Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Home Affairs vows to crackdown on corruption
Monday, January 30, 2006
A low voter turnout expected for March elections
Dina Rodriguez trial starts today
Metrorail workers go on strike
Trueman Prince expelled from the ANC
Friday, January 27, 2006
Fresh firefighters dispatched to Table Mountain
Meanwhile, Kalk could not confirm speculation that several people are believed to be trapped on the mountain. She says there has been some concern about unclaimed vehicles near the mountain’s access points, but adds that the owners could have left the area by other means.
Fire sweeps Table Mountain
Helicopters have taken to the air to drop tons of water on the flames still raging in places on Table Mountain. The fire caused the death of an elderly woman and severely damaged a number of expensive homes in Cape Town.
The main concern this morning is about the safety of the occupants of four hired cars that have been found parked on the lower reaches of the mountain near the Cable Way entrance. Nobody has yet come forward to claim the vehicles. Firemen spent an exhausting night trying desperately to quell the flames as a raging south-easterly wind fanned the blaze.
The fire is believed to have been started by a smouldering cigarette tossed out of a car window by a British tourist, who has since been arrested.
The suspect will appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s court this morning to face a charge of culpable homicide.
The fire has been described as one of the most dangerous in years on the mountain. The daughter of the 65-year-old woman who was killed, a British tourist, has reportedly identified the man who started the fire. At least seven people, including two British and three German tourists, had to be rescued from the slopes of the mountain as the flames raced towards them.
Pic: Adrian Louw
Cape Town orphanage investigated for prostitution and drug offences
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Mayor to hand over millions to community projects
Bainskloof fires rage out of control
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Emergency power plans for Cape Town
Investigation continues into shopping mall teargas attack
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
DA accuses ANC of breaking election promises
Monday, January 23, 2006
Mfeketo defends BEE policy
Sunday, January 22, 2006
State to act on private hospital fees
Bizarre reburial plan for Mbeki’s father slammed
Cape Town police recover stolen goods
Tony Leon lists ANC municipalities’ failures
Lekota defends deputy president’s flights
Commenting on the deputy president's expensive flight to Abu Dhabi in December, Lekota said neither the deputy president nor the president had a say in the planes they used, as that was the responsibility of the ministry of defence.
Meanwhile, the DA’s Douglas Gibson says Sudan should not be hosting the AU summit and the country’s president should not be allowed to act as president of the organisation. According to Gibson, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir presides over a government which is directly responsible for aiding and abetting the human rights disaster in Darfur. He accuses Sudan of not caring about millions of its citizens who are discriminated against because of race. Gibson has urged the South African government to use its considerable influence to see to it that Bashir does not accede to the presidency of the AU.
ANC and DA fire municipal election salvoes
South African team to observe Palestinian elections
Peace Boat on its way to Cape Town
Saturday, January 21, 2006
IEC’s race against time begins
Diplomat’s son escapes rape charges
Deputy President on another expensive flight
Fears of above-inflation electricity tariff increases
Third lion murder accused dies
Cape Town power blackout explained
Power failure hits the city centre
By Nadia Samie
The Cape Town CBD and surrounding areas, including the waterfront, have been hit by a power failure.
Eyewitnesses at the Waterfront reported that the centre is in darkness, and nobody has been forthcoming with information regarding the blackout, which occurred at quarter to three this afternoon.
Eskom has said that the City of Cape Town is responsible for supplying power to the affected areas. Charles Kadalie for the City, says that the fault does indeed lie with the city…
Earlier in the week, Eskom confirmed the possibility of more power cuts in the Western Cape. At a press conference, yesterday, Eskom ceo Thulani Gcabashe said that parts needed to be brought in from Europe to fix a faulty generator, which was damaged by a lose bolt.
Power failure causes chaos in Mother City
More upheavals expected in SA’s rugby administration
No bail for laundry murder accused
Security guard killed in Stellenbosch robbery
Still in the Cape, two people will appear in court on Monday after they were caught in possession of an illegal weapons cache. Police raided the house in Heinz Park in Cape Town, following a tip-off from the public. Police discovered several weapons, including a shotgun and a homemade gun, on the premises, as well as several rounds of ammunition.
