South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 13 November

Never miss a beat when it comes to the latest news in South Africa. Be sure to check out what’s making headlines on Friday 13 November.

If you’re superstitious, then today is going to drive you nuts. Fear not though, we’ll keep you informed with enough to make sensible decisions.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 13 NOVEMBER

Ramaphosa fumbles through ‘uncomfortable questions’ on Magashule

Cyril Ramaphosa was put on the spot earlier on Thursday, after the Parliamentary opposition attempted to get his opinion on the Ace Magashule matter. The ANC Secretary-General will appear in court tomorrow, facing charges of corruption. The president, however, navigated an escape route away from a difficult line of questioning.

DA leader John Steenhuisen asked Ramaphosa if he thought keeping Magashule within the ANC Top Six was undermining the government’s proposed attempts to tackle corruption. Without say much, Cyril fumbled his way to an answer.

By-elections: ‘People reaffirm their confidence in ANC Gauteng’

The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng said it’s extremely grateful for the support it received during the by-elections. Releasing a statement on Thursday 12 November, the ANC said the people have once more reaffirmed their confidence and trust in the party to continue partnering with them to advance social transformation. 

“The ANC GP remains grateful for the unwavering support the people have given to the ANC following the outcome of the by-elections held on Wednesday 11 November 2020,” it said. 

Out of 14 wards that were contested across the Gauteng province the ANC walked away with 12 by retaining 10 and winning two from the opposition. 

The ANC performed as follows during the by-elections; 

• Johannesburg: Retained Ward 41 and 130 and won Ward 120 from the DA; 
• Ekurhuleni: Retained all Wards; 60, 89 and 103; 
• Sedibeng: Retained Ward 6 (Midvaal), 21 and 43 (both Emfuleni) and won Ward 16 in Emfuleni from the DA; and 
• West Rand: Retained all Wards; 11 and 23. 

By-election autopsy: Here’s what the DA blame for their poor performance

It’s been a bruising day for the Democratic Alliance (DA). The party woke up to some pretty damning conclusions from Wednesday’s by-election results, losing control of several key wards and conceding territory to the ANC and the Freedom Front Plus. Today, the autopsy has begun in earnest for John Steenhuisen and his colleagues.

The Blues did win two new wards – Matjhabeng in the Free State, and in the Walter Sisulu municipality in the Eastern Cape – while retaining 14 others. But all in all, this was a dreadful outing for the opposition, who now control seven fewer wards than they had before these by-elections took place.

There’s no beating around the bush – the DA are acutely aware that voters have ‘punished them’:

Zuma’s attorneys lash out at ‘condescending’ State Capture reminder

The ongoing question remains: Will former President Jacob Zuma honour his commitment and appear before the Zondo Commission on 16 November or will he and his legal team devise another cunning plan to keep him out of the dock? A war of words between  the commission’s secretary, Professor Itumeleng Mosala, and Zuma’s attorney Eric Mabuza suggests that the latter may apply. 

Bitter back-and-forth letters between the two legal councils have once again shown that Zuma might have other ideas about appearing next week, and his lawyers are clearly none too pleased with the friendly reminder from the commission that he is expected.

Palesa Madiba’s friend details her last moments

The murder trial of Dumisani Mkhwanazi accused of killing UJ student Palesa Madiba resumed in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday 12 November 2020.

The first state witness, Matshidiso ‘Tshidi’ Mkhwanazi detailed the events of the day when Palesa went missing.

Tshidi is the friend that Palesa was visiting in August 2013 when she disappeared, she is also the Niece to the accused.

Palesa was murdered and buried in a shallow grave in Phiri, Soweto in August 2013 while visiting Tshidi for a sleepover. Palesa’s remains were later discovered in a shallow grave at Tshidi’s home in December 2015.

The state witness told the court that she last saw Palesa at her home on August 12 when she left for work.

New hijacking trends: Here’s where – and when – you’re likely to be targeted

The latest figures released by a major insurance company are difficult to digest for the motorists of Mzansi. Hijackings are on the up, despite the threat of a global pandemic. In the past 12 months, a 20% increase in these crimes has resulted in 30 000 separate carjacking incidents – and the experts have noticed some alarming trends.

According to the newly released statistics, there are specific days and times that most hijackings take place. These crooks have their favoured locations too, pouncing at residential properties and several strategic public locations.

Unemployment rate: More misery as South Africa reaches ‘new low’

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey – including an updated ‘expanded unemployment rate for Q3 – has been released on Thursday morning. It makes for a grim bit of reading: StatsSA has confirmed just how devastating the lockdown period has been for South Africa, despite many businesses reopening during the months of July, August and September.

Since the last figures were released in September, the expanded unemployment rate has sunk even further. A total of 43.1% of working-age South Africans currently do not have a job, a figure which has increased by 1.1% in the last two months. This is up by 4.6% from this time last year.

It marks the worst-ever rate in this category during the 21st-century.

There have been contrasting fortunes across South Africa. Although the expanded unemployment rate has dropped in the Eastern Cape (by 1.6%), it is still home to the highest percentage of jobless citizens (51.2%). Meanwhile, unemployment in the Western Cape has increased, but they still have the smallest amount of residents who are out of work (29.1%).

The range is relatively small across the seven other provinces, with expanded unemployment figures ranging from 41% in Gauteng, to 47.5% in KwaZulu-Natal. The Northern Cape was the only other region which saw work rates rise (+1.1%).

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HOROSCOPE TODAY

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Friday 13 November.