TimesLIVE - In The News

Change laws around owning big cats, says Sheba’s owner

The owner of Sheba, the eight-year-old Bengal tiger that escaped from a 11.5ha farm where she had been hand-reared, has urged the government to reconsider the laws governing ownership of exotic animals in South Africa.  Rassie Erasmus told the Sunday Times of the emotional stress and trauma he had to…

21 Jan 2023 8AM 6 min

I have not stolen a cent from government: Ace Magashule

Former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule appeared briefly in the Free State High Court on Friday on charges related to a R225m asbestos tender, before the case was postponed again. The charges stem from when he was Free State premier. The case has been marred by postponements and Magashule told media…

20 Jan 2023 5AM 2 min

Owner of Sheba the tiger opens up about escape

Rassie Erasmus, the owner of eight-year-old Sheba, a Siberian tigress which escaped from his 20 acre plot in the Walkers Fruit Farm area of Midvaal, south of Johannesburg, has opened up about the events leading up to the predator’s escape last weekend.  Erasmus spoke to TimesLIVE on Friday about raising…

20 Jan 2023 5AM 7 min

'Grooming youth to be employees is not going to help'

Young people should be groomed to improve production in the country to free it from the crisis it is in, says the founder of the South African Council for Graduates. Thamsanqa Maqubela, who believes the youth can build the economy, vouches for “careers of the future”, adding that his organisation assists…

19 Jan 2023 4AM 4 min

2022/23 festive season road fatalities decrease by 13.9%

Festive season road fatalities statistics for 2022/23 revealed a 13.9% decrease. Transport minister Fikile Mbalula attributed the numbers to increased police visibility and mass public awareness campaigns. Mbalula said the decline was a good start, but more had to be done.

17 Jan 2023 8AM 4 min

Johannesburg Water systems affected by Stage 6 load shedding

Johannesburg Water is faced with increased water demands due to high temperatures and rolling stage 6 blackouts. Spokesperson Puleng Mopeli says although they have backup systems, these are taking strain. Residents are urged to use water sparingly and to adhere to water restrictions.

16 Jan 2023 8AM 1 min

‘Our courts are captured, but Ramaphosa remains charged,’ says Carl Niehaus

Reacting to judgment in the President Cyril Ramaphosa and former president Jacob Zuma court case, former ANC member Carl Niehaus said the judiciary will lead the country to collapse. Ramaphosa had applied to the Johannesburg high court to set aside his prosecution as unconstitutional and unlawful. He asked the court…

16 Jan 2023 7AM 5 min

Go after invigilators too, not just pupils - Umalusi on exam cheats

Education quality assurance body Umalusi is calling for action to be taken against education officials involved in helping pupils to cheat, among other irregularities, during the National Senior Certificate examinations. Addressing the media on the release of the 2022 matric results, the education body said it was concerning that officials were…

16 Jan 2023 7AM 7 min

Eskom unburdening its debt on citizens: experts

Amid rising costs, South Africans will have to dig deeper and pay at least 18.65% more for electricity while not receiving more power. Eskom had applied for a 32% price hike to energy regulator Nersa last year and was approved for 18.65% and 12.74% increases for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025…

13 Jan 2023 10AM 5 min

‘Dali Mpofu seriously destroyed Ramaphosa’s court application’: Mzwanele Manyi

Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi believes Jacob Zuma’s legal counsel has demolished Cyril Ramaphosa’s arguments in court and says he is abusing presidency resources. The former president filed a case against the president arguing that Ramaphosa is an “accessory after the fact” in relation to charges Zuma is pursuing…

12 Jan 2023 11AM 6 min

 'The right thing will be to allow Cyril Ramaphosa to stand trial':  Niehaus

Former ANC member Carl Niehaus said the right thing for President Cyril Ramaphosa to do is to stand trial in former president Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution bid against him.  The two-part matter is being heard at the Johannesburg high court on Thursday.  

12 Jan 2023 6AM 4 min

Eskom moves to stage 6 load-shedding in the evenings until further notice

Eskom announced it will escalate load-shedding to stage 6 starting at 9pm on Tuesday until 5am on Wednesday morning. It said stage 6 nightly load-shedding will then be implemented from 4pm to 5am and stage 4 from 5am to 4pm until further notice.“ Seven units tripped on Tuesday, of which three…

11 Jan 2023 1AM 1 min

Cyril Ramaphosa’s interdict bid flawed and irregular, says Manyi

The Johannesburg high court will on Thursday hear President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid to interdict former president Jacob Zuma’s case against him. Mzwanele Manyi, Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson, alleges suspicious moves by the justice system in the matter and says it seems as if there is an unspoken rule that Zuma…

10 Jan 2023 11AM 5 min

'The immunity of SA is still very strong' — health ministry amid new sub-variant

The health ministry says the immunity of South Africans, from vaccination and natural immunity, against dominant variants of Covid-19 remains strong. This was announced during a highly anticipated Covid-19 situation update by the department after the first positive case of the new sub-variant XBB.1.5 was confirmed in South Africa last week.

10 Jan 2023 8AM 5 min

Good speech but will there be action?

Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast says only time will tell if the ANC is serious about promises made at its anniversary celebrations. The party held its 111th anniversary celebrations in Bloemfontein at the weekend, where President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined its priorities for the year. This year’s ANC theme is “The year…

9 Jan 2023 10AM 5 min

Five ANC urgent priorities for 2023 ‘to put citizens' interests first’

President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a strong message about ANC renewal and says all members will have to come to the party. Ramaphosa said ANC renewal is non-negotiable and every member is expected to support the call. Ramaphosa made several promises at the party’s 111th anniversary in Manguang based on its…

8 Jan 2023 8AM 4 min

Experts warn of nationwide measles outbreak once schools reopen

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the national health department are anticipating a nationwide outbreak of measles when schools reopen for the 2023 academic year. This as the number of measles cases being detected across South Africa is rising daily, with more than 300 lab confirmed cases to…

6 Jan 2023 9AM 11 min

Build an economy that serves all South Africans: Ramaphosa reveals plans

President Cyril Ramaphosa says his party wants to create much-needed jobs for all. He was closing the ANC’s 55th national conference in the early hours on Friday. Ramaphosa said issues that came out of deliberations included accelerating land reform, prioritising safety and security for South Africans and ending gender-based violence and…

6 Jan 2023 5AM 4 min

The podcast that led to a task force uncovering paedophiles in South Africa’s to

My Only Story, an award-winning South African podcast by investigative journalist Deon Wiggett in collaboration with News24, has inspired the launch of Operation Nemo, a high-level police investigation into a network of sexual predators preying on top athletes in some of South Africa's most elite schools. Operation Nemo is a…

5 Jan 2023 4AM 12 min

Boksburg explosion tanker death toll rises to 37

The number of people killed as a result of the Boksburg  bridge explosion on December 24 had risen to 37 on Wednesday. Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi said the police notified the Gauteng provincial government that additional body parts were found around the area of the incident. Of the 37 people…

5 Jan 2023 12AM 1 min