Breakfast Edition: 20 July 2015
ACCIDENT PRETORIA: On the first day back at school, for inland schools, there were major traffic disruptions on various roads in and around Pretoria this morning. On the N1 South, one person has died in a horror pile up near the Rigel Avenue off-ramp in the early hours of this morning. Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Johan Pieterse says some lanes have been reopened but that police are currently conducting their investigation into the cause of the fatal crash. Pieterse says EMS was at the scene shortly after it happened and had to extract the body of the deceased.
N1 near Garsfontein rd accident @JacaNews @ewnupdates @RekordNewspaper pic.twitter.com/MK7yF0bVbm
— Netcare911 (@Netcare911_sa) July 20, 2015
TRAIN COLLISION: The rail line between Booysens and Crown Station in Johannesburg has been cleared and restored following Friday afternoon's massive accident between two trains that injured hundreds of commuters. Metro Rail says the line is fully operational and trains are back on track as per the normal schedule. A Board of inquiry has been established to investigate the cause and circumstances of the accident. According to Metro Rail, 28 commuters are still being treated at different hospitals in Johannesburg for none critical injuries.
NUMSA PLANNING A STRIKE: Government, Labour, business and Community representatives within NEDLAC will meet this morning to consider an application by the union NUMSA for a socio economic strike. It will involve marches, rallies, pickets, lunch hour demonstrations, strikes and stay aways from work, if NEDLAC cannot find a solution against corruption in the private and public sector. NUMSA's Irvin Jim says so far the date agreed to, is the 19th of August.
LIVE SHARK ATTACK ON TV: A dramatic shark attack off the Eastern Cape coast is sending waves across the world. It was broadcast live on TV, during the well-known J Bay Open, that attracts surfers from across the world. Former triple champ, Australian Mick Fanning had to fight off a shark yesterday, that attacked while he was sitting on his surf board. Fanning's mom sat watching the whole ordeal from the TV in her Sydney house. She says she doesn't know if she will ever recover from that feeling of helplessness when she saw her son disappearing under the water. Back in Jeffrey's Bay, organisers from the Open will meet this morning, after the final heats were suspended.
BIKERS FOR MANDELA DAY: Bikers for Mandela Day ended the weekend's International celebration of Madiba's birthday, with a special commemoration on the steps of the Drosdy Hotel in Graaf-Reinet. The Bikers lit candles while the choir of the SAPS Training College sang. Karen Zoid also sang a few songs and led the SAPS College choir in a traditional Xhosa song. Zoid also thanked the future policemen and -women for choosing a difficult career. One of these trainees, recited a famous section from Madiba's Rivonia trial speech. Madiba's former personal assistant, Zelda la Grange reminded the group of Mandela's wish when he retired from Public life in 2008. The Bikers for Mandela Day will this morning return to Gauteng.
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