Author: Larson Thebe

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has applauded a nationwide inquiry into allegations of ghost workers in the public schooling system. The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has been appointed to investigate the allegations, by the teacher unions, together with the government, represented by the Department of Basic Education and the nine provincial Departments of Education. The ELRC said it’ll probe the “physical verification of educators and learners, to address the allegations regarding the existence of ghost workers in the sector, a forensic investigation to address the allegations on the selling of posts.” SADTU said the probe is long…

The alleged mastermind in the 2022 assassination of music producer and club owner Oupa Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody, Katiso Molefe, has been denied bail by the Alexandra Magistrates Court. The court ruled that Molefe failed to provide exceptional circumstances why he must be granted bail, as the charges he’s facing are of a serious nature. Molefe and his and three other co-accused, Musa Kekana, Michael Tau and Diego Mabusela, are facing several charges that include murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The state has repeatedly argued that Molefe hired his co-accused to…

The Presiding Officers of Parliament have condemned the violent criminal attack on three Members of Parliament from the Democratic Alliance, who were assaulted on Tuesday afternoon while returning from an oversight visit in Nyanga, Cape Town. The three are Police Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Ian Cameron, Nicholas Gotsell and Lisa Schickerling. According to the police, the MPs were driving back from an unannounced inspection of the SAPS Philippi Training Academy when their vehicle was ambushed. The MPs’ vehicle windows were broken with bricks, while they were brutally assaulted. The motive for the attack is not yet known. Gotsell and Cameron sustained…

The African National Congress (ANC) has announced that it will take disciplinary action against suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, and member of parliament, Malusi Gigaba, for their recent public statements. This after the two made what the party described as “opportunistic assault” comments on the ANC at the weekend. Mchunu, who was delivering a speech at the tombstone unveiling ceremony of a former comrade in Machobeni, KwaZulu-Natal, warned that the party risks losing power in the 2026 local government elections unless it regroups. Gigaba, was quoted in one of the Sunday newspapers, Gigaba was quoted as saying that the party’s…

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has welcomed the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) bakery roll-out programme, adding that it’ll address the broader and deep-rooted challenges within the correctional system.The programme, which was launched recently at the Westville Prison in Durban by Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald, is meant to cut outsourcing costs and promote self-sustainability in the country’s correctional facilities. There are already 13 operational bakeries already producing over 3 800 loaves a day at a third of outsourced costs.POPCRU said the programme is long-over and will be eradicate the costly and corruption-prone tenderisation of services and will…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Antananarivo, Madagascar, for the 45th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government which will be held on Sunday. The summit is held under the theme: ‘Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC’. “The Summit is convened in terms of Article 10 of the SADC Treaty to provide overall policy direction of the functions of SADC, informed by reports and recommendations from the Council of Ministers and the Organ Troika Summit, which affect the SADC region. Leaders will focus on accelerating regional integration through key pillars, strengthening industrial capacity and…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was left fuming after the team’s 38-22 defeat against Australia in a Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday evening. This despite the Springboks commanding a 22-0 lead in less than 20 minutes of the match, to go on a break at 22-5. But the Aussies launched a fightback after halftime, to win the match at the packed and disappointed Ellis Park stadium in more than half a century. Erasmus said the team has itself to blame, after it scored three unanswered tries in a fast space stanza, but allowed the…

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today officially open the First National Dialogue at the University of South Africa (UNISA) main campus in Pretoria, ahead of the National Dialogue.According to the presidency, the Convention is intended to agree on the approach and modalities for the nationwide public dialogues at sectoral and community level. Furthermore, it will also outline and agree on the key themes for discussion in the National Dialogue and establish a Steering Committee. “The convention will bring together about 1 000 delegates representing the diversity of the South African nation from government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders,…

Authorities in Limpopo are investigating the cause of the fatal accident that claimed the lives of six awaiting trial inmates and a police officer. The accident happened after a collision between a heavy motor vehicle and a police van, on the R101 road between Mokopane and Mookgophong in the Waterberg District. Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC, Susana Mathye said she is saddened by the tragic accident, which resulted in the temporary closure of the road. “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the deceased. Our thoughts also go to the injured, and we wish them a speedy recovery.…

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has sought to clarify that the comments by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) General Rudzani Maphwanya during his visit to Iran, do not represent the country’s foreign policy. This after Maphwanya was quoted saying that South Africa and Iran share common goals in fighting global arrogance, expressed dislike for Israel’s actions in Gaza, and called for deeper military ties between the two countries. Maphwanya’s comments come in the middle of a diplomatic stand-off between the country and the US-administration, as the US has in the past accused Pretoria of supporting…