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‘28m people rely on social grants’: Ramaphosa boasts about ANC’s effort to prevent poverty

A total of28-million South African citizens, or 47% of the population, rely on social grants. ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the governing party’s efforts to “tackle poverty head on”. He was referring to the monthly R350 social relief of distress grant government introduced in 2020 which about 10-million people…

15 Jan 2024 4AM 1 min

‘Young people are teaching me to dance to amapiano’ — Ramaphosa 

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has thanked the youth for excelling in making the amapiano music genre a global sensation. He was delivering the ANC's January 8 statement at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga over the weekend. Ramaphosa said he is learning how to dance to amapiano. 

15 Jan 2024 1AM 1 min

Ramaphosa 'wanting to resign' shows lack of commitment, says EFF

The EFF says confirmation by Fikile Mbalula that President Cyril Ramaphosa was begged by the ANC not to resign is a sign he’s lost interest in leading the country. Mbalula on Sunday told supporters in Barberton, Mpumalanga, that Ramaphosa was at one point ready to resign but the party stopped…

11 Jan 2024 10AM 3 min

Reconstruction of Lillian Ngoyi street to cost City of Joburg R196m

City of Joburg management announced on Thursday the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Lilian Ngoyi (formerly Bree) Street in Johannesburg's CBD, which was damaged by an explosion in July last year, will cost R196m. The cause of the explosion was linked to methane gas. During a media briefing in August, the city had…

11 Jan 2024 6AM 2 min

'Zuma as good as gone from the ANC': Mbalula says party is getting ready for 'war'

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party's former president Jacob Zuma is “as good as gone” and he has made his ANC exit complicated, but formal processes will follow and the party is preparing itself for “war”. Zuma said in December he would vote and campaign for the newly registered…

10 Jan 2024 5AM 4 min

Mbalula said things he shouldn’t have said: Mantashe on ‘fire pool lie'

ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe says Fikile Mbalula, the party's secretary-general, said things he shouldn’t have said about the Nkandla “fire pool” saga. Mantashe said leaders should count their words or catch fire. This after Mbalula claimed the party protected former president Jacob Zuma by lying that the swimming pool at…

9 Jan 2024 5AM 1 min

‘I have no fear’ - Nzimande amid NSFAS kickback allegations  

Higher education, science and innovation minister Blade Nzimande has dismissed allegations that he, the SACP and National Student Financial Aid Scheme board chairperson Ernest Khosa received kickback payments from service providers contracted by the scheme. The allegations, with leaked recordings, were made by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) last week.  Nzimande…

9 Jan 2024 5AM 3 min

DA to take legal action against Nzimande in NSFAS 'kickback' scandal

DA leader John Steenhuisen says the party is preparing legal charges against minister of higher education Blade Nzimande after allegations about his involvement in receiving  kickback payments from service providers contracted by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).  Last week the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) released leaked audio…

8 Jan 2024 6AM 4 min

‘This house, built on a strong foundation 112 years ago, will never fall’ — Mashatile 

ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile says the party's leadership is rebuilding and renewing the organisation.He was speaking to the media outside Church on the Hill in Mbombela at the weekend. Mashatile was attending a church service. The party turns 112 years old on Monday, and members are celebrating the birthday in…

8 Jan 2024 3AM 2 min

We lied in defence of Zuma, says Mbalula on Nkandla ‘fire pool’ security upgrade

Remember when the governing ANC justified the R3.9m pool at former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla as a fire pool and not a swimming pool? Well, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula now says that was a lie to defend Zuma. At the time, the government justified the so-called fire pool as being…

8 Jan 2024 3AM 1 min

Zuma in denial that the ANC is dead, says Malema

EFF leader Julius Malema says former president Jacob Zuma is in denial that the governing party is dead and if EFF members “try what Zuma did to the ANC” they’ll be expelled. Zuma said in December he would vote for the newly registered MK party. Malema says if Zuma had…

5 Jan 2024 8AM 3 min

'Oscar is at home'- DCS

The Department of Correctional Services says Oscar Pistorius is a parolee as of Friday. Pistorius was granted parole in November last year nearly 11 years after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's day in 2013. He will be under the supervision of the correctional services and will be subjected…

5 Jan 2024 7AM 1 min

‘Panic or heart attack but wait for experts’: Suicide rumours surrounding KCi addressed 

He was a people’s person but was only discovered days after he died. Mthobeli “KCi” August’s family say they are distraught after his death. “We called him on Christmas Day and couldn’t reach him, to realise the time we couldn’t reach him he was in trouble.” The former Umhlobo Wenene…

5 Jan 2024 6AM 2 min

What the bones say about SA in 2024

An unexpected coalition, an election date, a new sports star, astrologer and sangoma Rod Suskin throws the bones on what lies ahead for South Africa in 2024. Last year he predicted a good sports year and so it was as South Africa shone internationally, with Banyana Banyana performing magnificently in…

4 Jan 2024 5AM 2 min

‘Mbongeni Ngema's legacy will continue through his songs and powerful narratives’

A memorial service for veteran playwright and musician Mbongeni Ngema was held at the Playhouse theatre in Durban on Wednesday. Ngema died on December 27. His brother Nhlanhla Ngema penned a tribute letter describing how the veteran playwright’s legacy will continue to resonate through the melodies of his songs and power…

3 Jan 2024 10AM 4 min

Veteran playwright and showbiz icon Mbongeni Ngema dies in car crash

Mbongeni Ngem was born in 1955 in Verulam KwaZulu-Natal, he started his career started his career as a theatre backing guitarist. He wrote the musical Sarafina! and co-wrote Woza Albert!, both of which won numerous awards. Ngema also became a household name for writing hit songs, including Stimela sa se…

28 Dec 2023 12AM 2 min

‘Rest, I’ll take care of your family,' Vusi Nova says in tribute to Zahara

When Vusi Nova visited Zahara on the Thursday before she died he had hoped the songstress was getting better.  “I walked in there as usual, she was in a private [hospital] room sitting without all those pipes. She had removed them and was smiling,” he said. “I said to her:…

23 Dec 2023 6AM 3 min

'Zahara was a unique artist like the flower she was' — industry colleague

Industry colleagues, family and friends gathered at the East London International Convention Centre on Friday for the memorial service of Bulelwa Mkutukana, the award-winning singer known as Zahara. Zahara died on December 11, a few weeks after being admitted to hospital. 

22 Dec 2023 8AM 5 min

Zahara’s last unreleased song

Zahara’s producer has shared an unreleased song the late star recorded. Mojalifa “Mjeks” Thebe said: “This is the last song me and Zahara did in studio; the real song is an up-tempo high-spirited song. “I feel Zahara knew what was coming and she prophesied and made a song that is…

22 Dec 2023 7AM 4 min

RTMC goes undercover to arrest cops and motorists for bribery

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is on an undercover mission to arrest officials and motorists guilty of bribery. Last week it arrested nine officials for fraud and corruption in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal after complaints from members of the public. The corporation has again warned corrupt law enforcement officials that…

21 Dec 2023 6AM 1 min