| South Africa 'at risk of cholera' |
| 28 Nov 2008 |
| A leading South African scientist has warned that gross underinvestment in water management has left it at risk of a cholera outbreak.
Five people have died from cholera in South Africa, after crossing from Zimbabwe, where a recent outbreak has killed more than 300 people.
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| Underground fire in cable tunnel left parts of Johannesburg without power |
| 18 Nov 2008 |
| An underground fire in a cable tunnel left parts of Johannesburg's central business district without power on 17 November 2008. All electricity services south of President and Market streets -- which includes approximately 20,000 businesses -- were affected as a result of the fire, which broke out at approximately 0400 local time. Authorities suspect that the fire occurred when thieves attempted to steal the cables. Emergency services were unable to access the tunnel to put out the fire for eight hours due to the heat and smoke. City officials have stated that crews were able to restore power to approximately 60 percent of the affected area by 1000 local time on 18 November, but it is unclear when services will be fully restored to the other customers. Traffic in the area continues to be chaotic due to non-functioning traffic lights and street lighting.
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| Large protests expected at SADC summit in South Africa |
| 06 Nov 2008 |
| According to reports on 6 November 2008, large protests are expected at the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in South Africa. The summit -- which will attempt to break Zimbabwe's political impasse -- will be held on 9 November in Pretoria. Although authorities have not yet revealed the exact venue of the summit, reports indicate that a coalition of Zimbabwean organizations in South Africa is planning to hold a march in the city. Leaders from the 15-country SADC will meet in Pretoria with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to attempt to convince Mugabe to adhere to the power sharing framework that was signed in September 2008. Earlier attempts at two smaller summits over the past three weeks have been unable to resolve the deadlock over the allocation of key ministries, which has been blamed for the country's worsening humanitarian crisis.
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| Durban bus service returns to normal |
| 27 Oct 2008 |
| Bus services in Durban returned to normal on 27 October 2008 after Remant Alton -- the private company that runs bus operations -- agreed to reinstate more than 800 bus drivers without disciplinary action. Buses began operations at 0400 local time. The company had fired the 800 drivers and more than 200 administrative workers after they launched an illegal strike in late September 2008, demanding that operations be transferred to the municipal government due to the company’s financial concerns. Remant Alton has set up a consultative forum for workers and administrative officials to discuss ways to correct the issues that led to the strike.
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| 3 dead in rival taxi company attack |
| 24 Oct 2008 |
| Members of the Zwelibomvu taxi association opened fire on a rival Kwa-Ndengezi taxi association vehicle in Mariannhill -- which is located in Kwa-Zulu Natal province's eThekwini municipality -- on the morning of 24 October 2008. The incident occurred at approximately 0500 local time when the Kwa-Ndengezi taxi was travelling along Higginson Highway. The attackers pulled alongside the vehicle and began shooting, killing three of the taxi's eight passengers, including the driver; the other five passengers also sustained injuries. The attack was apparently the result of the taxi driver forcing his way onto a route that his association was not permitted to use. Authorities have identified two suspects in the case and are currently determining their whereabouts.
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| Disturbances in Motherwell bring public transportation to a halt |
| 22 Oct 2008 |
| Disturbances in Motherwell -- which is located near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape -- brought public transportation to a halt on 22 October 2008. The violence began at 0620 local time on Ngonyama Street in Motherwell, where residents broke the windows of several buses, taxis and private vehicles; bus passengers were also seen breaking windows from the inside and climbing out of the broken windows. At least three shots were fired as anti-riot police officers attempted to escort buses and taxis out of the city in order to minimize damage. The violence subsided at 1100 local time, but authorities maintained a strong police presence in the city in the immediate aftermath of the incident. There were no reported injuries from the gunshots, but at least one person was injured from thrown rocks and several were arrested for public violence. The motivation behind the violence is still unknown, but authorities believe that the goal was to bring public transportation to a halt. A protest over new public transportation for the 2010 World Cup was scheduled to take place in Port Elizabeth on 22 October, as well, but it is unclear whether the two incidents are related.
