South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 4 November

Never miss a beat when it comes to the latest news in South Africa, be sure to check out what’s making headlines on Wednesday 4 November.

The world’s attention is fixated on the United States right now, as we await the results of what will be a defining election for the world’s superpower. So much is at stake, so much has been said and even more has been done by supporters and leaders of both parties. But the talking is over, the queues at the ballot are thinning out and the results are coming in.

Who will it be? Will it be four more years, or will America choose a new commander-in-chief to lead them to a new dawn. You can follow our live blog for all the latest updates and breaking news.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Wednesday 4 NOVEMBER

America has voted, and now the counting begins

Donald Trump has stoked the flames of discontent on the day the polls opened in the US Election. The president told reporters in North Carolina that his lawyers are already planning to ‘challenge the final results’ of the nationwide ballot.

POTUS is rejecting the notion that mail-in votes could take a few days to get counted fully, as just under 100 million American voters have already gone down the ‘remote route’. It looks like the USA is on for a record turnout, and due to COVID-19 restrictions, many citizens have chosen to make their voices heard away from the ballot booths.

Earlier this week, the Republican Party lost a crucial legal battle to discount 126 000 votes in Harris County. The town had conducted ‘drive-thru’ polling, and despite meeting all electoral regulations, Trump’s team wanted the votes scrapping.

Shortly after a campaign rally, Donald told the media that he will fight to have any votes that aren’t counted by the time polls close on Tuesday night (or Wednesday morning, for us South Africans) discounted and invalidated.

“I don’t think it’s fair that we have to wait for a long period of time after the election to get the results. We’re going in the night of – as soon as the election is over – we’re going in with our lawyers.”
Donald Trump

The Biden campaign, however, remains unfazed by this threat. Bob Bauer is one of the lawyers who has aligned with the Democratic nominee, and he told the press that Trump simply ‘would not succeed’ going down this route.

Zondo gets the giggles during Kwinana’s State Capture testimony

As the State Capture Commission of Inquiry continues to capture the eyes of the nation, it also manages to make Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo laugh, sweat and fume with anger — you name it. Then again, perhaps there has been no other witness quite like former South African Airways (SAA) board member Yakhe Kwinana.

On Tuesday, which was the second day of her testimony, Zondo was at one point fuming and at another, giggling uncontrollably.

Kwinana, amongst other things, is known for having no recollection of signing off on a R1 billion contract SAA dished out.

According to TimesLive, businessman Vuyisile Ndzeku was targeted as an alleged facilitator of “corrupt payments” to Kwinana.

Kwinana alleges that the payments made to her by Ndzeku were for the purposes of Forex trading, which she invested on behalf clients and associates.

Kwinana said she gave hard copies of statements regarding the investment to Mr Ndzeku on an annual basis every January. When asked why she didn’t email the client, in this case, Mr Ndzeku she said she could not due to confidentiality.

State Capture evidence leader Advocate Kate Hofmeyr said Mr Ndzeku’s evidence before the commission stated something different, that he received the documents via email.

Zondo then asked if that’s what she did with all her other clients. Kwinana responded saying yes.

“So when you were at SAA and you were communicating with people about confidential matters, you were happy to send an email, correct?” Kwinana responded saying yes.

“But when you are investing some money in Forex Trading for your associates, I’ll call them associates because you’re resisting saying it’s members of the public, you won’t email them?” asked Hofmeyer.

Kwinana said; “Yes chair”.

Zondo stepped in saying; “why are considerations of confidentiality such that you feel you need to deliver these statements personally to your clients but when it’s confidential matters relating to SAA, you find no problem in emailing people with whom you must be in touch about such information?”

Kwinana said it depends on the company’s policy. “At Zano Spark we decided that we are not going to email because the emails do get hacked left right and centre and therefore our policy was that we are not going to email. SAA’s policy would be different in the delivery of confidential information from Zano Spark,” she said.

Hofmeyer asked if Kwinana could provide the commission with the policy from Zano Spark. She responded saying yes. That was until Hofmeyer asked for it to be emailed.

“I wonder if you could email it to us? Would you do that?” asked Hofmeyer.

“I have to hand-deliver it because that’s our policy,” said Kwinana.

Zondo stepped in saying there couldn’t be anything confidential about the policy. “You have told us publicly what the policy says so there’s nothing confidential about it,” he said. It was at this point that Zondo burst out laughing.

