored and harassed by South Africa’s intelligence agencies, especially the State Security Agency and the Crime Intelligence Division of the police.

Ministry of State Security’s Brian Dube said they wish to reaffirm that the constitution is supreme in this country and that they do have various institutions which people can approach if they feel that their rights have been violated.

Dube said with regard we would like advise R2K to approach the office of the Inspector General so that the matter can be probed and they can submit their complaints and evidence there.

“Lastly we wish to indicate that the minister is committed to meeting everybody, stakeholders and his door remains open.” Dube concluded.

Taxi accident left 20 injured in Cape Town

Loyiso Langeni
29 April 2015

An accident this morning involving a taxi between Vanguard Drive and Govan Mbeki Road in the Western Cape left twenty-people injured.

It is believed that the taxi collided with a pedestrian causing the taxi to roll.

ER24 Spokesperson Russel Meiring said ER24 paramedics, along with Life healthcare and Metro services, arrived on the scene and found the taxi lying on its roof on the side of the road. A centre medium barrier next to the taxi had been ripped from its foundations and lay on the side of the road.

Meiring added that on assessment of the scene, paramedics discovered that 19 people were travelling in the taxi when the collision occurred. At least five of the occupants had been ejected from the vehicle when it overturned.

“Three patients, a man and two woman, lay next to the taxi in a critical condition while seventeen others were scattered around the scene, their injuries ranging from minor to moderate. One of the critically injured patients was a pedestrian the taxi had collided with. The pedestrian was found to have sustained serious injuries to her legs, waist and chest.” Meiring said .

 The exact details to the cause of the accident will remain the subject of a police investigation.

Minister Pandor stresses the importance of women in science

Loyiso Langeni
29 April 2015

Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor on Tuesday addressed the Gender Summit Africa taking place in Cape Town, where she stressed the importance of women in science.

The more than three-thousand scientists have gathered at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the summit under the theme “Poverty alleviation and economic empowerment through scientific research and innovation: Better knowledge from and for Africa".

Minister Pandor said “gender inequality and unfair discrimination have had devastating global consequences, as I watch this morning the disaster occurring in Nepal I wonder what the impact of this earthquake is on women.

All of us gathered here know that more women die in wars than men, more women live in poverty than men, more women are unemployed than men, more women have been denied education than men.” Pandor added.

Missing Child Alert: Kagiso Maite

COPE urges government to act on HRC threats

Mbasa Gqokoma
29 April 2015

The Congress of the People has called on government to act regarding the South African Human Rights Commission coming under attack in KwaZulu-Natal.

This as the commission is investigating His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelitini’s role in inciting the recent xenophobic attacks in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Allegedly since announcing its plan to investigate the king the commission has been receiving threatening calls and letters.

COPE Spokesperson Dennis Bloem says these thugs must know that it will be in the best interest of King Zwelithini and a country as a whole that the commission investigates these allegations so that we know the truth.

 “It’s only the truth that will set the King free. We want to condemn these threats and we call upon the minister of police and state security to hunt for these thugs and arrest them.” Bloem added.

 

PRASA re-introduces train service from CPT to EL

Jaimie-faith Poonah
29 April 2015

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa will as from next month re-introduce its train service from Cape Town to East London at a cost of three-hundred and fifty-Rand.

PRASA’s Mthuthuzeli Swartz said this re-introduction of the service is because of customers calling for the service to return and that there was a desperate need for it.

Swartz said a train which will leave Cape Town every Sunday at 10:25 starting from the 3^rd of May this year was introduced.

Swartz said this train would be leaving East London on a Tuesday coming back to Cape Town, of which it would leave East London at 14:22 on a Tuesday.

Swartz said we hope that this will meet the requirements of our commuting public and we are always ready to act on any request that comes from the public.

 

Man shot dead at Phoenix Plaza

Jaimie-faith Poonah

28 April 2015

A shooting incident involving a security guard at Phoenix Plaza this after resulted in him being shot dead.

The exact details to the cause of the accident will remain the subject of a police investigation.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said when we arrived we found him lying on the ground with life threatening injuries.

Botha said tragically he was declared dead on the scene due to the very severe injuries he had sustained.

President Zuma leading a delegation

Jaimie-faith Poonah

28 April 2015

President Jacob Zuma is today leading a delegation to the Southern African Development Community’s extra-ordinary summit of heads of state and government, which is scheduled for tomorrow in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.

