The Louis Botha statue was vandalised by EFF members on Wednesday afternoon – Photo: TheSouthAfrican / Storm Simpson

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Thursday 17 March 2022

In the latest news in South Africa on Thursday 17 March 2022, the long-standing statue of the first Prime Minister of SA was defaced by EFF-supporting protesters.

by Corné van Zyl

17-03-2022 05:30

in News

The Louis Botha statue was vandalised by EFF members on Wednesday afternoon – Photo: TheSouthAfrican / Storm Simpson

We’ve got all the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa you really need to know on Thursday 17 March.

A long-standing statue of the first Prime Minister of South Africa has been defaced by EFF-supporting protesters on Wednesday. The monument to Louis Botha at the gates of Parliament was badly damaged during the attack. Footage of the bizarre incident has been spreading rapidly online. One protester can be seen high up the statue, repeatedly hitting it while chucking fallen debris to the floor.

Meanwhile, in KZN, shops have been forced to close and businesses have ceased trading for the day after an alleged wave of ‘xenophobic violence’ ripped through Pietermaritzburg CBD on Wednesday afternoon. Reports of serious unrest were first registered in Church Street. The shutters soon came down on buildings, after an alleged stabbing incident took place.

In some concerning news, a manhunt has been launched for the four DANGEROUS prisoners who escaped from Rooigrond Correctional Facility on Tuesday.

In Gauteng, the family of a 58-year-old frail woman who was allegedly tortured, starved, burnt, and beaten at the Abida’s Frail Care Centre in Johannesburg wants answers. According to family spokesperson Virginia Keppler, the 58-year-old Fatima Callaghan was abused over this four-year period, and it only came to light when the family noticed her black eye and scars on her face.

The extent of the Russian military’s cruelty seems to know no boundaries, if a recent drone video is anything to go by. Footage obtained by the German broadcaster ZDF shows what is believed to be Russian soldiers shooting a civilian outside of the capital Kyiv.

The unknown man gets out of his car and puts his hands up, but his supposed compliance seemed to have had no effect whatsoever as they eventually shot him. ZDF reports that the tragic incident occurred just several kilometers west of Kyiv.

Click here for LIVE real-time updates on the war between Russia and Ukraine

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Thursday 17 March

Watch: EFF vandals WRECK statue of Louis Botha outside Parliament

The structure, which depicts Louis Botha on horseback, was covered in red paint and a significant portion of the bronze work was demolished. Furthermore, one of the former PM’s feet had also been chopped off.

Click here to read more and watch the video.

Suspected ‘xenophobic violence’ shuts down Pietermaritzburg CBD

Shops have been forced to close and businesses have ceased trading for the day after an alleged wave of ‘xenophobic violence’ ripped through Pietermaritzburg CBD on Wednesday afternoon.

Reports of serious unrest were first registered in Church Street. The shutters soon came down on buildings, after an alleged stabbing incident took place. Sporadic acts of violence elsewhere triggered multiple alerts…

Click here to read more.

Four DANGEROUS prisoners escape from Rooigrond Correctional Facility

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS), a manhunt, has been launched for the four DANGEROUS prisoners who escaped from the Rooigrond Correctional Facility on Tuesday.

According to spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, the circumstances relating to the escape will be revealed once investigations have been concluded.

“Investigations will be instituted, and the circumstances relating to the escape will be revealed once investigations have been concluded,”
Nxumalo said.

Click here for more information on the four prisoners.

Woman allegedly starved, burnt, and beaten at Frail Care Centre

The family of a 58-year-old frail woman who was allegedly tortured, starved, burnt, and beaten at the Abida’s Frail Care Centre in Johannesburg wants answers.

According to family spokesperson Virginia Keppler, the 58-year-old Fatima Callaghan was abused over this four-year period, and it only came to light when the family noticed her black eye and scars on her face.

“Fatima never spoke out to her family because she was threatened with starvation and assault.”

The devastated Callaghan family said Fatima suffered a broken finger which was never reported and for which she never received any medical care.

Click here to read more.

WATCH: Drone clip shows Russian troops SHOOTING civilian

The unknown man is seen getting out of his car and putting his hands up, but his supposed compliance seemed to have had no effect whatsoever as they eventually shot him. ZDF reports that the tragic incident occurred just several kilometers west of Kyiv.

It has been exactly three weeks since President Vladimir Putin launched an offensive in Ukraine – sending hundreds of thousands of troops into the country to invade and attack key structures in several cities. At the heart of it is Ukraine’s request to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which is a military alliance Putin fears is getting too close to Russia’s borders. The situation has morphed into a humanitarian crisis which has seen more than 2.5 million Ukrainians fleeing to neighbouring countries.

Click here to read more.