The week that was 19-23 January
Vanderbijlpark scholar vehicle accident
The week began with devastating news after a scholar transport vehicle was involved in a fatal crash in Vanderbijlpark.
Initial reports indicated that 12 pupils had died in the accident. However, the death toll rose to 14 later in the week after two more pupils succumbed to their injuries.
The children were travelling to school on Monday along a narrow road near Vanderbijlpark when the crash occurred.
Dashcam footage shows how the driver of the scholar transport overtook several cars and failed to notice an oncoming truck, resulting in a head-on collision.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Ayanda Dludla, was arrested after being discharged from hospital.
He appeared briefly before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court, where the State confirmed he faces, 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, one count of driving without a valid Professional Driving Permit (PDP) and one count of driving an unlicensed motor vehicle
Dludla has abandoned his bail application and the case has been postponed to 5 March.
Meanwhile, the families of the deceased pupils are left grappling with loss as they mourn the deaths of their children.
Dumisani Khumalo, Robert McBride and Julius Mkhwanazi appear before ad hoc committee.
Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee this week to give evidence into allegations of corruption and interference within the criminal justice system.
Khumalo, who headed the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal, reiterated allegations he made before the Madlanga Commission last year.
He linked high-ranking police officers to alleged cartel members and claimed that highly trained SAPS combat officers are moonlighting for criminal syndicates.
Addressing the committee Khumalo told Parliament that he found severe decay within the police service, adding that cartels were tipped off before planned police take-down operations.
Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride also appeared before the committee.
His testimony followed allegations made last week by former acting National Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane, who implicated McBride.
Proceedings got off to a tense start, with committee members accusing McBride of being arrogant and disrespectful.
EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys said McBride’s explanation of why he had submitted an old CV was unacceptable.
He has denied claims of having a role in the so-called witch-hunt of former acting Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane.
Instead, he told the committee the SAPS was infiltrated by a counter-intelligence crime unit.
Also appearing before the committee was suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi, who told members that he fears for his life.
Mkhwanazi revealed that his attorney was shot outside the Booysens Magistrate’s Court earlier this week and said he is widely perceived as a “killer cop.”
The committee, investigating allegations of corruption and interference in the criminal justice system is working on borrowed time, having been granted an extension until next month.
Trump at Davos
US President Donald Trump touched down in a tense Davos on Wednesday to give an "America First" speech that pushed his world-shaking bid to seize control of Greenland.
Trump's claims over the Danish territory dominated the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort.
Trump cast his retreat also lifting the promise of sanctions against European nations that spoke out against the threats to Denmark as a win, saying the deal gives Washington "everything we wanted.
Floods and road repairs
The continued destruction of infrastructure by extreme weather has raised questions about whether South Africa’s roads and bridges are built to withstand current climate realities.
In Mpumalanga, a road that cost R46.8 million to construct just two years ago has already collapsed following recent heavy rainfall.
Limpopo has been particularly hard hit.
At least 439 roads have been washed away, several bridges have collapsed, and entire communities have been cut off from economic activity and essential services.
Eighteen people have died as floods continue to batter the province.
Victims of the floods in both Limpopo and Mpumalanga are now looking to government for urgent relief after a state of disaster was declared.
The Department of Human Settlements has confirmed it is ready to provide temporary accommodation to displaced families.
Constitutional Court Judgement
The Constitutional Court has ruled that signing an antenuptial contract after the conclusion of a customary marriage is invalid.
The judgment follows a High Court ruling that declared a section of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act unconstitutional.
This law gives women in customary law marriages the same status and protection as women in civil law marriages.
The law previously allowed a husband in a customary marriage to change the property system via a written agreement.
This effectively stripped a spouse of their accrued rights to a joint estate
Julius Malema in Court
EFF leader Julius Malema's pre-sentencing proceedings have been postponed.
The final heads of arguments are to be heard on 15 April.
The firebrand leader was found guilty of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, failing to take reasonable precautions to person or property, and reckless endangerment of persons and property.