Tomorrow’s meeting will consider amongst other issues the draft and the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.

Presidential Spokesperson Mac Maharaj said the extra-ordinary summit sequels the decision of the 34 ordinary summit of heads of state and government held in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe in August 2014, which mandated the ministers of trade in the region to work on a draft strategy and road map on industrialisation.

Maharaj said President Zuma will be accompanied by Minster of International Relations and Cooperation, Minster of Trade and Industry and Minster of Finance.

Four suspects to appear in court for illegal cigarettes and suspected stolen vehicles

Jaimie-faith Poonah
28 April 2015

Four suspects aged between twenty and 30 years -old were arrested after they were found to be in possession of illegal cigarettes worth five-hundred-thousand-Rand.

Lieutenat Colonel Katlego Mogale said police received a complaint about two vehicles driving recklessly on Church Street heading to Midrand.

Katlego Mogale said when they went to the scene, two of the vehicles jumped stop signs and members pulled them over.

Mogale said upon checking the vehicles they found illegal cigarettes in both vehicles which is a double cab Toyota Hilux and a single cab.

Mogale said a double cab has been reported stolen in Bracken downs and a single cab has been reported stolen in Haartebeespoort.

“The suspects will be appearing in the Atterigdeville Magistrates court on charges of possession of illegal cigarettes and suspected stolen motor vehicles.” Mogale concluded.

Seventeen people died on WC roads over the long weekend

Loyiso Langeni
28 April 2015

Western Cape Traffic Authorities over the long weekend conducted roadblocks across the province of which 1 758 drivers were screened.

25 drivers were arrested for drunken driving. Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works Spokesperson Byron La Hoe said the highest brief alcohol reading was recorded in Knysna which was six times over the legal limit.

49 vehicles were screened for speeding of which 49 speeding offences were recorded. The highest speed recorded was 174 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N1 in Mossel Bay.

Meanwhile one person was arrested for reckless and negligent driving in Brackenfell, two people were arrested in Oudtshoorn and Brackenfell for being in possession of false documentation, and one vehicle was impounded in Oudtshoorn.

17 people died on the provincial roads over the long weekend.

Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works Spokesperson Byron La Hoe said 2 085 fines were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver to vehicle fitness, to the amount of R305 200.

Presidency verifies names of killed foreign nationals

Mbasa Gqokoma
28 April 2015

The Presidency says it is busy verifying information about the names of foreign nationals who were killed during violence that broke out in KwaZulu-Natal over the last two weeks.

Seven people have been killed in violent attacks against foreign nationals in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Presidential Spokesperson Mac Maharaj says the names will be released as soon as there has been conclusive identification of the victims.

Maharaj says “President Zuma release the names of three South Africans who were killed in KwaZulu-Natal and Mr Mr Manuel desires or Mozambique who was killed in Alexandra township Johannesburg.

Maharaj added that “President Zuma once again extends condolences to all affected families on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa.

The South African government is in touch with the embassies of the affected countries to ensure careful management of this difficult and painful process.

The police are working around the clock to apprehend the perpetrators of the violence”, Maharaj added.

Train accident in Denver leaves one person dead and 241 injured

Lusanda Bill
28 April 2015

Picture courtesy of ER24

A train accident at Denver train station south of Johannesburg this morning has left one person dead and about eighty injured.

This is after one train crashed into another and paramedics arrived on the scene to find the wrecked trains blocking the tracks completely.

ER24 Spokesperson Russel Meiring says on assessment paramedics discovered that the driver of one of the trains had sustained fatal injuries in the collision and nothing more could be done for him and he was declared dead on the scene.

 

Picture courtesy of ER24

 

Meiring says at least 80 other patients were found on the scene with injuries ranging from minor to critical. One woman was found trapped between the train and wall. Rescue services and paramedics managed to free the patient and treatment was done on her before being transported to hospital.

“All the other patients were treated for their injuries on scene and then transported to hospital for further medical care” Meiring added.

Minister of Science and Technology launches of 5th gender summit today

Mbasa Gqokoma
28 April 2015

The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor will open the 5th Gender Summit Africa to be held at the Cape Town ICC today.

The Summit will also provide a platform for leading female scientists, researchers and decision makers from Africa and Europe to address issues such as removing gender-bias from science and advancing equality in science structures and practices.

Ministerial spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelala says “ the gender summit is part of the series of international gender summits has in various countries across the globe and it will be for the first time it has been held in Africa.

