South Africa

More than 200 people have been arrested in the North West for contravening lockdown regulations. This after the country went into a 21-day lockdown that was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa to curb the coronavirus from spreading. North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson Alpheus Koonyaditse said the suspects had contravened Disaster Management Act regulations The suspects were arrested for failing to confine [themselves] to their residential places, while others were arrested for moving between metropolitan and district areas as well as misrepresenting that another person was infected with Covid-19. "Others were arrested for failing to close liquor premises and some for failing to adhere to the prohibition on gatherings," Koonyaditse said. Community Safety MEC Sello Lehari said: "Our law enforcement authorities are working day and night to ensure that people are adhering to the regulations of Covid-19. Our in...

Authorities are investigating how pictures of a police woman un-dressing were taken and shared on social media. In the pictures shared on Facebook, the woman is seen sitting on a sofa with a cellphone in one hand and what looks like a glass of alcohol in the other.  Another picture then shows the woman with the glass closer to her mouth while the last two pictures show her un-dressing, even revealing her pan_ties. In the pictures, the woman seems to be aware in the first picture that someone was taking the pictures as she smiles in the direction of the camera. However, it is difficult to tell whether in the other picture where she is undressing, she was fully aware of what was happening. It is unclear at this stage whether the pictures were shared by the woman in the picture or someone else did it with or without her consent

The number of new coronavirus infections inside China – the source of the outbreak – was for the first time overtaken by fresh cases elsewhere on Wednesday, with Italy and Iran emerging as epicentres of the rapidly spreading illness. Asia reported hundreds of new cases, Brazil confirmed Latin America’s first infection and the new disease – COVID-19 – was also detected for the first time in Pakistan, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Romania and Algeria. US health authorities, managing 59 cases so far – mostly Americans repatriated from a cruise ship in Japan – have said a global pandemic is likely. US President Donald Trump, seeking to calm markets and an increasingly worried public, said in a live broadcast that the United States was “very very ready” to face the virus threat and that Vice President Mike Pence would be in charge of the national response. It was one of just a handful of times that the president has appeared in the White House briefing room. Stock markets across...

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of seven-year-old Emaan Solomons and a 31-year-old man in Ocean View in Cape Town on Tuesday. News24 reported earlier that the girl was killed after she was caught in gang crossfire. Emaan had been playing outside when she was shot in the chest and hand. "Two men, aged 19 and 27, were arrested following the murder of a seven-year-old girl who was caught in the crossfire between rival gangs in Libra Street, Ocean View," Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said. "Both suspects are expected to appear in the Simon's Town Magistrate's court on Friday 28 February 2020." On Thursday, it was reported that two houses were torched in Ocean View following Emaan's death. "In the latest incidents overnight, the Fire and Rescue Service responded to two houses that were set alight. The South African Police Service confirmed two more house fires, but advised fir...

A seven-year-old girl and a 31-year-old man have been shot and killed in Ocean View on Tuesday night. Police say a stray bullet struck the little Emaan in the chest and hand while she stood in Libra Way. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital but was later declared dead. Cops were led to the second scene in Andromeda Street where they found the body of the man. Members from the Anti-Gang Unit has since been dispatched to Ocean View, hunting for the gunmen. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana explains: “AGU members are patrolling the area in Ocean View following a shooting incident that occurred last night in Libra Street. “According to available information, a seven-year-old girl was caught in a crossfire and she was wounded in her chest and hand. “The child was transported to a medical facility for treatment where she died due to her injuries. “It was discovered that a 31-year- man was shot at Andromeda Way and died due to his injuries. “The ci...

The Gauteng Department of Health is experiencing a shortage of male condoms yet no one wants to touch female condoms that are in abundance. From reason such that they take too long to insert and that they are not user friendly, female condoms are not the preferred method for many sexually active people according to the department’s Philani Mhlungu. While the department is scrambling around to ensure that suppliers deliver condoms, Mhlungu said they have a consistent supply of female condoms. “Poor demand generation contributed to the low up-take for female condoms. Based on informal interviews with the public, female condoms were said to be “not user friendly”, “time consuming to insert”, and “prefer males to use a condom”, to name a few. “Following a demand generation workshop held in October and November 2019, the province has seen a gradual improvement in distribution. More training is planned for March 2020,” he said. This comes after the DA’s Jack Blooms reveale...

The former president says even if the ANC government finds him guilty, he is willing to go to jail and serve his time. Former president Jacob Zuma says he is not using his illness to run from the law and if he is sent to jail, he will serve his time. A visibly jovial but weaker-looking Zuma addressed hundreds of supporters at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday, following his recent trip to Cuba for medical treatment. While the name of Zuma’s illness has not been disclosed, he has been in and out of hospital for several months and has failed to attend to court for his corruption case. Among those in attendance were hardened long-time Zuma supporters, including Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina, ANC Free State chairperson Sam Mashinini, ANC members of Parliament Supra Mahumapelo, Mosebenzi Zwane and Joe Maswanganyi. Speaking for a short period in Zulu, Zuma said he was not making formal address but just saying a few words to thank his supporters. “I’ve never ...