Have your say in the 2019 budget - Tito Mboweni

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is expected to deliver the 2019 budget speech on 20 February and has asked for the public's input.

In a media statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on 24 January the minister has asked South Africans to have their say about economic conditions and other issues that citizens would like government to highlight on the upcoming budget.

In particular the minister would like public views on, amongst other things:

• How South Africa can achieve faster and more equitable growth
• What government can do differently in support of faster and more equitable growth

Contributions to the minister can be sent through the following methods:

Twitter: @TreasuryRSA with the hashtag #TipsForMinFin and #RSABudget2019 

National Treasury website http://www.treasury.gov.za/   on the home page under the heading Budget Tips.

Concerns over unsafe government buildings

Department of Health Employees have raised safety concerns during a protest outside their workplace. Last year many government buildings were evacuated over raised security concerns, this after 3 firefighters died at a non-compliant building in Johannesburg.

During an interview with ENCA's Dan Moyane, Public Servant Association of SA's assistant general manager Reuben Maleka, stated that the Minister of Public Works has been ignoring the association's plea with regards to concerns over the Civitas building in Pretoria.

 Reuben has linked the passing of Civtias building employee Elizabeth Nkosi to the unsafe conditions of the building. Elizabeth collapsed while at work on the 19th of January.  "from last year on a daily basis an ambulance was on stand-by in the building having to collect one or two of our members who collapsed in the building", said Reuben.

In 2018, the Civitas building was deemed unsafe by the Labour Department.
The Protesting Health department employees are affiliated to trade unions NEHAWU and the Public Servants Association of South Africa.


Watch full interview on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aLv8bu6Nlo

Legendary jazz musician Oliver Mtukudzi dies at 66

Zimbabwean veteran jazz musician Olivr Mtukudzi has died at the age of 66.
The musician's record Gallo Records Records has confirmed his passing. Oliver was set to release his 67th album sometime this year.

Tributes have continued to pour for the star, Oliver's passing comes in the first anniversary of his friend Bra Hugh Masekela who died on the 23rd of January 2018.
Some of the legends famous sounds include
1. Todi
2. Neria
3. Into yam ft Rindo Malingozi
4. Ndagara Nhaka
5. Ndakuvara

Pitch Black's bail application gets another setback

Pitch Black during his court appearing ast Johannesburg Magistrate Court: Image -Image: Gallo Imagaes

Thulani Ncobo stage name Pitch Black Afro's murder case bail application has been postponed yet again to the 24th of January for a proper bail hearing.

The Soweto born artist appeared in court for the second time today after he allegedly murdered his wife at a Bed and Breakfast in Yeoville in December.

The rapper appeared  to be in a jolly mood at the Johannesburg magistrates court. The Ntofontofo hit-maker has been in police custody for over a week and was expected to appear for a formal bail application.
Ncobo will remain under police custody until his next court appearance.

DA's "ANC is killing us " billboard destroyed

Video Courtesy of Samkelo Maseko ( https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=SAMKELO%20MASEKO

Just a day after the Democratic Alliance unveiled a billbord with the words " The ANC is Killing us" two people have now ripped the board apart.

 The DA unveiled the billboard in Johannesburg with names of the Marikana massacre, Life Esidimeni victims as well as names of children who died from falling in pit toilets. 

The DA received lacklash on social media with the public finding the board distasteful. 

Opinion: Zim meltdown to affect neighbouring countries

This week we witnessed the riots in Zimbabwe and the Nairobi hotel siege, these cases seem too far from home yet too close.
Africa is burning down and the rest of the world is just watching and so are fellow Africans, truth is Twitter Trends do not solve the deep rooted socio-economic problems faced by Africans, we need actions and the bodies in place to speak have been quiet the  whole week as events unfolded both in Nairobi and Zimbabwe.

Protesters baricating roads with burning tyres and wood. Image courtesy of ABC News

The economic meltdown in Zimbabwe has reached boiling point with government turning to raising fuel prices by over 100 percent ( from R19 to  R41 a litre), making fuel more expensive in Zimbabwe than anywhere else in the world. 

SADC has not said much on the situation in Zimbabwe, perhaps taking the approach of letting Zimbabwe solve it's own problems. As it stands there are more than one million Zimbabwean nations in South Africa and with living conditions expected to deteriorate even further Zimbabweans will run to South Africa to look for greener pastures.

South Africa already has a high number of unemployment and the poor are already feeling the pinch with food prices constantly increasing. Therefore South Africa just cannot afford another influx of Zimbabwean nationals.

SADC and other African countries should be coming together and brainstorming ways to aid Zimbabwe.

Kenya attack: 21 confirmed dead at hotel siege

Hotel occupants being being rescued by soldiers. Image courtesy of News.com.au

The death toll at the Kenyan hotel attack has since risen to 21, with over 50 people believed to have been at the hotel still unaccounted for.

Kenyan security forces have killed the five attackers who stormed the Nairobi hotel complex in Westlands.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta  announced the end of a 20 hour siege at the DusitD2 complex that echoed the 2013 attack that claimed 67 lives at the Westgate mall in the same district.

Somalia-based Islamist group al-Shabab said it was behind the attack.

[UPDATE] #Zimbabweshutdown: Day two of protests in Zimbabwe

Picture: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP/African News Agency (ANA)

Fears mount in Zimbabwe as protests are expected to continue on day two of the national shutdown.

Around 200 people have been arrested as citizens continue to demonstrate their outrage over a massive fuel hike of over 100 percent.

President Emmerson Mngangagwa who is currently in Russia on official business announced the hikes on Saturday.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights earlier reported that at least 13 people had suffered gunshot wounds during the protests.

For more on this developing story please follow: https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZimbabweShutDown?src=tren&data_id=tweet%3A1085061997488754688 

Riots erupt in Zim over fuel hikes

Riots have erupted in some parts of Zimbabwe over announced fuel hikes. President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday announced a more than 100% rise in petrol and diesel in a move to improve supplies as the country struggles with its worst fuel shortage in ages.

The government has reportedly deployed riot police in areas regarded as " hot spots" this after the country's largest labour union called for a national strike over the sharp fuel increase.

Latest scenes from Zimbabwe
( Pictures: Curtesy of https://zwnews.com/

Teacher at the centre of Schweizer Renek is still at the school

Image circulating on Social Media of Grade R pupils seated according to race.

It has emerged that only the teacher who took the photo that went viral on social media separating black and white pupils in a  class has been suspended.

The North West Department of Education has revealed to Eyewitness News that the Grade R class teacher was still at the school.

Laerskool Schweizer Reneke made headlines when a picture of the  grade R class went viral causing a racism row.

Original story
https://ewn.co.za/2019/01/14/schweizer-reneke-teacher-at-centre-of-segregated-seating-row-still-at-school