News outlet Independent Online (IOL) on Thursday faced social media consternation after a decision to close comments on stories on its website. This mirrors a move by News24, which closed comments on its site six weeks ago. In a column posted on Thursday morning, IOL managing editor Adrian Ephraim said it was a "difficult" decision, adding "we arrived at it after careful consideration of all the factors at play". "If you are prone to being racist or sexist in your thinking, by all means … [Read more...] about One more online publisher closes comments facility
Vallie just short of century in win over Dolphins
Port Elizabeth - A career-best score from Yaseen Vallie and three wickets in five balls from Jon-Jon Smuts maintained the Warriors’ unbeaten start to the Momentum One-Day Cup as they beat the Dolphins by 42 runs at St George’s Park on Wednesday. Vallie showed skill and adaptability in scoring 96 from just 78 balls to give the Warriors an imposing total after they had won the toss and elected to bat on a turning pitch, eclipsing his previous best List A score in the process. The … [Read more...] about Vallie just short of century in win over Dolphins
Helenvale Choir member gunned down on way to church
Port Elizabeth - Dressed in suit and tie and on his way to choir practice at church, Esau Uithaler's life was cut short when he was gunned down in front of his house on Tuesday evening. Nelson Mandela Bay police spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, said Uithaler, 33, was gunned down in Reginald Street, Helenvale in the Northern Areas as he was leaving home to go to church. "There is no indication that he [Esau] was involved in any gang-related activity and the motive for his … [Read more...] about Helenvale Choir member gunned down on way to church
PE refugee reception centre was ‘like a tourist bus’
The Department of Home Affairs wants to make late birth registrations more difficult so that it can weed out chancers, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Fatima Chohan said on Tuesday. Speaking during the home affairs briefing in Parliament, she said: "We are going to make screening more difficult because most [of those] who are taking up late registrations are failed asylum seekers who have not left the country. Then [they] try their luck for South African citizenship through late registration … [Read more...] about PE refugee reception centre was ‘like a tourist bus’
Eskom asks for harsher sentences for izinyoka
If Eskom has its way, "izinyoka" - the isiZulu word for snakes - who steal electricity will have to pay up to R60 000 in penalties. The entity proposed that stealing electricity be added as a new offence to the criminal matters amendment bill and that it should carry heavy penalties. Presenting its arguments on the first day of public hearings into the bill, Eskom's Neo Tsholanku detailed the losses it suffered through electricity theft. The bill proposes criminalising the unlawful and … [Read more...] about Eskom asks for harsher sentences for izinyoka
Your rights under medical schemes Prescribed Minimum Benefits
The South African National Consumer Union (Sancu), who has recorded a surge in medical aid complaints, is urging South Africans to know their rights when it comes to the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) covered by medical schemes. "Consumers seem to be ill-advised on this extremely important issue," Sancu vice chairperson Ina Wilken-Jonker told Health24. She said medical schemes should be obliged toward their members and fully disclose all PMB conditions, which consists of a list of … [Read more...] about Your rights under medical schemes Prescribed Minimum Benefits
Chris Swanepoel claims Humewood golf win
Port Elizabeth – Chris Swanepoel loves nothing more than a good scrap, match-play style, and he used that to help him to a win over Ulrich van den Burg on Friday to take the R700,000 Sun Boardwalk Challenge at Humewood Golf Club. The pair were locked on eight-under-par 208 after the 54 holes of regulation play, and it took an extra trip up the 18th before Swanepoel birdied the first hole of the sudden-death play-off to win his fourth Sunshine Tour title, and his second in a play-off. "This … [Read more...] about Chris Swanepoel claims Humewood golf win
Easy win for WP over EP Kings
Western Province eased to a 45-14 win over the EP Kings in a Currie Cup clash at Newlands on Friday. Province knew that only a win would do in their bid to secure a home semi-final, but none of that mattered as the Blue Bulls triumphed against the Pumas in Nelspruit. The results mean that WP will now travel to Pretoria to take on the Bulls in the semi-finals. WP were ahead after just three minutes when Nizaam Carr benefited from a non-existent Kings defence to cross the … [Read more...] about Easy win for WP over EP Kings
Warriors open with win over Titans
The Warriors chased down 327 to beat the Titans by two wickets in the first match of the Momentum One Day Cup at Centurion on Friday. The Warriors won the toss and opted to field, but some solid Titans batting throughout their innings left the visitors with a tough run chase. Titans opener Mangaliso Mosehle anchored the innings on his way to 49 while Dean Elgar constructed a well-played 57. But the innings belonged to Grant Thomson who finished undefeated on 98 from 107 balls, while … [Read more...] about Warriors open with win over Titans
Will today be the ‘mother of all stay-aways’?
Cosatu will embark on the "mother of all stay-aways" today when it stages marches in all nine provinces to protest against higher taxes, e-tolls and job losses among other things burdening the working class. The demonstrations coincide with the World Day for Decent Work. Cosatu said its members will march and demonstrate in city centres all over the country against issues such as the deadlock on its demand to scrap e-tolls. The union federation is also calling for a better transport system … [Read more...] about Will today be the ‘mother of all stay-aways’?
EC Health commits to solving emergency service problems
Port Elizabeth - The Eastern Cape health department has committed to fixing a number of problems cited by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) regarding the delivery of emergency medical services, especially to rural areas. This emerged in the findings of a report produced by the SAHRC on emergency medical service delivery in the Eastern Cape presented to media in Johannesburg. Deputy chair Pregs Govender, speaking at the briefing, said some of the recommendations included increasing the … [Read more...] about EC Health commits to solving emergency service problems
SAHRC says that some elderly Eastern Cape residents have never seen an ambulance
The Eastern Cape health department's inability to provide emergency services to rural communities means that elderly people in some communities having never seen an ambulance, the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said on Thursday. "We heard the fact there were elderly people who had never seen an ambulance in their entire lives, despite having experienced great emergency situations," said deputy chairperson, Pregs Govender. "The apartheid geography determines the entrenchment of that … [Read more...] about SAHRC says that some elderly Eastern Cape residents have never seen an ambulance
Port Elizabeth ambulance crew robbed at gunpoint in New Brighton
Port Elizabeth - An Eastern Cape emergency medical services ambulance crew was robbed at gunpoint in New Brighton early on Wednesday morning, the provincial health department said. Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo told News24 the crew had been dispatched to Madala Street at 00:20 and arrived at 00:33. "Two escorts lured them into an alley under the impression they will take them to the patient," Kupelo said. "A gun was produced and the crew robbed at gun point." The robbers also took the … [Read more...] about Port Elizabeth ambulance crew robbed at gunpoint in New Brighton
SA repo rates expected to stay unchanged
The SA Reserve Bank (Sarb) is likely to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6% when its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets on Wednesday, according to international market research company Citi Velocity. This is because the US Federal Reserve decided not to raise its rates last week. "We believe that growth concerns will come to the fore in the MPC statement. The MPC's argument for not raising rates further is likely to be that forex moves are largely being countered by the lower oil price, … [Read more...] about SA repo rates expected to stay unchanged
Eastern Cape home to earliest known coelacanth fossil
More than 30 specimens of a new fossil species of coelacanth have been found near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, according to the University of the Witwatersrand. An article describing the new species was published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society of London on Monday. Here are five interesting facts about the discovery: 1) This is a new species of Coelacanth The specimens of Serenichthys kowiensis were collected by palaeontologist Dr Robert Gess from a 360 … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape home to earliest known coelacanth fossil
