Author: Silver Sibiya

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government must end the outsourcing of basic functions, warning that the practice opens the door to corruption. Ramaphosa was addressing the 5th National General Council of the African National Congress, on Monday where he emphasized that outsourcing has significantly weakened the state by eroding its capacity to perform essential functions. He noted that public institutions have lost the necessary skills and capabilities to deliver services effectively, as many core functions are handed over to external contractors. The President highlighted that outsourcing has led to widespread corruption, with numerous cases of tender manipulation, bribery, overpricing, and…

Orlando Pirates clinched the Carling Knockout title on Saturday, edging Marumo Gallants 1–0 in a tense final at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. The victory ended a 14-year wait for League Cup glory and delivered the Buccaneers their second trophy of the 2025/26 season. Pirates started strongly and nearly took the lead just three minutes in when Evidence Makgopa capitalised on a defensive error, only to see his effort cleared off the line. Thalente Mbatha later forced a save from goalkeeper Washington Arubi as the Soweto giants dominated the opening half but failed to convert their chances. Arubi continued to…

Newly elected ANC Greater Johannesburg Regional Chairperson Loyiso Masuku says 74-year-old DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille “should not be part of the conversation” as political parties gear up for the 2026 local government elections. Speaking in Woodmead during her first media briefing after defeating outgoing chairperson Dada Morero by 184 votes to 149, Masuku said Johannesburg needs new leadership with modern solutions to its financial instability and service-delivery problems. Masuku, who is also the City’s MMC for Finance, becomes the first woman to lead the ANC in the region and is widely expected to be the party’s preferred mayoral candidate.…

Japanese American actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, celebrated worldwide for his chilling portrayal of Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat, has died at the age of 75. According to the Los Angeles Times, Tagawa passed away on Thursday in Santa Barbara due to complications from a stroke, surrounded by family.Tagawa’s film and television career spanned more than four decades, cementing him as one of Hollywood’s most recognisable on-screen villains. His breakthrough came when acclaimed Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci cast him in the Oscar-winning epic The Last Emperor (1987), a role the L.A. Times describes as the launchpad for a career that would see…

Loyiso Masuku has been elected Chairperson of the ANC’s Greater Johannesburg Region, defeating former chairperson Dada Morero by 184 votes to 149. The results were announced at the party’s 16th Regional Conference in Woodmead on Thursday. Masuku, who currently serves as the MMC for Finance, becomes the first woman to lead the region. Her election positions her as a strong contender for the City of Johannesburg mayoral seat ahead of the 2026 local government elections. IEC presiding officer Gasan Sekgalo announced the results to loud celebrations from delegates, declaring: “Loyiso Masuku, 184 votes; Dada Morero, 149 votes.” Masuku’s victory follows…

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has labelled US President Donald Trump an “aggressor” for excluding South Africa from next year’s G20 summit, set to take place in Miami. Mbalula was speaking on the sidelines of the ANC Johannesburg Regional Elective Conference in Woodmead, Sandton, on Thursday. This comes after the Presidency confirmed that South Africa will not participate in any G20 activities during 2026, following the decision by the US administration to remove the country from the forum. Mbalula said the move undermines South Africa’s sovereignty and its long-standing commitment to global peace. “The administration of Donald Trump have made up their…

Outgoing ANC Johannesburg regional chairperson candidate Dada Morero has spoken out against alleged vote-buying at the party’s 16th Regional Conference currently under way in Woodmead, Johannesburg. The conference, which began this on Wednesday, is expected to elect new regional leaders today as factional tensions intensify. Morero, who is seeking re-election, told reporters that the buying of votes has no place in the organisation and undermines internal democracy. “The politics of money are indeed destroying the ANC from growth point of view from an organization is stable, politics of money are affecting us be lcause they end up electing people who…

ANC Gauteng Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has voiced concern over the party’s continued electoral decline, pointing to corruption, deepening unemployment and the influx of undocumented foreign nationals as some of the key factors eroding public trust. Lesufi delivered the remarks during the opening of the ANC Greater Johannesburg Regional Conference in Woodmead in Johannesburg on Wednesday night. He said unemployment, in particular, has had a significant impact on voter sentiment and has contributed to frustrations among communities that feel neglected. “There is eight critical issues where the African National Congress is absent high on the list is unemployment,” he said. Lesufi…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his side’s defensive frailties after a heart-stopping 5-4 victory over Fulham on Tuesday night at Craven Cottage, a result that keeps the Premier League title race firmly alive. City, who raced into a seemingly unassailable 5-1 lead just after the hour mark, were forced into a desperate rearguard action as Fulham mounted a ferocious comeback, scoring three goals in 21 minutes and nearly snatching a point with a last-gasp effort cleared off the line. The win catapults City to within two points of leaders Arsenal (30 points from 13 games), though that margin could…

ANC regional chairperson and City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero is set to go head-to-head with regional secretary and MMC for Finance Loyiso Masuku as the party’s 15th Greater Johannesburg Regional Conference gets underway today. The Greater Johannesburg Region, one of the ANC’s most influential structures, will elect new leadership at a time when the party faces growing pressure to stabilise governance in the country’s economic hub. Leadership contests in the region often mirror national political dynamics and can significantly impact coalition arrangements in the city. Morero, who is seeking another term as regional chairperson, is said to have secured…