TimesLIVE - In The News

Dissecting the MTBPS with Investec's Annabel Bishop

The medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) tabled in parliament on Wednesday by finance minister Tito Mboweni, was characterised by significant spending cuts and belt tightening measures as National Treasury looks to address the country’s mounting debt. Annabel Bishop Chief Economist at Investec Bank Limited South Africa outlines some of the…

28 Oct 2020 9AM 4 min

FULL ADDRESS | 2020 medium-term budget policy statement

The government is projecting tax increases of R5bn in the next financial year as decreasing tax revenue and increasing debt to fund high spending bite. It is also warning that SA could default on its sovereign debt repayments if urgent spending cuts – including a drastic reduction in the public…

28 Oct 2020 9AM 51 min

President Ramaphosa self-quarantines after dinner guest gets Covid-19

A charity event with just 35 guests has pushed President Cyril Ramaphosa into self-quarantine because one of the guests has contracted the coronavirus. Ramaphosa's office said he is feeling well and will perform his duties remotely while observing the guidelines that apply to self-quarantine. The president had attended a fundraising…

28 Oct 2020 6AM 1 min

Five suspects arrested for Senzo Meyiwa murder six years ago

Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, police minister Bheki Cele has announced. Cele made the announcement at a media briefing in Pretoria. He said the death of Meyiwa, exactly six years ago today, had brought his…

26 Oct 2020 8AM 3 min

In conversation with newly appointed head of the Assets Forfeiture Unit (AFU) Advocate Ouma Rabaji-Rasethaba

It is a well-worn South African aphorism: if an organisation is in serious trouble, a black woman is appointed to lead it. There are many examples: KPMG’s Nhlamu Dlomu was appointed to rescue the business following a massive credibility crisis, and Zukisa Ramasia and Siza Mzimela were appointed to the…

23 Oct 2020 11AM 10 min

Expect a resurgence, but another lockdown won't help - Prof Madhi

A resurgence or a second wave of Covid-19 infections has been widely predicted by South Africa’s scientific and medical communities, but understanding what a resurgence means for SA is another story. MultimediaLIVE spoke to professor of vaccinology Shabir Madhi about what a Covid-19 resurgence means and what it could entail…

22 Oct 2020 9AM 6 min

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

According to the department of health, the occurrence of breast cancer among South African women is increasing and it is one of the most common cancers among women in the country. The designation of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in SA reflects a nationwide drive by health-care structures, both…

22 Oct 2020 9AM 12 min

National police commissioner General Khehla Sitole reveals corruption in the top ranks

National police commissioner General Khehla Sitole reveals corruption in the top ranks of the police, and how efforts to expose them have resulted in threats to investigators and witnesses. His revelations follow the arrest of his second-in-command, Human Resources Divisional Commissioner Lieutenant-General Bonang Mgwenya.

16 Oct 2020 11AM 19 min

All you need to know about Ramaphosa's Economic Recovery Plan

President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined the government's plan to boost the economy, create jobs and extend the Covid-19 relief grant in his economic recovery plan delivered to a joint sitting of parliament on Thursday. In his address, the president unveiled an unemployment stimulus package which will be implemented immediately. He commended…

16 Oct 2020 8AM 10 min

Mental Health Awareness Month amid Covid-19

According to the department of international relations & co-operation, October has been declared Mental Health Awareness month. The objective is to educate the public about mental health and educe the stigma and discrimination people with mental illnesses are often subjected to. The South African mental health fact sheet states that…

15 Oct 2020 8AM 10 min

"It's very personal - I was two exams away from graduating"

Expelled Rhodes University former student Yolanda Dyantyi has been granted leave to appeal a high court judgment refusing to set aside the disciplinary conviction that led to her expulsion. Dyantyi was rusticated in 2017 after being found guilty in a disciplinary hearing of kidnapping, assault, insubordination and defamation during the…

13 Oct 2020 8AM 14 min

Trial delay in Julius Malema, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi assault case

The case against EFF leader Julius Malema and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has been postponed. Malema and Ndlozi appeared at the Randburg magistrate's court on Tuesday, each facing a charge of common assault. Their case was postponed for trial on October 28 and 29. Court proceedings were delayed to allow the…

13 Oct 2020 7AM 3 min

The 'hijacking' of the #FeesMustFall movement: Fasiha Hassan's story

“Let me tell you about the story of my life. My mother was a kitchen girl, my father was a garden boy, that’s why I am a freedom fighter.” These are the words to 'Nobody Wants To See Us Together', the SA struggle song that became synonymous with the #FeesMustFall…

9 Oct 2020 8AM 28 min

Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter expresses strong support for IPP's

Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter, in sharp contrast to the previous regime at the utility, has expressed his strong support for independent power producers, saying the best way to increase SA’s energy security is to bring more private producers onto the national grid. De Ruyter was interviewed on Business…

7 Oct 2020 11AM 19 min

Are the 700,0000ha of land set aside for land reform really vacant?

Agriculture, land reform and rural development minister Thoko Didiza announced last Thursday that close to 900 farms, comprising 700,000ha of underutilised and vacant state land, will be made available as part of the government’s contribution to land reform in SA. However, Prof Ruth Hall at the Institute for Poverty, Land…

6 Oct 2020 8AM 9 min

Driver killed, commuters injured after gang opens fire, sets bus alight in Lawley

A bus driver was killed and commuters were seriously injured after an armed gang opened fire and set the bus alight in Lawley, south of Lenasia, on Tuesday morning. Police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said the incident happened at around 5am near the Lawley railway station in Lenasia. "Preliminary investigations…

6 Oct 2020 6AM 1 min

SA's new travel regulations explained

On Wednesday the government outlined regulations in line with the easing of restrictions on international travel, making mention of high-risk countries to and from which leisure travel is not permitted. Elaborating on the regulations referred to by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his announcement on the commencement of lockdown level 1,…

2 Oct 2020 9AM 5 min

Process to rename William Nicol Drive after Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has begun

Following a recent announcement made by City of Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo, the public participation process to rename William Nicol Drive has begun. "We thought as the City of Johannesburg to come and pay our respects and officially launch the start of the public participation process to rename William Nicol…

1 Oct 2020 11AM 4 min

Six months on: some lives will never be the same

On March 23, President Cyril Ramaphosa ushered in a different way of life for all South Africans. Most thought that once the initial 21 days of lockdown was over, life would go back to normal. But now, six months after the lockdown, life has changed for many. Some have experienced…

1 Oct 2020 8AM 5 min

Rapid Covid-19 testing kits to be provided to 20 African countries

A global partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and test manufacturers Abbott and SD Biosensor will make available innovative Covid-19 tests priced at a maximum of $5 (about R84) for low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa.  The partnership will make available 120 million affordable, quality rapid test…

30 Sep 2020 8AM 3 min