Frank Blackmore

Economist at EFConsult

[Frank Blackmore @flebsa]

@CityTshwane Power out again, after a 2-day outage that lasted until this afternoon & after a previous 3-day outage that ended on Thursday last week. Repairs must be sub-par/poor as resilience of system deteriorates. Also council doesn’t cut tree branches away from power lines.

[Ian Cameron @IanCameron23]

FIVE SUSPECTS NOW IN CUSTODY: EXCELLENT SAPS WORK IN DONOVAN MARX FARM ATTACK

Five suspects, aged between 26 and 56, have now been arrested in connection with the attack on Donovan Marx near Ventersdorp.

Two suspects were arrested on Saturday, 31 October, with a further three arrested today, 1 November, in Promosa near Potchefstroom. The first two arrests were made in the Ventersdorp area.

Four firearms have been seized during the latest operation, two of which police have linked to the attack. Clothing and jewellery were also recovered.

The five suspects are expected to appear in the Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, 3 November, facing charges including house robbery, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Congratulations to the Ventersdorp detectives, the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit and the investigating team led by Captain Bonita Dry. Their persistence, long hours and determined investigative work deserve recognition.

I also thank the local farm watches, farmers, private security personnel and community members who assisted SAPS. This is what effective cooperation between police and communities can achieve.

Five arrests in a matter of days are significant progress. The next step is a strong, properly investigated case that can withstand scrutiny in court.

My thoughts remain with Donovan, Louise, their family and the farmworker who was also attacked. Their privacy and the integrity of the investigation must continue to be respected.

Well done to every police officer and community safety role-player who contributed to these arrests.

IC

[The Kiffness @TheKiffness]

The decline of my hometown Jo'burg is a warning to London, Paris, New York, Amsterdam and every major city across the West. If you don't act now, your cities will suffer the same fate.

[Mark Carney @MarkJCarney]

We are launching a new Alliance for the Future — a partnership that will bring together Canada, the EU, and other like-minded nations to address common issues and build our collective strength.

[Yusuf Abramjee @Abramjee]

COURT ORDERS ANGELO AGRIZZI TO PAY STATE R1.66 BILLION IN BOSASA CORRUPTION PROCEEDS

The Pretoria High Court has ordered former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi to pay the State R1 666 582 825.73 (R1.66 billion) following a confiscation enquiry linked to his role in the company’s extensive corruption network.

Judge Mosopa ruled in favour of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), finding that Agrizzi benefited from Bosasa’s unlawful activities and that the State was entitled to confiscate the proceeds.

Key findings in the judgment:

🔴 Agrizzi was convicted in November 2025 after pleading guilty to three counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.

🔴 His plea agreement acknowledged a deeply entrenched corruption network at Bosasa, allegedly used to secure government contracts worth approximately R2.37 billion over more than two decades.

🔴 Approximately R75.7 million in bribes was paid between 2000 and 2016 to secure contracts.

🔴 The court found that Agrizzi had failed to make full and frank disclosure of his financial affairs and properties, including assets in Italy.

🔴 The judge rejected his argument that he could not be held liable for the wider criminal activities of Bosasa, finding that he had acted in common purpose with other executives.

🔴 The court also found that his salary, bonuses, investments and pension benefits could be considered benefits derived from unlawful activities.

THE ORDER:

Agrizzi must pay the State R1,666,582,825.73.
Interest is payable from the date of judgment until final payment.
He must also pay the State’s legal costs, including the costs of two counsel on Scale C.

The judge emphasised that the purpose of a confiscation order is to ensure that criminals do not benefit from their ill-gotten gains.

[Sen. Bernie Sanders @SenSanders]

Trump promised his $920 billion corporate tax break would create jobs. Another lie.

Amazon
Tax break: $17.5 billion
Job cuts: 30,000

Meta
Tax break: $13.7 billion
Job cuts: 10,000

Verizon
Tax break: $2.5 billion
Job cuts: 15,000

UPS
Tax break: $130 million
Job cuts: 78,000

[Gareth van Onselen @GvanOnselen]

Can’t stand this phrase. The implication on some level being residents are pouring water down the drain. No, “normal consumption”. The phrase you are looking for is “Poor Rand Water infrastructure, weak long term planning and incompetence”. Please, be honest.

[WaterCAN @WaterCANsa]

Toxic taps expose Tshwane’s deadly water failures

“There has been a serious dereliction of duty" - WaterCAN
@mailandguardian

https://t.co/k0ycDykECE

[Mail & Guardian @mailandguardian]

OPINION | Declare infrastructure theft and vandalism as acts of economic terrorism

https://t.co/561smLqDVr

[Sunday Times @SundayTimesZA]

Poison on tap: How Tshwane ignored repeated warnings about water quality at Bronkhorstspruit - and continued pumping contaminated supply into communities. Details in the #SundayTimesZA tomorrow

[eNCA @eNCA]

The Democratic Alliance's Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Hellen Zille said the Constitutional Court judgment makes no sense.
https://t.co/r3JjS4RixU

[Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan]

JUST IN: Police have arrested a 49-year-old man “moments before he was due to board an international flight” for “failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission”.
He’ll be in court later this morning.

[Cilliers Brink @CilliersB]

We toured Tshwane’s facilities and found Wonderboom Airport, Electricity workshops, and the City of Tshwane’s fleet management operations dangerously exposed.

Expired contracts, weak interim measures and unrestricted access put valuable assets and city infrastructure at risk.

#TakeBackYourCity #BackBrink

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

Whatever your view on the Akademia project, this is remarkable. The pictures are from March, May, August and October. They have a vision, a budget, a timeline and deadlines, and they are getting it done. Every cent is spent where it is allocated and accounted for.

[Donald Tusk @donaldtusk]

We are not just neighbors. We are friends who can count on each other in difficult times. And no one will ever change that.

[Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63]

Trump has made his betrayal of Ukraine official and here’s what’s coming next. After the diesel deal and Starlink restrictions, Ukraine’s friends must act. My latest Next Move:
https://t.co/EBvqoaZKYF

[Martin van Staden @Martin_ASFL]

So when you upload your tax returns to SARS - but do not click 'Submit' - you have, in fact, validly submitted?

Be very afraid about the state of elections in South Africa. Be more afraid about the state of the judiciary.

[News24 🇿🇦 @News24]

Mbalula to face the music in Parliament over role in Prasa ‘corruption’

https://t.co/30EbIXbP7N

[Mail & Guardian @mailandguardian]

Brace for yet another electricity hike: Eskom informs Parliament of the plan for electricity tariff increases.

https://t.co/ipOQ0H9esa

[Mark Barnes @mark_barnes56]

🇿🇦How did Postbank lose money - it wasn’t allowed to make loans?!🇿🇦@AuditorGen_SA @MondliGungubel_