June 09, 2022
South Africa: Mining and Manufacturing Production Crash in April
After a buoyant first quarter that saw the economy expand faster than expected and the current account surplus widen, a spate of data strongly suggests that the party came crashing… Read more »
South Africa: Nersa's Methodology for Increasing Electricity Prices Is 'Unlawful', Business Chambers Argue
Legally, SA's energy regulator, Nersa, is obliged to approve annual electricity increases, but the method that the regulator uses to do this 'does not comply with legislation', an… Read more »
South Africa: 'Phala Phala Is Fast Becoming Your Nkandla,' Steenhuisen Tells Ramaphosa in Disrupted Debate
After an hour of EFF MPs' interjections, when all were muted online or physically removed from the House, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered what essentially was a State of the… Read more »
South Africa: Dr Tim De Maayer, Rahima Moosa Hospital Whistle-Blower, Suspended
Social media and WhatsApp networks of doctors expressed shock, dismay and anger at the news that doctor who exposed the shocking state of children's healthcare at the Rahima Moosa… Read more »
South Africa: Eskom 'Greenwash' On Coal-Fired Kusile A Smokescreen for Terrifying Overall Emissions - Experts
The Kusile coal-fired power plant is the only facility in SA that has the technology to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions. But energy experts say this is nothing to be proud of… Read more »
South Africa: Nafiz Modack Deeply Implicated in Assassinations in Cape Town, Appears in Multiple Courts
The State contends that alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack not only ordered the assassination of Anti-Gang Unit officer Charl Kinnear, but also orchestrated the murders of two… Read more »
South Africa: John Berks - The 'Boykie' Who Changed South African Radio
John Berks was key to bringing talk radio to South Africa, changing the country's broadcast world forever. He's gone now, but he casts a great legacy. Read more »
Morocco/South Africa: Bafana Bafana Optimistic They Can Tame Morocco's Atlas Lions
The odds are stacked against South Africa in their Africa Cup of Nations qualification opening fixture, versus heavyweights Morocco. Read more »
South Africa: Millions Head Into Third Month of Misery As Govt Fails to Pay Social Relief of Distress Grants
Civil society organisations #PayTheGrants, Amandla.mobi, Black Sash, the Institute for Economic Justice and the Social Policy Initiative say that the Social Security Agency of SA… Read more »
June 08, 2022
South Africa: Business Confidence Dips in Second Quarter, but Building Sector Finds New Signs of Life
The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index fell to 42 from 46 in the second quarter. This signals that almost 60% of the 1,300 managers surveyed in the building, manufacturing, retail,… Read more »
South Africa: Fraser-Ramaphosa Conflict Marks New Aggressive Phase of ANC's Forever War
This toothpaste is not going to go back into the tube again and the ANC appears to be entering a completely new phase of near open warfare in which President Cyril Ramaphosa has… Read more »
South Africa: Umlazi Flood Victims Forced to Use Homemade Ferry Boats to Get to Work, School and Hospital
As cold weather swept through some parts of the Durban area early on Tuesday morning, a group of workers, schoolchildren and pregnant women queued on the bank of the Umlazi River. Read more »
South Africa: Ramaphosa and the Phala Phala Buck Bucks - Groundhog Day, Brought to You By the ANC
Thamsanqa D Malinga is director at Mkabayi Management Consultants; a writer, columnist, and political commentator, as well as author of Blame Me on Apartheid and A Dream Betrayed. Read more »
South Africa: Ramaphosa's Red Oryx and Other Prized Game Fetch Big Bucks
The criminal case opened by former spy boss Arthur Fraser against President Cyril Ramaphosa has put the spotlight on prices paid for prized game in South Africa, including a rare… Read more »
South Africa: Transnet and Prasa Fork Out Billions to Combat Theft and Vandalism
The costs of security at state-owned enterprises Transnet and Prasa are increasing significantly. Parliamentarians and the two rail agencies are looking at solutions to the… Read more »
South Africa: Sibanye Wage Talks Hit a Snag As Haggling Still Persists After Broad Agreement to End Strike
The strike at the gold operations of Sibanye-Stillwater by members of the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union is still not over.… Read more »
South Africa: Standard Bank Launches Its Africa Trade Barometer to Plug Information Gap
The provision of accurate data on trading conditions in sub-Saharan Africa could unblock a $70-billion trade opportunity for companies in the region, as well as investors. Standard… Read more »
South Africa: Soccer Star Senzo Meyiwa's Murder - Judge Warns Against Trial Delays
Five murder suspects were arrested on 26 October 2020, exactly six years after football star Senzo Meyiwa was killed in Vosloorus. Their trial entered week three this week, but… Read more »
South Africa: Six Killed in Two Cape Town Gun Shootings Within 13 Hours
Six people have been killed in two separate shooting attacks in Cape Town. On Wednesday morning, two unknown males were shot dead near a primary school as learners and parents ran… Read more »
South Africa: A Long, Complex Legal Road Lies Ahead Before the Guptas Can Be Extradited to South Africa
Professor Dr Omphemetse S Sibanda is a Professor of Law and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management and Law at the University of Limpopo. He holds a Doctor of Laws (in… Read more »
June 07, 2022
South Africa: Unpacking the President's Home Burglary Story, and Why It's Important
President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing what may be the most personally damaging moment of his presidency. A seemingly unreported 2020 theft of cash from Ramaphosa's Limpopo game farm… Read more »
Madagascar: Madagascar Denies Entry to South African Aircraft - and It Might Have Something to Do With a Stash of Gold Bars
Madagascar is denying entry to all aircraft from South Africa, apparently due to a dispute over 73.5 kilograms of smuggled gold. And business and tourism are being hit hard. Read more »
South Africa: NPA Stands By Downer and Grants Zuma Right to Pursue Private Prosecution
Since he was first indicted in the Arms Deal case in 2005, former president Jacob Zuma is yet to have his 'day in court' thanks to the Stalingrad tactics of his legal defence team,… Read more »
South Africa: The Verdict in the Court of Public Opinion May Yet Cost Ramaphosa Dearly
Whatever the facts may turn out to be in the case of the theft of foreign currency from Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm, it would be a mistake to view the matter only through a… Read more »
South Africa: Political Parties Push for Probe Into Mysterious Ramaphosa Game Farm Robbery
Pressure from opposition parties is mounting for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down after damning allegations made against him by former spy boss, Arthur Fraser. The EFF is the… Read more »