South Africa’s top stories this week
South Africa’s top athletes have been making a name for themselves – and making their country proud – at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Read on to see how Team SA is faring and to catch-up on other news.
South Africa at the Summer Olympic Games
Here are South Africa’s top five moments thus far in the 32nd Olympic Games being held in Tokyo:
- Swimming sensation Tatjana Schoenmaker won her 200m breaststroke qualifying heat in 2:19.15, setting a new Olympic record. She was only 0.05 secs off the world record set in 2013.
- Tatjana won the first silver medal for South Africa in the 100m-breaststroke final. Chad le Clos had South Africans on the edge of their seats when he scraped through his qualifying heat to book his spot in the men’s 200m butterfly finals.
- South African surfer Bianca Buitendag won a silver medal in the women’s surfing event.
- South Africa’s men’s hockey team causing major upset with a historic victory over team Germany, ranked fifth in the world.
- Tatjana broke the 200m-breaststroke world record of 2:19.11, set by Danish Rikke Moller Pedersen in 2013. Tatjana powered to the finishing line in a time of 2:18.95. This is the first time a South African female swimmer has won gold at the Olympics since Penny Heyns in the 1996 Games.
Athletics, men's 400m, heats: Wayde van Niekerk finished 3rd in his heat in 45.25 and qualified 12th for the semi-finals
Zakithi Nene and Thapelo Phora both finished 5th in their heats in 45.74 and 45.83, for 28th and 29th overall, missing out on the semis#TeamSA #Tokyo2020— Team South Africa (@TeamSA2024) August 1, 2021
Tiger Brands recalls certain KOO and Hugo’s canned products
Certain Hugo’s and KOO canned products have been recalled by Tiger Brands due to defective cans supplied by a packaging supplier.
Twenty-five canned products manufactured between May 1, 2019, and May 5, 2021, have been recalled. To view the full list, click here.
Tremor: 3.6 magnitude quake rattles Johannesburg
A 3.6 magnitude earthquake was felt in Gauteng on Friday (July 30) morning.
The Council for Geoscience confirmed a 3.6 magnitude earthquake occurred at 06:35, at a depth of 10km, about 4.2km southwest of Boksburg.
The council said it was still gathering information, but says no damage to property and other infrastructure had been reported.
#Earthquake M3.6 Near Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa 7mins ago 30 Jul 04:34 UTC – report/info: https://t.co/gnzolnfqU1
— Earthquake Monitor (@EQAlerts) July 30, 2021
Fuel price increases for August
All fuel types will be more expensive from August 4, as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announces adjusted fuel prices.
On Friday (July 30), the Central Energy Fund released the fuel price increases coming into effect on Wednesday (August 4). Here are the fuel price increases for August:
- Petrol: 91 cents per litre increase;
- Diesel: 55.58 cent per litre increase;
- Illuminating paraffin: 50 cents per litre increase; and
- LPGas: R2.26 per kilogram increase.
For the full list of price changes released by the Central Energy Fund, click here.
SA voter registration weekend postponed
The Electoral Commission has rescheduled its planned voter registration weekend to an undetermined date, due to the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was set to take place yesterday and today (July 31 and August 1).
The commission is seeking judicial approval to defer the municipal elections after the Moseneke report recommended delaying the October elections until February.
Even if a court grants approval, a myriad of legal and political ramifications can be expected, says Prof Erwin Schwella of the Hugenote Kollege in Wellington.
He chats to journalist Izak du Plessis about postponing the elections, possible challenges, and ramifications:
Read original story on krugersdorpnews.co.za
