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Poll Question: What do you think should be the top priority for addressing illegal mining in Stilfontein?

Seventeen illegal miners emerged from two mine shafts in Stilfontein on Thursday, according to News24. Fourteen, all foreign nationals from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, resurfaced at Margaret Shaft, while three others emerged from Shaft 10. These miners are being processed by authorities.

Meanwhile, around 300 illegal miners appeared in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on charges including illegal mining and contravening the Immigration Act.

A 19-year-old miner alleged that he was forced to mine for six months by heavily armed mine bosses who refused to let workers leave. He described dire underground conditions, including being beaten if they tried to escape and surviving on toothpaste. The teenager claimed that armed individuals acted as enforcers, making escape dangerous.

Image credit: TebogoPhakedi, X

Poll Question: What is your take on the alleged extortion claims in the Stilfontein illegal mining operation?

Police in the North West have retracted claims that extortionists are obstructing efforts to rescue illegal miners from an abandoned shaft in Stilfontein, according to EWN. Authorities had been investigating a community leader accused of demanding a 30% cut from a rescue team deployed by Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu at the Buffelsfontein gold mine.

Deputy Provincial Commissioner Patrick Asaneng dismissed the extortion allegations, stating that no mine rescue teams had reported being approached for bribes, labeling the claims as baseless distractions. Contractors are working on a plan to safely bring illegal miners, known as zama zamas, to the surface and dismantle the underground network, with the operation reportedly costing over R1 million daily.

Poll Question: What is the main reason behind the recent defections from the EFF to the MK Party?

Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, criticized the recent defection of several key party members, calling it “ideological infiltration” and “betrayal.” High-profile figures like Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, and Busisiwe Mkhwebane left to join Jacob Zuma’s MK Party (MKP), with Shivambu now serving as MKP’s secretary-general.

Speaking at the EFF Gauteng general assembly, Malema accused these individuals of prioritizing personal ambitions over the party’s principles, undermining the EFF during its election campaign. He also maintained his stance against Zuma, describing him as “corrupt to the core” and reaffirming the EFF’s anti-corruption mission.

Malema urged members to reject betrayal, stay loyal to the party’s values, and avoid individualism that weakens revolutionary movements. According to News24, this speech comes as dissatisfaction with Malema’s leadership reportedly grows within the EFF.

Poll Question: Chidimma Adetshina has stepped away from pageants. If you were in her position, what would you prioritize?

According to Times Live, Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Chidimma Adetshina, has announced her decision to leave beauty pageants. The 23-year-old Nigerian beauty queen, who was the first runner-up at the 2024 Miss Universe pageant in Mexico, expressed her intention to prioritize her education, personal growth, and mental health.

In interviews, Adetshina described her pageant journey as both rewarding and challenging, calling it a “traumatic experience.” Despite the difficulties, she was overwhelmed by the support she received from Nigeria and Africa, which she described as “refreshing.” She plans to focus on runway modeling and exploring her potential in other areas.

Adetshina returned to Nigeria to a warm reception and expressed gratitude to her supporters for helping her dreams come true. She described her experience as a proud and life-changing moment.

Poll Question:Have you updated your prepaid electricity meter yet?

Eskom has urged prepaid electricity users to update their meters before the 24 November 2024 deadline to avoid losing power, according to a report by MyBroadband. Meters using the outdated KRN1 system will no longer accept tokens after this date, leaving them inoperable once their current credit runs out.

Updating your meter is crucial to prevent costly replacements, which could reach up to R12,000. To check if your meter needs updating, users can input a code on the keypad: if it displays 1 or 1.2, recoding is required; if it shows 2 or 2.2, no action is needed.

Customers must purchase tokens from authorized vendors to receive two 20-digit codes necessary for the update. Eskom has also deployed community support teams to assist with the process. For more details, visit Eskom’s dashboard to track progress on the Key Revision Number rollout project, as highlighted by MyBroadband.

Poll Question: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: What are your thoughts on this Netflix-backed fight?

According to News24, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, 58, slapped opponent Jake Paul during a heated face-off before their upcoming bout, which is backed by Netflix. The confrontation happened after their weigh-in at AT&T Stadium in Texas, where Tyson, weighing 228.4 pounds, delivered an open-handed slap to Paul’s cheek. Security quickly separated the two fighters.

Tyson, appearing focused, had few words and left the stage with his entourage, saying, “Talking’s over.” Paul, 27, shrugged off the slap, taunting Tyson as “an angry little elf” and vowing to knock him out. The highly anticipated eight-round fight will be streamed live on Netflix and has sparked mixed reactions within the boxing community, with some disapproving of Tyson’s return to the ring nearly 40 years after his debut.

Poll Question: What is the biggest challenge facing the EFF right now?

According to Times Live, EFF leader Julius Malema addressed recent tensions with MK Party president Jacob Zuma, stating he’s unafraid of any confrontation with the former president. This statement followed the departure of several prominent EFF members, including Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, Mzwanele Manyi, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and Dali Mpofu, who joined the MK Party. The MK Party recently overtook the EFF as South Africa’s third-largest political party.

In a podcast episode, Malema criticized the former EFF members, suggesting they lacked loyalty and political impact. He was only surprised by Shivambu’s resignation, asserting that neither Zuma nor the MK Party could threaten the EFF’s future. The EFF will hold an elective conference next month to select new top leaders for the party.

Poll Question: Do you think Danny Jordaan’s alleged actions will impact SAFA’s reputation?

According to The Citizen, SAFA president Danny Jordaan has been arrested and charged with fraud, allegedly spending R1.3 million of the association’s funds for personal gain. Alongside him, SAFA CFO Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling face similar charges, with the trio set to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court. The Citizen reports that between 2014 and 2018, Jordaan allegedly used SAFA funds for personal security and PR services without board approval. The Hawks conducted a five-hour raid at SAFA’s Johannesburg office in March, seizing evidence to support the case.

Poll Question: Is it time for Mbuyiseni Ndlozi to consider a move to the MK Party?

Sanet Solomon, a political analyst from Unisa, commented on the shifting dynamics within South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as some members defect to the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. Solomon noted that these defections could widen the divide between EFF co-founders Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu, whose relationship has reportedly been strained due to differences in leadership styles and future party goals, The Citizen reports. Shivambu’s alignment with MK seems to stem from his perception of EFF as heavily centered around Malema, leaving limited room for his advancement. Rumors also suggest that EFF MPs Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Carl Niehaus may follow Shivambu to MK, although Shivambu denies recruiting former EFF members, emphasizing that MK’s growth isn’t reliant on EFF defections. Malema’s recent tweet hints at further anticipated exits, possibly signaling deeper internal rifts within the EFF.

Image credit: Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, X

Poll Question: Do you think Mark Lifman’s connections within the security industry played a role in his murder?

According to News24, the recent murder of underworld figure Mark Lifman has shaken the Cape Town security industry due to the alleged involvement of individuals tied to his own security company, Professional Protection Alternatives (PPA). Lifman was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Garden Route Mall by two men, Johan Hendrik Jacobs and Gert “Johnny” Bezuidenhout, who previously worked in security and had links to PPA. Both suspects, now charged with premeditated murder, were quickly apprehended by police after allegedly attempting to evade capture by changing their vehicle’s registration and appearance.

Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile described Jacobs as a highly trained former Special Task Force member, and authorities are still investigating potential motives behind the killing, with suspicions that Lifman may have known his killers. Lifman’s associates speculate that tension within the underworld and longstanding rivalries may have played a role in his death. The murder has raised concerns about power struggles among security and gang factions in Cape Town, with police ramping up efforts to prevent further violence.

Image credit: X

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