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'Ezulweni Investments never rendered services to the ANC' — Fikile Mbalula

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party has never procured posters from Ezulweni Investments.It was revealed last week that the ANC faced liquidation after it allegedly failed to pay its debt to KwaZulu-Natal printing and marketing company Ezulweni for supplying the party with election campaign material in 2019. Mbalula was briefing…

6 Dec 2023 7AM 4 min

MPs fume over ‘looting scheme’ in parliament

MPs met to discuss the financial management of the National Assembly on Tuesday, with opposition parties fuming over an alleged secret R1.8m salary hike for secretary to parliament Xolile George. Demanding answers, they claimed the salary differed from the R2,604,661 annual package that was advertised. According to the Sunday Times,…

5 Dec 2023 6AM 4 min

'The Brics bloc still needs to define its main purpose' — Mbeki 

Former president Thabo Mbeki says the Brics bloc of countries needs to properly define its main purpose. He was speaking to Russia Today in an exclusive interview on Monday. In August South Africa held the fifth Brics Summit and recently Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, the UAE and Argentina joined…

5 Dec 2023 4AM 5 min

ConCourt rules that independent candidates need 1,000 signatures to contest elections

The Constitutional Court has ruled on Monday that independent candidates will need 1,000 signatures to partake in an election. The apex court gave a judgment on an application brought forward by One South Africa, challenging the number of signatures required to contest an election. According to the Electoral Amendment Act signed into…

4 Dec 2023 8AM 7 min

Under an ActionSA government the private sector will flourish to give South Africans upward mobility' — Mashaba

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says under his government the private sector will flourish to give South Africans success and upward mobility. He was speaking at the party's 2024 election campaign launch in Ga-Ramotse in  Hammanskraal during the weekend. 

4 Dec 2023 4AM 5 min

Jacob Zuma still people’s favourite choice of leader

Cyril Ramaphosa, Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema, Mmusi Maimane, Helen Zille and John Steenhuisen rank as the top politicians in the country, according to a recent polling. The IRR says President Ramaphosa and EFF leader Malema are the only politicians doing well and who could grow their support even more. According…

29 Nov 2023 9AM 2 min

“The people of Palestine will rise again” — political parties, trade unions and civil society march in solidarity with

Political parties, trade unions and members of the public marched from the Johannesburg CBD to Constitution Hill on Wednesday in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The world marked International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People on Wednesday amid Israel's war with Hamas.ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told marchers Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…

29 Nov 2023 9AM 6 min

All talk of racism is by politicians excusing their failures: IRR study

The Institute of Race Relations’ (IRR) data suggests “all talk of racism and colonialism is by politicians trying to find excuses for their failures”. About 67% of participants in a recent study voted in favour, saying politicians use racism and colonialism as a cover up for their failures. Hermann Pretorius,…

29 Nov 2023 6AM 2 min

'It could have been avoided' - Amcu on Impala mine accident 

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) says an accident that claimed the lives of 11 workers and left 75 others injured at Impala platinum mine in Rustenburg on Monday could have been avoided. Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said such a mechanical fault should have been addressed/avoided  with regular maintenance. …

28 Nov 2023 9AM 4 min

Department of Sports, Arts and Culture announces new awards for creative sector

Minister of sports, arts and culture Zizi Kodwa has announced new awards for the creative industry. Kodwa was briefing the media on Tuesday.He says the awards ceremony will be held in towards the end of March or early April next year.  Meanwhile, the minister has appointed an independent board for Netball…

28 Nov 2023 5AM 5 min

Power manipulation? Schedules don’t correspond with cuts, say experts

Energy analysts say we’re experiencing higher stages of load-shedding than what Eskom announces. They cite municipalities adding more hours to Eskom schedules so that stage 6 may be a stage 8 when municipalities add their hours. Chris Yelland, Lungile Maskele and Liziwe McDaid say the schedules don’t align with what…

27 Nov 2023 1PM 6 min

Mbalula backtracks on ending load-shedding by December

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula on Monday backtracked on his claim that load-shedding would end next month. A few months ago, on several occasions, Mbalula was adamant load-shedding would end by December. In January, during the ANC’s 111th anniversary celebrations, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced five “urgent priorities to put citizens first”…

27 Nov 2023 9AM 3 min

Prison warder explains scuffle with accused in Meyiwa trial

A scuffle ensued between a prison warder and some of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial during a tea break at the Pretoria high court on Monday. It is alleged the scuffle began after some of the accused failed to follow instructions given by warder Vusi Jele, who instructed them…

27 Nov 2023 7AM 5 min

Ramaphosa a sheep among wolves, says Fikile Mbalula

“President Cyril Ramaphosa is a sheep in the midst of wolves in the ANC, sometimes I wish to ruffle him up”, says ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. Mbalula believes his party leader is too much of a good person and said it sometimes frustrates him).  “He is a good and kindhearted…

27 Nov 2023 6AM 3 min

Under a PA government you will go into the army at 18 rather than receiving R350 grant: McKenzie

Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says under a PA government people will be forced to go into the army at the age of 18. He was speaking at the party's 10th birthday celebrations at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto at the weekend. 

27 Nov 2023 2AM 1 min

'We need days like Black Friday in this economy,' say customers taking advantage of special offers

Black Friday buyers did not waste time on Friday as more than 160,000 transactions were made by 10am. At Woodmead Retail Park, queues were more than 2km long with people having arrived from 4.30am to get their hands on special offers. This is what people in the queues had to say. 

24 Nov 2023 8AM 2 min

Joburg EMS recovers unidentified woman's body at Klip River

Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) says its members have recovered the body of an unidentified woman at the Klip River.Media liaison Xolile Khumalo says the emergency services are uncertain whether it is one of the bodies of two young people who drowned in the river. 

22 Nov 2023 6AM 1 min

Take their salaries, committee suggests for EFF MPs who ‘threatened Ramaphosa'

The committee investigating the conduct of EFF MPs who stormed the stage in parliament during the state of the nation address (Sona) in February wants the party members to apologise, be banned from parliament and not receive their salaries. If the recommendations succeed, EFF leader Julius Malema, deputy leader Floyd…

22 Nov 2023 5AM 6 min

'Stay hydrated', says Johannesburg EMS as heatwave melts Gauteng

Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) say residents must stay hydrated and avoid sitting, standing and playing in the sun.Gauteng is experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures predicted to reach a high of 32ºC on Wednesday.Joburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said residents should avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm The South African Weather…

22 Nov 2023 4AM 2 min

Stage 4 load-shedding due to insufficient emergency reserves and generation capacity

Stage 4 load-shedding was implemented at 2.31am on Wednesday until further notice. Eskom said this is due to insufficient emergency reserves and generation capacity as a result of four units not returning to service as planned. The power utility said it will monitor the system and communicate should any significant…

22 Nov 2023 3AM 1 min