PW IN LOVE?
TOWNSFOLK in the Karoo town of Graaff Reinet are agog at talk that the proprietor of a local guest lodge is having an affair with recently widowed ex-president PW Botha. Rumours of an impending marriage between Botha, 81, and Renette Naude, 50, have been scotched by the couple, with Botha saying he is still “a lonesome warrior” and Naude denying they are engaged, but refusing to be drawn on possible future marriage plans.
NO PHOSA APOLOGY
MPUMALANGA Premier Mathwes Phosa has dropped his much-publicised defamation suit against veteran activist Rita Mazibuko after apparently receiving a letter of apology from her for her claims to the truth commission that Phosa pressured her not to testify about her rape and torture by colleagues in exile. However, in a new twist, it has emerged that Mazibuko did not apologise, and the the apology was made by her lawyer Barry Kotze, without her knowledge or instruction. Mazibuko has refused to discuss the issue further.
JO’BURG CUT-OFF DAY
JOHANNESBURG residents, who owe more than R1,7-billion in services arears, have until this evening to pay up or face having their electricity cut off. Despite violent attacks on council employees in the past few weeks, the greater Johannesburg council is determined to go ahead with the latest cuts. Although the cut-offs appear chielfy aimed at township residents refusing to pay for services, residents of the affluent suburb of Sandton, who have been boycotting rates payments, fear their electricity will also be cut. The Sandton Federation of Ratepayers says it will take the council to court in case of service cuts, saying cuts would be illegal as the boycotters are paying for services.
CAPE FLATS FLARE-UP
The simmering conflict between gangsters and vigilantes on the Cape Flats flared up overnight on Thursday, with several shooting incidents reported. The first attack was reported in Manenberg, where two vehicles passing through the area were fired on shortly before midnight. Soon afterwards, three petrol bombs were thrown at a house in New Woodlands, Mitchell’s Plain, causing slight damage and no injuries. About an hour later an explosive device was hurled through the bedroom window of a house in Woodstock, Cape Town. The occupant suffered slight injuries to his back, leg and shoulders. Shots were also fired at the next door house but no one was injured. The police’s People Against Gangsterism and Drugs task team is investigating all the incidents.