Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-08 i Daily News

THE government’s last-minute scramble to secure a deal to avoid Donald Trump’s 30% unilateral tariffs was believed to be among the reasons why a Russian Navy Baltic Fleet training vessel was denied entry to the Port of Cape Town. The Smolny, carrying cadets on a training mission to hone their maritime, communication, and navigation skills, was to have made a brief stopover in Cape Town for restocking, replenishment, and resupply earlier this week. About 400 personnel were on board the vessel, comprising 200 cadets and military personnel from allied nations. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that future naval officers were to receive practical training during the voyage. The Smolny has visited carious ports, including African destinations, before arriving in Cape Town on August 5. While the Department of International…

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns are once again the team to beat, with many PSL club coaches tipping them to secure an unprecedented ninth consecutive league title. Since the 2017/18 season, the club has enjoyed an unrivalled period of coaching success under Pitso Mosimane, Rhulani Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi, and now Miguel Cardoso. Cardoso, who guided the team to league glory during his short stint since December 2024, maintains a laser-focused approach. He said: “We always need to push ourselves to achieve better as a team. Sundowns will continue to be a competitive side, but it will not be easy. The plan is at least to win cups this season, and the CAF Champions League will also be important.” Sundowns' formidable squad, known for its consistency and masterful navigation of the season’s…

WHO calls out the most feared man in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, risking his belt, his legacy and unbeaten streak in the UFC? Only Dricus du Plessis. The South African MMA Star and UFC Middleweight Champion has been calling out Khamzat Chimaev since his first title defence, when he finished UFC Hall of Famer Israel Adesanya in Australia a year ago. They call Chimaev “The boogeyman” of the UFC, and rightfully so. After all, the 31-year-old has rag-dolled every single one of his opponents since making his debut in 2020. With unmatched wrestling and grappling skills and the sheer strength of the man, fighters shiver and try to stay as far away from the Chechen-born fighter. However, Du Plessis, as he has done throughout his career, has decided to stare…

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus was impressed by the enthusiasm and willingness of the three Junior Springboks who trained with the national team for the past two weeks in Johannesburg. The world champions wrapped up their conditioning camp on Thursday as they continue to lay the foundation for the Rugby Championship starting next weekend against Australia at Ellis Park. Loose forward Bathobele Hlekani, winger Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead experienced a Bok setup for the first time after being invited by Erasmus to train with the Boks after their exploits at the World Rugby U20 Championship, where they won the title for the first time in 13 years. “We were very pleased with the way they slotted into the training sessions and used the time to interact with the Springbok…

HEATED calls for a body to regulate the practices of the country’s banking sector, especially from political circles, have emerged once again. They are dismayed with the wanton power that banks currently possess, which included cherry-picking which clients accounts could be shut without justification. Parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Umkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) were very vocal about the establishment of a formal adjudication body to oversee banks. The conversation resurfaced yet again after US President Donald Trump’s plans to have their nation’s banks powers reviewed for what he called “politicising or unlawful banking practices”. However, unlike the US, the South African Constitution does not give President Cyril Ramaphosa such leverage to regulate the powers of the country’s banks, due process must be followed. Earlier this year,…

Young KwaZulu-Natal author BhekiNkosi Ngwenya and a group of budding writers are set to participate in the 15th Funda Mzantsi Championship in George, Western Cape in October. Ngwenya, who has published multiple books, has made it his mission to promote literacy and nurture young writers through, A Chorus of Rustics Writers Club, which he founded. His club has already enjoyed good success, three of his members are published authors. He hopes that the upcoming opportunities like the championship in George, will nurture and inspire more reading, writing and communicating excellence from club members and others. Some of the focal areas at the championship includes, spelling, book reviews and debating contests. The competition, which has been running for fifteen consecutive years, is backed by a trio of stakeholders: the National Library…

Residents illegal occupation of houses, deceased estates and problems with the township register are some of the factors hindering the roll out of title deeds to residents of Trenance Park. Rashina Singh, a Minorities of South Africa (Mosa) Proportional Representative (PR) Councillor in the eThekwini Municipality, brought up the matter at the entity’s council meeting last month. Singh said Trenance Park was a residential area in Verulam where many families have invested in their homes over the past 39 years. Singh said the issue of title deed issuance has lingered, with some residents waiting for years to receive the necessary documentation. “This situation has not only affected property rights but also impacted the community’s socio-economic conditions, as the lack of title deeds has made it difficult for residents to access…

