WeeklySA_AdminSABC TO AIR BOKS and ALL BLACKS MATCH
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has responded after successfully managing to negotiate a deal to allow South Africans to watch the Springboks vs All Blacks match without a DStv subscription.
The two teams face off in two Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches on 31 August 31 and September 7. On Friday evening, SABC, SuperSport, and the minister confirmed that the Boks/All blacks clash will be televised on the public broadcaster. SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha said: “Having had discussions with SARU and Minister Gayton McKenzie, we decided to join hands in celebration of 30 years of democracy. It is fitting that we have partnered with the SABC on this one particular occasion to bring this match to television viewers.
CRIME: 16 COPS DIE IN
3 MONTHS
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu today delivered a grim assessment of South Africa’s crime situation, revealing that more than 6 000 people died between April and June 2024. Between the start of April and the end of June, the police recorded 6 198 murders across the country and, although the overall number of murders decreased for the quarter year-on-year, four of the nine provinces experienced an increase in murders, said Mchunu. During the same period, 16 police officers were killed. Five of them were on duty at the time. “When I look at these stats, there is a general increase. That should worry us most,” Mchunu said.
KwaZulu-Natal contributed the highest number of murders to the national count, accounting for 23.5% of all murders during the quarter.
Gauteng followed with 22% and the Western Cape with 18%. However, the Western Cape accounted for the highest increase in murders over the quarter, with a 21% increase bringing the total number for the three-month period to 1 138.
The province also featured prominently among the top 10 police stations with the highest recorded cases of murder. Seven of the 10 stations are in the Western Cape. The stations that recorded the highest number of murders are Nyanga, Inanda, Umlazi, Khayelitsha and Harare. Of the 270 gang murders recorded during the three-month period, 234 were in the Western Cape.
FRAUD: LICENSING OFFICIAL ARRESTED
A Limpopo examiner has been arrested by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU) at Lebowakgomo Licensing Centre for allegedly assisting four learner licence applicants get learners licenses without them being tested. Three of the four applicants are foreign nationals who cannot read, write or speak English.
The examiner was caught red handed assisting the applicants in the classroom during an exam. The applicants confessed to paying a fee of R3000 each to the examiner. All suspects have been detained and are due to appear in court. Investigations continue with more arrests expected.
LAMOLA WELCOMES
NORWAY’S SUPPORT
South Africa’s triple challenges of unemployment, inequality, and poverty persist, and Norway’s ongoing support and cooperation to enable the country to resolve these pressing development issues is greatly appreciated. This is according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister, Ronald Lamola who spoke during the opening remarks on the Working Visit of Norway Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
Norway is one of the biggest investors in renewable energy in South Africa and is working towards delivering President Cyril Ramaphosa’s request for private-public partnerships to ensure economic growth and job creation through renewable energy. “Our struggle for a better South Africa is intertwined with our pursuit of a better Africa in a better world. We welcome Norway’s commitment to collaborate with us as we forge ahead with efforts to promote peace and security on the continent and advance regional and continental integration,” the Minister said on Friday.
According to Lamola, South Africa also seeks partners to promote peace and reconstruction on the continent through various cooperation mechanisms, not in the form of aid but in a way that substantively enables Africa to leverage its rich endowment.
“In a manner which helps Africa live up to the aspiration, we sing about the African Union anthem, the clarion call to make Africa the tree of life.” This morning’s discussions focused on bilateral trade including Norwegian investments in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, multilateral affairs, South Africa’s upcoming Presidency of the G20, and geopolitical developments, including peace and reconciliation efforts in South Sudan, Palestine and Ukraine.
POPE BLESSES BOTSWANA RUNNER’S SHOES
VATICAN – On Wednesday, Pope Francis greeted Letsile Tebogo, the young man from Botswana, who won gold in the 200-meter sprint in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Tebogo (21) had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father and made a special request: he asked Pope Francis to sign the sneakers he wore during the race in Paris, which had his mother Elizabeth Seratiwa’s birthdate and initials engraved on them. She passed away on May 18, shortly before the competition. The young athlete told Pope Francis that his mother, who died after battling breast cancer, was very devout. After listening to his story and congratulating him on his medal, the Holy Father signed and blessed the orange sneakers.
Following his mother’s death, Tebogo had considered leaving the sport. He asked the Pope to pray for Elizabeth’s soul and said he competed in her honour. – ACI Prensa
