Ramaphosa highlighted cannabis as an immense economic oppurtunity for SA. Image: GCIS/ Flickr
South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 11 February 2022
In the latest news in South Africa on Friday, 11 February 2022, Ramaphosa outlined the government’s plans for the upcoming year.
Ramaphosa highlighted cannabis as an immense economic oppurtunity for SA. Image: GCIS/ Flickr
We’ve got the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Friday, 11 February.
President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined the government’s plans for the upcoming year during the SONA 2022 on Thursday evening.
He announced the extension of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant by a further year in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 10 February.
Ramaphosa did not confirm if he would let the State of Disaster laws lapse next week. However, he did clearly signal that the State of Disaster Act WILL come to an end soon – the government is now just waiting on the publication of other measures to manage COVID-19, which will instead fall under the National Health Act.
He also said South Africa is set to ‘harness’ the economic advantages of the cannabis industry.
In some threatening news, the EFF won’t be dialling down their rhetoric any time soon. In a statement published following the party’s War Council meeting, they explained that Johann Rupert would be targeted, as part of their protests against the arrival of white settlers during the 1600s. A ‘direct confrontation’ with the billionaire has also been threatened.
“In order to register our disdain of the arrival of white-settlers in SA in 1652, which is the day when the problems of Africans began, the EFF will engage in a direct confrontation with Johann Rupert, by marching to the stolen land he claims to own in the Western Cape and Mpumalanga.”
EFF statement
Meanwhile, the body of a sixth missing person was discovered in the aftermath of the floods in Tshwane on Thursday afternoon.
TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 11 February
The good, the bad and the ugly: SONA 2022 summarised in 12 quotes
There we have it. SONA 2022 is done and dusted. Cyril Ramaphosa will hope that he’s made a decent job of explaining his vision for South Africa over the next 12 months, but as we know all too well, his opponents are already sharpening their knives. In reality, the president’s speech had more troughs than peaks.
That’s largely down to the problems plaguing South Africa at the moment. Granted, Ramaphosa is sat in the one office that actually has the power to do something about them – but a large number of these issues predate his premiership. And forget the cross-bench critics, Cyril has plenty of enemies in his own party.
The situation in SA right now probably mirrors the speech we’ve just received from our head of state. Sure, there are some good things to cherish. But the bad news continues to pile up for the government and its people – and things could yet turn ugly in the battle to maintain law and order across the land.
Sixth body discovered in the aftermath of Tshwane floods
The body of a sixth missing person was discovered in the aftermath of the floods on Thursday afternoon.
The man believed to be the e-hailing vehicle driver has been found by the SAPS search teams which have been trying to locate the missing occupants of the car for days now.
Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Charles Mabaso confirmed that he was informed of the recovery around midday on Thursday.
“The SAPS have located and are busy recovering the body of a male believed to be the driver of the e-hailing vehicle,” said Mabaso.
He said the discovery was made on the Olifantsfointein Road near the train bridge in Botha Avenue.
WATCH: Tembisa hospital staff hold ceremony for slain nurse
The Tembisa hospital staff on Thursday morning held a ceremony in memory of their slain co-worker who was shot seven times by her boyfriend, who is a police officer.
The nurse, Lebogang Monene who was in her thirties, met her demise on Wednesday morning when he shot her at the Tembisa Hospital.
CEO of Tembisa Hospital Dr. Ashley Mthunzi spoke highly of Monene.
“She tried to change the landscape and narrative of Tembisa hospital. She was too meticulous in her tasks, and took her patients and this job seriously.”
“She donned her uniform and came to work with no knowledge of what was going to happen.”
Police investigating the horrific Voëlklip accident [Update]
Police investigations are underway following yet another fatal accident at Voëlklip, Heralds Bay near George.
Conrad Maree (33) was killed when his bakkie went over the deadly cliff on Tuesday, 8 February.
Police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie said Maree did not arrive at work on Tuesday morning, and the employer traced Maree’s bakkie near Voëlklip Heralds Bay George.
Pojie said preliminary information reveals that he drove the bakkie over the cliff.
Western Cape Government Health (WCGH) EMS spokesperson Deanna February earlier said a call for assistance came through at 8:40 on Tuesday.
February said the man was in the vehicle when it left the cliff.
We pay our bills: DIRCO hits back at Tshwane over ‘unpaid’ accounts
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has refuted the claims made by the City of Tshwane, which went on a mission to disconnect customers that are behind on their electricity bills on Wednesday, 9 February.
DIRCO spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the department noted the various media reports about how it and various foreign missions and other government departments owed the City of Tshwane “billions of rands due to unpaid electricity accounts.”
Monyela said DIRCO made several attempts to obtain invoices from the City to no avail.
“The City of Tshwane responded in writing on Monday, 7 February 2022, confirming that the DIRCO accounts to the city are current and up-to-date, with no outstanding payments,” he said.
LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, Friday 11 February
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HOROSCOPE TODAY
Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip, and lucky numbers for Friday 11 February.
