Daily news update: Covid-19 stats, Bushiris granted bail, Dudu Myeni and US elections

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Covid-19 update: SA records 1,712 new cases and 46 deaths

Source: Health department

1,712 new cases of Covid-19 have been identified in South Africa since the last report, taking the total number to 730,548, the health department has announced.

46 new deaths have also been recorded: 24 from Eastern Cape, 9 from Gauteng, 3 from the Free State, 5 from KwaZulu-Natal, 1 from Northern Cape and 4 from Western Cape.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths to 19,585. Of the 46 deaths reported today, 9 were reported to have occurred in the past 24-48 hours.

‘Prophet’ Bushiri and co granted bail (video)

Bail has been granted for the self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, and others accused of theft, money laundering, and fraud in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning.

It was D-day for Bushiri, his wife Mary, Landiwe Ntlokwana, and Willah Mudolo and wife Zethu, who heard judgment in their bail applications. The five accused were arrested in October.

Magistrate Thandi Thelede granted bail to all accused except Willah Mudolo, and warned them not to interfere with the State’s case or to contact witnesses.

No more TERS, even if you are not allowed back at work

Photo: iStock

Various organisations have expressed their unhappiness about the announcement by Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi that the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits for employees who are still unable to return to work due to the Covid-19 Level 1 lockdown regulations, will only be paid until 15 September 2020 with no further extension.

Twitter labels Trump comments on ballot irregularities ‘misleading’

US President Donald Trump speaks during election night in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, early on November 4, 2020. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)

Twitter on Wednesday labeled as “misleading” a tweet from President Donald Trump claiming ballot irregularities, as a tight vote count in the presidential election was evolving.

Trump alleged that there had been “surprise ballot dumps” in states where he had been leading Democrat Joe Biden in the race for the White House.

Twitter had also taken a similar action against an earlier tweet by the president.

ANC and Patriotic Alliance playing blame game in Joburg, says the DA

Johannesburg DA’s caucus leader Leah Knott. Picture: Screenshot

Sars plans to collect billions in taxes from those deliberately hiding

South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter during a press briefing held at SARS offices in Pretoria, 12 November 2019. Picture: Jacques Nelles

South African Revenue Service (Sars) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter is looking to collect “tens of billions” in taxes from people and institutions who are deliberately hiding it from the collection agency.

Kieswetter, speaking on a Ninety One webinar on Tuesday, says Sars has come across numerous schemes to avoid paying tax and is now diligently working to not only unwind them but also to collect what’s due.

Dudu Myeni flags Zondo commission files used in delinquent director case

Former SAA Chairperson, Dudu Myeni testifies at the State Capture Commission in Braamfontein, 4 November 2020, via Zoom. Picture: Neil McCartney

Former South African Airways (SAA) chairperson Dudu Myeni has raised concern over the documents the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) used in her delinquent director case.

Testifying at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, Myeni invoked her right to silence to matters pertaining to SAA.

Mariechan reflects on dating a younger man

Musicians Manu Worldstar and Mariechan. Picture: Instagram

Singer and former Jamali band member Mariechan Luiters recently took some time out to reflect on how much pressure she and her partner Manu Worldstar felt at the beginning of their relationship.

The pair, who have been dating for about a year, have a 12-year age gap between them.

Travelling during Covid-19: tips from a veteran flight attendant

Picture: iStock

Dutch cabin crew attendant Sandra Eckebus has been a flight attendant for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for 24 years. From the moment she started at the airline, she knew that working in the sky was perfect for her! Fast forward to 2020 when Covid-19 hit and turned the world, and the aviation industry, upside down.

Cheetahs new man Rudolph to face Sharks for second time in a week!

Jeandre Rudolph, formerly of the Pumas, will now play for the Cheetahs. Picture: Getty Images

Robust loose-forward Jeandre Rudolph is set to face the Sharks for a second time in a week in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition – but for two different teams.

After turning out for the Pumas against the Sharks in Nelspruit last Saturday, Rudolph joined the Cheetahs on Monday and is set to make his debut off the bench on Friday night in Durban.

“Jeandre had quite a good game against the Sharks last weekend; he made a few turnovers at the breakdown,” said Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie on Wednesday when he named his lineup for the match.

Thrills aplenty as first round of 4-Day Domestic Series matches go down to the wire

Dean Elgar of the Titans has starred with the bat over the last few days. Picture: Getty Images

The Knights look on course for an easy win over the Warriors, while the Dolphins have a slightly tougher task to beat the Imperial Lions and the match between the Cape Cobras and the Titans is set for a thrilling conclusion going into the final day of the opening round of 4-Day Domestic Series matches.

The Knights are just three wickets away from victory against the Warriors in Bloemfontein, with the visitors still needing 193 runs to win. Their best hope is opener Matthew Breetzke, who is still at the crease with a defiant 71 not out.

Bridgestone confirms PE plant’s closure on 15 November

Bridgestone logo

Tyre giant Bridgestone has confirmed that its plant in Port Elizabeth will shut down on 15 November after a series of consultations with employees and unions.

The announcement comes after the Japanese brand announced in August that it had submitted a Section 189 proposal to close the plant due to the rise of not only cheaper marques, but also the declining need for older radial tyres.

Land Rover Defender updated already with new engines and trim grade

Land Rover Defender 110

Priced back in March, the range now comprises 36 derivatives split over the short wheelbase 90 and long wheelbase 110 with the biggest highlight being the 3.0-litre straight-six Ingenium oil-burner in the D300 which joins the already available four-cylinder D240. Pumping-out 221kW/650Nm, the unit, like with the rest of the Defender range, is paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with Solihull claiming a 0-100 km/h sprint of 6.7 seconds for the 90 and seven seconds for the 110.

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