Another South African farmer was tragically murdered today. This time it was retired attorney, Johan Kruger, who was killed Friday morning on his farm in Alldays, Limpopo. An elderly couple were also murdered on their farm in the Western Cape while they slept. According to AfriForum’s Ian Cameron, Kruger was shot in the head and […]

The former South African president, Jacob Zuma has officially opened a twitter account – @PresJGZuma The former president posted his first tweet early on Friday – a video introducing himself to his followers (which ended with “It’s me… former president Jacob Zuma” in case it wasn’t clear). Zuma says he wants to move with the […]

A South African High Court has passed an important judgment putting a stop to the pervasive practice by companies to mine ancestral lands in rural areas without the villagers’ consent. The case was brought by the community of rural UMgungundlovu, a small cluster of villages that fall under the Amadiba traditional authority on the largely […]

JOHANNESBURG – A debt swap for cash-strapped state power company Eskom would spiral the country into more debt, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday, adding there was need to look at other options to shore up the company’s balance sheet. Eskom, which has had to implement power cuts due to coal shortages and […]

South Africa is among relatively few African countries that hold regular democratic elections with high levels of integrity, enabling citizens to choose their government. Since democracy in 1994, its elections have been consistently adjudged legitimate, free and fair. But there may be trouble on the horizon. The Electoral Commission of South Africa, the body responsible […]

JOHANNESBURG – The South African Reserve Bank will not raise interest rates again until May, according to a Reuters poll, taken after the Reserve Bank surprised many economists last month by adding 25 basis points to borrowing costs. The median forecast in the poll of 25 economists, conducted over the past week, suggests the central […]

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ruled that South African former president Jacob Zuma must personally pay the costs for his legal fees, and that the State is not liable for legal costs incurred by the former president in his personal capacity when facing criminal prosecutions against him. The Democratic Alliance (DA) had […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa genuinely seems concerned with undoing the damage done to South Africa during the Jacob Zuma years. Today he said no effort must be spared in rooting out corruption in local government so as to restore confidence in public institutions in South Africa. Speaking Tuesday at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the North Gauteng High Court judgment upholding the President’s dismissal of Tom Moyane as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). The President ended Moyane’s tenure at SARS in November 2018 following a recommendation by the Nugent Commission of Inquiry into the governance of the revenue service and tax […]

The eThekwini Council in South Africa just spent a whopping R2-million, according to the DA, on a trip to Colombia that never happened. The Durban delegates – all 59 of them! – were unable to board the plane in Brazil for the final flight to Colombia because they didn’t have the correct visas! The Democratic […]

Respecting the tight budget that most South Africans are currently on and sensitive to the current economic climate, President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided not to increase the salaries of Ministers, even though an increase of 4 percent had been recommended. In a statement the Presidency said: “President Ramaphosa has determined that there will be no […]

JOHANNESBURG  – South Africa’s new national minimum wage will take effect from January 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday, ensuring workers earn at least R20 an hour. Ramaphosa last month signed into law the national minimum wage bill, part of efforts by the government to tackle wage inequality in South Africa. The National Minimum […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness at the passing away of Dr Alex Boraine, the former vice-chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and co-founder of the Institute for a Democratic Alternative in South Africa (Idasa). Boraine, a lawyer and theologian, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87, after a long illness. He […]

JOHANNESBURG – Ratings firm Fitch on Thursday kept South Africa sub-investment grade credit rating steady at subinvestment and maintained its stable outlook, but warned that low growth and rising debt of state-owned firms posed a risk. “South Africa’s ratings are weighed down by low growth potential, sizeable government debt and contingent liabilities,” Fitch said in […]

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Zweli Mkhize has extended good wishes to Kumkani Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Siqcau and the AmaMpondo people after he was officially recognised as a king. The South African government has issued a certificate of recognition to Kumkani Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Siqcau as the King of AmaMpondo. The king was recognised in terms of the […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said on Tuesday it could go to court to stop proposed land reforms after parliament today approved a report endorsing a constitutional amendment that would allow expropriations without compensation. A parliamentary team last month recommended a constitutional amendment to make it possible for […]

PRETORIA – President Cyril Ramaphosa named Shamila Batohi South Africa’s new chief prosecutor on Tuesday, after the Constitutional Court ruled in August that the appointment of the previous prosecutor – Shaun Abrahams – was invalid. Ramaphosa, who replaced former president Jacob Zuma in February, has made the fight against corruption a key plank of his […]

PRETORIA – Farms and factories have dragged South Africa out of its first recession in almost a decade, data showed on Tuesday, as the economy grew by more than expected in the third quarter! The positive data is a boost for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has pledged to re-start growth after a decade of stagnation […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness at the passing away of struggle stalwart and former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mendi Msimang. “Today we bow our heads and hearts in remembrance of our beloved Tat’ uMendi Msimang in whom South Africa has lost a servant-leader and patriot of great distinction. Tata Msimang was strong […]

Three farm attacks took place in the Western Cape last weekend (Fri 23 to Mon 26 Nov), in the Porterville, Paarl and Wellington regions, according to AfriForum. Apparently, in the case of the Porterville attack, there had been ominous messages spray-painted on the door of the farmhouse six weeks beforehand. The messages allegedly said: ‘Kill […]

The predictions about  South Africa’s state of electricity over the coming days, weeks and even years are pretty bleak… with no light (certainly not from Eskom!) at the end of the tunnel for at least five years. On Monday Eskom announced it will be implementing Stage 2 load shedding from 9am this morning until 10pm […]

The DA says it is urging various municipalities in Limpopo, South Africa, to implement water restrictions – similar to those which have become world famous in Cape Town – to preserve the remaining water in different reservoirs and dams, and avoid the looming water crisis during this festive season and beyond. The effect of the […]

NAIROBI – Perhaps South Africa can learn something from Ethiopia which has overtaken Dubai as the top feeder for long-haul passengers to Africa, highlighting the success of the state airline’s expansion drive and the reforms of its new prime minister… which include allowing visitors to apply for visas online. Travel consultancy ForwardKeys said on Wednesday […]

A defiant AfriForum says Cape Town High Court’s ruling is “not the end, but beginning of battle” to protect property rights in South Africa. The High Court ruled that AfriForum’s application for the review of the Report from the Parliamentary Constitutional Review Committee – which recommends that the Constitution be amended to make land expropriation […]

PIETERMARITZBURG – South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma wants corruption charges relating to a $2.2 billion arms deal to be permanently set aside, his lawyers said on Friday in Pietermaritzburg, when Zuma made his fourth court appearance since the charges were reinstated. Zuma, who was ousted by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in February, […]