Daily news update: Covid-19 stats, Duduzane Zuma aims for presidency and Proteas get new captain

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Daily Covid-19 update: 1,313 new cases as 100K health workers vaccinated

Healthcare workers administer the first batch of Johnson and Johnson vaccines at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto on 17 February 2021, as health workers receive the first jabs of the vaccine in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Michel Bega

As of Friday, 5 March 2021, the cumulative number of detected Covid-19 cases is 1,518,979 with 1,313 new cases identified, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has confirmed.

104 more Covid-19 related deaths were reported. This brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths to 50 566 .

Meanwhile, the total number of vaccines that have been administered stands at 100,180.

WATCH: Duduzane Zuma wants to be president, has plans for 2024

Duduzane Zuma in court on 20 June 2019. Picture: Michel Bega

Duduzane Zuma, the son of former president Jacob Zuma, has expanded on his political ambitions to one day become South Africa’s president.

In a video that has surfaced on social media, the businessman has given a teaser of what his presidency would focus on should his plans of getting his name on the ballot paper in 2024 work out. He has promised to deliver free education to the masse.

DA accuse EFF and ANC of race-baiting in eNCA’s Lindsay Dentlinger saga

Jessie Duarte takes part in a demonstration with supporters of the ANC as they demonstrate outside the offices of ENCA, 2 March 2021, in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, over alleged racism by reporter Lindsay Dentlinger during a recent broadcast. Picture: Michel Bega

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will take the ANC and the EFF to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for “race-baiting.”

This is after the ANC’s Deputy Secretary-General Jesse Duarte led a protest outside the news station eNCA calling for the broadcaster t act against its journalist Lindsay Dentlinger. She made rounds on social media this week when she appeared in a video asking for black members of parliament to wear masks during an interview while she did not do the same with white MP’s.

EFF MPs found guilty of misconduct to make representations to Parliament

File picture. EFF members during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s question and answer session in Parliament on August 22, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ramaphosa answered questions in the National Assembly for the first time in the sixth administration since he was inaugurated as the country’s president in May this year. (Photo by Gallo Images/ Jeffrey Abrahams)

Sixteen EFF MPs will have an opportunity to make representations to parliament’s Powers and Privileges Committee after they were found guilty on several charges of misconduct for disrupting Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget vote in Parliament two years ago.

The committee on Thursday found overwhelming evidence that the MPs had broken parliament’s rules and the Powers and Privileges Act when storming Gordhan’s budget vote speech in July 2019.

Mandela funeral fraud case moves to high court

Fired Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and 15 other co-accused face fraud charges. Picture: Supplied.

The fraud and corruption case involving sacked Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and her 15 co-accused on Friday was postponed to May after the matter was moved to the Eastern Cape High Court in East London.

The 15 suspects, including the three companies, are accused of hatching a scheme to swindle the Buffalo City Municipality of R10 million following the death of former president Nelson Mandela in December 2013.

Ramaphosa mulls police commissioner Khehla Sitole probe

National Police Commissioner General Khehla John Sitole. Picture: Jacques Nelles

National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole could face an inquiry into his fitness to hold office, after Minister of Police Bheki Cele sent a request to the president to institute a probe against him.

Acting presidential spokesperson Tyrone Seale on Friday confirmed President Cyril Ramaphosa had received such a request from the minister, saying he is looking into the matter.

Mashaba calls on Motsoaledi to release names of officials who helped Bushiris escape

Herman Mashaba. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark.

Action SA leader Herman Mashaba has called on Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to release names of the officials who assisted Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) leader Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, with passports to enable their escape from South Africa.

“This matter is of the utmost importance to the survival of the Rule of Law for South Africa. We @Action4SA demand the Minister to share this information with the country as a matter of urgency,” said Mashaba in response to the reports on Thursday.

Eastern Cape municipality named after Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela will be buried at Fourways Memorial Park in Craigavon on Saturday, 14 April.

Mbizana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape has been renamed Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality.

The area is renamed after its most famous daughter. The new name of the municipality, sitting in Mbizana, was signed off by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Xolile Nqatha in a provincial Government Gazette on Thursday.

We just want justice for Senzo Meyiwa, say sisters

Five men accused of being involved in the murder of Meyiwa appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning. This follows their dramatic arrests on the sixth anniversary of Meyiwa’s death. Picture: Neil McCartney

The trial of five men accused of killing Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in 2014 has been set down for 25 October to 12 November 2021 in the Palm Ridge High Court.

Muzikawulahlelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokosizi Maphisa and SifikuhleNkani Ntuli Sifiso were arrested in October last year and appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning.

Judicial Conduct Committee recommends probe in Goliath v Hlophe saga

Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe. Picture: Gallo Images / Foto24 / Bongiwe Gumede

The internal squabbles within the Western Cape High Court have taken a new turn as the Judicial Conduct Committee recommended that a tribunal investigate allegations made by Deputy Judge President Patricia Goliath about Judge President John Hlophe and his wife.

This comes after Goliath lodged a complaint of gross misconduct against Hlophe and his wife, Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe.

