TimesLIVE - In The News

Carl Niehaus set to fight Covid-19 violation in November trial

Suspended ANC member Carl Niehaus arrived at the Estcourt magistrate’s court on Wednesday surrounded by comrades, a strong police presence and virtual support from former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Dudu Zuma-Sambudla. Niehaus was arrested last month for allegedly breaking lockdown regulations after he and a group of ANC members and…

18 Aug 2021 8AM 2 min

Young & white South Africans 'less accepting' of vaccines: survey

A recent survey by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in collaboration with the Developmental, Ethical and Capable State research division of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) suggests that vaccine acceptance across SA has picked up, but that young and white South African remain hesitant about Covid-19 vaccines. In conversation…

17 Aug 2021 10AM 6 min

South Africans in Afghanistan describe the chaos as the Taliban take the capital

Afghan nationals are desperate to leave their country after  Taliban forces entered Kabul on Sunday and the Western-backed president, Ashraf Ghani, fled. The insurgents said they were seeking complete power. A South African contractor described apocalyptic scenes at Kabul’s airport as panicking Afghan civilians scaled the airport walls and stormed…

17 Aug 2021 7AM 7 min

What is behind eThekwini Metro Police’s ineffective response to last month looting?

A leadership battle, a shortage of equipment, and simple apathy are being blamed for the eThekwini Metro Police’s ineffective response to last month’s week-long looting which saw billions of rands’ damage to the city.

14 Aug 2021 6AM 5 min

Jacob Zuma Foundation threatens legal action, says medical details should remain private

The Jacob Zuma Foundation says it is greatly disturbed by the “callous and insensitive manner” in which the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and certain media outlets have reported on the health concerns of former president Jacob Zuma.

11 Aug 2021 7AM 8 min

‘The industry needs dresses’: Why Leeko Makoene wants more women to join farming

Agriculture entrepreneur Leeko Makoene is encouraging aspiring female farmers, especially young black women, to not be afraid to enter the agriculture sector, saying the industry needs “feminine” creativity and a woman’s touch to help address the challenges it faces. Makoene, 41, is the founder and CEO of Made with Rural,…

9 Aug 2021 2AM 8 min

10 new ministers as Ramaphosa rings the cabinet changes

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night made wide-ranging changes to his cabinet, bringing in new ministers of health, finance and, in the wake of recent civil unrest, defence and military veterans. There were also new ministers appointed in the presidency, communications and digital technologies and human settlements, among others.

5 Aug 2021 4PM 13 min

Rapid PCR tests at OR Tambo International

SA's hard-pressed travel industry is inching towards recovery as foreign airlines resume flights to the country and rapid Covid-19 tests become available at airports. In what is likely to be a boon to travellers needing quick Covid-19 tests, local biotech firm Next Pathology has set up a centre offering rapid…

5 Aug 2021 7AM 1 min

Carnival atmosphere as EFF supporters prepare for Phoenix march

Busloads of EFF supporters gathered at Gandhi Park in Phoenix, north of Durban, on Thursday, ahead of a march against those involved in criminal acts which saw 36 people killed during the recent unrest. The EFF on Tuesday announced that they planned to “march to Phoenix against racist Indians” ,…

5 Aug 2021 6AM 2 min

After 66 years and an uprising, Joburg family business destroyed by Covid

After 47-years a family dry-cleaners and tailor store shut its doors last week. At the end of the month their core business, a dry cleaners in Fordsburg, will also close its doors after 66-years in Johannesburg central. 

5 Aug 2021 1AM 5 min

Years of exercise pay off for retired 89 year old doctor as he volunteers to administer Covid-19 vaccine

Between playing golf and volunteering to administer the Covid-19 vaccine, 89 year old Ebrahim Seedat, a retired doctor, regards himself as “fairly” fit for his age. He attributes his strength and resilience to years of exercise and eating healthily.

3 Aug 2021 8AM 4 min

Treasury’s R39bn relief package won’t require additional debt

Treasury has announced a R39bn package to provide relief to the poor and to support business, which won’t require new finance and will therefore not lead to additional debt. The package will be funded by higher-than-expected tax revenue, with R36.3bn being new money and R2.65bn from  adjusting the budgets of…

28 Jul 2021 9AM 8 min

FULL ADDRESS | Curfew eased, booze back on sale and small gatherings allowed as SA goes back to level 3

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday moved SA back to alert level 3, meaning that alcohol sales will be allowed, gatherings can take place and interprovincial travel for leisure is back.

25 Jul 2021 3PM 32 min

The figures: the real impact of SA's looting crisis

As the dust begins to settle in the wake of South Africa’s recent looting crisis; economists, analysts and businesses begin to take stock of the damage sustained, as a result of the violence. We spoke to both Dawie Roodt, chief economist at Efficient Group and Annabel Bishop the chief economist…

22 Jul 2021 8AM 5 min

LEAKED AUDIO | Pay our salaries and pensions or we’ll take criminal action, say ANC staff

ANC employees have threatened the party’s top six officials, who include President Cyril Ramaphosa, with criminal action over the failure to pay their pension benefits to fund administrators despite making deductions from their salaries over two years. The disgruntled staff members made the threat of opening fraud and theft cases…

21 Jul 2021 2PM 1 min

Insurgency or criminality: the ANC's divided response explained

The ANC appears to be divided on how to characterise the public violence and mass looting of goods and businesses that took place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng last week. Was the unexpected violent outbreak a carefully planned and orchestrated revolt, a result of criminality and hunger, or is it simply…

21 Jul 2021 7AM 7 min

Court to decide on Jacob Zuma’s application on August 10 when trial resumes

The high court in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday adjourned former president Jacob Zuma’s fraud and corruption trial until Aug. 10, when the court will hear adjudication of the issues Zuma raised in his special plea that prosecutor Billy Downer has “no title” to prosecute. Judge Piet Koen made this order on…

20 Jul 2021 6AM 2 min

Recent looting and violence were deliberate to undermine democracy: Cyril Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the recent violent protests and rampant looting SA has experienced were a planned and deliberate attack on the country’s democracy.

16 Jul 2021 3PM 29 min

We would have died to save them, say taxi drivers who defended fun fair

With heavily armed gangs of marauding looters swarming across Vosloorus on Gauteng’s East Rand, destroying shopping malls and vandalising whatever they could not steal, a group of taxi drivers refused point blank to allow the protesters to destroy one thing – the travelling fun park set up in the community…

15 Jul 2021 5AM 7 min

Food and fuel shortages emerge

With several days of mass looting and violence disrupting supply chains, concerns about food security, panic buying and shortages in several sectors have come to the fore. Panic buying has seen stores which have not been looted running out of stock. Further shortages are expected as the impact of supply…

14 Jul 2021 8AM 4 min