A ”typing error” has put paid to an application by three Ekurhuleni metro police for a restraining order against their chief, Robert McBride. It emerged in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday that McBride was informed in a notice of motion that the urgent application would be heard on Monday ”July 9”, instead of July 10.
Benoni’s alleged visionary, Francesca Zackey, was handling criticism of her ministry ”very well”, her mother said on Wednesday. The 17-year-old has been inundated with people seeking prayer and healing since she claimed to have started seeing visions of the Virgin Mary some weeks ago.
Police will not join the public-service strike until at least Wednesday, under an undertaking by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union that was made an interim order of the Labour Court on Friday night. Meanwhile, public-service unions will consult their members on the government’s revised salary package.
Former president Nelson Mandela has told outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair he looks forward to welcoming ”a young man like you” to the club of retired presidents when Blair leaves office on June 27. However, Mandela warned Blair that some of its members — himself chief among them — ”only became active after stepping down from public office”.
Billy Downer’s conduct in prosecuting Schabir Shaik was ”absolutely above reproach”, the Constitutional Court was told on Thursday. Counsel for the state, Wim Trengove SC, told the court it was ”madness” to suggest that a prosecutor steeped in a case be removed when it goes to trial.
Schabir Shaik’s last-ditch attempt to escape a 15-year prison term for corruption and fraud began on Wednesday with a bid to convince the Constitutional Court that he was mistried. Sitting in the front row of the packed gallery behind Schabir’s four counsel were his brothers, Mo and Yunis.
Zimbabwe has not officially rejected a Pan African Parliament (PAP) decision to send a team of fact-finders to the country, PAP president Gertrude Mongella said on Friday. ”There has been no official communication from the government of Zimbabwe,” she said in a briefing at the close of the PAP’s seventh ordinary session in Midrand.
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) on Friday called on the South African government to improve the protection of its officials after an MP was robbed in Midrand on Wednesday. A new MP for Mauritania, Diye Ba, was held at gunpoint on arriving at the Town Lodge in Midrand, from the airport, PAP spokesperson Khalid Abdu Dahab said.
Former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) boss Billy Masetlha has proposed to the Constitutional Court that he be reinstated to his position, but under suspension for 15 working days. During this time, he would expect President Thabo Mbeki to take steps ”to achieve a consensual resolution” of matters pertaining to his dismissal.
The heads of argument and record of proceedings in the Constitutional Court’s deliberations on the dismissal of former National Intelligence Agency director general Billy Masetlha will be open to the public. Masetlha is asking the Constitutional Court to overturn a Pretoria High Court ruling upholding his dismissal.