Category Archives: South African News

News24.com | 1 in 10 people believe husband has right to physically attack partner – Ipsos poll

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At least one in every 10 South Africans believe men have the right to physically attack their partners or wives.

This is according to an Ipsos poll, following face-to-face interviews with 3 600 people across the country earlier this year.

Ipsos examined opinions surrounding a woman’s place in marital relations and violence toward women.

More than six in 10 people believed a woman should obey her husband or partner, which Ipsos remarked illustrated a “deep-seated paternalism and conservative view in our society, seeing a woman as a possession rather than an individual in her own right”.

Slightly more women than men agreed with the statement, according to the findings.

Younger people were slightly less likely to agree. In the 15 to 17 age group, 51% agreed.

While the majority – 78% – did not agree that a husband had the right to physically attack his partner, levels of agreement that physical abuse was acceptable was still “alarmingly high”, Ipsos said.

Levels of disagreement were highest when subjects thought about themselves as individuals, but decreased when it came to their opinion of what the community thought.

The information was gathered between March 22 and April 17 following 3 600 interviews with randomly selected respondents.

– Compiled by Tammy Petersen

News24.com | Mboweni’s plan gets nod from ANC caucus as it acknowledges economy has stalled

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Acknowledging that the South African economy has stagnated, the ANC parliamentary caucus welcomed Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s economic strategy blueprint to boost growth and create jobs.

Discussing the outcome of the ANC parliamentary caucus’s lekgotla, which was held this weekend, ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina described the plan Mboweni released two weeks ago as a “draft document that encourages debate”.

She said the ANC caucus welcomed it.

“The lekgotla welcomed the initiative by the government to start a national conversation on how to boost the South African economy in the short term,” Majodina added.

“The economic transformation cluster will lead this national conversation as it affects all South Africans. Furthermore, we call on all South Africans to contribute to this very important discussion.”

She said the lekgotla welcomed the policy certainty displayed by the government, in particular, the policy direction for the licensing of the high demand spectrum, which was approved by the Cabinet.

“The lekgotla noted concerns about the implementation of reforms in visa regulations, which are crucial for boosting the tourism sector in our country.

“It acknowledged that the South African economy has stagnated,” Majodina said.

She added the caucus had resolved that the ANC in Parliament would “move with greater vigour to ensure that the government implements decisive policy measures to reignite inclusive growth and create jobs”.

While the ANC caucus welcomed Mboweni’s document, the ANC’s alliance partners, Cosatu and the SACP, expressed their dissatisfaction with the plan.

Mboweni’s 77-page report was released on the National Treasury’s website on August 27.

Many of the proposed reforms draw on existing proposals in other documents, including the National Development Plan.

Occasional Bulletin of Economic Notes 2019/02: Assessing the accuracy of the SARB’s growth forecasts

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Publish Date: 2019-09-09
Category: Occasional Bulletin of Economic Notes
Author: Riaan Ehlers, David Fowkes, Nkhetheni Nesengani and Rowan Walter

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Occasional Bulletin of Economic Notes 2019/02: A novel supply-side approach to estimating the impact of load shedding on GDP growth in South Africa

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Publish Date: 2019-09-09
Category: Occasional Bulletin of Economic Notes
Author: Kgotso Morema, Jeffrey Rakgalakane, Theresa Alton and Pamela Mjandana

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News24.com | ‘Women are treated as statistics, not humans’ – Dlamini speaks at funeral of 4 slain Durban siblings

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“Women are treated as statistics and not humans”. 

These were the words of the African National Congress Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini while addressing the funeral service of four siblings on Sunday in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

Xoli Mpungose’s children – aged four, six, 10 and 16 – were murdered, one by one, allegedly by her partner Sibusiso Mpungose, 44. Sibusiso is the father of the three youngest children and was a stepfather to the eldest, teen Ayakha Jiyane.

The incident took place after the father allegedly received final divorce papers.

The bodies of his three children, Siphesihle, Khwezi and Kuhlekonke, were found hanging in their home on Tuesday, at around 14:30.

The father fetched the children and Jiyane from school during the day.

Dlamini said women have had enough of the brutal killings and gender-based violence. She added that when women call for the death penalty, they are seen as “cruel”. 

The ANC leader said that young men have learnt from their fathers at home that it is normal to curse and swear at women. 

