South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Thursday 19 August 2021

Are you keeping up with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa? We’ve got the news you really need to know on Thursday 19 August 2021.

The alleged arsonists who set fire to a school hall to avoid an assessment have been identified. Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that six individuals have been identified but he did not say how the learners will be dealt with.

On the vaccine front, a study conducted by the University of Johannesburg has found that the majority of people who are skeptical of vaccines are white adults. “Vaccine acceptance declined amongst White adults from 56% to 52%,” the study said.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Thursday 19 August

White South Africans MOST hesitant to get jabs – study

There has growing concern over the level of vaccine hesitancy in the country, something which poses as a potential hindrance to the current roll-out. While some South Africans have been lining up for the COVID-19 vaccine, others have been skeptical about heeding the call to get their own jabs. A study has shown that most of those who are hesitant about being administered are white adults.

The study was conducted by the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Change and the Human Sciences Research Council.

“Vaccine acceptance declined amongst White adults from 56% to 52%, while it increased from 69% to 75% for Black African adults. However, White adults were more likely than Black Africans to have been vaccinated (16% compared to 10%),” it found in part.

That’s not all: The study also found that younger people are less likely to be accepting of vaccines than older people.

Glen Vista High School fire: Six pupils identified – Lesufi

Gauteng’s Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says six pupils have been singled out for the fire at Glen Vista High School just recently.

Pupils from the school – south of Johannesburg, set part of the hall alight on Monday, 16 August 2021, because they did not want to write exam which had been scheduled for that afternoon. Well, despite the students’ efforts to prevent writing their exams, they were forced to take them out outside in the sun.

Local councillor Sarah Wissler also confirmed on Facebook that the pupils involved were identified.

“I have been inundated with questions around the fire that happened yesterday morning. Yes, it did happen and yes, the pupils who started the fire have been identified and dealt with by the department,” she said.

It’s not yet clear how the learners will be taken to task for the incident

Revealed: Zuma ‘willing to implicate Nelson Mandela’ in arms deal trial

Now, this would be a blockbuster development. It’s understood that Jacob Zuma has written to ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile, demanding access to several records held by the ruling party. The information he is after would shift the blame in the Thales arms deal case to that of his former colleagues – and one Nelson Mandela.

Zuma, now aged 79, is facing charges of fraud and corruption for helping to facilitate an illegal agreement between the French company and the South African government. He is set to return to court next month, health issues permitting.

The document, drafted by Thusini Attorneys and seen by The South African, states that this approach is very much a last resort for the former president, who has had the arms deal trial looming over him for the last three-and-a-half years.

Yep, believe it or not, MORE SNOW and thunderstorms expected

More snow, rain, and thunderstorms are expected for parts of the Eastern Cape on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said that light snowfall is expected in high-lying areas such as the Sneeuberg and Winterberg mountains in the Eastern Cape.

The SAWS warned that rainfall and strong winds could accompany the snowfall.

“There is a 60% chance of rainfall for tomorrow in the Eastern Cape with a maximum temperature of 13 – 15°C and minimum temperature between 2-4°C .”

Rainfall and thunderstorms are expected along the Garden Route in the Western Cape, with alerts for localised flooding in the area.

Watch | ‘At least three dead’ as Taliban open fire on peaceful protesters

At least three people have been killed in the city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, after citizens attempted to launch a peaceful protest against the hostile takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban forces.

As large crowds gathered to defiantly raise the traditional Afghan flag – recently replaced by the Taliban’s own emblem – the militants in charge oversaw a brutal show of strength, by opening fire on the demonstrators. More than a dozen injuries have been reported, and the fatality count could well rise before the end of the day.

A spokesperson for the Taliban has attempted to turn the story in their favour, by telling Reuters that they were provoked by troublemakers. Unfortunately for them, various clips of the altercation show nothing of the sort.

Africa Check proves prison photo of Zuma is fake… in case you couldn’t tell

The prevalence of false and misleading messages spread via social media and other digital platforms and the harm they cause has proven time and again why independent fact-checking organisations such as Africa Check are important. Not all internet hoaxes are created equally and sometimes, like in the case at hand, images are clearly doctored.

Fact-checkers, however, still strive to debunk false claims and the messages that accompany them to make sure fake news has no room to thrive.

Africa Check turned their attention to an image that supposedly showed former President Jacob Zuma – who is currently serving a 15-month jail term for contempt of the Constitutional court – waiting in line for food alongside other prisoners.

Duncan Bwire, an Africa Check researcher, said the “photo” of Zuma was originally posted to a public Facebook group in Kenya with more than 320 000 members. The poster reportedly used the post as a reference to Kenyan political happenings.

LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, Thursday 19 AUGUST

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 Thursday 19 August.