South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 8 January
At the end of an eventful week we take a look at the stories that are making the headlines on Friday 8 January 2021.
There is a new richest man in the world, and he was born in South Africa (as we will always remind the world). Elon Musk’s wealth now sits at over $185 billion.
On the COVID-19 vaccine front, the government has seemingly pulled a rabbit out of the hat, when it was announced that South Africa will receive its first batch of vaccines at the end of January. Health workers will get vaccine first while we wait for more vaccines to be acquired.
TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 8 January
Elon Musk now the richest man in the world
Pretoria-born Elon Musk has become the world’s wealthiest person, passing Jeff Bezos who was in first place not too long ago.
Around 13:00 on Thursday 7 January, Amazon’s Bezos was still the man of the moment with a fortune of $184 billion. Just a few hours later, CNBC estimated Musk’s wealth at more than $185 billion and climbing.
Not only is Elon Musk the founder and CEO of SpaceX but he’s also the CEO and product architect of Tesla which has ultimately taken him to new heights.
Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley took to Twitter on Thursday. Tagging the businessman, it said: “Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world.”
SA vaccine plans accelerated – first jabs now due in JANUARY
Oh, how the tide can change: Just one week ago, Zweli Mkhize was bearing the brunt of criticism for his department’s vaccine procurement strategy. But the situation seems to have taken a turn for the better, after the health minister confirmed that the first jabs – provided by AstraZeneca – would now be administered from January.
Mkhize made the announcement barely 30 minutes after saying that vaccines would only be available ‘from next month’. The ANC stalwart explained that he only received permission to go public with the accelerated plans once his press conference had finished. Regulators are now putting the ‘finishing touches’ on their rollout plan:
“At the press briefing I gave an undertaking to the South African public that we will prioritise the protection of our health workers by ensuring that they receive the vaccine by February 2021. At the time I could not disclose further details. But now, the Serum Institute of India (SII) has given us permission to make a public announcement.”
“South Africa will be receiving its first vaccines in January 2021.”
“We are happy that the Astra Zeneca vaccine has already been approved by various regulators and is being rolled out in other countries. Therefore, as part of expediting the regulatory process, SAHPRA is applying reliance on that regulatory work. Our teams are fine tuning all regulatory processes to ensure there are no delays to the rollout of the vaccine.”
Zweli Mkhize
Hard lockdown avoided? ANC address fears about tougher restrictions
South Africa may just be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief on Thursday evening, after Nomvula Mokonyane confirmed that the ANC is not yet supporting the case for a hard lockdown. COVID-19 cases are soaring in Mzansi, and following high-level meetings this week, there were genuine fears that Level 4 restrictions were on their way back.
It was reported on Wednesday that two senior NCCC members – Bheki Cele and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma – were leading the charge for a return to hard lockdown. However, it seems they are struggling to get the support they need to force this emergency regulation through, as concerns about a battered economy remain prominent.
While detailing the virtual celebrations for the ANC’s 109th birthday on Friday, Mokonyane made it clear that there would be no ‘relegation’ to a stricter alert phase – for the time being, anyway:
Watch: ‘Amanikiniki’ dance challenge goes viral in SA
At the end of 2020, two young men went viral after introducing a brand new dance challenge to TikTok.
JacarandaFM reports that a video of two young men dressed in PT shorts and veldskoene, dancing to MFR Souls’ Amanikiniki, went viral and South Africans put their dancing shoes on for this one as well.
The video has been shared thousands of times Twitter, even getting a thumbs up from Julius Malema!
Jobs bloodbath for SABC: Over 300 employees to be retrenched
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has concluded its Section 189 process after a lengthy consultation process and has resolved to retrench more than 300 employees. On Thursday 7 January, the SABC said it reduced the number of affected redundant employees to 303 which is just under half of the originally projected 600 redundancies.
According to the SABC, the 189 process comprised 48 consultations, including seven CCMA facilitated consultative sessions, nine bilateral sessions, 28 divisional structure consultative sessions and four facilitated sessions by an Independent Labour Expert.
“This Section 189 process exceeded the minimum legislative requirements of 60 days and four sessions and was finalised on 6 November 2020. However, on 23 November 2020, the SABC Board suspended the execution of the process by 30-days to enable management to further engage directly with employees on the proposed structures. The extended consultation process ended on 31 December 2020,” said Acting spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo.
Two arrested as off-duty KZN policewoman foils armed gang
An unnamed policewoman in Ladysmith, KZN has been showered with praise after her bravery led to the arrest of two armed robbers, and the recovery of a substantial amount of money from a business premises.
The officer had not started her shift, but she was approached by the distressed victims of the robbery. After listening to the details of their ordeal, the caring cop tracked down the subjects – only to be bombarded by a barrage of bullets. However, this ‘badass on the beat’ held her own, despite being outnumbered, and followed through with her leads.
Two of the four suspects were discovered hiding in a house. Although the other fugitives remain at large, justice will be served for the apprehended pair. These cocksure crooks now have a showdown in the Ladysmith Magistrates Court, and thanks to this quick-thinking SAPS official, they will be slapped with an extensive charge sheet.
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