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IOL News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Chokehold sparks council outcry
EFF Councillor Mzubani Dambuza choked by security personnel inside the City Council Chambers. Image: Screengrab CHOKEHOLDS had already been banned in many law enforcement agencies even before the death of George Floyd, an expert noted, citing their inherent dangers and potential to cause death. However, City Speaker Felicity Purchase defended herself from criticism for ordering the removal of EFF councillor Mzubani Dambuza from Wednesday's council meeting, an incident that ended with Dambuza being violently restrained by security personnel and held in a chokehold on the ground. Graphic footage of the incident shows Dambuza appearing to lose consciousness for a moment, as fellow councillors scream for the aggression to stop. According to opposition parties, Dambuza's alleged assault came after he 'dared to ask a question', GOOD councillor Roscoe Palm said. Dambuza has since approached police, who are investigating a case of assault. 'This office can confirm that an assault common case was registered at Cape Town Central SAPS for investigation following an altercation between security personnel and the victim, Wednesday, 30 July 2025. Investigations continue, no arrest has been made,' said police spokesperson, FC Van Wyk. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Purchase has defended her actions saying Dambuza was repeatedly instructed to desist from his disruptive behaviour, to resume his seat, and was given ample opportunity to comply voluntarily. 'As a result of Dambuza's continued non-compliance, I requested the Acting City Manager to facilitate Councillor Dambuza's removal from the chamber, in accordance with Rule 30.2. "Following this, Cllr. Dambuza, along with members of the EFF caucus, not only persisted in their disruptive conduct but also actively obstructed the efforts of designated peace officers to restore order. Their actions culminated in an attempt to prevent the enforcement of Council Rules through physical obstruction. "Due to the severity and persistence of this conduct, and physical harm inflicted upon some of the designated peace officers, I was compelled to adjourn the sitting and temporarily reconvene the Council meeting in the Banqueting Hall. This decision was taken to allow for the removal of all disruptive EFF councillors from both the chamber and the broader precinct, thereby ensuring that Council could proceed with its mandated business," said Purchase. The incident has raised concerns about the use of force, particularly the dangers of chokeholds, which carry a risk of death. George Floyd was killed in 2020 when a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes while he lay face down in handcuffs. The City did not respond directly to questions on what training security personnel received and if the chokehold was part of this. 'The City is aware of recent events during the Council meeting and notes the related footage circulating on social media. We are reviewing the matter carefully to gain a comprehensive understanding of the context. The City remains committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment that upholds the principles of democratic engagement,' the City said. Dr Lennit Max, former police commissioner of the Western Cape said as was proven in the Floyd case, the risk of killing someone is very high when using a neck choke. 'Law enforcement that includes police and security, the use of force is regulated by section 39 and section 49.2 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Were those security guys entitled to use force? Those regulations regulate that use of force. First they have to request them to (leave) voluntarily, if not the security must take the necessary steps and that includes the use of force. "There's three requirements, force use must be necessary, it must be reasonable and it must be proportional. If the person resists as in this case, they can use force to remove that person from the chamber but if you use a neck choke and you are not trained in applying that. You must be trained otherwise you can kill that person. They were obliged by instruction of the speaker to remove that person, apparently the person refused to leave the chamber, so they were prompted to use force. "The neck choke is very dangerous because it cuts off your oxygen to your brain. They have to explain if that was necessary, was that the only reasonable force they could apply? Although the law empowered law enforcement to use force in certain circumstances, the onus is on law enforcement to prove that the method they use was necessary, reasonable and proportionate to the threat they faced. Your force must not be more dangerous than what you need to apply in the circumstances,' Max said. Policing and social conflict specialist Eldred de Klerk said chokeholds have pretty much been outlawed in law enforcement, as there has been extensive research on the dangers. 'It is dangerous, there is no discussion or debate that chokeholds have been outlawed in law enforcement for a long time. South Africa is supposed to be following international best practice. All our jurisprudence is predicated on our constitution and our national law. But it should be cognizant and informed by international standards and best practice especially when it comes to law enforcement. 'The question should be asked: are we letting our officers down because we are not setting clear expectations from them as to what should happen. Are we intolerant of people (who cause) disruption and therefore we are demanding from our law enforcement security personnel this 'I can do' attitude, where they are supposed to act in any circumstances regardless of the consequences. We (are) letting them down if that is our expectation. Thirdly what is to say of the culture of our meetings, are they so toxic that we cannot tolerate disruption that we feel we need to subdue. 'If that person fainted or passed out for any length of time, the law enforcement officer could be criminally liable themselves. There are different arrest procedures, different procedures to suppress or deal with an overly aggressive suspect or somebody who confronts you. The difficulty I have in terms of the use of force, like the legislation says any use of force must be proportionate, it must be necessary because the danger that is confronted is imminent.' Cape Times
