Daily news update: Eased lockdown restrictions, Andile Lungisa goes to ConCourt and Norma Gigaba vs Hawks

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Daily Covid-19 update: Eased restrictions on the cards

The worst of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa is over and the Health Department will be making recommendations to Cabinet via the National Coronavirus Command Council for the easing of lockdown restrictions.

In a comprehensive late night statement on Monday, the department indicated that the current daily infection rate, hospital bed occupancy, the current hospital admission rate, as well as the current death rate, all provided clear indicators that the worst of the surge in Covid-19 infections was over.

It added that up to 12 million South Africans could be infected with the coronavirus.

“Having observed evidence that suggests a sustained decline in coronavirus transmission, as the Department of Health we have considered easing restrictions in various aspects – such as the curfew, sale of alcohol, religious gatherings, and travel restrictions – for the National Coronavirus Command Council, which will make final recommendations to Cabinet,” the statement reads.

Hawks insist they did nothing wrong, after Norma Gigaba’s case postponed

Norma Mngoma, former minister Malusi Gigaba’s ex-wife, can be seen with her legal counsel at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, 14 September 2020. Picture: Jacques Nelles

In September, shortly after her arrest, Mngoma approached the Pretoria High Court to have her arrest declared unlawful. In that matter she argues that her arrest was an orchestrated conspiracy to bully and intimidate her in order to gain access to her gadgets to delete certain information. She claims after getting her devices, there were indeed messages and images deleted from one of them, although the Hawks have insisted there was nothing illegal about their raid.

Lungisa takes fight against assault conviction to ConCourt

Nelson Mandela Bay ANC councillor Andile Lungisa outside the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court before the verdict on his assault case on April 17, 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Lungisa was found guilty of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm for smashing a glass jug over the head of former member of the mayoral committee Rano Kayser, during a Nelson Mandela Bay council meeting in October 2016. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Lulama Zenzile)

Behind the #JusticeforAndileLungisa campaign, ANC Youth League (ANCYL) leaders Ayanda Kasa, Abner Mosasa and Thabo Kupa, said a mass mobilisation solidarity drive was “premised on the idea that every citizen must be treated equally before the law”.

The three ANCYL leaders said in a statement: “We want to affirm that our courts are the rightful platform through which this principle must be implemented.”

SANDF must bill ANC for using airforce jet to Zimbabwe – Malema

EFF leader Julius Malema briefs media after appearing at the Randburg Magistrates Court in Johannesburg, 14 September 2020, for assaulting a police officer at the funeral of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2018. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

The SANDF defended the use of the aircraft, saying Minister Mapisa-Nqakula had travelled to Zimbabwe for official work and gave her ANC colleagues a lift.

It was reported that defence spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the party’s meeting coincided with Mapisa-Nqakula’s official work.

Outa wants Aarto scrapped and declared unconstitutional

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula addresses the media at the Tshwane Metro Police headquarters in the west of Pretoria, in relation to the three metro police officers killed. Photo: Ron Sibiya

Outa head of accountability Advocate Stefanie Fick said in her affidavit: “These constitutional inconsistencies of the Aarto Act and the Amendment Act lie at the very core of both Acts and are not capable of severance without negating the fundamental purpose of the two Acts.”

Outa argues that the act infringes on the ability of local government to legislate regarding provincial roads, traffic and parking.

Iran plotting to kill US ambassador to SA, Lana Marks, US claims

Lana Marks, US ambassador to South Africa. Picture: Larry Busacca / Getty Images / AFP

The New York Post reported that US President Donald Trump warned Iran against further aggression and imposed fresh sanctions on the country.

It was previously reported that Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China met in early September to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, as the US was left isolated in its attempt to reimpose sanctions.

Why my dream of ‘investment’ properties turned sour

Image: iStock

The first purchase, with a friend, was entirely opportunistic. A complex and area we knew well and a sudden forced seller meant this was a real “no-brainer”. It helped that the property market had cooled off after overheating in the early 2000s.

Obviously the plan was justified by the usual logic: the bank lends you the money, you have to only cover a small shortfall and once the bond is paid off, we can sit back and earn a monthly rental income.

Get Boity Thulo’s bikini body with these three core exercises

Image: Instagram

The fitness hashtag for the beginning of the  spring season has been #FetchYourBody2020. Businesswoman and rapper Boity Thulo ushered in the season with sizzling swimsuit shots.

Fans reacted in delight at the rapper’s curves.

Now the body perfect door has been opened – how do you get that summer body?

It’s easily attainable with the right work-out routine and The Citizen tells you how.

5 things we love about Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka of Japan kisses the trophy in celebration after winning the women’s final against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the US Open on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images)

Although she gained fame in the United States at the age of sixteen when she defeated former US Open champion Samantha Stosur in her WTA Tour debut at the 2014 Stanford Classic, Naomi gained global fame in 2018 when she defeated 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams in the final of the US Open to become the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Ex-Chiefs, Wits defender joins Danish side

The former Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits defender has signed a one-year deal with the Danish outfit.

The latest development comes as a good relief for Gordinho, who found himself in the wilderness after Bidvest Wits sold their status to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

Pollard out for months: Our five candidates to wear No 10

Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch could find himself in the Springbok mix later this year should the national team play in the Rugby Championship. Picture: EPA

Robert du Preez: Having produced the goods at Currie Cup and Super Rugby level, first for the Stormers and then the Sharks, he made his Test debut in 2018 in the one-off Test against Wales in Washington, but has been overlooked since then. Solid performances, however, since he joined the Sale Sharks in England late last year, have again shifted the focus on him.

Ford’s self-made Tremor leaves mark on US Ranger

Tremor not just an appearance package for US-spec Ford Ranger.

The biggest alterations have taken place underneath where the Tremor receives Fox Racing’s latest 2.0 mono-tube dampers, new springs, a multi-leaf rear suspension setup at the rear, stiffer anti-roll bars and a recalibrated traction control system. In addition, suspension travel has been increased to 165 mm at the front and 206 mm at the rear.

Peugeot 308 GTi’s roar silenced for good from November

Peugeot 308 GTi

With an all-new 308 coming next year, L’Automobile claims that orders for the GTi will be taken until the end of September, at which point production will taper off two months later as focus moves to the hybrid Peugeot Sport Engineered (PSE) moniker already used on the 508 and soon on the 208.

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