For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

Home » Articles Posted by Lerato Matlala (Page 2)

Author Archives: Lerato Matlala

0 Comments
KZN ANC disgruntled branches against decision to turn task teams into regional election teams
13 August 2020, 4:21 PM

Some African National Congress (ANC) branches in KwaZulu-Natal are upset over a decision taken by the party’s national leadership to convert regional task teams to regional election teams.

The disgruntled branches say the task teams are not constitutional structures and cannot oversee the selection of party candidates ahead for next year’s municipal elections.

The eThekwini region was disbanded in June last year. Planned regional conferences could not take place due to the coronavirus outbreak.

At least five regions in KwaZulu-Natal are demanding that regional conferences be held before preparations for elections.

Regional conferences in eThekwini, Moses Mabhida in the Pietermaritzburg area, Lower South Coast, General Gizenga Mpanza in KwaDukuza, and Josiah Gumede in Ladysmith were shelved due to COVID-19.

Local elections

ANC member of eThekwini region, Mzomuhle Dube says allowing the task team to preside over the election of candidates might create serious problems for the ANC.

“The message that has been circulated, it’s a good message because it talks about preparing for elections towards the Local Government Elections. But what becomes a problem is that how do you begin to do that without proper structures in place. It is not easy to bring on the election process knowing that you have so many problems pending. It is unfortunate that the contestation that actually happens when we have to follow the process of electing councillors it quite messy and robust. By the way, in eThekwini we have a group of factions that were put together which I equally believe that even when that process of electing councillors arrives, we will have a situation where now these factions will say, ‘we will have to divide our deployment into quarters which I foresee a disaster.’”

Electioneering 

Dube often speaks on behalf of supporters of Zandile Gumede, who was the last elected regional chairperson when the structure’s term of office lapsed in 2018.

Dube says further delays in holding regional conferences might create loopholes for any decisions taken by the task teams to be challenged.

“Without any structure, there is no ANC and when you do this especially now towards the Local Government Elections you are weakening the ANC machinery of electioneering. If you are a ruling party or in charge of the municipality, your municipality becomes machinery in terms of dispersing the services. Now when that also is not led properly by the centre you will find that the exco members, one or two, taking different directions and for them to stop the chaos they must find the way to reconstruct the structures that will be legitimate in terms of the constitution of the ANC which will at least lead us better towards the local government elections.”

However, the ANC regional conferences might still go ahead if lockdown regulations are eased further.

“That means that all our structures across the country not only in KZN they must prepare for the elections. Whether your term has expired; whether you are a task team, all of us we’ve got an obligation to prepare for the ANC campaign come 2021. Based on the lockdown easing period, the ANC is still planning to have those regional conferences. Probably, early next year we will have those RECs elected in those regions but it does not stop us from preparing for the elections,” says the party’s Provincial Spokesperson, Nhlakanipho Ntombela.

Meanwhile, Ntombela says the directive from the national leadership also applies to branch structures. The instruction is that they should be converted to branch election teams.

 

0 Comments
Cape Chamber of Commerce concerned about negative impact of lockdown on businesses
10 August 2020, 9:33 PM

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it is happy with the provincial government’s efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve. However, the chamber has raised concerns about the negative impact of the prolonged lockdown on local businesses.

As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, a group of women small business owners from Phillipi in Cape Town, say they are facing financial ruin.

In the video below, business owners say they are struggling to stay afloat: 

Lockdown has had a devastating impact on their businesses and they say various attempts to obtain help from the COVID-19 Relief Fund have been in vain.

They are also now facing evictions from shopping malls where they are trading from due to their inability to pay rent.

President of Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Geoff Jacobs, says they are concerned.

“No business should face closure if they have a way forward but were not given some relief causing their demise. That’s not acceptable. We appropriate that commercial and lord had to bear the brunt of the change but we reiterate, it’s about being reasonable and innovative.”

Economy 

Earlier, Premier Alan Winde said even with the slowing down of coronavirus infections in the province the economy continues to suffer. He noted small businesses’ challenges.

Winde said if the lockdown regulations are not relaxed further and a ban on the sale of alcohol lifted, many more will have to close.

According to him, nearly 200 000 people from vulnerable communities will no longer have an income to put food on the table. “We have flattened the curve sufficiently that we will support the opening of the economy safely.  Each and every one of those businesses need to operate under a new normal but our capacity is now in place sufficiently to allow economic growth and job creation.”

0 Comments
SA has lost a giant in Mabena, says government
10 August 2020, 8:53 PM

The South African government says it is saddened by the death of legendary radio personality, Bob Mabena. The GCIS has sent its condolences to his family, colleagues, and fans.

“South Africa has lost a giant today. Mabena was an inspiration to all South Africans and leaves an indelible mark in the industry,” says GCIS Deputy Director-General, Phumla Williams.

Mabena is the founder of the Bob K Mabena Foundation. “Mabena paved the way for many aspiring radio personalities and through the Foundation inspired and changed the lives of learners. The GCIS joins South Africans and the media industry and mourns the loss of Bob Mabena, a South African legend,” says the GCIS in a statement.

