Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-15 i Star

Former Absa board member Sipho Pityana is bracing for another bruising battle with the bank as well as the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) in the court of law in his fight for reform in the banking sector. This comes as Absa and the Sarb’s Prudential Authority (PA) both filed applications for leave to appeal the Pretoria High Court ruling last month that vindicated Pityana in his claim that the PA broke the law in interfering with his possible nomination as Absa chair in 2021. The PA controversially consulted with third parties regarding his suitability for the chairperson role, particularly following inquiries into his resignation from AngloGold Ashanti amid allegations of sexual harassment - claims he firmly denies. The court found that the PA acted unlawfully by adopting an informal…

The European Commission on Monday said it was putting forward a new list of US goods worth €72 billion (R1.5 trillion) that could be targeted by EU levies if tariff talks with Washington fail. The bloc's trade chief, Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, announced the proposal, "accounting for some €72 billion ' worth of US imports", at a meeting with EU ministers in Brussels. The move came after US President Donald Trump threw months of painstaking negotiations with the EU into disarray by threatening to impose tariffs of 30% on the bloc's goods if there is no deal by August 1. EU trade ministers agreed they were still keen to secure an agreement with Washington before that deadline to head off the damaging duties. But at the same time Brussels is moving…

In governance, few terms provoke as much unease as "conflict of interest". It conjures images of overt corruption, self-dealing and backroom deals. Yet in many boardrooms, the more dangerous form is covert and subtle. It emerges not through criminality but convenience, not through law-breaking but ethical lapses that thrive in silence and passivity. These are the conflicts that live in the grey zone. We often associate conflicts of interest with clear-cut wrongdoing: a director awarding a tender to their own company, a regulator sitting on a board they’re meant to oversee. But many conflicts are more nuanced. They live in assumptions we don’t question, relationships we don’t declare, and benefits we don’t probe. Often, they hide in plain sight: in annual declaration forms submitted as routine or meeting registers listing…

“It’s the most humbling thing I’ve ever seen . . . their cost, their quality of their vehicles is far superior to what I see in the West. We are in a global competition with China, and it’s not just EVs. And if we lose this, we do not have a future at Ford.” This was an admission, by Ford’s CEO Jim Farley at Aspen Ideas Festival, that Chinese cars are now better in terms of technology. I’ve been sitting on a fence when it comes to the quality of technology between cars developed in China, Germany and the US. This admission by the Ford CEO has inspired me to even look closer. At FastCompany (SA) magazine we have started to look at cars from a tech point of view…

Bitcoin surged past the key $123 000 (R2.2 million) per coin mark on Monday morning, hitting a new milestone and doubling its value over the past year. Nigel Green, the CEO of global financial coal advisory giant deVere Group, said Bitcoin is on track to reach $125 000 in the coming days and predicts support from US President Donald Trump, sweeping regulatory moves in Washington, and accelerating institutional demand converge to drive the cryptocurrency’s price to new highs. “Bitcoin has blasted through $122 000, and all the indicators point to $125 000 in sight this week,” said Green. “It’s being powered by deep political backing, new regulatory clarity, and sustained institutional inflows. This is a powerful combination we haven’t seen at this scale before.” Bitcoin’s gains follow a flurry of…

Kesha burst onto the music scene with a distinctive brand of blunt, electrifying pop that seemed designed to take the dance floor by sheer force. Then came the genre-hopping. It’s nothing new for a pop star to pivot. Claiming maturity, sonic growth or the need to express something raw, musicians from Beyoncé to Lana Del Rey to Post Malone have recently asserted their indie, country or rock bona fides. It’s rare for these pivots to go off without a hitch. For Kesha, a string of such sonic shifts have led to Period, a semi-transparent bid for yet another career reset. Period is particularly confounding after 2023’s Gag Order, on which Kesha abandoned her party girl persona and reinvented herself as a purveyor of haunting, minimalist art pop. (Her earlier surprises…

South Africa is facing a severe shortage of intensive-care unit (ICU) beds in the public health sector, with five ICU beds per 100 000 people at best available. At the same time, in certain provinces, the figure is closer to one bed per 100 000 people. This is according to Professor Fathima Paruk, head of the Department of Critical Care Services and Emergency Medicine at the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Health Sciences. She highlighted these alarming statistics during her inaugural address, titled “Carpe Diem: Achieving efficient and fair allocation of critical care across South Africa”. She said the shortage of ICU beds in the country is a complex challenge. “Hospitals are going to need more and more ICU beds because patients are living longer. ICU can save lives,…

