The Weekend View

As we step into 2025, many are reflecting on the year gone by and setting fresh goals. with some saying holidays can at times leave us feeling more drained than refreshed. In South Africa, where 35% of people struggle with mental health, the highest globally, according to the Mental State of the World Report, self-care has become a necessity. So, how can you return to work energized and ready to t...

Despite being little, teenage sensation Luke Littler stormed to victory over Michael van Gerwen to win the World Darts Championship in London LAST NIGHT. The 17-year-old English teenager nicknamed 'The Nuke', Littler beat the odds by drubbing van Gerwen from Holland 7 - 3 to become the youngest world champion in World Darts history.  Last year Littler came close to winning the competition as...

The Road Traffic Management Corporation - RTMC- has pledged to intervene to reduce road accidents and fatalities on national roads as holidaymakers return to the cities and their places of work this weekend. Hundreds of people have already lost their lives in countless accidents reported across the country this festive season. Among the areas with the highest numbers of fatal crashes are eThekwini...

As the festive season reaches its peak, holidaymakers are flocking to beaches across the country. However, the ASC Public Health and Food Safety Consulting firm has raised alarm bells over E. coli levels detected in some coastal waters. The firm conducted a study on beach water safety at five beaches within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro ,focusing on Faecal Streptococcus and E. coli bacteria as indi...

TODAY is one year since South Africa instituted proceedings at the International Court of Justice - ICJ - against Israel. 'South Africa vs Israel' is an ongoing case that was brought before the ICJ on 29 December 2023 by South Africa regarding Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war, that resulted in a humanitarian crisis and mass killings. On 26 January 2024, the ICJ...

The Information Regulator has taken legal action to prevent the Department of Basic Education (DBE) from publishing the 2024 matric results in newspapers, citing violations of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The regulator argues that releasing results, even with anonymized data, breaches privacy laws without consent. The DBE, however, insists on proceeding with publishing matri...

AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is expected to announce his new traditional prime minister in due course, This following the dismissal of Rev. Thulasizwe Buthelezi as his prime minister. The king cited Buthelezi's conduct as inconsistent with the values of the monarchy. In a letter, the king thanked Buthelezi for his 11 months of service but stated the decision was made in the best interests of...

Cargo processing resumed smoothly YESTERDAY at the Lebombo border, with the Border Management Authority confirming that trucks, pedestrians, and small vehicles were being processed without significant disruptions. This comes amid ongoing protests in Mozambique following the confirmation of Frelimo as the winner of the October elections. Authorities have assured that movement at the border remains...

In breaking news....More Illegal miners have resurfaced from the disused Stilfontein mine in the North West province. This brings the total number of zama zamas that have emerged from the mine in recent days to 47. Police say all those who have resurfaced have been arrested and will appear in court on Monday, 30 December 2024.  Colonel Adele Myburgh, North West police spokesperson said operat...

Civil unrest linked to Mozambique's disputed October election continues to grip the country. More than 30 people have been killed in a fresh bout of violence. Monday's decision by Mozambique's top court confirming long-ruling party Frelimo's victory in the election has sparked new nationwide protests by opposition groups and their supporters who say the vote was rigged. Frelimo's offices, police s...

In a bid to challenge South Africa's political heavyweights, Rise Mzansi, ActionSA, Bosa, and the Good Party are exploring possibilities for greater cooperation ahead of future elections. Party leaders Songezo Zibi, Mmusi Maimane, Herman Mashaba, and Patricia de Lille have confirmed informal discussions focusing on parliamentary collaboration. While a formal merger remains unlikely before 2029, th...

Mozambique's Constitutional Council is TOMORROW ( Monday 23rd Dec.) set to officially proclaim the outcome of the country's October presidential election results following a validation process. Mozambicans are calling for transparency after the Frelimo party, which has governed the country since its independence in 1975, retained power with a 71% majority vote. Civil unrest swept across parts of t...