The 51-year-old died this afternoon after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Mabena’s career spans over 31 years in some of the country’s biggest radio stations, including Radio Bob and Kaya FM with his final home at Power FM.

Below is GCIS’s statement:

Mabena’s career at SABC

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has described Mabena as a titanic figure in the South African broadcasting industry. Mabena’s career in the industry also included presenter roles on SABC popular youth programmes, such as Jam Alley, Studio Mix as well as being one of the most memorable voices on Metro FM.

He served the SABC as the Corporation’s Head of Commercial radio stations from 1 June 2007, a position he held until 17 February 2009.

“As a trailblazer, Mr. Mabena played an instrumental role in paving the way from which many current radio and television broadcasters draw inspiration. His legacy will serve as a foundation for consummate broadcasting for years to come,” says the SABC in a statement.

Friends and former colleagues

Former Station Manager at Radio Bop, Thapelo Thiphe, says South Africa has lost such authentic talent.

Thiphe says he saw great potential in Mabena when he first met him. He also recalls Mabena’s humble beginning. “Bob came for an interview for a presenter at Radio Bop and he surprised me because he was very intelligent, cool, and very creative. Bob was so good in the interview and right away we told him that he was hired and he was hired. He did not disappoint he went on to become one of our best DJs so we are really sorry we’ve lost him, may his family be comforted.”

Ike Phaahla, a friend and colleague of the late Bob Mabena has described him as a humble and passionate Radio and TV personality.

“Firstly, I’d like to convey my sincerest condolences to family, his Power FM colleagues, his listeners, and the entire broadcasting fraternity. We are certainly in shock and we have lost a great broadcaster. Bob had a great personality, he was full of confidence, he was joining an illustrious line of broadcasters and he was immensely talented not only on radio but on television as well. He was an all-rounder, he had a big heart and who will forget that hearty laughter in the mornings.”

In the video below, Phaahla pays tribute to Mabena:

0 Comments
Mabena described as talented all-rounder
10 August 2020, 7:24 PM

The passing of veteran radio and television personality, Bob Mabena, on Monday, has sent shockwaves across South Africa.

Government, media personalities and fans have been paying tribute to the entertainment icon since the news of his passing to a short illness. He was 51.

Media personality and colleague, Thabiso Sikwane has extended her condolences to Mabena’s family and friends.

“It’s such a shock that people, I can’t think of Bob Mabena dead. But one of the things that as we celebrate Women’s Month that I want to highlight about Mabena is that he was [someone] very proud of his roots and proud of where he came from. One of the things I took from Mabena is that he was an authentic person. The same person you hear on the radio, he was the same person everywhere, there was no fakeness about him and he really valued friendship.”

Former colleague, Ike Phaahla, who met Mabena when he was still at Radio Bob, has described him as a talented all-rounder.

A career spanning 30 years

Mabena started his radio career in 1989 at Radio BOP and was later recruited by Radio Metro, now called Metro FM.

His career evolved when he became a television presenter on SABC’s music show, Studio Mix.

In his radio career which spans three decades, he has been on stations such as Highveld Stereo, Kaya FM, and most recently, Power FM.

In an interview with SABC News, Ike Phaahla, describes Mabena as full of confidence and someone with a big heart.

The African National Congress (ANC) says Mabena’s death is a huge loss to the entertainment industry.

“An accomplished broadcaster Mabena brightened many mornings through his radio show on Power FM. For years, Mabena has been a constant presence in South African homes, tackling various issues of national importance with charm, respect and an all-embracing and inclusive manner.”

The ANC’s full statement:

The Economic Freedom Fighters has also sent condolences.

The Democratic Alliance has described Mabena as a pioneer and a role model to many South Africans.

0 Comments
Hanekom feels vindicated by ruling confirming Zuma had defamed him
10 August 2020, 7:00 PM

African National Congress (ANC) veteran Derek Hanekom says he feels vindicated by the Constitutional Court ruling which confirmed that former President Jacob Zuma had defamed him.

He says although he has accepted Zuma’s apology for a defamatory tweet he posted, he still wants Zuma to pay him R500 000  for damage caused to his reputation.

On Sunday, Zuma tweeted an apology to Hanekom and deleted a tweet calling him a “known enemy agent” following a lawyer’s letter warning him that he was in contempt of court.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court had dismissed with costs Zuma’s bid to overturn an earlier ruling by the Durban High Court ordering him to delete the remark and apologise on his twitter account.

In the video below, the High Court orders Zuma to apologise:

Hanekom says this has been long overdue.

“The apology was done in a way that apart from the additional work it was required of him and that was a court ruling, he had to issue an apology and remove the tweet and the third one there’s an interdict prohibiting him from any further suggestion that I might be an apartheid spy or an enemy agent, the court found what he had said was untrue and defamatory but nonetheless he issued the apology and I decided to accept the apology.   “

Weather

 

SABC © 2020