Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 28 January

For everything related to the latest news in South Africa, be sure to check out our wrap of all major headlines on Tuesday 28 January.

Corruption and state capture are at the forefront of our main stories today. We’ve also got an update on the coronavirus and an update on the latest unrest from Diepsloot. Let’s get stuck in…

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Tuesday 28 January:

Dudu Myeni looking to stall court case

A lawyer representing the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse in a case to have former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni declared a delinquent director on Monday pleaded with the court to proceed, as Myeni made yet another application that could stall it. Judge Ronel Tolmay will rule tomorrow on whether Myeni can appeal.

Zweli Mkhize embroiled in corruption scandal

Critics have been left spitting feathers, after they received confirmation that Minister Zweli Mkhize had made his niece the chief of staff for the health department at the end of 2019. They describe the appointment of Sibusisiwe Zulu as “problematic”.

It’s been established that Mkhize’s niece has “misappropriated” funds during her time with the PIC. Although she has faced no criminal charges for her behaviour, Zulu left her role with the corporation under acrimonious circumstances. The DA are already seeking a Parliamentary investigation.

Coronavirus latest – South Africa prepares

Some experts believe it is an “eventuality” that the coronavirus will arrive in South Africa. That’s because we have established travel links with China, as well as the countries of Australia and the USA – where a number of other cases have been detected. But movement between SA and China still remains fluid:

OR Tambo (Joburg) and Cape Town International airports are the only ports of entry with direct flights from Asia.
Perhaps surprisingly, the World Health Organisation has not recommended any restriction of travel or trade with China.
South Africans are still free to travel to China – and Wuhan – as long as they avoid contact with animals and observe basic hygiene.

Undocumented foreigners taken in for questioning

Diepsloot has been the scene of unrest for about a week. A special task team has been deployed to the township to get things under control. The trail of last week’s destruction in the township left Police Minister Bheki Cele with no choice but to respond by deploying a team of police officers to contain the violence.

A special task team was also formed with the mandate of searching every housing structure in Diepsloot and arresting any illegal immigrants unlawfully occupying the town.

A tale of two leaders: Cyril Ramaphosa speaks in Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address at the opening session of the “South African Heads of Mission accredited to African countries” Conference in Pretoria.

The Conference is convened for the president to outline South Africa’s strategic objectives for the African Union Chairship as well as provide guidance on how South African diplomatic missions abroad can support country’s mandate of chairing the African Union in 2020

Meanwhile, Steenhuisen’s in Limpopo

DA Leader John Steenhuisen and Gauteng Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle will address the media along with other elected represetatives, after an oversight inspection at Andre Kock & Seun in Bela Bela, and a community meeting at Moshate Tribal Council in Mogalakwena. It’s the second leg of the party’s “Real SONA Tour”.

Transfer talk at Naturena

Head coach Ernst Middendorp said that stories claiming that Siyabonga Ngezana was not in Kaizer Chiefs plans had no substance to them. He’s been linked with a switch to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Proteas fall short in Johannesburg

Ben Stokes and Mark Wood made a double strike shortly before tea, breaking stubborn Proteas resistance and setting up a 191-run win for England on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday. The win clinched a 3-1 series victory for England.

Vernon Philander, playing in his last Test, struck a couple of beefy blows lower down the order before falling to Wood who supplied the coup de grace; another lifting ball flicked Anrich Nortje’s glove on its way through to Buttler down the legside.