The Weekend View

Economist Dawie Roodt says that most public South African universities should be closed, and that the government should allocate more funds to private institutions. He argues that they do not produce the required skills and that the quality of state-owned universities has declined. He says South Africa has one of the worst primary education systems in the world and that many of these institutions...

Researchers at the University of Pretoria have identified the gene that is responsible for diet-related obesity. By exploring the role of the novel gene, they have made a potential breakthrough in current knowledge about the cellular mechanisms that drive fat accumulation. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Prof. Melvin Ambele of the University of Pretoria's Institute for Cellular and Molecular...

The Office of the Chief Justice says it is working to review and strengthen internal controls to safeguard the credibility of courts through the prevention and early detection of fraud and corruption. This follows THIS WWEEK's exposure of alleged systemic corruption at the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Mthatha. There are claims that court officials solicit bribes, some as high as 15-t...

Incomplete projects, while profits escalate are some of the findings of a study by Mining Affected Communities in Action into some mining companies when looking at their Social and Labour Plans. The organisation found that 11 mining companies are not meeting the promises they made to improve the communities they are mining in. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Christopher Rutledge, MACUA  Execu...

South Africa's second-hand car market is growing rapidly, with used vehicle applications now outpacing new vehicle applications by more than two to one, according to WesBank's 2024 data. While affordability is a major appeal, many buyers face unexpected risks – from odometer fraud and stolen or cloned vehicles, to rejected insurance claims due to undisclosed histories or limited cover....

As public institutions face mounting pressure to restore financial accountability and credibility, a new artificial intelligence platform, developed here in South Africans, has been unveiled to catch irregularities before they spiral into full-blown crises. The platform, called Audrey, monitors transactions and data in real time, flagging anomalies and potential compliance breaches within minutes....

As winter temperatures drop, your skin could show it in dryness, redness, and even that lifeless, dull look. from heated indoors to icy outdoors, can damage your skin's protective barrier. Lauren Blythe, founder of Soliette, says a consistent skincare routine is vital. She advises a professional skin analysis, richer moisturizers, gentler cleansers, and hydrating serums with hyaluronic acid. She a...

The rich cultural diversity of South Africa is beautifully reflected in its legal framework, particularly concerning marriages. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998, holds a pivotal role in acknowledging and safeguarding the institution of customary marriages. While the importance of lobola as a customary practice cannot be denied, recent High Court judgments have highlighted that the...

Kaizer Chiefs have finally broken their decade-long silverware drought, defeating fierce rivals Orlando Pirates 2-1 in a pulsating Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Captain Yusuf Maart netted the winner in the 80th minute, capping off a spirited performance by Amakhosi. Earlier, Gaston Sirino converted a penalty before Pirates equalised through Evidence Makgopa. But on this grand stage,...

Fake videos generated using artificial intelligence which show bogus representations of SABC journalists and presenters promoting different projects or seen to be advertising products are still making  waves on various social media. The videos are becoming more sophisticated making it hard for unsuspecting individuals to tell if the videos are real. Scammers use AI, to clone the voice of the...

The families of missing journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli are anxiously awaiting DNA test results to confirm whether two bodies discovered in Rust de Winter, Limpopo, are of their loved ones. The couple went missing in February. In a chilling twist, police have arrested five suspects linked to their disappearance; some were found with parts from the couple's vehicle....

Tomorrow is Mother's Day An important day to appreciate the vital role played by mothers in many areas. One such area mothers play a key role in at times is to shape the financial future of their families. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Therèse Havenga, Head of Business Transformation at Momentum Savings to share these life lessons

A call to young authors. The Africa Teen Authors Book Initiative is calling on young African writers aged 13 to 19 to submit non-fiction short stories for its fifth anthology under the theme "One Africa, Many Voices. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Nomawele Njongo, the CEO of Kwazi Thina Publishers and founder of Africa Teen Authors Book Initiative

Just before the Constitutional Court ruled that South Africans can now have citizenship of another country while keeping their SA citizenship, the law prohibited this.  A matter that the Democratic Alliance has been seized with in the courts for years.  The party was supported by Phillip Plaatjes, a South African citizen who went to South Korea in 2002 to teach English. He then married B...

Orlando Pirates emerged the better side over Soweto derby rivals Kaizer Chiefs after claiming a 2-1 win at the FNB Stadium YESTERDAY. The Buccaneers came from a goal down to claim victory, laying down a marker for a rematch against Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final next weekend. The win means Pirates have closed the gap to league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns while for Amakhosi, this second successive l...

Picture this, you are a mom and your baby is crying uncontrollably in the middle of the night. You try every trick you know but nothing seems to be working. Then you take your phone to check if there are any possible solutions. A few suggestions that seem genuine come up, but are they really genuine or are you interacting with marketers unaware? The World Health Organization and the United Nations...

The country's two largest labour federations, COSATU and SAFTU have been at each other's throat and trading barbs in the days leading up to Workers Day as they sharply differ over proposed labour law amendments. The proposed amendments include changes to the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and the Minimum Wage Act.   COSATU says it  remains confident th...

The South African National Defence Force - SANDF - on Thursday confirmed the phased withdrawal of troops and equipment from the eastern DRC, three days after a parliamentarian chastised the Department of Defence for its lack of communication on the exit. The withdrawal route from Goma in eastern DRC has been confirmed to go through Rwanda to Chato in northwestern Tanzania. The SA in DRC mission fa...

ON FRIDAY , Kelly Smith and her co-accused were convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith. The Western Cape High Court found that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt that Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn sold the six-year-old girl for the purposes of exploitation. The three accused will remain in custody ahead of sentencing pro...

The search for the three missing police officers ended tragically this week with the discovery and recovery of their bodies. On Thursday the wreckage of the VW polo they were travelling in was also recovered in the Hennops river in Centurion in Gauteng.  Constables Cebekhulu Linda, Keamogetswe Buys and Bopelo Senoge went missing last week Wednesday, while en route to their posting in Polokwan...

While living together without marriage may reflect modern relationship dynamics, it's vital to be aware of the legal implications. Although South Africa has traditionally been more conservative in its approach towards these types of relationships, cohabitation is at an all-time high in South Africa. According to Vermeulen Attorneys , statistics have shown that less people are getting married, and...

Save the Children South Africa  has welcomed the guilty verdict in the Joshlin Smith case but laments that the case has laid bare the harsh reality of child abuse and exploitation that plagues the country. This comes as recent studies have shown that 42% of children in the country have experienced some form of violence during their childhood. Save the Children SA says that many kids continue...

Cape Town homeowners are fuming over the City's proposed tariff hikes set to kick in July. An explosive public meeting this week saw residents slam the fixed charges tied to rising property values, warning of 20 to 40% bill increases. Many, especially retirees and middle-income earners, say the hikes are unaffordable and unfair. City officials insist talks are ongoing, but an online petition is al...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has shortlisted four judges for the vacant Deputy Chief Justice role Dunstan Mlambo, Mahube Molemela, Cagney Musi, and Pule Tlaletsi. He's begun formal consultations with the Judicial Service Commission and political party leaders, as required by the Constitution. The post has been vacant  since 1 September 2024 when the then Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya rose to...

TODAY South Africa commemorates Freedom Day, under the theme, "United in Resilience for The Defence of Our Freedom and Democracy." President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the main celebration at the AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo, Mpumalanga. This year's celebration coincides with the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, a foundation on which our Constitution was draft...