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A popular radio station based in KwaZulu-Natal, Gagasi FM, is consulting with its attorneys after former presenter Penny Ntuli disclosed the station offered her a monthly salary of R2,800. Ntuli's declarations led to the station being lambasted and labelled as exploitative. The station dominated social media trends this week as Ntuli lifted the lid on why she declined to renew her contract at Gagasi FM. Gagasi FM business development lead and spokesperson Khulekani Shandu told TimesLIVE the station management was in talks with their legal team about Ntuli’s public statement in which she disclosed the salary offer.
Cellphone records, vehicle tracking and CCTV footage have allegedly linked the five men accused of killing Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane to the crime.During bail application proceedings at the Durban magistrate's courts on Wednesday the state presented its version of events and evidence. Detective Bob Pillay from the police's organised crime unit provided an affidavit revealing that the getaway car used for the murders was found two months later during another murder investigation. There had been an attempt to set the vehicle on fire.State prosecutor advocate Lawrence Gcaba read out Pillay's affidavit to the court records
The announcement of the closure of Educor institutions Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus on Friday has shocked the sector and left students and parents in limbo Students at the Damelin College in Braamfontein have been left in the dark about the deregistration of Educor colleges by the higher education department. According to the department these Educor institutions had not submitted annual financial statements in 2021 or 2022 or complied with the law. TimesLIVE Premium spoke to various students at Damelin Braamfontein campus on Tuesday, with most saying they hope they will be reimbursed for the funds they have paid the institution.
The Electoral Court on Tuesday ruled the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC) registration of the newly formed MK party was not unlawful. The ANC filed an application challenging the MK party's registration, arguing the IEC contravened the law by allowing the party, to supplement its registration application after it had already been rejected.
Aurum Institute director for tuberculosis (TB) and monitoring Sicelo Dlamini says TB can be easily controlled and treated. On World TB Day, March 24, the focus was on the theme “Invest in action to end TB”.
ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina says the party's parliamentary caucus will comment on the raid by the Hawks at the house of National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula when there are “proper findings”. The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Investigating Directorate (ID) on Tuesday conducted a search and seizure raid at her house in Bruma, Johannesburg.
IEC says it’s working with the security cluster to ensure peaceful elections amid threats to stop voting. The commission made a presentation to the home affairs committee in parliament on Tuesday on its readiness for the elections. Several committee members raised concerns over intimidating remarks made by the new kid on the political block, the MK party, after it said if its leader Jacob Zuma was not allowed on the ballot paper there would hell to pay. Its youth leader Bonginkosi Khanyile said there would be no elections. It further threatened that it would not accept “elections of losing”. Minister in the Presidency Khumbuzo Ntshavheni said there was no discussion in cabinet on intimidation threats but assured people that South Africa would not be intimidated. On other matters, the commission admitted that court challenges close to elections worried it but did not take issue with parties and people going to court to ventilate their rights. It said this year has the most people on the voters' roll at 27,782,477 and it was pleased with the number. The highly contested election will be on May 29. The IEC said all would ready because preparation started 18 to 24 months ahead of voting day. The next task is to print the millions of ballot papers and boxes but all will be done by the May 8. On load-shedding: “There is a tendency of increased outages when we start on counting after dark, and those seem to be manufactured, they seem to be deliberate actions to trip the grid for purposes and reasons unknown to us. So we are making contingency plans.”
Investigating Directorate members raided the home of National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Tuesday morning.
The ANC will remain in government after the elections, said the party’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula just before another mic-snatching drama transpired after the singing of Wenzeni uZuma. “The ANC governs and I can tell you when we wake up on May 30 the ANC will still be government” he said in KwaZulu-Natal. He was delivering a keynote address at the party’s arts and culture sub-committee engagement with the creative industry which promised to deal with the exploitation of artists. After Mbalula delivered his address it was time for a song, but the one sang was not the kind members liked. “Wenzeni uZuma?” (what has Zuma done?) sang an ANC supporter on stage, but his singing barely lasted 10 seconds before Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa president Joy Mbewana seized the microphone and sang another song. Wenzeni uZuma, is often sang by former president Jacob Zuma’s loyalists to annoy his political enemies. ANC MP and programme director at the event Thandi Moraka said disruptions would not be tolerated. The first microphone-grabbing drama happened this weekend in KwaZulu-Natal in the presence of Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini and President Cyril Ramaphosa. ANC provincial chair Siboniso Duma snatched the microphone from Zulu traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who was about to introduce the king. He had criticised the provincial government’s treatment of King Misuzulu. Support for the ANC has been declining since the 2009 elections. A further decline is expected in this year’s elections.
