Daily news update: Blue light victim, Dr Pahad, EFF on moonshot pact, Cosatu strike

In today’s daily news update: The driver who was beaten by the Paul Mashatile’s VIP Protection Unit laid a charge of assault, saying he is “not okay”.

Meanwhile, Mashatile praised late anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Essop Pahad as an extraordinary revolutionary, and Malema shares his thoughts on the DA’s ‘moonshot pact’.

Daily news update: 18 June 2023

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Here’s your easy-to-read selection of our top stories.

‘I am not okay’

On Monday afternoon, a video clip of the brutal assault of a motorist and two of his passengers by VIP Protection Unit members on the N1 highway near Fourways, in Johannesburg, went viral on social media.

The driver of the vehicle, L’vaughn Fisher, has since laid a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm at the Sandton Police Station.

When asked how he was after the attack, his emotional state of mind, L’vaughn fell silent and after a long pause he said: “I am not okay”.

The officials have been suspended while the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has launched an investigation into the matter.

READ: ‘I am not okay’: Victim’s horror account of VIP blue light assault

‘Essop Pahad left a void’

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has praised late anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Essop Pahad describing him as an extraordinary revolutionary and an exceptional leader.

Pahad was laid to rest at the Westpark Cemetery on Thursday according to Muslim burial rites.

Many speakers who attended Pahad’s funeral paid glowing tributes to the anti-apartheid stalwart.

READ: ‘The death of Essop Pahad has left a void’ – Paul Mashatile

Malema on DA’s ‘moonshot pact’

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema criticised efforts to keep his party out of government ahead of next year’s general elections.

The “moonshot pact” proposed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) looks to be gaining ground after six political parties agreed to participate in the party’s “national convention”, scheduled to be held in Kempton Park in August.

The pact was aimed at preventing a possible EFF-ANC coalition from running the country post-2024 election era.

READ: ‘They know EFF can’t be controlled’, says Malema on DA’s ‘moonshot pact’

Boksburg gas leak

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the provincial government will provide all the necessary support to the families affected by the toxic nitrate oxide gas leak in Boksburg.

Lesufi was briefing the media following the incident on Wednesday evening.

The gas leak claimed the lives of 17 people, including three children and a one-year-old baby, at the Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg.

READ: Boksburg gas leak: Gauteng to provide support to affected families

Cosatu strike

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and its affiliated unions have embarked on a nationwide socio-economic strike on Thursday, 6 July 2023.

According to the union, the demonstrations are taking place in major urban centres across all nine provinces.

Cosatu said its “Day of Action” protest is meant to draw attention to the pressing issues of high unemployment and the need for increased government support for state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

READ: Cosatu begins strike to highlight economic crisis and ‘neoliberal policies’

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Daily news, 6 July

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