South Africa’s top headlines this week
From the Moti brothers being brought safely home, to former president FW de Klerk passing away, and drugs being stolen from the Hawks, these are among the stories making headlines in South Africa this week.
Polokwane kidnapping: Moti brothers safely home
Major General Sam Manala, the deputy provincial commissioner responsible for crime detection, confirmed the good news that Zidan (7), Zayyad (11), Alaan (13) and Zia (15) Moti are back home with their family.
Brigadier Vish Naidoo has confirmed that the police in Vuwani received a phone call from a local resident on Wednesday night (November 10), saying the children had arrived at their house. According to the caller, the children said they had been dropped off nearby.
A doctor confirmed that the brothers were in good health, and police reported that they appeared to be in high spirits during the reunion with their parents.
The investigation into the kidnapping continues, and the police appeal to anyone who can assist with information that will help bring the kidnappers to book, to make contact.
Information can be communicated via the SAPS Crime Stop number 086 00 10111 or via MySAPSApp. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous.
Former Nobel peace winner and former SA president FW de Klerk dies
Former South African president and Nobel peace prize winner FW de Klerk (85) died at his Cape Town home in the early hours of Thursday (November 11), after battling cancer.
De Klerk served as president from September 1989 until May 1994, overseeing the end of the Apartheid era.
WATCH: FW de Klerk’s last message to South Africa, apologising for the pain of apartheid.
Death of former AmaZulu regiment leader Mgilija Nhleko
Condolences continue to pour in following the death of former leader of the AmaZulu regiments, Zihogozelanga ‘Mgilija’ Nhleko (72). He died on Monday evening (November 8), following a short illness.
KwaZulu-Natal Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC Hlengiwe Mavimbela expressed her shock and sadness.
“We pass our sincere condolences to the family of Mgilija and the Amabutho at large.
“His leadership skills caught the attention of the country in March this year, when he led regiments to pay tribute to the late king. He showed us that when given a leadership position, one must serve with honour and patriotism,” Mavimbela said.
R200m worth of drugs stolen from Hawks office in Port Shepstone
Over 500kg of cocaine with a street value of R200m was stolen from the Hawks’ office building last weekend.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo said the perpetrator forced open a window sometime between 16:00 on Friday (November 5) and 07:00 on November 8.
She said one of the safes in the office was tampered with.
Vooma Vaccination: Here’s where to get your Covid-19 jab this weekend
Today is the last day to get vaccinated as part of the health department’s Vooma Vaccination Weekend.
South Africans who are not yet vaccinated – or are due for their second Pfizer dose – are called upon to join the Vooma Vaccination Weekend at their local vaccination site in a bid to ‘save our summer’. Click here to see all provincial public vaccination sites open this weekend.
Call for schools to all open at full capacity
Schools across the country have been forced to implement a rotation system to curb the spread of Covid-19 in crowded classrooms.
But now the South African Human Rights Commission has called for rotational learning in primary schools to be terminated, despite advice to the contrary by the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19.
