TimesLIVE - In The News

LEAKED | ‘He needs to be shot and killed’: chilling voice notes from truck attackers

The Sunday Times is in possession of two WhatsApp voice recordings that cast a stark light on truck burnings that struck the country this week, described by police minister Bheki Cele as “economic sabotage”. The truck burner caught on video was one of three people arrested this week, but the…

15 Jul 2023 11AM 2 min

Truck attacks organised to sabotage state: Cele

Truck attacks are organised to sabotage the state, but it has a capable security cluster, says Bheki Cele. The police minister said 12 persons of interest have been identified regarding the attacks. Deputy president Paul Mashatile told TimesLIVE's sister publication SowetanLIVE that the state security agency knows who is behind…

12 Jul 2023 7AM 3 min

‘Let’s forget about the faceless people’ — Mashatile concludes there is no plan to oust him

In an interview with TimesLIVE, Deputy President Paul Mashatile says he has concluded there is no plan to oust him from office after his meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday. This follows his claims that unnamed people were plotting to remove him from office by August. Mashatile says the ‘faceless…

11 Jul 2023 12PM 4 min

Mkhwebane's 'I don't care attitude' did her a disservice, says committee chair Dyantyi

The chair of the parliamentary inquiry into suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's fitness to hold office insists the committee will conclude its work and report by July 28 or earlier. Qubudile Richard Dyantyi says deadlines set won’t be prolonged any further and that Mkhwebane has done herself a disservice by…

11 Jul 2023 9AM 3 min

Meyiwa family 'devastated' trial must restart, but confident in new judge

Speaking on behalf of the Meyiwa family, AfriForum’s advocate Gerrie Nel says they are devastated that the murder trial of the soccer star, who died in October 2014, will have to restart. TimesLIVE also spoke to Meyiwa's brother Sifiso, who says the case is now in the right hands. The…

7 Jul 2023 2AM 6 min

We are not going to any moon with anyone: Malema on exclusion from DA's 'pact' 

Julius Malema says he will not join the “moonshoot pact” that seeks to unseat the ANC in the 2024 elections. The EFF leader said he did not know why his party was excluded from the “pact”, but alluded to it being because of the EFF's unwillingness to be controlled by…

6 Jul 2023 10AM 4 min

Public shouldn't take it lying down: crime expert after Mashatile's armed protectors assault civilians

More than half a billion rand is paid out to victims of this kind of misbehaviour, and there is no plan to ensure police adhere to rules, says crime expert Gareth Newham. Newham adds that accountability systems in the police are incredibly weak and deteriorating year on year, costing large…

4 Jul 2023 10AM 6 min

Debts you’re not liable to pay and how to escape them

Consumer expert Wendy Knowler chats about how to handle debt collectors, as you may be paying for debts that you shouldn’t. She explained the law that protects consumers from paying unnecessarily, but says not all old debts can be written off. Knowler explained some of the implications of all of…

3 Jul 2023 3PM 5 min

ANCYL calls for 50% youth representation in parliament and legislatures 

Newly elected ANC Youth League members addressed their first media briefing on Monday after the league's 26th national conference at Nasrec in Johannesburg at the weekend, where its new national leadership was elected after eight years without an official national structure. Among the issues were youth representation in parliament and…

3 Jul 2023 11AM 5 min

Ramaphosa calls on ANCYL to deliver “decisive victory” in 2024 elections 

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) is responsible for the mobilisation of a “decisive victory” for the party in next year’s general elections. Ramaphosa was speaking at the ANCYL's 26th National Conference at Nasrec Expo Centre Johannesburg at the weekend, where the league elected its national leadership…

3 Jul 2023 8AM 5 min

Mayor Gwamanda promises to address service delivery issues in Diepkloof hostel

The City of Johannesburg mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, said the living conditions in Diepkloof hostel were disheartening.  The mayor visited the hostel on Wednesday morning and assured residents that the municipality will address their service delivery issues.

28 Jun 2023 10AM 3 min

Three more G4S employees nabbed in Thabo Bester prison escape

The case against three G4S employees linked to the Thabo Bester matter has been postponed to next week in the Bloemfontein magistrate's court. Twelve people have been arrested so far in connection with Bester's escape from prison in May last year.

28 Jun 2023 8AM 1 min

I was expelled long ago: Ace Magashule on expulsion, political future 

Former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said he was expelled from the ANC long before his dismissal was announced. He alleged billionaire businessman Johann Rupert ordered party president Cyril Ramaphosa to expel him. Magashule was speaking to Newzroom Afrika on Monday night. He also spoke about his political future, saying he…

27 Jun 2023 7AM 4 min

Titan submersible inventor 'broke rules'

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush said he broke rules when he created the Titan, saying, “You're remembered for the rules you break”. Rescuers spent days searching for the vessel, carrying five people, including Stockton, to the Titanic wreck at the bottom of the ocean. On Thursday, OceanGate told US television channel…

23 Jun 2023 7AM 3 min

Judge Zondo calls for permanent commission into corruption  

Chief justice Raymond Zondo has proposed solutions to prevent another state capture situation such as that by the Gupta family, one being the establishment of a standing anti-state capture and corruption commission. Zondo says the National Assembly and parliament failed to take steps to expose the Guptas' state capture because…

22 Jun 2023 10AM 5 min

We are not taking South Africans' money: immigrant vendors on Marabastad protests 

After they were attacked and their businesses vandalised by Tshwane residents on Monday, TimesLIVE on Tuesday visited Marabastad, a business area near the Pretoria city centre, to speak to immigrants who run businesses there. The vendors said they moved to South Africa for betters lives and they are not here to…

21 Jun 2023 6AM 6 min

‘Zuma has never been my enemy’: Malema addresses 'flip-flopper' criticism

Why was former president Nelson Mandela not called a flip-flopper, EFF leader Julius Malema wants to know. Malema believes if he is considered a flip-flopper, then so should Mandela — for “fitting the narrative of the white establishment” and making FW de Klerk his deputy. In an interview on the…

19 Jun 2023 7AM 3 min

'We are talking': Malema reveals Magashule might join EFF

In an interview  with Sunday Times political editor Sibongakonke Shoba, EFF leader Julius Malema revealed expelled ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule might be joining the party. Without revealing too much, Malema said discussions with Magashule were at an "advanced stage". 

15 Jun 2023 1AM 3 min

Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s five demands

During her release of audio “evidence” alleging a solicited bribe, suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane laid down demands which include an immediate halt to the inquiry into her fitness to hold office. Mkhwebane called on “all freedom loving South Africans to rise in one voice” and support her demands, saying…

13 Jun 2023 11AM 3 min

‘Biggest corruption scandal’:  Mkhwebane releases much-anticipated audio recordings

Suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane released audio recording evidence allegedly implicating section 194 committee chair Richard Dyantyi, ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina and late former cabinet minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson. The three ANC MPs are accused of trying to solicit a R600,000 bribe to make the inquiry into Mkhwebane's fitness to…

13 Jun 2023 9AM 5 min