Friday, January 20, 2006
CIA identifies Osama bin Laden’s voice on tape
Funeral arrangements for Anton Rupert announced
Citizens urged to send tips to Trevor Manuel
Major Cape highway closed because of fire
A REVAMP FOR THE GRAND PARADE
The City of Cape Town has initiated a three-year project to revitalise the Grand Parade. The project will involve a thorough review of the current run-down state of Cape Town’s largest and oldest public space. The City has also made a commitment to funding improvements over the next two financial years. City spokesperson and manager of the project Pierre Cronje says that the Grand Parade is currently experiencing social, cleansing and security problems. The planning and development process aims to address these issues. He added that the project will bring together the ideas of the public, key stakeholder groups, the City, the Cape Town Partnership as well as the input of professional planners and engineers.
Human Rights Commission speaks on gay blood row
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Body of missing diver recovered
Zuma slams the NPA
Tqon injured in cash-in-transit heist
Cape Town city manager steps down as election officer
Schools re-open in coastal provinces
Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore says 15 new schools have been opened in areas around Cape Town in an effort to provide facilities for the influx of new learners into the province and to reduce overcrowding. Dugmore says around 40 new schools are still needed and he is adamant that no children will be taught under trees this year. He says only two schools in Khayelitsha still have to share resources by being a primary school in the morning and a high school in the afternoon. Dugmore and Premier Ebrahim Rasool visited several schools on Wednesday.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Education MEC Ina Cronjé says 20 percent of the poorest schools will implement a no-fee policy this year. She says the schools have until the end of the month to apply for free education but has emphasised that no child will be refused education or should be victimised because they cannot pay.
Another shack fire in Cape Town
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Experts meet to discuss the future of South Africa's elephants
Western Cape Education expecting smooth start for 2006 school year
By Busisiwe Mtabane
The Western Cape Education Department says that it is expecting smooth start to the 2006 school year and has contingency plans in place to deal with accommodation challenges. About one million learners are expected to flock back to schools this week including almost 80 thousand new learners. Over the past two days the department has opened more than three new schools in an effort to accommodate the growing number of learners. Gert Witbooi, spokesperson for the provincial Education Department says that this year they are opening a record number of schools to alleviate pressures of accommodation, especially in historically disadvantaged communities.
The deputy president’s controversial trip
Earlier, the Democratic Alliance joined the Freedom Front Plus in demanding that Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana probes the trip. The DA’s Gareth Morgan says Mushwana should investigate as a matter of urgency whether the Deputy President is guilty of violating the Executive Members Act. Cosatu has also repeated its call for a new rule-book to be drafted to regulate the use of public facilities by government ministers. Spokesperson Patrick Craven says there can be no justification for anyone to have free holidays at taxpayers' expense, especially not with millions of South Africans living in poverty.
The search continues for a crashed helicopter
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
YCL concerned about youth voter apathy
By Busisiwe Mtabane
The Young Communist League says it is worried by the recent survey report that reveals that 70 percent of young people have mixed feelings about voting. The Research Surveys study found that while three-quarters of adults across all race and language groups felt there are many good reasons to vote, 18 to 24 year-olds mostly disagree. The study was based on face to face interviews with 200 people in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein. The league says this poses a challenge to youth-political organisations to go all out there and improve on the predicted 41 percent of votes. Buti Manamela, National Secretary of the young communist league says young people must realise the significance of participating in elections as a means to exercise their rights.
Police seek public's assistance
Anyone with information regarding this incident, is asked to contact Inspector Basil Daamis at the Worcester police station, on 023 – 348 61 00.
Mlambo-Ngcuka saga continues
The deputy president’s controversial trip
Robben Island museum denies media reports
The Robben Island Museum head of communications has denied media reports that a family has been banned from the Island. Palesa Morudu’s statement comes a week after reports that a family was banned from the Island after their minor son allegedly assaulted a ten-year-old girl from another family residing on the Island.
The families involved work for the department of Public Works and the National Ports Authority. Morudu says the boy’s father volunteered to take his son on a holiday out of town until the matter is settled.
Youth not interested in voting in municipal elections
Monday, January 16, 2006
A possible energy crisis looms in the Western Cape
Political parties launch election campaigns
In Athlone in Cape Town, the African Christian Democratic Party introduced its mayoral candidates when the party’s manifesto was launched. Cape Town candidate Pauline Cupido said the ACDP would turn the Mother City into a God-friendly, rather than gay-friendly city. She added that the ACDP would turn Cape Town into an efficiently run, world-class city. She said the present political leadership of Cape Town did not care about the needs of the people.
In Delmas, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania said it would offer people dedicated councillors. PAC president Motsoko Pheko warned that greedy councillors would destroy South Africa. He said the PAC believed that councillors were elected not just to run services, but also to see to the interests and needs of the people. He promised that the poor would come first should the PAC come to power.
