A South African Air Force plane crashed at Goma Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday afternoon.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the plane had been deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MONUSCO).

It was damaged after crash landing.

“The C130 from the South African Air Force was on its way back to Goma after delivering logistic supplies at Beni when the incident happened,” he said.

“Nobody was injured during the landing and a Board of Inquiry will be convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Dlamini said more information would be released once it was available.

Videos on social media showed smoke rising from the plane.

Basic education minister Angie Motshekga on Tuesday announced the 2019 matric results with the highest pass rate in 25 years.
Image: Thapelo Morebudi/The Sunday Times
Did the results make you shout in celebration or groan ‘ho hum’? Or is it a case of the class half full?

Three South Africans called Quid, Pro and Quo had it out on Tuesday night, and this is a how it went.

Police are searching for a Durban man wanted for allegedly harbouring hundreds of different types of ammunition, bullet reloading equipment, gun powder and fake passports in the basement of a house.

In a statement on Thursday, police said a team of police officers and members of the Hawks discovered various types of ammunition at a house in Evans Road, Umbilo, on Wednesday.

“Earlier yesterday the sheriff of the court requested the presence of the police as he was to evict the person who has occupied the house without paying rent.

“It is alleged that when the police and sheriff visited the house in Umbilo, the person that was to be evicted was not present.

“According to the statement, the domestic worker was in the house and while the sheriff was busy taking property out of the house, police made the discovery.

“A total of 668 various types of ammunition, 3,840 bullet casings, gun powder and three fake passports were discovered in the basement. A rifle was also recovered.”

Preliminary investigations revealed that the illegal occupant of the house, whose identity is known to TimesLIVE, was previously charged for possession of explosives and ammunition and was out on bail.

“A case of failing to safeguard ammunition has been opened for investigation at Umbilo SAPS. The suspect is sought by police,” the statement read.

While the class of 2019 has made history with this year’s matric pass rate, social media is buzzing with advice and tips for prospective first-year university students.

The pass rate was the highest since the dawn of democracy in SA in 1994 and it was the first time the combined matric pass rate had breached the 80% threshold.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the results are a “triumph and a clear signal” that the government’s substantial investment in education was yielding results.

“South Africans can be proud that education, like most aspects of our nation’s development, is on an upward trajectory, which should inspire all of us to work together to accelerate and maintain excellence,” Ramaphosa said.

Twitter users shared their insights, including tips on how to survive, stay motivated and avoid scams when seeking help at university.

Richard Maponya died on Monday morning at the age of 99. Despite his age, Maponya said he was so concerned about unemployment that he was planning to open an entrepreneurship academy.
Image: Sandile Ndlovu
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that a special official funeral, category two, will be given to business mogul Richard Maponya, who died earlier this week.

This type of funeral is for distinguished individuals and contains elements of police ceremonial honours.

In a post by the government communication services, it was announced that Maponya would be buried on Tuesday January 14.

“The president has instructed that the national flag fly at half-mast from Friday 10 January 2020 until the evening of the burial,” GCIS said.In November, despite his age, Maponya said he was so concerned about the low employment rate in the country that he was planning to open an academy to train the youth on how to be entrepreneurs.

“Right now I am trying to come with an institution that must train all our youngsters so that when they graduate they get trained to use their own hands and be able to get employed or get into business in their own right,” said a post on his Facebook page.

He said he was searching for financial and non-financial support to make his dream a reality. It was a lifelong goal.

Maponya was the founding president of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc), which was started in 1964 to serve the interests of small businesses.

At the age of 82, he said: “We need to create jobs for our people. That is my primary objective. I have been blessed beyond measure and am able to put food on the table; I want the same for others.”

Maponya, renowned for building a business empire despite apartheid-era restrictions, was last month wished happy birthday by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said: “I urge young South Africans to research the life story of this great legend, and draw lessons from how he overcame adversity to become one of the greatest pioneers and success stories of our time.”

The business legend had trained as a teacher, before starting small grocery stores in Soweto in the early 1950s. These led to various businesses, including a butchery, liquor stores and a supermarket, car dealership and filling station.

The most visible sign of Maponya’s success is his 65,000m² Maponya Mall in Soweto. In 2007, former president Nelson Mandela cut the ribbon at the opening of the landmark township development.