The Weekend View

The devastating fire that claimed the lives of six soldiers at the Lohatla combat training centre in the Northern Cape is reported to be under control. Three soldiers were injured in the blaze which started on Friday.  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SA Army spokesperson Major General Mercuur 

The Interfaith Forum of South Africa will tomorrow meet at a conference to come up with, what it says, will be bold new plans to save South Africa. The conference will be chaired by Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches and brings together 10 other religious groups. The meeting, to be held from Monday to Wednesday, comes at a time when the country is l...

While the fight against avian flu continues, the rabbit population in Gauteng is under threat from the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (HRD) Virus. Both wild and domestic rabbit populations are at risk from theh virus. So far, affected areas include Meyerton, Vereeniging, Valley Settlements, Henley on Klip, De Deur and Apple Orchards. The Gauteng Agriculture and Rural  Development Department is warnin...

Healthcare costs in South Africa have  increased sharply over the past few years posing significant challenges for medical aid schemes and their members as well as a creating a cost-of-living crisis for many consumers. Medical schemes say they are trying to  prioritise their members' wellbeing while striving to keep cost increases as low as possible. Profmed CEO Craig Comrie  joins us on the line...

In a space of just three months, seventeen political parties have registered with the IEC. That means more than 540 parties could potentially contest next year's elections.  The IEC expects the number to increase. The election body says not all the parties will be represented on the ballot box, as some may not meet the required criteria. Some of these newly established parties are led by former AN...

The 2023 Global Organized Crime Index released earlier this week has revealed that South Africa is one of the worst countries in the world regarding organised crime. The report highlights that the country has experienced a decade-long increase in criminality, undermining democratic processes through organised corruption and violence for hire. The criminal economy is fuelled largely by networks wit...

Transnet CEO Portia Derby has resigned. Her resignation yesterday follows a year of lobbying by business and, more recently, organised labour, as the performance of the state logistics company crumbled under her watch. A statement released by the board also announced that Transnet chief financial officer Nonkululeko Dlamini had also resigned. To look at  what lies ahead for the rail and ports gian...

The DA wants ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to face imprisonment for contempt of court. This comes after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) this month dismissed an attempt by the party to appeal an earlier ruling from the Johannesburg High Court that the ANC must hand over its cadre deployment records to the DA. The ANC had earlier indicated that it will turn to the Constitutional Court in a...

According to a 2022 report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation over the last 12 years, South Africa has endured the most extreme weather events out of all African countries, with 33 disaster events between 2010 and 2022. Meanwhile, the Summer season is historically hail season in the northern parts of South Africa, with an average of six to eight hail days recorded each year in parts of Gauteng and Lesot...

 A week after parts of the Western Cape were lashed by heavy rains and winds and the resultant floods, thousands of people are still feeling the devastation and disruption of the disaster. Initial assessments of the flood damage are estimated at 1.4 billon rands. At least 11 people are known to have died in the Heritage Day long weekend storm. Whilst reconstruction of bridges and other damaged inf...

 Vote counting is underway in eSwatini, following yesterday's parliamentary elections in which political parties are banned from contesting.  Over 580,000 registered voters cast their ballots to choose 59 members of the lower house of parliament, which plays only an advisory role to the monarch.  Analysts say with most candidates loyal to the king, the election is unlikely to change the political...

Food is a cherished avenue for cultural expression. From the popular braai or shisanyama to biltong, bobotie, Durban curry, Cape Malay cuisine or tripe - each bite is a journey through South Africa's culinary history and heritage. This Heritage Day we are joined in the studio by an Alexandra based chef who specializes in traditional African foods. Chef Mpho Ramokone is the founder of "Skop Sundays...

Exploring the state of our heritage sites and national monuments, and whether in their current condition, they are the best vehicles to express our national heritage we are joined by Dr Mabuyi Gumede, Senior Lecturer  and Programe Coordinator  in the Cultural Heritage Tourism  Programme at UKZN,  AND Dr Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni, CEO of the National Heritage Council of South Africa.   

The DRC this week asked United Nations forces in the country to withdraw by the end of the year saying the peace keeping mission had failed to maintain peace.  President Félix Tshisekedi told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that he had instructed his government to bring forward the start of the UN withdrawal from December 2024 to December 2023. Tshisekedi said the mission - known as MONUSCO -...

Parliament this week passed a bill which will expunge criminal records for those convicted of breaching Covid-19 lock-down laws. South Africa had some of the world's toughest restrictions, which saw more than 340,000 convicted for not wearing masks, consuming alcohol and breaking curfew, among other violations. If the bill sails through those who admitted guilt and paid fines will now have their r...

Consumers have a to right check their credit reports and challenge any information which may be incorrect and outdated by disputing this for free. That's the message from the Credit Ombud who says out of  the 27 million active consumers, only 757 thousand credit reports have been issued to consumers. The Credit Ombud is asking consumers who find themselves at a stalemate with their credit provider...

For 69 years Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who was laid to rest in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, was traditional prime minister to three successive Zulu kings, beginning with King Cyprian Bhekuzulu in 1954. He served under King Goodwill Zwelithini, the longest-serving monarch of the Zulu kingdom, from 1968 to March 2021 and more recently, under the current king Misuzulu kaZwelithini, until his death las...

Despite having teams ready to deploy immediately to disaster stricken Morocco and Libya, aid agency Gift of the Givers has been unable to send  aid to the two North African countries...While earthquake  devastated Morocco has refused it's offer of assistance, a deployment to floods ravaged Libya has hit a dead end due to logistical problems. The disasters have claimed thousands of lives in the two...

Defending Rugby World Cup champions, South Africa, will today face off against Romania at Nouveau Stade de Bordeau in France. The match, which kicks off at 3pm, will be the Springboks' second game of the tournament after they silenced their critics in their opening match with an 18-3 win over Scotland last week. In their opening match last Saturday, Romania were walloped 82 - 8 by Ireland, the big...

 Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has spoken at length about the devastating blow to the team after losing hooker Malcolm Marx to injury, as his side arrived in Bordeaux for their second Pool B match of the Rugby World Cup.  Talk has turned to a replacement, with flyhalf Handre Pollard the not so obvious choice, but he is fit and raring to go. The Springboks will play Romania for just the second t...

 The Inkatha Freedom Party founding leader and the longest-serving member of Parliament, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been described as a politician with a good sense of humour. Buthelezi who will be buried at his home in KwaPhindangene, Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal today, died last weekend at the age of 95. Hundreds of people lined the streets of the town to watch the body being transported from th...

The remains of AmaZulu Prime Minister and former IFP president, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi are THIS MORNING at his home for the last time at KwaPhindangene, in northern KwaZulu-Natal. He will be laid to rest today following his death at the age of 95. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC Reporter, Minoshni Pillay who is at KwaPhindangene in Mahlabathini ahead of Buthelezi's funeral.

Former IFP Leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, was a member of Parliament for almost three decades. His journey in the National Legislature started after South Africa's first democratic elections in April 1994. Our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent takes us through some of Buthelezi's  highlights in the National Assembly, and how he was able to reach 90 and still be an active MP

The Springboks start their 2023 Rugby World cup title defence campaign in Marseille, France, today with an expected pulsating tie against Scotland. The Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for a record-equalling third time in Japan four years ago after beating England in the final, but will have to be at their best from the start if they are to progress from a very difficult Pool B. Victory in tod...

Dr Bhekuyise Buthelezi and Prof Bheki Mngomezulu weigh in on the legacy that the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi leaves behind