Author: Tshegofatso Letsie
The North West Department of Education has expressed confidence that the launch of the Life Skills HIV and AIDS Programme will strengthen efforts to address key health and social challenges affecting schools across the province. Funded through a conditional grant in line with the Division of Revenue Act (DORA), the programme aims to ensure that schools are equipped with adequate resources to promote safe, healthy, and supportive environments for teaching and learning. Chief Director Specialist of the Programme, Poppy Diale, said the initiative is expected to make a meaningful contribution to improving learner performance while fostering inclusive school communities. “Through…
Banyana Banyana strengthened their bid for a semi-final spot in the COSAFA Women’s Championship with a convincing 2–0 victory over Angola on Saturday, following a 2–0 win against Malawi last Thursday. The back-to-back wins have put the South African women’s national team three points clear at the top of Group A. Head coach Desiree Ellis emphasized the importance of starting the tournament strong. “To get the win in the first game was important because otherwise we would have been on the back foot and chasing. It was just as important to secure the Angola victory. Then we knew we were…
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has urged higher education institutions to comply fully with South Africa’s immigration and labour laws when employing foreign nationals. The Committee expressed concern over what it described as a lack of accurate and reliable data on foreign academic staff across the post-school education sector. During a joint meeting between the Department and the Department of Home Affairs, members emphasised that the employment of foreign nationals must align with the Critical Skills List and should not displace suitably qualified South Africans. Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie stated that while internationalisation remains important, it must…
ActionSA has distanced itself from reports claiming that its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, has been appointed to the City of Ekurhuleni’s executive. The reports followed a media statement announcing changes to the mayoral cabinet of Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, which allegedly included Khumalo as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC). ActionSA’s National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont, dismissed the claims as false and fabricated. He stressed that the party has consistently refused to support or participate in what it describes as a failing administration. “Our position has been very clear on every occasion that we will not lend credibility to an administration…
A heated confrontation between housemates on the reality show Big Brother Mzansi has ignited a contentious debate around gender-based violence (GBV). The incident followed a physical altercation involving Velile Nongongo, Didintle Mothobi, and Neliswa Ngada, who has since been disqualified from the competition. Shortly after Sunday’s eviction show, the programme announced Ngada’s removal and issued a public statement. “Following an incident in the house last night and a subsequent investigation, Big Brother has made the decision to disqualify and remove a housemate from the game. The safety and well-being of all housemates remain our highest priority,” the statement read. The…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed confidence in the plan to deploy members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to tackle illegal mining and gang violence in Gauteng and the Western Cape. He made the announcement during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening. While the decision was widely welcomed, concerns have been raised over the financial viability of the deployment, given the ongoing budgetary challenges faced by the Defence Ministry. Addressing these concerns during a media briefing on the sidelines of the Presidential Golf Challenge at the Atlantic Beach…
As South Africans await the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), government has called on the media to prioritise accurate, ethical and responsible reporting. Speaking at a Pre-SONA Media Networking Session in Cape Town, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong appealed for closer collaboration between journalists and government communication officers to ensure fact-based coverage of the highly anticipated address. Morolong emphasised the influential role of the media in shaping public discourse, particularly in a diverse country like South Africa. “In a nation as diverse and beautiful as ours, media is not just a conveyor of information. It is…
Media personality and DJ, Sibusiso ‘DJ Sbu’ Leone has sought to clarify and refute any involvement in the alleged corruption at the City of Ekurhuleni Municipality. This emanates from evidence provided by the Municipality’s suspended head of the legal unit, advocate Kemi Behari at the Madlanga Commission on Monday. According to Behari, Leope and ANC leader, Thembinkosi ‘TK’ Nciza, benefited from the Metro’s grants and were implicated in the investigation of more than R100 million. DJ Sbu issued a statement on his Facebook account in response to what he described as false and misleading claims against him. “These allegations, which…
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved Eskom’s revised electricity tariff increases of 8.76% for April this year and a 8.83% increase to kick in by April 2027. These revised tariffs were initially set at 5.36% for 2026/27 and a further increase of 6.19% for the 2027/28 financial year. NERSA justified the redetermination and defended the methods used to reach the figures. “The redetermination follows a High Court judgment [in December], which remitted NERSA’s decision on Eskom’s Generation RAB [Regulatory Asset Base] for 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 for redetermination. The redetermination was conducted using the approved MYPD4 [Multi-Year…
Wiandre Pretorius, a 41-year-old former police reservist implicated in the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, has died in an apparent suicide at a filling station in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg. The incident occurred on Saturday night, where Pretorius allegedly shot himself in front of his fiancée and a family friend following an argument, with a video of the event circulating on social media. This tragic event comes just days after Pretorius survived a brazen assassination attempt on Thursday, during which unknown assailants fired 16 shots at him outside his home in Van Dyk Park, Boksburg. National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda…