It’s Tuesday, 2 June, and this is News Bite with Marcelle Gordon.
The Joe Ferrari Sibanyoni case is back in focus after the sudden retirement of Kwaggafontein Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni, who presided over Sibanyoni’s initial court appearance last month. Tonjeni struck the big-name extortion case off the roll after the prosecutor failed to appear, and the NPA is still waiting for her reasons, a response, and a date for its appeal. The matter involving Tonjeni is also before the Magistrate’s Commission, while the Sibanyoni case has been re-enrolled in Delmas.
In the Western Cape, anti-migration protests in Mossel Bay have turned deadly. Police are investigating violence in Mossel Bay and Kleinmond after two Mozambican nationals were killed in the coastal towns. Images circulating online appear to show people fleeing and seeking safety, while police have not yet confirmed the full details. A 19-year-old South African, Nhlamulo Sambo, was also killed in Mossel Bay over the weekend, with his family claiming he was stabbed during local protests against undocumented foreign nationals.
Also today, Parliament’s Impeachment Committee Chairperson Makashule Gana says he is ready to get to work after defeating Wonderboy Mahlatsi from the United Africans Transformation party. The Rise Mzansi MP says actions will speak louder than words, but the Umkhonto Wesizwe party is disappointed with Gana’s election, with parliamentary leader John Hlophe weighing in. In Tshwane, plans to potentially rehire 43 former employees dismissed during the 2023 unprotected strike over alleged bus-burning have drawn mixed reactions. SAMWU has welcomed the move, while the DA’s Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink says not so fast.
At the Madlanga Commission, a coffee machine has become part of emotional testimony from KZN Hawks investigator Karl Sander, who says he believes he was targeted for his work exposing drug syndicates in the province. Sander
allegedly had to take a polygraph test over a missing office coffee machine that belonged to him. The commission has heard that the test was later declared invalid after a review found major errors in the examiner’s conduct. Commissioner Sandile Khumalo has also suggested Sander’s reassignment may have been linked to tensions with fellow officers during operations targeting drug syndicates.
SPORT
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is keeping his cards close to his chest ahead of Friday’s final warm-up match against Jamaica, declining to say whether that team will be his starting line-up for the World Cup opener against Mexico. The squad also had to leave without assistant coach Helman Mkhalele after “The Midnight Express” and the team’s head of security had their US visas declined without explanation. Both visas have since been sorted out. At Roland Garros, Aryna Sabalenka is through to the French Open quarter-finals after beating Naomi Osaka, while Matteo Arnaldi edged Frances Tiafoe in a five-set marathon lasting five hours and 26 minutes.
And finally, the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival is bringing some much-needed comedy relief as the country reels from one bad news story to the next. The long-running festival brings local and international acts to the Baxter Theatre, with Festival Director Eddy Cassar and comedian Jason Goliath helping set the tone. The Funny Fest runs until 21 June.
That’s your News Bite for 2 June.
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