Nazma Dreyer

Now drunks can have their cars seized

Drunk drivers beware - the authorities can now confiscate your vehicles if you are caught. Drive Alive said the matter was "long overdue". On Thursday, Judge Dennis Davis granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) an order in the Cape High Court to…

DA bigwig took consultancy fees, 'not bribe'

In an about-turn, DA provincial chairperson Kent Morkel now admits receiving a R10 000 payment from micro-finance company Gems, but it was a consultancy fee, not a bribe. On Wednesday, he said: "I believe I'm totally innocent. No charge was laid…

'We bribed Morkel and Samwu officials'

Funds reshuffled to save teachers' jobs

Cities flooded with migrants from rural areas

The provincial government and the City of Cape Town have denied that a collapse of services in the Eastern Cape was the cause of a flood of migrants to the Western Cape, but the two provinces are in talks about improving services in the beleaguered…

Rasool says DA scaring away film companies

The DA has warned that the R400-million still-to-be-constructed Dreamworld Film City near Khayelitsha, headed by film producer Anant Singh, "is not going to happen" because of a lack of funding. But Premier Ebrahim Rasool hit back, saying DA MP Robin…

Corruption in W Cape municipalities targeted

The Western Cape government is to launch a corruption unit that is to crack down on nepotism in municipalities. The awarding of tenders is also to come under scrutiny. Among the unit's other tasks will be to investigate underspending by…

District Six resurrection due to developers

The trenches are being dug for the remainder of the 24 District Six homes being built as part of a project that will eventually see about 4 000 families return to the area. A huge ceremony was held on February 11 when Nelson Mandela handed over the…

Spy service to probe triad threat to Rasool

Premier Ebrahim Rasool says the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the police are investigating written death threats allegedly made by the Chinese triad mafia against him and Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane. Rasool said letters had been…

Cape businessman suspected of investor fraud

A wealthy Cape Town businessman suspected of being a "highflyer" has been granted R60 000 bail on tax and investor fraud charges. Gary van der Merwe appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court in the Western Cape on Thursday with Paul Kilian and…

Mfeketo's street child plan takes shape

Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo says she is on track to meet her undertaking, given in May, to remove homeless children from Cape Town's streets within a year. Mfeketo told a full council meeting on Wednesday that she would announce details of her plan…

Cubans hired to fast-track housing projects

The Western Cape housing department has recruited 10 Cuban senior engineers and architects to assist in housing projects, because local specialists are too expensive. This is part of the department's bid to deliver houses faster - it has has already…

Tourism conferences bring top movers to Cape

More than 600 of the world's top business tourism players are spending this week in Cape Town, a visit the government and local tourism bosses hope will bring more foreign exchange into South Africa. The international industry leaders are in the city…

Cape Town cuts down on consultants

The City of Cape Town is to make a "concerted effort" to cut down on the R15,8-million spent on consultants, and instead train council employees, especially senior managers, to do the jobs consultants are hired for. So says City Manager Wallace…

Midnight oil burning to rebuild District Six

District Six Beneficiary Trust leaders have hit back at critics accusing them of deliberately delaying the delivery of houses and keeping beneficiaries in the dark. Nine houses have been built so far. Anwah Nagia, chairperson of the trust, on…

Chinese trade will create more jobs - Zuma

Beijing - China will become an "engine for jobs in South Africa", said Deputy President Jacob Zuma on Thursday at the end of his official visit. This week Zuma met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and vice-president Zeng Qinghong in Beijing and other…

Biggest strike in history to rock the nation

Special report by Karima Brown, Nazma Dreyer, Jo-Anne Smetherham, Sapa, Lee Rondganger, Aphiwe Boyce, Botho Molosankwe and Sholain Govender It has finally come to this - a strike that has been billed as one of the biggest in the country's…

'Concerned citizens' plan to upgrade Cape

A group of business people and academics say they have a business plan that could see the Grand Parade and the Castle of Good Hope revamped, and the crumbling east city precinct given a facelift. The group, including Mandela-Rhodes Foundation…

7 200 homes in five years for N2 squatters

About 7 200 homes will be built within five years for families living in shacks along the N2 highway between the Cape Town International Airport and the CBD. And 2 800 more homes are to be provided for families now living on swamp land and rubbish…

ANC to gain majority in Cape council

The majority of the City of Cape Town council's 32 New National Party (NNP) councillors have signed papers saying they have left their party and intend joining the ANC during the two-week floor crossing period which starts at midnight tonight. This…