We had heard about the possibility of this last year but now it sounds official according to reports in The Times. South Africans visiting the UK are now going to need visas in a bid to curb smugglers and terror suspects entering the UK. The British High Commissioner to South Africa, Paul Boateng, said the move will come into effect on March 3. But South Africans who have previously visited the UK on their current passports will be exempt until the middle of this year. It is understood that a UK visitor’s visa will cost £65 (R928). So now on top of your expensive air ticket, you are going to need to add another R928 in your travel budget, making it even more expensive to visit the UK.
Read the rest of this entry »

Many residents of Cape Town have been angered already by the proposed liquor bill that the City is proposing. The public has been urged to comment before February 27 on the draft by-law regarding liquor trading days and hours. Some of the significant changes the by-law proposes are that bed and breakfast facilities would be strictly prohibited from selling alcohol. It proposes that guest houses, pubs, clubs and theatres in residential areas could trade in liquor from 11:00 to 21:00, while those in business and industrial areas could trade until 02:00 the next day. Supermarkets would be able to sell wine from 09:00 to 18:00 from Sunday to Monday. Bottle stores, where liquor is not consumed on the premises, would be able to trade from 09:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Saturday. Wine farms, restaurants and guest accommodation in agricultural areas could sell on-site consumption from 11:00 to midnight and off-site consumption from 09:00 to 18:00.
Read the rest of this entry »

ANC President, Jacob Zuma, finds himself back in the spotlight again. I somehow do not think that this man is destined to be South Africa’s next president with all the ‘noise’ surrounding him. Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld an appeal by the National Director of Public Prosecutions against a court ruling that effectively meant that Zuma could still faces charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and tax evasion. Zuma had thought that all this was over when High Court Judge Chris Nicholson found that Zuma did have the right to make representations before the NDPP decided to re-charge him. But this decision has now been overturned on appeal. In simple terms, this means that Zuma could still go to trial and he is not in the clear yet.
Read the rest of this entry »

Some good news for a change today! The retail price of all grades of petrol will decrease by R1.61 a litre on Wednesday December 3. Diesel prices will also decrease, with 0.05% sulphur falling by 81 cents and 0.005% by 80 cents. Wholesale paraffin decreases by 75 cents and illuminating paraffin by 100 cents. Petrol in Gauteng now costs R7.35 a litre from R8.96 before, and it is now R7.11 at the coast from R8.72 before.

Has this come a little bit too late? I think so. ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has apologised for creating the impression that he was inciting violence with his “kill for Zuma” statements, a spokesperson confirmed on today (Tuesday). “If we did sound like we’re inciting violence, we are very sorry,” Malema said. Malema then added “That was not our intention; we’ll never incite violence. We will never do anything unconstitutional. We are law-abiding citizens of this country and we will protect the Constitution of this republic.”
Read the rest of this entry »

The Congress of the People (COPE) continues to gain momentum. Deputy leader of the Independent Democrats (ID), Simon Grindrod, has left the party and has joined COPE. Grindrod announced on Thursday that he had resigned from the ID’s leadership, as well as from the City of Cape Town where he serves in the DA-led multi-party coalition as the mayoral committee member for economic development and tourism.

ID leader, Patricia de Lille said, “As much as we are surprised and disappointed by Mr Grindrod’s resignation, the ID has many capable candidates to take over his duties.”

So now not only are people leaving the ANC to join COPE but members of other political parties are looking at COPE as the future of the country. Interesting times surely lie ahead in South Africa.

The Congress of the People (COPE) unveiled its logo this weekend. The party’s deputy chairman Mbhazima Shilowa said the logo — a circle with a green cross through and comprising of the other colours of the national flag — was a collective work deriving from a number of suggestions submitted to the party. The logo also represents a fusion of the symbols of liberation and the flag of the nation as a symbol of unity and multiplicity. COPE expects there to be objects with regards to the logo and the party’s name from the ANC. It will be interesting to see what will happen if the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) rejects COPE’s name and logo as I am sure COPE has already invested millions in branding for the new party.

The Democratic Alliance unveiled a new DA logo saying the party is launching a new vision for South Africa to make the country’s dream a living reality. The logo was unveiled at Constitution Hill hall in Braamfontein, Johannesburg at a gathering which was attended by about 1000 party followers. DA leader, Helen Zille spoke at the relaunch and said “From today, we offer the people of South Africa the choice of government that really can deliver a better future.”
Read the rest of this entry »

The exodus of members from the ANC to the COPE (Congress of People) continued today with a big name move. Struggle stalwart Lulama “Smuts” Ngonyama has left the ANC today after 30 years of service to the party and has joined the newly formed COPE headed by Terror Lekota. Smuts was the former spokesperson of the ANC. He said he could no longer recognise the liberation movement to which he belonged. “This is not the ANC I knew,” he said.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Legendary singer many of us got to know as Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba has passed away overnight in Rome, Italy. She passed away after taking part in a concert for Roberto Saviano. It is reported that Miriam Makeba passed away from a heart attack after having sung for 30 minutes at the concert. She was taken ill to a local hospital where she passed away.

Mama Africa was born in Johannesburg on March 4, 1932 thus making her 76 years old at the time of her death.

The InTheNews.co.za would like to pass on their condolences to Miriam Makeba’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Rest In Peace Mama Africa.