The MK party has announced 81-year-old former president Jacob Zuma as its presidential candidate in the national and provincial elections. They do not want any engagements on the topic, said the party’s youth leader Bonginkosi Khanyile. Zuma has ambitions of being president again to “fix things” but the constitution will not allow him. There has been resistance from the party against such obstacles with interim spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela last month saying: “If the people want Jacob Zuma on the ballot that’s what will happen. Zuma will be on the ballot and will lead the country.” Zuma served two terms when he was president. MK party leader in KwaZulu-Natal Visvin Reddy recently warned if the party is not on ballot papers there will be civil war and no elections will take place. A pastor representing some religious leaders in the province threatened the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) that should it not “give” the party a two-thirds majority, anarchy would prevail. He made the remarks in Zuma’s presence. President Cyril Ramaphosa last week warned those who threaten instability if things do not go their way in the elections will be arrested. The candidate list the MKparty submitted to the IEC was leaked last week by an IEC official, which hinted at the party’s announcement of Zuma in the No 1 position on the list, ranked according to party hierarchy. Zuma was suspended by the ANC for campaigning for the MK party. The ANC will make a decision on his future after the elections.
Sifiso Mkhwanazi has been found guilty by the Gauteng High Court sitting in Palm for killing six Johannesburg sex workers. On Wednesday Judge Cassim Moosa found Mkhwanazi guilty of six counts of murder, six of rape, six of defeating the ends of justice, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Three of the four suspects alleged to be involved in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, have abandoned their bail applications. Additionally, the state withdrew charges against accused number four, Phumza Sigaqa. The accused, who are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking appeared in the Vredenburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday. Joshlin’s whereabouts remain unknown. She was reported missing on February 19 in Saldanha Bay.
MK Party leading member Jacob Zuma says if voters don’t vote for his party and “liberate” black people that would be the last straw and he would give up the cause. He would wash his hands of his attempts to free black South Africans. He is the number one candidate for the MK Party, according to a leaked list, ranked according to party hierarchy, that was submitted to the IEC. He is also an ANC member who was suspended in January. Zuma has been campaigning for the new party, saying its purpose is to free black people, arguing that the country’s laws are anti-African. Some of his controversial ideas include sending pregnant teenagers to Robben island and imposing anti-gay laws which he has always stood by, despite apologising for his homophobic views in 2006. Zuma was speaking at a Cape Town church, Shekinah Healing Ministries, on Sunday, where he confirmed being one of the masterminds behind the formation of the new political party. Despite his ambitions to be president he is constitutionally forbidden from being head of state again as he served his two terms.
Leader of the MK Party Youth League Bonginkhosi Khanyile says Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is not a hero to black people. Speaking on the Hustlers podcast with DJ Sbu, Khanyile insinuated Kolisi makes black people slaves of “white propaganda”.
Pule Morake and Johannes Tshabile had known each other their entire lives. The two men lived kilometres apart as children, grew up together and even competed in the same sports tournaments. However one became a detective within the South African Police Service while the other became one of South Africa's most wanted serial rapists.
ANC Youth League leader Collen Malatji says “the ANC pays you for being born, pays you for living, pays you to go to school, pays you to go to university and gives your mother water and electricity”. He was speaking at Alexandra Stadium in Johannesburg, praising the governing party’s efforts but lamenting youth unemployment as one of the party’s challenges. He suggested minerals should be used to solve the social and economic challenges.“It can’t be that the youth of this country remain the face of poverty when they live in a country blessed with raw materials”.