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Violence erupts at Cape Town council meeting as GOOD party demands Speaker's resignation
In a shocking display of chaos and aggression, a City of Cape Town council meeting degenerated into violence on Wednesday, resulting in one councillor being choked on the ground amid a skirmish. Graphic video footage, provided to IOL, captured the tense moment where a man lay defenseless while being restrained by another individual, prompting intervention from onlookers who attempted to separate the brawling parties. The incident has ignited a significant political backlash, with the GOOD party calling for the immediate resignation of Cape Town Speaker Felicity Purchase and accusing her of being biased. "Her continued presence in that role has now resulted in a grievous assault on a public representative, all because he dared to ask a question. Her actions, inactions and biases have resulted in violence and thuggery that have endangered lives," said Samantha Jackson, media manager for the GOOD party. Jackson condemned the Speaker's failure to uphold the rules of order during the council's oral question period that followed the Mayor's address. According to her, Purchase unlawfully permitted a point of order that set off the subsequent upheaval, breaching the council's own stipulated regulations. "Today's scenes in council were unfortunate, but not unexpected. Once again, the Speaker of the City of Cape Town has failed in her duty to apply the rules of order fairly and consistently. During the oral question period following the Mayor's address, a session clearly regulated by Rule 11.2 of the Council's own Rules of Order, the Speaker unlawfully allowed a point of order. That decision alone broke the very rules we are all expected to uphold and set in motion the chaos that followed," said Jackson.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gladstone Commercial (GOOD) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know
In the latest trading session, Gladstone Commercial (GOOD) closed at $13.35, marking a -1.84% move from the previous day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.02% for the day. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.14%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 0.33%. The real estate investment trust's shares have seen a decrease of 4.7% over the last month, not keeping up with the Finance sector's gain of 4.24% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.93%. The upcoming earnings release of Gladstone Commercial will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on August 6, 2025. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.35, down 2.78% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $37.86 million, up 2.16% from the prior-year quarter. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $1.41 per share and revenue of $152.02 million, which would represent changes of -0.7% and +1.76%, respectively, from the prior year. It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Gladstone Commercial. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability. Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. Currently, Gladstone Commercial is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). In terms of valuation, Gladstone Commercial is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.62. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 11.6, which means Gladstone Commercial is trading at a discount to the group. Investors should also note that GOOD has a PEG ratio of 1.6 right now. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The average PEG ratio for the REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry stood at 2.43 at the close of the market yesterday. The REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry is part of the Finance sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 92, this industry ranks in the top 38% of all industries, numbering over 250. The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Gladstone Commercial Corporation (GOOD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Social Development Minister to probe alleged grant fraud in Breede Valley
Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe. Image: Picture: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers SOCIAL Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is set to probe a fraudulent scheme in which hundreds of Worcester and Rawsonville residents, mostly 18-year-olds, were allegedly unknowingly registered for a R370 monthly poverty grant but never received any payments. The alarm was raised by GOOD councillors in the Breede Valley Municipality who uncovered the alleged fraud while working with community activists on a programme to help destitute residents apply for the South African Social Security Agency's (Sassa) Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD). 'GOOD submitted a complaint to Sassa and the Hawks together with a dossier of 34 separate affidavits from victims of the scheme and a list detailing more than 300 additional victims. 'In its submission to Sassa and the Hawks, the GOOD Party suggests that the fraud is being committed by an individual or individuals with access to information about recipients of Child Support Grants. The modus operandi appears to use the ID numbers of children when they turn 18, and no longer qualify for the child grant, to apply for the SRD grant. The scale of the fraud is impossible for GOOD to determine. GOOD only became aware of it because its Councillors and party activists were working with the community in the Breede Valley region. The same type of fraud could be occurring across the province or the country,' GOOD secretary-general and MPL, Brett Herron said. The pattern they picked up showed that where hundreds of applicants should qualify for the grant, many of whom recently turned 18-years-old, they had their applications declined on the basis that their ID numbers were already linked to the grant. In other words, according to Sassa's system, they are already receiving the grant. According to the applicants, they have never applied for or received the grant. Many report in their affidavits that telephone numbers on Sassa's system linked to their ID numbers don't belong to them. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'While the investigation may take some time, GOOD calls on Sassa to make urgent interim arrangements to ensure that people qualifying for grants are not denied them due to Sassa systemic weaknesses.' Sassa did not respond to several requests for comment on the matter. Sandi Mbatsha, spokesperson to Tolashe confirmed she would look into the matter. The Hawks said they were assessing the case. Hawks spokesperson, Siyabulela Vukubi said: 'The Hawks are aware of the matter but still need to ascertain if this falls with our mandate. At this stage there is nothing to report.' Last year, Stellenbosch University students uncovered a similar trend: a survey of 60 students found that 58 had active SRD grant applications in Sassa's system, yet 56 said they had never applied, suggesting widespread fraud. The students also analysed data from Sassa's public portal and found nearly 75 000 applications for people born in February 2005, despite StatsSA showing only about 82 000 births that month, which pointed to a suspicious 91% application rate. Further analysis revealed that while the average application rate from those born between 1960 to 2006 was 52%, it jumped to 90% for those born between 2002 and 2006, the age group turning 18 since the grant was introduced in 2020. It raised concerns not only about who was receiving the money, but also about eligible individuals potentially being excluded from the support they need. Tolashe earlier this year said a full investigation would be launched into vulnerabilities across all social grants, after irregularities were uncovered in the SRD system. Tolashe did not respond to further requests for comment on the status of the investigation and what measures have been implemented to curb the incidents. Cape Times
IOL News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Six killed in Choba tavern shooting: Calls for action against illegal operations
Community safety concerns rise after deadly tavern shooting in Choba informal settlement in Olievenhoutbosch, where six patrons were gunned down. Image: File A string of tavern mass shootings in recent months has raised serious concerns about community safety in South Africa. The latest incident occurred on Friday night at a tavern in Choba informal settlement, Olievenhoutbosch, claiming six lives. The shooting is believed to have stemmed from a gang turf war between Lesotho and Mozambican nationals. Community leaders, police, and political parties have raised alarm about safety and the implications of illegal tavern operations. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The African Transformation Movement (ATM) expressed concern that illegal taverns are operating without adhering to safety standards, putting patrons at risk. "The ATM raises serious concerns about compliance with safety regulations, licensing conditions, and the broader role such establishments may play in perpetuating criminal activity within vulnerable communities," said party spokesperson Zama Ntshona. GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron attributed the attack to a larger crisis of crime and violence in impoverished communities, emphasising the need for spatial and socioeconomic transformation to address the root causes. "We have a duty to confront our failure to address the spatial legacy conditions that create socio-economic conditions conducive to crime and gangsterism," he said. Recent months have seen a concerning surge in tavern killings, including a January incident in Mpumalanga province's Pienaar area, where unidentified gunmen opened fire outside a tavern, killing eight patrons. A February incident in Mandeni, north of KwaZulu-Natal, resulted in the deaths of four people, including two off-duty SAPS members, in a tavern shooting. Last October, a tavern owner in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, allegedly shot and killed family members of a patron with whom he had a dispute, resulting in seven murders. Oupa Mataboge, representative of the South African Liquor Traders Association, blamed the police for allowing the unlicensed tavern to operate. "Places like that in Olievenhoutbosch are not allowed to sell liquor because there is no infrastructure," he said in a television interview. He expressed concern that law enforcement failed to take action despite the tavern's extended period of illegal operation. Ward 77 councillor in Olievenhoutbosch, Thembeni Thabatha, said on Sunday that although the exact motivation behind the gunfight remains unclear, it appears to have been a clash between Mozambican and Lesotho nationals. He said it was the first time the two groups had a physical altercation, but there had been long-standing tensions between them. He identified the challenge facing his ward's community as the presence of two informal settlements, Choba and Mahlangu, which are predominantly occupied by Lesotho nationals. Thabatha claimed the Lesotho nationals have constantly been accused of serious crimes such as rape and murder. He appealed to the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, and various departments to collaborate in addressing the issue of illegal immigration in his ward. 'Most of the foreign nationals here don't have documents and they are the ones busy committing crime in our communities. We call upon the home affairs department and the metro police to come and conduct raids in those squatter camps,' he said. The police are currently searching for around ten suspects, who were armed with pistols and rifles, stormed the tavern and opened fire randomly, according to Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo. 'The motive for the shooting is unknown at this stage. The police have opened a case of murder and attempted murder for investigation,' he said. He urged anyone with information that could aid the investigation or help capture the suspects to contact their nearest police station or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