As families across South Africa embrace the festive season, cherishing time with loved ones, many in the Eastern Cape are grappling with heartbreak. The ongoing 2024 summer initiation season, now in its fourth week since launching on 15 November, has tragically claimed the lives of 20 young boys an increase from 17 earlier in the season. The Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affa...

Each year South Africa records an average of close to 1 thousand 500 fatal drownings with children under 5 in the highest risk group. These incidents occur in various settings, from swimming pools to rivers and coastal areas. KwaZulu-Natal province is reportedly the epicentre of drowning cases, owing to its warm climate, abundant water bodies, and high population density. With the festive season n...

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre -- SABRIC -- says there's been a significant spike in online shopping scams during the holiday season. And, while families and friends gear up for the holidays, scammers and criminals are getting ready to pounce. In 2023, South Africans lost almost 3.3 billion Rand due to financial crime, with fraudulent banking applications accounting for 60 perce...

Heavy traffic is being reported on Gauteng's major highways and arterial routes as motorists leave the province for various holiday destinations ahead of Christmas. Most of the pressure is along the NI, N3 and N4 highways. Traffic authorities are urging motorists to adhere to road rules and reduce speed - particularly at night and during adverse weather conditions. To check on the the situation on...

As the festive season peaks, traffic officers are on the frontlines ensuring road safety. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union - POPCRU - has raised  concerns about poor working conditions and severe understaffing, calling for immediate government support. With the Department of Transport's 46-day Festive Road Safety Campaign underway, the union says last year's grim toll of 1,285 holida...

South Africa's borders experienced the busiest day of the festive season YESTERDAY with tens of thousands of people leaving and entering the country. The surge in numbers corresponds with the festive season, a time typically marked by increased travel pressure and heightened passenger volumes. The Border Management Authority (BMA) says its systems at the Lebombo border post are running efficiently...

President Cyril Ramaphosa YESTERDAY instructed the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube to fully implement the BELA Act. This after he signed a Presidential Proclamation bringing the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act into operation without changes to two contentious sections of the Act.  The two clauses relate to the provincial department becoming responsible for admitting pupils into...

New research from Discovery Insure on holiday driving trends has highlighted a worrying 26% increase in speeding during the festive season, with many drivers exceeding speed limits by at least 10km/h. The study focuses on key routes in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape, revealing that January 2 sees peak traffic as travelers return to Johannesburg from Durban. The Insure warns that spee...

There has been very little contestation for the Top 6 positions of the EFF at the party's 3rd National People's Assembly taking place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Soweto. EFF Julius Malema has overwhelming been elected to serve a third term as the party's President and will lead a top 6 team of officials that have all been nominated uncontested and duly elected. Jon Gericke spoke to analyst, Sandi...

The SACP's 5th Special National Congress ended in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, yesterday with the ANC agreeing to not stand in the way of their alliance partner's wish to contest the 2026 elections independently.  In an address to congress, ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile said they had agreed that even if they differ sharply on some of the issues, the ANC and SACP must work to strength...

EFF leader, Julius Malema, yesterday warned delegates at the party's 3rd National People's Assembly that with the decline in the party's support suffered at the May polls, the promise of economic freedom could be delayed for generations to come. Malema addressed approximately three thousand branch delegates, guests, and observers attending the first day of the party's elective conference. The EFF...

The second day of the EFF's  National People's Assembly gets underway this morning here at the Nasrec Expo Centre in the south of JHB with the highlight of the day being the nomination and election of the party's new TOP 6 leadership. Jon Gericke spoke to our reporter Sibahle Motha who is covering the assembly and analyst, Sandile Swana

Yesterday marked the deadline for parties within the government of national unity to resolve their impasse over clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Act. These clauses concern the authority to determine school language policies and the procedures governing school admissions. The South African Democratic Teachers' Union - SADTU - believes President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to postpone the implementation o...