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Daily news update: Zuma finally gets date for corruption trial | Parliament passes BELA Bill | Two arrested in Ditebogo Junior Phalane, 5, murder
Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
Photo: iStock/The Citizen/Cheryl Kahla
News today includes former President Jacob Zuma will finally have his day in court and is expected to face trial – 20 years after he was first charged with Arms Deal corruption.
Meanwhile, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, known as the BELA Bill, was passed in the National Assembly on Thursday.
Furthermore, police have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane.
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Zuma finally gets date for corruption trial … but will there be ‘hurdles’?
Former President Jacob Zuma will finally have his day in court and is expected to face trial – 20 years after he was first charged with Arms Deal corruption.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili on Thursday confirmed that KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge President Thoba Portia Poyo-Dlwati had allocated dates from April to September 2025 for Zuma’s trial.
Zuma was back in the KZN High Court in Pietermaritzburg for a final trial date to be set.
CONTINUE READING: Zuma finally gets date for corruption trial … but will there be ‘hurdles’?
George Building collapse: Engineer investigated just months before tragedy
Prominent consulting engineer Atholl Mitchell was reported missing two days after the George building collapsed.
However, he was found a day after a missing alert on him was publicised.
Mitchell’s disappearance followed an investigation by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) into his conduct earlier this year. The ECSA had been probing Mitchell since December last year.
CONTINUE READING: George Building collapse: Engineer investigated just months before tragedy
Still got that pen, Ramaphosa? – Parliament passes controversial BELA Bill
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, known as the BELA Bill, was passed in the National Assembly on Thursday.
223 members of Parliament from various different political parties voted in favour of the Bill while 78 voted against it, with no abstentions following proposed amendments by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
The Bill will now go to President Cyril Ramaphosa for approval.
CONTINUE READING: WATCH: Still got that pen, Ramaphosa? – Parliament passes controversial BELA Bill
NHI: An excuse to ‘loot’ and ‘tax South Africans blind’
EFF deputy leader Floyd Shivambu has slammed the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, claiming it lacks logic and is misguided.
The controversial bill was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday to much applause and criticism.
The Act aims to provide free universal health care to all South Africans. It has been slammed by some who claim it will collapse private medical care and decline health care services.
CONTINUE READING: NHI: An excuse to ‘loot’ and ‘tax South Africans blind’
Two arrested in connection with murder of 5-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane
Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane.
Phalane was fatally wounded when his father’s bakkie was hijacked outside their home in Soshanguve last Friday evening.
Gauteng police boss Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni said the suspects were arrested this week.
CONTINUE READING: WATCH: Two arrested in connection with murder of 5-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane
In other news today:
- ‘We sleep very peacefully’ – Former speaker Baleka Mbete on Zuma and MK party threat
- Comrades Marathon 2024 route cut-offs revised
- Joshlin Smith: Businessman possible ‘key witness’ as cops reach dead end in search
- Pikitup accused of ‘selling jobs for R5 000’: frustrated workers trash Johannesburg streets (VIDEO)
- Pongola truck driver who murdered 20 people gets 20 years
Yesterday’s News recap
READ HERE: President signs NHI | Potholes ‘not to blame’ for road deaths | Papa Penny Penny leaves ANC for MK
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