IEC restores results dashboard after it crashed on Friday morning

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has apologised to voters and the media who were unable to view results in the National and Provincial Elections for almost two hours on Friday morning.

SCREENSHOT OF RESULTS DASHBOARD

The leaderboards at the Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand and the online results dashboard are currently back up and running.

“The Electoral Commission confirms that it has experienced interruption in the replication of data from its national data centre and the various Results Operation Centres. The data in the data centre remains intact and the results have not been compromised. All services have since been restored and the leaderboard is working normal,” said the commission.

It said the processing of results is continuing and unaffected.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom fighters (EFF) has raised concern about the ‘technical glitch’.

In a statement, the red berets says ‘’the crashing of the dashboard highlights the incompetence and inability of the IEC to safeguard our democracy.’’

National spokesperson, Leigh-Ann Mathys says the problem arose on Election Day.

‘’The incompetence was first witnessed on the voting day, where the VMD machines were not fully functional in many voting stations across the country. This resulted in long lines and a longer voting process which were not properly managed by the institution.’’

‘’The crash of the results dashboard for such a historical election is concerning and warrants a thorough investigation to ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral process. We call on the IEC to act swiftly in rectifying any technical problems which may arise during this time to maintain public trust in the democratic process,’’ she added.

As at 11a.m on Friday, the commission has completed 58% of the results

Access the live results at https://results.elections.org.za/dashboards/npe/.

 

Done by: Mitchum George

Rondebosch SAPS seeks public's help to find man for alleged rape and GBH

WARNING: BLOG CONTAINS GRAPHIC DETAILS

Rondebosch police is on the hunt for a man who can help them with the investigation into an alleged attempted rape and assault grievous bodily harm (GBH) case.

SUPPLIED: SAPS

According to Western Cape police spokesperson, Anelisiwe Manyana, reports suggest that on Sunday 21 April 2024 at around 11:15,  the victim was walking with her dog at Rondebosch when she was approached by a suspect who demanded her cellular telephone and money.

‘’He then ripped the victim’s pants and attempted to rape her. The suspect also stabbed her on the back of her head and hand.’’

Anyone who may know the person depicted in the facial composition, are urged to contact the investigating officer Constable Thokozani Mnqina on 082 522 1078 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

 

Done by: Elona Sibunzi

Election Update: ANC in the lead Nationally, DA majority of the votes Western Cape

As of Friday morning, the results of the 2024 General Elections are still being tallied. Nearly 70% of the provincial ballots in the Western Cape have been counted. Provincial head, Michael Hendrickse, said that they aim to finalise the results by the end of Friday. However, he noted that political parties can raise objections until 9 p.m. As of 10 a.m. the DA leads in the province with approximately 54.6% of the votes, followed by the ANC at 18.8%, and the PA at 9.3%. However, several large voting districts in the metro area are yet to be counted.

The Result Operation Centre at the Century City Conference Centre. 

Picture by: Veerle Kroon

On a national level, a little over half of the votes have been counted as of Friday morning at 9:30 AM. The ANC leads with 41.86% of the votes, followed by the DA with 23.67%, and the MK Party with 10.98%. These results suggest another victory for the ruling ANC, but it appears they might lose their majority for the first time in 30 years.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

Your Vote Has Been Cast: What Now?

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) provided an update on the 2024 general elections during a media briefing on Thursday afternoon. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo led the briefing, marking the conclusion of the voting process and outlining the steps ahead.

Screenshot: Facebook Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)

Mamabolo reported that the final ballot was cast early in the morning. The IEC assisted all voters who were still in the queue by 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening. A few voting stations remained open until 3:00 a.m. to accommodate those in line. The first results, from the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Municipality in the Eastern Cape, were announced just after midnight.

As of 4:00 PM, results were finalized for 22.6% of the 23,292 voting districts, representing 2.3 million votes. The rate of result capture varies by province. Mamabolo emphasized that results are only considered complete after undergoing rigorous verification procedures.

