Category Archives: South African News

News24.com | Metrorail delays hit Cape Town commuters, as bus strike continues

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Commuters in Cape Town already in the midst of a bus strike have to contend with a near breakdown of train services, after Metrorail announced massive delays across its network on Friday morning.

The company said there were delays of more than 60 minutes on all lines heading into Cape Town, due to a signal failure between the Cape Town, Mutual/Pinelands/Observatory and the Ysterplaat lines.

How are you affected by the train delays? Let us know and send your pictures to News24

It advised commuters to make alternative travel arrangements.

However, commuters are having to contend with Day 3 of a national bus strike that has left thousands stranded and minibus taxis strained to cater for the increased travel load.

READ: Bus strike enters third day

Unions and employers have reached a deadlock in their wage negotiations in which workers have demanded a 12% increase and employers offered 7%. A meeting on Thursday, mediated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), failed to resolve the dispute and on Friday morning, bus services were still not operating.

Cape Town mayoral committee member for transport Brett Herron highlighted the difficulties commuters would face in light of the delays.

“The bus strike continues and no buses are operating this morning. To make matters worse Metrorail has announced significant operational failures across the region affecting all lines this morning. They are operating limited services with delays of at least 60 minutes,” said Herron in a statement.

“Trains that do operate will also be subject to a holding pattern at Salt River, Mutual and Esplanade stations. This will make it extremely difficult for commuters who use public transport. Employers must please exercise patience and flexibility for their employees.

“Our public transport network requires a fully operational commuter rail system to be its backbone. Today we have several hundreds of thousands of commuters stranded by rail plus those who usually use buses looking for a way to commute. The situation is intolerable.

“We urge parties to the passenger bus bargaining process to work extra hard to find agreement. In the long term we must get rail back on track. It is by far the most efficient means of providing affordable access and mobility.”

Metrorail has come under fire in the past for its failure to provide safe and efficient public transport and on Wednesday, Transport Minster Blade Nzimande lambasted Metrorail owner, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), for its failure to South Africans.

“Some people are treating Prasa like an ATM. It prioritises everything else, except the provisioning of safe affordable rail transport,” said Nzimande, adding that the state-owned entity was in a “mess”.

The bus strike has also led to traffic chaos on the roads and tension at taxi ranks as frustrated commuters try to get to their destinations.

Metrorail says commuters can call 0800 65 64 63 for transport information.

News24.com | Violent protests break out in Mahikeng, but Mahumapelo says there is ‘nothing to worry about’

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The situation has reportedly gotten violent in Mahikeng, where residents had earlier taken to the street calling on Supra Mahumapelo to stand down as Premier of the North West on Wednesday.

Some residents have reported hearing gunshots and seeing ambulances around the area. Unit 14, where the premier lives, is also said to have been affected. Other affected areas included Montshioa, Ramosadi, Seweding, Mahikeng CBD, and Unit 13.

A reliable source on the ground told News24 that security is tight in Unit 14 after rumours that protesters were going to burn the premier’s house. A police nyala and two police vans were also seen patrolling.

According to the source, protesters have been hiding in the dark and stoning vehicles, damaging cars and injuring motorists.

The villagers are upset about clinics being shut down in the area and are also demanding service delivery.

When contacted for comment, Mahumapelo said “there’s nothing going on. There’s nothing to worry about“.

The premier told News24 there were rumours that he would be attacked and that, as a result, neighbours went out to “do voluntary defence“.

“There was a rumour that people are going to attack the house. On their own, neighbours went to do voluntary defence, I am told. Remember, I don’t stay in a government presidential guesthouse. I took a decision to stay with the people.” 

Mahumapelo said his family at his home was safe and there was no damage to his house. 

He was not at home but had been on ANC business since Tuesday.

News24.com | ‘Indefinite’ bus strike continues on Thursday

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A crippling nationwide bus strike will enter its second day on Thursday.

“The bus strike continues tomorrow,” said Gary Wilson, secretary general of the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council.

“We have managed to get all parties to meet in Johannesburg tomorrow at the bargaining table. Hopefully we can persuade the parties to reach an agreement.”

Thousands of commuters had to make alternative plans on Wednesday, including standing in long queues for taxis.

At least 50 bus companies are not operating across the country as the strike intensifies.

The strike, which is over a wage dispute, put around 80% of the country’s passenger buses on lockdown.

WATCH: ‘It’s chaos’ – Cape Town commuters frustrated by bus strike

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said it was satisfied with the participation of its bus sector members in the strike.

“We must say our members certainly heeded the call to stay away from work,” said Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi.

The union was hoping for a resolution soon.

“This type of strike is very hurtful on the community we are part of, so really for us, we are hoping that these talks will generate an agreement that will allow us to move forward,” said Hlubi.

eNCA | WATCH: DA gets another shot at De Lille no-confidence vote

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JOHANNESBURG – The DA has a second shot at a no-confidence vote against Cape Town mayor Patricia De Lille.

The party’s Cape Town caucus has been granted permission by its federal executive.

It must now provide three days’ notice before the vote can take place.

WATCH: DA must reconsider how it deals with disciplining party members

The Cape Town mayor narrowly survived a motion of no confidence in February. 

De Lille is facing disciplinary proceedings for corruption and bringing the party into disrepute but the hearing was previously postponed indefinitely. 