“Fathers leave home as if they are respectful while they have left wives whom they have brutally beaten up. They violate and apologise, violate and apologise until women find it normal.

“Men who rape our kids are not men, they are cowards,” Dlamini said. 

She said while women are being advised to speak out on abuse, the problem was not women but men.

“Men must speak out. They must say what their problem is,” she said as the congregation cheered.

Dlamini said urged women to unite and stand together against gender-based violence. She said if one was being abused, women must act as if they were all being abused and act. 

“Men must stand up and say ‘enough is enough’ not us.” 

Amongst those in attendance were KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala, various municipal mayors and representatives from political parties. Jiyane’s schoolmates were also in attendance at the service.  

News24 reported that Mpungose, 44, will not be applying for his release on bail, the Pinetown Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday.

News24.com | Uyinene’s alleged killer drank alcohol, then burnt her body and buried her in a shallow grave – Cele

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Uyinene Mrwetyana’s alleged killer apparently burnt her body and then buried her in a shallow grave after raping and killing her inside the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont, Police Minister Bheki Cele said.

Cele revealed the details at the 19-year-old UCT student’s funeral in East London on Saturday.

He painted the gruesome picture of what happened to the first-year student on August 24 at the post office when she went back to enquire about a parcel after operating hours, at the suggestion of the 42-year-old employee.

“The little girl comes for her parcel, the guy tells her to back later. I’ve heard already that other women have been told to do the same, so the modus operandi of this guy is almost the same,” Cele said.

“The young lady… indeed comes back, with all the innocence in the world but she begins to realise that there is a problem here. This guy attacks this young woman, this young woman fights, she fought back heavily, parents. She fights, and for some reason, she loses footing, and he rapes her.”

READ | Probe into Uyinene Mrwetyana’s killer finds Post Office officials knew about his conviction

Cele told the crowd that in the middle of the attack, Mrwetyana managed to rise and continue to fight, until he reached for a heavy object and used it to bludgeon her to death with it.

“This story is told by the perpetrator when he confesses…”

“He realises what he has done, he buys some liquor and drinks it because he doesn’t know what to do. He wraps the young, beautiful body in his boot and goes and buys things to burn the body. Takes the body out, burns the body and digs a shallow grave and puts this beautiful [child’s] whole future in the grave.”

Mrwetyana’s remains were found in Lingelethu West, Khayelitsha a few  days after she was last seen alive.

READ | Uyinene Mrwetyana’s memory to be honoured through UCT scholarship and new foundation

The SA Post Office (Sapo) on Saturday revealed that a preliminary investigation into the employee found that his criminal record was known to officials in 2018 already.

The 42-year-old had a conviction relating to a 1998 carjacking with an eight-year sentence, of which five were served with three suspended. 

“These findings were made available to Sapo officials in June 2018, however, the information was not disclosed to the Executive and Board,” Sapo board member Charles Nwaila said in a statement.

Cele also revealed at the funeral that the man had an attempted rape case against him, which was subsequently withdrawn. The man allegedly attempted to rape a woman at a nursing home while there to visit his girlfriend.

Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela, who attended both Mrwetyana’s memorial at UCT as well as her funeral, said he wished he was speaking at her graduation instead.

READ | ‘It could have been me pleading, screaming and fighting for my life’

“This week we have seen an unprecedented outpouring of national grief for the death of Uyinene and justified anger at the man who killed her. This anger is understandable as Nene was a brilliant young person in the prime of her life, with her whole future ahead of her. We know from the many tributes to Nene, that she was a special person.

“As a nation, we are abruptly woken up from our slumber when these heinous crimes are committed. We are outraged by the brutality and wonder why these things are happening in South Africa.”

He said the department had developed a Policy Framework and Strategy to address gender-based violence in post-school education institutions, with the focus being on prevention as well as correcting, monitoring and reporting the violence.He said toxic masculinity also needed to be defeated and war needed to be declared.

“We have lost Jess Hess, a student at the UWC, Angelique Clark-Abrahams, Ayakha Jiyane together with her three siblings who died at the hands of their stepfather, Champion Leifhandre ‘Baby Lee’ Jegels who was murdered by her boyfriend.”

