South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 27 November

It’s finally Black Friday! After a much-anticipated build-up, the day when shoppers lose all inhibitions and rush to take advantage of the best deals is finally here. How this year’s Black Friday on 27 November will be different to others, given the coronavirus pandemic, remains to be seen.

Will people queue for hours and risk getting infected? Will retailers take the necessary precautions to ensure their stores do not become super spreader clusters? And will security guards and cashiers be overwhelmed by it all?

These are the questions we are likely to get answers to later today. But there’s other news in case you haven’t noticed.

Agricultural and farming organisation TLU SA, has laid a criminal complaint of terrorism against Julius Malema following his police comments, the Eastern Cape could go back into lockdown if the infection rate keeps and Minister of Higher Education and Basic Training, Blade Nzimande said that the majority of universities will complete the 2020 academic calendar.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 27 November 

MALEMA FACES TERRORISM CHARGE AFTER POLICE COMMENTS

Malema has come under fire for his comments regarding South African police and it seems the embers just keep on coming. While many other politicians, including Police Minister Bheki Cele, have lashed out at Malema for his utterances, agricultural and farming organisation TLU SA, came out guns blazing on Thursday 26 November, announcing that it laid a criminal charge of terrorism against the commander in chief. 

After clashes between EFF protesters and police outside Brackenfell High School last week Friday, Malema said that if police want a fight, they’ll get that and more. The dreaded remarks came during a visit to the Mohokare Municipality in the Free State on Sunday, just two days later. 

“If SA police want a fight, they must declare it. We will treat them the same way we treated them in the 80s. We will not only fight them at the picket lines. We will go to their homes and fight them in their own houses with their own families” he said. 

TLU SA released a statement saying Malema’s threats against the police is unacceptable and threatens the stability of the country. President of TLU SA Henry Geldenhuys, on Thursday, laid a criminal complaint against Malema — one of terrorism, as well as, undermining the law.

MAJORITY OF SA’S UNIVERSITIES WILL COMPLETE 2020 ACADEMIC YEAR  

Minister of Higher Education and Basic Training, Blade Nzimande, briefed the media on the state of South African universities’ ambitions to complete the 2020 academic year, which has been plagued with disruptions and challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent national lockdowns. 

He said that the country’s universities have all taken individual, risk-adjusted approaches to the unprecedented challenges posed by the extraordinary circumstances that faced them, but insisted that all continue to ensure that students successfully complete their programmes timeously so as to progress to the 2021 schedule. 

Nzimande said that in spite of the immense challenge that universities faced this year, the “vast majority” are considered unlikely, or “low risk”, of failing to complete the 2020 academic year. 

“We have been closely monitoring the situation across all universities, and I am pleased to say that as of 13 November the vast majority of institutions, 25, are at ‘low risk’ of not competing the academic year,” he said. 

NELSON MANDELA BAY’S COVID-19 SURGE

Zweli Mkhize has pulled no punches with his honest review of the COVID-19 resurgence in the Eastern Cape. The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro in particular is suffering from a huge spike in cases, and the health minister has suggested that tougher lockdown restrictions – plus possible changes to alcohol sales – could be reintroduced to the region.

Speaking during a visit to the virus-hit province on Thursday, Mkhize reasoned that the numbers are forcing the Municipality in Port Elizabeth consider taking a step backwards. Cases here – and in certain hot-spots of the Western Cape – have been blamed for causing an increase in the overall national numbers.

“We have seen the number of people admitted to hospital has increased, the numbers of people recorded to have lost their lives have also increased and the percentage of people positive has also increased.”

FAMILY OF SIX MURDERED, HUSBAND ‘DISAPPEARS’ 

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape are on the hunt for a husband after the cold-blooded killings of six people on Tuesday night 24 November 2020 at Dabekweni Locality, in Kwaaiman.

The man’s wife and five children were found dead inside their home with an axe not too far away from the scene. 

Preliminary investigations indicated that the police were called after neighbours discovered that “something wrong” had happened in the home of the deceased family. 

On arrival at the scene of the crime, the police found six people murdered and among them children.

“The deceased persons include a 42-year-old mother and her children aged between six months and 10-years-old. An Axe which was found at the scene of crime is believed to have been used as an instrument in the commission of the murders,” said Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation by SAPS detectives and no arrests have been made at this stage. 

RUGBY WORLD CUP WINNERS HONOURED AGAIN

Springbok Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and Rugby World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi walked away with another set of awards on Thursday.

A little more than a year after they spearheaded South Africa’s third triumph at the Rugby World Cup in Japan the dynamic leadership duo were honoured at the Hollard Sports Industry Awards for 2020, which was staged digitally this year. 

The presentation takes place annually to celebrate achieving personalities and businesses in the South African sports industry.

Erasmus was presented with the Leadership in Sport Business Award, while Kolisi was honoured with the Sport Industry Personality of the Year accolade.

PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS CLEARED TO ALLOW FANS

Liverpool, Chelsea, Brighton and West Ham will be among the Premier League able to allow fans into their stadiums next month under a new tier system to tackle the spread of coronavirus in England.

The Premier League clubs are within tier-two areas, meaning clubs can welcome up to 2,000 fans.

However, the two Manchester giants United and City as well as Leeds United will be unable to as they are categorised in tier three. 

The Premier League has yet to confirm the scheduling for matches to be played over the weekend of December 5 and 6.

Brighton will host Southampton, Chelsea are at home to Leeds, champions Liverpool take on Wolves at Anfield while West Ham could welcome fans to the London Stadium for the visit of Manchester United.

They would be the first top-flight matches to be attended by fans since the Covid-19 crisis took hold in March.

LATEST WEATHER FORECAST, Friday 27 November   

Take a look at weather forecasts for all nine provinces here.

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