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| Durban's striking bus drivers and waste collectors threaten to bring the city to a standstill |
| 16 Oct 2008 |
| According to reports on 16 October 2008, Durban's striking bus drivers and waste collectors have threatened to bring the city to a standstill if authorities continue to reject their application to hold a march in the city center. The workers have attempted to hold the march on three separate occasions, but their application has been rejected each time for undisclosed reasons. On 15 October bus drivers and local police officers engaged in a tense standoff in Durban's Botha Gardens when the workers were notified of the latest rejection. The bus drivers began their strike on 22 September, demanding that the municipality take over the city's bus operations; waste collectors joined the strike in solidarity with the drivers soon thereafter.
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| WHO - New virus from Arenaviridae family |
| 15 Oct 2008 |
| 13 October 2008 -- The results of tests conducted at the Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service in Johannesburg, and at the Special Pathogens and Infectious Disease Pathology branches of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, USA, provide preliminary evidence that the causative agent of the disease which has resulted in the recent deaths of 3 people from Zambia and South Africa, is a virus from the Arenaviridae family.
Analysis continues at the NICD and CDC in order to characterize this virus more fully. CDC and NICD are technical partners in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN).
Meanwhile, a new case has been confirmed by PCR in South Africa. A nurse who had close contact with an earlier case has become ill, and has been admitted to hospital. Contacts have been identified and are being followed-up.
WHO and its GOARN partners continue to support the Ministries of Health of the two countries in various facets of the outbreak investigation, including laboratory diagnosis, investigations, active case finding and follow-up of contacts.
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| Tests show high mercury content in Durban's water supply |
| 15 Oct 2008 |
| KwaZulu-Natal province authorities stated on 15 October 2008 that recent tests have shown a high mercury content in Durban's water supply. High mercury levels were detected in streams, soil, vegetables and fish in the eThekwini municipality, which includes the city of Durban; the studies were conducted after evidence of human mercury poisoning surfaced in the province. Mercury poisoning is deadly, and as a precaution, authorities have warned residents not to eat local fish or vegetables or drink the water until the mercury levels return to normal. A technical task force has been set up to manage and correct the situation; the Inada dam -- which supplies water to Durban -- surrounding rivers, Wiggins Waterworks and Nagle Dam are all being monitored.
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| Suspected outbreak of hemorrhagic fever in Johannesburg |
| 09 Oct 2008 |
| On 9 October 2008 the South African Ministry of Health urged Johannesburg residents not to panic over a suspected outbreak of hemorrhagic fever. The virus, which was apparently imported from an infected Zambian woman, has killed three people since mid-September. The National Outbreak Response Team, however, is confident that it has taken the necessary steps to contain the suspected virus and does not believe that the wider Johannesburg population is at risk. The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are currently working to confirm the identity of the disease. An emergency medical services hotline (011-564-2083) has been established to deal with medical inquiries; authorities have urged all individuals who feel that they may have been at risk of contracting the disease to immediately contact emergency medical personnel.
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| Residents in six areas of Johannesburg are still without water |
| 09 Oct 2008 |
| Residents in six areas of Johannesburg are still without water on 9 October 2008 after a water main burst two days ago. Johannesburg Water (JW) stated that water and sanitation have been restored in some areas, but that technical problems forced them to shut down a reservoir that would have resumed services everywhere. Areas still without water include Braamfontein, Kensington, Houghton, Joubert Park, Bellevue and Hillbrow. JW expects to have restored services by the end of the day on 9 October. Until the situation is resolved, water can be obtained from water tankers located at Park Lane Clinic, at 204 Smith Street, Robert Street and Highland North Street in Kensington and at 43 Jolly Street in Bellevue east.
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| Johannesburg emergency services go on strike |
| 03 Oct 2008 |
| Ambulance workers, firefighters and emergency responders at Johannesburg's Roodepoort call centre went on strike on 2 October 2008. Among the workers' demands are higher pay, improved safety conditions and for each emergency station to employ a safety manager. The Emergency Management Services (EMS) union decided to strike because it claims that union members' demands have gone unmet since 2003.
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| visitors should avoid using the KwaNdengezi and Zwelibomnvu taxi associations |
| 03 Oct 2008 |
| According to reports on 3 October 2008 violence between the KwaNdengezi and Zwelibomnvu taxi associations has resumed. In two separate drive-by shooting incidents during the early morning hours, one taxi driver was killed and four other people were seriously injured. Violence between the two associations was widespread throughout Durban earlier in the year over routes, but intervention from the transport department seemingly resolved the matter. The motive for the renewed violence is currently unknown, but an investigation is underway. The violence has left commuters in Durban stranded, as the city's bus system is not operational after 800 drivers were fired late last month.
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| Durban buses may resume service by 3 October |
| 01 Oct 2008 |
| Remant Alton -- the private company that owns and operates Durban's bus system -- announced on 1 October 2008 that the city buses may resume service by 3 October. The company had fired more than 800 bus drivers in late September after the drivers embarked on an illegal strike, complaining of financial mismanagement by Remant Alton and demanding that the municipality take over bus operations. Earlier estimates stated that Durban's buses would be out of service for at least two months while the company hired new drivers. The reports did not make it clear if Remant Alton and its former employees were still in negotiations or if talks had broken down.
Meanwhile, Durban's trains and taxis have increased their services to compensate for the lack of buses. Durban's Chamber of Commerce appealed to transportation services after the bus drivers went on strike in order to ensure commuters are able to get to work. Without adequate transportation, the Chamber of Commerce commented, Durban's economy could suffer significant losses.
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| Durban may be without bus service for two to three months |
| 29 Sep 2008 |
| According to reports on 29 September 2008 Durban may be without bus service for two to three months after Remant Alton -- a private company that operates the city buses -- fired more than 800 drivers for embarking on an illegal strike. Negotiations between the drivers and the company are scheduled to take place on 29 September in an attempt to resolve the dispute. If the negotiations do not result in the drivers' reinstatement, Remant Alton will begin the process of hiring new drivers, which will take anywhere from two to three months to complete. The drivers went on strike on 22 September to demand the transfer of bus operations back to the municipality, after Remant Alton took over administration in 2003.
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| Supporters of African National Congress President gather for a protest march |
| 10 Sep 2008 |
| Supporters of African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma gathered for a protest march on 10 September 2008 near Sasolburg, located in Free State. Approximately 5,000 protesters assembled at the Zamdela Stadium, and then marched from the stadium to the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court to deliver a memorandum protesting the corruption charges that have been levied against Zuma. Members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South African Congress Party and the South African National Civic Organization in the Free State also participated in the march. Authorities stated that the demonstration remained peaceful, but that traffic was delayed along the march route.
Additional protests are expected on 11 and 12 September, when the Pietermaritzburg High Court hands down its decision on the next steps in the Zuma case. Security officials have announced that portions of Longmarket Street, Commercial Road, Church Street, Boschoff Street, Henrietta Street, Archbell Street and areas in the immediate environs of the court will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians.
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| New wildfires have broken out |
| 08 Sep 2008 |
| According to reports on 8 September 2008, new wildfires have broken out in South Africa's Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Firefighters have been battling blazes in Eshowe, Hluhluwe and Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal and, most recently, in Kokstad in southern KwaZulu-Natal, since 6 September; additional affected areas include Makgoebaskloof, which is located outside Tzaneen, in the Mopani district in northern Limpopo province. At least one person was killed in the weekend fires. The new fires follow several other wildfires last week that killed at least 30 people throughout South Africa. The fires are expected to continue until at least 9 September due to persistent dry and hot weather.
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| Residents of Lehurutshe in North West province attack buses and vehicles |
| 05 Sep 2008 |
| Residents of Lehurutshe in North West province attacked four buses and seven vehicles on the N4 road linking South Africa to Botswana late on 4 September 2008. The residents set up a roadblock on the N4 and threw stones and petrol bombs at the passing vehicles. The community apparently undertook the action to protest the local municipality's failure to repair pipes supplying water to the village. Anti-riot police officers arrested one man for public violence. The protest caused significant delays on the road, but authorities have recently reported that the road is now clear and traffic is flowing freely. |
| Proceedings at Durban's municipal courts disrupted |
| 05 Sep 2008 |
| Proceedings at Durban's municipal courts were disrupted on 5 September 2008 as African National Congress (ANC) members protested charges against ANC President Jacob Zuma. The authorities reported that approximately 50 protesters gathered outside Durban's magistrate court, 300 marched outside the Ntuzuma magistrate court, 100 marched outside the Umlazi court and 50 gathered outside the Chatsworth magistrate's court. Several courts reportedly had to delay proceedings due to the noise levels. The protests follow marches on 16 Durban police stations on 29 August; additional marches are expected on 10 September outside the National Prosecuting Authority's regional office and on 11 September outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Zuma faces charges of corruption, money laundering and fraud, related to a 2005 arms deal. |
| Large windstorms and brush fires have spread across South Africa |
| 02 Sep 2008 |
| Reports from 1 September 2008 indicated that large windstorms and brush fires have spread across South Africa. More than 100 isolated fires -- which were apparently caused by the combination of a dry winter and strong winds -- have killed at least 20 people across the country; at least 14 were killed in KwaZulu-Natal province, three people were killed in neighboring Mpumalanga province and three others were killed in Eastern Cape province. The South African Weather Service forecast that the current cold front, which is fueling the fires, is moving away, but warned that another cold front was expected in the next week. Although firefighters have contained the majority of the fires, the weather service stated that fires are still strong in some areas and may continue to affect Limpopo and northern KwaZulu-Natal provinces in the coming days. |
| Trade Unions stage a one-day nationwide strike |
| 06 Aug 2008 |
| The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is staging a one-day nationwide strike on 6 August 2008 to protest rising prices and growing inflation. Large protest marches began at 1000 local time in 18 cities and industrial centers. Demonstrations involving thousands of people have taken place at various city halls, including in Pretoria and Durban. Most public transportation services have been shut down, and long lines have been reported for those bus and taxi services that are running. There are reports that striking workers are setting up roadblocks; however, there have been no significant incidents of violence thus far. The country's mining industry is at a standstill as miners refused to show up for work. The automotive manufacturing industry has also been significantly impacted. The COSATU trade union is comprised of approximately 2 million workers in both private and public sector industries.
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| 3rd preliminary strike to take place |
| 22 Jul 2008 |
| The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) will launch the third of three preliminary strikes on 23 July 2008 in the lead-up to a nationwide stay-away planned for 6 August. The strikes will be held in the Gauteng, Limpopo and North West provinces in response to rising electricity and food prices. In Gauteng, marches will take place in the Johannesburg city center. Protests are also expected in the Eastern Cape, and will include marches in East London, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown and Mthatha. These strikes will affect all sectors of the economy, including services typically used by travelers. All travelers should expect significant disruptions in these provinces and should plan accordingly.
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| ATM's in Hammersdale bombed |
| 15 Jul 2008 |
| Unidentified criminals bombed three ATMs at a shopping center in Hammersdale -- located in KwaZulu-Natal province -- on 15 July 2008. The men apparently entered the shopping center after cutting a lock to the outside gate and holding up two security guards. A gunfight broke out after the machines were blown up, but no casualties or injuries were reported. The criminals then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money in an abandoned police car. No arrests have been made.
