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IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Man falls to his death from Hotel Sky rooftop in Cape Town
A man lost his life after reportedly jumping from the rooftop of Hotel Sky, in Cape Town, Western Cape. In a heart-wrenching incident on Monday afternoon, a man lost his life after reportedly jumping from the rooftop of Hotel Sky, in Cape Town, Western Cape. According to reports, the man bought a ticket for the Sky-HI ride before jumping off the building Local authorities have implemented road closures while they meticulously process the site of the incident. Commuters in and around the area are advised to approach with caution. Significant delays are expected as traffic is rerouted to facilitate emergency procedures and investigative efforts. Cape Town police are yet to provide further details. *This is a developing story. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- IOL News
Three people arrested for deadly shooting at Ekurhuleni taxi rank, police seize R5 rifles
Gauteng police have confirmed the deaths of two people who were shot at Zonkizizwe Taxi Rank in the early hours of Thursday, in a suspected taxi violence incident. Three people have been arrested following a deadly shooting at a taxi rank in Ekurhuleni on Thursday morning. A security officer and a member of a taxi association were gunned down in what is believed to be linked to ongoing taxi violence. Police said several others were injured during the attack. Videos of the deadly shooting have been widely shared on social media. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said a double murder case has been opened. 'A white Fortuner vehicle with approximately 10 men inside came to the rank and started shooting at the security officers,' said Nevhuhulwi. 'Two people were shot dead during the process, of which one was identified as a security officer and the other as a member of the taxi association.' She added that one bakkie belonging to the security officers was torched, while another vehicle was found riddled with bullet holes. A rifle was recovered from the scene and has been seized for further investigation. 'The motive behind the shooting is suspected to be taxi violence related,' she said. Speaking about the arrests, police said the suspects were nabbed at a warehouse in Dawnpark. 'The trio was found in possession of an R5 rifle, ammunition, and three magazines of which will be taken for ballistic testing to determine if the firearm was not used in the commission of the crime,' she said. Anyone with information that can assist with the police investigations is requested to contact the Crime Stop Line at 08600 10111 or anonymously report tip-offs on MySAPSApp. IOL News
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Urgent call from KZN Health MEC to address underage pregnancies linked to older men
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has called for urgent talks to tackle the growing problem of older men impregnating underage girls in the province. Image: Supplied KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has called for urgent talks to tackle the growing problem of older men impregnating underage girls in the province. New figures from eThekwini Municipality reported 7,627 teenage pregnancies between April 2024 and April 2025, including 154 girls aged between 10 and 14. The municipality also raised serious concerns about the increasing rate of new HIV infections among adolescent girls. Speaking at a recent Provincial Council on AIDS meeting in Durban, Simelane voiced serious concern over the rising number of child and teenage pregnancies, especially those involving adult men. 'We are extremely worried about the high number of children who are falling pregnant,' said MEC Simelane. 'What is even more concerning is that some of these young victims stop accessing healthcare and social services once they realise that we are legally required to report the perpetrators. In many cases, this is done to protect breadwinners or due to informal agreements between families. But this puts young girls at high risk, especially when they are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions.' Simelane stressed that all clinics and hospitals are legally obligated to report any suspected cases of statutory rape to the authorities. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'I want to make a proposal... that we lead from the front in combating this crisis, that between ourselves and district mayors, amakhosi (traditional leaders), and izinduna (headmen), we need to come together and deal with this matter head on because these activities are happening right where we are, children get pregnant in our societies in our communities," she said. 'These incidents are happening in our communities. Unless we talk about it and act decisively, we will continue to see young lives destroyed. We are raising a broken generation if we remain silent.' IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Trade and diplomacy take centre stage in Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with US counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday. Image: GCIS / Se-Anne Rall President Cyril Ramaphosa will not address the alleged persecution of white people in South Africa during his meeting with US President Donald Trump, as it has been deemed a falsehood, according to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya. Ramaphosa leads a high-level South African delegation on a working visit to the US, as both countries navigate a complex diplomatic moment. Speaking to the media, Magwenya said the meeting will focus on AGOA, high tariffs and trade relations. 'The whole world knows there is no such thing as a persecution of any particular race in South Africa. So, we don't need to spend any effort dispelling something that is not there,' he said. 'It's about refocusing our trade relationship. We would still like to see AGOA being extended and see South Africa's participation in AGOA. 'However, if the Trump administration decides to do away with the trade scheme, we will be ready to table a new trade relationship framework.' The meeting will also discuss ways for the US to attend the G20 summit in South Africa later this year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Magwenya also dispelled speculative comparisons between Trump's prior engagement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the upcoming meeting with Ramaphosa. 'We don't think President Trump invited President Ramaphosa for that kind of treatment. There are issues of concern on the side of the US and our side as well… 'President Ramaphosa is not President Zelensky. He's got his own style of engaging, communicating, and so we cannot attribute that event to what may or may not happen tomorrow,' he stated. The official meeting between the two presidents is scheduled for Wednesday. IOL Politics
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Steenhuisen joins Ramaphosa's US visit to counter 'white genocide' claims and save ties
DA leader and Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, to be part of the delegation to the US. DA leader, John Steenhuisen, will be part of the delegation by President Cyril Ramaphosa to visit US President Donald Trump to mend relations and also clarify the misinformation about the government targeting white Afrikaners. The South African delegation is set to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, aiming to restore bilateral ties and confront persistent misinformation about alleged government persecution of white Afrikaners. The high-level engagement comes amid escalating tensions sparked by the recent defection of 49 Afrikaners to the United States, who were granted refugee status based on claims of racial persecution. Key issues expected to dominate the bilateral discussions include SA–US trade relations and the broader context of domestic race and immigration policies. In a statement, Steenhuisen, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, said his priority list will be securing trade relations between the US and SA, particularly in agriculture, to protect jobs, grow the economy, and expand employment opportunities. 'South Africa's relationship with the US is one of immense importance. Preferential trade agreements such as AGOA contribute significantly to our economy. Losing these benefits would be disastrous for farmers, farm workers, and the economy at large,' he said. Steenhuisen emphasised that the relationship between the two nations needed to be resolved and strengthened. 'As a proud member of this GNU delegation, I will endeavour to ensure every effort is made to mend and improve relations between the US and SA,' he said. Concerns have been raised by some analysts that Ramaphosa's three-day visit would not go as planned and could even get contentious. The false narrative put up by the Trump administration that Afrikaner farmers are being singled out is frustrating South African officials more and more. Claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa are unsupported by reliable crime data or independent studies; international observers have extensively refuted these claims. IOL Politics
