Daily news update: Zuma insisting on prosecuting Ramaphosa ‘odd’, military vets’ R1 250 grant and more heavy rains expected

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Daily news update – 23 December 2022

Jacob Zuma’s ‘troubling’ insistence on prosecuting Ramaphosa

Former president Jacob Zuma’s seemingly futile insistence on privately prosecuting president Cyril Ramaphosa has been described as odd and a creative use of the private prosecution mechanism.

This was after the Jacob Zuma Foundation accused the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of lying when it said Ramaphosa was not mentioned in the nolle prosequi certificates.

The foundation on Thursday also rejected the NPA’s statement that the nolle prosequi certificates it issued to former president Jacob Zuma and his legal team did not extend to Ramaphosa.

These regions in Pretoria North are without water

The City of Tshwane provided an update regarding the Pretoria North water outages affecting supply interruption to several neighbourhoods.

Residents have been without water due to a damaged pipeline, first reported to the City on Sunday, 18 December.

Pension benefits payout delayed, but military veterans will receive R1 250 grant

The Department of Defence and Military Veterans’ has confirmed that the payment of pension benefits to former soldiers has been delayed.

Deputy President David Mabuza previously announced that military veterans would receive a pension-pay out of R4 962 per month from 1 December.

Severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and heavy rain to hit parts of Eastern Cape

A yellow level 1 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy rain over the north-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape on Friday, said the South African Weather Service (SAWS) on Thursday.

Residents in these areas have been urged to watch out for localised flooding of susceptible formal/informal settlements or roads, low-lying areas and bridges, localised damage to property and livelihood and minor vehicle accidents.

Prasa prepares for huge travel demand over festive season

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) Acting Group CEO Hisham Emeran has welcomed the huge demand for long-distance bus and train services as the agency gears up for holiday travel at various intermodal stations over the festive season.

Emeran said the high volume of passengers is an indication that holiday travel is gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels.

WATCH: Faf de Klerk shares intimate moments of his wedding day

Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk married his long-time girlfriend Miné van Niekerk in October and the star rugby player has shared more pictures and behind-the-scenes look at his wedding day. 

The couple tied the knot at La Paris Estate in Franschhoek, in a ceremony attended by family, friends and fellow teammates. 

The couple is in a long-distance relationship as Faf previously played as a scrum-half for English Premiership club Sale Sharks, and then signed with Japanese club Canon Eagles in June.