Cape Town — Ramaphosa's Second Request for Zuma to Withdraw Private Prosecution Denied
Jacob Zuma's bid to ensure Cyril Ramaphosa face private prosecution over accusations of being an accessory related to accusations against against state advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan will proceed, Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said. According to EyeWitness News, Ramaphosa initially gave Zuma until Wednesday, December 21 to withdraw the the summons or face a punitive costs order. Zuma accused Downer of leaking confidential medical information to Maughan. Ramaphosa, through the Office of the State Attorney, has wrote to Zuma, saying that the summons was "defective" and an "abuse of process".
Eskom Load Shedding Now on Stage 4
As it battles to restore tripped units at several power stations, Eskom says that stage 4 power cuts will remain in place until further notice. The utility pushed the level of power cuts from stage 4 to stage 6 on Tuesday night, then back to stage 4 from 5am on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, consumers will be waiting until January 2023 to hear what the tariff increase for consumers will be.
Nearly 3,000 Arrests for Various Crimes in KwaZulu-Natal
Police in KwaZulu-Natal say they have arrested close to 3,000 suspects linked to serious crimes such as murder, assault and kidnapping in the past two weeks alone. The arrests form part of the police's plan to intensify their safer festive season operations, EyeWitness News reports.
South African Passport Ranked Among Top 50 Globally
According to Global Passport Power Rank 2022, South African passports are ranked 46th. The document's high mobility rating of 108 allows holders to travel to 65 countries visa-free, while 43 others require a visa, IOL reports. South Africa topped Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana and eSwatini in the rankings.
Fire Damages Building at Unisa Campus in Pretoria
A fire that broke out at the University of South Africa's (Unisa) Muckleneuk campus in Pretoria, destroyed parts of the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela building, News24 reports. Firefighters struggled to access the building after dense smoke was seen billowing from it before their arrival. Emergency services said this is the second fire to break out at the building in two weeks - the first fire was extinguished by staff.