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has raised alarm over a devastating weekend on South African roads, during which fifteen people lost their lives in three separate crashes since last week Thursday. Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane says that the corporation is deeply concerned about the high number of road fatalities this weekend. Reckless and negligent driving is suspected in all three incidents, as each involved a head-on collision. The most recent crash occurred on Sunday night, on the N18 approximately 40km from Mahikeng to Setlagole in the Ngaka Modire Molema District, North West Province. Two vehicles collided head-on, killing four people at the scene. The body of one of the victims was discovered when fire emergency vehicles were booked into the South African Police Service pound…

Opposition parties have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to stop appointing Commissions of Inquiry and instead use existing crime-fighting institutions such as the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). African Transformation Movement parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula said by appointing a commission, the president wanted to deflect public outrage, adding that he should have fired Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and asked the SIU to investigate the allegations against him. Zungula suggested that Ramaphosa could have asked National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Fannie Masemola to address the allegations against Deputy Commissioner – Crime Intelligence Detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, since he directly reports to him. “He could have fired Mchunu, instituted an SIU investigation, and encouraged Masemola to act against Sibiya,” said Zungula. Build One South Africa leader, Mmusi Maimane, on social media platform X, said…

While the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) has remained mum over the alleged R1.5 million fine imposed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the authority has confirmed having recently imposed an undisclosed fine against Acsa for alleged security-related breaches. The fine comes as Acsa confirmed that it has placed its group executive for enterprise security and compliance, Lieutenant General Mzwandile Petros, on precautionary suspension as investigations commence into troubling allegations of operational irregularities. On Saturday, in a statement, Acsa revealed that Petros has been replaced by Mary Ann Joubert, who has been appointed to act in the post. Reacting to the fine, SACCA spokesperson, Sisa Majola, stated that the aviation authority had acted in the best interest, security, and safety of the public and passengers when it…

Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Jacob Mamabolo, has suggested that implementing technologies to detect potential leakages that could lead to sinkholes might be a more effective solution to address the sinkhole issues currently affecting the City of Tshwane and Merafong City. Mamabolo encouraged both municipalities to collaborate on addressing the sinkhole issue affecting various areas in both metros. “When we visited the sites, we made sure the City of Tshwane was present, and the City of Merafong, and we immediately said ‘work together to package documentation’,” Mamabolo said. He said the documentation will support their representation to the national government, enabling them to secure funding for sinkhole rehabilitation. “When they don’t work together, there could be gaps and there could be non-compliance.” He said his department…

Planning a holiday or work trip to the United States? You may want to double-check your social media first. In today’s increasingly politicised travel environment, tourists, including South Africans, are being cautioned to think twice about what they’ve shared online before stepping onto a flight. A recent case involving a young Norwegian traveller has sparked global debate. Mads Mikkelsen, a 21-year-old tourist, says he was stopped at Newark Liberty International Airport in June and denied entry after US immigration officials browsed through his mobile phone and found a meme mocking the American Vice President, J.D. Vance. According to Mikkelsen, he was interrogated, forced to give up his phone password under threat of fines and imprisonment, and later sent back to Norway without setting foot beyond the airport. Although US authorities…

The Public Servants Association (PSA), representing more than 245 000 public-sector employees, calls for immediate, decisive actions to eliminate ghost workers from South Africa’s public service. Ghost workers are fraudulent entries on government payrolls, receiving salaries without performing any work. This deep-rooted and systemic form of payroll fraud continues to drain billions from public coffers, severely undermining service delivery and robbing deserving South Africans, particularly the youth, of meaningful employment. These fictitious employees are inserted into the system through deliberate collusion between corrupt officials. Recent investigations have highlighted the alarming extent of the problem. In 2024, the Mpumalanga Department of Education uncovered R6.4 million in such fraudulent payments. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s payroll audit revealed nearly 3 000 ghost workers. Similar concerns emerged at the Gauteng Department…

