TimesLIVE - In The News

'Load-shedding outlook in the short term looks upbeat': Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says in the short term the load-shedding outlook is “upbeat”. He provided an update to the media on Thursday morning on the country's electricity grid. Ramokgopa says South Africans can't celebrate an end to load-shedding just yet as most businesses and industries are closed for the festive season. The…

21 Dec 2023 4AM 1 min

uMkhonto weSizwe party links itself with ANC MK and speaks on Zuma's role

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party speaks to us about its political formation. The party does not yet have a policy but it's hoping to prioritise load-shedding, deal with illegal foreigners and land expropriation. “We are coming from the background that when the ANC from the [19]60s was in trouble, uMkhonto…

20 Dec 2023 8AM 13 min

‘I am not a criminal,’ says student accused of murdering Kirsten Kluyts

Bafana Mahugela, the man accused of murdering Kirsten Kluyts, says the only crime he committed on the day of her murder was taking off her clothes. He appeared at the Alexandra magistrate's court on Monday and Tuesday for his bail application.Mahugela told the court he is not a criminal. 

20 Dec 2023 2AM 3 min

Zuma's 'not voting ANC' announcement will affect ANC: political analyst  Ongama Mtimka

Underestimating former president Jacob Zuma’s announcement that he won’t be voting for the ANC would be foolhardy, says political analyst Dr Ongama Mtimka. Zuma announced at the weekend he will no longer vote or campaign for the party he once led and has been a member of for more than…

19 Dec 2023 7AM 5 min

Zahara's sister recalls the star's painful final moments and call

She could die at any time, Zahara's family was told as they watched the heart rate machine while praying The sister of Bulelwa Mkutukana — better known as Zahara — broke down recalling the star’s words, “I’m dying”, two days before being admitted to hospital. Lumka Mkutukana said she was…

14 Dec 2023 9AM 4 min

‘I learnt my lesson,’ Somizi on Zahara joke at the SAMAs

As fans and friends gather in Johannesburg to honour songbird Zahara, some fellow stars admitted “we’ve been unkind to Zahara”. Popularly known as Zahara, Bulelwa  Mkutukana, died on Monday evening after being admitted to a Johannesburg hospital just over two weeks ago with liver complications. On Thursday a memorial service…

14 Dec 2023 7AM 4 min

Lala ngoxolo Ma’Sthathu: A tribute to Zahara 

Born Bulelwa Mkutukana in the Eastern Cape on November 9 1987, Zahara started singing as a street performer in East London. She began showing a love for music at the age of 6 and was appointed the lead singer of a Sunday school choir in her hometown Phumlani. Zahara was spotted by TK…

12 Dec 2023 3AM 3 min

ANC being 'bewitched' to weaken it, says Mbalula

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC's political opponents are “bewitching” his party. Mbalula was welcoming back to the ANC alleged former EFF members.  He told the crowd they should defend “the people’s movement” ... “2024 is our 2024, we are going to defend freedom and we will defeat our…

11 Dec 2023 5AM 3 min

Nzimande complains parliament making him account 'too much'

Minister Blade Nzimande has complained he is being called too often to account in parliament. The minister of higher education, science and innovation was appearing before a parliamentary portfolio committee at its last meeting for this year. Nzimande said being called “too much” to account to the committee does not…

8 Dec 2023 8AM 6 min

‘Our purpose is to serve, not satisfy our stomachs’ — Mashatile

 Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the purpose of public servants is to serve the people and not think of self-enrichment. He was giving the keynote address at the anti-corruption summit held at the University of South Africa on Friday. The world is observing International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9. 

8 Dec 2023 5AM 2 min

Nzimande suggests prioritising certain degrees and programmes for NSFAS funding

Higher education, science and innovation minister Blade Nzimande says perhaps National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding allocation should be prioritised according to certain degrees and programmes based on the country’s needs. But before this “discrimination”, as the minister called it, there should be a large college sector that can…

8 Dec 2023 4AM 2 min

'Merit is in the ANC and we can prove it,' says Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

“Merit and the ANC are not mutually exclusive and we can prove it,” says minister in the Presidency for women, youth and people with disabilities Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. She was speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday about the National Youth Development Agency (Nyda) Amendment Bill. The bill provides for additional…

6 Dec 2023 10AM 2 min

'Ezulweni Investments never rendered services to the ANC' — Fikile Mbalula

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party has never procured posters from Ezulweni Investments.It was revealed last week that the ANC faced liquidation after it allegedly failed to pay its debt to KwaZulu-Natal printing and marketing company Ezulweni for supplying the party with election campaign material in 2019. Mbalula was briefing…

6 Dec 2023 7AM 4 min

MPs fume over ‘looting scheme’ in parliament

MPs met to discuss the financial management of the National Assembly on Tuesday, with opposition parties fuming over an alleged secret R1.8m salary hike for secretary to parliament Xolile George. Demanding answers, they claimed the salary differed from the R2,604,661 annual package that was advertised. According to the Sunday Times,…

5 Dec 2023 6AM 4 min

'The Brics bloc still needs to define its main purpose' — Mbeki 

Former president Thabo Mbeki says the Brics bloc of countries needs to properly define its main purpose. He was speaking to Russia Today in an exclusive interview on Monday. In August South Africa held the fifth Brics Summit and recently Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, the UAE and Argentina joined…

5 Dec 2023 4AM 5 min

ConCourt rules that independent candidates need 1,000 signatures to contest elections

The Constitutional Court has ruled on Monday that independent candidates will need 1,000 signatures to partake in an election. The apex court gave a judgment on an application brought forward by One South Africa, challenging the number of signatures required to contest an election. According to the Electoral Amendment Act signed into…

4 Dec 2023 8AM 7 min

Under an ActionSA government the private sector will flourish to give South Africans upward mobility' — Mashaba

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says under his government the private sector will flourish to give South Africans success and upward mobility. He was speaking at the party's 2024 election campaign launch in Ga-Ramotse in  Hammanskraal during the weekend. 

4 Dec 2023 4AM 5 min

Jacob Zuma still people’s favourite choice of leader

Cyril Ramaphosa, Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema, Mmusi Maimane, Helen Zille and John Steenhuisen rank as the top politicians in the country, according to a recent polling. The IRR says President Ramaphosa and EFF leader Malema are the only politicians doing well and who could grow their support even more. According…

29 Nov 2023 9AM 2 min

“The people of Palestine will rise again” — political parties, trade unions and civil society march in solidarity with

Political parties, trade unions and members of the public marched from the Johannesburg CBD to Constitution Hill on Wednesday in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The world marked International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People on Wednesday amid Israel's war with Hamas.ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told marchers Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…

29 Nov 2023 9AM 6 min

All talk of racism is by politicians excusing their failures: IRR study

The Institute of Race Relations’ (IRR) data suggests “all talk of racism and colonialism is by politicians trying to find excuses for their failures”. About 67% of participants in a recent study voted in favour, saying politicians use racism and colonialism as a cover up for their failures. Hermann Pretorius,…

29 Nov 2023 6AM 2 min