The counting process includes several layers of verification. Once results are counted and finalized, the presiding officer and party agents sign the result slip in the presence of observers. The slip is then placed in a tamper-evident bag and transported to the local capture site, where further checks and balances ensure its accuracy. The result slip, bearing a unique barcode, is captured onto the system and matched with the appropriate voting district. External auditors then verify the results. If any discrepancies are flagged, the results are investigated and, if necessary, recaptured.

Historically, 80% of votes are counted within the first 24 hours. Mamabolo noted that the introduction of a third ballot has slowed down the counting process this year, especially in metropolitan areas. Nevertheless, the IEC is confident in completing the results within the statutory seven-day period. Mamabolo assured that the IEC has historically met this deadline and aims to do so again.

By Veerle Kroon

IEC Western Cape Updates: Late Closures and Power Outages

The IEC in the Western Cape provided an update during a media briefing on Thursday afternoon regarding Election Day and the election results. 

Photo by: Veerle Kroon

Michael Hendrickse, the Western Cape Provincial Head of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, addressed the late closure of some voting stations, with the last closure in Parklands at 1:52 AM on Thursday. He noted that 10 voting districts were still finalizing their counts. Once counting is complete, IEC officials and party agents sign the result slips, which are then transported to the local IEC office. There, officials input the results into the system, and independent auditors verify the information. The results will be available on the IEC website.

Hendrickse reported minimal incidents on Election Day, but mentioned a power failure in Breede Valley around 2 a.m., affecting 57 voting stations. Eskom resolved the issue, allowing vote counting to resume. He also mentioned two separate shooting incidents that did not impact the voting process in these areas. Lastly, there was an incident at an IEC office in Mossel Bay where an unauthorized party official tried to get inside. He was later arrested.

Hendrickse stressed that high voter turnout should not excuse long lines and that the IEC should have been better prepared. He could not provide a timeline for when the final results would be available.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

Election Update: Voting Continued until 1AM in Western Cape, First Results Coming Through

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has reported that voters were in line well into the night, with the last Western Cape voters casting their ballots at 1AM on Thursday morning.

IEC Result Operation Centre at Century City Conference Centre, Cape Town

Michael Hendrickse, Electoral Head of the Western Cape, has issued a sincere apology to the many voters who endured long queues well into the early hours of Thursday to exercise their voting rights. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) confirms that assistance was provided to the last voters in the province until 1 am. 

Throughout the day many voting stations had trouble with the Voter Management Devices (VMD), but the Deputy CEO Electoral Operations, Masego Sheburi, said earlier on Wednesday that this should not affect the election process: “The VMD is not a requirement in law for the voting process, it is an addition and an additional safeguard”. However, Hendrickse did later say that the IEC could have prepared better for being let down by technology. 

Now that all ballots have been casted, the results are slowly trickling in. On a national level about 16.65% have been counted with ANC coming out on top receiving 42.48% of the votes. ANC is followed by DA (25.76%) and EFF (8.5%). In The Western Cape 29.45% of the provincial ballots have been counted with DA taking the lead, followed by ANC and PA.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

IEC Updates: Late Opening of Voting Stations and VDM Issues

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), held a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon to update the public regarding Election Day. Deputy CEO Electoral Operations, Masego Sheburi, took the lead in updating the public at the National Operations Result Centre. 

Screenshot: Facebook Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)

Sheburi started off the briefing stating that some voting stations did not open on time: “Unfortunately there were a number of voting stations which opened late, there were delays in our material handling and there were a number of protests”. People already started queuing before 7AM causing lines at voting stations before the opening. According to Sheburi, most delayed voting stations were opened within the first hour. There were also some delays of voting supplies in certain areas, but those have since been resolved. 

There have been some issues with the Voter Management Devices (VMD), but Sheburi says this should not affect the election process: “We have issued instructions that voting should continue using the manual voting roll”. Shebri added: “The VMD is not a requirement in law for the voting process, it is an addition and an additional safeguard”. 

Regarding voters not being on the voters roll, Sheburi said that this has likely to do with these voters being approved for Special Votes or section 24a. “The voters rolls that we have, the VMD and the voters roll that is printed on hardcopy paper at the voting station, are identical. The only difference is that one is electronic and the other is on hard copy paper. So it is impossible for one to appear on one and not on the other”. 