READ | Uyinene murder accused allegedly tried to rape woman in hospital, says Cele as gruesome details emerge

“They all died as a result of the barbarism and buffoonery of gender-based violence.“It is time we say to these killers, enough and no more. It is time we say to these rapists, we have drawn the line and you shall not cross it. It is time we say to these criminals, your days of believing that your actions are normal are numbered,” said Manamela.

“We declare war to those who demand sexual favours from women in exchange for jobs or any service that is due to them by the public service.”

He also said sugar daddies who preyed on the poverty of young girls and their vulnerability, as well as lecturers who demand sex in exchange for marks from students, should also be targeted.

“We declare war on fathers and uncles who sexually abuse their nieces and cousins and daughters, and commit to breaking our silence for the sake of family peace and to report their crimes to the police.

“We stand up, as men, and women, together, against these crimes that are committed against women, by us, and our folks, and commit to continue this fight until the last rapist, chauvinist, misogynist, patriarchs and murderers are driven out of our society.”

News24.com | ‘My life will never be the same again’ – Stellenbosch security guard who was run over

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The 38-year-old Stellenbosch security guard who miraculously survived after a bakkie drove over him is still in shock months after the traumatic event that almost cost him his life, MatieMedia reports.

Mzwanele Wellem, a security guard employed by the Phangela Group, had made it through his first month in his new job when tragedy struck.

“On April 30, my life changed forever,” Wellem told MatieMedia.

As seen in CCTV footage, the driver of a white Opel Corsa bakkie reversed out of a parking spot and drove in the wrong direction. Wellem, who was on duty at the time, made his way to the vehicle to tell the driver to turn around and follow the rules of the parking lot. The vehicle continued to inch forward. The driver then drove over Wellem and sped away despite the public’s efforts to stop him.

“My life will never be the same again, and that will never change,” Wellem, who still attends sessions with a psychologist and physiotherapist, said.

“The scar on my head will never disappear. I am very scared to show my daughter, who is 8 years old, the scar. She will ask what happened and then I will have to explain to her what happened. Those things will bring up bad memories for me and my family.”

Despite being back at work, Wellem said he still bore the scars of the incident. “I have been back at work since May 2. However, there are still days that I can’t come to work because I fall sick.”

This, together with the fact that he missed more than a month’s work, has had a major financial impact on him. “When I don’t work, I don’t make enough money to send to my family in the Eastern Cape.”

Wellem visited his family recently to pray during this difficult period.

When asked about his feelings toward the accused, Wellem was tight-lipped, saying the law would deal with those matters.

‘I need support’

He admitted he was in need of help.

“I need support. I lost a lot because of that man. I would like to thank the community for its continued support. People who want to make donations can deliver them directly here at the health shop at Die Boord shopping centre,” Wellem said.

A member of the public, who wished to remain anonymous, said now was the time to help him in any way possible. “I would love to see people taking Wellem under their wing, and caring for him, to support him in any way. Food hampers, stationery [for his daughter] or even a little envelope with cash will help a lot. If you are unable to donate, a simple ‘hi, how are you?’ will also do.

“Wellem is a really sweet person who will benefit greatly from any contribution from anyone, and also for many years going forward, because indeed, his life has been changed forever, while we all carry on as if nothing big happened here.”

The accused, Johan Steyn, recently appeared in the Stellenbosch Regional Court on charges of attempted murder.

According to reports, Steyn suggested he would plead not guilty in an affidavit. “It is and has always been my contention that I have not committed any offence as alleged in this matter,” it read.

Steyn’s lawyer, Bruce Hendricks, told MatieMedia there were no new developments. “We will see what happens once the court case resumes.”

Steyn will appear in court again on September 13.

News24.com | LIVE | #RIPUyinene: UCT will honour ‘gifted, bold’ Nene’s memory through a scholarship named after her – Vice Chancellor

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2019-09-07 07:09

The funerals for murdered UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana and slain youth leader Jesse Hess take place on Saturday.

The funeral service of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetya

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IN MEMORY OF UYINENE

Ukranian-born artist Ana Kuni spent two hours painting in memory of the late Uyinene Mrwetyana.

Kuni was approached by photographer Joshua Rubin to lend her voice to the fight against gender-based violence.

“She did the painting in about two hours, we sat and talked for that whole time, just about what’s going on and how we can make a small difference,” he said.

