Latest from TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
11 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Hitman jailed for brutal attack on elderly couple planned by son-in-law
A man who was paid R1,000 to kill an elderly couple as they prepared for Fajr — a sunrise prayer — has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the contract killing in Cape Town. Reagan Davis, 35, was handed two life sentences and 15 years' direct imprisonment by the Cape Town high court for the murder of 75-year-old Hashim Ahmed Dennis and attempted murder of his 70-year-old wife Kulsoem at home in Northpine, Brackenfell, on January 31 2020. Davis was a co-accused with the elderly couple's son-in-law Brent Williams — who died in February before the state closed its case. 'Senior state advocate Evadne Kortje proved the murder was a contract killing and the accused was paid R1,000, which he used to buy takkies,' said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila. Evidence was led by 10 witnesses which revealed Williams and his wife Ibtisaam Dennis, who lived with the elderly couple, had marital problems. Williams hired Davis and an unknown accomplice to invade and attack his in-laws to 'neutralise' his marital problems. Williams drove the hitmen to the property and they gained access via a security gate at about 4am and entered the couple's flatlet. '[Kulsoem Dennis] heard the voice of an intruder asking where the money was in Afrikaans before brutally attacking her. The intruder hit her on the head, neck and chest with a gun. She chanted, 'Allahu-Akbar' [God is Great] until she hit the floor. Severely injured and in shock, she lay on the floor, pretending to be dead as her [headscarf] fell softly over her face and she kept her eyes closed,' said Ntabazalila. Her husband was attacked as he came out the bathroom and died after being stabbed 15 times. Ibtisaam Dennis called the police, whose investigation confirmed her husband was the mastermind behind the attack.
TimesLIVE
26 minutes ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Stellantis weighs offloading Maserati in brand purge
Stellantis is considering a possible sale of its struggling luxury Maserati unit, among other options, two sources with knowledge of the matter said, as the carmaker seeks to overhaul its sprawling portfolio of 14 brands. Discussions about Maserati's future started before new CEO Antonio Filosa, who starts on Monday, was appointed last month, while Stellantis was steered by chair John Elkann. The viability of the French-Italian company's 14 brands — which include Chrysler, Peugeot, Jeep and Alfa Romeo — was a priority for Elkann as he interviewed candidates to fill the CEO job. Like other European carmakers, the world's fourth biggest carmaker is facing hefty US import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and struggling with stiff competition from Chinese rivals. Stellantis hired consultant McKinsey early in April to advise it on the effects of the US tariffs on Maserati and Alfa Romeo as the two brands prepare future plans. Stellantis affirmed then it was fully committed to both brands. However, a possible divestment of Maserati, its only luxury brand, is among the options McKinsey is exploring for Stellantis, the two sources told Reuters, adding the adviser's assessment was still in the early stages. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. Asked for comment, a Stellantis spokesperson said: 'Respectfully, Maserati is not for sale.'
TimesLIVE
27 minutes ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
KZN logistics company owner, drivers arrested in raid on undocumented foreigners
KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli has vowed to continue a clampdown on businesses that flout labour laws by employing undocumented foreigners. He was speaking after a raid at Westmead Mining, a Durban-based logistics company where law enforcement officials arrested several workers without documentation. 'We will not tolerate the employment of undocumented nationals or anyone employed without due processes. It must be legal, ' said Ntuli. The visit follows an outcry from local drivers who complain undocumented workers accept lower wages, he said. An informer put the number of truck drivers working at the company at 85, said Ntuli. The owner was arrested More than 135 people were arrested in a crackdown by police for a wide range of crimes in the past two days, he said.
TimesLIVE
27 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Ugandan women rebuild traumatised lives after Gulf abuse
Emily Ounyesiga, 38, beams with pride as she talks about the bakery she runs in Uganda's capital Kampala — a vibrant, bustling space filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries. In 2017 Ounyesiga was duped by a recruitment agent and trafficked to work as a live-in nanny in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. She was promised a monthly salary of $400 (R7,220) — six times more than she could earn in Uganda. Instead, over four years, Ounyesiga was enslaved, starved, raped and jailed. 'When I returned to Uganda, I was so sick and frail,' the mother of two told Context/the Thomson Reuters Foundation via a video call. 'But I was luckier than most. I got help. I was taken to a hospital to get treatment, provided with a place to stay and given training where I learnt baking and was able to rebuild my life. Now, I feel I have a bright future.' Ounyesiga is one of just a few African women who, after being exploited as domestic workers in the Middle East, have managed to forge a new path with support from international charity EverFree. The organisation operates in Uganda and the Philippines, providing survivors of human trafficking with shelters, medical and psychosocial care and skills training. Monica Kyamazima, head of EverFree in Uganda, said the charity has helped hundreds of young women but many more remain trapped in poverty and suffering after returning from the Gulf. In 2024 the charity supported 353 survivors of human trafficking.
TimesLIVE
27 minutes ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Ramaphosa to make judiciary fully independent of justice department
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced he is working on making the judiciary fully independent and that it will no longer rely on the government, even for its finances. This comes after a meeting Ramaphosa had with members of the judiciary earlier this month where, led by chief justice Mandisa Maya, they raised concern about being too reliant on the state. Though by its nature the judiciary is an independent third arm of the state along with the executive and the legislature, its functions remain under the control of the department of justice and constitutional development. This means the judiciary has to get approval on a range of issues including budget and filling of vacancies from the minister of justice. Ramaphosa used his address at the Constitutional Court's 30th birthday celebration to announce he has set up a team that will work on making the judiciary fully independent of the government. Like the executive and the legislature, the judiciary will now independently run its affairs and will have its budget allocated directly by the Treasury. Ramaphosa said the dependence of the judiciary on the government has been odd. 'A joint committee is now in action to finalise this whole process of the independence of the judiciary. It has been an anomaly of our constitutional architecture that we've had parliament as an independent institution in our constitution fully and properly recognised, and the executive — but the judiciary has on an unfair basis had to depend on government on a variety of matters from getting approval on the appointment of people and not even being in complete control of their own budget,' said Ramaphosa. 'This comes to an end now. The judiciary will be independent. We will ensure the judiciary is rightly constituted as an equal branch of the state, same level as the executive and the legislature.' At the meeting with the senior leaders of the judiciary led by the chief justice earlier this month, Ramaphosa and minister of justice Mmamoloko Kubayi committed to ensuring the independence of the state. 'Within the principle of the separation of powers, each arm of the state has a responsibility to co-operate with, and provide support to, the other arms of the state in giving full effect to our constitution. It requires, in particular, that we create conditions in which each arm of the state can fulfil their respective mandates without hindrance,' said Ramaphosa at the time. 'It is an opportunity to develop common approaches on issues that are critical to the effective functioning of the judiciary. At the core of our deliberations is our shared commitment to safeguarding and entrenching the independence of the judiciary and ensuring that it has the space and means to administer justice.' Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said as much as the judiciary has always been independent, some aspects including its finances have been under the department. 'It's always been independent but on some administrative aspects they were dependent on the department. So those administrative areas will now be fully managed by the judiciary as they should be,' he said.