England beat India by 22 runs to win a thrilling third Test at Lord’s on Monday, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. India were on the brink of defeat at 147/9, still needing a further 46 runs to reach a victory target of 193, when last man Mohammed Siraj joined Ravindra Jadeja in the middle. Nevertheless, the pair batted on until after tea on the final day to give India hope of an improbable win. But with India in sight of just their fourth win in 20 Tests at Lord’s, Siraj played on to off-spinner Shoaib Bashir — off the field for much of the match with a finger injury — with the ball just dislodging the leg bail, to the batsman’s visible despair. Jadeja was left stranded…

Liverpool couldn’t do it. Nor could Arsenal. Milan conceded five. Even the mighty Real Madrid fell short, humbled in unforgettable fashion. But Chelsea could — when few had given them a chance. Enzo Maresca’s Blues did to PSG what PSG have done to countless big names in a remarkable recent run that included Uefa Champions League glory as part of a magnificent treble for Luis Enrique’s all-conquering team. The quadruple was on, by all accounts, when PSG swept Madrid aside with a devastating opening salvo in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final in the US. Chelsea, meanwhile, were quietly going about their business in the other half of the draw, adding key puzzle pieces along the way. But it was the addition of striker Joao Pedro from Brighton that would…

On March 31 Amsa said that it had received a R1.68 billion funding facility from the IDC ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa), which continues to pay heavy prices for government infrastructure and policy failures, may be left with no option but to prepare for the wind down process of its Longs Business, well in advance of September 30, 2025. This announcement, and despite a forecast of slightly reduced headline earnings losses for the six months to June 30, caused the share price to slump 7.89% to 105 cents on the JSE by Monday afternoon - considering that three years ago the price traded above R5 a share. On March 31, Amsa announced its decision to wind down the Long Steel Business had been deferred for at least 6 months to September…

The G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies meeting on Monday outlined how the upcoming discussions will revolve around enabling a conducive environment for constructive dialogue on pivotal global trade issues. This comes as the United States, the world's largest economy, has created uncertainty across global trade by imposing hefty reciprocal import tariffs on its trading partners, including emerging economies whose size pales in comparison to the US. Dr Rashad Cassim, deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank, said the World Trade Organisation was the global institution that has been working for decades to create fairness in the global trading system. However, Cassim said the G20 has a broader mandate than the world trade system. "So, the challenge we're going to face at this meeting is really having a…

In the context of high global uncertainty, tighter global financial conditions, and rising borrowing costs, concerns about sub-Saharan Africa’s debt vulnerabilities are mounting. But the region is tackling this issue head-on and public debt ratios have stabilized on average. Our analytical note in the IMF’s latest Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa uses a new data set to highlight when, how often, to what extent, and how debt stabilization was achieved. Surprising frequency Contrary to perception, countries in the region have often been able to stabilize or reduce their debt ratios without debt restructuring. With more than 60 debt reduction episodes (defined as periods of two or more years during which the public debt-to-GDP ratio fell), the probability that a country will experience such an episode in any given year…

When during an African Tech Roundup Podcast chat I suggest Paratus Namibia's 5G ambitions might threaten mobile carriers, managing director Andrew Hall doesn't deflect. He grins. "Connectivity is a commodity, prices are going down, you need to make up for that revenue in other spaces," he states plainly with a chuckle. After over 22 years building networks across Namibia, Hall's experience has led him to conclude that long-term commercial sustainability requires poaching customers from adjacent industries. His fibre company wants mobile subscribers. Banks want payment customers. Mobile operators want banking clients. The territorial boundaries that once defined the telecoms industry are collapsing. Namibian market lab Namibia offers a singular testing ground for this theory. With vast distances between sparse population centres, conventional infrastructure economics barely function. At 825 000 square…

South32 will report an impairment from its Mozal Aluminium Smelter in Mozambique due to a inability to negotiate a new electricity agreement over a six-year period. The announcement appeared to send South32’s share price reeling on Monday, with its price down by 5.8% to R34.42. A year ago, the share was trading at R44.75. South32 said in a statement on Monday that its production guidance from the plant was under review, and an associated impairment expense would be recognised in the 2025 financial results. Electricity is supplied to Mozal under an agreement that expires in March 2026. Historically, the majority of electricity for Mozal has been generated in Mozambique by the hydro-electric power generator, Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), owned by the Mozambique government. Under the agreement, electricity from Eskom…

