Cape Town —
Update as at 16h30 SAST
Public Protector Begins Probe Into President Ramaphosa's Farm Burglary
Busisiwe Mkhwebane has begun a probe into the robbery at the president's Phala Phala farm in the Limpopo province, which allegedly saw U.S$4 million stolen by Namibian nationals.
Durban Man In Court for Supplying Guns to Gangs In Western Cape
A Durban man has appeared in the Western Cape High Court today where he is facing numerous charges for allegedly supplying gangs with guns. Anderson Padayachee is facing 66 counts on charges of murder, attempted murder, fraud, contravention of the firearms control act and gangsterism. The Western Cape, particularly Cape flats townships like Manenberg and Hanover Park, have been torn apart by gang battles that has seen many innocent civilians, mainly children, being killed.
Another Shooting In Cape Town's Khayelitsha Township
Four people were killed inside a shop in Khayelitsha - three died on the scene while a fourth died on the way to hospital. This is the fifth such mass shooting in the area, bringing the number of deaths to 22 this year alone.
Irish Budget Airline Ryanair Slammed for Afrikaans Test
The department of home affairs has described the Afrikaans testing of South African passengers to ensure their passports are authentic as "backward". According to reports, the airline said it requires South Africans to fill out a questionnaire in Afrikaans because of the "high prevalence of fraudulent South African passports". Passengers who fail to complete the questionnaire are denied travel and fully refunded for their tickets. Afrikaans is one of the 11 - soon to be 12 - official languages in South Africa.
Jacob Zuma Given Go-Ahead to Sue Billy Downer
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Former president Jacob Zuma has been given the go-ahead by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions via the issuing of a certificate, to pursue a private prosecution against Billy Downer, whom Zuma accuses of leaking crucial evidence about his arms deal corruption case to the media. The DPP declined to prosecute Adv Billy Downer SC due to "insufficient evidence". Zuma's lawyers had previously written to National Prosecuting Authority boss Shamila Batohi, demanding that she remove Downer as the lead prosecutor in his corruption case. The certificate allows someone with direct interest in a case to pursue private prosecution.
IMF Concerned at South Africa's Economic Outlook
The International Monetary Fund, on conclusion of a visit to the country yesterday, expressed concern at the economic growth outlook and the implications for employment, poverty and inequality. The National Treasury in its response, said: "the government recognises the need to address deep-rooted socio-economic challenges, including unemployment, inequality and poverty, while stabilising government debt." The IMF pointed out a number of shocks - including the floods in KwaZulu-Natal, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