It is aimed at stimulating meaningful conversation of how science, technology, infrastructure, capital could be used to realise the continents  full potential for the benefit of the entire people, Ngqengelala added.

 

City of Cape Town honours Madiba for his legacy

Mbasa Gqokoma
27 April 2015

City of Cape Town is today honouring the legacy of former state president Nelson Mandela.

Spokesperson for the executive Mayor Zara Nicholson says the city is filled with exuberance and hope, as Nelson Mandela’s words signalled the start of our journey on the path to democracy.

Nicholson added that Cape Town has always had a special association with Nelson Mandela who felt a close affinity for the city in which he spent 27 years of his life as a prisoner.

Nicholson says” we are proud to honour tata Madiba today with the unveiling of the sculpture on Freedom Day.

This was donated to the City of Cape Town, and we believe it is an honour to Nelson Mandela by placing it at our iconic venue of the city hall where he made his first speech upon his release from prison on February 11^th 1990.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance says, on the 27 April 1994, the chains of oppression in South Africa were cast off and freedom was felt for the first time.

DA national spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme says Nelson Mandela was a South African who worked every day for freedom.

Van Damme says our freedom came through peace overcoming violence, and through love overcoming hate.

A culture of Xenophobia is not the South African way, it is not the Madiba way.

Van Damme added said the DA is today in Bloemfontein to commemorate 21 years of our democracy and to honour the legacy our first president democratic South Africa Nelson Mandela.

The DA in Free State has laid flowers at Mandela statue just to say we need to be aware of where we come from as the country in order to progress, Van Damme added.

 

 

 

WC Premier and MEC for Economic Opportunities to strengthen trade relations with Angola

Mbasa Gqokoma
27 April 2015

Premier Hele Zille and Alan Winde, Minster of Economic Opportunities, will lead a delegation to Angola to strengthen trade and investment between the region and the Western Cape.

Premier Zille and Minster Winde officially departed this morning. Premier Helen Zille’s spokesperson Michael Mpofu says “the Premier and Minister Winde left for Angola on a two day trip to basically explore trade and investment opportunities for both countries”.

Mpofu adde that “as you would know that Angola and the Western Cape have had some really improved diplomatic relations, so we going back to explore these further and hopefully we will be able to see some increase in investment in both sides, that will create jobs and grow our economies”.

 

SACP urges law enforcements to deal with the killing of SATAWU secretary

Mbasa Gqokoma
27 April 2015

The South Africa Communist Party in the Gauteng province calls for an urgent and speedy resolution relating to the investigation of the murder of South African Transport and Allied Workers Union Gauteng secretary Chris Nkosi.

SACP Provincial Secretary Jacob Mamabolo said they will work with their alliance partners to ensure that an urgent conclusion is seen and the truth prevails.

Mamabolo says “ and to date we are concerned that the family, comrades, all of us have not yet come to know the truth about the circumstances pertaining to the killing of our most beloved.

Mamabolo added that “we call on law enforcement agencies to work collectively to be sure that those who murdered comrade Chris Nkosi are immediately brought to book and justice is allowed to take its course.

It is very much important for the family, but all of us as comrades to know what have really happened. As the SACP we will work with our alliance partners to ensure that we see the urgent conclusion of this matter and all of us can know the truth, Mamabolo added.

 

 

 

 

104 Scottsdene families receive keys to new social housing units ahead of Freedom Day

Jaimie-faith Poonah 
26 April 2015

A total of 104 families will be celebrating Freedom Day in their brand new social housing units in Scottsdene.

This forms part of a joint project that will ultimately see the provision of 500 social housing units by December 2015.

Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Benedicta van Minnen said we very excited in the City of Cape Town to be able to announce, we have given keys to 104 families for Freedom Day to their own accommodation in the social housing units in Scottsdene.

Van Minnen said this is very much a victory for dignity and it allows us to celebrate Freedom Day by seeing families enjoy the freedom to have a family life in a place where their family’s in a good safe environment that will allow them to reach their potential.

Abahlali baseMjondolo says no to Freedom Day

Jaimie-faith Poonah 
26 April 2015

While freedom day is celebrated by the ruling party on the 27th of April, Abahlali baseMjondolo will hold their Unfreedom Day Rally today at 11am at Cato Crest Sport Ground.

They will use this opportunity to condemn xenophobia and to remember our fallen heroes and heroes with a special gesture.

Ndabo Mzimela said we will be mourning for the Unfreedom Day Rally. Freedom that we expected is not that what we expect it, it has never come yet.

“It is just democracy not freedom. We do not have to celebrate and pretend as if everything is okay and pretend as if we are free.” Mzimela added.

COPE urges South Africans to rally behind Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Jaimie-faith Poonah

26 April 2015

The Congress of the People in a statement applauds Winnie Madikizela-Mandela for requesting an amendment to the electoral system we are using at the national and provincial level.

In the statement it said she recognises clearly, after having participated in the struggle, that lack of accountability is the bane of society.

Now that comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has made her call for electoral reform public, COPE urges South Africans to rally behind her.

COPE’s spokesperson Dennis Bloem said COPE really agrees with what she is saying because if we are not having accountability from the public representatives, that is the councillor and members of parliament, then our service delivery would never happen.

“It was a very brave step of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to tell the ANC that this current system does not work.” Bloem added. 

Man killed after being hit by train

Jaimie-faith Poonah

25 April 2015

A man has been killed after being hit by a train near Mariannhill.

Paramedics from KZN Emergency Medical Services and a private ambulance service have attended to the incident, which occurred between the Mariannhill and Klaarwater train stations this morning.

When medics arrived on scene they found that sadly the man, estimated to be in his twenties had already passed away and he sadly was declared dead.

Media Liaison Officer for the Emergency Medical Services of KwaZulu - Natal Department of Health Robert Mckenzie said 

The police are investigating the incident.

COPE calls for President to take action against Bheki Cele

Jaimie-faith Poonah

25 April 2015

Congress of the People calls upon President Zuma to take stern action against Deputy Minister Bheki Cele.

In a statement COPE said if he fails to act against him, he will have said to all of us that his government condones rogue behaviour. 

COPE expresses its surprise that police Minister Nathi Nthleko has not sprung to the defence of the Commissioner.

Cope’s Spokesperson Dennis Bloem said Bhekis Cele must hang his head in shame, he must accept that his no longer the police Commissioner.

Bloem said what he did was utterly unacceptable and COPE condemns it very strongly.

“We are calling on the President to take action against Bheki Cele because this is not done, he will send out a wrong message which says each and every one can do such an act.” Bloem added.

R2K rejects internet censorship and Film and Publications Board’s Oneline Regulations

Jaimie-faith Poonah

25 April 2015

The Right2Know campaign will next week be protesting in rejection of the Film and Publications Board’s Online Regulations and internet censorship.

The FPB said its draft policy on censoring the internet is raising important questions about the extent of government’s restriction when it comes to freedom of expression.

R2K has called for the scrapping on the Draft Online Regulation Policy document which was gazetted on Wednesday the 4^th of March this year.

R2K’s Micah Reddy said basically what the board is asking for, is to expose a regime of prior censorship.

“Any publisher would have to first classify all information, all content for publication.” Reddy said.

EE calls on Minister Motshekga to answer on NEE and DU

Jaimie-faith Poonah

25 April 2015

Equal Education is demanding that Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga provide answers on the leaked National Education Evaluation and Development Unit.

EE has also expressed its concern that the report was not made public in 2013.

The report has found that primary schools are failing to equip learners with basic literacy and numeracy skills.

EE Deputy General Secretary Doron Isaacs said this report shows that children in primary schools and rural areas are reading at levels far behind where they supposed to and raises some of the real problems that underlie the poor reading ability in rural children.

Isaacs said it is very concerning what the report contains and equally concerning that Minister Motshekga suppressed it for so long.

“As Equal Education we want the minister to explain why she did this.” Isaac added.

SATAWU welcomes the resignation of SAA CEO

Mbasa Gqokoma

24 April 2015

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union said the resignation of South African Airways CEO Monwabisi Kalawe is a welcomed hope that the company will be led into safe and visionary hands.

Kalawe resigned this morning with immediate effect. This is after he was suspended last year pending the completion of an investigation into allegations of misconduct.

Satawu’s Refiloe Lepere says “we are very thrilled that he has decided to throw in the towel and not continue to stop his disciplinary hearing and overturn his suspension.

Lepere added tha “It must be noted that we know Kalawe is never a friend of the trade union, until therefore this resignation seems like a good contribution to our transformation and turn around strategy at SAA.

We hope that the Minister of Public Enterprise Lyne Brown can articulate the clear turnaround strategy for the airline in order to bring it back to its proper functionality, Lepere added.