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(Graphic by Sharlene Rood/News24)
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Joshlin Smith's mother and co-accused found guilty of kidnapping, trafficking
- Racquel Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn have been found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking.
- The victim was Smith's 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who disappeared in February 2024 and remains missing.
- The verdict was delivered in the Western Cape High Court, eliciting cheers from the public gallery.
The City of Cape Town launched the Facility Protection Officers initiative in May 2023 to protect staff, projects and City facilities – particularly in crime hotspots. (Jacques Stander/Gallo Images)
A whopping R100m for extra safety escorts due to Cape Town's unique crime climate
- The City of Cape Town is hiring over 200 safety escort officers at a cost of R100 million to protect municipal staff from increasing attacks.
- Crime expert Guy Lamb says Cape Town's high crime rate, particularly organised crime targeting service providers, necessitates these measures, but it's a costly solution for ratepayers.
- While the targeting of municipal workers seems unique to Cape Town, other municipalities allocate funds for councillor protection, especially in KwaZulu-Natal where assassinations are a risk.
There are nearly 500 unregistered teachers teaching in South African schools. (Rosetta Msimango/City Press)
Department threatens to purge teachers teaching without mandatory certification
- Hundreds of teachers across South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Limpopo, are teaching without the mandatory SACE certificates.
- Some provinces are taking action, with Limpopo teachers given until the end of April to comply or face termination, while others are working with SACE to facilitate registration.
- SACE acknowledges unregistered educators as a threat, while some provinces cite backlogs and expired provisional certificates as contributing factors.
Shortly after delivering his Workers' Day message in Mpumalanga, on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa implored the DA to read the Constitution. (X/@MYANC)
Ramaphosa wants the DA to explain to him what grudge they have against transformation
- President Cyril Ramaphosa criticised the DA's court challenge against the Employment Equity Amendment Act, questioning their stance on transformation.
- Ramaphosa defended the act as a necessary measure to address the legacy of apartheid and promote inclusivity.
- The DA argues the act enforces rigid quotas that will harm the economy and violate constitutional rights, preferring inclusive economic growth as a means of transformation.
Companies are expected to achieve new equity targets within five years. (Larysa Pashkevic/Getty Images)
EXPLAINER | The new EE targets and your business
- New employment equity regulations require companies with 50+ employees to meet sector-specific minimum diversity targets, impacting their ability to do business with the state.
- While overall designated group targets are set, companies must still determine their own targets for each racial group within those designated groups, considering provincial or national demographics.
- The regulations face controversy due to the removal of key clauses, lack of public comment period, broad sector definitions, ambitious targets, and a legal challenge by the DA.
Netball SA CEO Modiegi Komane. (Lubabalo Lesolle/Gallo Images)
Netball SA hits back after parliamentary grilling, comments on president's suspension
- Netball South Africa (NSA) denies allegations of financial mismanagement and states its commitment to transparency, particularly regarding the R90-million World Cup funding and other expenses questioned by Parliament.
- NSA claims the 2023 Netball World Cup finances were handled by a separate, independent board and are not under their direct purview, while also stating they are cooperating with investigations.
- The organisation responded to criticism regarding its president's suspension, citing it as a procedural step by World Netball and emphasising their cooperation with the process.
American actor and comedian Deon Cole, known for his role in 'Black-ish,' is recovering after experiencing a medical emergency during his visit to South Africa. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
'Black-ish' actor Deon Cole on 'road to recovery' after medical emergency in South Africa
- Deon Cole is recovering after a medical emergency in South Africa.
- He was hospitalised at Christiaan Barnard Hospital but is now on the mend.
- Due to the emergency, he had to pull out of headlining the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival and thanked the organisers, his show "Average Joe", and fans for their support.
*These summaries were written with the support of Gemini Pro AI.
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