St Francis & Kouga News

Chained Tortoises investigated by SPCA Assisi in Sea Vista  –  SPCA Assisi received information that tortoises were being kept on chains in St Francis Township. Inspector Tany Keyzer went to investigate.

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape & Southern Coast

Operation Save Escaped Elephant From Being Killed  –  An African elephant bull that escaped an Eastern Cape game reserve for a second time in recent weeks was on Thursday set to be shot.

Man charged with murder after allegedly killing ‘armed robber’ in his home  –  Eastern Cape police have opened a case of murder against a 55-year-old Bethelsdorp man who allegedly killed one of two suspected robbers who broke down his door to get into his home.

Illegal dagga growers’ sales drop after landmark court ruling  –  While many were jubilant at the thought of growing and cultivating their own cannabis, small-scale farmers have complained about “food being taken” off their tables.

NSRI

NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy Project:  –  NSRI’s Drowning Prevention manager Andrew Ingram addressed delegates from around the world explaining that to date the Pink Rescue Buoys have been used to save the lives of 46 

One fatality and three survivors after boat capsizes  –  NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were activated following reports of a boat capsized off-shore of Noordhoek on Saturday morning .

Surfing

Big Wave Surfer Matt Bromley Is On A Mission  –  big wave surfer Matt Bromley recently had an epic trip to Donkey Bay in Namibia, and scored some epic waves at this elusive, world-class destination.

VBS Bank

The Chronicles of Grand Azania, Part Two: Floyd Shivambu’s time of spending dangerously  –  Scorpio’s latest investigation shows how a bank card linked to one of Shivambu’s slush funds followed him around southern Africa, paying for his birthday trip to Zambia, groceries at Spar and clothing from Gucci. 

In case you have read Part One – The Chronicles of Grand Azania, Part One: How a slush fund paid for Floyd Shivambu’s wedding  

Julius

Over R4m in ‘concerning’ payments made into Malema slush fund – report  –  The EFF leader claims to have no relationship with the company in question.

Politics

Security minister at war with spy chiefs  –  President Ramaphosa likely to be called in to quell crippling conflict in South Africa’s intelligence services

Crossing swords with Zille isn’t the best career move  –  The DA’s dismal performance at the national general elections was the first sign that internal support for Mmusi Maimane was on the wane.

DA leaders back Maimane in federal council meeting  –  Several provincial leaders within the party came to Maimane’s defence during last week’s FedEx meeting.

COPE questions whether government will blacklist Bosasa and terminate contracts  –  The party says it is very disappointed that the minister of justice has failed to get educated from the recent embarrassing action by the US against the Guptas.

Tourism wins:

Govt to abolish unabridged birth certificate rules  –  Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed in a Moneyweb Radio interview this week that unabridged birth certificates will no longer be required for overseas tourists to SA travelling with children.

Business, Money & The Economy

MPs give Eskom and Mboweni free hand in R59-bn Special Appropriation Bill bailout  –  Despite much political bluster around no free lunches, the Standing Committee on Appropriation has adopted the Eskom Special Appropriation Bill without any amendments

Zwelinzima Vavi interview: Why trade unions are against Mboweni’s growth document  –  An interview with general secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), the second-largest labour federation with nearly 800,000 members.

Highest growth in home loans since 2010  –  Year-on-year increase of 4.9% in August bodes well for the property sector.

International

Sport