SA police ready for unrest - minister
AUSTRALIA - Austria’s Parliament on Thursday approved legalising assisted suicide from January in response to a court ruling that the current ban violated fundamental rights.
A year ago, the Constitutional
Court ordered the government to lift the existing ban on assisted dying, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.
According to the legislation approved by all parties except the far-right, adults who are terminally ill or suffer from a permanent,
A group from God’s Church Must Rise (GCMR) is demanding the public and private sector to stop ‘harassing’ workers to provide COVID-19 vaccine certificates. Convener Bishop Timothy Bheki Ngcobo said about 150 supporters yesterday joined the motorcade demonstration moving from Tsakane in Ekurhuleni to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to submit a petition and memorandum against mandatory vaccinations.
debilitating condition will be able to access help ending their own lives. Two doctors will have to assess each case, one of whom will have to be qualified in palliative medicine. Among their duties will be to determine whether the patient is capable of coming to the
JOHANNESBURG - Police Minister Bheki Cele says law enforcement agencies are ready to handle any unrest that could be prompted by former President Jacob Zuma being ordered to return to jail.
Earlier this week, the Pretoria High Court ordered Zuma back to jail to serve out the remainder of his 15-month sentence for contempt of court. It called the decision in September to release him on medical parole ‘unlawful’. Zuma is expected to appeal the decision after his lawyers applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Prevention
During a briefing by the justice, crime prevention and security (JCPS) cluster on the state of readiness for the festive season, Cele said law enforcement learnt from the July unrest and looting.
He said the JCPS had noted the court ruling and the department of Correctional Services’ decision decision independently.
In addition, at least 12 weeks will have to pass before access is granted to make sure euthanasia is not being sought due to a temporary crisis.
This period will be shortened to two weeks for patients in the ‘terminal phase’ of an illness.
The proposals were subject to scrutiny by experts before coming to Parliament, where MPs had been expected to approve them. to appeal the judgment.
“As the cluster, we wish to reiterate our confidence in our constitutional democracy that provides all people are equal before the law,” said Cele.
Fear
“The separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary are the bedrock of our constitution and our courts function without fear or favour as they entrench the rule of law. Any form of recourse must follow appropriate channels within the confines of the law.”
Cele said law enforcement agencies learnt from previous unrest experiences and would would use those experiences to make sure any interruption is handled properly.
“I met with the leadership of the police and the military to make sure the preparations for the response and reactions are much better this time,” he said.
At least 337 people died as a result of the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July.