The Weekend View

Tributes from all corners of South Africa continue to pour in for former deputy president David Mabuza. Mabuza died on THURSDAY at the age of 64. He served as Deputy President from 2018 to 2023 under President Cyril Ramaphosa. Mabuza has been praised by his friends and foes alike for his lifelong activism, political acumen and commitment to South Africa. During his political career he earned the n...

A more severe cold front  is set to make landfall in the Western Cape TODAY and is expected to move to the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, bringing disruptive rain and very cold conditions across several provinces. Cold temperatures are also expected TOMORROW, especially in the southern parts of the country. The likely impact of this cold front include localised flooding over the southwestern parts...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a scathing attack on DA Leader John Steenhuisen. This for the decision to withdraw from the National Dialogue.  Ramaphosa's rebuke comes in the wake of former President Thabo Mbeki's open letter to Steenhuisen. The aim of the much talked National Dialogue is to bring South Africans from all walks of life together to discuss the kind of South Africa they...

One could be forgiven for feeling that every second call received these days is a SPAM call. As technology enables broader outreach and data breaches increase, the volume of unsolicited sales calls seems to follow.  Although South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) has been in force for some time, enforcement of the rules has been relatively limited thus far. To address t...

As we have reached the halfway point in the year, many people may be feeling constant fatigue due to adding more tasks to their to-do list than crossing off. Mid-year fatigue is real. According to Karin Mitchelmore, Executive Head of Healthcare Consulting at financial advisory firm NMG Benefits, for many, the early-year energy has given way to fatigue. The end of the year feels far away, and it is...

Reigning Rugby World Cup champions South Africa are confident that their superior experience in the number of combined test caps and local knowledge, will be their allies when they take on Italy at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria TODAY. The Springboks will once again do without the leadership of Siya Kolisi who is nursing a tendon injury and will be captained by Jesse Kriel, who will become South...

As we come to the end of youth month... On the Weekend View this morning we put the spotlight on youth and underage drinking in South Africa. The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) has expressed concern over the challenges that young people face through underage drinking. This due to the wide variety of alcohol distributors in many communities and the sale of alcohol to minors. SAAPA...

South Africans spent a staggering R1.1 trillion on gambling between April 2023 and March 2024, with gross gambling revenue surging by over 25% to R59.3 billion This is according to the national gambling board. Experts cite aggressive advertising and easy access as key drivers. Meanwhile The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation is urging early intervention to assist those harmed by gamblin...

As the crisis in most of the countries municipalities continues unabated, government has introduced a review of the white paper on local government. This move is touted as one that could help change the face of local government, even possibly bringing down the number of municipalities. It also looks at another critical aspect of local government, the politicisation of local government, but of cour...

As South Africa grapples with rising financial stress, Employment Law experts at law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr say the legal, psychological, and employment implications of over-indebtedness are increasingly impossible to ignore. Health experts have found that excessive debt has been linked to deteriorating mental health, impaired decision-making, and diminished functional capacity. The firm adds...

A new report by WaterCAN reveals that nearly 40% of water samples tested at South African schools are unsafe to drink. The month-long project saw pupils from 95 schools test tap, tank, and river water, many showing contamination and low pH levels. The report further reveals that for many pupils, especially in rural and quintile 1-3 schools, water has become an item they carry from home, with some...

Rwanda and the DRC have signed a US-brokered peace deal aimed at ending years of bloodshed in eastern Congo. Deadly clashes have ravaged the mineral-rich region, with the DRC accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, a claim Kigali denies. While previous peace efforts failed, this new accord includes commitments to cease hostilities and disarm militias. Critics, however, warn it could become...

Mamelodi Sundowns suffered their first defeat at the FIFA Club World Cup after losing 4-3 to Borussia Dortmund at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio  YESTERDAY. Sundowns looked more ambitious and hungry in the early stages of the match, and their efforts were rewarded with an opener in the 11th minute. Despite the loss, coach Miguel Cardoso has hailed the teams brave display ahead of their k...

Banks in South Africa have been criticised for using aggressive tactics to address home loan arrears. Some of these tactics include initiating legal action for repossession even when homeowners are actively reducing their arrears, imposing excessive legal costs that quickly surpass the actual debt and failing to engage meaningfully with customers before resorting to court action. This week a High...

There are no signs of de-escalation as Iran and Israel trade new missile strikes for a ninth day. There are reports THIS MORNING of an explosion in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, home to Iran's largest nuclear research complex. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful and his country remains open to diplomacy, but Israel's attacks must stop first. Isr...

In a damning report, Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has given Eastern Cape COGTA MEC Zolile Williams 90 days to act against officials involved in the R15 million Leeseyton Sports Field in the Enoch Mgijima Municipality. If you don't remember this story, let me refresh your memory a little bit. It was an open field with what appeared to be grandstands yet no athletics tracks, soccer field, abluti...

South Africans are more digitally connected than ever, but with this convenience comes growing risk. The increase in internet usage, mobile penetration, and social media engagement has led to a surge in online fraud, with scammers exploiting every opportunity to target vulnerable consumers—especially those seeking credit. Leonie van Pletzen, CEO of MicroFinance South Africa says increased re...

According to the National Shelter Movement of South Africa 82.8% of young African women in impoverished areas are engaging in sexual relationships with older men. As youth unemployment has reached an all-time high in South Africa, a recent study conducted by NSMSA has revealed this shocking evidence that economic hardship, gender inequality and social media trends are driving blesser/blessee relat...

In the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup competition, Mamelodi Sundowns face Germany's Borussia Dortmund TODAY in a pivotal Group F clash at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, USA. While Dortmund were held to a 0-0 draw in their Club World Cup opener against Fluminense, Sundowns made history with a 1-0 win over Ulsan HD. With qualification for the knockout rounds still wide open, this encounter could prove...

The Bulls failed in their bid to lift the United Rugby Championship trophy after succumbing 32 -7 against Leinster in YESTERDAY's final at Croke Park in Dublin. Fans were left in disbelief after Jake White's team conceded 14 points in as many minutes in a terrible start to the title decider. Earlier in the day however, the Proteas made history when they claimed the World Test Championship mace aft...

A study on absent fathers at the University of Johannesburg found that South Africa has an exceptionally high number of absent fathers with approximately half of the children in the country living without daily contact with their fathers. Experts suggest that this situation presents social and developmental challenges.  According to the Human Sciences Research Council, most children in South...

  The 16th of June marks National Youth Day in South Africa. This year,  youth month is commemorated under the theme  "Skills for the changing world – Empowering youth for meaningful economic participation". Government is calling on all South Africans to invest in young people and to prepare them for the evolving demands of the global economy. Meanwhile, Professor Letlhokwa Ge...

The South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) is urgently appealing to young men between the ages of 16 and 35 to register as stem cell donors. SAMBR says their critical underrepresentation is costing lives.  According to the group this deficit drastically limits the chances of finding suitable matches for patients with life-threatening blood cancers, especially those from certain ethnic gro...

The Volkswagen Group South Africa has recalled over 100 of its vehicles due to safety concerns.  The National Consumer Commissioner has also confirmed the recall of 142 Volkswagen Polos and eight Volkswagen Taigo vehicles by the manufacturer. To find out more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Prudence Moilwa, Head of Complaints and Investigations at the National Consumer Commission..

The first batch of SANDF soldiers that was expected to return to South Africa from the DRC YESTERDAY afternoon, has finally touched down on home soil. The group, which initially expected to arrive at the Bloemspruit Air Force base in Bloemfontein arrived at the Waterkloof Airforce base in Pretoria yesterday evening. They were part of the Southern African Development Community - SADC -  Missio...