Author: newsnote correspondent
The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment in an urgent application initiated by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to halt a 50 basis point increase in Value-Added Tax (VAT). Scheduled to take effect on the 1st of May, the hike emerges from the 2025/2026 Budget adopted by the government last month, raising questions about the legality and constitutionality of this fiscal decision. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has staunchly defended the tax adjustment, asserting that Section 7(4) of the VAT Act grants him the authority for such temporary adjustments. Advocate Mahlape Sello, representing the Minister, has categorically…
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Northern Cape are gearing up for a significant protest march to the office of Premier Zamani Saul on Tuesday, intensifying the dialogue surrounding the controversial town of Orania. This predominantly Afrikaans settlement, which houses approximately 3,000 residents, has become a focal point of contention due to its perceived ties to apartheid-era ideologies. The EFF, a party known for its radical stance on economic issues and social justice, has voiced strong opposition to Orania, arguing that its continued existence is a stark reminder of South Africa’s past and poses a threat to national unity.…
The much-publicised murder trial of South African soccer legend Senzo Meyiwa resumed on 22 April 2025 at the Pretoria High Court, but once again slipped into adjournment. Advocate Charles Mnisi, representing accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, announced his continued need for additional time to prepare a robust defence, sparking a fresh wave of frustration among those keen to see justice served. This trial, which has endured numerous postponements since it began, has been fraught with challenges, including the death of Meyiwa’s previous advocate, Thulani Mngomezulu, in December 2024. Mnisi took over the case in early 2025 and faces a considerable…
South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile has disclosed that he was the target of an attempted assassination after gunmen opened fire on his motorcade, striking his vehicle multiple times. The harrowing incident occurred on March 31, shortly after Mashatile left a national executive meeting of the African National Congress (ANC) in Boksburg. The news, initially kept under wraps, came to light through a Sunday newspaper report. Describing the moment he realised something was awry, Mashatile recounted: “What really happened is that as I was driving from the NEC, my car was hit by what initially I thought were stones.” His…
Pope Francis, the religious head of 1.4 billion Catholics across the world, has died. He was 88. He suffered from various age-related ailments and was hospitalised for over a month. His death leaves the highest post for Catholics vacant, which needs to be filled through a long process at the Vatican. Death Of Pope After the death of a pope, the Vatican enters the interregnum period. This is the time between the pope’s death and the election of a new leader. The camerlengo (the Vatican’s administrator of property and revenues) first verifies the death. He does this by calling out…
As the long Easter weekend comes to a close, South African authorities are stepping up their efforts to enhance road safety, amid a concerning surge in road accidents and fatalities across the country. The Easter period, known for increased travel as families engage in religious gatherings, traditional ceremonies, and holiday getaways, often coincides with an alarming rise in road incidents, predominantly linked to alcohol abuse. In Mpumalanga, a tragic toll of at least 18 lives was recorded due to multiple road crashes from 17 to 19 April. The Nkangala District alone bore the brunt of this devastation, with significant accidents…
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December 1936.The eldest of five children, his parents had fled their native Italy to escape the evils of fascism.He enjoyed tango dancing and became a supporter of his local football club, San Lorenzo.He was lucky to escape with his life after a serious bout of pneumonia, undergoing an operation to remove part of a lung. It would leave him susceptible to infection throughout his life.As an elderly man he also suffered from pain in his right knee, which he described as a “physical humiliation”.The young Bergoglio worked…
In a spectacle of love and celebration, the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC) is set to host a breathtaking mass wedding ceremony on Easter Sunday, welcoming 1,500 couples to holy matrimony. This extraordinary event, taking place at the church’s Kanana City in Heidelberg, Gauteng, marks a significant increase from last year’s record of 400 couples and is expected to see over 3,000 individuals participating in the festivities. The event is rooted in the church’s longstanding tradition of “colourful and glittering mass weddings,” which continues to attract many from within the faith community and beyond. Among the couples participating, some grooms…
A 21-year-old hijack victim has played a pivotal role in bringing his alleged attackers to justice by identifying one of them, which ultimately led to the discovery of a body in a bush in North West Province. The incident unfolded a week after the young man was robbed on 8 April, when he and his uncle were passing along Xanadu Road. According to police spokesperson Captain Mpho Manyoa, the victim spotted a 34-year-old woman emerging from the bushes, trying to catch a taxi parked by the roadside. Recognising her as part of the group that had robbed him, the victim…
A serene travel experience transformed into chaos on Friday as a South African luxury train, carrying foreign tourists to Zimbabwe for Easter, collided with a freight train near Gwanda. The collision resulted in several injuries and the derailing of multiple carriages, raising concerns about rail safety in the region. The luxurious Rovos Rail service, renowned for its opulent journeys from Pretoria to the picturesque Victoria Falls, became the centre of attention after the incident. Liezl Maclean, a spokesperson for Rovos Rail, confirmed that the collision took place with a Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway freight train, sending carriages off the tracks. While…