The DA’s Western Cape leader, Bonginkosi Madikizela, defended the decision, which comes after the party amended its recall clause at its federal congress earlier in the month.

Watch his interview with eNCA senior anchor Vuyo Mvuko above.

eNCA

eNCA | Fatal shooting on M1 Johannesburg

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JOHANNESBURG – Police are investigating a fatal shooting on the M1 North near the Glenhove Road offramp in Johannesburg.

According to JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minaar, one person was shot eight times and died on the scene.

“He was driving a white Audi car, officials are on the scene for further investigations. At this stage the motive for the shooting is unclear,” Minaar said.

He said that all four lanes of the M1 N are closed, which has resulted in heavy congestion. 

A witness said three males came out of nowhere, went straight to the Audi A5, which was at a near-standstill in traffic, and started shooting into the vehicle.

Motorists travelling from Johannesburg central are advised to  leave the M1 North at the 11th Avenue offramp and rejoin at Athol-Oaklands onramp, or to use Jan Smuts Avenue, Oxford Road or alternatives routes.

eNCA

News24.com | Break-in at Hawks office in Cape Town

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The Hawks have confirmed that their offices in Bellville, Cape Town, were broken into.

The break-in is believed to have happened at the weekend and was discovered when staff reported for duty on Monday, Hawks spokesperson Captain Philani Nkwalase said on Tuesday evening.

“There are some items missing that are suspected to have been stolen,” he said.

He could not immediately provide further information.

It is understood that the items included computers.

The Hawks have opened a case and are investigating.

In July 2017, computers were stolen in a brazen break-in at the Hawks’ head office in Silverton, Pretoria.

READ: Hawks break-in done by regular visitors

The intruders focused mostly on the HR, finance and supply chain departments, where confidential information was kept.

News24.com | FDA’s contracts with police ‘threatened national security’ – Sitole

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The police found that some of their contracts with Forensic Data Analysts (FDA) “were shaped in such a manner that they take away the sovereignty of the state”, National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole told the Portfolio Committee on Police on Tuesday.

“This renders the organisation open to manipulation,” said Sitole.

“It automatically became a national security threat.”

Committee chairperson Francois Beukman asked him about FDA.

READ: Police, SITA halt court process against FDA over access to IT systems

On April 5, FDA – a supplier to the police linked to corruption – shut down three police systems. The company, run by former police officer Keith Keating, claimed the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) had not paid it for five months for its services. The company’s other director is Vhonani Mufamadi, brother of former minister of safety and security Sydney Mufamadi.
 
Last week, before the matter was due to be heard in court, two of the systems were turned back on. According to Sitole, these systems have the biggest impact on policing. He said FDA said it had turned the other system off incorrectly and it would be switched back on. 

He didn’t want to say much on the matter, as he considers it sub judice.

Proactive steps

“We’re not fighting with suppliers,” he said. “But we want to correct it to protect our sovereignty.”

He said after the systems were switched off, the police came up with a contingency plan and “challenged the perpetual right to software”. 

“We will continue to ensure services are rendered,” Sitole said.

READ: Supplier denies police allegations that it placed malware in IT systems

Beukman said there should be proactive steps on this issue from the leadership of the police.

Sitole agreed and said a new process for the ownership of the systems was being implemented.

Keating is a central figure in the corruption case against former acting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane that is currently before the court. He allegedly paid for Phahlane’s vehicles. 

R5bn in contracts since 2010

Further graft allegations emerged at a dramatic meeting of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on November 29 last year. 

At that meeting, it emerged that SITA awarded a contract for police forensic equipment, mostly lights and Nikon cameras, worth more than R900m to FDA and a contract to another Keating-linked company for the maintenance of this equipment without following procurement processes and without there being a reason for FDA being the sole provider. 

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) recommended that the police stop paying FDA, a view that was shared by Scopa.

It was also said that FDA had done business worth R5bn with the police since 2010. Keating disputes this figure and earlier denied the allegations, saying they were part of a plot for a hostile takeover of his business.

eNCA | WATCH: Ramaphosa meets with Theresa May, British Queen

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LONDON – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and British Prime Minister Theresa May met in London on Tuesday evening.

Ramaphosa is in the country for the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting on his first official visit to Britain since taking office in February.

“It was a meeting where we had a wide range of discussions on a number of issues, but we focused largely on the economy and on how our partnership can be deepened around economic matters,” Ramaphosa said.

He said South Africa would go around the world to boost investment, including in Africa and Asia.

A spokesperson from 10 Downing Street released the following statement on the meeting:

Earlier, Ramaphosa paid a courtesy visit to Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.

eNCA

eNCA | Cold front to bring desperately needed rain to drought-hit Cape

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JOHANNESBURG – A moderate cold front is expected to reach Cape Town on Wednesday, possibly bringing much needed rain to the drought-hit area.

eNCA Weather is forecasting five to 10 millimetres (mm) of rainfall in Cape Town and surrounds.

Between 15mm and 25mm is possible in the mountainous catchment areas of the Cape.

READ: Drought-stricken Cape Town counts the cost

The system is expected to intensify as it approaches South Africa’s West Coast and is expected to make landfall in Cape Town during the course of Wednesday afternoon.

There will be an 80 percent chance of rain in the Mother City, eNCA forecasters said.

This will be good news Capetonians, who are experiencing their worst drought in over a century.

eNCA