WATCH: SA yet to start Johnson & Johnson vaccine roll out

The second delivery of the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine arrives at the O R Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 February 2021. The vaccine has been approved by South African Health Products Authority and is expected to only be given to healthcare workers. Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK / POOL

South Africa is yet to begin its phase one mass vaccination roll-out programme which prioritises healthcare workers, the elderly and people with comorbidities.

This was clarified on Friday by Deputy Health Minister Joseph Phaahla before the parliament portfolio committee on health. Phaahla told the committee the current vaccination programme of healthcare workers, which is under way, forms an extended study of the human trials around the globe.

Alleged mastermind behind Tshegofatso Pule’s murder denied bail

Ntuthuko Shoba in court. Picture: Bernadette Wicks

The alleged mastermind behind the killing of Tshegofatso Pule, Ntuthuko Shoba was on Friday denied bail by the Roodepoort Magistrate Court.

The 32-year-old appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where his formal bail application was argued. He is currently facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and defeating the ends of justice for his alleged involvement in the murder of 28-year-old Pule.

Arrest warrant issued for ex-crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli after court no-show

Mdluli is currently serving a five-year jail term for kidnapping and assaulting Oupa Ramogibe in 1999, and has also been found guilty of other unrelated charges of kidnapping and assault. Picture: Gallo Images.

A warrant of arrest has been issued against convicted former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli after he failed to appear before the Pretoria High Court on Thursday for his fraud case related to allegations of gross abuse of the police intelligence slush fund.

Mdluli was expected to appear in court along with his two co-accused and former colleagues facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft.

Woman’s gun licence application ‘rejected’ for wearing head scarf

Woman in a hijab close-up. Picture: iStock

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police has ordered the South African Police Service (SAPS) to compile a report after a Muslim woman’s gun licence application was allegedly denied due to her wear a head scarf, which is also called a hijab, in her application photo.

The committee’s chairperson Tina Joemat-Pettersson noted that the incident undermined the right to equality and was also equivalent to religious discrimination if the allegations were in accordance with truth.

Land expropriation: Committee on Section 25 requests for another extension

A total of 30 MPs representing the two houses of Parliament from various political parties will be physically in the National Assembly. Photo: GCIS

The Ad Hoc Committee to amend Section 25 of the Constitution will need another extension from the National Assembly to complete its work, after it reversed its previous decision not to allow oral presentations by people who have indicated in their written submissions a wish to do so.

The committee came to this decision on Friday. Committee chairperson Mathole Motshekga in a statement said that for the committee to make this possible, it will have to approach Parliament for an extension to the deadline.

UCT students ‘left hungry for days’ after being served ‘rotten food’

University of Cape Town. Picture: Ian Barbour/flickr

Students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have apparently been left hungry for days.

Allegations have emerged that students staying in catering and non-catering residencies who have returned to campus and are in mandatory isolation for 10-days have not received any food, and some have been served rotten food. Residence council co-chair Mila Zibi told News24 the situation has been ongoing for the last two weeks.

Electricity, fuel price hikes will impact market negatively, says motor dealers’ body

Picture: Karen Sandison/African News Agency

The National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) has express discontent over the expected electricity and fuel price hikes, saying the increases would only have a negative impact on the motor dealership industry.

NADA chairperson Mark Dommisse noted that car sales in February were more encouraging as they had expected for a shorter trading month than January.

Babes Wodumo hasn’t talked to Masechaba Khumalo since

The promotional poster for Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha’s upcoming Bonnie & Clyde style tour | Image: Twitter

Queen of gqom Bongekile Simelane aka Babes Wodumo had a lot to say during her appearance on Podcast and Chill with MacG.

The episode was aired on Thursday on the host’s YouTube channel. In the extensive interview, the musician tackled how Wololo changed her life, fame at a young age and the touchy subject of her personal relationship with Mampinstha.

Hunt faces another Kaizer Chiefs player crisis

Head coach Gavin Hunt still has still one just one DStv Premiership match since joining Kaizer Chiefs. Pic: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Things could get even worse for Kaizer Chiefs in their Caf Champions League campaign as they could be without up to four key players in their third Group C match against Angolan side Petro de Luanda at FNB Stadium this evening.

Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will be a notable absentee, as he has been given time off to attend to a family bereavement after the death of his sister earlier week. While his form has been suspect of late, coach Gavin Hunt has preferred him ahead of Daniel Akpeyi and Bruce Bvuma.

‘I want to create a legacy’: Temba Bavuma excited to lead Proteas

Temba Bavuma of South Africa during day 4 of the 1st Test match between South Africa and England at SuperSport Park on December 29, 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Newly appointed national captain Temba Bavuma hopes to cement his place in history as he prepares to lead the Proteas limited overs team over the next few years.

The 30-year-old batsman, who had averaged 55.83 runs in six ODI matches and 35.57 in eight T20 Internationals, was appointed on Thursday as the first black African skipper of the Proteas limited overs squad. His tenure was set to include the next two editions of the T20 World Cup, as well as the World Cup in the ODI format in 2023.

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