Firebrand EFF leader Julius Malema, who stands accused of discharging a firearm in public, spoke publicly for the first time on Thursday about his court case, describing the charges against him as “frivolous, petty and nonsensical”. Malema said the state did not have a watertight case against him, and that after it had presented its case, he would, through his legal team, apply for charges against him to be withdrawn.
One of the country’s prestigious independent schools groups, Curro, could soon open its doors for the first time in East London if the wishes of Chippa United boss Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi, are anything to go by.
Glaring divisions among ANC comrades in the Buffalo City Metro council emerged this week, with the majority of ANC councillors on Monday “boycotting” a scheduled caucus meeting. The meeting was in preparation of a council meeting meant to have convened on Wednesday. However, it was shelved at the 11th hour on Tuesday amid claims of growing differences within ANC ranks in council.
While suspended Buffalo City Metro Development Agency (BCMDA) CEO Bulumko Nelana thought he had received a reprieve this week, when on Tuesday the high court in Makhanda reversed his October suspension, his joy however was short-lived. The agency’s interim board went for the jugular and terminated his contract on Wednesday afternoon, his first day back in office since early October.
The ANC in the Eastern Cape has raised the alarm about the dilapidated state of many provincial roads, with the party revealing that Bhisho was facing a maintenance funding deficit of R3bn. After meeting all the party’s mayors in the province in East London this week, the provincial ANC said it was a big concern that about 90% of provincial roads were still gravel, while a mere 10% had been surfaced.