Daily news update: Zuma parole, Kebby Maphatsoe funeral and Saps Commemoration Day

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Zuma placed on medical parole, DCS confirms

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has announced that former president Jacob Zuma has been placed on medical parole.

Zuma was granted parole in terms of Section 75(7)(a) of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998.

“Medical parole’s eligibility for Mr Zuma is impelled by a medical report received by the Department of Correctional Services. Apart from being terminally ill and physically incapacitated, inmates suffering from an illness that severely limits their daily activity or self-care can also be considered for medical parole,” DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said in a statement on Sunday.

Zille says DA will ‘interdict IEC, ANC’ if candidate registration reopens

The Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Helen Zille on Sunday said the African National Congress (ANC) and Electoral Commission (IEC) had “a clear plan” from the start.

Zille said the reason why the ANC withdrew its challenge to the Electoral Court was “so it could register candidates in the 93 municipalities where it failed to submit full lists”.

“The ANC did so because both the ANC [and] IEC expected the election to be postponed, and then re-promulgated by Minister Dlamini Zuma”.

This would have enabled the IEC to issue a new timetable in order for the ANC to register its candidates. She said this was the ANC and IEC’s plan from the start.

Babita Deokaran: Senior ANC figure allegedly linked to assassination

It has been reported that an senior official of the African National Congress (ANC) may possibly be the alleged mastermind behind the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran.

According to News24, the Hawks identified the senior ANC official — who held occupied top positions within government — as “a person of interest” who allegedly ordered Deokaran’s murder.

Deokaran, who was a senior finance official at the Gauteng health department, was gunned down outside her complex in Mondeor, south of Johannesburg, shortly after dropping off her child at school on 23 August.

A white BMW stopped next to Deokaran and an occupant shot her several times, according to the police.

She later succumbed to her injuries in hospital, with her funeral being held in KwaZulu-Natal the same week.

MKMVA President Kebby Maphatsoe laid to rest

Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) President Kebby Maphatsoe will be laid to rest today at the GOG Recreation Centre, Extension 14, Protea Glen, at 10am.

MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus said ‘drive past’ arrangements have been made at the Maphatsoe family residence, 574 Thistle Street, Meyersdal Nature Estate, to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

Family and friends will be able to drive past from 10am on Sunday to pay their respects. A book of condolences will be made available as well.

Saps Commemoration Day: South Africa mourns slain police officers

President Cyril Ramaphosa joined the families of slain police officers at the SAPS Memorial Site in Pretoria on Sunday morning to observe the annual Saps Commemoration Day.

“Today, we honour those officers who never made it back home” Police Minister Bheki Cele

At the commemoration, Police Minister called on those present to take a moment of silence in remembrance of South Africa’s fallen heroes who died in the line the duty.

“It cuts deep when we see empty desks in the workplace, when we see reduced numbers of members on parade, when we see polices station with a severe shortage of members”.

Hitman foiled cop’s plan to wipe out her entire family

In a case which wouldn’t seem out of place on a true crime television channel, a mother is set to come face-to-face with her sister on Monday, as the latter stands trial for an attempt to kill the former, as well as her five children, the youngest of which was only five months old at the time.

Even more shocking is the fact that Nomia Ndlovu, who was attached to the Tembisa police station in Gauteng, had allegedly already had six other relatives killed.

The motive? Insurance payouts, which at the time she was finally caught already amounted to more than R1,4 million.

Krugersdorp crash: Six people burned to death, five injured

Emergency personnel were called to an accident scene on Tom Muller Street in Krugersdorp on Saturday evening, shortly after 7:30 pm.

According to ER24 EMS paramedics, “six people were killed, and five others – including a child – sustained severe injuries when a taxi collided with a tree and caught alight”.

“Upon assessment, paramedics found five people, including a young child, with serious injuries”.

Members of the Gauteng Provincial Government attended the scene as well, while the Westrand Municipality Fire Department extinguished the blaze.

Boks will not be distracted by ‘barking dogs’, says Stick

As much as success breeds further success, it also leads to jealousy and negative attention, and Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has likened the recent criticism of the South African team to dogs barking in the street.

It is not surprising that Stick should bristle over all the barbs aimed at the Springboks’ style of play, given that he is the attack coach and the national team are hardly struggling to score tries or get their exciting back three into the game.