South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Thursday 21 November

Want to know all that’s happening with the news in South Africa? Be sure to check out our wrap of major headlines on Thursday 21 November.

It’s been a week since unions embarked on debilitating strike action which grounded the bulk of South African Airways’ (SAA) fleet; with the national carrier now on the verge of collapse and salaries hanging in the balance, government intervention seems inevitable.  In addition to SAA’s woes, Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu, paints a dismal picture of South Africa’s state owned entities.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Thursday 21 November

Secondary aviation strike looms as SAA salaries hang in the balance

The situation at SAA has become wholly unsustainable, with Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, being brought into the fray in an attempt to end the bitter impasse. While the national carrier has managed to resume a few of its flight plans, the bulk of its aircraft remain grounded, sinking the embattled state owned entity deeper into debt.

More worrying, for the aviation sector as a whole, are unions’ threats of a secondary strike, which they announced after renewed wage discussions deadlocked before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). SAA’s recently-announced retrenchment strategy has done little to subdue the unions’ fury.

On Wednesday, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) confirmed that it had roped AirChefs in to join the strike and were hoping to bring Comair employees into the protest action.

SAA also announced that it would be unable to pay salaries in November as a result of the ongoing strike action and its dire financial predicament.

State owned entities still stuck in the mire of mismanagement

State-owned entities (SOEs) are under significant pressure and there is doubt about whether some of them can continue with their operations in future without financial assistance.

This is according to the Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu, who on Wednesday released the national and provincial government’s audit results for the 2018-19 financial year in Cape Town.

“There were weaknesses in the performance reporting processes and an increase in non-compliance at the 14 SOEs and their significant subsidiaries audited by the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA).

“These entities also disclosed R1.4 billion in irregular expenditure, although the amount could be even higher as four SOEs – Denel, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, South African Express Airways and the South African Forestry Company – were qualified on the completeness of their irregular expenditure disclosure,” the report by the Auditor General said.

The irregular expenditure of the SOEs the AGSA did not audit amounted to R57 billion – which included R49.9 billion at Transnet and R6.6 billion at Eskom.

The AG’s report indicates that the results of the audited SOEs continued to regress from the previous year. (Source: SAnews)

Julius Malema caught in a lie over police officer assault

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, and the party’s national spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, are in deep trouble with the law, after video footage, showing the pair assaulting a police officer in April 2018, while attending the funeral of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, surfaced on Wednesday.

Both Malema and Ndlozi appeared before the Randburg Magistrates Court. In an interview outside the courtroom, Malema said that he ‘should have dealt with the police officer decisively’, insinuating that the assault never took place. However, video footage, released by AfriForum, clearly shows Malema and Ndlozi scuffling with the senior police officer. AfriForum’s CEO Kallie Kriel said:

“Mr Malema is not known for being a truthful person.”

Zuma launches last ditch effort to avoid corruption charges

Former President Jacob Zuma is readying his arguments for an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal. This comes after Zuma’s previous application for a permanent stay of prosecution was denied by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Zuma stands accused of corruption relating to the infamous Arms Deal saga.

On Friday, Zuma is expected to reappear before the court in a last ditch effort to have the matter struck of the roll. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has, however, challenged the latest attempt.

The NPA feels that its case, which has been brewing for almost 14 years, is strong enough to see Zuma convicted on criminal charges.

Springboks to face Georgia after Scotland series in 2020

SA Rugby have announced that the Springboks will host Georgia for the first Test meeting on South African soil in July 2020.

The Springboks will also play a two-match Test series against Scotland.

SA Rugby will confirm the venues and kick-off times of the three matches at a later stage.

Scotland crashed out of the Rugby World Cup at the group stage after suffering defeats to Ireland and hosts Japan.

Dusi Canoe Marathon: Birkett and Nzimande announce surprise combo

Nine-time Dusi Canoe Marathon champion Andy Birkett will contest the 2020 K2 edition of the race with young Martin Dreyer Change a Life Academy star Khumbulani Nzimande from 27-29 February.

Birkett and long-time K2 partner Hank McGregor had plans to defend the Dusi K2 title they won in 2018, but McGregor has been battling the shingles virus since the World Marathon Championships last month.

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