May 17, 2023
South Africa: Ever-Closer Ties With Russia Jeopardise Annual Exports to U.S. Under AGOA Deal
South Africa exports an enormous amount of goods to the US annually - including vehicles, aluminium, chemicals, fruit, wine, ferroalloys, and even ice cream and edible ice. But now… Read more »
South Africa: PIRLS Findings Point to a Lame-Duck Minister of Education and a Generational Catastrophe
The Pirls results from 2016 showed that 78% of Grade 4 children couldn't read in any language. This week we learnt that that number had escalated to 81% in 2021, wiping out a… Read more »
South Africa: Judges Tell Laywer to Watch His Language in Heated Ramaphosa Vs Zuma Courtroom Exchange
Arguing in the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg, Mpofu vociferously criticised the National Prosecuting Authority's support of prosecutor Billy Downer, calling it… Read more »
South Africa: Beijing's Offer of Help in Power Crisis Was Why Eskom Chief Tagged Along to China - Gordhan
Eskom acting CEO Calib Cassim, and two others, went along to China to assess an offer of assistance, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan told MPs on Wednesday regarding the… Read more »
South Africa: NPA Won't Get Involved in Ramaphosa and Zuma Legal Squabble, High Court Hears
The two-day hearing to listen to arguments between lawyers for President Cyril Ramaphosa and former president Jacob Zuma began in court on Wednesday. Read more »
May 16, 2023
South Africa: New Reading Study Shows South African Grade 4 Pupils Perform Worst of All Participating Countries
The new Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (Pirls) 2021 reading results show that South African kids perform the worst of all participating countries, with the… Read more »
Lesotho: Country Under Nationwide Curfew After Murder of Investigative Journalist
'There were a lot of political figures who didn't approve of his conduct while he was conducting his political party [radio] programmes,' said a spokesperson for the Media… Read more »
South Africa: Unemployment Rate Rises to 32.9%, With 85,000 Domestic Worker and Gardener Jobs Shed
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023 from 32.7% in the last quarter of 2022. One worrying trend is that 85,000 jobs were lost in private… Read more »
South Africa: International Study Shows Most Grade 4s in South Africa Cannot Read for Meaning
The results of the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study show that 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa are unable to read for meaning in any language. Education… Read more »
South Africa: De Ruyter - Gordhan and National Security Adviser Knew About Top Politicians' Links to Eskom Rent-Seeking
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan emerges as a scared and immobilised man in André de Ruyter's tell-all memoir. Read more »
South Africa: UN Proposes Market Shifts to Dramatically Decrease Plastic Pollution in Three Easy Steps
As countries seek to secure a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, a report outlining the path to do so has been released by the United Nations Environment… Read more »
South Africa: CPUT Concludes Residence Evacuations Amid Chaos and a Fatal Bus Crash
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology is quiet following last week's chaos that forced the university to close all campuses. Read more »
May 15, 2023
South Africa: Nasa Reports Early Signs of El Niño Formation That Could Herald Drought in SA
The US space agency Nasa has reported that a satellite monitoring sea levels has spotted Kelvin waves moving eastward along the equator toward the west coast of South America. This… Read more »
South Africa: Army Chief Visits Moscow for Talks About Military Cooperation
Amid a crisis in relations with the US over South Africa's growing relations with Russia, head of the SA army Lieutenant-General Lawrence Mbatha is visiting Moscow for talks on… Read more »
South Africa: Eskom Grid Failure - 'Sasria's Job Is to Find an Insurance Solution'
Specialist national insurer Sasria sparked a storm with its announcement that it would not cover claims related to national electricity grid failure -- followed by a backtrack… Read more »
Africa: Courts Cannot Run South Africa and Most Certainly Cannot Fix Eskom
A central feature of any legal system which adheres to the rule of law is compliance with the principle of certainty. A capricious system in which rules can be changed at the whim… Read more »
May 14, 2023
South Africa: Unplugged - Why Is South Africa So Far Behind On the Race to Electrify Vehicles?
In the midst of what seems like a never-ending energy crisis, it seems absurd to consider electrifying our transport. But the global race to electrify vehicles is picking up -- EVs… Read more »
May 15, 2023
South Africa: Ramaphosa Has Failed, Is Still Failing and Shows No Sign of Reversing the Deadly Trend
From the Lady R mystery to the electricity crisis, there is no sign the President has made any meaningful push to deal decisively with any of South Africa's problems. Read more »
May 14, 2023
South Africa: 'I'm No Fugitive - I Emigrated to Dubai,' Says Gupta Inc's Salim Essa
The controversial businessman says he left SA well before the State Capture Commission started its work and did so in search of a better life for his family -- not to evade justice… Read more »
May 15, 2023
South Africa: Ruling Party Says Opposition DA's 'Moonshot Pact' Is Costing It Votes in Kwazulu-Natal
A report compiled by the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal outlines the dangers that could emanate from the success of the 'Moonshot Pact', spearheaded by the DA. Read more »
May 14, 2023
Morocco/South Africa: Mamelodi Sundowns Keep Calm - Amid a Sea of Red - to Avoid Defeat Against Wydad Casablanca
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena says his charges must remain humble heading into the second leg of their semifinal contest against Wydad Casablanca. Read more »
South Africa: Ukraine President Zelensky Warns Ramaphosa Against Selling Arms to Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said, in his daily public address on Saturday, delivered from Rome, that he had asked the South African President to support his 'peace… Read more »
South Africa: André De Ruyter's Truth to Power - the End of Days (Book Extract)
When André de Ruyter took over as Eskom CEO in January 2020, he quickly realised why it was considered the toughest job in South Africa. His account takes the reader inside… Read more »
South Africa: Heroic SA Seafarer Kirsten Neuschäfer Plots Her Next Adventure After Sailing Around the World
The Eastern Cape seafarer is taking in her stunning victory in the Golden Globe Race - and lots of fresh fruit - as she ponders her next adventure. A hiking trip in SA might give… Read more »
May 13, 2023
South Africa: U.S. Rang Alarm Bells About Alleged Russian Arms Trade in February - Minister
The impact on the South African economy of any secondary sanctions which the US might impose on this country because of its stance on Russia's war against Ukraine - including the… Read more »