Maga faithful call on Trump to fulfil key promise
Epstein was a wealthy financier arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges.
His former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was charged with helping him abuse teenage girls.
Epstein was found dead in his cell about a month after he was arrested and investors concluded he killed himself.
Maxwell was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
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IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Voters Head to the Polls in Ward 13 Seshego By-election
In a historic move, the South African Communist Party (SACP) has, for the first time in Limpopo, entered the race independently and is contesting against its alliance partner, the African National Congress (ANC). Other parties in the running include the EFF, the Labour Party, and the All Citizens Party (AC Residents of Ward 13 in Seshego, Polokwane, are casting their votes today in a much-anticipated by-election that has drawn the attention of political analysts and parties across Limpopo. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed that all voting stations in the ward opened at seven o'clock this morning and will remain open until nine o'clock tonight. The by-election was triggered by the removal of an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor from the Polokwane municipal council following allegations of misconduct. This has created a competitive political environment, with five parties now vying for control of the ward. In a historic move, the South African Communist Party (SACP) has, for the first time in Limpopo, entered the race independently and is contesting against its alliance partner, the African National Congress (ANC). Other parties in the running include the EFF, the Labour Party, and the All Citizens Party (ACP). Provincial Electoral Officer Nkaro Mateta said preparations for the by-election have gone smoothly, with no major incidents reported. 'We are ready. Yesterday we conducted special votes as part of a dry run to ensure our systems are in place. All presiding and deputy officers have received proper training and are fully prepared to manage any situation that may arise during the day,' she said. Mateta added that voter management systems are functioning well. 'We are pleased with how our app-based devices, including the voter management system, are performing. We do not expect long queues like we experienced during the 2024 general elections.' The by-election is not only significant for its political implications but also for what it may signal about shifting alliances and voter sentiments in the province. The decision by the SACP to contest the ward independently has raised eyebrows, particularly as the party has traditionally supported ANC candidates as part of the Tripartite Alliance. Political observers say the outcome could offer insight into the strength of smaller and emerging parties ahead of the 2026 local government elections. With voter frustration over service delivery and internal party divisions growing in some areas, parties like the Labour Party and ACP are hoping to capitalise on the mood of change. Outside a voting station in Seshego Zone 2, voter Lerato Maleka said she came early to make her voice heard. 'This time I want to vote for someone who will do the work and not disappear after the election. We need proper roads, better refuse collection, and councillors who care,' she said. The IEC has encouraged all registered voters in the ward to participate and has made transportation arrangements for those living far from voting stations. The commission also reiterated its commitment to delivering free, fair, and peaceful elections. Vote counting will begin shortly after polling stations close, and results are expected to be announced by early Thursday morning.
Eyewitness News
4 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels
LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer purged his ruling Labour party of four lawmakers on Wednesday as tries to reassert his authority following a rebellion over welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Rachael Maskell, and Chris Hinchliff were suspended, weeks after voting against a watered-down version of the controversial reforms on 1 July. Another three Labour MPs were stripped Wednesday of their roles as trade envoys over the rebellion, which spotlighted the tensions between the party's left and its more centrist leader. Starmer had made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament, even though he should be able to force through any legislation he wants to as he still holds a massive majority of about 160 seats. Scottish MP Leishman, who will now sit as an independent, said in a statement he believed that "it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer". Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the mini purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate'," Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Spokespeople for Labour declined to comment. NEW PARTY? Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer - a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales - announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister". But as Labour loses votes to the right, it is also giving up supporters to the Greens on the left, surveys have shown, highlighting the tricky balancing act Starmer faces. Earlier this month, MP Zarah Sultana resigned her Labour membership and announced she would be founding a new party with Labour's former left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn tempered expectations a little by stressing instead that "discussions are ongoing".
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Confusion Persists Over Sassa Grant Review Process Amid Long Queues and Uncertainty
In a press briefing this week, Sassa updated the public on the ongoing review of approximately 210,000 social grant beneficiaries. Confusion continues to cloud the South African Social Security Agency's (Sassa) beneficiary review process, with many grant recipients expressing frustration over perceived delays, despite the agency's assurances that no payments have been suspended. In a press briefing this week, Sassa updated the public on the ongoing review of approximately 210,000 social grant beneficiaries. The review process, aimed at verifying beneficiaries' eligibility and preventing fraud, has been mired in complaints of poor communication, long queues at Sassa offices, and uncertainty among recipients fearing suspension of their crucial financial lifeline. Brenton van Vrede, Sassa's Executive Manager for Grants Administration, sought to calm fears, stating clearly that no grants had been suspended as a result of the review process. 'All grants remain in payment in the months they are due,' van Vrede said. 'We are conducting a verification exercise, but this does not mean we have stopped payments to anyone involved in the process.' However, this assurance is at odds with the experience of many grant recipients who say they have faced unexplained payment delays, conflicting information from Sassa offices, and repeated requests to re-submit documentation. Some have reported being turned away from pay points or offices without clear guidance on next steps. Sibongile Maseko, a 67-year-old pensioner from Soweto, says her grant was not paid in June, despite having complied with requests to update her details. 'I've been to the Sassa office three times in the past two months. Each time they say everything is fine, but I didn't get my money last month. They told me to wait, but how do I wait without food?' Maseko said. The situation has led to growing public frustration, with civil society groups calling for greater transparency and improved communication from the agency. 'There's a clear disconnect between what Sassa is saying and what people on the ground are experiencing,' said Advocate Dineo Mokoena of the Social Grants Justice Coalition. 'Even if grants are technically not suspended, people are not receiving their money, and the agency must account for these inconsistencies.' Newly appointed Sassa CEO, Nomsa Mkhize, has acknowledged the challenges and pledged to clear the backlog of reviews and improve service delivery. In a recent televised interview, Mkhize said her immediate priority is resolving the confusion around the review process. 'We understand the distress this situation has caused,' she said. 'We are working urgently to improve our systems and ensure that beneficiaries are kept informed every step of the way.' Meanwhile, van Vrede emphasised that beneficiaries under review should continue to receive their payments and urged anyone facing issues to contact Sassa directly for assistance.
