Sunday round-up: South Africa’s top stories this week
Catch up on news you missed this week, from municipal election coverage to children finally being able to get vaccinated, and Home Affairs extending its operating hours.
Polokwane kidnapping: Brothers abducted on way to school
On Wednesday (October 20), four brothers were forcefully taken on their way to school, and the family is yet to receive word of their whereabouts or well-being.
The search for the children and their kidnappers is still on, with several law enforcement stakeholders and high-risk security units involved.
Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that the boys are yet to be returned, and that the police have roped in the support of a number of specialised units. Mojapelo said no new information is available.
People with information or CCTV footage are urged to contact their nearest police station or Capt Ntlane Rasedile on 082 565 8566.
The close-knit community of Nirvana has come out in support of their own in a period of extreme uncertainty and turmoil.
As of Saturday (October 23), Review Online can only confirm that the search operation continues.
What are municipal elections?
Election day (November 1) is just around the corner, and 26 228 975 people in South Africa’s 278 municipalities are ready to cast their votes.
While national government makes central laws and sets policies for the country, the decisions taken by local governments have a direct bearing on how happy people are in their communities.
Local government is well positioned to meaningfully impact the quality of people’s lives, and it is the job of ward councillors to help ensure councils are responsive to citizens’ needs.
However, it is not easy to be a ward councillor in South Africa. The men and women elected to represent the residents of their communities face many challenges during their five-year term.
Watch more here:
Three months later and beaches from Umgeni to Salt Rock remain closed
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment remains mum on when certain KwaZulu-Natal beaches will be reopened to the public.
Beaches north of the uMgeni River mouth to Salt Rock have been closed for three months, after chemicals stored in a United Phosphorous Limited warehouse at Cornubia spilled into the oHlanga tributary and uMhlanga estuary after the July unrest.
Beaches were closed after dead marine life washed up.
Home Affairs temporarily extends hours
The Department of Home Affairs has temporarily extended its operating times at some of its offices to meet the growing demand for services.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says operating times were extended by two-and-a-half hours at front offices. New operating hours are from 08:00 to 17:30.
“Out of the 412 Home Affairs offices, 197 are modernised, live-capture offices which can process smart ID cards and passports. These are the offices that will operate for extended hours, because that is where the high demand is.”
Ramaphosa: Employment stimulus to stave off job crisis
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his weekly letter to the nation that unemployment in South Africa is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore.
He said the second phase of the Presidential Employment Stimulus ‘represents great progress in our quest to create job opportunities’.
Sassa’s R350 grant applicants urged to Rica cellphones
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) urged beneficiaries to ensure their cellphone and banking details are up to date to electronically receive the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
Sassa took to its Facebook page to share the crucial information.
“Applicants of the special Covid-19 SRD grant should please ensure that the cellphone number they use has gone through the Regulation of Interception of Communication Act (Rica) process if they choose to be paid through cardless banking at an ATM,” read the post.
“If they choose to be paid through their bank accounts, they must ensure that the bank account provided is registered in their name.”
This will assist the client when they attempt to withdraw the grant at a merchant as till Pins are sent to the cellphone numbers provided when the grant was applied for.
SA’s teens get the jab
South Africa began vaccinating children aged 12 and older on October 20. Of the 39 109 adolescents who signed up for the jab within the first 24 hours, 6 843 were vaccinated on the first day.
Although the death rate among teenagers and children has not been as high as among adults, according to experts, vaccinating secondary school children will help reduce transmission to the older population and avoid schools closing unnecessarily.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Prof Glenda Davison says there have been cases of teenagers becoming very ill from the virus, and even dying.
Vaccinations reduce the incidence of infection, the risk of hospitalisation, long-term effects and death, she says.
She encourages teens to go out in their numbers and get vaccinated.
Eskom announces Stage 2 load-shedding
Eskom released a statement last evening (October 23) in which it announced that it will implement stage 2 load-shedding in order to replenish emergency generation reserves for the week ahead. This is due to a shortage of generation capacity that happened due to breakdowns, numerous trips at various power stations, as well as delays in returning units to service.
Stage 2 load-shedding has been implemented until 05:00 on Monday (October 25) in order to replenish emergency generation reserves for the week ahead.