Collen Malatji, the ANC Youth League president, says the ANC will win 100% of votes, and post elections if President Cyril Ramaphosa fails to deliver on promises, the youth league will “overthrow him and [ANC secretary-general] Mbalula” because the league are “not cowards”. The party has been on a constant decline since the 2009 national elections. It received 57.50% in national voter support at the last general elections (2019). And those in the know anticipate its further decline in this year’s elections. But not according to Malatji, who believes his party will get a whopping “100%” this year in voter support, leaving its opponents with 0%. He said he told President Ramaphosa their youth league was not peaceful. Malatji demands young people’s social and economic challenges, such as unemployment, be resolved after elections. Failing which, if Ramaphosa and Mbalula don’t address their grievances, they will be pushed aside. “If the SG and president of the ANC don’t deliver on our demands we will remove them and install ourselves and lead the country.”
Relief, happiness and a sense that justice had been served. This is how some of Johannes Tshabile's victims described their feelings after the hefty sentence handed to the serial rapist. Tshabile was sentenced to 11 life terms for rape and a cumulative 363 years for attempted murder, theft, and robbery with aggravating circumstances among other crimes last month. The 43-year-old man terrorised women in Wolmaransstad for nearly six years between December 2012 and May 2018 and was at some point considered South Africa's most wanted serial rapist. His victims ranged from 15 to 65 years and he would carry out some offences with an unknown accomplice who committed similar offences with him. Three brave survivors of Tshabile's crimes have opened up on their violent encounter with him in an exclusive interview with TimesLIVE Premium.
Relief, happiness and a sense that justice had been served. This is how some of Johannes Tshabile's victims described their feelings after the hefty sentence handed to the serial rapist. Tshabile was sentenced to 11 life terms for rape and a cumulative 363 years for attempted murder, theft, and robbery with aggravating circumstances among other crimes last month. The 43-year-old man terrorised women in Wolmaransstad for nearly six years between December 2012 and May 2018 and was at some point considered South Africa's most wanted serial rapist. His victims ranged from 15 to 65 years and he would carry out some offences with an unknown accomplice who committed similar offences with him. Three brave survivors of Tshabile's crimes have opened up on their violent encounter with him in an exclusive interview with TimesLIVE Premium.
Those who threaten instability should things not go their way in the elections will be arrested, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. A few fiery supporters of the MK Party have promised violence. Supporters of the new kid on the political block have been “sending a clear message” to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and the courts that should the ANC win its court battle against the party or should their party not get a two-thirds majority in the elections, anarchy would prevail to the point “there will be no elections in the country”. African Democratic Change leader Visvin Reddy said if the MK Party is not on ballot papers there would be civil war and no elections would take place. Another fiery threat was made, in former president Jacob Zuma’s presence, by a KwaZulu-Natal religious leaders' representative who threatened to shut the country should the MK Party not win the election. Last month Daily Maverick quoted MK Party spokesperson interim spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela saying: “If the people want Jacob Zuma on the ballot, that’s exactly what will happen. Zuma will be on the ballot and will lead the country,”. Zuma served as president for two terms. The constitution says: “No person may hold office as President for more than two terms, but when a person is elected to fill a vacancy in the office of President, the period between that election and the next election of a President is not regarded as a term.” The MK Party, which suspended ANC member Zuma has been campaigning for, was dragged to court by the ANC. The governing party argued its logo and trademark were stolen from the ANC’s military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. The elections will take place on May 29, which was declared a public holiday by Ramaphosa.
Four suspects appeared in the Vredenburg magistrate’s court on Thursday in connection with the disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith from Saldanha Bay. The suspects, who include her mother face charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. MEC for police oversight & community safety in the Western Cape Reagen Allen said more charges might be added and further arrests made.
ANC regional task team co-ordinator in Ekurhuleni Jongizizwe Dlabathi has expressed his disappointment in the speaker of the Ekurhuleni council Nthabiseng Tshivhenga. This comes after a fight broke out in council chambers last week during the sitting called to debate an ActionSA motion of no confidence in Ekurhuleni mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana. Objects were thrown around and a water bottle landed on Tshivhenga, who left the building.Briefing the media on Tuesday, Dlabathi said the speaker didn't use her authority and responsibility to preserve decorum in the council.
