EFF leader Julius Malema says President Cyril Ramaphosa will be held personally liable for the loss of lives as a result of the coronavirus because he recklessly reopened the economy.

Speaking in a virtual Youth Day rally, Malema called for the reinstatement of the ban on alcohol saying the protection of life must valued over the desire for profit.”We have warned Cyril Ramaphosa, who has constituted himself as an ally of white-monopoly capital and the coronavirus, that he will be held personally responsible for the loss of life that is going to happen as a result of his decisions,” Malema said.

The EFF commander in chief reitterated their opposition to the opening of schools and of the economy, as Covid-19 cases increase in the country.
“We want to warn Ramaphosa and all his accomplices that the mass deaths we are to witness over the coming weeks are due to his lack of decisiveness at a time when the country needed leadership.”

He said the decision to reopen alcohol sales under Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown was reckless, as it burdened an already overwhelmed healthcare sector.

“To make matters worse, the President of the country has allowed the sale of alcohol in a country that has a history of high fatalities and hospitalisation due to alcohol-related inter-personal violence,” Malema said.

As of Monday, there were 3 495 new Covid-19 cases bringing the total infections to 73 533. A total of 1 568 people have died due to Covid-19 complications.

Malema’s lengthy address was dotted with attacks against Ramaphosa, as he used the occasion to cast aspersions on the president’s struggle credentials.

He went as far as calling him an apartheid collaborator, saying that, while the youth of 1976 were protesting, Ramaphosa was “wining and dining” with “white monopoly capital”.
This is not the first time Malema has questioned Ramaphosa’s struggle credentials.

“We have to save South Africans from apartheid collaborators,” Malema said.

He further used his address to condemn the brutal incidents of femicide in South Africa.

Altecia Kortje, 27, who was murdered along with her seven-year-old daughter, Raynecia, in Belhar, Cape Town, this weekend, wanted to get a restraining order a week before she died, but was unsuccessful due to Covid-19 restrictions.

This was the claim of people protesting her and her daughter’s murder outside the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday.Smith is accused of murdering the mother and child “with a knife” on 12 June. He will remain in custody until 22 June, when he can apply for bail. This, however, will be opposed by the State.

The public was barred from attending court proceedings due to Covid-19 considerations.

Courthouse staff said the number of people allowed into the building was being severely restricted, and all cases before district courts were being postponed. But outside the court, several women voiced their anger over the double murder.

Feared for her life

Three women – a family member, a women’s rights advocate, and a community activist – all made the same claim: that Kortje had feared for her life last week, and had sought protection from various state institutions.

News24 has reached out to the police and justice department for more information on this.

Outside the court, Celesthea Pierang, representing the One Billion Rising in South Africa organisation, told News24: “Today, we are here in support of the victim’s family and friends. The horrific manner that they died … we are outraged.We do not understand why the government again failed this community, and failed this family. The mother, on last week Monday, went to court to get a restraining order – she was told to come back in September due to the Covid-19 and the regulations.

“Then, when her family went to go and report her missing, they were also sent away.”

Pierang alleged the family had not received help for three days until the bodies were found on Friday.

“GBV [gender-based violence] is on the rise – our women and children are still being carnaged [sic] … it’s not right. It’s sad. It’s heartbreaking. And this government doesn’t give a sh… – I wanted to swear.

“Our women are so scared. When you get to a charge office, you are spoken to in front of everybody – they don’t know the severity of these cases. It takes so much courage for a woman to go to a police station, to get help – and then get turned away.We do not understand why the government again failed this community, and failed this family. The mother, on last week Monday, went to court to get a restraining order – she was told to come back in September due to the Covid-19 and the regulations.

“Then, when her family went to go and report her missing, they were also sent away.”

Pierang alleged the family had not received help for three days until the bodies were found on Friday.

“GBV [gender-based violence] is on the rise – our women and children are still being carnaged [sic] … it’s not right. It’s sad. It’s heartbreaking. And this government doesn’t give a sh… – I wanted to swear.

“Our women are so scared. When you get to a charge office, you are spoken to in front of everybody – they don’t know the severity of these cases. It takes so much courage for a woman to go to a police station, to get help – and then get turned away.And that is why I believe our government has failed us. There have been no measures put in place to curb this real epidemic. Because this is an epidemic. Yes, Covid-19 is a serious thing, but the government needs to see the seriousness of GBV too.”

A family member of Kortje – a cousin by marriage – was also at the court.

Mary-Ann Gouws said: “I want to see justice for Altecia and Raynecia. They were failed from the beginning to the end. Is it because she lives in Delft? [They] had the same rights as Plattekloof, Table View. Where is our president? Can he come out and address us?”

She added her own son had been “brutally murdered” many years ago – and she had fought a 13-year crusade “for justice” in his killing.

“I’m going to get justice for Altecia. I’m standing up for the rights of women. Enough is enough. We are here for Altecia, and Raynecia – and so many others.”

In a statement over the weekend, police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said of the murder scene: “The 27-year-old female had multiple stab wounds on her body while the child was found on the bathroom floor.”

It’s official. The South African Netflix series Blood & Water has been renewed for a second season.

According to a statement released by Netflix on Monday the second season will see Puleng and Fikile deal with the consequences of their explosive confrontation as more mystery and drama unfolds.Khosi Ngema, Ama Qamata, Natasha Thahane, Gail Mabalane, Cindy Mahlangu, Thabang Molaba, Arno Greeff and Dillon Windvogel are all expected to return for the highly anticipated season 2.

“Blood & Water’s success is a testament to the hard work put in by the entire team towards expanding the African narrative in a new and exciting direction. It’s a privilege and a blessing to return to our beloved characters, as we delve further into the greater mystery and scandals of their world. Parkhurst is about to get really messy,” said returning showrunner and director Nosipho Dumisa.

Gambit Films will return as the production team behind season 2.

“We are thrilled at the joy and excitement Blood & Water has brought to our viewers around the world,” said Dorothy Ghettuba, who leads African Original Series at Netflix.

Dorothy added:“We know our viewers were left with questions and those answers await them in the second season of Blood & Water. We’re even more delighted to share our continued commitment to showcase only the best-in-class young adult stories that reflect more young people’s lives on screen, especially now in June as South Africa observes Youth Month.”

 

Siya Kolisi turns 29 on Tuesday, 16 June – and what an incredible 29 years it’s been for the current Springbok captain.How much do you know about the man who has affectionately become known as ‘Mr Incredible’?

1. Born Siyamthanda Kolisi, he grew up in township of Zwide outside Port Elizabeth.2. His mother, Phakama, tragically died when he was just 15, leaving his late grandmother, Nolulamile, to raise him.

3. He was educated at famed Eastern Cape school Grey High.4. He represented the South African Under-20 team at the Junior World Championships for two consecutive years (2010 and 2011).

5. He is Springbok #851 and made his debut off the bench against Scotland at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 15 June 2013. He came on as early as the fifth minute for an injured Arno Botha – and was named man of the match.6. He played two matches at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England – against Samoa and Japan in the infamous defeat in Brighton.

7. He became the first ever black Springbok skipper when he led his team into battle against England at Ellis Park on 9 June, 2018.

8. He has played a total of 50 Tests for the Springboks, making 36 starts and 14 appearances off the substitutes’ bench. Of those 50 Tests, Kolisi has been on the winning side in 32, with 16 defeats and 2 draws.

9. He has scored six tries for the Springboks (4 against Argentina and 1 each against France and Namibia).

10. His latest Test was the unforgettable 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama where the Springboks beat England 32-12 to win their third Webb Ellis Cup.

All eyes were glued to Mzansi Magic’s award-winning Telenova The Queen this past Friday evening as it was Kagiso, Loyiso MacDonald, and Siyanda, Cindy Mahlangu’ much-anticipated white-wedding.

Although not the ideal wedding as it was rushed and the only thing keeping the couple together was a baby who was no longer there. It was still exciting, after all, we love a wedding.

After failed attempts to get Kagiso to sleep with her so that she can fall pregnant again, Siyanda’s dream day finally came. She hoped that things would get better after her best-friend Schumacher gave her a potion that could help to get Kagiso to sleep with her, under a very strict command though. She had to only pour one-droplet in his drink, nothing less and most importantly nothing more.As the hour got nearer Kagiso got cold feet and started drinking to ease the nerves. Siyanda offered him a drink but mistakenly pored way more than the recommended dosage from Schumacher.

This knocked the groom out as he could hardly keep his eyes open when it was time to say their vows. Dingane and Brutus had to hold him so that he doesn’t fall.

The Bride couldn’t take any more of the embarrassment and ran back to her room after being reduced to tears. And just when things couldn’t get any worse for her Kagiso’s ex Goodness walks in and pulls the trigger on her.