The Weekend View

In these challenging economic times, where consumers are struggling to make ends meet, loyalty programmes have emerged as a lifeline for many. The attraction of these loyalty programmes  lies in their ability to offer tangible benefits that ease financial burdens. These can be  cashback rewards, discounts, or points that can be redeemed for essential items. While these incentives empower consumers...

Limpopo Gambling Board and police THIS WEEK confiscated illegal gambling machines from foreign-owned spaza shops. Five suspects were arrested and were expected to appear in courts in Sekhukhune and Mopani districts. The suppliers of the illegal gambling machines are not known. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Limpopo Gambling Board CEO, Gregory Makoko 

 President Cyril Ramaphosa this week (Wednesday) signed the Judicial Matters Amendment Act of 2023 into law. This is in line with recommendations made by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State in the Zondo Commission.  Corruption is one of the greatest impediments to the country's growth and develop...

TODAY marks the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.  Every year in April, the country enters a 100-day period of commemoration during which Rwandans reflect on historical divisions between the country's main ethnic groups - the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa.   Almost a million men, women and children, mainly ethnic Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, were killed in the 100 day murderous onslaught th...

Government THIS WEEK unveiled a roadmap to end the highly controversial but lucrative captive lion breeding industry. With about 7,800 animals in 348 breeding facilities, South Africa has the largest number of captive lions in the world. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told a press briefing on Wednesday that, recomendations from a panel of experts she appointed to formulate steps for the indus...

Zimbabwe YESTERDAY introduced a new gold-backed currency called ZiG, which stands for Zimbabwe Gold. Central Bank Governor, John Mushayavanhu said the ZiG would be structured and set at a market-determined exchange rate. This is the latest attempt to try to stabilise an economy that has lurched from crisis to crisis for the past 25 years. The currency replaces a Zimbabwean dollar that has lost thr...

COSATU and its affiliate, the Communications Workers Union YESTERDAY marched to the National Treasury offices in Pretoria in support of workers at the South African Post Office - SAPO - and SABC. Workers at SAPO have been forced to face delays in their salary payments with six-thousand workers also facing retrenchments. Employees of the SABC are still in dispute over the payment of salary increase...

Banyana Banyana lost one-nil to Nigeria in the first leg of the Paris Olympic Qualifier played at the MKO Abiola stadium  in Abuja YESTERDAY evening.  The Super Falcons converted a penalty in the 42nd minute. That match  was not broadcast due to issues outside of the SABC's control. The second leg will be played on Tuesday, at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane. Banyana Banyana will need to overturn the o...

ActionSA says it will be taking action against South Africa's unregulated polling industry and those in the media who have become enablers of political disinformation under the guise of legitimate polling. The party cites an article published on the 10th of March, it says 3 media outlets published a poll without any reference to the origin of the poll.  Action SA believes that polls in South Afric...

The National Assembly THIS WEEK approved the Expropriation Bill as amended by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) with a vote of 205 in favour and 108 against. The bill makes provision for the expropriation of property, without compensation, if deemed in the public interest. It's adoption means it will now go straight to the president for signature and on to South Africa's statute books. The...

Starting from TOMORROW Eskom will be implementing  a 12.7% electricity price increase, as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). The power utility in October 2023 applied to Nersa for the approval of its Retail Tariff and Structural Adjustment Application and the schedule of tariffs for the period from  the first of April 2024 to  the 31st of March 2025. For more Bongiw...

Limpopo MEC of Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba YESTERDAY verified that the sole survivor of THURSDAY's* tragic bus accident is in good health. Ramathuba also confirmed that nine of the deceased are identifiable, however the remaining bodies would have to undergo DNA analysis. For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  MEC Ramathuba 

 The Easter holiday has also seen thousands of cross border travellers throng the country's border crossings as they visit neighbouring countries. With it also comes an increase in illegal border crossings, illicit cross border trade and human trafficking. To look at the situation on the county's borders Bongiwe Zwane spoke the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority - BMA , Dr Michael Mas...

The horrific Limpopo accident that killed 45 pilgrims from Botswana on their way to the Easter service in Moria on Thursday evening has highlighted the dangers of holiday driving. Provincial and Metro Police Departments have also been intensifying roadblocks across the country to ensure road safety. Despite their blitz several fatal road accidents have been reported throughout the country.  For th...

How many times have you been really satisfied with the service you get as a consumer? For many of us it's not that many. In this current harsh economic environment one would have thought businesses will go all out to impress their customers to deserve their hard earned cash. Every interaction between a customer and a business holds the potential to either fortify or fracture the relationship. From...

The biggest and popular consumer Lifestyle Exhibition Event in South Africa is in full swing. The Rand Easter Show started on Thursday and ends on Monday April 1st.  The theme for this year is – Bringing Families Together.  Held annually over the Easter period, the family-friendly gathering offers a wide-range of shopping experiences at their various exhibitions. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ad...

South Africa goes to the polls on the 29th of May to make their mark in what is going to be a hotly contested general election.   This year, voters will see three ballot papers rather than the two they are used to. This is a first for democratic South Africa. The change has come as a result of the Electoral Amendment Act that provides for the inclusion of independent candidates to run for office a...

 IFP president, Velenkosini Hlabisa on FRIDAY called for urgent peace talks between his party and ANC leadership for both parties to iron out their differences . His call comes amid a controversy involving the ANC's Siboniso Duma and the Zulu monarch's prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi during the commemoration of King Dinuzulu last weekend. The incident led to some ANC members claiming that they...

Senegal is finally going to the polls TODAY to vote in a tightly contested presidential race that has fired up political tensions.  The presidential election is taking place after much uncertainty following President Macky Sall's unsuccessful effort to delay the Feb. 25 vote until the end of the year. President Macky Sall's unprecedented decision to delay the election had sparked violent demonstra...

 Life imprisonment for rapists, the death penalty for murderers, and easily accessible clinics and police stations will be put in place for communities. These are some of the promises outlined by the Alliance of Citizens for Change (A.C.C) in its election manifesto launch in Cape Town YESTERDAY. The party says its manifesto, is underpinned by the concept of ensuring social justice. Andile Mbanjwa...

Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni, has appointed his son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Chief of Defence Forces. Kainerugaba replaces General Wilson Mbadi as head the country's defence forces- who has been moved to the trade ministry in the major cabinet reshuffle in the East African country. Over the years, Museveni has denied speculation that he is grooming his only son as his successor. Sebenz...

On Thursday THIS WEEK, the organisation 'Friends of a Free Internet' launched what it calls the 'Stop Thief campaign' demanding the major cell phone networks end profiteering and meet their commitments to expand affordable internet access to everyone in South Africa. The campaigners called on MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom to stop the digital divide which they say is amplifying and deepening Sout...

Most opposition parties in Parliament have called on National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to resign in the face of corruption allegations against her.  This, as she had opted to go on special leave, while the allegations are being investigated. It is alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula received several bribes worth two-point-three million rand from a from a defence contractor during her tenur...

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has confirmed that the death of former Steinhoff CEO, Markus Jooste does not have an impact on its on-going investigation relating to Steinhoff. This, after Jooste died from a self-inflicted gun wound. On Wednesday, he was fined four-hundred-and-75-million rand by the FSCA, for misrepresenting Steinhoff's financial statements published between the year...

In commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day on 21 MARCH 2023 , Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, together with his family, have launched the Mpedi Family Neurodiversity Studies Scholarship. The initiative signifies a commitment to fostering inclusive research and addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with neurodiverse condit...