South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Monday 2 December

Want to find out the latest news in South Africa? Have a look at our daily wrap of headlines on Monday 2 December.

We’re looking at the biggest developments from the weekend, and what’s happening on Monday. There are two huge court cases getting underway – focusing on a domestic terrorism operation and a brutal femicide respectively. We’ve also got some weird weather and some sporting stories to discuss.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Monday 2 December

SA’s white nationalist set for trial

A group accused of plotting to set off explosives in informal townships and shopping malls will appear in court for the first time on Monday. The National Christian Resistance Movement, known as “The Crusaders”, are white nationalists who have long been advocating the start of a race war between white and black citizens in South Africa.

Three suspects will be hauled into the dock later today. One of them is alleged mastermind Harry Johannes Knoesen. He will be joined by “high-ranking”, who was also arrested by Hawks this weekend. “Factories” used to construct explosives, devices with detonators and unlicensed firearms have been discovered in connection with the Crusaders.

SANDF sexual assault investigation begins

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will officially launch the Ministerial Task Team investigating the Reporting, Management and Finalisation of cases of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual offences in the South African National Defence Force. 

Precious Ramabulana’s killer faces court

President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed more about the shady background of a man accused of “slaughtering” a 21-year-old TVET student in Limpopo. Precious Ramabulana was stabbed multiple times and sexually assaulted, and the 21-year-old eventually died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Ramaphosa held a private meeting with the family at Ramabulana’s house just outside Makhado, before addressing the media. The suspect will be in the dock this week, but he arguably should have been there much earlier – the head of state revealed that the perpetrator had been facing rape charges before murdering Precious Ramabulana.

You can read more about the latest developments here.

Temperature records set… maybe?

Both Planet Earth and Storm Report were the first to suggest that Vioolsdrif in the Northern Cape broke a record almost 100 years old. It’s alleged that temperatures soared to an incomprehensible 54C in the village sitting on the Namibian border, right at the tip of the N7 highway.

Saws have already downgraded the official highest maximum temperature of the day to 50.1C. This would be just enough to make it the hottest day on record. Even then, the reading has been classed a preliminary.

Etienne Kapikian is a French meteorologist. He was tracking the startling developments in Vioolsdrif, but things didn’t quite add up for him. He dismissed some of the readings as “impossible”, and suggested that sensory errors – as well as faulty dew points – had given Saws some unreliable data: 

Clifton Beach stabbing

A 16-year-old was stabbed to death near Clifton Beach (Cape Town) on Saturday evening, as teenagers descended on the popular location to celebrate the end of their matric exams. Details remain sketchy about what happened to the victim from Langa, but local politicians have already placed the blame with police inefficiency.

This is the second time in two months that a teenager has been stabbed to death on this beach. A first-year student at the University of Cape Town lost his life in September, as violence broke out in Clifton. Two couples were attacked by robbers and asked for their cellphones. After a struggle, two men were stabbed by the suspects, and 19-year-old Cebo Mbatha succumbed to his injuries.

Siya Kolisi up for another award

Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi could cap off a fairytale year with the BBC Sports Star of the Year award. The 28-year-old became the first black captain to lead South Africa to a Rugby World Cup triumph, when they beat England in the final in November. He has been nominated for the award along with some big names in the sports community.

Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge made history earlier in the year by breaking the two-hour barrier in a marathon. He achieved the feat soon after winning the London Marathon for a record fourth time. Also nominated is Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, who claimed her 19th world title earlier in the year. Aged just 22, she has already collected five world championships.

The next Percy Tau?

Kaizer Chiefs are eyeing the signature of first division club, JDR Stars winger Moeketsi Makhanya, according to Soccer Laduma. The 24-year-old has been in red-hot form in the GladAfrica Championship, and has attracted interest from clubs in the Premiership, including the Glamour Boys, who currently top the standings.

Makhanya made his name in the ABC Motsepe League, the country’s third tier league, as he helped JDR Stars to promotion into the first division. Left-footed, with an eye for goal, as well as an unkempt mane of hair, he has been likened to Bafana star, Percy Tau.

He was named Player of the Year in the Motsepe League and has helped his club to second place in the Championship, most recently bagging a hat-trick to help his side to a 5-1 victory over Jomo Cosmos.

PSL results and standings

There were two goalless draws on Sunday, as the PSL action fizzled out ahead of the new week. AmaZulu vs Maritzburg United and Chippa United vs Baroka both ended in a stalemate. Kaizer Chiefs remain top of the table with a ten-point lead and a game in hand. Chippa and AmaZulu stay in the bottom two.

Mzansi T20 results and fixtures

• Paarl Rocks beat Jozi Stars by five wickets.
• Cape Town Blitz beat Tshwane Spartans by 15 runs.
• Nelson Mandela Bay Giants face Tshwane Spartans on Tuesday.
• Paarl Rocks and Durban Heat square-off on Wednesday.

Latest weather forecast, Monday 2 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 Monday 2 December.