Breakfast Edition: 29 March 2016
WATCH & LISTEN: Here is a recap of this morning's top news stories.
CLASSES RESUME AT NWU AFTER VIOLENT PROTESTS: It is back to the desks at the North West University's Mahikeng campus from today. The campus was forced to shut down academic activities more than a month ago after violent protests that saw a building torched in a fire. The Mafikeng campus was closed on February 24 after violence erupted. At least 14 students were injured when students aligned to the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command clashed with private security guards on campus. Degenaar said: "During a Mafikeng Campus Senate meeting on Monday, February 29, it was resolved that the campus will reopen for academic activities on March 29. He said students will be allowed to move into residences on March 28, adding that NWU staff members resumed their duties on February 29.
OFFICIAL EASTER TRAFFIC STATISTICS TO BE RELEASED: Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters will on Tuesday morning release the official statistics on the past Easter weekend's road deaths and accident toll. Traditionally increased Easter weekend traffic volumes result in high accident and fatality figures. By late on Monday evening traffic volumes were still high at the De Hoek Plaza near Heidelberg on the N3 from KwaZulu/Natal to Gauteng. As Olivia Phalaetsile reports, early indications are that the figures could take a turn for the better this year.
PIKITUP WORKERS ARE BEING ESCORTED BY JMPD OFFICIALS: The Johannesburg Metro Police have started escorting Pikitup trucks through the city as clean up attempts continued amid the strike by workers. The city has called in the assistance of the JMPD after some of its volunteers were attacked at the weekend in Alexandra the past weekend. Two people were arrested in connection with this incident.
PAKISTANI ARMY LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN AFTER BLASTS: Pakistani forces on Monday launched a crackdown on Islamist extremists in the central province of Punjab as part of the hunt for those responsible for the deadly Taliban attack on Christians celebrating Easter, officials said. Several raids were conducted and a number of suspects were arrested across major cities in the country's most populous province, army spokesman General Asim Bajwa said. On Sunday evening a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest among a crowd inside a public park in the eastern city of Lahore, killing 72 people, local official Mohamed Usman said.
ARMED MAN SHOT AND KILLED AT CAPITOL HILL: Police shot an armed man at an entrance of the US Capitol visitor center Monday, sparking panic during the busy spring tourist season in a city on heightened alert following terror attacks in Brussels. The suspect, who police said was known to authorities, was hauled into custody and transported to hospital, where he underwent surgery. The incident was not believed to be terror-related. A female bystander suffered what police said appeared to be minor injuries and was hospitalized.
EDUCATION MINISTER COMMITTED TO "JOBS FOR CASH" REPORT: Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga said she remained committed to the time frames for the release of a report into the so-called "jobs for cash" scam. She would be consulting stakeholders next week before the report's public release on the 15th of April. The minister's spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga says criminal cases will flow from the investigation.
COCA COLA CELEBRATES 130 YEARS: Today a hundred and 30 years ago Coca-Cola went on sale for the first time at a drugstore in Atlanta. Its inventor, Dr. John Pemberton, claimed that the soft-drink - initially bottled for medicinal purposes - could cure anything from hysteria to the common cold. Check out a video of how soft-drinks are made on the breakfast edition.
