The Weekend View

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...

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan , this week , announced that the sale of a 51% stake in South African Airways to the Takatso Consortium has been cancelled. Addressing the media after the Parliament's Public Enterprises Portfolio Committee meeting, Gordhan said there was agreement that by mutual consent that the transaction should be terminated as there is no clear path forward.  This co...

The decision by the South African National Botanical Institute - Sanbi - to increase entrance fees to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has left many people up in arms saying the new tariffs are unaffordable for most South Africans. The garden, was last year named the best botanical garden in Africa. According to the Botanical Society, who are opposed to the fee increases, South African a...

The GOOD party will THIS MORNING launch it's 2024 Election Manifesto in Johannesburg. The online launch of the manifesto will take place at Liliesleaf farm in Rivonia. Party leader Patricia De Lille is expected to spell out the party's vision for South Africa ahead of the May 29 National and Provincial election. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Brett Herron, GOOD party's secretary general

Water users of the Integrated Vaal River System will be affected when the Lesotho Highland Tunnel is closed for six months. The closure is set to commence on the 1st of  October this year to 31 March 2025 to undergo planned maintenance. The maintenance work will be undertaken jointly by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency and Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority . The shut down will have implicatio...

Misinformation and disinformation are not only a threat to democracy but a direct threat to the sustainability of credible news media. This is according to media watchdog group, Media Monitoring Africa.  The group says there has been increasing concern about the ability of disinformation to influence the outcomes of elections and its potential threat to democracy.  Meanwhile, in a crucial step tow...

The joint Business Rescue Practitioners of the South African Post Office , Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons have received reports of an increase in scams to mislead the public from fraudsters claiming to represent the Post Office.   The emails and SMS messages appear to originate from the Post Office when in fact they are fraudulent.  SAPO is now warning the public against the scams .. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reappointed South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago for another term of five years. Kganyago's new term will begin in November this year. President Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the re-appointment of Kganyago follows consultations with the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, and the directors of the reserve bank. Meanwhile, the...

A new wave of deadly attacks in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado by an armed group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) is forcing thousands of people to flee. According to UNICEF at least 60,000 children have been displaced within a period of a month. More than 100 schools in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces have had to close due to insecurity, affecting the learning of over 50,00...

Political parties have now submitted their election candidates lists, signatures and deposits to the IEC to ensure participation in the May 29 National and Provincial election. The IEC is currently in the process of verifying the information given by the parties before the candidate lists are made public. The process has however been blemished by leaks of some political parties' candidates lists o...

Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will  once again be pulsating with energy when the IFP launches it's 2024 election manifesto later TODAY under the theme "Let's do it for Shenge". South Africa's fourth largest party believes the country needs a chance to recover but requires the right leadership. It says it will present to voters a manifesto that puts South Africans first while offering the elector...

While the world's attention is focusing on the desperate humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the World Food Programme THIS WEEK warned that the war in Sudan threatens to trigger "the world's largest hunger crisis". The WFP said on Wednesday that more than 25 million people scattered across Sudan, South Sudan and Chad are trapped in a spiral of food insecurity as the brutal civil war shows no sign of easi...

 A 2023 report by the South Africa's Financial Services Regulation Board outlined a multitude of ways consumers are protected in the insurance industry.  According to industry experts , while this regulation was well received by the industry, many consumers still do not have the access to information on how they are protected by industry regulation. Many people know that there is a Consumer Protec...

The United States was earlier THIS WEEK  upbeat that talks on a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza could still reach an agreement between Hamas and Israel in time for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins TOMORROW. Negotiators from Hamas, Qatar and Egypt - but not Israel - were still trying to secure a 40-day ceasefire in talks in Cairo, Egypt but YESTERDAY Hamas announced that...

The IEC's deadline for political parties and independent candidates who intends to contend in 2024's general election to submit their candidates list has come and gone. Last week,  the IEC warned independent candidates and political parties that if they miss the deadline and fail to comply with what is needed to be eligible to contest 2024's general elections there will be little or no room to neg...

The African Christian Democratic Party - ACDP - will today launch its manifesto for the 2024 National and Provincial election. Party leader, Rev. Kenneth Meshoe, is expected to unveil the manifesto at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg. The party, which is a member of the opposition Multi Party Charter, says it's manifesto seeks to offer effective solutions for the many concerns people ha...

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) YESTERDAY raided SAFA house in a search and seizure operation. The raid follows reports allegations of fraud and theft amounting to R1.3 million. For more Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale...