TimesLIVE - In The News

Mbalula backtracks on ending load-shedding by December

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula on Monday backtracked on his claim that load-shedding would end next month. A few months ago, on several occasions, Mbalula was adamant load-shedding would end by December. In January, during the ANC’s 111th anniversary celebrations, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced five “urgent priorities to put citizens first”…

27 Nov 2023 9AM 3 min

Prison warder explains scuffle with accused in Meyiwa trial

A scuffle ensued between a prison warder and some of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial during a tea break at the Pretoria high court on Monday. It is alleged the scuffle began after some of the accused failed to follow instructions given by warder Vusi Jele, who instructed them…

27 Nov 2023 7AM 5 min

Ramaphosa a sheep among wolves, says Fikile Mbalula

“President Cyril Ramaphosa is a sheep in the midst of wolves in the ANC, sometimes I wish to ruffle him up”, says ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. Mbalula believes his party leader is too much of a good person and said it sometimes frustrates him).  “He is a good and kindhearted…

27 Nov 2023 6AM 3 min

Under a PA government you will go into the army at 18 rather than receiving R350 grant: McKenzie

Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says under a PA government people will be forced to go into the army at the age of 18. He was speaking at the party's 10th birthday celebrations at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto at the weekend. 

27 Nov 2023 2AM 1 min

'We need days like Black Friday in this economy,' say customers taking advantage of special offers

Black Friday buyers did not waste time on Friday as more than 160,000 transactions were made by 10am. At Woodmead Retail Park, queues were more than 2km long with people having arrived from 4.30am to get their hands on special offers. This is what people in the queues had to say. 

24 Nov 2023 8AM 2 min

Joburg EMS recovers unidentified woman's body at Klip River

Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) says its members have recovered the body of an unidentified woman at the Klip River.Media liaison Xolile Khumalo says the emergency services are uncertain whether it is one of the bodies of two young people who drowned in the river. 

22 Nov 2023 6AM 1 min

Take their salaries, committee suggests for EFF MPs who ‘threatened Ramaphosa'

The committee investigating the conduct of EFF MPs who stormed the stage in parliament during the state of the nation address (Sona) in February wants the party members to apologise, be banned from parliament and not receive their salaries. If the recommendations succeed, EFF leader Julius Malema, deputy leader Floyd…

22 Nov 2023 5AM 6 min

'Stay hydrated', says Johannesburg EMS as heatwave melts Gauteng

Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) say residents must stay hydrated and avoid sitting, standing and playing in the sun.Gauteng is experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures predicted to reach a high of 32ºC on Wednesday.Joburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said residents should avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm The South African Weather…

22 Nov 2023 4AM 2 min

Stage 4 load-shedding due to insufficient emergency reserves and generation capacity

Stage 4 load-shedding was implemented at 2.31am on Wednesday until further notice. Eskom said this is due to insufficient emergency reserves and generation capacity as a result of four units not returning to service as planned. The power utility said it will monitor the system and communicate should any significant…

22 Nov 2023 3AM 1 min

'This is not the Israel of Jesus' — Pemmy Majodina tells MPs as motion to close Israel embassy in SA succeeds 

ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina says Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel is not “the Israel of Jesus”.  Majodina was speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday where  a motion calling for the South African government to “close” the Israeli embassy and suspend diplomatic relations with Israel was voted on. The motion was brought…

22 Nov 2023 2AM 4 min

EFF MPs must apologise to Ramaphosa and be suspended, initiator argues at hearing

Suspend EFF members who disrupted the state of the nation address (Sona) in February because they do not take it seriously, initiator Anton Katz SC told a parliamentary hearing. He suggested they be suspended from 6th of February 2024 to 16th February 2024. The EFF members are leader Julius Malema,…

21 Nov 2023 6AM 5 min

Joburg City council elects AIC’s Margaret Arnolds as new speaker 

Margaret Arnolds from the African Independent Congress (AIC) was elected unopposed as the City of Johannesburg’s new speaker of council during an extraordinary sitting on Monday. The position became vacant after the axing of Colleen Makhubele, whose membership in COPE was terminated last week. 

21 Nov 2023 4AM 4 min

Most newly registered voters are young people between the ages of 16 and 29, says the IEC

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says 78.31% of newly registered voters are between the ages of 16 to 29.  The IEC confirmed 2.9-million voters were registered at the weekend. Chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo briefed media on Monday. 

20 Nov 2023 10AM 2 min

Angered Malema, EFF members and lawyer Ngcukaitobi walk out of Sona hearing

EFF leader Julius Malema, other EFF leadership and their legal counsel led by advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi walked out during parliamentary proceedings on Monday. Some of the party's MPs are in hot water after storming the stage at the state of the nation address earlier this year while president Cyril Ramaphosa…

20 Nov 2023 7AM 6 min

'Research is not absolute': Ntshavheni responds to Harvard report on SA economy 

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says research is not absolute because it considers a period or sample. Ntshavheni was addressing the media on post-cabinet meeting outcomes.Her statements follow a Harvard report on South Africa's economy suggesting that phasing out cadre deployment and unbundling Eskom could help improve state capacity.

20 Nov 2023 5AM 1 min

IRR wants BEE scrapped, says race-blind approach would invite investment

The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has proposed that Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) be scrapped and replaced by a non-racial growth strategy as a means of guaranteeing empowerment. The institute said this will see investment flowing into the country.The BEE policy is meant to economically empower black people after the…

17 Nov 2023 7AM 5 min

Murder rate dips in KZN and Limpopo

KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo have recorded decreases in murder rates. Police minister Bheki Cele released the second quarter crime stats on Friday. There has been a 3.1% decline in murders nationally between July and September.  There were  6,945 murders during this time, including 881 women and 293 children.

17 Nov 2023 6AM 4 min

IEC not expecting disruptions during voter registration weekend

The South African Electoral Commission's (IEC) chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo says the commission is not expecting any interruptions during voter registration weekend. The IEC is holding its first registration drive for next year's national and provincial elections this weekend.There will be more than 2,000 voter registrations venues across the country. 

17 Nov 2023 3AM 2 min

“He lied blatantly” - Makhubele on Lekota and being axed from COPE

Former City of Joburg speaker Colleen Makhubele says her axing from COPE was disingenuous, and blamed party president Mosiuoa Lekota for "lying" about her.  
 COPE terminated Makhubele's membership on Monday after she joined the South African Rainbow Alliance (Sara), an alliance of smaller parties who seek to jointly contest…

16 Nov 2023 5AM 3 min

'You've lost your voice if you don't vote' — IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo 

If you don't register to vote you will lose your voice. That's according to Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo. He was speaking to Sunday Times politics reporter Kgothatso Madisa. 

14 Nov 2023 5AM 5 min