General 15.1.2021 10:09 pm

Daily news update: Covid-19 stats, schools to open in February and Molefe spills the beans

An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.

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General ‘We should have planned better,’ says Zulu on Sassa grants scramble in Bellville

Zulu added many factors had contributed to the ‘endless queues’ at Sassa’s Bellville office, but ultimately it was her department’s responsibility.

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World Madrid delays reopening of schools after historic snowfall

Clean-up crews will ‘continue working intensely over the following days’ to ensure school can open on the 20th.

Africa Mozambique replaces army chief as jihadist attacks intensify

The fighting in the north of the country has already claimed 2,400 lives and forced 570,000 people to flee their homes.

Infection Updates Daily Covid-19 update: 14,880 new cases as another 615 deaths reported

The total number of Covid-19 cases now stand at 1,311,686.

Covid-19 National health dept refuses to comment on Eastern Cape’s vaccination plans

Eastern Cape is one of the country’s hotspot provinces with active cases standing at 7,018, while the death toll stands at 9,283.

Covid-19 Govt stopped Covid-19 vaccine talks with middlemen due to overpricing – Mkhize

Mkize revealed that government was offered the vaccine by middlemen, however, the cost was four times the price from manufacturers.

Covid-19 British PM tells public to stay home as deaths soar

The number of positive cases has reached nearly 3.3 million, but new infections have fallen seven percent in the last week.

Covid-19 Covid vaccine papers leaked, ‘manipulated’ – EU regulator

Ongoing investigations showed that ‘some of the unlawfully accessed documents related to Covid-19 medicines and vaccines have been leaked on the internet’.

Courts Free State ‘forex trader’ found guilty of fraud, money laundering

His case has been postponed to Wednesday, 17 February 2021 for sentencing.

Politics Ramaphosa makes admission on facing ANC’s integrity committee over CR17 funds

Ramaphosa has been accused of wrongdoing for having used campaign funds to ‘buy votes’ at the party’s 2017 Nasrec conference.

Crime Upington ‘mashonisa’ arrested over possession of Sassa cards

‘The suspect is believed to be a loan shark who took Sassa cards from their owners,’ said the Hawks.

Africa Refugees fleeing Central Africa Republic double in a week to 60,000 – UN

Landlocked CAR is one of the world’s poorest nations and has seen a string of coups and wars since it gained independence from France in 1960.

World Dutch government collapses over benefits scandal – media

A hard-hitting parliamentary investigation in December said civil servants cut off benefits to thousands of families wrongly accused of fraud between 2013 and 2019.

Covid-19 Global death toll nears 2 million as WHO battles new virus strains

Many countries are doubling down on virus restrictions, with vaccination drives still in their infancy.

Education Education dept aim to improve ICT in schools to finish curriculum

‘What we want to do is strengthen ICT. We want to take ICT to even the rural areas where there is no network.’

Courts Malema firearm discharge case postponed to March

The case was called up in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Friday for a pre-trial hearing.

Politics DA turns to Mabuza for Parliament to reconvene

DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone says it they had exhausted all avenues and sent numerous requests to the speaker without success.

General JMPD officer in hospital following clash with Soweto ‘after-tears’ gatherers

The injured officer was taken to hospital in a serious, but stable condition.

Politics SA needs to start seeing corrupt officials in jail, says EFF

The EFF said all departments were warned about corruption before the country went into the Covid-19 lockdown, but that ‘ministers failed to put measures in place to stop and prevent further looting’.