Once the painting was done, Rubin took the painting to the University of Cape Town where the 19-year-old Mrwetyana studied film and media studies. The artwork was displayed and fellow students were given the chance to write their messages on the canvas.

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Uyinene’s sister’s heartbreaking tribute

“What haunts me the most isn’t the fact that you’re gone and taken away from us so soon, it’s the thought of the fear and pain you experienced all alone.”

This is the opening line of a tribute posted on Facebook by Khanya Mrwetyana, the sister of Uyinene.

“I’m so sorry Bhelekazi (her clan name) …” Khanya writes in the post, which was published on Monday.

“I’m so sorry you had to be alive at a time where being a woman is all it takes to set a man off. Now we hold on to the memories we shared together and the thought of what could’ve become of you had that man not violated you.

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Miss Teen Social Entrepreneur shines light on creative, determined female youth

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Miss Teen Social Entrepreneur is a female youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and acceleration programme aimed at young girls in high school.



Not a beauty pageant, the initiative, founded and developed by Tarryn Ogle in 2016, aims to encourage, inspire and motivate young women to become entrepreneurs and/or social entrepreneurs. It serves as a safe platform for adolescent girls to gain the knowledge, skills and tools to create their own sustainable enterprises while making a positive social impact.

The Miss Teen Social Entrepreneur 2019 finalists have been working hard building their business concepts since June this year.

Breaking barriers

“I am so proud at what these young women have accomplished. It’s been a tough year and each one of them pulled through, breaking barriers and overcoming challenges. This is what builds confidence and character and what our country needs. They truly are a phenomenal group of young women who are changing lives and making a positive impact in South Africa,” said Ogle.

“With a programme like this, we can encourage social responsibility as well as develop social entrepreneurship, personal and professional skills. Cultivating the next generation of successful female entrepreneurs while building confidence and character as well as making a positive social impact.”

Ogle, who is also Mrs African Queen 2017, is a mom of five, businesswoman and entrepreneur has always been passionate about youth development and women empowerment and saw the need for young women to be a part of something extraordinary.

This year’s grand finale will take place at the Sun International Carnival City – Mardi Gras Theatre on Sunday, 29 September.

Southern African shopping centres require a holistic, fluid strategy

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According to the Clur Report of SA Retail Property, shopping centres in Southern Africa need to adopt an integrated, holistic and fluid strategy to drive performance given shifting local and international approaches to lifestyle, health, wellness, environment, work and community living.




The Clur Report of SA Retail Property tracks shopping centre performance and trends for property funds owning 2.4m² of physical retail space in South Africa and Namibia.

Against a backdrop of changing consumer attitudes and values driving new trends and trigger points, monitored centres are showing a continued overall positive movement in trading density growth since September 2017, says Belinda Clur, managing director of Clur Research International.

A holistic approach

She says the national Clur benchmark for annualised trading density at all SA monitored shopping centres in June was R34,777/m², reflecting year-on-year unadjusted growth of 4,3%. The Clur benchmark for super-regional and regional centres showed year-on-year growth in June of 3,7% to R36,715/m² in annualised trading density. The year-on-year growth in the Clur benchmark for small regional, community and neighbourhood centres was 5,8% to R30,530/m².

Clur says: “Most significantly, retail must increasingly respond to a holistic approach to life that has emerged in which people are striving to live their most rounded and fullest life. This embodies happiness, health, energy, mindfulness, experience and balance.

“We have also moved beyond a service-based economy and into a more intimate relationship-based economy, where retail, community, lifestyle, work and wellness need to be cleverly synthesised within an adaptable, chameleon-like holistic shopping environment – which reflects the consumer position. Within this context, predictive convenience and superb customer service ethos are key, especially during tough economic times.”

These are, she says, among the key trends that are emerging and will shape the landscape of life with implications for retail and other sectors.

“Integrated and connected community spaces are a critical building block of future places given that single-person households are on the increase and are expected to gain significant momentum over time. The ever-growing singles demographic is receiving much attention, with pride and many benefits now being associated with this status – which is now most often an intentional choice. Anecdotally, ‘Singles Day’, a highly successful shopping holiday celebrating “singledom” on 11 November, which started in China is now spreading globally.”

Higher value on health and wellbeing

She says that the holistic consumer is placing an ever higher value on health and wellbeing. She believes this is a defining trend of the future which will influence and shape many areas.