Sheburi expresses that presiding officers stationed at the voting station have been thoroughly trained over a course of 4 days. Party agents at voting stations may raise objections at any time. 

IEC cannot say how many people have voted so far, but Sheburi said that they are hoping for a turnout over 66%.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

Election Day Off To a Slow Start at Several Voting Stations in the Western Cape

The Western Cape IEC provided an update to the public during a media briefing on Wednesday morning regarding Election Day. Michael Hendrickse, Western Cape Provincial Head of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, took the lead in updating the media at the Century City Conference Centre.

Michael Hendrickse updates the public regarding Election Day in the Western Cape

Addressing the late opening of several voting stations, Hendrickse stated, “The majority of our voting stations opened at 7 o'clock this morning. There were some voting stations where there were delays, as IEC staff were late at arrival. From the reports we’ve received, at 7:45 all our stations were open.”

There were also issues with the Voter Management Devices (VMD) at some stations. Hendrickse reassured the public, saying, “Voting can continue without the VMD at the station as long as they use the hardcopy voters roll and the people voting are registered on the roll.”

The IEC has been notified that some stations are using only one ballot box instead of the required three. Hendrickse assured voters that this is not a problem, as the different ballots will be sorted afterwards.

Hendrickse also addressed issues reported during the special voting on Monday and Tuesday: “I want to take the opportunity to apologize to those who voted during the special voting period and did not receive the standard of service that they deserve, and we will continue to aspire to improve.”

 

Hendrickse reminded the public that no public meetings or gatherings are allowed today. He emphasized the importance of voting at the station where one is registered, noting that the law changed in 2021 to require prior application for voting at a different station. Voters will receive three ballot papers, and the stations are open from 7 AM to 9 PM. He stressed that voters must bring their IDs.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

Refuse collection will be collected on Election Day, says City of Cape Town

The City of Cape Town says its waste services will resume as per normal on Wednesday, despite it being a public holiday – Election Day.

COURTESY: City of Cape Town

It however warned that refuse collection teams might arrive earlier than expected.

‘’As normal, please place your bin outside for collection by 06:00 on the scheduled refuse collection day. Please be encouraged not to wait for the refuse collection vehicle to enter your street before taking the bin to the pavement. The collection teams might arrive much earlier than usual as there is likely to be reduced traffic congestion on the roads on these days,’’ said Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management.

‘’Should there be delays and your refuse is not collected on the scheduled day, please do not leave it outside overnight. Take it out again each day until it has been collected. Please do not resort to dumping,’’ he added.

Twigg said area cleaning and door-to-door refuse collection services in informal areas will also not be affected by the public holiday.

‘’If the waste is not collected due to any unforeseeable circumstances, residents can take bagged waste to the closest shipping container.Please do not resort to dumping.’’

All of the City of Cape Town’s drop-off facilities, which accept recyclables, will be closed on the day.

 

Done By: Elona Sibunzi

Outcomes of Grade 1 or 8 applications for 2025 school year to be available from Thursday

Parents who applied for a place in Grade 1 or 8 for their child for the 2025 school year in the Western Cape, during the on-time admissions window, will start seeing the outcomes of their applications from Thursday.

PICTURE: Pixabay

The Western cape Education Department (WCED) said parents who receive successful offers must then accept or decline these offers before 14 June 2024.

‘’It is especially important for parents to confirm their choice of school speedily when they have received offers from multiple schools. These parents are essentially ‘double parking’ on the system, stopping schools from offering these places to other applicants until they make their choice,’’ said David Maybier, Western Cape Education MEC.

He warned that if a parent has not confirmed their choice by 14 June 2024, the system will automatically confirm their top-ranked choice of school that has made an offer. All other offers will then be removed, so that those places can be offered to other learners.

‘’Parents who do not receive an offer on 30 May 2024 should not be disheartened: thousands of additional offers can be made to parents who were not successful initially, as other parents confirm their choices and free up spaces,’’ said Maynier.

The MEC encouraged parents to check that they have their passwords to our online admissions system handy in advance of the offers being made, and that their contact details are correct.

