The Weekend View

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) has filed court papers to appeal a ruling that had allowed an auction of Nelson Mandela's personal belongings to go forward. The late former President's daughter, Makaziwe and the agency have been locked in a two-year legal battle, where the SAHRA tried to block the sale of the items, describing them as heritage items. We spoke to Ben Mwasinga, S...

While the country is in jubilation over the impressive record matric performance, it is important to consider those learners who have not passed their exams as well as they would have hoped, and those who have completely failed. Many parents and guardians are currently faced with the responsibility of going back to the drawing board and re-assuring their children that there are second chances. Dr...

Financial literacy for young children is just as important as it is for adults. It helps them build a better foundation for financially literate and responsible adults. A recent study suggests that by age 7 children are able to develop a basic understanding of financial behaviours they might need in their adult life. Every year, most families are said to run into the same financial pitfalls which...

Global supply chains are facing severe disruption as a result of the world's biggest shipping companies diverting journeys away from the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Attacks by Houthis in Yemen on commercial vessels have resulted in many firms deciding to avoid one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. US and UK naval forces in the Red Sea have now launched air strikes against Houthi rebel targets...

Former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule on Friday announced that his party, the African Congress for Transformation, had joined forces with the Jacob Zuma-backed uMkhonto weSizwe and other "like-minded" parties ahead of the 2024 general elections. He was speaking in Pietermaritzburg as the ACT kick-started its three-day awareness campaign in KwaZulu-Natal. Some say the move could further dilute...

Thousands of people have not received their social grant benefits for January. According to the South African Social Security Agency, the delay is caused by an error with the personal information verification process. Reports say up to 150 000 beneficiaries have been affected, a devastating blow for many families at the beginning of the year. In 2023, payment failures also left thousands of benefi...

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says after 30 years of democracy, the governing party still remains a party of choice. Ramaphosa delivered his January 8 Statement in a full packed Mbombela stadium in Mpumalanga yesterday. Dignitaries in attendance includes former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, alliance partners and representatives from fraternal parties such as Mozambique's Frelimo party, Zim...

Days before that start of this week's case by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, hundreds of Israelis signaled that they would be backing the case at the International Court of Justice. More than 600 Israelis signed a petition calling on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule in favour of South Africa's lawsuit against the state of Israel, calling for a decision that will...

The National Credit Regulator (NCR) is warning consumers to borrow wisely this January if they need to. With the festive season is over, the New Year upon us, sadly for so many cash strapped consumers the harsh reality of January expenses has become a rude awakening from their festive spending.  We spoke to Jimmy Golele, who is the National Credit Regulator's (NCR) Senior Education and Communicati...

Israel has asked judges at the World Court to throw out the genocide case brought by South Africa, which has asked the U.N.'s top court to order an immediate end to Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip. In its response to accusations made before the court by South Africa on Thursday, Israel said the demands to stop its offensive against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza lacked any merit. Mea...

On Thursday, thousands of people attended the funeral in Beirut of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy Hamas leader assassinated in a suspected Israeli attack in the Lebanese capital. His assassination on Tuesday has raised fears that Israel's war with Hamas could spiral into a wider regional conflict that could involve Hamas' Lebanese ally Hezbollah and their powerful backer, Iran.  Arouri was killed in...

The ANC turns 112 years old tomorrow and it will host its anniversary party celebrations in Mpumalanga next week Saturday. Party president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the January 8th statement to thousands of ANC supporters at Mbombela Stadium. Ramaphosa is likely to also unveil the ANC's manifesto for the national and provincial elections set for this year. In our Sunday Discussion unt...

There has been mixed reactions to the release of murder convict Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius was released on parole on Friday after serving 10 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. The disgraced Paralympian became eligible for parole in March last year after serving half of his sentence of 13 years and five months for the murder. Our reporter Phumzile Mlangeni fi...

  The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed that it has received OUTA's investigation report into alleged corruption and mismanagement at the National Student Financicl Aid Scheme (NSFAS). OUTA says it is in possession of recordings of meetings between  NSFAS chairperson, Ernest Khosa and a representative of the NSFAS service providers who distributed funds to students. The recordings all...

From increasing interest rates and high fuel and food prices, many South African consumers had a tough year in 2023. Recent data from Stats SA indicated that inflation declined in November 2023, but is there relief  for consumers on the horizon in 2024? To answer that question, we spoke to Professor of Economics at the North West University, Prof Waldo Krugell

Ministers of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that clarifies their respective responsibilities with respect to Eskom and the resolution of the electricity crisis. The MoU that has been approved by President Cyril Ramaphosa establishes a firm basis for a collaborative approach between the Ministers in exercising their...

This period of the year is traditionally a time for families to spend time together, however it is not always festive for everyone for various reasons. Not everyone is lucky enough to have people they have been longing to have around them all year. 2023 has been a difficult and trying year for many people who for different reasons, be they be financial, social or personal,  are unable to be with t...

  A delegation of Christian leaders from around the globe, including a team from South Africa led by Rev Frank Chikane, are in Palestine where they will spend Christmas in Bethlehem.  This is in demonstration of solidarity with Palestinian Christians and all Palestinians in the occupied territories. This comes amid reports that churches across Palestine have cancelled Christmas. We spoke to  Rev....

Cape Town firefighters are still battling flare-ups in the Cape Peninsula. Emergency services are trying to contain a vegetation fire that has engulfed the area since Tuesday. Places such as Simon's Town, Fish Hoek, and Glencairn have been hard-hit by the blaze. We spoke to Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse...

The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution for a boost in humanitarian aid to Gaza but no ceasefire. The Council voted on Friday for the creation of "conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities". The vote comes amid international calls to end the conflict between Israeli and Hamas forces. For more on this, We spoke to Professor Ricky Mukonza, a Political Analyst and Asso...

Preliminary results are coming in after polls closed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Presidential elections. The elections marred by delays forced officials to extend the balloting in the general election. The delays drew criticism from some opposition candidates who are questioning the credibility of the results. This as President Felix Tshisekedi, is seeking his second and final five-year...

As the battle for the ownership of the name uMkhonto Wesizwe continues- the  African National Congress (ANC) has served the newly formed, uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party with a letter to cease and desist using the name. The ANC maintains that uMkhonto Wesizwe has historical links to it and it's paramilitary wing which was disbanded in 1994. This follows an announcement by ANC former President, Jacob Z...

It's that time of the year again were many South Africans will be visiting the coastal towns to enjoy some sunshine and fresh breeze at our different beaches. However people need to always be cautious of their surroundings for their own safety. Meanwhile, The City of Cape Town says their Identikidz project that tags children with their parents details is in full swing at various beaches around the...

Former President Jacob Zuma has urged South Africans to vote for the newly-formed party, uMkhonto weSizwe. Speaking in Orlando East in Soweto, Zuma said this will rescue the ANC, whose current leadership he says, is a proxy of White Monopoly capital. The UMkhonto weSizwe party takes its name from the ANC's former armed wing, that was disbanded in 1994. To explore the meaning and impact of former p...

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has faced criticism from members of parliament's public enterprises committee who have accused him of not fully co-operating with the committee's investigation into the allegations of irregularities in the SAA deal with Takatso Consortium. The committee is probing accusations made by former public enterprises director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi, which cas...