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Life Esidimeni deaths were caused by former health officials negligence, court rules

The high court in Pretoria found that some of the Life Esidimeni deaths were negligently caused by former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and former mental health director Dr Makgabo Manamela.  Judge Mmonoa Teffo, who headed the inquest, handed down judgment on Wednesday afternoon. The inquest was investigating who was…

10 Jul 2024 12PM 5 min

CCMA in talks with Numsa and Gautrain operator over strike

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says the strike by Gautrain workers will continue indefinitely if no meaningful offer is made. The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)  initiated mediation between Numsa and the Gautrain operator, Bombela Operating Company, to resolve the strike which began on…

10 Jul 2024 6AM 1 min

Time to stop putting all our eggs in one Eskom basket, says electricity minister

The electricity minister says there is plenty of electricity but [ordinary] people cannot afford it amid tariff increases. He said the ministry will be aggressive in tackling energy poverty. He told the media the country has reached “energy poverty” where people can’t afford the cost of electricity. His comments come…

8 Jul 2024 9AM 3 min

Zakes Bantwini celebrates 20 years in the music industry with an eye on an Oscar next

Born in KwaMashu, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Zakes Bantwini is demonstrating that dreams can indeed come true as he conquers the world.The renowned South African global artist, producer, and Grammy winner celebrated a 20-year milestone in his phenomenal career in the music industry. Bantwini hosted a special 20th-anniversary concert at the Durban…

6 Jul 2024 1AM 13 min

EXPLAINER: City Power says R200 monthly extra fee is for 'fairness'

It was unfair for postpaid customers to pay a service fee while prepaid customers were excused, says City Power after imposing a R200 monthly charge for residents. The order received backlash from the public amid tough economic times.

4 Jul 2024 9AM 6 min

Pained family of slain NWU student speak

Dad of bright third-year student opens up on the pain of losing his beloved daughter as killer gets hefty sentence. Oscar Magomani still has one of the last messages his daughter Karabo Maluleke sent him shortly before her disappearance and murder.

3 Jul 2024 1AM 5 min

‘This is not a coalition with the DA’ — ANC’s Maile

Gauteng ANC head of elections Lebogang Maile says they are not in a coalition with the DA and would not be bullied by the party.This follows yet another standoff with the DA in Gauteng over the creation of a provincial government of unity on Monday. Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi delayed the…

2 Jul 2024 6AM 1 min

We were never in GNU for positions - Steenhuisen

DA leader John Steenhuisen says the party did not join the government of national unity (GNU) for positions but to ensure the voice of DA voters will be heard for the first time in every cluster. The combination of portfolios they negotiated ensures they've achieved this end, he said.

2 Jul 2024 6AM 2 min

MK Party decries exclusion from GNU by Ramaphosa

The MK Party says the GNU is a sellout deal by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who shut out the MK Party and “black parties” like the EFF in talks. The party had been clear that they would never work with the ANC if Ramaphosa was at the helm.

1 Jul 2024 8AM 1 min

“We are not here to be petty, we are here to work”: MK Party's John Hlophe 

Impeached judge and now MK Party parliamentary leader John Hlophe says the party will remain above “petty politics” and serve the people who have elected them as they take up their seats as MPs. Hlophe was speaking to media after the swearing in of 58 party members in the National Assembly…

25 Jun 2024 9AM 4 min

Was this a free and fair election?

Political Analyst Dr. Sithembile Mbete discusses various elements of the question and ultimately explains why the May 29 election was free and fair. She explains what it would take for an election to be substantively not free and fair and some of the intriguing elements of seat allocation in the…

20 Jun 2024 7AM 20 min

Shape up or ship out: Ramaphosa says parties in GNU have to agree to create jobs

After being sworn in for a second term as president, Cyril Ramaphosa said parties in the government of national unity (GNU) will have to agree to create jobs and work towards economic growth or they will be removed. The GNU parties are the ANC, DA, IFP, PA and GOOD. Ramaphosa…

19 Jun 2024 9AM 1 min

Thoko Didiza elected as new National Assembly speaker

Podcasts and similar audio content from the Arena Holdings group, publishers of the Sunday Times, Business Day, The Times, Sowetan, etc. News-orientated editorial content Keywords: podcast, multimedia, politics, entertainment, news and views, economy, South Africa

14 Jun 2024 10AM 1 min

EFF to contest speaker and chairperson posts despite non-participation in GNU

EFF leader Julius Malema announced on Thursday night that his party would contest for the parliament speaker and committee chairperson posts. Malema says these were among the party's wishes and decisions, which he expressed in his meeting with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday morning. The CIC was speaking during a media briefing…

13 Jun 2024 2PM 4 min

Alan Winde re-elected as Western Cape premier

Alan Winde was re-elected for a second term as premier of the Western Cape on Thursday. He received 26 out of 42 votes. The ANC's candidate, Muhammad Khalid Sayed, received 14 votes. Two ballots were spoilt. The election of the premier took place by secret ballot. Winde's election followed the…

13 Jun 2024 6AM 2 min

Health department confirms second Mpox death

The health department says a second person has died of Mpox less than 24 hours after minister Joe Phaahla provided an update on the spread of the infectious disease. The latest death was a 38-year-old male patient from KwaZulu-Natal. In Gauteng a man living with HIV tested positive for Mpox…

13 Jun 2024 4AM 2 min

Whistle Girl making education 'fashionable' in 2024

Reneiloe Seemane, better known as Whistle Girl, is now grown up. She has a BA and is completing an LLB.In 2020, a video of Seemane dancing while blowing a whistle went viral on social media. This won the hearts of many South Africans as some dubbed it as an “iconic”…

10 Jun 2024 5AM 3 min

ActionSA exits MPC, calls out parties for ‘breach’ 

ActionSA says some parties who form part of the Multi-Party Charter of SA, previously known as the moon-shot pact, have breached their agreement by going into coalition talks with the ANC. The party says it has withdrawn from the charter for this reason. This was announced on Thursday during a briefing by…

6 Jun 2024 9AM 5 min

'Protest by ANC members outside NEC meeting based on disinformation' — Mbalula 

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the protest outside the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg is based on disinformation. The ANC is holding a national executive committee meeting at the hotel after the elections outcome. The party dropped to about 40%, losing its outright majority in parliament. 

6 Jun 2024 8AM 2 min

‘No one knows the true facts’, says Thabo Bester in courtroom outburst

What was meant to be a simple pretrial hearing in the Thabo Bester matter turned into a lengthy outburst from the man at the centre of the saga when he used the proceedings as a platform to raise issues around his case.

5 Jun 2024 8AM 1 min