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Malema’s stern rules for EFF leadership and MPs as party ‘prepares to govern’

EFF leader Julius Malema says he won’t let “mediocre” people lead the party,  and has outlined criteria for party leadership and MPs. Merit will be a key factor for EFF MPs who want to return to parliament. The party's MPs must motivate what they have done in parliament to be…

12 Feb 6AM 4 min

Why life is 'more difficult' for South Africans, according to the president

The 2007/2008 global financial crisis, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, state capture, the July 2021 unrest and the Covid-19 pandemic are to blame for South Africa not reaching its potential, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. These, and gender-based violence, are factors that have held the country back, he said. Bearing the brunt…

9 Feb 6AM 4 min

How many Tintswalos are there in SA? Youth leaders weigh in 

During his state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the story of Tintswalo, a child born in 1994 who had grown up in a society that was worlds apart from the South Africa of her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.Ramaphosa delivered the Sona ahead of…

9 Feb 6AM 9 min

‘Ending load-shedding is in reach’ Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the end of load-shedding is within reach, and part of the plan is receiving help from the private sector.The president delivered his state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday, the last Sona for the sixth administration. He says 14,000km of transmission lines will be built and…

8 Feb 1PM 2 min

'We beat Cape Verde playing bad, we lost to Nigeria playing good. That’s football' — Hugo Broos

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says he's proud of the players after their defeat to Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semifinals. Bafana lost 4-2 to the Super Eagles in a penalty shoot-out. This was the first time since 2000 that South Africa has reached the Afcon semifinals. Broos says Bafana…

8 Feb 1AM 3 min

'If firefighters arrived early, people would’ve survived', survivor tells Usindiso inquiry 

A survivor of the Usindiso building fire says if the firefighters had started extinguishing the blaze earlier, many people from the building would have survived. The commission of inquiry into the deadly fire in the Joburg CBD continued on Wednesday with new witnesses taking the stand. Maditaba Ramotoso moved into the building…

7 Feb 10AM 3 min

‘Prioritise health’: unemployed doctors call out government for misallocation of funds

With government saying there are no funds to employ doctors, qualified unemployed doctors say the government should bail out the health sector as with Eskom and other public entities. Dr Sanelisiwe Shozi who studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has been without a job since the beginning of 2023 and…

6 Feb 11AM 5 min

‘We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for’ — Rise Mzansi Gauteng premier candidate Vuyiswa Ramokgopa 

Rise Mzansi has announced its national chairperson Vuyiswa Ramokgopa as its Gauteng premier candidate for the 2024 national and provincial elections. Founded in October 2023, this will be the first time the party contests elections. Speaking to party members on Tuesday at Joubert Park in the Johannesburg CBD, Ramokgopa said no one…

6 Feb 7AM 3 min

City of Joburg was aware of conditions at Usindiso building, inquiry hears

A survivor of the Usindiso building fire says most residents who survived know the City of Johannesburg was aware of what was happening inside the building. The commission of inquiry into the deadly fire in the Joburg CBD continued on Monday, with new witnesses taking the stand. 

5 Feb 8AM 8 min

‘André de Ruyter brought load-shedding and then left’ — Fikile Mbalula

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter "brought load-shedding and then left". Mbalula was briefing the media on the outcomes of the party's national executive committee lekgotla. Recently De Ruyter did an interview giving advice to his incumbent Dan Marokane. Mbalula said his advice was filled with ideology…

2 Feb 1AM 2 min

Man allegedly responsible for Usindiso building fire to return to point out scene

Sthembiso Lawrence Mdlalose, who allegedly set the Usindiso building on fire in August, is expected to return to the scene to point out how the incident happened.The blaze in the Johannesburg CBD claimed the lives of more than 70 people. Mdlalose briefly appeared in the Johannesburg high court for a…

1 Feb 8AM 3 min

Witness in Groblersdal dog attack case fears for his life, court hears 

A witness to the alleged assault of a colleague by their employers who unleashed a dog on him, says he fears for his life. This is according to the testimony of Constable Grigory Maleasenya, who took the stand at the Groblersdal magistrate's court in Limpopo on Wednesday.  Piet Groenewald and his…

1 Feb 12AM 6 min

Goal of opposition is to prevent ANC effecting change: Ramaphosa

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says opponents want to deprive his party of the ability to change people’s lives. “The strategy of our opponents is to consolidate anti-transformation forces through things such as coalitions or pacts,” he said after an ANC lekgotla in Ekurhuleni. The ANC maintains it will achieve a…

31 Jan 8AM 3 min

Survivor of Usindiso building fire tells inquiry she woke up in hospital two days after blaze 

A survivor of the Usindiso building fire in the Johannesburg CBD, Busisiwe Mhlebi, has told the commission of inquiry into the deadly fire on August 31 2023 she woke up in hospital two days after the blaze to hear her teenage daughter had died. The commission, chaired by retired Constitutional…

31 Jan 7AM 3 min

‘Permanent income grant’: Ramaphosa’s solutions for the unemployed

for unemployed people. “There is a strong case for a permanent form of a targeted income support grant for the unemployed within our fiscal constraints.” Ramaphosa said discussions should continue among the ANC national executive committee (NEC) about interventions to tackle poverty. During the release of the party’s January 8…

30 Jan 8AM 3 min

Religious leaders threaten to 'shut SA' if MK party doesn’t win elections

Religious leaders in KwaZulu-Natal sent a message to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), threatening that they will “shut the country for good” and reject the IEC outcomes if they “don’t give MK party a two-thirds majority”. A pastor, named by the party as Vader Maluleke, said to be representing some…

29 Jan 7AM 3 min

Accused in Meyiwa trial a ‘known’ gun supplier - witness statement

The high court in Pretoria on Tuesday heard a statement from Simphiwe Buthelezi which alleged accused number two in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Bongani Ntanzi, was a known hitman and gun supplier for hitmen around the country. Buthelezi was an associate of Ntanzi’s in the supply of illegal weapons…

23 Jan 9AM 4 min

Labour, organ harvesting among reasons for child trafficking: Dr Shaheda Omar

The horrifying statistic that a child goes missing every few hours is the tip of the iceberg as only those brought to the attention of authorities are accounted for. This is according to Dr Shaheda Omar, director of the Teddy Bear Foundation for Abused Children, who explains why children go…

22 Jan 7AM 5 min

What a ‘digital city’ looks like for Ekurhuleni 

The City of Ekurhuleni is looking to transform the metro into a digital city. This means citizens will no longer have to stand in long queues to pay for services but will rather do it at the click of a button using the e-Siyakhokha system on the MyEkurhuleni App.  The city…

22 Jan 2AM 6 min

City of Jourg not equipped to deal with Usindiso fire, says expert

The commission of inquiry into the Usindiso building fire in the Johannesburg CBD in August has heard firefighters at the scene lacked adequate resources to deal with the blaze. Wynand Engelbrecht, who has more than 50 years' service as a firefighter, testified on Wednesday. Engelbrecht said though the city employed enough firefighters…

17 Jan 9AM 5 min