South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 5 January

As we unpack the latest news and headlines on Tuesday 5 January 2021, we reflect on an eventful start to the week already on Monday, with murder, mayhem, and beheadings at an alleged drug kingpin’s house in Durban, and mounting public criticism of the government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan.

The government has also quashed rumours of a hard lockdown reminiscent of Level 5, while ANC Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte has claimed South Africa could descend into civil war without the ruling party.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Tuesday 5 January  

TEDDY MAFIA GUNNED DOWN IN DURBAN HOME

Immense drama has unfolded in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday 4 January after suspected gang leader and drug kingpin Yaganathan Pillay – better known by his alias Teddy Mafia – was killed in a shootout at his Durban home.

Following the murder, in which unknown suspects were invited into Pillay’s home before opening fire, police engaged in a shootout with community members who had taken it upon themselves to capture the suspects and set them alight and behead them in the street. 

National South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said Pillay’s daughter had sounded the alarm when her father was ambushed by men he had reportedly invited into his home. 

“On Monday, 4 January 2021, a shooting occurred at a known drug dealers home at Taurus Street in Shallcross,” he said.

“It is alleged that at approximately 14:00, the owner of the property – known as Teddy Mafia – had informed his daughter that he was expecting visitors.”

He said that police responding to the incident were forced to call in the Public Order Policing Unit after members of an incensed crowd began firing at them. He said that the crowd was dispersed with no injuries, other than to the suspects of the killing, who they had managed to get their hands on. 

Level 5 loading? Presidency issues response to ‘hard lockdown’ claims

A spokesperson for the Minister in the Presidency has branded reports of a sudden shift into Level 5 of lockdown as ‘fake news’. Nonceba Mhlauli came across a post on Sunday, which suggested the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) was meeting to discuss putting South Africa into the harshest restrictions possible.

According to the now-debunked communication, fears about hospital capacity had pushed Jackson Mthembu into convening an emergency consultation. However, no such meeting has taken place…

Motorists to feel the pinch at the pumps

Motorists can expect hefty fuel price increases in early January amid rising global oil prices and despite a strengthening rand.

This is according to the Automobile Association (AA) which on Monday 4 January 2021 released anticipated fuel pricing, including paraffin, for the first month of the new year.

The AA, which described the increases as “significant”, made its assessments based on unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund.

“Fuel prices will rise significantly in January. The rand has continued to advance against the US dollar, which is a pleasing outcome considering the severe beating the currency took earlier in the year. But even the currency’s ongoing strength has not been enough to contain oil’s march back towards its pre-COVID-19 price levels,” said the AA.

Watch: ANC members ‘celebrate bail release’ for rape-accused councillor

A prominent ANC councillor was granted R2 000 bail on Monday, after he was accused of raping his girlfriend during the Christmas holidays. The suspect a – party branch executive member of Zone 13 in Alexandra – has not yet been named, but the show of support for the alleged sexual offender is likely to leave a sour taste in many mouths.

Greater Johannesburg ANC secretary Dada Morero issued a statement over the weekend, declaring his branch’s support for the victim. This clased with the ANC Youth League’s stance, as they believe their ‘comrade’ is innocent. Morero specifically requested that no supporters turn up at the court today – but his pleas fell on deaf ears:

“The ANC stands with the victim and calls on law enforcement agencies to ensure that the alleged misogynist faces the full might of the law as we believe in the fairness … of the justice system of our country. No ANC regalia should be worn by anyone who will go to court to support the alleged perpetrator. Ours is to support the victim until justice is done.” 

Dada Morero

US adult movie industry worried over VP-elect Harris’ anti-porn crusade

An American porn star is raising fears over vice-president-elect Kamala Harris’ history of pounding the industry, saying they are “terrified” of what’s to come.

In a crunching opinion piece published by the Daily Beast, adult film star Cherie DeVille laid bare why many in the adult industry are worried stiff about the election of Harris, saying she will bring a “lifetime of animosity toward sex workers” to the White House.

The veteran adult actress says porn stars have been raising concerns about Harris since her time as San Francisco district attorney from 2004 to 2011.

DeVille blasted Harris for opposing a San Francisco ballot initiative to legalize prostitution and for trying to prosecute the owners of a classified ad website.

She says the US Vice-President-elect continued her crusade when elected to the Senate, resulting in legislation that anyone who posts an online sex work ad can now be jailed.

“In the name of protecting women, Harris has pushed sex workers back onto dangerous street corners.”

LATEST WEATHER FORECAST, Tuesday 5 January  

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

LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES FOR CAPE TOWN, JOHANNESBURG AND DURBAN

Stay one step ahead of the traffic by viewing our live traffic updates here.

Horoscope today

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Tuesday 5 January.