News today: Postbank conflict, Malema’s trial, police brutality, protests, and more

News today includes disgruntled Diepsloot residents marching to the police station to protest against the surge in crime.

Meanwhile, Minister Gungubele wants ex-Postbank directors criminally charged, and Julius Malema pushes for charges against him and his bodyguard to be dropped.

News Today: 16 September

In today’s weather update, coastal areas face severe warnings for hazardous winds, waves, and potential flooding – full weather forecast here.

Also, Eskom will ease load shedding over the weekend – here’s your schedule for the days ahead.

Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.

‘Diepsloot a shooting range’

Diepsloot residents have once again taken to the streets in protest against crime in the area.

This after at least 11 people, including three family members, were reportedly killed in the township in the last two weeks.

The disgruntled residents marched to the Diepsloot police station on Friday in the company of district police commissioner Max Masha, who received a memorandum of demands from the community.

CONTINUE: ‘Criminals have turned Diepsloot into a shooting range’: Disgruntled residents demand police action

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Postbank: Criminal charges?

Five out of Postbank’s eight directors resigned, earlier this month citing “hostile” treatment by South Africa’s Communications Minister, Mondli Gungubele, as their reason for stepping down.

Now, Gungubele, has unleashed a barrage of accusations against them, suggesting they could be criminally charged.

The trigger for this disruption was software glitches during September payouts that deprived hundreds of thousands of vulnerable citizens of their crucial grants.

CONTINUE: Minister Gungubele wants ex-Postbank directors criminally charged

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A VIEW OF THE WEEK:

How many Metro Police officers does it take to turn a traffic light? Six apparently.

The city police had me chuckling this week when I came across a pic of them “saving the day” by turning a skew robot the right way.

The department said the light was tampered with to “confuse motorists” in the city centre and the officers took the initiative to reposition it.

CONTINUE: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: No lights in SA – and no bright sparks in Ramokgopa oversight U-turn

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Kensington police brutality

The recent incident in Kensington, Cape Town, has once again thrust the issue of police brutality into the spotlight.

In a video that quickly went viral, an alleged drug dealer was seen being dragged by a police vehicle while handcuffed, sparking outrage and raising questions about the conduct of law enforcement officers.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has initiated an investigation into this disturbing incident, shedding light on a pervasive problem that requires urgent attention.

WATCH: Ipid investigates Kensington case where cops drag alleged drug dealer behind van

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Malema pushes for charges to be dropped

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman are seeking to have the charges levelled against them in their firearm discharge case dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Malema and Snyman are on trial in the East London Magistrate’s Court.

The EFF leader is facing five charges, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area or public space and reckless endangerment to person or property, while Snyman faces two charges under the Firearms Control Act.

CONTINUE: ‘I can’t tell whether it’s a real gun’ – Malema pushes for charges to be dropped

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In other news today:

• It’s worse than death: Cash-strapped South Africans terrified of retirement
• Battle at the border: proposed trucks-only crossing sparks environmental showdown
• EFF ‘humbled’ by King Dalinyebo’s support for Malema in firearm case
• SPARK Soweto shines as a global beacon of community collaboration in education
• Children are dying because of poverty, our moral compass is broken

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Yesterday’s News recap

READ: Stage 6 disaster, Postbank glitch, egg prices, Busi’s parting words