The frequency of attacks on individuals using ATMs and attacks on the machines themselves has risen dramatically in 2008. So far this year, at least 250 ATMs have been blown up across the country, up from 190 cases reported in all of 2007. In light of these attacks, the South African authorities released security guidance for using ATMs. The security tips include: not using the ATM if it appears damaged or if the screen is blank, reporting the ATM if suspicious items are protruding from the machine or if it appears damaged, and not continuing to attempt to use the ATM if the initial transaction fails to process correctly. In addition to these tips, individuals using ATMs should take other basic security precautions to avoid becoming victims of ATM robberies and scams, including not using ATMs in poorly lit or isolated areas and standing close to the machine in order to block the PIN code from criminals.
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| Tade Unions to launch local strikes with national strike to follow |
| 08 Jul 2008 |
| The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is planning to launch a series of strikes and protests on 9 July 2008 over high food and fuel prices and the loss of jobs resulting from an electricity crisis. The first set of strikes will take place in the provinces of Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on 9 July. The KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Alliance and the KZN Taxi Council will participate in the strike in KwaZulu-Natal, where most stores are expected be closed and there will be no taxis on the roads. Thousands of protesters are expected to gather in Durban at Currie's Fountain and will march to City Hall. Local metro police officers will patrol the march to ensure it remains peaceful. An additional march is planned in Newcastle from Pioneer Park to Newcastle High School. In Western Cape, a march is planned from Keisersgracht to Parliament in Cape Town and to local police stations in other cities at 1100 local time. In Eastern Cape, protesters will march from North End Street to the Border/Kei Chamber of Business in New London at 1000 local time. Other marches are planned in the province in Port Elizabeth, Umthatha, Queens Town and Xola Phakati.
Additional actions are planned in the provinces of Free State, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape on 16 July and in Gauteng, Limpopo and North West on 23 July. The provincial actions will be followed by a national strike on 6 August.
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| Disaster relief teams on alert following heavy rains |
| 08 Jul 2008 |
| Authorities in Cape Town placed disaster relief teams on high alert on 8 July 2008 after heavy rains flooded roads and left many people homeless. The downpours began on 7 July and are expected to last until 10 July. Reports indicate that thousands of Cape Town residents -- especially those from the low-lying areas of the Cape Flats -- have been displaced and are currently being housed in local community halls. The rains have also caused mudslides and rockslides and have flooded several main roads and tunnels in the Cape Town area. Many roads have sustained extensive damage and it is unclear when workers will be able to repair them. Motorists should therefore expect delays and be prepared with multiple alternate routes if travelling through Cape Town.
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| Plan to rename many streets in Durban is scheduled to be implemented on 1 July |
| 01 Jul 2008 |
| A controversial plan to rename many streets in Durban -- located in KwaZula-Natal on the eastern coast of South Africa -- is scheduled to be implemented on 1 July 2008. In statements earlier this week, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) pledged that "World War III" would break out if the street renaming proceeded as planned. The IFP has since pulled back from this threat, but continues to insist that residents' "anger cannot be contained" if streets are renamed after controversial international figures, including Yasser Arafat, Che Guevara and Andrew Zondo, the late bomber and member of the African National Party (ANC), which is currently South Africa’s ruling party. The IFP has vowed to continue protests until the renaming is reconsidered. Residents of Umlazi -- a township in Durban -- have planned to hold a march this week to protest the name changes. The Masakhane committee -- appointed by the Durban city council to institute the name changes -- insists that it followed all the necessary procedures and that the name changes will come into effect as planned.
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| Polices forces fire on each other in Johannesburg |
| 26 Jun 2008 |
| Striking police officers from the Johannesburg metropolitan police force reportedly opened fire on members of South Africa's national police force on 26 June 2008. The confrontation between the two forces occurred when national police officers allegedly fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd of approximately 500 local police officers, who had blockaded major roads outside police headquarters in Johannesburg, causing serious traffic disruptions. Reports indicate that seven local police officers were injured in the confrontation. According to national police officials, the local police officers responded by firing live bullets at members of the national force. The local police union denied that its officers had fired live rounds; the union has also accused the national police of using the incident as "propaganda." The strike -- which is being staged over low pay and nepotism in the police force -- began peacefully on 25 June.
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