Photo: Stock/Grandisync CC

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 10 December 2021

In the latest news in South Africa on Friday 10 December 2021, we are finally getting some answers about who could be responsible for the deaths of five children who died after eating instant noodles.

by Corné van Zyl

10-12-2021 05:30

in News

Photo: Stock/Grandisync CC

We’ve got all the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa you really need to know on Friday 10 December 2021.

Finally, we are getting some answers about who could be responsible for the deaths of five children who died last month after eating instant noodles in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) said that it has reasonable suspicion to believe that Grandisync CC, the supplier of Howe Instant Noodles, supplied unsafe goods or goods that posed a potential risk to the public.

But this is only for the three children who died after eating noodles in the Eastern Cape.

The family of the two children who died in Mpumalanga said little nine-year-old Thato Makofane, and her 13-year-old brother, Keamogetswe, ate noodles from another brand but did not yet want to disclose the brand.

In both cases, the autopsy results are still outstanding.

A chaotic and harrowing scene has played out in one of the most upmarket districts in Gauteng, after two armed thugs mercilessly opened fire on a car passenger at the intersection of Catherine and 5th. It has since been reported that the victim, a police officer, who was rushed to the nearest hospital in Sandton, has passed away.

There’s still no word on how the talks to possibly impose vaccine mandates in South Africa have gone, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele has said. Gungubele held a media briefing on Thursday, 9 December 2021, following the Cabinet meeting held the day before.

South Africa recorded more than 22 000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. Unfortunately, 22 more people died of COVID-19-related complications, according to the NICD, bringing the death toll to 90 060.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 10 December

JUST IN! Howe Instant Noodles investigated following the deaths of three children

This comes after the deaths of three children in the Eastern Cape. Three children, including a four-month-old baby boy, died after eating a packet of noodles during a visit to relatives in New Brighton, in the Eastern Cape, last month.

The three children, Sinothando Ngwendu (11), Olwam Ngwendu (7), and four-month-old Athenkosi Ngwendu died on the way to hospital.

Acting National Consumer Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said the National Consumer Commission (NCC) had launched an investigation into the conduct of Grandisync CC, the supplier of Howe Instant Noodles based in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape.

Mabuza said that while the Commission is awaiting laboratory results, this investigation will help the Commission understand the nature, causes, extent, and degree of the risk to the public.

Watch | Anarchy in Sandton: Armed thugs ‘execute’ victim in broad daylight

A chaotic and harrowing scene has played out in one of the most upmarket districts in Gauteng, after two armed thugs mercilessly opened fire on a car passenger at the intersection of Catherine and 5th. It has since been reported that the victim, who was rushed to the nearest hospital in Sandton, has passed away.

The video footage, taken by frightened office staff in the Sandton CBD, shows the criminal pair approach the vehicle, and a scuffle ensues. It’s not immediately clear what exactly took place, but it certainly didn’t look good.

The suspects then speed away in a vehicle with no plates, before any first responders can get to the scene. Those filming the incident also suggest that the victim was dead, after witnessing him ‘fall from the passenger side door’.

Watch: Elderly robbery victim in Durban chases away thugs with huge brick

Although this robbery could have ended much worse than it did, there’s something so very admirable about seeing a topless elderly gentleman chase away armed thieves by using a massive brick from his garage. The incident, which has been shared online, took place in the Malvern region of Durban.

Sadly, this wasn’t a total victory for the victims. The robbers managed to get away with stolen goods from inside their vehicle. But, with no casualties or fatalities to report, the targeted couple perhaps got off lightly here.

The pair pulled into their own gated driveway, returning home just after 13:30 on Thursday 9 December. Seemingly safe as the shutters draw across, the robbers sprang out of nowhere, and one managed to prevent the gate from closing.

Vaccine mandates: No decision yet by govt, says Gungubele

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced in his latest address to the nation, the establishment of a special task team that will consider vaccine mandates. The team would then report back to the Interministerial Task Team on vaccines, which is headed by Deputy President David Mabuza.

Minister Mondli Gungubele says for now, no recommendations have been made yet and that there are a number of issues to take on board when considering implementing mandatory vaccines.

COVID-19: SA records more than 22 000 cases, positivity increases to 29,8%

South Africa recorded more than 22 000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, 9 December, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). The 75 251 tests conducted over the past 24 hours represent a positivity rate of 29,8 percent, up from yesterday’s 26,8 percent.

The 22 391 new COVID-19 cases detected in South Africa on Thursday brings the total number of active cases in the country to 133 063. Unfortunately, 22 more people died of COVID-19-related complications, according to the NICD, bringing the death toll to 90 060.

There were 453 (374 on Wednesday) people admitted to hospital for COVID-19 treatment within the latest testing cycle. The 258 private and 407 public hospitals reporting to the NICD now have 4795 patients admitted.