South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Monday 5 October

Stay up to date with all the latest news in South Africa by reviewing the day’s biggest headlines on Monday 5 October.

As the nationwide crackdown on corruption enters an optimistic new era following a series of promises by President Cyril Ramaphosa, a bitter wage dispute threatens to derail the Gautrain and leave thousands of commuters stranded. In sports news, Mamelodi Sundowns have revealed a coaching duo to replace Pitso Mosimane and a new Super Rugby format looks to present the best local talent South Africa has to offer.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Monday 5 OCTOBER

Gautrain strike: Wage dispute forces commuters of the rails

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has vowed to forge ahead with strike action after wage negotiations with Gautrain operator, Bombela Operating Company, faltered over the weekend. The union’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola confirmed the deadlock concerning a bitter wage dispute, adding that the strike would disrupt rail travel in Gauteng on Monday.

Workers’ latest rejection of a 4.1% salary increase offer is the latest in a series of setbacks which first arose in March. The Gautrain has downplayed the veracity of Numsa’s strike action, noting that while minor disruptions could delay schedules, contingency plans were already in motion to avoid leaving commuters stranded on platforms.

Hlubi-Majola has lambasted Gautrain management structures for refusing to engage with the union, arguing that a recently issued ultimatum — authorising wage increases which hadn’t been agreed to — was in contravention of South Africa’s labour laws.

It’s estimated that the Gautrain transports 34 000 passengers on a daily basis, although ridership has declined steeply in the wake of South Africa’s coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Reward offer nets arrests in Free State farm murder case

Two suspects have been arrested for the murder of Brandon Horner, a 21-year-old Free State farm manager who was brutally beaten and tied to a pole last week. The gruesome discovery, made at De Rots Farm in Paul Roux, west of Bethlehem, sent shockwaves through the local farming community which has continuously called for increased police presence and visibility amid a surge of attacks.

Free State police spokesperson Brig Motantsi Makhele confirmed that two men, aged 34 and 43, were arrested on Saturday after investigators had acted on a tip-off. The suspects were found in possession of blood-stained clothing, which has been delivered to the forensics department for testing.

Police theorise that the suspects, well-known in the area as stock thieves, were uncovered by Horner while trying to burgle De Rots Farm.

The arrests were made shortly after Gilly Scheepers, owner of the Bloukruin boerdery where Horner worked, offered a R50 000 reward for any information relating to the brutal murder.

The suspects are expected to appear before the Senekal Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) have condemned the latest farm murder, describing the recent spike in attacks as “war against our agricultural and rural communities”.

Corruption crackdown intensifies, Limpopo official latest to be cuffed

Almost a month after President Ramaphosa commented that “history would absolve him” in answer to government’s lacklustre fight against corruption, a series of arrests — placing government officials and private sector businessmen in handcuffs — has renewed a sense of optimism within a country stifled by malfeasance.

South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation — better known as the Hawks — has sprung into action over the past week. The latest arrests have focused on fraud in Limpopo, with a 53-year-old senior official of the Molemole Local Municipality being apprehended for theft of R4.3 million from a communal property association. The association, which was allegedly manipulated into investing in the official’s wife’s company, expected to receive farming services and supplies but received nothing. The official is expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today.

The Limpopo crackdown comes after several high-ranking public officials were rounded up by the Hawks in an intense interprovincial operation. A series of arrests, emanating from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture in relation to a Free State asbestos tender, is the biggest swoop to date and threatens a number of high-raking African National Congress (ANC) officials who have been implicated in the dodgy deal.

With the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit hoping to recoup approximately R300 million, the following suspects will reappear in court on 11 November:

• Former Human Settlements Head of Department Nthimotse Mokhesi
• Director of supply chain management at the Provincial Human Settlements Department John Matlakala
• Businessman Edwin Sodi, whose testimony before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture spurred the arrests
• Businessman Sello Radebe
• Director of ORI Group Abel Kgotso Manyeki
• Former Human Settlements Minister Thabane Zulu
• Disgraced Mangaung mayor Sarah ‘Olly’ Mlamleli

The accused face almost 60 charges related to corruption, fraud and money laundering. Public officials have also been charged with contravening the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Precca) and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

Both the NPA and Hawks have warned of further arrests and urged implicated officials to turn themselves in, rather than attempting to outrun the law.

Mooikloof Mega Residential City: South Africa’s largest residential development

President Ramaphosa has officially launched South Africa’s largest residential project, Mooikloof Mega City, east of Tshwane in Gauteng. The human settlements project, which will be spearheaded by Balwin Properties in collaboration the provincial government, and the City of Tshwane, is expected to present approximately 50 000 apartments.

Ramaphosa, who was joined by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille, and the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, added that the development would also offer schools, shops and offices. The president elaborated on the development’s policy of spatial integration, saying:

“We continue to feel the effects of apartheid spatial design in what may be termed the 40/40/40 principle.

This means that most people are housed 40 kilometers from employment opportunities, as a result, they spend over 40 minutes travelling to and from work, and spend over 40% of their incomes on transport expenses. In many cases those affected are the poor who live in 40m2 houses.”

The development is also expected to create approximately 41 000 jobs.

Mamelodi Sundowns rush to fill void left by Mosimane’s departure

PSL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, have moved swiftly to fill the gaping void left by star coach Pitso Mosimane’s departure, who recently announced that he would be leaving South Africa to coach Egyptian Premier League champions Al Ahly.

Sundowns avoided an all-out exodus after joint head coach Rhulani Mokwena turned down a deal to join Mosimane. Additionally, Sundowns have appointed Manqoba Mngqithi as Mokwena’s right-hand man. Club president Patrice Motsepe confirmed the recent appointments, mere weeks before kick-off of the PSL 2020/2021 season, saying:

“Manqoba, Rhulani and the technical team at Sundowns will focus on defending the PSL and the other titles that we won during our historic 50-year anniversary.”

Super Rugby Unlocked: Local teams put in final preparations

South African rugby fans, who have recently been treated to some once-off events, which have brought an end to the lockdown-induced sporting lull, will look forward to Super Rugby Unlocked which gets underway this coming weekend. Bans on international travel and gatherings crippled the Super Rugby tournament, with New Zealand and Australia revising the competition for local clashes.

South Africa has adopted to go the same route, amalgamating the local Super Rugby tournament with Currie Cup teams.

Super Rugby teams include the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers, while the Cheetahs, Pumas and Griquas, from the Currie Cup stable, will bolster the unique tournament’s offering.

The action gets underway on Friday 9 October, when the Sharks take on the Lions in Durban. On Saturday, the Cheetahs take on the Pumas in Bloemfontein and, on Sunday, the Bulls clash with the Griquas at Loftus.

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HOROSCOPE TODAY

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