Tauhierah Salie

LOCAL Numerous homes were destroyed and several people displaced when a fire swept through Cathkin Informal Settlement in Heideveld this morning. The City’s Fire and Rescue Service received the emergency call shortly after 04h00 that informal structures were alight in the area. Crews from Epping, Gugulethu and Ottery fire stations responded, with a total of 5 firefighting appliances and 24 firefighters arriving to quell the blaze. The fire was extinguished […]

NATIONAL More than 11 100 new Covid-19 infections were recorded in South Africa yesterday, with an additional 110 related deaths. Yesterday’s new Covid-19 cases coupled with the 49 970 test conducted represents a positivity rate of 22.2%. Hospital admissions have also increased by 349, bringing the total number of those currently admitted to 8 887.  

NATIONAL E-cigarette business owners may soon find themselves paying taxes. The National Treasury has outlined a proposal that is open for public comment until 25 January. Vaping business owners who deliver nicotine and non-nicotine systems, as well as their customers, will be affected if the tax proposal is finally approved. Vapour Products Association of South Africa CEO Asanda Gcoyi says they are disappointed at the content of the proposal.

LOCAL Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis hosted the speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, at the Roeland Street fire station to convey a message of thanks to all the firefighters who helped fight this week’s blaze at Parliament. He says they responded to the fire within minutes, deploying the fullest possible extent of resources in the shortest possible time. Hill-Lewis says the historic Old Assembly Chamber, the library and Tuynhuys were […]

LOCAL The Provincial Traffic Department in the Western Cape says at least 35 people have been killed on their roads in the past ten days. The department says these figures are however considerably lower than Christmas time. Department spokesperson Jandre Bakker says they’ve also made 55 traffic-related arrests in which more than half were for drunk driving. Bakker says they expect traffic volumes to increase in the coming days. “Traffic […]

NATIONAL The Department of Basic Education has warned that parents who have not secured school placement for their children will struggle when the academic year starts next week. Learners in inland provinces will return to the classroom on Wednesday next week while learners in coastal provinces will return a week later. Department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, says last-minute placements remain their biggest challenge at the start of the school year. “What has […]