South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Thursday 28 November

Want to find out the latest news in South Africa? Have a look at our daily wrap of headlines on Thursday 28 November.

As elections for the new mayor of Johannesburg get underway, a fresh wave of gender-based violence mars President Cyril Ramaphosa’s launch of the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence against Women and Children. Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) face troubled times ahead, as criminal charges loom over leader Julius Malema and Deputy Floyd Shivambu.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Thursday 28 November

Joburg gets a new mayor

The City of Johannesburg will get a new mayor today, following the departure of Herman Mashaba on Wednesday. While the Democratic Alliance (DA) seeks to retain its position of power in South Africa’s financial capital, both the EFF and African National Congress (ANC) will be fielding their own candidates in an attempt to break the DA’s three-year dominance.

If the DA lose the mayoral contest, its prospects in Gauteng, complicated by controversy further north in Tshwane, will likely take a turn for the worst.

The DA will field Funzela Ngobeni as their mayoral candidate. The EFF have put forward their Johannesburg Chairperson, Musa Novela, while the ANC looks to propose Geoff Makhubo. ANC Councillors Loyiso Masuku and Matshidiso Mfikoe also stand a chance to snatch the mayoral seat.

The contest is set to be fierce, with split votes across the board. DA provincial chair John Moodey noted solemnly that the only way to retain the metro would be to continue its alliance with the EFF, saying:

“If the EFF does not vote with us on Thursday, we are going to lose the metro.”

Violence against women mars 16 Days of Activism

Vicious attacks on woman in South Africa have marred the country’s commitment to 16 Days of Activism of No Violence against Women and Children, after the social campaign was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

Just days before Ramaphosa addressed a crowd in Limpopo, 21-year-old student, Precious Ramabulana, was discovered dead in her dorm; raped and stabbed 52 times. The brutal killing sparked riots at the Capricorn TVET College in Limpopo.

On Wednesday, an 81-year-old woman was murdered in the Eastern Cape.

These killings come in the wake of fierce upheaval related to the shockingly high rate of gender-based attacks and femicide. Earlier this year, the brutal killings of Uyinene Mrwetyana, Leighandre Jegels, Janika Mallo, Ayakha Jiyane, and Jesse Hess sparked widespread condemnation and protest, with a call for president Ramaphosa to impose harsher sentences for those convicted of gender-based crimes.

Ramaphosa has since called on law enforcement to track down those responsible for Ramabulana’s murder, saying:

“Whoever committed this brutal act must know that there is no corner for you to hide. You will be found, you will be tried, and you will receive the highest penalty.”

EFF leadership woes: Malema and Shivambu in trouble with the law

It’s been a gruelling week for the EFF and its leadership structures. In addition to rumours of factional infighting pre-empting the much-anticipated National People’s Assembly in December, party leaders, Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu, are facing their own share of unrelated legal problems.

On Wednesday, Malema was dealt a blow, when the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officially charged the leader of the Red Berets on five criminal counts relating to the discharge of a weapon in a public space. Malema infamously shot live rounds, from what appeared to be an assault rifle, into the air while at a party rally in the Eastern Cape in 2018. The EFF leader has argued that the incident was nothing more than a pre-planned simulation accompanied by fireworks.

Making matters worse for the EFF, is the fact that its deputy leader, Shivambu, has been charged with assault with an apparent attack on a photographer outside parliament.

These controversies come at a time when the EFF hopes to revise and revitalise its political position at its December conference. Unfortunately for the Red Berets, Malema’s utterances regarding the EFF Student Command, amongst other things, have led to factional battles which promise to mar the party’s political process.

Eskom’s interim results

The embattled national power supplier, Eskom, will, today, release its interim results. The report is expected to detail the utility’s progress, or lack thereof, related to its contentious unbundling strategy, sustainability and feasibility.

Eskom, which has been plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and infrastructure failures, is regarded as the greatest threat to South Africa’s economic stability. In an attempt to avert an outright collapse of the country’s most valuable state owned enterprise, president Cyril Ramaphosa, together with Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, have endorsed the unbundling of Eskom; a move which will split the antiquated enterprise into three independent entities.

While Andre de Ruyter will take up his position as CEO of Eskom in January 2020, current head, Jabu Mabuza, will brief the country on Eskom’s position.

Orlando Pirates news: Mokwena hits out at Lorch critics

Orlando Pirates interim coach Rhulani Mokwena is still adamant that star winger Thembinkosi Lorch is the best player in the country.

The reigning PSL Player of the Season has struggled to rekindle the form which placed him among the league’s top goal-scorers last season.

During Wednesday night’s 3-2 win over Polokwane City, he received a straight red card, as both teams played the bulk of the game with ten men.

His mentor has come out in his defence, saying he has nothing to prove to anyone.

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