Western Cape ready for the new school year
Zuma says race for ANC presidency still wide open
More protection for taxi communters
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Rape cases hampered by crime lab backlog
Drug bust at Cape Town International
Friday, January 13, 2006
Local policeman due in court for torching his girlfriend’s home
Calls for a helipad on top of Table Mountain
Three killed in Western Cape road accidents
Dam levels up but water restrictions remain
Towards the end of 2005, Cape Town residents had water restrictions, which were imposed on them throughout the year, lightened. This was due to the increased amount of water storage and dam levels. According to a Water Affairs official however, restrictions are still in place as dam levels are not as high as in previous years. For this reason, the City of Cape Town has urged all residents to adhere to the restrictions, as they are not as strict as they were. The current water restrictions include the following: Do not water the garden between 10 a.m and 5 p.m, and make sure that all hose-pipes being used to wash motor vehicles, boats and caravans are fitted with self-closing device.
No South Africans among Hajj Pilgtim victims
Tutu buries the hatchet with Botha
DA wants details on Deputy Presidents semi-business trip
Family banned from Robben Island to take legal action
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Unidentified body found at Mnandi beach
Police are investigating a murder case this comes after an unidentified body of a man was found by fishermen near Mnandi Beach in Mitchells Plain Cape Town on Tuesday morning. The man, who was found amongst the rocks, had his hands and feet tied with a rope. The man had several visible injuries to his body. Police spokesperson Captain Randall Stoffels says an autopsy will be conducted to establish the cause of death. Anyone with information is requested to contact Crime- Stop on share call 08600 10111.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Police confiscate thousands of mandrax tablets
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Social development cracks down on grant fraud
Another police murder suicide in the Western Cape
Another fatal bus accident claims three lives
Two people have died and 23 have been injured in the latest bus accident to occur on the country’s roads. Willie van Heerden, president of Rollersport South Africa, and his wife, were killed when a bus traveling to Pretoria from Cape Town crashed after one of the vehicles tyres burst on the N1 near Springfontein in the Free State. The bus was carrying a group of national and international speed skaters. The bus driver, who is believed to have lost control of the vehicle, also died in hospital while undergoing surgery. This accident is the fourth of it’s kind in the past month. According to the Colin Msibi, spokesperson for the Department of Transport, many accidents that occurred last month was a result of speeding, and that nine of the 15 most serious accidents last month were those involving taxis.
DA slams ANC election manifesto
Monday, January 09, 2006
Two cousins burn to death in early morning shack fire
Two cousins burnt to death early on Monday morning in a shack fire in Gugulethu. It is alleged that the two youth, Lifa Sika, aged 20-years, of Gugulethu and Khaya Mahlanyana, aged 19-years, of Summer Greens, fell asleep while an electric braai was burning. Relatives and neighbours who were woken by screams, tried in vain to rescue the two from the burning shack, but to no avail. Due to the intensity of the fire, the cousins were burnt beyond recognition. Mahlanyana matriculated recently from Gugulethu High School. Sika’s mother Phumla, who lives in Johannesburg, was on her way to Cape Town on Monday afternoon.
Eskom tight lipped about problems at Koeberg
Climber in coma after Table Mountain fall
Mbeki says corruption must be rooted out
Two arrests made for armed robbery
Friday, January 06, 2006
Last day for voter registration
This comes after Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi confirmed that the March 1st poll date will be published in the Government Gazette today, triggering the closure of the voters’ roll by midnight tonight.
Voters can register at the offices of municipal electoral officers in their municipalities during office hours today.
The declaration also gives political parties 14 days to complete their candidate lists, which should be submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission by the 20th of this month.
To find out if you are registered:- SMS your identity number to 32810,
call the City of Cape Town’s toll free line at 0800 221 350 or call the IEC hotline at 0800 118 000.
Garages risk hefty fines over unleaded fuel
The department of minerals and energy has given all fuel stations until March to phase out high-sulphur diesel.
According to Business Day, deputy minerals and energy minister Lulu Xingwana says government is satisfied that most fuel stations have already started complying with new regulations, but warns that those found to be lagging behind could face hefty fines.
The 25th WaterNet/WARSFA/GWP-SA Symposium
The 25th WaterNet/WARSFA/GWP-SA Symposium, held for the first time in Lesotho, brought together experts from Southern and Eastern Africa to ...
-
A man suspected of killing and raping a number of members of the farm worker community in Philippi on the Cape Flats appears in a Cape Town ...
-
''Human behaviour is the main cause of wildfires.'' These remarks were made by the Western Cape’s Local Government, Environm...