SABC Joburg News Features
Interesting and thought-provoking news feature stories produced by the Johannesburg Radio News Team.
24
FEB
STERILISATION OF HIV POSITIVE WOMEN
The Commission for Gender Equality says forced and coerced sterilisation is a gross violation of women's human rights. The Commission is releasing a report on forced sterilisation of women living with HIV in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. The report says at least 48 HIV positive women were sterilised forcefully at 15 public hospitals in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. The Commission has revealed that women would be forced to sign consent forms under the guise that they were approving a ceasarian section and the nurses and doctors would go ahead and sterilise them. Thabile Mbhele reports...
20
FEB
JOSEPH SHABALALA MEMORIAL JHB
The late Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder, Joseph Shabalala has been described as someone who served South Africa with distinction locally and on international stages. He has been remembered as an outstanding musician, a peacemaker and an amazing man of song. Shabalala was honoured at a memorial service in Johannesburg yesterday afternoon. The internationally acclaimed singer died last week in Pretoria after a long illness. Thabile Mbhele reports…
19
FEB
JOBURG SERVICES
Joburg Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo has accused former Mayor Herman Mashaba of financially collapsing the city and lying to Joburg residents. He says there was a lot of maladministration, fraud and corruption during the DA led administration. Makhubo has been addressing the the media about the state of the city following his appointment in December. He says Mashaba made populist decisions and has misled residents...
18
FEB
REFUGEES
South African laws make it almost impossible for refugees to obtain legal documents. This is according to refugees at a centre in Johannesburg. The SABC visited the centre and learnt that even renewing existing papers is difficult. The refugees have also complained about difficulties with integrating into society. This comes after the Cape High Court's decision that foreign nationals camping outside the Central Methodist Church in Cape Town should be removed. The more than 600 foreign nationals moved into the church after they were evacuated from the pavement in front of the UN Commission for Refugees in Cape Town last year. Thabile Mbhele reports...
13
FEB
MEDICAL CLAIMS
Cerebral Palsy cases account for the majority of medical negligence claims in Gauteng and the country. This has emerged at a media briefing organised by the Gauteng Health Department to address the challenges of medico-legal cases in the province. The department says it has saved about 10 million rand through a mediation process, however it still owes over 300 million rand in old medical negligence cases. Thabile Mbhele reports...
10
FEB
Basic Education seeks harsher penalties for parents with non-school goers
The Basic Education Department says it wants to increase the penalty for parents and guardians who do not ensure that their children are in school - from six months to six years imprisonment. This, as the department continues having engagements with stakeholders on the Basic Education Laws Amendment - BELA - Bill, which seeks to amend sections of the South African Schools Act. The Bill was published in the Government Gazette in 2017 and requires that parents who wish to home educate their children register with the department in order to formalise the medium. Zoleka Qodashe reports...
08
FEB
SA welcomes Miss Universe home
SA has finally welcomed the reigning Miss Universe home. Zozibini Tunzi arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport, in Gauteng's East Rand to thousands of supporters. It is the first time that she has visited the country after she was crowned with the title in the U.S in December. Fondly known as Zozi, she's the 68th Miss Universe and only the third South African to be crowned. Tunzi is expected to embark on a week-long homecoming tour across Cape Town, the Eastern Cape and Johannesburg. Zoleka Qodashe reports...
07
FEB
Gauteng Ambulance Response Times
The Gauteng Health Department says the average response time of an ambulance in urban areas of the province is under 15-minutes. However, the public has lashed out at the department, with many people claiming that they've had to wait for several hours for an ambulance to arrive. According to Gauteng Health, they have almost 1-thousand operational ambulances across the province. Sashin Naidoo compiled this report...
05
FEB
BURIAL RIGHTS OF A FOETUS
The right to bury a foetus lost because of miscarriage or abortion has come under the spotlight after an East Rand woman was refused the foetus at Edenvale Hospital last month. The woman gave birth at 24 weeks and her baby died immediately after birth. A non-profit organisation fighting for rights of the foetus, wants the government to change legislation to give parents an option to bury the remains, regardless of how old the foetus is. Thabile Mbhele reports...
04
FEB
Soweto residents reconnect illegally
Some Soweto residents are re-connecting themselves to the grid. This is after power utility Eskom cut them off in an effort to recoup the R18 billion electricity bill owed by the township. It has emerged some residents have formed vigilante groups to guard illegal electricity connections as Eskom faces a serious backlash from communities for the electricity cuts. Yesterday Soweto residents embarked on yet another protest over the power cuts. Tshepo Phagane visited White City Jabavu where residents there have been without electricity for seven months now...
04
FEB
HIV VACCINE TRIAL STOPPED IN SA
Researchers say they will forge ahead with efforts to find an HIV vaccine despite the unsuccessful HIV vaccine trial, which has been stopped in South Africa. The HVTN 702 or Uhambo trial, which began in 2016 was conducted on 5400 men and women in 14 sites across SA. It's the largest and most advanced HIV vaccine trial in SA and the HIV research sector had pinned its hopes on its success. Thabile Mbhele reports...
31
JAN
Anti-apartheid activists recount torture
Anti-apartheid activist and former ANC Chief Whip in Johannesburg, Prema Naidoo says those who were involved in apartheid crimes must be prosecuted and brought to book. He's been testifying at the inquest of unionist Neil Aggett in the Johannesburg High Court. Naidoo was detained at the then John Voster Square Police Station at the same time as Aggett. He has also detailed the severe torture he was subjected to by members of the security branch during his detention. Aggett was found hanging in his cell on February the 5th 1982. Wisani Makhubele reports...
