What's making news in SA?

Let's take a look at Acumen Media's roundup of the week's biggest news stories in South African media.

In some worrying news, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was hospitalised this week. According to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, the Arch is receiving treatment for a stubborn infection, similar to ones he's suffered from in the past.

In other news, the National Assembly has expressed its support for the dismissal of senior prosecutors in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi.

In political developments, following the resignation of Herman Mashaba as the Mayor of Johannesburg, the ANC has moved swiftly to place Geoff Makhubo in the position. Mashaba called it quits with the Democratic Alliance (DA), thus leaving the post vacant. He has since indicated that he may join forces with former DA leader, Mmusi Maimane. Meanwhile over in Tshwane, the DA's Stevens Mokgalapa has been sacked from his position as the city's mayor in a motion of no-confidence.

Over at the State Capture Inquiry, former ministers, Mildred Oliphant and Richard Baloyi, called the evidence submitted by Themba Maseko and Mzwanele Many into question. Future deliberations may see Gwede Mantashe cross-examine Angelo Agrizzi and Redi Thlabi may get to question former president, Jacob Zuma.

In the land of land development, Land Expropriation Bill draft is set to be published in the Government Gazette next week, which will open the floor for public participation.

While the country still holds its annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, there have been several grotesque GBV instances across the country. Precious Ramabulana's killer was found to have already had a pending rape case and we also learned about the murder of 18-year-old Gomolemo Legae, who was raped, stabbed and burnt alive.

We also learned this week of a 29-year-old man who faced 62 counts relating to various charges, including 19 counts of rape, 10 counts of kidnapping, one count of murder and nine counts of housebreaking, his youngest victim was 12 years old.

Still shedding no light is Eskom. The power utility has announced nationwide load shedding despite its recent R50bn bailout.

The country's cricket governing body, Cricket SA is going through something, which includes forensic audits, senior parties exiting in their droves and a massive spotlight falls on the sport and its custodians.

And the man-who-hates-seeing-non-white-people-at-the-beach Adam Catzavelos pleaded guilty to crimen injuria after he was found using the k-word at a beach in Greece.

Through the release of News24's co-published My Only Story podcast, an investigation has been launched into a former teacher-turned-journalist who became an executive at Media24, Willem Breytenbach, who has been accused of sexually assaulting several schoolboys.

This year's Black Friday sales doubled and reached R6bn. And the Competition Commission has ordered MTN and Vodacom to reduce their data costs. Meanwhile, Ford has agreed to pay a R35m fine and a settlement of R50,000 for its burning Kuga model.

E-commerce

35% growth in Black Friday online sales points to prepared shoppers, industry resilience

4 Dec 2019

Following the recent strike, South African Airways (SAA) has gone into business rescue. Meanwhile, former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni is suing the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) for R8m for damaging her reputation.

In some truly out of this world news, eccentric South African-born billionaire Elon Musk's lawyer has tried to excuse his use of the phrase 'pedo guy' - to describe the cave diver who saved the Thai children who were stuck in the cave - as a common insult used in South Africa.