The Weekend View

While government health-care facilities across the country are operating on skeleton staff negatively impacting the quality of medical care provided to patients, many qualified medical doctors continue to sit at home without work. It is this untenable situation that led the South African Medical Association Trade Union - SAMATU -  to the streets on Thursday as they marched in four provinces to bri...

With the recent release of the class of 2022 matric results, many matriculants who have achieved their desired results will be looking to enter the higher education stage of their academic careers by registering at various universities and colleges. While those who feel they did not perform to their expectations will be looking at many other options that offer them a successful second chance. Howe...

The ANC, Patriotic Alliance and Minority Parties coalition in the City of Johannesburg will strengthen, rather than destabilise the local authority. This is according to  ANC Gauteng Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi while briefing the media alongside the coalition partners and the newly elected executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg Thapelo Amad. We spoke to the newly elected Mayor of the City of J...

If you have debt, your repayment amount has just gone higher. This comes after the Reserve Bank on Thursday hiked the repo rate by 25 basis points taking the new base interest rate to 7.25%. This means the prime lending rate -- the rate that banks charge when clients borrow money is now at 10-point 7-5%. Experts are warning that homeowners are likely to feel the pinch from the latest increase in t...

Russia launched a wave of missiles on Ukraine on Thursday, a day after Germany and the United States pledged tanks to aid Kyiv's fight against the invasion. Eleven people died after 35 buildings were struck across several regions. The strikes also damaged two energy facilities. The barrage came as Russia said it perceived the new offer of military support as direct Western involvement in the confl...

 Diverse cultures in Matatiele near the border between the Eastern Cape in South Africa and Lesotho are still unified by an initiation ritual for young girls. Different ethnic groups that include the amaHlubi, amaXhosa and baSotho take their young girls for Female Circumcision. Fourteen girls from kwaSibi village in Matatiele were welcomed back after undergoing this rite of passage. However, views...

Finally, the much-anticipated 2022 matric results are out. Learners who were anxiously waiting for their results can now focus on the next big step of their lives as many of them enter the various universities around the country. And that presents a new set of problems including confirmation of registration, registration fees and securing funding from NSFAS. We now look at what's in store for lear...

The Agricultural Food and Allied Democratic Workers Union - AFADWU - says it is deeply disturbed by the death of 7 farmworkers  who succumbed to heat stroke while working on a farm in Kakamas in the Northern Cape. Temperatures in the Lower Orange region peaked at over 40-degrees celcius over the past few weeks, and it keeps on soaring. It's also harvest time for table grape farmers and farmworkers...

In light of the ongoing continuous bouts of disruptive load-shedding and the recently announced 18.6% tariff hike for electricity, two civil society organisations have launched a legal case to force government to develop an inclusive energy plan to deal with the crisis. The Green Connection and the Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute - SAFCEI - have initiated a legal challeng...

Do you sometimes sign contracts or buy products without fully understanding the language on the terms and conditions or the packaging. The Consumer Protection Act - CPA - makes it illegal for companies and institutions to use ambiguous wording and vague language usually associated with some contracts and professional literature. The Act compels them to use plain language for labels, inserts, packa...

Inland schools in South Africa started their 2023 academic year this week with some provinces like Gauteng facing a serious problem of learner placements.  Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has pleaded with parents of learners who have not yet been allocated places at schools, to give them at least ten days in which to address the problem. Motshekga says parents' preferences for certain sch...

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa-Nersa has given Eskom a go ahead to increase tarrifs by 18-point-65 percent. The increases will be effective from the first of April this year. The National Energy Regulator of South AFrica - NERSA - said the decision to increase tariffs was a tough one given the financial constrains consumers are facing. Businesses across the country are severely affe...

South African citizens and businesses have raised concern after NERSA granted Eskom an 18.65 % tariff hike. Organised businesses say the latest tariff hike will cripple the economy and lead to more job losses. Economists have further warned that the price hike on the back of stage six load shedding will be the end for many small businesses.  

January is one of the most stressful months of the year from a financial perspective. There are roughly six weeks between an early December salary payment and January month end. Within that period, many people spend more on gifts, travel, entertainment and ride-hailing than at any other time of the year - and frequently pay with credit. January brings not only the regular monthly bills, but, for p...

Gauteng motorists who have been paying their e-tolls will be refunded. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says a decision still has to be taken on what form the refunds will take - for example, in cash or as credit for future use of other toll roads. The e-toll system was due to be scrapped on 31 December 2022 but has been delayed. Now R6.9 billion has to be found to refund Gauteng motorists who had s...

Having finally concluded its reconvened 55th national conference this week.  The ANC is today hosting its January 8 birthday celebrations. The celebrations are taking place at the Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State, to mark its 111th anniversary since its formation in 1912. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to our Political Editor Mzwandile Mbeje and Political Analyst, Sanusha Naidu.

High traffic volumes are expected towards Gauteng this weekend. This is as the holiday season draws to a close and holidaymakers make their way back to Gauteng Province to resume work. Inland schools are expected to re-open on Wednesday the 11th. For an update on what is currently happening on Johannesburg roads Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to JMPD spokesperson ; Xolani Fihla

Kaizer Chiefs want to celebrate their 53rd birthday fully by defeating Sekhukhune United. The 2 teams will meet at the DStv Premiership match at the FNB Stadium this evening. Today Kaizer Chiefs will start with an exciting itinerary of birthday celebrations to mark the team's 53rd Birthday. Kaizer Chiefs has also slashed the ticket price for tonight's game in order to allow as many of their fans t...

While South Africans are known to be battling with saving and investing it doesn't need to be that way for our children. There is an App called FRANC that helps South Africans save, invest and learn about investments, and assists to teach their children to do better. To talk to us about the app, Franc and how we can save and invest Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the founder and CEO, Dr. Thomas Brenna...

It is reported that two-thirds of people have or will still set goals for the new year; 2023. However, the question remains, how many have reached those goals come to the end of the year? How important is it for one to have goals for the year and what is the importance of setting goals? To discuss this further Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Devan Moonsamy, CEO of ICHAF Training Institute, a South Afr...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again given the assurance that government is working to resolve the electricity crisis in the country. He was delivering his New Year's Address to the Nation, from his official residence at Genadendal in Cape Town. The president also touched on other challenges the country is confronted with. 

As the court battles between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his predecessor, former president, Jacob Zuma play themselves out, The Weekend View looks at the impact of public spat between the two statesman and whether it inspitres confidence in the leadership of the country. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to political Analyst, Professor Bheki Mngomezulu; ANC veteran, Dr. Mavuso Msimang and brand reputatio...

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla says it is devastating that the death toll in the Christmas Eve gas truck explosion in Boksburg has now risen 34. He was speaking to SABC NEWS on the side-lines of the memorial service for the victims of the truck explosion held at the Boksburg Civic centre on Gauteng's Eastrand.  According to the Health Department 11 health care workers and 23 members of the public...

 As holiday makers continue to enjoy the last leg of this year's festive season, homeowners have been advised to ensure that the insurance policies are up-to-date and their affairs are in order, in case of an emergency. Thieves often target homes during this time as Stats SA estimates that 5.4% of all households experienced housebreaking over the 2021/22 financial year. Unless the homeowner is ade...

COSATU weighs in on the ANC Conference's unfolding proceedings