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Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu “always put the Zulu people first” : Prince Buthelezi
7 May 2021, 1:20 PM

AmaZulu Traditional Prime Minister, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has described the late Regent of the AmaZulu nation – Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu – as a leader who put the needs of her people first.

Queen Mantfombi passed away in a Johannesburg hospital last week.

She was interred in a private ceremony at her palace in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Buthelezi was speaking during Friday morning’s memorial service.

“She accepted an extraordinary responsibility. Her willingness to accept shows the strength of her character. She always put the Zulu people first. It is devastating that we lost her so suddenly. More devastating still, that we recently laid to rest her husband, our King.”

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi speaks to SABC on the passing of AmaZulu Regent Queen Mantfombi: 

People attending the memorial of AmaZulu regent – Queen Mantfombi – wiped tears away together with Princess Bukhosibemvelo Zulu as she recalled the painful illness of both her mother and father – King Goodwill Zwelithini.

She says apart from her mother’s own long illness, her condition waned as her father’s condition got better and worse in hospital.

King Goodwill Zwelithini passed on from COVID-19 in March.

Queen Mantfombi passed away about a month after him.

Princess Bukhosibemvelo says it was foolhardy of her to believe that her mother could survive her father.

Memorial service for Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu: 

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Tshegofatso Pule alleged murder mastermind denied bail for the second time
7 May 2021, 1:07 PM

The alleged mastermind behind the murder of 28-year-old Tshegofatso Pule has been denied bail by the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court, west of Johannesburg.

Police had arrested 32-year-old Nthuthuko Shoba at his home in Florida earlier this year, after the man convicted of  Pule’s murder, entered into a plea agreement with the state to testify against Shoba.

In June last year, Pule’s body was found in an open veld in Roodepoort. She was eight months pregnant at the time.

Nthuthuko Shoba will have to remain behind bars until the conclusion of his case, after being denied bail by Magistrate Delize Smith.

In handing down her ruling, Magistrate Smith said that Shoba never submitted any compelling circumstances to be released on bail.

“The applicant has placed nothing compelling before this court when taking into account the new evidence not known previously and the elaboration already on the known facts that exceptional circumstances do exist why would it be in the interest of justice that he be submitted to bail. Bail is refused.”

He appeared in the dock wearing a black suit and black face mask, whilst looking straight ahead at the Magistrate, while she handed down her ruling.

The Pule family has welcomed the ruling, denying Shoba bail. Family spokesperson Botlhale Modisane says it is a small victory.

“We are absolutely happy about the judgement we got today. It’s a small victory because bigger things are yet to come, but it’s one worth celebrating non the less. Our hope has been restored in the judicial system and it continues to be restored. You know that the fact that this is the second time he has been denied bail so we are absolutely happy and we just need to prepare going forward for what is still to come.”

The case has been postponed to the 17th of May for further investigations.

Video: Murder accused Nkululeko Shoba bail application moved to the 17th of May

No court in its right mind will grant Ntuthuko Shoba bail: Tshegofatso Pule’s uncle

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EFF protestors demand Leon Coetzee be remanded in custody
7 May 2021, 12:10 PM

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)  members are protesting at the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court – demanding Leon Coetzee be remanded in custody. Coetzee allegedly stabbed and killed Themba Thabethe at an estate, north of Pretoria.

The court building is closed to prevent the EFF from storming its precincts or flouting COVID-19 regulations.

Coetzee has been charged with murder.

During his bail application, Coetzee said he acted in self-defence after Thabethe threatened his wife.

The Defence argued Thabethe went to confront Coetzee’s wife after reading a WhatsApp message where he was called corrupt.

Coetzee was not on that WhatsApp group.

Ncobile Mhlongo, secretary of the EFF in Tshwane, says Coetzee should be denied bail.

“We are here today to ensure that this racist doesn’t get bail today. We are here also to show the family that the EFF is here to support them. We are here to say black lives matter. There can never be a situation where a person gets killed by a dog in daylight and nothing happens. We are demanding justice and we are also here to tell the magistrate not to give this racist bail,” says Mhlongo.

 

Man accused of killing neighbour over WhatsApp row back in Pretoria Magistrates court: 

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Video | Zozibini Tunzi on being the longest-reigning Miss Universe in history
7 May 2021, 12:01 PM

South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi will relinquish her Miss Universe crown when the much-delayed pageant is held, later in May 2021.

Tunzi will continue to “wear the crown” as the longest-reigning Queen in the history of the competition. She has crowned Miss Universe in December 2019.

Her long reign was a result of the global coronavirus (COVID-19)  pandemic which led to the year-long reign being extended after the pageant was postponed.

Tunzi won the crown in December 2019. She reigned as Miss Universe for 17 months.

Video: Catching up with Zozibini Tunzi on her reign as Miss Universe and the future

Tunzi says it’s a bittersweet moment as she relinquishes her crown.

“It is bittersweet. I mean, being the longest-reigning Miss Universe – that’s how people have been addressing me this whole time,” says Tunzi.

Tunzi says she hoped to continue some of the relationships that she created during her reign.

“It’s going to be a little strange not having that title so it’s a little bitter in that sense. I am going to miss the people that I have been working with, hopefully continuing the relationship with other organisations that I’ve been working with,” says Tunzi.

She says she is happy to be entering a new chapter in her life and spending time with her family.

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Archbishop Makgoba welcomes US decision on COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver
7 May 2021, 11:15 AM

One of the 150 Global Religious Leaders advocating for the immunisation of the world against COVID-19, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, has welcomed a decision by  US President Joe Biden’s administration, to support a temporary waiver on intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines.

On Wednesday night US Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, released a statement saying they believe in intellectual property rights.

However, she said it’s important to service the end of the pandemic by supporting the waiver proposal at the World Trade Organization negotiations.

South Africa and India are the leading campaigners for the waiver, on behalf of emerging economies. More than 90 other countries have indicated their support for the waiver.

Makgoba says the decision by the US to support the waiver is commendable.

“This decision will go a long way to putting moral pressure and political pressure to bear on the World Trade Organisation (WHO) to indeed temporarily suspend these patents on these vaccines. We need to share the technology know-how. We need to share the licenses. We need to  enable others to  scale up in these vaccines, particularly those in our continent and the Global South because that is the only way we can attain population immunity,” says Makgoba.

Biden’s decision to support a call to waiver IP on COVID-19 vaccines, drugs commended: 

 

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