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Here’s your daily news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
Photo: iStock / The Citizen / Cheryl Kahla
News today includes the DA has threatened to leave the government of national unity (GNU) should President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffle his Cabinet and remove some portfolios from the blue party.
Meanwhile, an inquiry will be launched to investigate why the rape case against televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso was unsuccessful in court.
Furthermore, the Gauteng transport department intends to close taxi ranks for six months amid escalating violence that has claimed 59 lives in the province since January, MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has anounced.
Weather tomorrow: 11 April 2025
Saws hasn’t issued any severe weather alerts but you can expect mostly partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions across the provinces. Isolated showers are likely in parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal. Full weather forecast here.
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DA fires off Cabinet reshuffle threat
The DA has threatened to leave the government of national unity (GNU) should President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffle his Cabinet and remove some portfolios from the blue party.
This comes after calls from some ANC alliance partners, such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), for Ramaphosa to punish the DA for not supporting a budget proposed by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
The federation wants Ramaphosa to reshuffle the Cabinet and take positions from the DA.
CONTINUE READING: DA fires off Cabinet reshuffle threat
At least R900 billion needed to fix SA’s water woes
South Africa needs R900 billion over the next decade to fix its ageing water and sanitation systems.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina confirmed that the previous projection of R90 billion annually over ten years remains relevant, though costs are expected to rise.
“It is anticipated that the projected costs will rise over time due to factors of increases in terms of, amongst others, inflation, prices of material, global volatility affecting supply chain,” Majodina stated in response to a parliamentary question from DA MP Stephen Moore.
CONTINUE READING: At least R900 billion needed to fix SA’s water woes
Inquiry to probe failings in Timothy Omotoso rape case on the cards
An inquiry will be launched to investigate why the rape case against televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso was unsuccessful in court.
On Thursday, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission), the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) held a media briefing on the handling of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) court cases across the country.
This follows the recent acquittal of Omotoso and his two co-accused after an eight-year legal battle.
CONTINUE READING: Inquiry to probe failings in Timothy Omotoso rape case on the cards
The real danger to your lights isn’t load shedding
While Eskom has recorded a slight drop in criminal activity targeting its infrastructure, the power utility has warned that vandalism and theft remain a significant threat to South Africa’s electricity supply and public safety.
The state-owned entity said on Wednesday that although the cost of such crimes fell from R271 million on 1 April 2024 to R221 million by end of February 2025, the damage caused by the destruction of mini-substations, transformers and high-voltage pylons continues to cripple essential services.
“We urge communities to play a role in safeguarding the infrastructure that delivers electricity to their homes and businesses,” said Monde Bala, Eskom’s group executive for distribution.
CONTINUE READING: The real danger to your lights isn’t load shedding
Gauteng transport MEC to close taxi ranks for six months
The Gauteng transport department intends to close taxi ranks for six months amid escalating violence that has claimed 59 lives in the province since January, MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has anounced.
According to the MEC, approximately 30 people died in taxi-related violence in March alone, contributing to the alarming total of 59 fatalities since the beginning of the year.
The MEC emphasised that the violence is not isolated to specific areas but is spread across Gauteng.
CONTINUE READING: Gauteng transport MEC to close taxi ranks for six months
Here are five more stories of the day:
- Motsoaledi announces 1 650 new healthcare jobs and R1.3bn to be spent on hospital equipment
- Joshlin Smith trial: ‘I’ve made an order,’ judge tells defence as proceedings get tense
- Israel denies whispering in Trump’s ear for sanctions against SA
- Mpofu’s ‘day has come’ to face disciplinary committee for misconduct
- Discovery Life payouts for 2024 again shows increase in suicides
Yesterday’s News recap
READ HERE: SANDF clears #JusticeForCwecwe claims | Formalising traditional healing | Marriage Bill hearings
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