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Eyewitness News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ekurhuleni Mayor seeking legal advice over legality of placing City Manager Imogen Mashazi on special leave
JOHANNESBURG - Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza is seeking legal advice regarding the legality of the council's decision to place City Manager Imogen Mashazi on special leave. The city council met on Tuesday to discuss whether the decision to put her on special leave should be reversed. Mashazi was granted special leave two weeks ago, with the city citing legislation that prohibits individuals over the age of 65 from occupying senior positions. Her special leave is set to continue until her retirement date in August, but she is refusing to comply with it. The Ekurhuleni city council is divided, with one half arguing that Mashazi's placement on special leave was unlawful, while another maintains that it was justified. Some in the city council have told EWN that although the law prohibits her from holding the city manager position due to her age, the city may have made errors in the processes involved in placing her on special leave. Xhakaza is seeking legal advice from his attorneys to assess the constitutionality of the decision and will report back to the city council after receiving guidance from the legal team. In the meantime, Mashazi insists that her placement on special leave was unjustified.
Eyewitness News
06-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
The normalisation of femicide in South Africa
Bonolo Mahlatsi 6 June 2025 | 12:09 Femicide Gender-based violence (GBV) Women's Month A memorial service was held for Olorato Mongale in Bloemfontein on 29 May 2025. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN Femicide, gender-based violence (GBV), and violence in general have become an integral part of life for South African women. This horrendous crime is a national crisis, plaguing society as a whole. Despite South Africa's robust legal framework, policies and strategic plans aimed at tackling GBV and femicide, such scourges are still escalating and appear to be deeply rooted in societal norms. The epidemic of femicide that South Africa is and has been facing is misogyny amplified, normalised, and reproduced. It has become normal for women to be violated and ostracised while already being vulnerable. The violence against women, and its normalisation, has once again come under the spotlight with the murder of Olorato Mongale, who was killed by a man she went on a first date with. The unfortunate and untimely passing of Olorato, a reminder of what South Africa has become for women, hit home for many individuals, including her friends, who tried to find her after her phone location indicated she was in a dangerous place. Upon realising she was missing, social media posts were circulated seeking assistance from the public about her whereabouts. Olorato was a postgraduate student. Her body was found in Lombardy West in Johannesburg on Sunday, less than two hours after she was picked up. THE SOCIAL MEDIA NARRATIVE However, as if the murder of yet another young woman was not bad enough, it was unfortunate to read the comments posted on social media, such as: "Why did she go out with a stranger?" "Why did she not drive herself to the date?" The posts blamed her for not taking extra measures to avoid putting herself in danger. The comments continued despite people learning about the safety measures Olorato had put in place, including sharing her location with friends. The comments suggest she did not know any better. Another grim and unfortunate instance of femicide was that of Sbusiso Lawrence, a KwaZulu-Natal man who took a disturbing video of himself 'unaliving' (killing) his partner in December 2024. Lawrence's video sparked outrage after he shared the traumatic incident on social media, where he attempted to justify his actions, saying he was triggered by being mistreated in their relationship and was seen with blood on his face. After confessing, he was later found hanging from a tree near the murder scene. The normalisation there was in people asking, "Why did she leave him? He was a good man." And even when it was later revealed that he had previously attempted to unalive her, negative remarks were still made about the victim. The narrative of victim-blaming became apparent following that incident. Again, we observed social media comments that her actions provoked his behaviour, which led to her death. The social media commentary is an invisible finger-pointing exercise that serves to blame women. And there are many other cases. It is such behaviour that normalises and perpetuates violence against women. There is advice cautioning women to avoid becoming victims, such as 'don't walk alone at night, don't wear provocative clothing or short skirts'. However, the same cautions aren't used against men to say they shouldn't violate women. The unfortunate incidents show that social media has unfortunately become a breeding ground for victim-blaming. Victim-blaming has become a normative part of our thinking that goes unchallenged. Social media commentary that pushes the victim-blaming narrative fosters a culture of negativity on social media and only adds salt to the wound, which is another form of deviant behaviour illustrating gendered stereotypes. These narratives pushed through social media commentary obstruct sympathy and support for those who have suffered and those afflicted. Start confronting femicide and GBV to alleviate the dangers Generally, we observe the normalisation through social codes and social media posts that place the blame on women. What is unfortunate is that despite having such social codes that essentially spell out the terms in which women should conduct themselves, all in the name of being 'safe,' women still become victims of femicide and GBV. The normalisation of femicide and GBV is disheartening and inhumane; we need to start confronting it to alleviate the dangers they pose. How many mass movements will it take for women's voices to be heard that we live in constant fear day and night? Why should we suffer at the misogynistic hands of men? Such deviant behaviour cannot in any way be normalised. The danger of continuously normalising such behaviour will get to a point where it will no longer feel wrong. We will soon be celebrating Women's Month, with our faces bowed with despondency from heartbreaking news we would have learned about since the year started and from previous years. Shortly after that, we will be celebrating 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, aware of the constant fear women live in. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Portfolio Committee on Women should start stepping up intentionally and practically advocating for women (young and old) and uproot the persisting issue with the help of all women to mobilise our cry for help, safety, and not having to live in constant fear. Until that happens, as South African women, we will live in fear and be failed, which is appalling. Do we deserve to be treated like we are sub-human? Bonolo Mahlatsi is a Senior Student Experience Officer in the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and a Sociology master's graduate, UFS. She writes in her personal capacity.
Eyewitness News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi placed on special leave pending her retirement
JOHANNESBURG - Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi has been placed on special leave, pending the 65-year-old's retirement. There has been growing tension between Mashazi and the city, as she refuses to step down before completing her term. Her refusal is in direct conflict with the Municipal Systems Act, which requires senior managers to retire a month after turning 65. Ekurhuleni's first woman city manager is not buckling under pressure to vacate her post, insisting she will serve out her full term, which ends in May 2026. Mashazi is supposed to retire in August but intends to remain in office until her contract expires. The city has subsequently placed Mashazi on special leave until her pending retirement in August. But she refuses to comply, arguing that she is still capable of performing her duties and cannot be forced out. EWN has seen a letter from Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza ordering Mashazi to vacate her office, citing her continued presence as unlawful.
Eyewitness News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Bushiris file application in Malawi court to review judgment ordering their extradition to SA
JOHANNESBURG - Self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, and his wife, Mary, have filed a review application before the high court of Malawi of the judgment that ordered their extradition to South Africa. In March this year, the chief resident magistrate in Lilongwe ordered that the couple be extradited following a request by South Africa. They were arrested on a string of charges against them, including fraud and money laundering. The controversial pair fled to their home country in 2020 after failing to comply with their bail conditions, leading to South Africa's extradition request. In papers before the high court in Malawi, the controversial couple argued that the chief magistrate erred in law by breaching the fundamental principles of natural justice. They argued that the chief magistrate delivered her final ruling on South Africa's extradition request without affording them an opportunity to defend themselves. This, they argued, was contrary to Malawi's constitution, the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code and the Extradition Act. This, the duo submitted, flew in the face of the audi alteram partem rule, which means listen to the other side. They intend to argue that it would be unjust or oppressive to surrender them to South Africa. EWN has learnt that the pair's review application may be heard in July.
Eyewitness News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa informal settlement sanitation crises to be addressed by next week: Maile
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile is confident that the sanitation crisis at the Ramaphosa informal settlement in Emfuleni will be addressed by next week. Maile made the announcement during the re-tabling of his budget speech on Tuesday. He said that R300 million had been allocated to the Department of Human Settlements to specifically address sanitation issues. This follows an EWN report, revealing that portable toilets at the informal settlement had not been cleaned in four months. Mother of three Frieda Veeris's portable toilet was last cleaned on Valentine's Day. What's even more traumatic for her is having to use a toilet with worms all over the toilet bowl and seat. "I don't even want to go in. What happens if a worm finds its way into my private part? I use a bucket now. There's no other way." Maile said worry no more, as the toilets will soon be cleaned. "After we have presented the budget, go and check next week if the Ramaphosa informal settlement is receiving the service, so that we don't have budgets that are not spent when people actually have got needs." Maile said similar issues in other parts of the province would also be addressed.
