The Weekend View

Russia has vetoed a U.N. Security Council that sought to deplore its war against Ukraine and press Moscow to unreservedly and unconditionally remove its troops from that country. 11 Council members led by co-authors of the draft - the United States and Albania - voted in favour of the text which drew three abstentions from China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Some opposition parties have made their voices heard following the sacking of National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Freedom Front Plus, COPE and the African Transformation Movement have expressed mixed views. There is also a call on Police Minister Bheki Cele to be fired.  The  tension between Sitole and  Cele follows the July 2021 unrest that...

The City of Tshwane has reportedly collected up to R500 million in revenue since the beginning of this week as part of its aggressive disconnection of services of those whose accounts are in arrears. Tshwane says it will continue its aggressive campaign until it makes a significant dent on the R17 billion debt owed by customers. Some defaulters include Capital Hotel, Gautrain, Gauteng Government,...

President Ramaphosa has told SABC News he thinks progress has been made toward lifting COVID-19 vaccine patent rights after two days of talks in Brussels. The President travelled to the EU capital for a landmark summit between the European and African Unions, bringing together dozens of world leaders. Our correspondent Rosie Birchard was at the summit and spoke to the President after talks wrapped...

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of 'COVID antibodies and to probe the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection at the population level. The SANBS says a rough extrapolation to account for the first omicron wave, which has come and gone since this data was collected, suggests that about 90% of black donors have thus far been infected by SARS-CoV...

Most crime statistics have shown a decrease in the third quarter of the 2021 and 2022 financial year. This is according to the latest figures released by the police top brass. Only murder and attempted murder have increased during that period. Briefing the portfolio committee on police - police minister Bheki Cele has urged the community to help the police by not pressurising victims to withdraw c...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been under the spotlight in parliament this week, from being lambasted by opposition parties during a two day heated debate on his State of the Nation Address to spirited efforts by ANC MPs in the public account watchdog body - SCOPA to shield him from being hauled over the committee to clarify his remarks that he was aware of public funds being used in ANC internal c...

Yesterday we spoke extensively about the plan of action South Africa should take.... Should it become the production/manufacturing hub for AFRICA the president aspires it to be, as per his state of the nationa adress... This morning we focus on one example, where the right environment was created.... ENVIABLE tax breaks were granted by SARS and future purchases by Government were guarenteed until...

The build up to the ANC 55th elective conference is gaining momentum. This besides some in politicical circles saying that it's too early for the political succession debate. It appears that the current party president Cyril Ramaphosa could be set for a second term while his Deputy, David Mabuza's future is uncertain. Ramaphosa has received another endorsement to continue as ANC leader, this time...

On the 25th of January this year, the president released the findings of the special investigative unit which probed irregularities and impropriety in 5 467 contracts awarded to 3 066 service providers for the procurement of Personal Protective equipment and services in relation to Covid-19. The procurement amount is for an eye watering 14.3 billion rand…The SIU report found that 2803 contr...

Over one-hundred-and-ten-thousand South Africans are diagnosed with cancer every year. This is according to the Cancer Association of South Africa. Experts say  healthy nutrition plays a vital role in lowering the risks of cancer development. The World Cancer Research Fund estimated that 30-40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by appropriate diets, physical activity, and maintenance of...

South African drivers are being advised to speak to their insurers if and when their drivers licences expire as they may have to wait for months to get a renewed one. Concern has been raised over what impact, driving with an expired or without a drivers licence, could have on motorists' insurance claims.

Advocacy group - Black Sash - has welcomed the extension of government's Social Relief of Distress Grant. It says the R350 will continue to cushion those hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the grant will be extended to next year March.  Upcoming entrepreneur - Thando Makhubu - an ice cream vendor also got a special mention during the State...

South African basic education learning will be going back to normal from TOMORROW -  -  after government announced lockdown protocol changes this past week. Rotation of learner attendance and the limitations on the number of learners per class will thus be scrapped as the situation reverts to pre Covid-19 times but still following other Covid 19 protocols.

The Black Business Council is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to ensure that all government departments pay money owed to small and medium-sized businesses. The President met with business lobby groups to get their input ahead of Thursday's State of the Nation Address.

With CENSUS 2022 now in full swing, there's been some anxiety and reservations from the public about letting strangers into their homes who ask a lot of personal questions.  The population count collects data about our socio-economic dynamics, living conditions and income - which ultimately assists in identifying problem areas such as service delivery, housing and unemployment.  There's...

With approximately 1 out of 3 South Africans suffering from a mental illness during their lifetime, healthcare company Sanofi South Africa has partnered with the National Department of Health, the Foundation for Professional Development and the World Association of Social Psychiatry to upskill health workers to diagnose and manage mental health disorders at primary and secondary levels of care. Th...

The  Community Schemes Ombud's Service has appealed to unregistered community schemes to abide by the law with immediate effect. All community schemes must be registered with the Community Schemes Ombud Service within thirty days after the incorporation of the community scheme or within 30 days of the coming into effect of the Regulations. A community scheme is defined is any scheme or arrang...

The Judicial Service Commission could face possible litigation for the manner in which interviews for the position of Chief Justice were conducted. A concerned  Rhodes University professor  who is from the legal profession wrote to the JSC.  The letter which was read in public toward the end of the interview process will now be expunged from record of the proceedings. The Deputy Pre...

Veteran actor, Patrick Shai has been laid to rest. Scores of friends, family and fans gathered at the Soweto Theatre, south of Johannesburg, on Saturday for his funeral service. Shai died last Saturday at his Soweto home aged 65. His career began in some of the SABC's best dramas such as Yizo Yizo, Soul City, Bophelo ke Semphego and Generations. He was also a gender activist, and a founding member...

The department of Employment and Labour has embarked on a three day mega inspection in the Western Cape that has revealed low compliance levels in the hospitality sector. The Western Cape Province's Inspection and Enforcement Services branch launched the initiative targeting the hospitality sector. The inspections were concentrated in the Metropole area of Cape Town, the coastline, the Cape Winela...

The TUT Solar Car has arrived successfully in Namibia. The Tshwane University of Technology's faculty of Engineering has embarked on a 2153 kilometer road trip to Namibia, to test state of the art equipment on their fourth generation solar car, named the Sun Chaser. The bi-annual project is used to assists the institution in grooming work ready students. For more on this we are joined on the line...

Protea men's head coach... Mark Boucher and his legal representatives have met with the chairperson of his disciplinary hearing, Adv Terry Motau, to thrash out the timetable for the legal proceedings. Cricket SA is seeking Boucher's dismissal, submitted a seven page charge sheet to the Proteas head coach. In it he's been charged with 'gross misconduct,' stemming from the findings of the Social Jus...

They were first introduced to the South African Police Service as Reserve Police, Wardens and are now Security Officers, but still to be provided with proper training and remuneration. The men and women known as Security Officers at SAPS say they have been battling since 2015 to get a solution to their predicament from the Ministry of Police with no success.

The SABC has dismissed it's head of news Phatiswa Magopeni. She was found guilty late last year of failing to prevent the broadcast, airing and publication of an interdicted story. Magopeni was facing three charges which included failure to discharge her fiduciary duties as well as bringing disrepute to the public broadcaster. The charges related to the airing of an interdicted Special Assignment...