Sunday Tribune 2025-10-26

South Africa’s fiscal outlook is once again under the spotlight as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to deliver the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) next month on 12 November. The statement is expected to set the tone for the remainder of the fiscal year, providing updates on growth forecasts, inflation expectations and government spending priorities. Frank Blackmore, Lead Economist at KPMG, said the upcoming statement would be a critical moment for assessing whether South Africa’s economic recovery is on track. “The focus will be on revising economic growth and inflation forecasts. The growth was predicted at 1.4% for this year and expected to rise to 1.7% in 2027, but this will likely need to be downgraded,” Blackmore said. According to Blackmore, any downgrade in growth projections will have a…

Let’s face it: WhatsApp has become the unofficial national archive of South Africa. From birthday wishes to business deals, from gossip to government scandals, if it’s not on WhatsApp, did it even happen? But as our thumbs tap away, crafting messages, sending voice notes, and sprinkling emojis like confetti, a curious legal question arises: Can your WhatsApp messages land you in court or save you from it? Gone are the days when evidence was all about dusty files, coffee-stained contracts, and witnesses who “don’t recall.” Today, it’s about screenshots, voice notes, and that one message you sent at 02h03 that you didn’t mean to send. South African courts, ever the pragmatic bunch, have increasingly accepted WhatsApp messages as corroborative evidence. Yes, your “LOL” and “I’m on my way” texts could…

When Dr Judey Pretorius founded Biomedical Emporium, she set out to change the way people think about skincare. What began as a fascination with the human body’s cellular processes evolved into a pioneering biotechnology company focused on healing, regeneration, and confidence. From a young age, Dr Judey was captivated by how every cell and molecule in the body worked together to sustain life. “I was always fascinated by the fact that the answers to health, beauty, and longevity lie not on the surface, but within the microscopic systems of the body,” she said. “During my studies in biotechnology and medical sciences, I realised that genetics and molecular biology could be applied not only to treat disease, but to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate.” Her passion took…

If you're on the lookout for an exciting show that mixes mystery with drama, The Hunting Wives on Netflix is the perfect pick for you. Set against the backdrop of Texas, this series explores the lives of women caught in an intricate web of secrets and scandals. The opening scene kicks off with a gripping murder mystery. We witness a woman sprinting through the woods until she is unexpectedly shot. Before we can find out what happened, the story takes us back in time to reveal the life of Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow). Sophie and her husband, Graham (Evan Jonigkeit), move to Texas for his work. Once a lively publicist and a Democratic activist, Sophie is now a stay-at-home mom who struggles to adjust. She doesn't drive or consume alcohol.…

Of late, it’s been difficult to find a TV series or film that can hold my attention. However, I was piqued by the Netflix trailer of The Women in Cabin 10; it gave me the psychological thriller vibes of Jodie Foster’s Flightplan and Emily Blunt’s Girl on the Train. Those films were exceptional. Now I’m not the biggest Keira Knightley fan, which was a drawback. But, overall, the film has plenty of suspense to sustain curiosity. The premise centres on Laura “Lo” Blacklock (Knightley), an investigative journalist, being invited to cover an altruistic story of terminally ill billionaire Anne Bullmer (Lisa Loven Kongsli) and her fundraising gala in Norway, which entails her being among the wealthy guests on their luxury superyacht to the event. Much to Lo’s surprise, her photographer…

Before the arrival of Covid-19 and streaming platforms becoming a lifeline during those dark days of lockdown, I remember religiously sitting in front of my TV on a Monday night, waiting for the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy to drop. On most days, my bestie was right beside me, revelling in the ride-or-die bond between Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) and Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo). In those days of swooning over McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey as Dr Derek Shepherd) and McSteamy (Eric William Dane as Dr Mark Sloane) was a thing. If you know, you know. But I’m not going to lie, Shonda Rhimes had me in my feels. I loved her and hated her (in the best way, of course) for it. But such is the showrunner-cum-creator’s Midas touch: she will…