TimesLIVE - In The News

Police commissioner Sitole says he wasn't unavailable during unrest, raises concerns about police budget

The SA Human Rights Commission continued its national investigation into July's unrest and riots on Tuesday. National police commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi gave evidence. Sitole told the commission that anyone who wanted to find him during the crisis could have found him.

30 Nov 2021 10AM 3 min

Gauteng 'well prepared' for rise in Covid-19 hospitalisations

The head of hospital services at the Gauteng Health Department, Dr Freddy Kgongwana, says the province is well equipped for a Covid-19 fourth wave. He said the province' hospitals has 4,407 beds and is well equipped with oxygen tanks. He said the province's hospitals have 4,407 beds and are well…

29 Nov 2021 12PM 3 min

What you need to know about the new Omicron variant

The emergence of a new Covid-19 variant known as the Omicron has rocked the world. TimesLIVE podcasts brings you a round-up of all you need to know regarding the new variant, including what is known about it, the politics of travel bans implemented against SA, and the readiness of the…

29 Nov 2021 11AM 6 min

FULL ADDRESS | President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on SA's response to the Covid-19 pandemic

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday night. His address comes a few days after the announcement of a newly detected Covid-19 variant identified as B.1.1.529, given the name Omicron by the World Health Organisation. 

28 Nov 2021 1PM 28 min

LISTEN: What Ace Magashule’s PA told the Hawks

A leaked audio recording has shed light on how Ace Magashule’s former PA refused to implicate her ex-boss when she was interrogated by Hawks investigators in connection with the Free State asbestos case. This explains why the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) removed Moroadi Cholota from the witness list and intends…

27 Nov 2021 1PM 1 hr 39 min

Thembisa Mdoda Nxumalo talks surviving long COVID

Thembisa Mdoda Nxumalo has survived a year of repeat hospitalizations for long COVID - here she tells us what she has learnt from the ordeal and her second chance at life!

26 Nov 2021 7AM 2 min

Zuma's parole under spotlight on Tuesday as parties question his release

The decision to release former president Jacob Zuma on medical parole will come under scrutiny in the Pretoria high court on Tuesday. The questions are to come from the DA, AfriForum and the Helen Suzman Foundation. Zuma’s spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi, provided comment on the matter.

23 Nov 2021 12AM 1 min

Mapisa-Nqakula not happy with SAHRC's 'insensitivity'

The SA Human Rights Commission is in its second week investigating the July unrest that affected parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Before the commission today were national police commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole, Gauteng provincial commissioner  Lt-Gen Elias Mawela and former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.  Mapisa-Nqakusa said she was not happy…

22 Nov 2021 12PM 4 min

A free coffee a day keeps the blues away 

A small coffee shop in Fourways is quietly establishing itself as a community hub, uniting people, paying it forward and increasingly making good things happen for growing numbers of people. The DC Coffee Company in Pineslopes is the brainchild of Neil and Samantha Golding, who have not only built the…

19 Nov 2021 10AM 12 min

SAHRC hearing on July 2021 riots - first week

This week the SAHRC heard from victims, community forums and representatives of businesses affected by the July riots.

19 Nov 2021 10AM 5 min

Joburg matric pupil survives kidnapping attempt while walking to school

An 18-year-old matric pupil survived an alleged kidnapping attempt in Johannesburg on Friday, the Gauteng education department said. Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the Sandringham High School pupil was on her way to school when a white Chevrolet sedan with four male occupants reportedly drove towards her and one of…

19 Nov 2021 10AM 2 min

'Deliberate sabotage' at power station could have triggered stage 6 load-shedding: Eskom CEO

Eskom group CEO André de Ruyter says clear evidence has emerged of sabotage at the Lethabo Power Station in the Free State. This comes after the collapse of a power pylon which “fell uphill” on Wednesday onto a second distribution line, knocking out both lines. De Ruyter said there was…

19 Nov 2021 6AM 6 min

July riots were an insurrection and took months of planning, says business representative

Melanie Veness, CEO of the Pietermaritzburg & Midlands Chamber of Business, says the July riots were part of a plan to overthrow the government. She says they were well planned.

18 Nov 2021 4AM 2 min

PA leader Gayton McKenzie is in the hot-seat over ANC coalition decisions

In this first Afrikaans interview on Eusebius on TimesLIVE, McKenzie dodged bullets from Eusebius McKaiser who engaged him on his decision to form coalitions with the ANC in municipalities. McKenzie criticises both the DA and the ANC, but attempts to offer justification for why the ANC is preferable to work with…

18 Nov 2021 3AM 7 min

No-one helped us, everything was properly organised - Phoenix unrest victim tells SAHRC

Refugee Mkhize, one of the July unrest victims, has told the SAHRC that no-one helped them during the Phoenix killings, which have been labelled by many as a “massacre”. He hopes for justice and to regain trust in the police and courts.

17 Nov 2021 5AM 2 min

High risk of load shedding: De Ruyter

The embattled power utility said the electricity system was “severely constrained” after the failure of five generating units. Five generation units at various power stations had failed throughout yesterday. Load-shedding would be required to be implemented at very short notice, Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said.

17 Nov 2021 3AM 4 min

Coalition talks sow more division than unity

Opposition parties the DA and EFF held press briefings to update the public and supporters on their ongoing coalition talks, including the progress and outcomes of negotiations so far. The briefings revealed there was much tension arising between the different parties.

16 Nov 2021 9AM 5 min

What happened in Phoenix are killings, not a massacre, SAHRC hears

Sham Maharaj of the Phoenix Ubuntu Forum has told the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that what happened in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, was not a massacre but killings. The commission is on day two of its hearing about the unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July. 

16 Nov 2021 5AM 4 min

Family of teen killed during July unrest calls for justice at hearings

The aunt of slain 17-year-old Sibahle Nguse has called for justice after he was shot dead during the civil unrest which gripped parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July.

15 Nov 2021 8AM 1 min

State, academics, researchers, journalists to give testimony on July unrest - SAHRC

It's day one of the South African Human Rights Commission hearings into the July unrest. The commission says it has invited communities affected, members of the business fraternity, state officials, and cabinet ministers to testify in the next three weeks.

15 Nov 2021 5AM 2 min