A mogul in making, TV personality, an activist, leader and mother, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma embodies a true rock, a sign of stability and resilience. Born and bred in KwaMashu, Ngobese-Zuma is a lady who’s passionate about life, and loves being a mother. Ngobese-Zuma says she has always been a leader, and never a conformist throughout her life, and often took the initiative and stood up for those who weren’t able to fend for themselves. “I can’t say anything motivated me to champion the citizens' rights. From my school days, I’ve had leadership roles that required me to stand up for other learners. "Even at church I was leading the youth and everywhere else it was the same. I’ve always been an initiator and a conversation starter,” Ngobese-Zuma said. On…

This past week, I walked through the carefully curated spaces of Decorex Africa’s Johannesburg showcase, taking in a multitude of vibrant displays of South African designs. Decorex, an annual exhibition highlighting the ingenuity and craftsmanship of South African creatives, reminded me that design is never just surface level – behind each design and installation lies a deeper narrative about heritage, innovation, and who we uniquely are as a nation. Throughout the history of indigenous African societies, arts and culture have always been placed at the forefront. From trade and industry to artistic expression, arts and culture amongst indigenous Africans (and beyond) is not only indicative of a deeply embedded worldview, but also of a sophisticated system of knowledge, identity, and exchange. The artistic expression of a people is reflected in…

Five months after being appointed to lead a turnaround team for Msunduzi Municipality, former KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Ravi Pillay has described the city’s current financial situation as a matter of concern. Pillay was appointed by Premier Thami Ntuli to co-lead the Premier’s Msunduzi Working Group (PMWG), which was established under Section 154 of the Constitution in February, to help with a strategy to turn around the municipality’s collapsing service delivery and financial control systems. “The current financial situation is of great concern and will require careful and intensive management,” said Pillay. He said the employment of the new municipality manager (MM), Felani Mndebele, who started his duties on August 1, was encouraging as this would bring stability and facilitate the implementation of the recovery plan in the municipality. The MM…

Abdeslam Ouaddou is a happy coach, which is why he believes he has a solid foundation on which to build a competitive and entertaining team this season. Ouaddou was appointed head coach of Orlando Pirates in late June, replacing José Riveiro, who enjoyed an impressive three-year spell at the club. He has made an encouraging start to life at Pirates, guiding his team to the MTN8 semi-finals, where they will face Mamelodi Sundowns, after defeating Polokwane City in the quarter-finals. Pirates’ progression to the last four of the Wafa Wafa Cup means Ouaddou is following in the footsteps of Riveiro, who had won the last three editions of the competition. And while that may have pleased the team, players, and board alike, Ouaddou is widely expected to build on his…

Camaraderie and team spirit will stand Bafana Bafana in good stead when they begin their African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign against Algeria in Kampala today. Former AmaZulu full-back Wayde Jooste, one of several seasoned journeymen currently ‘free agents’ in the South African squad, believes their time spent in camp has significantly contributed to building a strong team spirit. This, he says, will boost the team's ability to perform as a cohesive and unified unit. “I don’t think it’s been that tough to become a unified group. The majority of us have played against each other in the league, and some of us have been teammates at different clubs,” said Jooste. “We’ve become a little family because, like I said, we’ve been together in camp in South Africa, and now that…

Polokwane City and Richards Bay enter the 2025/26 season from contrasting backgrounds but yet with almost similar goals, to navigate their way to the next and higher level of the Betway Premiership. Polokwane have in the past two seasons finished in the Top8 and will look to grow some silverware pedigree while Bay will want to not only stay away from the relegation zome but also enter that top half. Club name: Polokwane City Club owner: Johnny Mogaladi Head coach: Phuti Mohafe Highest ever finish: Fifth Competitions participating in: Betway Premiership, Nedbank Cup and Carling Knockout Cup Silverware chances: None Polokwane City have proven to be a stable and competitive outfit in the Premiership since making their top-flight return in the 2023/24 season. The Limpopo-based side has managed back-to-back top-eight…