EFF to pay ‘special visit’ to Pharmacy Direct CEO over unpaid Ters funds

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have taken serious exception to failed promises by Pharmacy Direct CEO Gavie Erasmus to distribute Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) funds to his employees, and have said on Tuesday 3 November that they will be paying him a “special visit”.

The EFF allege that having successfully received the emergency funds, he ignored calls by employees to pay them and is now facing the wrath of the Red Berets.

The EFF said in a statement on Tuesday that Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema, together with other members of the EFF leadership, will approach “racist” Erasmus to demand that he pay his staff and resolve the dispute.

“Pharmacy Direct has not paid its employees the Ters payment which was initiated through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to aid employers in providing wage benefits to employees as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” they said.

“When the racist Gavie Erasmus was approached by his employees in a protest in order to resolve the matter amicably; he displayed absolute white arrogance and even gave the employees a harsh ultimatum to either go back to work or leave refusing all accountability. Because in his racist mind how dare blacks hold him accountable in his company?”

They said that employees have been rendered mere cogs in the system and treated as disposable; that the attitude offered by Pharmacy Direct is that they should “just do what they are good at; that is to work or leave”.

Katlego Maboe didn’t appear in magistrate’s court as expected: Here’s why

Early on Tuesday morning 3 November, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) told The South African that popular TV host Katlego Maboe would be appearing in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court in connection with a protection order.

A few hours later, the NPA made a U-turn saying that Maboe did not appear in the magistrate’s court on Tuesday due to a mix up of sorts with the docket.

As previously reported by the Rapport, Maboe was expected to appear in court on Tuesday for allegedly breaching a protection order taken out against him by his former lover Monique Muller.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed the news saying that Maboe would appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday regarding a protection order. Ntabazalila could not, however, provide any further details regarding which courtroom and whether Muller would be present as well.

A few hours later, Ntabazalila said the expected court appearance of Katlego Maboe did not take place on Tuesday morning.

“When the prosecutor saw an article about allegations made, she contacted the police and asked about the court appearance. She was given today’s date for the court appearance,” said Ntabazalila.

“This morning [Tuesday] the docket was not brought to court as was expected. She has since asked for the docket to peruse it,” he added.

Ntabazalila said no date has yet been set for Maboe’s appearance.

SCA may scrap vital BEE law, after Pravin Gordhan ‘acted illegally

The DA has welcomed a major ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal after they invalidated a BEE condition introduced by Pravin Gordhan in 2017. While serving as finance minister, the ANC stalwart introduced a caveat for companies wanting to do business with the government – but that has now been set aside.

The finding that the regulations are invalid has been suspended for 12 months, to give the current Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, time to rectify them. In a nutshell, this is what was handed down by South Africa’s ultimate legal authority:

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has decided to set aside the Preferential Procurement Regulations of 2017
The application of so-called “pre-qualification criteria” has now been declared invalid, after an appeal by AfriBusiness.
The SCA found that ex-finance minister Pravin Gordhan ‘acted illegally and exceeded his powers’ when he introduced the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework. The SCA says he ‘acted ultra vires’ – by regulating as if he had legislative powers.
The DA claim judgment will help to combat corruption and end the uncompetitive exclusion of suppliers under BEE.
However, it’s not over yet. The government is now likely to challenge this ruling.

Jordy Smith is a father, posts adorable picture of newborn son

South African surfing superstar Jordy Smith has posted an adorable picture of his new baby son.

Smith, who married wife Lyndall in 2014, took to Instagram to inform his nearly 600 000 followers that he is now a father.

The Smiths have named their son Ziggy Ray.

Smith is a seven-time winner on the World Surf League (WSL) tour, including back-to-back victories at the Billabong Pro event at Jeffreys Bay in 2010 and 2011.

Smith has qualified to represent South Africa at next year’s postponed Tokyo Olympics where he will be among the favourites for a medal.

Banyana kick off Cosafa title defence with victory over Angola

Banyana Banyana got their Cosafa Women’s Championship title defence to a perfect start with a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Angola in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

The match was the first outing in months for the host nation, and this was apparent as the usually free-flowing football associated with the South Africans was only visible in glimpses.

However, Banyana dominated proceedings throughout the 90 minutes, despite only breaking the deadlock six minutes from the break.

The breakthrough came through teenager, Lonathemba Mhlongo, who got on the end of some beautiful interplay in the midfield to poke home from close range.

Hildah Magaia could have made it 2-0 before the halftime whistle, but the Angola defence rallied well to snuff out any chance of another goal.

Substitute Karabo Dhlamini made an immediate impact as she doubled the lead on the hour-mark.