Sunday Sun 6/7/2020

• THE Constitutional past Court on Friday denied Mmusi Maimane’s One South Africa (OSA) movement’s direct access, on an urgent basis, to challenge government’s decision to reopen schools. It ruled that it had considered the application, but had concluded that the applicant did “not make out a case for direct access”. It was dismissed, as it was “not in the interests of justice to hear it as this stage”. The apex court did not award costs. OSA spokesperson Dipolelo Moime said: “We shall not back down in fighting for schools to be safe for pupils, teachers and for support staff.” • THE first 20 ventilators, which will form part of a total donation of 1 000 ventilators from the US government, have been installed at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital…

PUBLIC Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s expected to put a spanner in the works of former Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba’s political project. She’s expected to come down Mashaba for some of his alleged wrongdoings as mayor. Mkhwebane’s expected to make at least five adverse findings against the former DA leader when she releases a report into a probe lodged in 2018 and based on a complaint against Mashaba. Sunday Sun has seen a draft report that was send to the parties concerned to make inputs or respond to the findings before a final version is made public. In it, Mkhwebane said she entertained the anonymous complaint despite it being lodged more than two years after the incident. Wrote Mkhwebane: “Some of the special circumstances I took into account to exercise my discretion…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans not “to drink so much they injure others” and put undue pressure on the national healthcare system. This, after reports this past week that alcohol-related injuries had spiked almost immediately after the restriction on its sale was lifted on Monday under Level 3 lockdown. The president was speaking in Brackenfell, Cape Town, where he was inspecting a “Red Dot” transport initiative where 6 000 healthcare workers are transported safely in special taxis in the Western Cape. When alcohol sales were legalised on Monday, “we suddenly saw a spike in the utilisation of hospital beds” due to alcohol-related harms, Ramaphosa said. “It was always going to be a risk.” Ramaphosa said government was not contemplating re-banning alcohol, “as yet”. But he called on…

MUVHANGO star Gabriel Temudzani rolled out his sleeves to help those in need in North West. The star, who plays Chief Azwindini in the popular SABC2 soapie, delivered food parcels to those in need during lockdown. The actor said he was happy to have been able to help those in need. “Seeing so many people living in abject poverty was heartbreaking for me. “But I was encouraged to see big business doing its part,” he said. Gabriel said he also noted that it’s women and children who bear the brunt of poverty. Said the actor: “We need to subscribe to the notion of Ubuntu and help out wherever we can during these difficult times because these are times for us to self-introspect and show our Ubuntu to the rest of…

SABC3 talk show Trending SA has yet again come under the glaring glow of the spotlight. And it’s trending, once more, for all the wrong reasons. The producers of the night-time social media commentary panel talk show are said to have sacked their deck of presenters. Hosts Pabi Moloi, Kuli Roberts, Nina Hastie and Dr Musa Mthombeni were told via email their contracts had been terminated, informants said. According to insiders, Pabi and Kuli were the first to receive the bitter news. Kuli, Musa and Nina confirmed to Sunday Sun that they recieved an email informing them the show was coming back but their services have been terminated. They said they were told the show will have new hosts. Musa said he got the email a few weeks ago. Asked…

IT seems the honeymoon phase is over for former president Jacob Zuma and his baby mama, Nonkanyiso Conco. This, according to sources, who claimed the couple split late last year. Informants told the SunTeam Nonkanyiso had since moved out of the house rented for her by Zuma at Hilltop Private Estate in Zimbali, near Ballito, Durban. Asked for comment, Nonkanyiso’s dad Fartescue Conco said he no longer had contact with his daughter. But he confirmed he was made aware that she now stays with her biological mother in the Eastern Cape. Commented the madala: “She blocked me on all platforms, but I know she doesn’t stay in Ballito anymore. “I wish she’d come back home if Zuma’s no longer able to maintain her.” When the SunTeam reached out to her,…