Johannesburg City Council Meeting Cancelled Due to Electrical and Water Outages
The City of Johannesburg council did not convene on Wednesday (September 27, 2023) due to electrical faults and a water outage at the Johannesburg Metro Centre in Braamfontein, reports News24. Speaker Colleen Makhubele said that a virtual meeting was not feasible due to load shedding affecting councillors' homes. Makhubele cited health and safety concerns related to using the facility and the unavailability of suitable council facilities on the scheduled date, as well as the high cost of external venues. The Metro Centre had been evacuated after a fire caused by faulty transformers on September 16, leaving it without electricity. Plans to relocate staff and secure alternative venues were unclear, with communication challenges and unresolved issues. The City aimed to secure a venue in Brixton for a council meeting at the end of October.
Family of Seven Rescued from Kidnappers Near Mozambican Border
A collaborative effort between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) successfully rescued seven family members, including toddlers, who were kidnapped in Mpumalanga, reports IOL. The victims, comprising a woman, two teenagers, two young girls, and two toddlers, were forcibly taken from their home in a Toyota Fortuner by armed assailants who then headed towards the Mozambique border, apparently disabling the vehicle's tracking device. Police said the woman's husband reported them missing, which led to a joint operation by SAPS and SANDF, resulting in the victims' rescue and the recovery of the stolen vehicle. During the rescue operation, the police also recovered two other stolen vehicles. The kidnappers managed to escape, and authorities are now seeking information from the public to apprehend them.
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Reckless Pilot's Night Out Delays London Flight, Ends Career
A British Airways flight from Johannesburg to London faced a 24-hour delay due to a staffing emergency, which has now been revealed as a pilot's night of excessive partying, drugs, and sexual activity, reports News24. Mike Beaton, the pilot in question, sent texts detailing his escapades to a stewardess friend, indicating his unfitness to serve as the first officer on the flight. The texts described a night that included cocaine use, partying at bars and restaurants, and marathon sex. After the stewardess reported him, the flight was cancelled, and Beaton was subjected to a drug test, subsequently losing his job. The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the withdrawal of Beaton's medical certification, which would require rehabilitation for him to fly again. British Airways emphasised that there was no risk to passengers during this incident.
