Five top stories you may have missed this week

With all the stories that unfolded this week, as well as the excitement of the festive season, you may have missed these five top news headlines.

Road deaths on the rise

Sadly, there have been many reports of road accidents across the country, but the one that really put things into perspective was delivered by transport minister Blade Nzimande on Thursday December 20 2018.

He gave an account of road accidents from December 1 to December 18 and, so far, KwaZulu-Natal has suffered the most casualties, followed by Gauteng.

Pule Mabe and the "internal grievance"

After it emerged that ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe was the subject of an "internal process" looking into allegations of sexual harassment, many people on social media demanded he be removed from his post pending the outcome of the investigation.

His personal assistant is said to have complained to the ANC, citing an incident in which Mabe allegedly joined her in bed at a chalet in Limpopo. 

Another claim is that the complainant’s salary was reduced after she declined Mabe’s sexual advances.

This week Mabe responded to the allegations.

Dubai trip haunts Fikile Mbalula 

Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane on Wednesday December 18 2018 released a report saying former sports minister Fikile Mbalula had violated the executive ethics code by getting a supplier to his department to finance a holiday for his family in 2016.

The following article explains the details of the arrangement between Mbalula and the supplier, Sedgers Sports. 

Wanted: Grace Mugabe

An arrest warrant is out for former Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe.

This is in connection with allegations that Mugabe assaulted South African model Gabriella Engels at a Johannesburg hotel in 2017.

It is believed that Mugabe was livid when she found the model at the hotel her sons were staying in. Engels claimed she suffered a gash on her forehead during the altercation.

Mugabe said she, not Engels, was the victim.

Tragedy inspires mother’s academic achievement

Mabuyi Mhlanga, a mother whose child was killed in a road accident in 2016, has overcome the odds and earned a master’s degree, with modules related to road safety around schools.

"I wanted to investigate the road incidents around schools in eThekwini and whether  the city could do something to improve road safety," said Mhlanga.