The national minimum hourly wage increase from R25.42 to R27.58 entrenches apartheid’s cheap black labour, says The Casual Workers' Advice Office (CWAO). The 8.5% increase, 2.5% higher than the latest inflation rate, came into effect this month. It was announced last month by employment and labour minister Thulas Nxesi. While Cosatu welcomed the hike, activists at the CWAO said that alone should “raise suspicions, given the federation’s consistently anti-worker politics”. “The national minimum wage is not helping to lift affected workers out of poverty because few workers are receiving it. Worse, bosses are using the low minimum as an incentive to lower the wages of workers who have been earning well above it. The national minimum wage was never intended to challenge the system of cheap black labour. It was meant to entrench it,” it said.
“Who made the law that a man can date another man? Who will women be left with?” asks former president Jacob Zuma. Zuma is against legalisation of same-sex relationships and said if people vote for the MK Party the “laws people never supported” will be prohibited. He said he wants African law instead of Dutch law. He was addressing MK Party supporters in Magonqo near Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. Zuma said he “does not understand what the word democracy means” and had to ask his supporters for a definition. The constitution forbids discrimination on the basis of sex, gender or sexual orientation. The MK party, which is only a few months old, is registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa, and claims it is aiming for a two-thirds majority in the elections. The party came into the spotlight when Zuma announced in December he would vote and campaign for it but remain an ANC member. The ANC suspended him last month after what secretary-general Fikile Mbalula called “vitriolic attacks” on the party. Zuma is at the forefront of the new political formation’s campaign and has been a key speaker at its rallies.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC's cadre deployment policy has produced “some of the best directors-general” in government departments over the years. Mbalula briefed media at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Thursday. The ANC had to hand over its cadre deployment committee meeting minutes to the DA by 5pm on Monday.Last week, the Constitutional Court dismissed an application by the governing party to appeal a Supreme Court of Appeal decision for it to hand over meeting minutes from 2013
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Wednesday the MK party's target of a two-thirds majority in May's election is just a pipe dream. Mbalula was addressing the ANC's rally in Msinga north of KZN. The secretary-general said former president Jacob Zuma failed to amass a two-thirds majority when he was the ANC president. He spoke candidly about the ANC’s disappointment with Zuma establishing the MK party.
Finance minister Enoch Godogwana on Wednesday says tax revenue collection streams such as sin taxes will increase in 2024/2025. Alcohol products and tobacco products saw increases. The Minister also announced government spending which includes education, health and job creation programmes.
Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester has complained that prison is denying him his own clothing, calls and diabetic food. Bester and his girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana, with seven co-accused, face charges ranging from fraud to violation of a corpse and arson. Bester, Magudumana and one other accused are in custody while the rest are out on bail. His legal representative told the court about Bester’s unhappiness in prison, including that he is diabetic and needs suitable food. He refused breakfast on Wednesday on those grounds. He was also refused phone calls, including on Tuesday, the day before he appeared in court. Bester’s lawyer said he would prefer to wear clothing of his choice, not prison clothes. The Free State High Court postponed the case to June 5.
A black member of the DA in Tshwane said she wants apartheid back, the system that controlled black people with racist laws enshrining white supremacy. Olgar from Hammanskraal said the Tshwane CBD, which is governed by the DA, is dirty. She was speaking to SABC News as the DA launched its manifesto this weekend. She claimed to be part of the DA leadership in Tshwane. The legacy of apartheid continues to be prevalent in almost every corner of South Africa with economic and social inequality and the country ranked as one of the most unequal in the world. Black people bear the brunt of apartheid and colonialism. They have the highest unemployment rate among all the racial groups and are not able to afford private school education. When contacted, the DA said it was puzzled by the member’s comments. The party said it would follow up and this article will be updated with its comments.
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi said the provincial government will borrow money from a national government financial institution to pay the R12bn e-toll debt to the South African National Roads Agency). Lesufi was briefing the media on Tuesday morning after his state of the province address (Sopa) on Monday. During his speech Lesufi said e-tolls would be scrapped, keeping a promise he made during his Sopa in 2022. The premier said engagements with national government about scrapping e-tolls were not easy.
