Top stories this week: Joshlin Smith disappearance plan, Rachel and Siya Kolisi end their marriage and BRICS update
NEWS
Joshlin Smith’s disappearance was planned six months in advance - indictment
– The indictment alleges that Joshlin Smith’s disappearance on February 19, 2024, was orchestrated by her mother, Raquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, who reportedly planned to sell her daughter in August 2023.
– Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appolis and Stevano van Rhyn, face charges of kidnapping and trafficking for exploitation. The child was allegedly sold for R20,000.
– On February 18, Kelly was seen speaking to a woman in a white vehicle near her home. The next day, she packed Joshlin’s clothes and, with the help of her co-accused, took her daughter to the same vehicle and reported her missing later that evening.
– Co-accused Lourentia Lombaard had all charges withdrawn and will testify as a state witness against the others.
– The case has been transferred to the Western Cape High Court, with pre-trial proceedings scheduled for January 31, 2025. Further arrests and additional charges remain possible.
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‘Close them all and let them go’: Gayton McKenzie calls for closure of foreign-owned tuckshops and mass deportations amid food poisoning uproar
– Several learners across South Africa fell ill or died after consuming toxic or expired snacks from spaza shops, with notable incidents in Naledi (Soweto), Sharpeville, Pretoria, and Limpopo.
– Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture and leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Gayton McKenzie, has called for the closure of all foreign-owned tuckshops and mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
– He urged swift government action, warning that delays might lead communities to take the law into their own hands.
– The MK chief whip Mzwanele Manyi raised concerns about fake and expired products sold by foreign-owned shops, calling for their shutdown.
– Gauteng MEC Lebogang Maile called for illegal immigrants to leave the country and emphasised the need for police action and stricter border control to address these issues.
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Cracks in GNU deepen: DA blasts Ramaphosa for calling Russia an ‘ally’ at BRICS Summit
– President Cyril Ramaphosa and other BRICS leaders attended the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024.
– DA leader John Steenhuisen criticised Ramaphosa’s remarks calling Russia “a valuable ally and friend,” distancing the party from such statements.
– Steenhuisen condemned aligning with Russia, citing its violation of international law through its war in Ukraine, and warned that such comments could harm South Africa’s economic relations and trade opportunities.
– The DA, a key player in the Government of National Unity (GNU), emphasised the need for consensus on foreign policy before public declarations are made.
– The 2024 BRICS Summit focuses on strengthening multilateralism and global development and marks the bloc’s first meeting since expanding to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
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Two months after he escaped prison, Thabo Bester was arrested for speeding, and then released
– Thabo Bester was apprehended for speeding in July 2022 but released because authorities were unaware of his escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre.
– Bester presented a fraudulent ID card under the name Katlego Nkwana, which was confirmed as fake by Home Affairs.
– He was charged with fraud but failed to appear in court, and the case was marked "nolle prosequi" (not to be prosecuted).
– Police Minister Mchunu explained that the case details were only revealed two years later due to the complexity of the investigation.
– Bester and Dr. Nandipha Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania in April 2023; their trial is set for February 10, 2025.
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Employee, who was fired for running a loan shark business at work, loses Labour Court appeal
– Monapole Daniel Kaweng, a former machine operator and shop steward at Free State National Botanical Gardens, was fired for participating in a money-lending scheme.
– A whistleblower alerted the employer in 2019, initially implicating a senior artisan, Mr. Zola, who charged employees interest rates up to 50%. Zola later implicated Kaweng.
– Kaweng claimed he was part of a stokvel (savings club) and denied operating a loan shark scheme. However, the CCMA rejected this defence, citing that stokvels do not involve lending with interest.
– Kaweng admitted to being involved in the scheme in 2017 and tried to quit, but the Labour Court upheld the CCMA's decision, ruling his actions as serious misconduct.
– The court found that Kaweng’s participation in the money-lending scheme justified dismissal, even if the scheme wasn’t in violation of the National Credit Act.
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SPORT
WATCH: Elton Jantjies dismisses claims that he’s homeless: ‘I’ve got a house, my mom didn’t kick me out’
– Elton Jantjies dismissed reports claiming his mother kicked him out, calling them disrespectful and unfounded.
– Jantjies urged the media to apologise to his family and children, not him.
– He will face former teammate Lionel Mapoe in a charity boxing event, highlighting boxing as a passion and training tool.
– Jantjies received a four-year ban for a failed drug test and was previously dropped from the Springbok squad due to an alleged affair.
– He maintains his innocence and hinted at a possible return to rugby sooner than expected.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Pink cocaine linked to Liam Payne's death and Sean 'Diddy' Combs' court case
– Liam Payne died after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with drug and alcohol use suspected as contributing factors.
– Authorities discovered burnt aluminium foil in Payne's room, hinting at drug use prior to his death.
– Payne’s funeral is expected to take place next month.
– Despite its name, pink cocaine (or tuci/tusi) contains a mix of MDMA, ketamine, amphetamines, and legal stimulants, posing unpredictable risks like hallucinations, strokes, and cardiac arrest.
– Originating in Colombia, pink cocaine has grown in popularity across the US, UK, and Spain, contributing to its association with high-risk party scenes.
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LIFESTYLE
Rachel and Siya Kolisi announce end of their marriage
– Siya Kolisi and his wife, Rachel, announced their decision to end their marriage via a joint statement on social media, shortly after returning to South Africa from France.
– The couple emphasised that the decision came from a place of love and respect, stating they would remain friends and committed co-parents to their children.
– Siya and Rachel met in 2012, married on August 13, 2016, and have two biological children, Nicholas and Keziah, as well as two adopted half-siblings, Liyema and Liphelo.
– Rachel transitioned from her career in event management and marketing to become a full-time mother and head of the Kolisi Foundation, supporting the family's initiatives.
– The couple requested respect during their transition and expressed gratitude for the public’s support throughout their relationship, although they did not disclose specific reasons for the split.
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BUSINESS
BRICS will help reshape the Global South and world order - Ramaphosa
At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that the partnership offers a chance to reshape the Global South and promote sustainable development.
Inclusive Economic Cooperation: He highlighted the need for bold steps toward shared prosperity, with a focus on smooth trade, tourism, and financial flows free from external interference in a multi-polar world.
Local Currencies in Trade: Ramaphosa looks forward to updates from BRICS finance ministers on the use of local currencies in international trade, fostering financial independence.
Trade Opportunities and MSMEs: The President stressed the importance of boosting trade opportunities, supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and launching joint development initiatives in exports, industry, and technology.
Call for Recalibrated Trade Rules: Ramaphosa urged for adjustments in trade regulations to facilitate industrialization and achieve the objectives of the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2025.
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