Author: Larson Thebe
The Springboks double World Cup winning Captain, Siya Kolisi, has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet to use the team’s victory as a catalyst to unify the country. Kolisi was speaking at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, during the start of the team’s Webb Ellis Trophy, where he was received by Ramaphosa and some of the cabinet ministers. “We need to use our diversity a bit more, it’s a powerful force that a lot of countries don’t have that we have and can use very brightly. Coming from different backgrounds and areas, we all see different life challenges and we see…
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has warned that the government’s debt will exceed the R6 trillion mark by 2025/26. He also highlighted that the rising annual budget deficits have reached an extent where the government will borrow an average of R553 billion per year over the medium term. Godongwana revealed this today when he tabled the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in parliament today. “As a result, gross debt rises from R4.8 trillion in 2023/24 to R5.2 trillion in the next financial year and by 2025/26, it will exceed the R6 trillion mark. “We now expect gross government debt to stabilise…
Quinton de Kock smashed his fourth century of the 2023 World Cup and Rassie van der Dussen also hit a hundred as semi-finals-bound South Africa sealed a comprehensive 190-run victory over New Zealand on Wednesday for their sixth win in seven matches. New Zealand were left needing a rescue act after collapsing to 90 for 5 inside 19 overs while chasing 358, with only Will Young, who made 33, and Daryl Mitchell (24) offering any resistance, but South Africa did not relent and dismissed them for 167 in 35.3 overs. It means New Zealand, who began the tournament brilliantly, have…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, as the new Public Protector. This after members of the National Assembly last month recommended that Ramaphosa appoint her to the position. “President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of section 193(4) of Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and on the recommendation of the National Assembly, appointed Advocate Nompilo Kholeka Gcaleka as Public Protector of the Republic of South Africa for a non-renewable term of seven years with effect from 1 November 2023. The President wishes Advocate Gcaleka well in her position and trust that she will serve the people of South…
Higher education minister Dr Blade Ndzimande has failed once again in his bid to place the University of South Africa under administration. The High Court declared Ndzimande’s recent publication of a government gazette announcing his intention and naming an administrator was in violation of an August order of the same court barring him from placing the institution under administration or taking any other form of action against it. Ndzimande was initially interdicted in August but ignored the decision of the court and went ahead to gazette the purported placement of Unisa under administration. “It is declared that the minister’s decision…
On oversized crutches, Matthew Lani hobbled out of the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court without setting foot in jail after claiming to be a medical doctor on TikTok. The Hawks announced on Sunday night that Lani would face charges of impersonating a medical doctor after he was detained by security guards at the Helen Joseph Hospital. The social media persona Lani developed, portraying himself as a medical doctor and intern at separate Johannesburg hospitals, gained him a large following. A criminal case was filed against him by the Gauteng Department of Health and another doctor he allegedly impersonated once he was outed. …
Kaizer Chiefs have been ordered to play their DSTV Premiership match against Cape Town Spurs behind closed doors on 8 November at FNB Stadium after they were again found guilty of spectator misbehaviour. Premier Soccer League (PSL) Prosecutor Zola Majavu confirmed that the punishment was in response to club supporters throwing missiles and various projectiles directed at their technical team, to voice their displeasure following poor results. This happened on three separate occasions within two months this season. In the matter at hand, Amakhosi fans pelted former head coach Molefi Ntseki with objects after they were knocked out of the…
Argentina and Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi won the Men’s Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time on Monday night. The accolade follows the 36-year-old’s biggest success which came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when he helped Argentina lift the title, and where he was also named Player of the Tournament after scoring seven goals. It was the Argentine’s first-ever World Cup title, and he dominated the tournament by winning five man of the match awards, including in the final. Messi saw off stiff competition, from Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappe, to take the award on the…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared 15 December 2023 a public holiday, to celebrate the Springboks World Cup victory. There had been speculation that the President would declare a public holiday, after he joked in Cape Town earlier this month that he would consider announcing a public holiday, should the Boks retain the Webb Ellis trophy. But during his address to the nation on Monday night, Ramaphosa announced that the start of the matric 2023 exams will make it impossible for the nation to take a day off sooner than expected. “I know that many of us want us to have…
World Football’s Governing Body FIFA, has released a statement confirming Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activities for three years, following an investigation by the association’s Disciplinary Committee into his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final in August. The former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), Rubiales’ suspension has been executed following the alleged non-consensual kiss he gave to Spain player Jenni Hermoso after being crowned champs at this year’s global showpiece where La Roja beat England. Hermoso revealed that the kiss was non-consensual, saying she felt “disrespected and as an employee of the federation, no…