Daily news update: Maselspoort Resort alleged racist attack, Boksburg explosion death toll rises and SA’s most popular baby name

Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.

Daily news update – 27 December 2022

EFF condemns alleged racial attack of black teens at Maselspoort Resort

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned the alleged racial attack of two black teens by a group of white men at the Maselspoort Resort outside Bloemfontein on Christmas Day.

A video of the attack – which has since gone viral – showed details of a scuffle and white adult men physically assaulting the teenagers.

The men could be seen grabbing them by the neck, punching and pulling their hair.

Boksburg tanker explosion death toll rises to 18

The Gauteng department of health has announced that the death toll from the gas tanker explosion in Boksburg has now risen to 18 people.

The first 10 succumbed to their injuries on Saturday after the tanker transporting gas got stuck under a bridge near Tambo Memorial Hospital and started leaking, resulting in an explosion that caused extensive damage to private and public infrastructure within an estimated 500 metres from the scene.

Stats SA: The most popular baby name in SA is…?

Now that several mothers have given birth to their Christmas babies, with some yet to decide on a name for their newborn, Stats SA has shared some of the most popular names in South Africa.

The organisation shared the details in the recorded Live Births, 2021 report.

Statistics South Africa said of the almost 1 million births that occurred in 2021, the most popular baby names were Lethabo and Melokuhle for boys and girls.

Year of private prosecutions: Timeline of Zuma’s battle against Downer, Maughan, Ramaphosa

2022 was a year full of private prosecutions by former president Jacob Zuma against journalist Karyn Maughan, prosecutor advocate Billy Downer, and President Cyril Ramphosa.

Zuma accused Downer and Maughan of reportedly breaching the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act for the alleged leak of his private medical records.

2023 prediction: Brace yourselves for a chaotic year

Everyone hopes for a better year ahead when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. It’s an annual wish and hope spreads as quickly as it dies a sudden death when reality bites a few months after the hangover has passed.

A prediction foresees chaos.

Intuitive healer and Reiki master Anna-Marie Viviers of Heavenly Healing said that South Africans can expect a tough year in 2023.