The countdown to the highly anticipated 17th season of kykNET’s popular reality dating show, Boer Soek ‘n Vrou, is officially on, with actress Reandi Grey stepping into the presenter’s role. Set to premiere on August 7, the new season promises a fresh crop of farmers ready to find love, and Grey, who has a rich history in the entertainment industry, is thrilled to be part of this iconic show. “For years, it was like my industry bucket list, what I wanted to do,” Grey said in a statement. Growing up on a farm herself, the Diepe Waters actress feels connected to the stories of the farmers she will be supporting. She takes the reins as the seventh presenter, following in the footsteps of Marciel Hopkins, who dedicated four years to…

South Africa’s history is marked by numerous commissions of inquiry that have focused on investigating corruption, human rights abuses, and systemic failures. While some have made significant contributions to understanding these issues, others have struggled to deliver justice, raising concerns about their effectiveness, costs, and long-term impact. Recently, allegations involving Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, and officials linked to a criminal syndicate have once again thrust the spotlight on the role and effectiveness of these bodies following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that a commission of inquiry would be established to investigate the allegations. While commissions have played a crucial role in exposing wrongdoing, critics argue their impact often falls short of delivering tangible justice. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and…

Repeated insults with the use of profane and demeaning language during a salary dispute with a colleague resulted in a line manager being slapped with a protection against harassment order, which he now tried to overturn, stating that his language simply constituted “workplace banter”. But the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, did not agree and turned down the appeal against the harassment order. The court said words such as the “f” word and calling someone an “asshole” did not belong in the workplace. Nonhlanhla Mabuza obtained the protection order in April against her line manager, Garth Roberts. Both work for a company known as Africa Rainbow Minerals. Mabuza joined the company in 2019 and was placed on a three-month probation period at a specified salary. After serving her probation, she was…

Residents of Winterveld are being urged to stop dumping solid waste, including diapers, old blankets, plastics, and shrubs, into the Tolwane River, which runs through the township, to prevent water pollution. The call was made by Department of Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo during a clean-up campaign themed “South Africa is a water-scarce country – clean up and protect our water resources” held yesterday. The initiative is part of the department’s annual month-long Clear Rivers Campaign, held in July, which coincides with Mandela Month celebrations. The event was conducted in partnership with stakeholders and community members, raising awareness about the importance of protecting water resources for a sustainable future and environmental preservation. Seitlholo highlighted that Gauteng’s water is severely polluted, largely due to untreated or partially treated sewage…

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) CEO Themba Motlou, says the agency is undertaking an important review process of social grants to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries continue to receive support. This comes after growing public concern and confusion over grant payments. Motlou emphasised that SASSA’s mandate, derived from the South African Constitution and the SASSA Act, is to administer and manage social grants to those who qualify. Motlou was briefing the media yesterday to address the recent public outcry, clarifying that no social grant payments have been suspended or halted, and all approved grants remain valid. He explained that the reviews are a legal requirement under Section 14(5) of the Social Assistance Act, which obliges beneficiaries to notify SASSA of any significant changes in their financial or personal…

Tshwane’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health Services, Tshegofatso Mashabela, has raised concerns about some water tanker drivers collecting water from questionable and potentially hazardous sources during the ongoing Rand Water maintenance schedule. The metro has deployed water tankers to distribute water to areas including Soshanguve, Mabopane, Ga-Rankuwa, and Winterveldt, which are currently experiencing a water crisis due to Rand Water’s scheduled maintenance at the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir. The maintenance, which started on July 3, is expected to last until July 18, leaving residents struggling to access water, with some areas going without supply for days. Mashabela warned that the practice by some water tanker drivers poses a significant public health risk, compromising efforts to provide safe and clean water to communities. “The department has become aware of non-compliance within…

Peanut butter is a household favourite for good reason. Whether it’s spread on toast, swirled into a smoothie, or spooned straight from the jar, it’s one of those staples many of us always keep in the cupboard. But how often do we actually check if it’s still fresh? Like many others, I once assumed peanut butter could last forever – until I opened a jar one morning and was hit with a rancid smell. It was an unpleasant wake-up call and a reminder that even this pantry hero has a shelf life. If you’ve ever stood at your kitchen counter wondering if your peanut butter has passed its prime, you’re not alone. Here’s everything you need to know about how long it lasts, how to store it properly, and how…