They can access the system here: https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/admissions

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Home Affairs extends operating hours for election day

The Department of Home Affairs announced that its branches will remain open for the duration of election day for ID applications and collections. The offices will open at 08:00 and close at 21:00 on Wednesday.

COURTESY: Home Affairs Department

The offices will also assist with resolving challenges pertaining to duplicates, amendments, rectifications and dead-alive cases with the required supporting documents.

Mobile offices are scheduled to return to deliver IDs in the remote areas where they took applications from. Local offices, working with stakeholders that include councillors, will communicate the dates, times and venues of those visits.

Mobile offices will be used to support the identified local offices.

“We invite people who have applied for their IDs, particularly young people who are first time applicants, to come to our offices to collect their documents. This initiative gives people more options to collect their enabling documents,” said Njabulo Nzuza, Deputy Home Affairs Minister.

“We encourage clients who have applied for identification documents and have received their SMS notifications, to seize this opportunity by visiting their Home Affairs office to collect these critical documents,” he added.

Clients can book appointments to collect their Smart ID Cards and Green barcoded ID books before visiting offices by using the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS), which is available at  www.dha.gov.za.

Alternatively, clients can simply visit the offices without making a booking.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

''Achoo!'' SA sees increase in flu cases

South Africa is currently experiencing the annual influenza (flu) season, which started in the week of 22 April 2024. According to the department of health, several flu strains are circulating causing severe health complications in some patients.

“This has been confused with the COVID-19 variant which has been in circulation with a low level of transmissibility and severity,’’ said Foster Mohale, spokesperson for National Department of Health.

ARCHIVE: Bush Radio

The most commonly detected and circulating flu is “swine flu” because it causes disease in pigs, followed by influenza B/Victoria and influenza A (H3N2).

The department said this was not unusual as swine flu has been circulating as one of the annual seasonal flu strains since 2010.

“Influenza A virus is more severe in adults. About 8% to 10% of patients hospitalised for pneumonia and 25% of patients with flu-like illness such as fever and cough will test positive for influenza during the flu season in South Africa.”

According to the NICD surveillance data, the numbers of flu cases and positivity rates are increasing rapidly, but the transmission and impact remain at a moderate level of activity for both outpatient and hospitalised cases.

“This means that while there is a lot of influenza circulating, it is still within the expected range for a normal influenza season. Influenza may cause severe illness leading to hospitalisation or possibly death, especially among those who are at risk of severe influenza illness or complications.”

High-risk groups include pregnant women, mothers six weeks after delivery, individuals living with HIV, those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis, heart disease, renal disease, obesity, the elderly and children under two years old.

“These groups of people are strongly encouraged to receive the influenza vaccine available freely at public health clinics or a cost from private healthcare providers and through pharmacies.”

Ideally, the vaccine should be administered before the start of the flu season because it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop, but it is not too late for people to get it to protect themselves and their loved ones against these viruses.

The Department encouraged the public to cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, ventilation, and regular hand washing with water and soap or sanitiser, to minimise the spread of the disease.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Second case of Monkey Pox confirmed in SA within a month

The Department of Health has urged people experiencing suspected symptoms of monkey pox (mpox disease) to visit their nearest healthcare provider for screening and testing to ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment. This is after the country recorded the second laboratory-confirmed case of mpox disease.

COURTESY: NICD

The new patient is a 39-year-old male who was admitted at Addington Hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, without a travel history to countries and regions currently experiencing the disease outbreak.

The first case was logged earlier this month, in Gauteng when a 35-year-old man tested positive

The infectious disease is caused by the monkeypox virus and has the potential to cause painful or itchy rash-like pimples or blisters and fever.

The department working closely with the province and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has activated contact tracing and case finding to identify and assess people in contact with the patient to prevent further transmission, especially at a household and community level.

“This will also assist to establish if the second case was in contact with the first case confirmed in Gauteng earlier this month.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) a total of 466 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox and three deaths from 22 countries were reported globally in March 2024.  The most affected WHO regions include Africa, Europe, the Americas, the Western Pacific and South-East Asia.

“In the African region, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports the highest number of confirmed positive cases, which represents just over a tenth of the suspected clinically compatible cases and deaths reported.”

