Publication
Government plans to phase out non-viable municipalities by 2031
NON-VIABLE municipalities across the country could be phased out within the next five years as the government looks to overhaul the poor state of service delivery. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said the...
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R4.5 billion investment revives Mooi River
The Mooi River area is set for economic revival with another investment totalling close to 4.5 billion earmarked for the area. A new multi-billion rand property development project in the Mooi River Valley is expected to break ground in 2027, with a...
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Eastern Cape Health Department must release tender documents after court ruling
THE Department of Health in the Eastern Cape has been ordered to release a trove of sensitive tender bidding documents amid concerns that its award of a multi-million rand tender was “riddled with discrepancies”. A Durban-based company, Makhathini...
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Draft regulations task principals with safeguarding pregnant pupils’ education
PRINCIPALS and teachers will have to play a significant role to ensure that the schooling careers of young girls are not derailed by falling pregnant. A set of draft regulations that were put forward by the Department of Basic Education and released...
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EThekwini’s wastewater re-use plan aims to secure drinking water supply
ETHEKWINI Municipality is embarking on a controversial and ambitious water-reuse project that seeks to convert wastewater into potable drinking water for its residents. The project aims to augment the city’s water supply and ensure water...
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R100 billion rebuild of former SAPREF refinery to take eight years
THE rebuilding of the former SAPREF refinery in Durban will take close to eight years and cost more than R100 billion. The government revealed that work to rebuild the plant, which closed down in 2022 due to extensive flood damage, will soon get...
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Court dismisses Zuma and Mbeki’s bid to remove Justice Khampepe from TRC Commission
JUSTICE Sisi Khampepe cannot be removed from the commission probing political interference in TRC investigations, the Gauteng High Court ruled yesterday. This comes after the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, dismissed the legal bid by former...
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Masemola's summons 'a political strategy to shield corrupt officials'
The summons issued against National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, to appear before the court has raised concerns over 'a strategy to protect those implicated in corruption'. The Activists and Citizens Forum (ACF) has described the summons as...
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Parliament supports reforms empowering SIU for lifestyle audits
SOUTH Africa's fight against corruption could be heading for a significant shift, with Parliament calling for urgent legal reforms to strengthen lifestyle audits across the public service and give investigators more power to act without political...
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Masemola summoned to court in R360 million SAPS tender scandal
THE NATIONAL Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the SAPS have confirmed that police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has been served with a notice to appear in court over the R360 million tender, as President Cyril Ramaphosa formally acknowledged the...
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Russian recruits receive psychosocial support
THE Department of Social Development (DSD) has officially rolled out a specialised psychosocial intervention programme for the South African men recently repatriated from the conflict in Russia and Ukraine. This follows reports from families in...
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Nkosi says Molefe gave him biker gear, not cash
SERGEANT Fannie Nkosi, an officer with the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, defended himself against bribery allegations at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry yesterday, saying he never took cash from controversial businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe. The...
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Urgent calls to restore Sapref refinery
AS THE deadline looms for the Central Energy Fund's (CEF) study into the future of the Sapref refinery in Durban, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources says it has not received any recent update on whether the March 31...
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Nkosi reveals ActionSA, EFF’s role in alleged tender manipulation
THE WhatsApp chats between Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, a Gauteng Organised Crime Unit officer and City of Tshwane chief financial officer (CFO) Gareth Mnisi suggested some members of ActionSA and EFF were involved in the alleged manipulation of a security...
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Iran’s ambassador warns of global consequences
THE Islamic Republic of Iran has vowed to continue its military response against the United States, framing its actions as a legitimate act of self-defence under international law, as the number of civilian casualties continues to mount. This comes as...
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Concern as skilled officers are ditching the badge
THE growing trend of highly skilled police officers being lured away by private security companies and criminal syndicates has come under scrutiny following the shocking revelation of Matipandile Sotheni's alleged involvement in organised...
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Sergeant sheds more light on dealings between Matlala and Sibiya
SERGEANT Fannie Nkosi, a Gauteng Organised Crime Unit officer, has cast doubt on the credibility of suspended Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiy's testimony regarding their interaction with alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Nkosi resumed...
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KZN’s R4.5BN logistics hub to shift goods to rail
THE small town of Mooi River in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is set to become a key logistics hub following plans to invest billions of rand in a dry port to ease the congestion of trucks heading to and from Durban on the N3 route. The estimated...
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Ramaphosa vows action on Madlanga Commission findings
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said no one implicated in wrong-doing by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will be shielded. “I can give an assurance that no one who is either implicated or will be implicated will be shielded, and when the...
