Daily news update: Tony Yengeni barred from ANC NEC list, Janusz Waluś parole and load shedding

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Daily news update – 11 December

Tony Yengeni barred from NEC nominations over fraud conviction

African National Congress (ANC) member Tony Yengeni has been served with a letter disqualifying him from contesting any National Executive Committee (NEC) position due to his fraud conviction.

The chairperson of the ANC’s electoral committee, Kgalema Motlanthe sent the letter to Yengeni on Friday, informing him that he will not be eligible for any position at the party’s 55^th elective conference, kick-starting next weekend after a vetting process.

SACP, Chris Hani’s family exploring other avenues after ConCourt ruling on Waluś parole

The South African Communist Party (SACP) and Chris Hani’s family are not giving up on their efforts to have Janusz Waluś back in prison.

On Saturday, the SACP and the family confirmed that they would to head to the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.

This comes after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) dismissed the SACP and Limpho Hani’s application to reverse its ruling on Waluś’s parole.

How floods hurt Joburg: Cars swept away and homes submerged

Many Johannesburg residents woke up to severe flooding as heavy rain hit Gauteng on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

An eyewitness and a survivor detailed how his car and a taxi were swept away by water on the bridge between Kliptown informal settlement and Dlamini 1, in Soweto.

The survivor, George Miller, said he was driving with his daughter and her friends from their matric dance when they were suddenly swept by a heavy water current.

Eskom implements stage 5 load shedding until further notice

Eskom on Saturday implemented stage 5 load shedding after several units at three different power stations broke down.

The power utility shifted the blame towards the public saying in addition to the breakdowns, “unusually high demand” was the reason for the escalation.

Meanwhile, a generating unit each broke down at the Hendrina, Kendal and Kriel power stations on Saturday.

Poverty and murdered women: Ramaphosa in Philippi to ‘mobilise for ANC’

President Cyril Ramaphosa took his Letsema Campaign to Philippi in the Western Cape where he will interact with African National Congress (ANC) branches and members.

Ramaphosa said he is also there to meet with “ordinary people, mobilising for the ANC, and getting ready for 2024”.

He said: “So that’s what we’re here for, and also just to come and see the terrible conditions under which our people are living, issues of gender-based violence (GBV)”.

ConCourt greenlights extension for Parliament to finalise Electoral Amendment Bill

Parliament has been given more time by the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) to work on the Electoral Amendment Bill.

Although it had asked for an extension until 28 February next year to allow for additional public participation, Parliament was given until the end of January to complete its work.

In its judgment delivered on Friday, the ConCourt extended its declaration of invalidity order deadline for the Electoral Act to 31 January.

Tom Cruise spotted driving in Joburg and posing with fans

Top Gun actor Tom Cruise is back in South Africa, reportedly working on the upcoming Mission Impossible movies.

Eagle-eyed fans spotted the Hollywood actor in Johannesburg earlier this week, and a video was shared on Twitter, showing the actor greeting fans while driving.

It has been confirmed that Cruise was at the Killarney Country Club, where personnel said Cruise met elsewhere with producers and the film crew.