South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 21 January

For all the latest news in South Africa, be sure to check out our overview of major headlines on Tuesday 21 January.

Questions emanating from the recent spate of drowning-related deaths involving school children continue to dominate the national discourse, while service delivery protests in the eastern Free State call for urgent government intervention. In sports news, the Blitzboks put in their final preparations in the week leading up to the World Rugby Sevens Series event in New Zealand.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Tuesday 21 January

School drowning: Who is to blame?

Two pupils from Gauteng, both 13-years-old, Keamohetswe Shaun Seboko and Enock Mpianzi, died in separate drowning incidents last week while under their schools’ watch. The tragic deaths sent shockwaves through Gauteng’s Education Department, with the parents of the two boys demanding answers and clarity with regards to the untimely demise of their young children who had been left in the schools’ care.

Seboko, a pupil at Laerskool Bekker in Magaliesburg, drowned in the school’s swimming pool. Yet, while the school has maintained that the boy’s death was an accident, Seboko’s grief-stricken mother has argued foul play. According to Seboko’s mother, her son’s lifeless body was covered in bruises. She also explained that Seboko was a capable swimmer. Police have ordered an investigation into incident.

The death of Mpianzi, who drowned after falling from a raft on the Crocodile River in the North West while on a school orientation camp, has also raised questions of liability as the boy’s family attempts to come to terms with the loss. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has vowed to support the family in a legal case against Parktown Boys’ High.

Qwaqwa residents protest water scarcity and resulting fatality

Residents of Qwaqwa in the eastern Free State took to the streets to voice their frustrations with government’s lack of service delivery, particularly pertaining to a dire water shortage which has gripped the region for more than a month.

Tensions reached a fever pitch after an eight-year-old girl drowned while attempting to collect water from a nearby river.

Approximately 300 protesters embarked on a violent protest; barricading roads and burning vehicles, calling on the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to urgently address their qualms. The community has also demanded that the municipal mayor Masechaba Mosia Lakaje step down.

Police fought running battles with the group of protesters, arresting more than 34 people for participation in the unrest.

Klebsiella outbreak strikes fear into Gauteng hospitals

A deadly Klebsiella outbreak, which claimed the lives of 10 babies at Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng, has been condemned by governmental agencies and concerned civil societies alike.

More worrying, is that fact that overcrowding and unhygienic conditions, which have been proven to be an ideal breeding ground for the deadly bacterial outbreak, extend beyond the wards of Tembisa Hospital. The Gauteng Department of Health admitted that the prevalence of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) called for urgent intervention from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Despite fears that the bacteria may have already spread to surrounding hospitals, Bandile Masuku, the MEC for Health in Gauteng assured residents that the situation was ‘under control’, saying:

“We have now tried to manage it and we are confident that the seven that have survived can be treated and discharged.”

Ramaphosa labels ANC Lekgotla ‘a success’

Despite a sombre start to 2020 and a bleak economic outlook, made worse by the precarious predicament of state owned enterprises, President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the ANC’s recent Lekgotla remained positive.

Speaking to the media following the party’s meeting which took place over the weekend, Ramaphosa said:

“Many had thought this Lekgotla would amount to fighting, arguments, walk-outs and sit ins. Sorry to disappoint you but this was peaceful and show of unity.”

The president noted that discussions surrounding state owned enterprises, and associated corruption which has brought the likes of Eskom to its knees, dominated proceedings. Ramaphosa assured South Africans that the fight against corruption, poor service delivery and criminality would intensify.

Oosthuizen continues rise towards world top-10

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen continued his rise in the world rankings released on Monday with a move up to 14th.

Oosthuizen finished fifth at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, finishing on 15-under with rounds of 69 68 70 and 66. The SA number one ended four shots behind England’s Lee Westwood, who claimed a two-stroke victory on 19-under. The 37-year-old Oosthuizen pocketed R4.2m for his efforts.

It was the second week in a row Oosthuizen finished in the top-five, following his second place at the SA Open at Randpark Golf Club two weeks ago. There Oosthuizen earned a cool R1.9m.

His season earning stand at R6.1m after the two events. (Source: ANA)

Blitzboks on track for 2020 – SA coach Powell

The end goal for their 2019/20 season is the Olympic Games in Japan, but for the Blitzboks there are also some very real challenges and objectives in the coming months according to Springboks Sevens coach Neil Powell.

The Blitzboks are busy putting the finishing touches on their preparation for the third World Rugby Sevens Series event which kicks off in New Zealand this weekend.

Powell and his troops have arrived in Hamilton, where the New Zealand Sevens will be contested at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday and Sunday, with the Blitzboks sharing first spot on the log with New Zealand after the opening tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town. (Source: ANA)

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