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Mbalula, EFF slam US ambassador over ‘arrogant’ remarks
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has entered the fray to criticise remarks made by the United States Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, saying the country's international relations policy will not be dictated by anyone but the...
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Testimony reveals alleged moneylaundering scheme
TENDER tycoon Hangwani Maumela and alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala are central figures in the alleged money-laundering scheme involving Suliman Carrim, a North West businessman, who acted as a middleman for multimillion-rand transactions...
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Businessman testifies he lent R10million to alleged crime boss for SAPS tender
NORTH West businessman Suliman Carrim's testimony got off to a dramatic start at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry yesterday as his legal team clashed with commission secretary Dr Nolitha Vukuza over seating arrangements. The tension was, however,...
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KZN Education Department faces R600 million debt from former staff
FORMER employees of the cash-strapped KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education owe the department close to R600 million due to administrative bungling that saw them continue to draw salaries despite having left their posts. Members of the Education...
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Gulf war threatens South African exports as conflict escalates
THE agricultural industry has raised the alarm about the impact of the Gulf War on the export of fresh produce from South Africa to the Middle East. The US and Israel war against Iran is threatening shipping, especially of key commodities such as oil....
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Farmers’ urgent legal plea for private FMD vaccination drive
LIVESTOCK farmers will later this month turn to court in a desperate plea for the private sector to produce a foot-andmouth disease (FMD) vaccine and for the go-ahead to those who can privately administer it to do so. There should be no State...
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Durban’s comeback: Business confidence soars as eThekwini Working Group delivers
THE Presidential eThekwini Working Group is beginning the next phase of its work to ensure that Durban grows to be one of the most competitive business and tourism destinations in the world. President Cyril Ramaphosa stated yesterday that the next...
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Future of eThekwini’s debt relief programme remains uncertain
THE future of the debt relief programme under the eThekwini Municipality hangs in the balance after concerns that this policy is undermining the culture of paying for services and could lead to the collapse of the municipality. City leaders indicated...
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South Africans stranded in Gulf amid US strikes
THE Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) yesterday said it is in communication with South Africans stranded in the Gulf nations following the US and Israel strikes on Iran and the subsequent retaliatory attacks. South Africa...
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King Misuzulu’s plan for greater control over Ingonyama Trust
IN A move set to trigger a high-stakes legislative battle, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has announced a formal bid to seize control of the Ingonyama Trust from the national government, insisting that the land belongs to the Zulu nation and must be...
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Godongwana outlines SA Budget achievements
FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana heralded a turning point in South Africa's public finance management since the tumultuous onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Delivering the 2026 Budget speech yesterday, Godongwana reflected on the series of...
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KZN Premier warns against hiring undocumented foreigners
KWAZULU-NATAL Premier Thami Ntuli has issued a stern warning to business owners across the province, declaring that those employing undocumented foreign nationals will face immediate arrest as the provincial government intensifies its crackdown on...
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SIU exposes R181 million Home Affairs visa corruption scandal
THE Special Investigating Unit says its investigation into the Department of Home Affairs has uncovered systemic corruption in which visas and residence permits were effectively commodified, generating financial gains exceeding R181 million. “The...
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‘White business interests’ backed Ramaphosa’s campaign, despite warnings
PROMINENT political analyst, author and researcher, Prince Mashele has claimed that President Cyril Ramaphosa received approximately R1 billion from “white business interests” to secure his position as ANC president, at the expense of investing in the...
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Robert Mugabe’s son Chatunga arrested after Hyde Park shooting
THE South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng have confirmed the arrests of two men who were taken in for questioning following the shooting of a gardener at an upmarket Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg, where Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of...
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Madlanga Commission: ‘We didn't take the PKTT dockets' claims Shadrack Sibiya
SUSPENDED Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has denied involvement in the transfer of 121 case dockets related to politically motivated killings from KwaZuluNatal to his Pretoria office, contradicting allegations made by KZN police chief...
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New business courts seen as vital for investor trust
THE proposal to establish a specialised court to urgently resolve business disputes has been hailed as a key step that will give certainty and confidence to investors whilst ensuring the speedy implementation of infrastructure projects. That is the...
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Water crisis: SALGA slams threat of criminal charges for municipalities
THE South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has pushed back against a move to “force” municipalities to deliver water to communities under the threat of criminal prosecution. The public entity composed of South Africa's local governments...
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King Misuzulu enlists business leaders to save Tongaat Hulett
KING Misuzulu kaZwelithini has mandated his leadership to engage with global entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert Gumede to save the Tongaat Hulett Limited (THL) company. Zulu Royal Chancellor Inkosi Malusi Zondi said the king is worried about...
