TimesLIVE - In The News

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

Farmer blames malaria medication for racist rant

A farmer who “mistakenly” sent a racist WhatsApp rant to a group of his farming community in the West Rand has blamed his malaria medication for threating to kill the “k*****s” who broke into his home. Abel Erasmus, 52, of Vleikop in Randfontein said he was heavily medicated on Christmas…

4 Jan 2023 7AM 7 min

'Yes, I want to get rid of Ramaphosa', says Niehaus

Expelled former ANC member Carl Niehaus will be hosting a Twitter Spaces tonight at 7pm, whereby listeners can engage him on the formulation of his proposed 'political movement'. Neihaus recently announced his intentions to formulate a ‘political movement’  aimed at furthering the goals of the radical economic transformation agenda in…

4 Jan 2023 5AM 11 min

'Anarchists will be dealt with, that holiday is over': Mbalula

ANC MPs who disregard party orders will face the music and be disciplined, says newly elected secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. The ANC ordered MPs to vote against adopting the section 89 Phala Phala report in parliament which found Ramaphosa may have a prima facie case to answer. Those who defied the order…

3 Jan 2023 6AM 5 min

Things not looking good for SA in the new year, says astrologer and sangoma

Astrologer and sangoma Rod Suskin goes into details explaining what South Africa can expect in the new year. Based in Cape Town, Suskin teaches a three-year diploma in astrology. He says he can foresee the future because of his sangoma and astrologer experience. He said the same way it can be…

3 Jan 2023 1AM 4 min

2022: South Africa’s drama queens and kings

There is no doubt the 2022 news year has been filled with drama involving well-known South Africans. Singer Kelly Khumalo, disbarred advocate Malesela Teffo, EFF leader Julius Malema, DA leader John Steenhuisen, police minister Bheki Cele and transport minister Fikile Mbalula are among those who have had dramatic moments this…

30 Dec 2022 4PM 12 min

Hospital staff recount Boksburg blast

Hospital staff relive the chaos that followed the Boksburg gas tanker tragedy on Christmas Eve

29 Dec 2022 9AM 8 min

Petty criminals are being allowed to advance to kidnapping, experts say

Lizette Lancaster, researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, says a failure of policing of what South Africans consider “petty crimes”, such as house break-ins and robberies, can have dire consequences, as crime syndicates look to score easier and bigger paydays. She says the spike South Africa has seen in…

28 Dec 2022 3AM 13 min

SA politics that dominated 2022

There’s never a dull moment in South African politics. Local government issues dominated the headlines with the Joburg and Ekurhuleni mayors facing the axe. Mmusi Maimane also staged a comeback by starting a new party. And the governing party elected a new leadership. The state capture report was finally released…

28 Dec 2022 1AM 12 min

KZN flood victim gets reprieve after moving out of shelter ahead of Christmas

Hundreds of families have been living in community halls in and around Kwa-Zulu Natal after heavy flooding ravaged the province in April this year, leaving families destitute and even washing away infrastructure.  According to the KZN provincial government, more than 4,000 people lost their homes in the floods, which caused…

22 Dec 2022 4AM 11 min

Farmgate — Ramaphosa emerges unscathed

As the ANC gears up for campaign season ahead of the 2024 national elections, newly re- elected party president and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa remains untouched by the allegations levelled against him by former spy boss Arthur Fraser. Fraser laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa in June 2022 for alleged…

21 Dec 2022 6AM 15 min

FULL ADDRESS | Ramaphosa addresses ANC elective conference before adjournment

President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing delegates on Tuesday, day 5 of the ANC national elective conference at Nasrec, south of Johannesburg. He said the conference will be adjourned until early January. The ANC was expected to announce the names of its 80-member national executive committee (NEC), but this will no longer…

20 Dec 2022 9AM 34 min

Mondli Gungubele, Baleka Mbete, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Mmamoloko Kubayi react

The governing party elected its top 7 leaders on Monday and we spoke to prominent party members about their take on the leaders. Minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele, former deputy president Baleka Mbete, National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and human settlements minister Mamoloko Kubayi are thrilled about the composition…

19 Dec 2022 10AM 5 min

'Less focus on unity, more on party renewal and governance for CR’, says expert

University of Pretoria senior politics lecturer Dr Sithembele Mbete gives an analysis of the 55th ANC National Conference top 7 results. She touches on major questions that arose at this year’s conference, the emergence of women leaders and what re-elected party president Cyril Ramaphosa should focus on in his second…

19 Dec 2022 9AM 8 min

ANC top 7 led by Cyril Ramaphosa starts work immediately - what’s next

The ANC top 7 announced on Monday that it will be a case of boots on the ground immediately. Political analyst Dr Sithembile Mbete speaks on what’s to follow at the ANC conference and weighs in on the group elected to lead the ruling party. The governing party announced Cyril…

19 Dec 2022 9AM 2 min

Ramaphosa has already proven he cannot save the ANC from itself 

Cyril Ramaphosa’s re-election as ANC president is a neutral indicator, according to political analyst and commentator Eusebius McKaiser. McKaiser believes Ramaphosa has already proven in his first term that he is unable to save the ANC from itself. Overall the race for the top position was tight. Former health minister…

19 Dec 2022 7AM 6 min

ANC promises to deal with vote-buying at elective conference

Outgoing ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe says anyone found to have tried to bribe delegates attending the 55th national conference in Nasrec will face the wrath of the party. “We can no longer just leave these things to be allegations that fly out there and (waiting for) the ANC to redeem…

18 Dec 2022 8AM 2 min