“We urge the public and communities to support those who test positive for mpox to take treatment and those with suspected symptoms to go for screening and testing instead of discriminating against them.”

 

Done by: Bush Radio news reporter

NSFAS Urges TVET Students to Submit Personal Banking Details

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has reiterated its call for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students to submit their banking details to receive their allowances. During a media briefing, NSFAS Administrator Freeman Nomvalo emphasized the importance of accurate student banking information to ensure seamless allowance disbursements.

Photo: YouTube GovernmentZA

Nomvalo announced that 211,591 students' bank accounts have been verified, but 7,160 failed verification due to issues such as using their parents' bank accounts. He urged students without bank accounts to open them promptly and re-submit their correct details if verification failed.

The new direct payment mechanism for TVET students aims to streamline allowance distribution. However, university students will continue to receive allowances through their institutions.

Addressing student accommodation, Nomvalo highlighted efforts to resolve outstanding payments to private landlords. “A Task Team involving all the student accommodation stakeholders has been established to serve as a consultative forum to address all issue relating to student accommodation. This Task Team is expected to report back in September. We do so in order to regularize private student accommodation to give greater accommodation,” Nomvalo said. NSFAS plans a national conference in September 2024 to discuss future student accommodation, involving various stakeholders.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

Human Remains Discovered at George Building Collapse Site

Southern Cape police are conducting a forensic investigation after human remains were found at the site of the building collapse in George that resulted in 34 fatalities. A security guard discovered the remains on Friday, prompting further police investigation.

Photo by: SAPS

The tragic incident occurred over three weeks ago when a partially completed five-storey apartment block at 75 Victoria Street collapsed, claiming the lives of 34 workers. Despite the catastrophic collapse, all 62 workers present at the time were initially accounted for.

Police spokesperson Christopher Spies confirmed that the remains are yet to be identified and linked to any specific victim. "This discovery forms part of an ongoing police probe, an inquest docket is being investigated," said Spies. 

The site, marked by a large gaping hole where the building once stood, had been cleared following an exhaustive 11-day search and recovery operation. Disaster response teams concluded their efforts and turned the site over to police authorities for further examination.

Photo by: SAPS

Currently, at least four separate investigations are being conducted to determine the cause of the fatal collapse. The discovery of the remains adds a new dimension to the ongoing inquiry, raising questions about the thoroughness of the initial search and recovery operations.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

NATJOINTS Updates Public on Readiness Amid Security Concerns

On Sunday, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) assured the public of their readiness for the upcoming general elections, emphasizing measures to prevent crime and disruptions. NATJOINTS, led by the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, and the State Security Agency, provided this update from their new Coordination Centre at the South African Police Service Tshwane Academy.

Photo by: YouTube Government ZA

Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili highlighted the center's role in enhancing real-time response to security threats. "This state of the art 24-hour nodal point of contact is up and running, providing us with a clear picture and a bird’s eye view of what is happening across the country," Mosikili stated.

Mosikili also addressed recent security challenges, including unrest in the transport sector. The Eastern Cape has seen significant taxi-related violence, prompting calls for peaceful dialogue within the industry. Additionally, efforts to combat illicit mining activities were discussed.

In election-related incidents, twenty-seven new cases are under investigation, including a shooting during a door-to-door campaign in Limpopo, resulting in multiple charges and one arrest. An assault case was also registered in Pretoria where a party member was putting up posters and was then attacked by a group of men.

Deputy Commissioner Mosikili also issued a warning against the spread of mis- and disinformation.

As preparations intensify, heightened security measures and increased police visibility are planned. “The road to a safe, secure and peaceful election requires commitment and effort from all stakeholders, including our communities”, Mosikili concluded.

Done by: Veerle

Hawks Arrest Suspect in George for Human Trafficking

The Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team arrested a 39-year-old woman on charges of human trafficking on Saturday. The arrest followed an observation by the Hawks at a brothel in George. The arrest was linked to an alleged assault incident attended by SAPS Visible Policing members earlier that day.

Photo by: SAPS

During their investigation, the Hawks discovered that the victim was being held against their will by the suspect. They arrested the suspect right away. The victim received medical attention at George Hospital and has been relocated to a place of safety. The investigation into this case is ongoing as the Hawks continue to gather more information.

