South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 27 December

For all the latest news in South Africa, be sure to check out our overview of major headlines on Friday 27 December.

As South Africans digest the last bit of the Christmas cheer and prepare to welcome in a New Year, Eskom’s latest CEO, Andre de Ruyter, is hard at work, conducting site inspections at embattled power stations in the hope of keeping load shedding at bay. The Department of Transport, which recently released its festive season road safety report, has urged motorists to be extra vigilant amid a spike in traffic volume and adverse weather conditions.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Friday 27 December

Festive season death toll rises

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has pleaded with motorists to exercise extreme caution in the coming days. This comes after a series of deadly accidents recorded in both KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo overshadowed an earlier road safety report which indicated that fatalities had decreased compared to 2018.

Adding to motorists’ woes, the M1 off ramp in the south of Johannesburg has been the subject of serious scrutiny after a portion of the bridge’s undercarriage collapsed on Christmas Day. While governmental agencies have assured travellers that the compromised structural integrity poses little threat to human life, concerns over the state of South Africa’s road infrastructure persist, with some calling for the M1 to be closed until the bridge is repaired.

Andre de Ruyter conducts site visits as Eskom braces for January 2020

Andre de Ruyter, who was convinced to fill the position of Eskom CEO earlier than expected, with his first day at work for the utility being on Christmas, has a tough task ahead of him. The new CEO, who will spend the remaining days of 2019 conducting site visits to power stations and other vital infrastructure points, is tasked with revitalising the embattled power utility.

Eskom, which recently implemented load shedding due to a dire maintenance schedule and adverse weather conditions, is scheduled to be unbundled in 2020 – a strategy which will be spearheaded by de Ruyter, with support from Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan.

Trade Unions have, however, vowed to stop the unbundling strategy in its tracks, by way of nationwide protests in the New Year. Major unions argue that the plan to unbundle is the first step to privatisation of state owned entities.

Outcry over initiation deaths

Civil societies, pressure groups and governmental agencies have condemned the senseless deaths of at least 25 initiatives. After the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) announced the immediate suspension of several initiation schools in the Eastern Cape, following a wave of deaths related to dehydration, fatalities in Gauteng have sparked further outrage.

On Christmas Eve, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa confirmed that another initiate had died near Crown Mines in Johannesburg.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has called for urgent government intervention, blasting unscrupulous initiation practitioners who have a ‘complete disregard’ for the lives of young men.

Justice Department officials arrested for fraud

Two former Justice and Constitutional Development officials have appeared at the Zastron Magistrate Court in the Free State on charges of fraud.

Former court manager Desmond Mokhobo (32) and Mxolisi Kakalatsa (38), an administration clerk in the of Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, were arrested on Monday by the Serious Corruption investigation team and subsequently appeared in court for allegedly defrauding the department almost R380 000 between January 2018 and July 2019.

They allegedly transferred third party funds from different courts into a designated account.

The alleged stolen funds included maintenance money, admission of guilt fines, bail, court fines and fines collected on behalf of other government institutions.

Both suspects have been charged for fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

They have been granted R2 000 bail each. The case has been remanded to 8 January 2020 at the same court. (Source: SAnews)

South Africa vs England: ‘Lucky’ De Kock leads Proteas fightback before tea

Quinton de Kock rode his luck to lead a Proteas fightback from 111/5 just after lunch to 187/5 at the tea break.

De Kock struck an unbeaten 64, but his knock was far from chanceless. The Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman was very positive though which allowed his team to get back into the game after collapse.

The Proteas began the session on 79 for 3, having lost Dean Elgar off the first ball of the day, Aiden Markram managed just 20 before a poor stroke ended his time at the crease, Zubayr Hamza looked good for his 39 before a tentative push cost him his wicket.

Skipper Faf du Plessis set out his stall to resist the England attack, but after he lost Rassie van der Dussen (6) the captain fell victim to Nelson and became Stuart Broad’s second victim.

Latest weather forecast, Friday 27 December

Take a look at weather forecasts for all nine provinces, here.

Live traffic updates for Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban

Stay one step ahead of the traffic by viewing our live traffic updates, here.

Horoscope today

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Friday 27 December.