There has been a noticeable, aggressive push for digitisation around the World by unelected global technocrats and philanthropists. The World Economic Forum, the United Nations and the World Health Organization have become a breeding ground for socialist, Marxist ideologies, and the writing is on the wall for all of us. Individuals such as Bill Gates, Anthony Fauci, George Soros and Klaus Schwab, to name a few, have become the engineers of global chaos, fear, control and manipulation. Lockdowns are being pushed while profiting from vaccines, and policies are being funded which destroy economies and mental health. These madmen don’t just spread viruses, they infect society with fear, division and digital enslavement. They called it a Pandemic, but the real virus wears a suit, sits on panels, funds media narratives…

Professor Feroz Cachalia, whose family roots are in Benoni, has been appointed acting Minister of Police by President Ramaphosa. He undoubtedly has the credentials to stabilise a critical state institution. It is heartbreaking to watch as our country is torn apart by mindless violence. The massacre and murder of innocent people graphically illustrate that our rainbow nation has become a killing zone, and respect and fear for the law are non-existent. While we remain a democracy, we seem intent on striking out at the democratic values that have enabled us to survive against the odds ... But the spirit of Ubuntu has never been more alive than now. No democracy can allow such violence. No civilised society can tolerate such wanton disregard for human lives, and no state can…

THE DA is starting to remind me of that school bully who demands protection money. And, this time, they’re not getting any, so battle lines are dawn. Their latest salvo is their criminal charges against Higher Education Minister,Nobuhle Nkabane, ostensibly for misleading Parliament over what was meant to be the appointment of an independent panel. The DA claims she lied and appointed ANC cadres instead. But the hornet’s nest was really triggered by the president’s axing of the DA’s deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield. The DA has been having a meltdown ever since, with Helen Zille threatening to unleash a ‘nuclear option’ – a DA vote of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa. Protection of Ramaphosa against such a vote in return for the protection of…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca declared his side’s 3-0 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s Fifa Club World Cup final as meaningful as winning the Uefa Champions League, after clinching the title in commanding fashion at the MetLife Stadium. “I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important, than the Champions League,” said Maresca, who only joined the club a year ago. “The Italian added the trophy to the Uefa Conference League Chelsea won in May. Previously part of Pep Guardiola’s staff during Manchester City’s 2023 Champions League victory, Maresca said this new competition – featuring the top clubs from across the globe – should be valued at the same level. “It is a great triumph for us and it will allow the…

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed a new outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at a commercial farm located in Moqhaka Local Municipality, part of the Kroonstad State Veterinary area in the Free State. The situation arises as the region battles against a series of ongoing outbreaks across the country. On 10 July, authorities confirmed the outbreak, which led to the immediate placement of the affected farm under quarantine. The department on Monday said stringent control measures have been implemented, including enhanced surveillance and vaccination exercises to curb any potential spread of the disease, in response to the crisis. It said trace-back activities were currently underway to identify the source of the infection, with additional precautions taken to monitor farms within a 10-kilometre radius. This proactive approach aims not…

The stock market has learned to love President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Wall Street revolted in April after the president unveiled plans for the highest US import taxes in more than a century. Stocks lost nearly 12% of their value in less than a week, while the rate on the 30-year Treasury bond made its biggest jump since 1982. The financial market gyrations caused the president to back off and pause the tariffs to open a 90-day negotiating window. The weeks that followed were a blur of tariff attacks, retreats and confusion emanating from the White House. But since its early April low, the S&P 500 has shrugged off its disquiet over trade policy to gain an astonishing 26%. The president has celebrated the market rebound as validation of his disruptive…

South African healthcare leaders are outpacing their global counterparts when it comes to adopting artificial intelligence, particularly in clinical decision-making and exploring the potential of generative AI. Nearly two-thirds of these leaders have already rolled out remote patient monitoring solutions across a range of critical care areas, including mental health (62%), post-operative recovery (56%), pre-operative preparation (55%), chronic disease management (55%), and elderly care (55%). While emerging care delivery models and advanced technologies like artificial intelligence are transforming the healthcare landscape, enduring challenges must still be overcome to ensure patients receive high-quality care. AI Amid Workforce and Infrastructure Struggles Though the South African healthcare system is undergoing pivotal transformation, the sector stands between the promise of innovation and the pressure of persistent systemic challenges. While new care delivery models and…

