South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 29 December 2021
Stay informed with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on 29 December 2021.
In some tragic news, a two-year-old boy has died after being shot in the head on Monday evening in a gang-related shooting.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape, the shooting occurred on Monday evening, 27 December, in Belhar.
It is believed that the child was inside his house at the time of the shooting.
Meanwhile, also on Monday in Cape Town, two boys were killed in a drive-by shooting. The deceased, no older than 15 years old, died on the streets of Lavender Hill near Retreat.
Talk about a party pooper, no gqom, no singing, and no getting drunk after midnight – that’s the stance Bheki Cele is taking, ahead of a curfew-limited New Year’s Eve.
This comes after the DA called for the curfew to be lifted. The DA, via its main man, John Steenhuisen, has said the time is now for President Cyril Ramaphosa to support the economy and end curfew before New Year’s Eve.
TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Wednesday 29 December
Fatal shooting: Two-year-old boy KILLED in Cape Town
A tragic story coming from Cape Town: A two-year-old boy has died after being shot in the head. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape, the shooting occurred on Monday evening, 27 December, in Belhar.
It is believed that the child was inside his house at the time of the shooting.
Cape Town Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the little boy’s shooting. SAPS spokesperson FC Van Wyk says the crime could have been related to gang violence, which as many people know, is one of the major problems affecting the city.
Van Wyk says medics attended to the boy as soon as they got word of the Belhar shooting, but nothing could be done to save him.
“According to reports Belhar police members received a complaint of a shooting at the above address from radio control. At the scene the victim was already taken to the fire station for medical attention. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his face. An ambulance personnel declared him deceased. Motive for the shooting is suspected to be a gang related”
Horror: Two boys killed in Cape Town gang drive-by shooting crossfire
According to the report from IOL, the two victims were aged 14 and 15 years of age. The younger kid died on the spot, while the 15-year-old almost survived but sadly lost his life in the hospital.
It is said that the two boys were killed while they were hanging out with other kids in Stone Court.
“It could be gang-related,” Gavin Walbrugh from the local CPF told IOL.
“They are kids and were caught in the crossfire, it is sad what happened but at the moment we do not have the full details. As the CPF we condemn the shooting at the possible strong terms and we are calling for more boots on the ground from the local authorities to prevent further shootings.
“Luckily there were no fatalities in all the shootings and there were shootings over the weekend, too.”
‘Nobody moves after midnight’: Bheki Cele on New Year curfew rules
That’s because the calls to end the curfew, in place between 00:00 to 4:00 every night, are growing louder. John Steenhuisen of the DA has made an impassioned plea to the government, asking them to reconsider their ‘unjustifiable’ policy.
Steenhuisen and his colleagues want the four-hour shutdown scrapped before the New Year, allowing friends and family to celebrate without fear of breaking the law on Friday 31 December.
“The DA has never supported the curfew, as we have never found it to be a rational or justifiable denial of freedom. But now more than ever, we believe it should be lifted once and for all, and before New Year’s Eve.”
“People should be able to legally come together with friends and family to celebrate the start of 2022 and the end of an incredibly tough 2021. Most people aren’t observing curfew anyway.”
John Steenhuisen
Watch | How lovely! Torrents of water released from overflowing Vaal Dam
Now that’s a sight for sore eyes! The Vaal Dam, which is the main water supplier for the whole of Gauteng, is fit for bursting this week – and the authorities have decided to open its sluice gates, releasing gushing torrents of water from the facility.
In a statement issued by DWS on Tuesday, those who live downstream from the Vaal Dam have been told to take precautions, with officials concerned about the welfare of nearby farmers and road users approaching low-lying bridges.
“The department will monitor the situation, and may open other sluice gates in time, if heavy rains and inflows persist. It is important for farmers and all of those who live downstream to move their equipment from the flow, and no-one should try to cross low-lying bridges if they look flooded.”Department of Water and Sanitation, Tuesday 28 December
Open wide! Gauteng may fight Omicron with two new COVID ‘wonder pills’
We’re nearly two years into this pandemic, so it really is high time that more pharmaceutical interventions came online. Sure enough, just as the Omicron variant of COVID threatens to cause havoc, two new anti-viral pills are now officially ‘on the brink’ of being made available for public use – with Gauteng at the front of the queue.
Jack Bloom is the shadow health MEC in the province. He has pressed the local government about how they plan to stem the soaring number of cases in Gauteng, as Omicron rips through the community. His opposite number, Nomathemba Mokgethi, already seems on top of it, however:
“As Gauteng faces an escalating fourth wave, consideration is being given for the use of two overseas drugs that have shown promise as effective early treatments in overseas trials. This good news was disclosed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in an oral reply today to my questions at a virtual sitting of the Gauteng Legislature.”
“According to Mokgethi, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir drugs are being considered – although these pills are not yet registered by the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Mokgethi said that the National Essential Medicines List Committee is looking at peer reviews to finalise approval for the use of these drugs in South Africa.”
Jack Bloom
SASSA payment dates for January 2022 – including the R350 grant
With three permanent grants already well established in South Africa, there is now a significant push to make the R350 grant the fourth mainstay for SASSA. The SRD funds are likely to be converted into something resembling a Basic Income Grant – with a higher fee proposed for beneficiaries.
As per usual, the elderly will be the first up to claim their SASSA grants, and payday falls on Tuesday 4 January for them. Disability claimants then follow the day after, then child maintenance payments are made.
It’s worth noting that, once these funds are made available, they won’t have to be claimed straight away. All monies owed to each client will stay in their accounts, until an individual is ready to make a withdrawal. This remains the case for all four aforementioned grants.
LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, Wednesday 29 December
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 Wednesday 29 December.
![iPhone 12: First possible look at device redesign [video]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vNXWHRWm36yQS4KVZNbxeuK43AejzrG31-xsHo4bCnpEA3maDKTLV0JFf82M2xPh-AyntHFCjoLxX5vcD5yRFc63t6-2xGJPhkfrD23Qs3Ag)
No comments: