South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 7 October

Never miss a beat when it comes to the latest news in South Africa, be sure to check out what’s making headlines on Wednesday 7 October.

While tensions in the Free State continue to boil following violent clashes between farmers and police officers, law enforcement agencies double-down on their war against corruption, fraud and malfeasance involving state funds. In sports news, Orlando Pirates overhauls its squad ahead of the PSL season restart.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Wednesday 7 OCTOBER

Free State farmers revolt after latest killing and court appearance

Tensions remain high in the small town of Senekal following a brief court appearance of two men accused of murdering 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner. Horner was found brutally beaten and tied to a pole last week Friday.

The latest killing sent shockwaves through the farming community, with many lambasting the South African Police Service (SAPS), Minister Bheki Cele and President Cyril Ramaphosa for failing to heed calls for proactive policing measures amid a swell of violent farm attacks.

Farmers from Senekal and surrounds showed up in force on Tuesday, clashing with police outside the courthouse where two men, aged 34 and 43, appeared on charges of murder. Fed-up farmers attacked police vehicles and demanded to be let into the courthouse holding cells. Law enforcement agencies responded with tear gas.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), whose members were also present at the protest, said that it understood the frustrations of the farming community at large, explaining:

“The DA understand the emotions of a violent death of a young person and the frustrations people have with the criminal justice system. The DA will not react to violent outbursts and will continue to be the voice of reason.”

Following a meeting with Agri-SA, TLU SA and AfriForum, National police commissioner General Khehla Sitole said that proactive measures — including the identification of hotspots — were being discussed to curb the tide of farm attacks.

The suspects charged with murdering Horner have been remanded in custody and will be back in court on 16 October.

War on corruption: Assets seized, bank accounts frozen

The war on corruption — promised by President Ramaphosa following the wanton looting of coronavirus-related relief funds — seems to be netting results on a daily basis.

On Tuesday, the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit pounced on businessman Edwin Sodi. This latest development comes after Sodi, who testified before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture on the details of a dubious Free State asbestos-clearing tender deal, was arrested and the NPA awarded a court order to recoup R300 million.

Sodi was forced to forfeit a fleet of luxury vehicles — including a Ferrari Four F151, Porsche Cayenne and Bentley. The Free State asbestos scandal has implicated several senior African National Congress (ANC) officials.

In Limpopo, the NPA seized a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d coupé belonging to the wife of David Kgantshi Malepa. Malepa, the deputy manager of technical services at Mogalakwena Local Municipality, stands accused of extorting service providers and using ill-gotten gains to live a life of luxury.

In KwaZulu-Natal, several high-profile arrests related to fraud and bribery associated with services provided during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, has seen a business associate of former President Jacob Zuma and a former senior police officer appear before court on serious charges.

The Beitbridge border fence scandal has also taken a dramatic twist, with Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille in hot water with parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) seeking a court order which would allow the bank accounts of companies involved with the project to be frozen.

A report tabled before SCOPA found that De Lille’s department had overpaid R17 million on the construction of the ineffective fence which ended up costing the taxpayer R40 million. De Lille has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to be grilled by Parliament concerning allegations that she meddled in procurement processes and effectively flouted stringent tender regulations.  

Joburg flooding subsides, mop-up operations underway

Torrential downpours which resulted in localised flooding in Johannesburg over the past 48 hours are expected to subside today and allow for clean-up crews to reopen roads which were submerged earlier this week. The SA Weather Service confirmed that Joburg had been lashed with continuous rainfall, with City services noting that several major roads in the CBD, parts of Soweto and Roodepoort had been flooded, adversely affecting the flow of traffic.

While Joburg may experience a few more drops of rain this morning, the SA Weather Service has not issued any further warnings for the region. Joburg Emergency Services’ Nana Radebe confirmed that response teams would remain on high alert.

Union strike: Government services, transport and schools to be disrupted

Nationwide disruptions, resulting from mass action orchestrated by all of South Africa’s major trade unions, are expected to impact a host of services. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), representing almost 3 million workers, will forge ahead with its collective strike aimed at bringing attention to the plight of corruption and forcing government’s firm hand.

While ‘small groups’ of workers have been urged to protest and picket in all major cities, both unions have called for a mass stay-away in adherence to social distancing protocols associated with the risk of coronavirus infections.

Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali has called on all private and public sector workers to support the stay-away, saying:

“We need to take a stand and push back against this flagrant theft of taxpayer funds and the disgraceful abandonment of the working class by policymakers and decision makers.”

Nelson Mandela Bay water crisis deepens, DA blames ‘coalition of corruption’

Nelson Mandela Bay is in the dire throes of a serious water shortage crisis. Despite some good recent rains, Port Elizabeth and surrounds remain in a ‘Day Zero’ situation, dams remain at dangerously low levels and residents have been urged to drastically reduce their usage.

The DA has, however, argued that Nelson Mandela Bay — and other areas in the Eastern Cape — has been thrown into despair by incompetent water management measures and not a lack of rainfall. Party leader, John Steenhuisen, who conducted an oversight visit to the area on Tuesday, lashed out at the “ANC-led coalition of corruption” for failing to maintain vital water supply infrastructure.

Steenhuisen pointed to a major water leak, between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, which has lacked repair for over eight months. According to the DA, the area “loses 46% of its treated water to leaks and theft before it reaches residents”.

The DA has vowed to address the “mismanagement” crisis before parliament’s water affairs portfolio committee.

Orlando Pirates squad overhaul: Out with the old, in with the new

Orlando Pirates are looking to reignite their PSL dreams after finishing fourth in 2019/2020 season. As part of a recent overhaul, the Buccaneers have released a new kit — met with mixed reactions — hired several stars and released eight players from their contracts.

Former Bloemfontein Celtic and Highlands Park utility player, Wayde Jooste, becomes the team’s latest signing. Jooste will join other Orlando Pirates newcomers, including Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo and former Bidvest Wits teammates, Terrence Dzvukamanja and Deon Hotto. Collins Makgaka joins from Baroka.

The club has also released Alfred Ndengane, Augustine Mulenga and Xola Mlambo among others from its first-team squad.

Cricket South Africa to be grilled before Parliament

A Cricket South Africa (CSA) board member has promised to step down if the full Fundudzi Report is not supplied to Parliament by the end of the week.

As things stand, only a summary of the report – released by law firm Bowman’s – has been made available to the public.

Contained in the copy that was released on Monday morning are damning findings against ousted chief executive Thabang Moroe, who was sacked by the organisations following a slew allegations, ranging from maladministration to credit card abuse.

Other members of the CSA top brass, including acting president Beresford Williams and board member Donovan May are also implicated, but to a lesser extent, according to the report.

However, the full 468 document has been kept under wraps and, on Tuesday, CSA came before the Parliamentary Portfolio on Sports, Arts and Culture in what turned out to be a brief — yet tense — meeting.

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