Daily Podcast – October 03, 2017

3rd October 2017 By: Thabi Shomolekae - Creamer Media Senior Writer

Daily Podcast – October 03, 2017

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
Photo by: Reuters

Making headlines: Mugabe arrives in South Africa, without wife Grace; Saps says Marikana’s 653 plaintiffs lodged claims worth R1.1-billion; And, De Lille hits out at JP Smith over 'malicious, defamatory remarks'

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Mugabe arrives in South Africa, without wife Grace

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, whose wife Grace remains at the center of a legal storm over an alleged assault of a 20-year-old South African, arrived in Pretoria yesterday evening on an official visit.

The South African Presidency last week said President Jacob Zuma will today, host Mugabe, during his official visit to South Africa to attend the second session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission scheduled to take place in Pretoria.

Sources in Pretoria told African News Agency that Mugabe and his delegation were welcomed at the Waterkloof Air Force Base yesterday evening, but Zimbabwe’s First Lady was not part of the entourage.

Grace Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution by the South African government for allegedly whipping Gabriella Engels with an electric cable in a Johannesburg hotel room last month. She denies the allegations. Instead, Grace, 52, says an “intoxicated and unhinged” Engels attacked her with a knife.

Saps says Marikana’s 653 plaintiffs lodged claims worth R1.1-billion

The South African Police Services are in the process of settling 653 civil claims worth R1.17-billion for injuries and deaths that occurred in the 2012 Marikana massacre, MPs heard yesterday.

The exact amount from all 653 plaintiffs totalled R1 170 946 235 going back to 2014, legal services commander Lieutenant General Sally Khan told MPs.

This is in respect of injuries as a result of the shooting, claims to loss of support, assault, malicious prosecution and injuries as a result of arrest and detention, Khan told the portfolio committee on police.

The dependents of 37 deceased miners have submitted claims for loss of financial support, 32 of which have been submitted to an actuary.

Some documents are still outstanding in four of the cases.

One case has already been settled to a deceased miner's family of seven for just over R3-million, paid in June this year.

And, De Lille hits out at JP Smith over 'malicious, defamatory remarks'

City of Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille has hit out at mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith, accusing him of spreading "malicious and defamatory remarks" relating to upgrades at her home.

In a statement, De Lille said she had briefed her lawyers who would advise her on “an appropriate course of action”.

When approached for comment, Smith said he was asked not to respond.

Smith did not say who in the DA asked him to not respond.

He said the matter is now in the hands of the party.

On Friday, News24 reported that Mayor Patricia de Lille had in August clipped the wings of the city's Special Investigations Unit by ordering that it be shut down.

This move had rattled Smith who in August wrote to, among others, DA leader Mmusi Maimane, in an attempt to find out why De Lille was trying to shut down the unit.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
To keep in touch with the news while you are on the move, visit m.polity.org.za