Big tobacco industry players in South Africa believe the government can speed up transition towards less harmful products and effectively end trade in illicit cigarettes with better regulatory and policy attention to bad practices across the sector. Tobacco cigarette manufacturers British American Tobacco South Africa (Batsa) and Polaris Manufacturing (formerly Gold Leaf Tobacco Corporation) last week traded accusations of fueling trade in illicit tobacco cigarettes through under-pricing and imports. This comes despite the industry touting new tobacco products such as pouches and e-cigarettes as key in reducing the harm caused by combustion cigarettes. The South African tobacco industry appears to be pulling in the same direction in demanding a conducive regulatory and policy framework, including favourable and separate taxation for new tobacco cigarettes. They say this will unlock fresh investments…

No further progress can be made in implementing the Business Rescue Plan without additional funding from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), Messrs. Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons, the business rescue practitioner (BRPs) of the SA Post Office (Sapo) said on Monday in an update. Because of this, the BRPs are consulting with their legal advisors regarding the company’s potential exit from business rescue and the subsequent return of the company to its shareholder, the DCDT, along with a new appointed board. Sapo was placed under business rescue on July 10, 2023 to avoid liquidation. They said in an affidavit that they would award funding to the process, which would encompass funding of a first tranche of R2.4 billion (which was received and used for retrenchments packages) and…

One of the latest child murder victims is 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek On average, thirty-three children are violently attacked each day in South Africa, with at least three of them not surviving, according to the latest crime statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) late last year. UNICEF reported that “shocking levels of violence continue to destroy children’s lives across South Africa,” noting that between October and December 2023, 285 children were murdered, and 2 707 survived attempted murder, assault, or grievous bodily harm. One of the latest child murder victims is 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, who allegedly died after being hit with an “unknown” hard object to the head. This is according to the State charge sheet. His mother, 31-year-old Tiffany Meek, has been charged with one count of…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) yesterday asked the Eastern Cape High Court, sitting in Gqeberha, to clarify its judgment in which Nigerian pastor and televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused were acquitted of 30 charges, which include rape and human trafficking. Judge Irma Schoeman, who had acquitted the accused as she found that the State did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, was told by the prosecuting authority that it was not clear on which facts her acquittal was based. She was told that the NPA needed to be clear as it must base its appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal on questions of law under the Criminal Procedure Act, which arose during the trial. This is the only basis on which the State can appeal the…

The Independent Policing Union of South Africa (IPUSA) has welcomed the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into alleged political interference in policing. The union’s endorsement comes in the wake of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s claims that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu dismantled the Political Killings Task Team in an apparent effort to halt investigations into politically sensitive cases, including assassinations, tender fraud and whistleblower murders. IPUSA said the claims have initiated an important national discourse about the critical need for enhanced accountability, true transparency, and serious reform within our public institutions. “In recent weeks, General Mkhwanazi, a respected leader within the SAPS, has brought to light serious allegations that challenge the very foundation of our policing structures,” the union said. It commended Ramaphosa’s response, describing the…

Although money is essential for political participation, non-transparent funding could allow affluent vested interests to exert undue, disproportionate, or even criminal influence on politics and policymaking. Global anti-corruption organisation Transparency International (TI) revealed this in its Standards for Integrity in Political Finance publication. The standards are a holistic set of measures that describe the effort needed to mitigate corruption risks and promote the integrity of, at a minimum, the financing of national-level political parties and election campaigns. Political parties and candidates require financial and other resources to organise themselves, formulate their ideas, and communicate them to the public. However, according to Transparency International, unchecked or opaque funding can allow affluent vested interests to exert undue, disproportionate, or even criminal influence on politics and policymaking. This lack of transparency and controls…

Political analysts predict that President Cyril Ramaphosa may soon reshuffle his Cabinet as he cannot afford to ignore the growing noise around embattled ANC ministers whom the opposition wants action taken against. Following the sudden cancellation of Nkabane’s travel to China on Friday, many were anticipating an announcement regarding her future on Sunday. According to weekend reports, she was instructed to stay in the country after being stopped at OR Tambo International Airport as she was getting ready to catch a trip to China. Weekend papers reported that she was stopped at OR Tambo International Airport, preparing to board a flight to China, and told to remain in the country. According to the reports, this was a sign that the president had decided to take action against her for allegedly…