The suspect is set to appear in George Magistrates' Court on May 27, 2024.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

President Cyril Ramaphosa Addresses Nation Ahead of 2024 Elections

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation in preparation for the 2024 elections, focusing on the country's readiness for the elections and reflecting on his administration's achievements and challenges over the past five years.

Photo: YouTube Government ZA 

Ramaphosa highlighted the immediate steps being taken to ensure a smooth voting process. "Tomorrow morning at 9am, in voting stations and homes across the country, South Africans who have registered for special votes will begin to cast their ballots. Thousands of South Africans living abroad have already voted. And this Wednesday, the 29th of May, millions more South Africans will exercise this most important of democratic rights."

This election marks the seventh national vote since the end of apartheid. Ramaphosa emphasized the broader significance of voting. "We will be determining the direction that our country takes. We will be taking responsibility for our future, the future of our families, our communities, and our nation."

Ramaphosa commended the Independent Electoral Commission and law enforcement for ensuring the integrity and security of the elections. Reflecting on his administration, he noted, "When this administration took office in 2019, our country stood at a turning point. We had endured a decade of corruption and state capture, of weak economic growth and the erosion of our public institutions. Today, we have put that era behind us.”

He highlighted economic reforms, anti-corruption initiatives, and the nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ramaphosa called for unity and encouraged all South Africans to vote. "I call upon all South Africans to go cast their votes. We are a diverse people, but a united nation. Let us be united in our commitment to our democracy. Let us work together to build a better country."

Many South Africans expressed criticism of both the speech and Ramaphosa. They claimed that the address was merely a marketing campaign for the ANC, complained about what they described as 'lies,' and expressed support for different political parties. 

Done by: Veerle Kroon

Special Voting Begins Today

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has confirmed its readiness to administer special votesspecial votes on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of Election Day on May 29, 2024.

Special votes for South Africans abroad have already been cast. Domestic special votes cater to those who are infirm, have impaired mobility, or cannot access voting stations on Election Day. These voters will either be visited at their homes or will cast their votes early at designated stations.

Photo by: Pexel

IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi, announced at a media briefing that over 1.6 million South Africans have been approved for special voting. About 624,593 voters will receive home visits from IEC staff, with the remainder voting at stations.

Special votes will be administered in the presence of representatives and observers. Voters must have their identity documents for verification. Ballots will be placed in double envelopes to maintain voter anonymity and ensure proper verification.

Voting stations for special votes will operate from 9am to 5pm. Ballots will be securely stored until they are counted on May 29.

The IEC has made provisions for persons with disabilities, including the use of a Universal Ballot Template developed with the South African National Council for the Blind.

Done by: Veerle Kroon

Two new bills - GBV, NPA - signed into law

President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Friday, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, signed the the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Amendment Bill, into law.

The bill, first introduced in 2023, paves the way for the establishment of the Investigative Directorate against Corruption.

Ramaphosa said corruption and gender-based violence are two scourges that plague South Africa and corrode the country’s social fabric.

“Corruption and gender-based violence are affronts to the human dignity that is the inalienable right of every South African. These forms of criminality are holding our country back and preventing us from realising our full potential,” President Ramaphosa said.

The two signed pieces of legislation will form part of government’s efforts to strengthen institutions, develop partnerships and build state capacity.

The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide will coordinate and provide strategic leadership to the fight against GBV and femicide, and be multi-sectoral, drawing on the expertise of all stakeholders, including civil society, labour and business.

“We enacted new laws to strengthen the response of the criminal justice system to gender-based violence. We have worked to improve the support provided to survivors of gender-based violence through the establishment of new Thuthuzela Care Centres, new Sexual Offences Courts, and victim-friendly rooms at nearly all police stations across the country.

“Through these efforts, we have seen improvements in conviction rates and in stricter sentencing. While this progress is welcome, our greatest task is to prevent Gender-Based Violence from being perpetrated in the first place…. we want to end, once and for all, the violence that men perpetrate against women,” President Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa emphasised the need for the national response to be more coordinated between the different stakeholders.

