Cape Town —
Updated as at 16h30 SAST
'Kill the Boer' Not Hate Speech, Court Rules
The words of the struggle song "Kill the Boer, the Farmer" has been ruled as not being hate speech by Johannesburg High Court Judge Edwin Molahlehi. Lobby group AfriForum lost their case against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) after citing six instances between 2016 and 2019 when the EFF sang the song at gatherings. AfriForum will appeal the ruling, Eye Witness News reports.
DIRCO Stopped Again From Assisting Cuba With Humanitarian Aid
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation's (DIRCO) donation to Cuba is facing more troubles as the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria interdicted the government from proceeding with the R50 million donation. The Constitutional Court on August 23, 2022 dismissed the department’s application for direct access to appeal against the order. The department, together with the A frican Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund (ARF) were stopped from proceeding with humanitarian assistance to Cuba through the fund.
Petrol Price Drop May Be Much Less In September
South African motorists' hopes of getting some reprieve at the petrol pumps in September 2022 may be dashed. The weakened rand and the rise in the international oil price are threatening to push the saving to R2 or less, and there’s far worse news for diesel as the average is depleting far more rapidly, shedding around 16 cents a day this week, which means that the projection of a R1.31 decrease could drop significantly between now and end August 2022.
Health Squared Collapse - Council For Medical Schemes Steps In
The Council for Medical Schemes is urgently looking for new schemes for around 38,000 Health Squared members after the medical scheme filed for voluntary liquidation. Members will need a new medical scheme by September 1, 2022 Eye Witness News reports. The regulator says it is engaging with seven other medical schemes about migrating current Health Squared members.
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Price of Potatoes May Hit the Roof Again
Major European exporters of frozen potatoes - Germany, Netherlands and Belgium have been hit with heavy import duties by the South African International Trade Administration Commission. Germany (181%), Netherlands 104%) and Belgium (23%). This move is largely to protect the domestic market and local suppliers. However the move could mean that the major players will find other markets. The market has seen the dumping of frozen potatoes that are relatively cheaper to what local producers are supplying and this is stifling fair competition, Eye Witness News reports.
Electronic Driver's Licence - eDL- On the Cards
Plans are afoot by the transport department to introduce a digital driver's licence within the next three years, the government needs to ensure the system is 100% tamper proof and that people's data would be secure. Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said the electronic driver licence (eDL) is expected to be launched during the 2024/24 financial year.