France’s first lady has taken her case against two women over claims she used to be man to the highest appeals court after a lower court let them off, her lawyer said yesterday. On Thursday, the Paris appeals court overturned earlier convictions against the two women for spreading false claims – that went viral online – that Brigitte Macron, 72, used to be a man. Disinformation on Macron’s gender has circulated on social media for years. Her 24-year age difference with President Emmanuel Macron has also attracted much comment. Brigitte Macron filed a libel complaint against the two women after they posted a YouTube video in December 2021, alleging she had once been a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux – who is actually Brigitte Macron’s brother. In the video, defendant Amandine…

Faced with deepening public distrust, political decay, and mounting pressure from both civil society and the global community, you made a long overdue move. Whether it was the appointment of new leadership in a critical institution, the announcement of a fresh inquiry, or an attempt to reform failing systems, you didn't have much of a choice. But the question now is: can this effort gain traction in time? South Africans are not short on patience. We waited through the painstaking revelations of the Zondo Commission. We watched damning evidence pile up, expecting swift justice and systemic reform. Yet years later, we still ask: where are the arrests? Where is the action? Where is the transformation? The announcement, though necessary, is not enough. Not anymore. The timelines between political will and…

As a proud member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), I stand unapologetically in the trenches of the struggle for true economic emancipation, gazing into the abyss that the African National Congress (ANC) has dug for our nation through decades of unchecked corruption, criminality, and betrayal. What was once a liberation movement has devolved into a mafia syndicate, a criminal enterprise that shields its gangsters while betraying the masses it claims to represent. The unfolding scandal in July exemplifies this disaster: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pathetic decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave amid grave allegations of corruption and interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS), rather than firing him outright and pursuing prosecution. Instead of decisive action, Ramaphosa opts for delays and deflection, appointing a judicial…

Beneath the glittering chandeliers of the Bank of China building in Johannesburg, Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng addressed a gathering of investors, policymakers, and technocrats. At his side sat South Africa’s Deputy Finance Minister Dr David Masondo, a key architect of the government’s economic recovery and structural reform agenda. The occasion marked the release of the Chinese Investor Survey, a moment that revealed not only the depth of Sino-South African relations but also the lingering bottlenecks that continue to hinder what could be a transformative partnership. Wu’s tone was both celebratory and cautionary. Over 200 Chinese enterprises have injected more than $11 billion into South Africa, creating jobs, taxes, and valuable industrialisation footprints. Yet, despite this progress, the ambassador pointedly highlighted recurring frustrations: the slow and sometimes opaque processing of work…

It will be a surreal homecoming for Durban-born Ethan Chislett, Kaizer Chiefs’ new midfielder, when the club participates in the Toyota Cup in Durban later this month. When the talented 26-year-old runs out onto the hallowed turf of Moses Mabhida Stadium, it will not only be as a player for one of South Africa’s most storied clubs, but as a son returning to his roots. Chiefs take on Ghanaian heavyweights Asante Kotoko SC in the upcoming second edition of the Toyota Cup, and it promises to be a poignant moment for Chislett. At six-years olf, Chislett emigrated with his family from Durban to the UK, where he forged an impressive career in the lower tiers of the English Football League, most recently helping Port Vale to promotion into League One…

South African football is in crisis. And not the kind that can be spun away with PR talk about “transition phases” or “teething problems.” This is structural decline: boardroom power plays, unpaid players, clubs being bought and sold with minimal vetting of new owners, and governing bodies that often look the other way. The Pretoria High Court’s scathing judgment against Royal AM — a club already expelled from the PSL — should be a tipping point. The court ruled that the PSL had valid grounds to expel the club, even before it was placed under business rescue by SARS in November 2024. Why? Because Royal AM reportedly misled the league on multiple occasions — including failing to disclose changes in shareholding, accumulating unpaid debts that resulted in Fifa-imposed player-transfer bans,…

Jannik Sinner, long seen as the quiet force in men’s tennis, made the loudest statement of his career on Sunday — winning his first Wimbledon title with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Carlos Alcaraz. In defeating his Spanish rival on the sport’s most storied stage, Sinner claimed his fourth Grand Slam at just 23, continuing a remarkable ascent that has already reshaped the post–Big Three era of men’s tennis. Between them, Sinner and Alcaraz have now won seven of the past eight Majors, firmly establishing themselves as the sport’s new standard bearers. While Alcaraz dazzles with flamboyant flair and high-risk shot-making, Sinner’s game is built on clinical precision and baseline power — drawing comparisons to Novak Djokovic in both temperament and technique. His calm demeanour on court is…