“We need a national effort that is more inclusive, more focused, and better resourced. We are confident that this council will provide much of what we need and will further strengthen the national effort to eradicate violence against women and children,” the President said.

On the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill, Ramaphosa highlighted that great progress has been made since the establishment of the Investigating Directorate within the NPA in the last five years.

“It has been five years since we established an Investigating Directorate within the NPA to investigate cases of corruption and other serious crimes arising from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. These are five years in which great progress has been made.To date, the Investigating Directorate has taken 39 state capture and corruption cases to court, involving 212 accused persons and 68 accused entities. In the last five years, the NPA has also secured the conviction of almost 700 government officials for corruption,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President called on all stakeholders, including government, business, labour and across civil society to support the effort to make the two new entities a success.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Two Gupta family members arrested in India

Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola, has confirmed the arrest of two Gupta family members in India.

He said the government is in touch with the high commissioner in New Delhi to get the identities of the suspects.

PHOTO: X - @ChrispinJ_Phiri

However, Lamola made it clear that the arrested pair is definitely not Atul and Ajay Gupta, who are wanted by authorities in South Africa and Interpol.

The Gupta brothers have been on the run since their exit from South Africa in recent years.

The two, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, were reportedly arrested on Friday in India on charges of abetting the suicide of prominent Dehrandun-based builder Satinder Singh Sahni.

According to news reports, the prominent builder named them in a suicide note

Lamola says the Interpol Red Notice for Atul and Rajesh Gupta remains active.

‘’Nonetheless engagements with Indian authorities regarding this matter.’’

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Duo arrested in Eersterivier for illegal abalone worth R1.5million

Two suspects were arrested in Eersterivier on Friday, for illegally possessing abalone, worth about R1.5 million.

COURTESY: SAPS

The police’s FC van Wyk said officers attached to the Anti-Gang Unit conducted an intelligence driven operation which led to the discovery of abalone at an address in Silwood Heights.

‘’The members searched the premises in Breede Street, Silwood Heights and found 27 bags containing 2917 units of abalone, with an estimated street value of R1,5 million as well as an electronic scale,’’ said Captain F. C.van Wyk, Western cape SAPS spokesperson.

‘’Two suspects aged 24 and 57 were arrested and detained at Kleinvlei SAPS on charges of Section 13 of Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 Regulation 36 (Illegal Possession of abalone without a permit),’’ he added.

COURTESY: SAPS

The suspects are due to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on Monday, on the mentioned charges.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

ICJ orders Israel to halt operations in Rafah

The top United Nations court on Friday ordered Israel to halt military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the Gaza war.

COURTESY: ICJ

Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," the International Court of Justice said.

It also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing into Gaza for the "unhindered" provision of humanitarian aid.

Israel had argued before the court that an order to stop military activity would give free rein to Hamas extremists and prevent its army from rescuing hostages taken in the group's brutal October 7 attack.

COURTESY: ICJ

South Africa brought the case before the ICJ last year alleging that Israel's Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention -- a charge strongly denied by Israel.

COURTESY: ICJ

‘’Judge ad hoc Barak concludes his opinion reiterating that he sincerely hopes that this war comes to an end as quickly as possible, and that the hostages will return to Israel immediately. He emphasizes that, like every State, Israel has the fundamental right to protect its citizens and itself.’’

‘’This right receives a special dimension in the case of the hostages, in the sense that it imposes a duty on the State to do everything in its power to bring them back to Israel. The fulfilment of this duty is not in conflict with Israel’s obligations under the Genocide Convention because it stems from Israel’s intent to protect its citizens and not from an intent to commit acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention.

Judge ad hoc Barak also notes that the Court is in a difficult position and facing great pressure. Even so, in his view, the Court cannot be bothered by political, military or public policy troubles. It can only be concerned with legal troubles, since it is a court of law and not one of public opinion,’’ it said in a statement.

MULTIMEDIA: photos and videos of today’s reading of the #ICJ Order on the request of South Africa of 10 May 2024 in the case #SouthAfrica v. #Israel are available here https://t.co/V5Gan1FrdU pic.twitter.com/lhzC6LGpuA

— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) May 24, 2024

Done By: Bush Radio News reporter