‘Farmworker murderer wants special treatment in prison’
Petrus Willem Johannes Durandt, the jailed cold-blooded murderer of a Krugersdorp farmworker, comes across as someone who wants special treatment in prison, a judge has been told. On Friday, the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, heard Durandt’s application aimed at compelling the Department of Correctional Services to allow him to possess a laptop, a printer and speakers in his cell.
Alternative matric for adults shelved
The Department of Higher Education has shelved plans to start enrolment into the alternative matric qualification for adults and out-of-school youth by this year. Work towards the introduction of the National Senior Certificate for Adults (Nasca) by 2022 began 13 years ago. It has been in a pilot phase for some years now.
A novel case of a retired civil servant who accrued 468 leave days
The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism is embroiled in a court battle with a retiree who amassed a whopping 468 leave days during employment. Sello Reuben Leboho maintained that he had to be paid R400 000 for his leave accruals, but the department paid him for 271 days.
There’s no learner-teacher ratio policy: Motshekga
A reply by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has laid bare that the government has no legally-binding policy to ensure public school classrooms are not overcrowded. “There are currently no legislated norms and standards for learner-to-educator ratio in public schools,” Motshekga said in a recent reply to written parliamentary questions.
Government refuses to pay R114m for a 10km road
The construction of a 10km tar road in Molelema and Matsheng villages, North West, has been halted for more than a year now as the government disputes that it should fork out R114 million for the project. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has revealed that the project to tar the gravel road will remain on hold until a court delivers its ruling.
Circular indicates that learners under 12 have been vaccinated without consent
A circular sent out by the Eastern Cape Department of Education has indicated that learners under the age of 12 have been vaccinated at schools without parents and guardians’ consent, contrary to protocol. The circular, signed by acting director Pumla Gxuluwe, emphasised the importance of ensuring that consent forms sent to provincial education departments recently were passed on to parents and guardians.
More could join fraud-accused Tonic Chabalala in the dock
IT has become apparent that former Orlando Pirates player Tonic Chabalala did not act alone in his alleged fraudulent activities that cost the City of Joburg R15 million. The 43-year-old Chabalala was granted bail yesterday, following brief court proceedings. The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Gauteng, set his bail at R4 000.
Tonic Chabalala granted bail
Former Orlando Pirates player Tonic Chabalala has been granted bail. The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Gauteng, set his bail at R4000. He had offered to pay R3000, but the State rejected it. Chabalala, who was a spirited defender for the top flight team nicknamed the Sea Robbers, is facing charges of fraud and corruption.
19 years on, the government is still trying to develop a model for subsidised public transport
Some subsidised bus contracts have been extended on a month-to-month basis for 19 years now as the government grapples to implement a permanent funding model for public transport. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has revealed that lapsed contracts between the government and companies including Putco cannot be cut yet.
Judge spells it out to false rape victims that police can arrest on reasonable suspicion
Three men from Tsakane, Gauteng, who spent 15 days in jail after being arrested over a false gang rape charge have lost their R3 million civil claim against the police with costs. Judge Elmarie van der Schyff of the North Gauteng High Court dismissed the claim by Tsietsi Malatjie, Tebogo Smith and Phakamile Xubazane on grounds that, contrary to their argument, the police did not have to conduct a thorough investigation before making arrests.
Community fights off companies building on land it claimed in 1997
The government’s delay in finalising land restitution claims brought almost 30 years ago has complicated things for a Limpopo community. Dikgalaopeng, a community in Tafelkop, is embroiled in a legal battle against two companies that are building a shopping complex on the land it claimed back in 1997.
Scores of qualifying people missed out on the R350 grants, department reveals
‘The beneficiaries of the Special R350 Covid-19 grant are most likely in rural areas, less educated, less tech-savvy, and heavily reliant on word of mouth communication. ’
59 prison escapees remain on the loose
Fifty-nine inmates who escaped from the country’s prisons over the last six years have not been re-arrested. With 39, the sentenced prisoners made up the majority of these fugitive escapees. The remaining 20 were not sentenced. The 59 were part of 285 inmates who escaped from prisons across the country between 2017 and 2022.
Steps to repeal remnants of colonial laws kick off
Steps have been taken to flush out remnants of colonial and apartheid-era laws that can still be applied in the former Transkei. The South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) has recommended that the Transkeian Penal Code be wholly repealed and replaced with laws that are generally applicable in South Africa.
Biological father goes to court to be declared a father, mother opposes
A pair of parents embroiled in a legal squabble in which the mother disputes that the father has parental rights and responsibilities have been referred to mediation.
Are e-hailing cab drivers employees or not? Nedlac is on a mission to find out
A process under way at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) is looking into whether e-hailing taxi drivers should be classified as employees, Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi says. This was done as part of the attempts to regulate the e-hailing industry. The determination that drivers were employees could result in labour regulations for the industry that has taken over urban communities by storm in recent years.
Attach pension of maintenance defaulters, proposes legal reforms body
Child maintenance defaulters who quit work as a way of dodging their obligations have something coming their way.
Teachers killed by Covid-19 have been replaced, says Motshekga
The excess deaths of teachers due to Covid-19 since its outbreak has not created problems for public education because the departed have been replaced, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has said. Replying to written questions in Parliament, Motshekga said the departed teachers fell in the category of annual natural attrition and were continuously replaced.
Motshekga: There’s no money to build classrooms
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has blamed the floods disaster for what she claims is lack of funds to build more classrooms in the country. EFF MP Mathapelo Siwisa asked Motshekga via written questions what the department planned to do about Finetown Secondary School, located south of Joburg.
Report highlights lack of learning through play at SA crèches
A census report commissioned by the Basic Education Department has shone light on the lack of learning through play in the country’s early childhood development (ECD) centres. The report also reveals that thousands of ECD centres, which fall under the Department of Basic Education from April 1, do not have outdoor playgrounds and suitable equipment.
Dedicated lanes for taxis and buses mooted
The national Transport Department has mooted dedicated lanes on the country’s roads for taxis and all buses. Its newly gazetted White Paper on National Transport Policy says priority lanes will be looked into with a view to mitigating travel times and drawing more people to public transport. Only public buses under the rapid transit (BRT) system currently have dedicated lanes in various cities.
Minister Bheki Cele defends unqualified SAPS senior managers
Police Minister Bheki Cele has come to the defence of officers in senior management of the SAPS without requisite qualifications. Cele has placed the number of such officers at 18, out of 759 senior managers. Officers appointed to the SAPS’ senior management service (SMS) were required to possess at least a National Diploma, which is an NQF Level 6 qualification.
Police cough up for arresting holy man without doing investigation
A police officer who admitted to arresting a pastor for violating a protection order he did not bother to ascertain if it existed has cost the taxpayer. Benjamin Maganyele, a pastor in Soshanguve, spent three days in cells after his arrest in April 2018. He was arrested on allegations that he violated a protection order issued to his ex-wife.
30 border posts remain closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak
Exactly 30 border posts that were closed following the Covid-19 outbreak remained closed due to a lack of health officials. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi insisted in a written reply to parliament questions that his hands were tied insofar as the reopening of the borders was concerned. “Enforcement of Health protocols remains a critical requirement and with the absence of that capability the border posts cannot be reopened,” he said.
Concourt frees student who fatally stabbed a policeman
A High Court judge who sentenced Unisa law student Liqhayiya Tuta to life imprisonment four years ago, made an error of law by overlooking his state of mind when he fatally stabbed a police officer. The Constitutional Court made this finding and ordered Tuta’s release from prison. The court's majority judgment, penned by Acting Justice David Unterhalter and delivered yesterday, set aside Tuta’s conviction and sentence.