Sunday Sun 5/10/2020

• MORE coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in the country. That has brought the number to 186. To date, the number of cases had increased to 9 420, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced. According to the health department, there were delays in the reporting of some of the deaths because it was conducting verification processes. The minister said the department would be embarking on stringent oversight visits, especially in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape where there has been an increase in the numbers. • ONLY offenders, who committed petty crimes, will be eligible to be included in the 19 000 inmates who will be released on parole to combat the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and Correctional Services Commissioner Arthur Fraser briefed the media…

FORMER Metro FM DJ-turned-businessman Tbo Touch has been accused of backing out of his promises. Tbo Touch (real name Thabo Molefe) has allegedly failed to pay his staffers their retrenchment packages. This after staffers were informed they wouldn’t get their retrenchment packages for this month due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Reads the letter dated 5 May and seen by the SunTeam, in part: “Due to the above, we have no option but to delay the last payment for the last three months. “That effectively means we’ll only pay out the last part of the retrenchments at the end of July.” The SunTeam has also learnt the staff at Soweto TV hadn’t been paid on time. But Tbo Touch, through his publicist, denied the allegations. Said Simphiwe Majola, the publicist for…

HUMAN Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has hit back at those who criticised her new venture to house people who are currently living in tents and temporary wooden structures. The project has been piloted for 72 families living in tents on a plot in Wilgespruit, Roodepoort, on the West Rand. They have resided in the area for more than two years after they were forcefully evicted from a plot they had earlier occupied. They are expected to move into their new homes soon, of which about 50 structures have been completed. Sisulu said one of the reasons for the project was to help homeless people to safely adhere to lockdown regulations and practice safe social distancing. She said those who criticised the temporary wooden structures should provide alternatives. “They should look…

METRO FM presenter Lerato Kganyago’s hubby Thami Ndlala has been caught up in a vehicle fraud scandal. In a six and half-year fraud investigation at the Garsfontein Police Station in Tshwane, Thabo Tlhopane Molapo told police in his statement Thami asked to use his personal details to purchase a Range Rover. Both Thami and Thabo were arrested in 2013 and are also expected to appear in court again in July. The two pleaded not guilty to the charge at the time. Thabo implicated Ndlala claiming that he gave him R6 000 in return for the favour. According to Thabo’s statement, seen by the SunTeam, he was approached by Thami. Read the statement, in part: “During May 2012, I was approached by Thami. He told me there were certain guys who…

THE children of Umhlobo Wenene FM sports presenter and SABC Xhosa news producer, Loyiso Sitsheke, have paid an emotional tribute to their late father. Ziyanda “Marali” Sitsheke (30) and Khanya Sitsheke (28) described Sitsheke as a loving dad, who instilled humility, discipline and the fear of God in them. Sitsheke passed away at his Joburg home from an undisclosed illness last week at the age of 55. He was buried in his home town in Qumbu, Eastern Cape, yesterday. He was part of the award-winning Masigoduke Afternoon Drive Show on Umhlobo Wenene which is co-hosted by Amaza Ntshanga and Zizo Tshwete. During an emotionally-charged memorial service, which was broadcast on Umhlobo Wenene on Friday, Sitsheke’s eldest daughter Ziyanda recalled how her dad had made her recent 30th birthday a special…

ZODWA Wabantu’s fashion designer Ngcebo Mnyandu’s job of designing a dress for his client for the Vodacom Durban July (VDJ) was almost done. But Ngcebo, of Nonkosi Collection, finds himself in a predicament of whether or not to continue with the task at hand. This after the announcement that the VDJ has been postponed to 25 July. Sunday Sun sources said the organisers initially postponed the annual horse racing event with the hope the lockdown would be over by then, but behind the scene there is speculation that it won’t take place this year. Last month, Gold Circle CEO, Michel Nair, announced the event’s postponement. Said Ngcebo: “All the fittings and sketches were done already. The materials for her dress was about to be shipped in from India. “Unfortunately, Covid-19…