Former President Jacob Zuma.
Image: REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham
Former president Jacob Zuma has broken his silence about weekend reports alleging that he secretly moved millions of US dollars belonging to late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi from his Nkandla compound to Eswatini.

The Sunday Times reported that South African agents tipped President Cyril Ramaphosa off about the stash being moved to Eswatini earlier this year.

Despite failing to respond to questions sent by the paper‚ Zuma went on Twitter on Tuesday morning and denied the claims.However‚ King Mswati is said to have admitted the existence of the money when he met Ramaphosa at OR Tambo International Airport two weeks ago.

The money‚ said to be $30m (about R422m) in cash‚ was said to have been transported out of King Shaka airport in Durban bound for Eswatini‚ where it was to be stored by the Central Bank of Eswatini.

The cash pile is said to have been given to Zuma by the Libyan leader for safekeeping shortly before he was killed in October 2011.

President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image: GCIS
The late entrepreneur Richard Maponya has been hailed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a trailblazer for having found successes in business during apartheid, a time when all odds were against black people.

Maponya died at age of 99 in the early hours of Monday morning following a short illness.

Ramaphosa said that Maponya paved the way for racial transformation in the South African economy.

“Dr Maponya‘s life is a testament to resilience, determination and the power of vision: namely to see a black business grow to assume its full role as the key participant and driver of our economy,” said Ramaphosa.

Former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba and ex – First Rand CEO Sizwe Nxasana are among the many business leaders who have attended renowned businessman Richard Maponya’s memorial service at the Rosebank Union Church.
Image: SANDILE NDLOVU
The memorial service of the late business icon Richard Maponya has begun at the Rosebank Union Church in Sandton.

The service is being attended by high profile business and political fugures who came to remember the business man whom many said his was “a life well lived”.

Among those in attendance is former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, former First Rand CEO Sizwe Nxasana and many other leaders in business.

Maponya died on Monday morning in hospital at the age of 99. His death came not long after Ramaphosa sent him a birthday message in December.

Born in Tlhabini, a village outside Lenyenye in Limpopo, Maponya married Marina, a qualified social worker and the cousin of former president Nelson Mandela, in the 1950s.

Duduzane Zuma garnered much attention at the ANC’s 108th birthday celebrations.
Image: Masi Losi
Former president Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma was the centre of attention at the Tafel Lager Park stadium in Kimberley where the ANC is hosting its 108th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

This was while his father was nowhere in sight as the party he once led celebrated its birthday.

And Zuma Junior made sure that everyone at the stadium noticed his presence.Being a favourite among the ladies, Zuma Jnr walked around the stadium from corner to corner giving his fans a chance for selfies with him.

This while he was surrounded by six bodyguards in black suits.

Zuma Jnr also made a surprise appearance at the ANC gala dinner on Friday night, dressed stylishly in a suit and a bow tie.

While Zuma Jnr excited the crowds, it was only when President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived that the stadium erupted into song and applause.

‘I so wish it was you who killed Senzo Meyiwa so that you can rot in jail’

A video has emerged in which Longwe Twala was verbally attacked by his father, Chicco Twala, after he was arrested in connection with the theft of a cellphone. File image
Image: Tsheko Kabasia
Police are investigating a case of theft against the son of legendary musician and producer Sello Chicco Twala.

The investigation comes after video footage emerged on Friday which purports to show Twala escorting his son, Longwe, to the Diepkloof police station in Soweto.

TimesLIVE has asked Twala for comment.

Gauteng police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said: “A suspect was arrested on a theft case reported at Diepkloof SAPS on January 8 2020. The 34-year old suspect appeared before court on January 9. Please refer further enquiries to the NPA.

“It was theft of a cellphone,” she said.

Asked whether the suspect was Longwe, she replied: “I can confirm because he has already appeared in court.”

The NPA could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

In the first half of the viral video, shared on social media, a visibly angry Twala shouts at his son as he accuses him of theft.

He is also heard saying he wished his son had been nabbed for Senzo Meyiwa’s murder.

“I so wish it was you who killed Senzo Meyiwa so that you can rot in jail,” he said.“You will never get bail. We will oppose that bail vigorously. You must never get bail,” Twala can be heard saying in another part of the video.

Meyiwa was gunned down in October 2014.

The footballer was in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, in the presence of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo; her mother, Ntombi; sister Zandi; and Zandi’s then boyfriend, Longwe Twala; as well as his friends Mthokozisi Twala and Tumelo Madlala; and their son, who was four years old at the time. They had alleged Meyiwa was killed in a botched robbery.

In November, Twala defended his son, saying people need to stop spreading “fake stories” and give authorities space to work as they investigate the killing of the former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.

“If my son committed murder, I will be the first person to take him to the police. I will never defend my son if he murdered somebody,” Twala said at the time.