Ten suspects were on Monday remanded in custody for their alleged role in the recent unrest in greater Durban. The suspects, who appeared before the Verulam Magistrate’s Court, face charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, possession of stolen goods, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Spokesperson for the […]

This follows an announcement by Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, that the death toll related to the unrest has risen to 337 in the two provinces. Briefing media in Pretoria on Thursday, Ntshavheni said the revision of the death toll, which stood at 276 on Wednesday, comes after people who were injured subsequently […]

The Department of Correctional Services granted former President Jacob Zuma permission to attend the funeral of his late younger brother today. In a statement, the department said a sentenced offender who was granted permission to leave a correctional centre remained a sentenced offender even while temporarily outside. “The permission granted to Mr Zuma is for […]

With the recent chaos specifically in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, and the media focus on these areas pertaining to the violent riots and looting, it is easy to get wrapped up in some tunnel vision, focusing exclusively on these events… writes Free State University’s Prof Petrus. The danger of this, of course, is that […]

The Pietermartizburg High Court has today – Tuesday 20 July – granted former President Jacob Zuma’s request for his corruption trial to be delayed. Appearing ‘virtually’ via a video link from Estcourt correctional facility, where he is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court (after failing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry […]

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says six individuals, who have been identified as alleged instigators of the violent riots that flared up in parts of the country, have been arrested and some have already appeared in court. Briefing journalists in Pretoria on Monday, Ntshavheni said efforts to restore economic activity have commenced and […]

Reuters – President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that the SA government would not allow “anarchy and mayhem” to prevail in South Africa after violence this week which he suggested had been deliberately provoked, and said that some suspects have been identified. Ramaphosa made the remarks when he visited Ethekwini Municipality, which includes the port […]

Civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng has resulted in some people calling for a state of emergency to be declared under the State of Emergency Act. Here we explain what it is and how it is declared. Under the State of Emergency Act the government invokes temporary emergency powers meant to restore peace and public […]

Former South African President Jacob Zuma left his Nkandla home in a motorcade late on Wednesday to hand himself in to a police station, as per instructions from the Constitutional Court, which last week sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission when ordered to do so. His JG […]

Social media is on fire Wednesday night as the stroke of midnight fast approaches and different sides argue over whether former President Jacob Zuma should or should not be arrested. The midnight deadline was set by the Constitutional Court for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to arrest him if he had not handed himself […]

The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) efforts to repatriate corrupt-Gupta family members have received a major shot in the arm after Interpol issued red notices against two implicated brothers, their wives and other associates. The brothers – Atul and Rajesh Gupta– and their respective wives, Chetali and Arti are among those accused of fleecing the Free […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has called on provincial Legislature Speaker, Nontembeko Boyce, to allow a debate on a Matter of Urgent Public Importance in terms of Rule 103. The move follows recent events at former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home following the order that he be incarcerated as a result of contempt […]

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) on Sunday enhanced operational capacity in KwaZulu-Natal amid “flagrant disregard” for COVID-19 Adjusted Alert Level 4 regulations. “This is in response to incidents in which people are seen to be undermining the authority of the State, including the flouting of the Disaster Management Act Regulations,” NatJOINTS spokesperson […]

South Africa’s ex-President Jacob Zuma on Sunday declared that “South Africa is fast sliding back to apartheid rule”. Speaking to the media from his home at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), he said: “The fact that I was lambasted with a punitive jail sentence without trial should engender shock in all those who believe in freedom […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa’s top court on Thursday re-affirmed an earlier ruling that President Cyril Ramaphosa did not deliberately mislead lawmakers about donations to his 2017 campaign to lead the ruling party. The Public Protector, an anti-corruption watchdog, had been unhappy with last year’s ruling by the high court, which found that Ramaphosa […]

South Africa’s Deputy President David Mabuza has requested President Cyril Ramaphosa allow him a few days of leave in order to visit Russia for a medical appointment. The Presidency said in a statement that during his leave, “the Deputy President will undertake a visit to the Russian Federation for a scheduled medical consultation. This consultation […]

More than a hundred people marched from St George’s Cathedral to Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday. They are demanding that former Western Cape Head of Detectives, Major-General Jeremy Vearey be reinstated. More than 100 people marched to Parliament on Wednesday demanding that former Western Cape Head of Detectives, Major-General Jeremy Vearey be reinstated. The […]

Whatever one thinks of Helen Zille – and I think highly of her – no-one could suggest that she is behind the curve… writes MARTIN PLAUT. While politicians in Britain and the USA are only gradually coming to terms with the problem of “woke” politics, she has been highlighting the issue for years. Now these […]

It’s been a while, but President Cyril Ramaphosa held a ‘family meeting’ in South Africa this evening (Sunday, 30 May 2021), addressing the nation on his concerns in containing the Covid-19 Pandemic, and announcing a move to Adjusted Alert Level 2 with effect from tomorrow (Monday 31 May). What does Level 2 Lockdown in South […]

Phumzile Van Damme has resigned as a Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP). In a statement issued early on Thursday evening, Van Damme stressed that her resignation has nothing to do with accusations that the DA is a ‘racist party’… and is rather because “of a clique of individuals”. She said: “To be clear […]

Due to a loss of 10 generating units at seven power stations at Eskom this past weekend, the power utility is implementing stage 2 load shedding. Eskom implemented loadshedding on Sunday at 5pm and it is expected to end on Tuesday at 10pm. “The failure of three-generation units at Tutuka was due to loss of […]

Cabinet has approved the extension of the National State of Disaster on COVID-19 until 15 June 2021. “The extension considers the need to continue augmenting the existing legislation and contingency arrangements undertaken by organs of state to mitigate against the impact of the disaster on lives and livelihoods,” a statement released after this week’s Cabinet […]

The Information Regulator of South Africa has after correspondence, written to WhatsApp LLC requesting the company to revise its privacy policy in South Africa to the standard used in the European Union (EU). On 15 May 2021, WhatsApp will require users to accept new terms and conditions for using the app. In a statement released […]

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced voter registration for the October Local Government Elections will be held on the weekend of 17-18 July 2021. In a statement, the Commission said on this weekend all 23 146 voting stations around the country will open from 8am to 5pm to assist new voters to register and existing […]

To hear President Ramaphosa’s 22 April address to the Virtual Leaders’ Summit on Climate Change, you’d think South Africa were going “above and beyond” when it comes to addressing the climate crisis. Not so. SA’s long-awaited draft updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) closed for written public comment on 30 April. The NDC is our country’s pledge to take action […]