The Weekend View

The National Assembly has passed a resolution and approved the National Freedom Party's motion calling for the "downgrading of the South African embassy in Israel until such time Israel respects the rights of Palestinians".  The motion sailed through with 208 voting in favour and 94 against. There were no abstentions. NFP Parliamentary leader Ahmed Shaik-Emam thanked the AIC, ANC, Al Jama ah, EFF,...

Seventeen Lonmin Marikana mine workers accused of murder have managed to put their trial on ice for now. This follows a ruling by the North West High Court sitting in the Mogwase Reginal Court to remove their murder trial from the roll -- pending a review application in the Pretoria High Court to have charges against them dropped. They are charged with seven counts of murder, four of malicious dam...

The City of Tshwane says it has received and accepted the resignation letter from embattled mayor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela. The former mayor's sudden departure came after he issued the city with a fraudulent insolvency rehabilitation certificate. He also resigned as a COPE councilor and a member of the party. Makwarela's resignation came after he issued the city with a fraudulent insolvency rehabilit...

There were intense arguments in the National Assembly Programme Committee THIS WEEK over the delay by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a new SABC Board. This as National Assembly Speaker and Programme Committee Chairperson Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula revealed that, based on legal asdvise, the 12 names recommended by Parliament to serve on the SABC board were enough for consideration for appointmen...

South Africans are growing more and more anxious in anticipation of the eminent cabinet reshuffle. Some have even accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of unnecessary delays. After having several meetings with different stakeholders including the ANC and its alliance partners Cosatu and the SACP, Ramaphosa is expected to change his executive any time now, with speculation that it could even be later t...

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, this week lashed out at western countries for criticizing Uganda's parliament after it approved a bill that is likely to have a negative impact on the rights of the LGBTQI community. Speaking during his State visit to South Africa on Wednesday, Museveni also defended his country's decision to close the United Nations human rights office saying  they had develope...

Government says the recently published national state of disaster regulations relating to the electricity crisis are aimed at minimising the impact of loadshedding on livelihoods, the economy, small businesses, policing functions, and health services, among others.  The regulations were published this week, more than two weeks after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the electricity crisis a natio...

Another case of cholera has been confirmed in Gauteng, bringing to six the number of laboratory confirmed cases in the country. The latest case is that of a 19-year-old woman from Emandleni informal settlement in Benoni east of Johannesburg. The patient was identified by the Outbreak Response Team during contact tracing where over a thousand people were reached. This follows the death of a 24-year...

Education is the key to a great future, but, like all good things, it comes at a steep price tag.  For many graduates, this means shouldering part of the national R16.5 billion student debt and starting a working life with this financial burden. John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual says graduates must have knowledge of better managing student loans so that they are not held host...

Another cabinet member, Gwede Mantashe, this week added his voice in challenging former Group Executive of Eskom, Andre de Ruyter, to name the minister he alleged is involved in corruption at the power utility.  Earlier this week, De Ruyter made startling revelations during a television interview relating to entrenched corruption at Eskom implicating the ANC. Appearing before Parliament's Portfoli...

 Vote counting is under way in Nigeria's tightest presidential election since military rule ended in 1999. Saturday's voting was marred by long delays at polling stations, as well as scattered reports of ballot box snatching and attacks by armed men. And some parties have raised alarm over allegations of irregularities, which could lead to a disputed outcome. Tens of thousands of polling stations...

The Judicial Conduct Tribunal into former PRASA interim board chairperson, Judge Tintswalo Nana Makhubele's conduct has been adjourned until May. Makhubele is accused of breaching the separation of powers principle by serving as a judge of the High Court while being chairperson of Prasa. Civil society organisation #UniteBehind lodged a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission three years ago...

Voters in Africa's biggest economy and most populous country, Nigeria, head to the polls this morning to elect a new president and lawmakers, in what is set to be a close contest amid rising frustration over cash and fuel shortages, unprecedented insecurity and surging inflation. President Muhammadu Buhari, who will complete his constitutionally allowed two terms in May, is not on the ballot. Vote...

Global financial crime watchdog the  Financial Action Task Force - FATF  has added South Africa to its grey list group of countries under special scrutiny to implement standards to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing. Being added to the grey list is a reputational knock for the country, which has been trying to address shortcomings identified by the FATF. Critics say the government le...

Ceremonies took place across Ukraine yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the Russia's invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a message of defiance to his people vowing Ukraine will do everything to win the war while NATO leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, hoping to take over the country in a matter of days....

President Cyril Ramaphosa is anytime now expected to unveil his new cabinet that will drive and fulfill the agenda he set out in Thursday's State of the Nation Address. The speech centered on finding solutions for key issues facing South Africans, among them the load-shedding crisis, reducing unemployment, poverty, and the rising cost of living as well as combating crime and corruption. He announc...

The EFF has threatened to take National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to the Constitutional Court for allowing armed police into the chamber of parliament at the Cape Town City Hall, where President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address. EFF President Julius Malema says Mapisa-Nqakula's actions were unconstitutional. At a media briefing in Parliament, Malema said onl...

The Credit Ombud says couples should carefully plan for their expenses on Valentine's Day. The ombud also warns that couples should not use credit to enjoy the lovers' day. Among tips that money-savvy and creative couples could consider are making their own gifts, cooking together at home rather than going out, and offering a bouquet of flowers from their own garden. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Cr...

Police have opened two murder cases after a famous South African Rapper, Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes, and another person was shot dead outside a restaurant in Durban, last night.  According to reports,  the rapper and his bodyguard were leaving Wish' restaurant on Florida road when two men on foot fired shots at them.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kwazulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiund...

Today marks exactly seven years since the 2016 tragedy of the collapse of the Lily Mine container that trapped 3 workers, Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Nkambule and Solomon Nyirenda. THIS MORNING prayer sessions and a site visit to the mine will be conducted as part of commemorations of the disaster. Labour unions and some political parties have been working over the years trying to assist the families of...

Pope Francis is today winding up his visit to Africa and is expected to celebrate Mass in Juba, South Sudan, before flying back to Rome. The pope's visit to South Sudan is aimed in part at shoring up a 2018 peace deal that has reduced violence and stopped a return to full-scale war in the country. Before his arrival in Juba on Friday, Pope Francis was in the Democratic Republic of Congo from Tuesd...

The ANC yesterday announced that it will seek leave to appeal the court ruling ordering it to hand over its cadre deployment records to the opposition DA. Last week lawyers for the DA argued that the ANC's deployment policy was unconstitutional and the court should declare it invalid as it is the root cause of problems in the delivery of basic services including electricity. But the ANC said the c...

The highly contentious South African Tourism deal with English Premier League football club, Tottenham Hotspur deepens as 3 board members have reportedly resigned. Board members, Enver Duminy, Ravi Nadasen and Rosemary Anderson have tendered their resignation from the board of South African Tourism, effective immediately. Resulting of a difference of opinion, Nadasen and Duminy's resignation and A...

Residents in several parts of Joburg and Tshwane were this week grappling with water outages. This was after Rand Water confirmed that there were problems with water supply to municipalities because of technical issues with the system caused by load shedding. Many residents complained that there was no notice or communication from authorities on what the problem is and when they could expect the p...

With load shedding not going anywhere anytime soon, consumers' continuous 'powerless' struggles are set to persist for the foreseeable future. Although load shedding is seen as an "uninsurable" risk under insurance policies, its effects of it can still be covered. A question that many consumers ask is if insurance policies will cover breakage or theft due to load shedding. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke...