Sunday Sun 1/12/2020

SCORES of Eastern Cape ambulance drivers and their assistants laid down tools on Friday, staging sit-ins at their workplaces. The affected regions include Nelson Mandela Bay, Amathole and Buffalo City municipalities. Ambulances remained parked all day outside the province’s emergency medical services’ headquarters at Dora Nginza Hospital, Port Elizabeth. At issue, is the drivers not receiving back-pay. They said they would only get back to work after the money had been paid, adding they will show up for work, but not perform their duties. NEARLY, 60 000 people crossed the Beit Bridge border post in a 24-hour period last week. This is according to the Department of Home Affairs after complaints of long waiting periods, chaotic queues and staff shortage at the border post. Thousands of people travelling back into…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted the ANC has failed to deliver on its promises in the 25 years it’s been in power. Delivering the January 8th national executive committee statement at the Tafel Lager Park Stadium in Kimberley, Ramaphosa committed the ANC to keep pursuing and addressing the needs of the people. “Despite progress in several areas over the last 25 years, South Africa is still defined by severe inequality in areas such as ownership and control of assets, income, employment, skills, health care, education, housing, land, transport and spatial access to economic opportunity.” Ramaphosa delivered the statement amid tensions that were thawed by Deputy President David Mabuza, who in the lead-up to the celebrations, revealed that Ramaphosa was misled by Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Eskom board chairperson Jabu…

THE ANC’s 108 January celebrations in Kimberley has to rate as one of the most boring affairs of the party in recent years. Apart from the lukewarm speech by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the celebrations did not have the glitz and glamour that has characterised these celebrations over the years. Not even Samthing Soweto, during the entertainment programme, could spark the euphoria when he took to the stage to entertain the hundreds of supporters who had braced the heat to celebrate the oldest liberation movement’s birthday. The ANC had anticipated 25 000 people to fill the tiny rugby stadium but some seats remained empty. Ramaphosa also did not help matters with his uninspiring speech. It appears there was no support from other provinces as has become the norm even though party…

POLITICAL parties reacted positively to the resignation of Eskom chairperson Jabu Mabuza, calling the decision a show of accountability, although one party believes he shouldn’t be the last to resign, if Eskom is to be fixed. Mabuza’s resignation was announced on Friday, after he wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza acknowledging that Eskom failed to honour its commitment to the highest office in the country to avoid load-shedding until 13 January. A statement from the ANC lauded Mabuza’s resignation as a show of accountability. “The ANC further notes that Mr Mabuza states as the reason for his resignation, Eskom’s failure to fulfil an undertaking made to President Ramaphosa and his Deputy President David Mabuza . . . to keep the national electricity supply stable and ensure…

SINGER and businesswoman Asanda Bam has been attacked by Eastern Cape graveyard thugs. She was assaulted with a golf club and stabbed on the leg by two muggers while visiting her mum’s grave in Port Elizabeth recently. According to the Brand New Day hitmaker, she and her aunt Phumla Bam were struck by two males in their 20s. Recalled Asanda: “Everything happened so quickly, I honestly wouldn’t be able to identify the guys. “They first passed us, but we thought nothing of it. Next thing, they were in front of us again. “One of them had a golf club and knife, the other a gun.” Asanda said her aunt screamed. “I only remember being struck with a golf club, although I don’t know where. “I then fell to the ground…

POP sensation Theo Kgosinkwe’s ex-wife Rose could be starting the year with a fat bank balance. This follows a Joburg High Court ruling after a business deal with a Joburg trucking company went sour. The 35-year-old, who parted ways with the Mafikizolo singer three years ago, approached the High Court in Jozi when NASSSM Trucking Propriety Limited allegedly breached an agreement entered into in January last year. The same court granted a Default Judgment ordering that the company make a payment of R370 000. In a court application, seen by the SunTeam, the defendant (NASSSM Trucking Propriety Limited) agreed to render services to a company called Siyabonga Fuels and asked Kgosinkwe for a loan. Read the papers, in part: “The plaintiff (Rose Kgosinkwe) undertook to loan the Defendant R300 000…