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Ramaphosa deploys SANDF to combat gang violence and illegal mining
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa last night said that the fight against organised crime and corruption will be stepped up as he announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to deal with gang violence and illegal mining in the...
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Major SA retailers accused of buying from Newcastle sweatshops
SOME of the country's largest retailers will be called to account for allegedly selling clothes that were being produced by sweatshops in Newcastle, with Parliament's Employment and Labour Portfolio Committee (ELPC) saying these factories had been...
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Paul O’Sullivan denies being a spy for MI6, other foreign agencies
FORENSIC fraud examiner Paul O'Sullivan denied allegations of having performed any foreign agency activities in South Africa, saying he was loyal to the country. Testifying before the Ad Hoc committee probing the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal...
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Zulu King’s call to ban mining meets union resistance due to job fears
THE call by King Misuzulu for the banning of mining activities on land belonging to the Ingonyama Trust Board are facing resistance from labour unions, who argue that the move will deepen the unemployment crisis. Labour unions said that while mining...
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Suicide victim was person of interest
THE South African Police Service (SAPS) has revealed that Wiandre Pretorius, who died by suicide at a Brakpan filling station, was a person of interest in the murder of Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission of...
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Whistleblower survives after 16 bullets hit his vehicle
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the urgent need for enhanced protection measures for whistleblowers and witnesses in high-profile cases. The president was responding to reports regarding another alleged hit, in which the witness’s car was...
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IEC warns of troubling campaign to deregister voters
THE Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has warned of “strange” behaviour among registered voters who are approaching the electoral body, asking to be removed from the country's voters' roll. The IEC expressed serious concerns about this trend,...
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Steenhuisen’s exit reshapes DA leadership race
WITH reports indicating that DA federal leader John Steenhuisen will not contest the party's leadership race in April, attention has shifted to who could emerge as his successor. Steenhuisen is expected to address a press briefing in Durban today,...
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SAPS analyst alleges kidnapping by armed officers
IN A dramatic turn of events that unfolded at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry yesterday, SAPS ballistics analyst Captain Laurance Makgotloe testified that he was kidnapped by armed police officers who forced him to rectify errors in a ballistics...
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Food basket sees rare annual decrease
THE Pietermaritzburg-based social justice group has found that food was slightly cheaper at the end of the past year compared to prices from the previous two years. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group attributes this to the...
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Business confidence in eThekwini grows
FOR the first time since 2022, the Durban business community is speaking in glowing terms about the city's economic prospects as well as the eThekwini Municipality's ability to deliver essential services. The latest Durban Business Confidence Index...
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KZN Hawks head Senona under fire
KWAZULU-NATAL Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona came under scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry yesterday for sharing confidential police information, including ID numbers, with suspected crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. This was...
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Anger over alleged police role in Magaqa’s murder
THE murder of ANC councillor Sindiso Magaqa in uMzimkhulu was a “state-sanctioned killing”. That is the view of his family following damning revelations by a witness at the Madlanga commission this week. Witness E, who is a police officer with the...
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King’s bid to rename KwaZulu-Natal as ‘KwaZulu’ gains official traction
THE proposal by His Majesty King Misuzulu to rename the province KwaZulu is gaining traction, with the provincial government stating that it will begin the process of “exploring” this directive. However, the pronouncement by the king is being...
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IFP accused of abandoning GPU leadership duties amid NFP feud
THE IFP has been accused of “abandoning” its duties to lead the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) following its failure to meet with the NFP to resolve the tensions that are threatening the GPU. Sources within the GPU said that it seems the IFP is...
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KZN backs Steenhuisen’s push for DA leadership
DEMOCRATIC Alliance leader John Steenhuisen appears to have weathered the recent political storm, with his home province of KwaZulu-Natal endorsing his bid to retain the leadership of the party. Provincial leaders who spoke to The Mercury said leading...
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Ramaphosa calls for action on scholar transport as KZN strengthens legislation
IN THE wake of a devastating scholar transport crash, President Cyril Ramaphosa has tasked the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, and other relevant stakeholders to look into ways of preventing...
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Jobs spat: ANC eThekwini leaders summon councillors
THE ANC's eThekwini regional task team has been accused of “blatant interference” in the recruitment processes of the eThekwini Municipality. This comes after a letter surfaced showing that the regional task team has summoned senior councillors in the...
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King Misuzulu urges calm amid local-foreign tensions
KING Misuzulu kaZwelithini has called for calm following simmering tensions between South Africans and foreign nationals that have left many locals feeling disrespected. The king, through his spokesperson, issued a statement urging calm and stated...
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