“An example of a global shift to health consciousness can be found in Moscow where 30 squats in front of a monitor at a rail station get you a free metro pass. Embracing a healthy lifestyle in terms of exercise and eating has become a new status symbol, along with sportswear and trainers as they reflect this aspirational trend. Thus ‘athleisure’ is an important current and future international retail category.

”In addition, there is a fluid link developing between health, sport and cosmetics, as signalled by Lululemon having just launched ‘Selfcare’, a practical gender-neutral sports-oriented natural cosmetics range. There is a shifting position to beauty from the inside-out, rather than from the outside-in. Skin-quality, sun and pollution protection is specifically important to consumers as the quest to remain youthful escalates, along with growth in ‘medi-cosmetics’.

“A further influence is the impact of intense personal social media which is entrenching the desire to look as good and as healthy as possible. We are now constantly on display, not only staging and curating our homes but also our online presence and reputation. We are ‘peacocking’ like never before.”

She notes that edible cosmetics is a growing area of interest as people desire organic and naturally derived options – which do not harm. This links to our new age of consumer culture, with social, sustainable and ethical practices being respected and holding community value.

Back to basics

“Tied to this is a back to basics trend. People want to know the origins of goods they buy as well as the production process. This has huge implications for brand integrity and product development. The desire to connect to the core, to understand a brand’s fundamental principles and positioning applies to all brands, be they retailers, shopping centres or broader businesses.

“Internationally, a trend towards thrift shopping and apparel recycling and reselling is on the rise. This is driven by a desire for interesting bargains and the emotional reward of conscientious exchange. This trend is also allowing a new wave of luxury brand buyers to emerge, thanks to decent quality at a lower less prohibitive price point. Globally, eco-protectiveness is leading many consumers to review their need for quick disposable fashion and to focus on quality, durability and re-use.

“Allied to doing good, social entrepreneurship is an important trend. Businesses are focusing on making a social difference, marketing kindness and giving back. In this respect, malls have a huge role to play in providing retail incubators for new brands to develop a market foothold.”

She notes that traditional working structures and hours are giving way to new approaches, with a shift to flexibility and a focus on the desired outcome rather than the number of hours worked.

Let’s get physical

“Employees are also showing less tolerance to sitting all day, as health and wellness come to the fore, placing pressure on employers to provide gym facilities within the office environment.

“Workforce changes are also inevitable as retirement age shifts out. Fewer people can afford to retire and aim to stay youthful and healthier for longer. On one level, what’s emerging is an interesting blend of the wisdom and experience of the older with the energy, hunger and naiveté of younger workers. On another level, increasing living costs and much competition for jobs across all age groups, is driving an increase in intergenerational living.“

Clur says there is an increasing fluid crossover in retail channel experiences, with physical retailers operating online and digitally native retailers creating stores as they realise the benefit of foot traffic in malls in creating and raising brand awareness. She says a recent survey by the International Council of Shopping Centres found that new physical stores generate an average 45% and 36% online traffic uplift for emerging and established brands respectively.

“Interestingly new format delivery services such as Uber Eats are driving a different angle on this. The demand for these delivery based businesses is potentially skewing fast food operational needs, with spend taking place but foot count not entering a shopping centre.

“There is a trend collision in this digital age, with a rebellion against continuous technology and digital screens in favour of tradition, intimacy, character, warmth, tactility, texture and sophisticated design in the home. A view of the home as a sanctuary within which to relax, breathe and enjoy natural elements should be increasingly applied to retail space as people seek home-like escapes away from home.

“As retail and entertainment merge, so retailers are pushed to continuously think differently about store design, fit-out and the in-store experience. Sophisticated imageability is critical and the expensive tenant concept and installation process should be guided by people’s sensory hunger for the smells, tastes, sights, sounds and touches of life.“

“Internationally, Milan embraces this, offering high-style designer inspired mixed-concept stores such as 10 Corso Como which combines trendy fashion, art gallery displays, books, music and cuisine in a multi-layered beautiful lifestyle space designed for relaxation, sensory indulgence and people watching.

“Beyond the creative, the customer experience continues to be significantly influenced by a host of practical operational factors such as ease of moving into and out of a centre, the generosity of parking space, the positioning of parking ticket issuing machines, effective signage, safety and hygiene, adequacy of light, aisle size, product placement and non-slip floors, to mention a few.”