Here’s a quick look at some of the news that made headlines this weekend.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo scoops 5th Grammy:
South Africa’s very own male choral group has scooped their fifth Grammy award. They won the award for Best World Album on Sunday night at the 60th annual Grammy Awards held at Madison Square Gardens in New York. The album Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration received high praise. They were nominated in two categories which included Best Children’s Album for Songs Of Peace & Love For Kids & Parents Around The World. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been nominated for 19 Grammys. The Shaka Zulu album was recorded to pay tribute to the group’s founder Joseph Shabalala, who retired. They took to Twitter after scooping the award to thank fans.
WE WON THE GRAMMY AWARD FOR BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM!! SHAKA ZULU REVISITED. Our 5th Grammy Award. Such an honor. Thank U Grammy Awards. Thank U fans and friends. Thank U South Africa!! pic.twitter.com/1lsqGQiM23
— Ladysmith Black Mambazo (@therealmambazo) January 28, 2018
SAHRC Intervenes in Cape water crisis:
The South African Human Rights Comission has urged Capetonians to stick to the latest water restrictions implemented by the City Of Cape Town as Day Zero looms. The commission’s Gushwell Brookes said: “We appeal to people, because it will take everyone’s efforts to deal with this issue, to stick to the current water restrictions, so we can try delay Day Zero as much as possible.”
Day Zero was brought forward after residents failed to reduce water consumption. The taps are expected to dry on 12 April. The City will implement tougher water restrictions along with only 50 liters of water per day per person from Thursday.
SA Weather Service sends a dark cloud above Zille:
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has lashed out at Western Cape Premier Helen Zille after she suggested the provice faced a water crisis because their predictions were wrong. Zille was speaking on the current affairs show BBC Newsnight last Thursday and said that the weather service models no longer worked.
“The drought could never have been foreseen. The South African Weather Services have said to me their models don’t work anymore‚ in an era of climate change‚” she said on the show.
SAWS released a statment and said that the Premier’s statement was extremly “opportunistic”.
“The premier’s statement is disingenuous and extremely opportunistic coming as it does in the midst of a water crisis‚” the service said in a statement. “We view this in a very dim light as the premier only had one briefing from [the weather service] and already draws conclusions on our work. This is regrettable as SAWS would not comment on policy makers and the lack of action on advice that we have given‚” the statement said.
Tribute’s pour in for firefighter:
Tributes have poured in for the 33-year old figher fighter who died while battling a blaze on Table Mountain on Sunday. It’s believed that the woman suffered a seizer and collapsed. The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Theo Layne said: “We had one adult female firefighter that had collapsed. We treated her on the scene and then she was taken to Christiaan Barnard Hospital and unfortunately she died.”
Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille took to twitter to extend her condolences to the figher figher’s family.
It is with great sadness that I send my condolences to the family & friends of 1 of the City’s young female firefighters. The 33 year old served the City for 9 years and died after fighting a fire on Table Mountain this afternoon. Our deepest sympathy to her family and friends.
— Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) January 28, 2018
Icasa to investigate MultiChoice:
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has announced that it will be investigating MultiChoice. The decision follows a complaint lodged by the Democractic Alliance (DA) in November last year requesting the communications authority to conduct a inquiry into payments made by MultiChoice to the Gupta owned news channel ANN7 and also the SABC. This allegedly in exchange for political influence over government policy on digital migration.
Picture: http://www.mambazo.com/nice_photos/