by Mathipa Phishego Hon Des Van Rooyen’s harsh criticism of the Standing Committee on Finance’s most recent report, which he described as a “sell-out pact” intended to enrich the wealthy elite while worsening the economic hardships of the poor, shook the National Assembly yesterday. Van Rooyen, a well-known representative of the opposing benches, charged that…
Mathipa Phishego Former MK Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu is currently out of the political spotlight after being demoted and left off of the party’s most recent parliamentary list. Shivambu’s name is noticeably missing from the list transmitted to Parliament ahead of Thursday’s final deadline for party list modifications, even though the MK Party still has…
by Phishego Mathipa In the increasingly heated world of internet politics, Elon Musk is doing uncommon things, publicly apologizing. President Donald J. Trump was the target of a barrage of social media remarks last week that included scathing criticisms and, in some cases, offensive language. The messages were part of a broader online backlash against Trump’s recent public…
by Mathipa Phishego The South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA) commissioned a 2021 Euromonitor study that found that the country is currently dealing with a growing illegal alcohol sector worth over R20 billion. One in every 4.54 liters of alcohol sold is illicit, according to this concerning statistic. Illicit alcohol includes unbranded spirits, smuggled commodities,…
Mathipa Phishego Following disclosures that approximately R1 billion in transport contracts were given to businesses connected to the families of city officials and council members, the City of Johannesburg has come under fire, drawing criticism from watchdog organisations and public indignation. The city, however, insists it has done nothing improper. Six contracts totalling R972 million…
The Gauteng Traffic Wardens (Infrastructure Unit) were dispatched to patrol the R25 Spookheis Bush area as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard public infrastructure from criminal activities. The unit, trained to monitor and respond to threats against infrastructure, was conducting routine surveillance when they encountered two individuals engaged in illegal activity. While patrolling near the…
The death of a former head of state is traditionally a moment for a nation to pause, reflect, and unite in collective mourning. It is an opportunity to honor a leader’s legacy and to demonstrate national cohesion. However, the passing of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on June 5, 2025, has instead exposed deep political…
by Phishego Mathipa With just months to go before Johannesburg hosts the prestigious G20 Summit, the city’s mayor, Dada Morero, has launched an urgent and symbolically charged initiative to address long-standing service delivery failures. On Wednesday, 5 June 2025, at a press briefing held in Soweto, Morero introduced a high-level intervention team dramatically dubbed the…
by Phishego Mathipa A public dispute between President Donald Trump and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has drawn widespread attention following a series of sharp exchanges on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The conflict began after Musk publicly criticized the administration’s latest economic policy proposal. In June 2025, Musk resigned from his advisory role…
By Mathipa Phishego In a stunning shake-up that has sent shockwaves through the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), Floyd Shivambu was abruptly removed from his role as Secretary General following a secret and unauthorised trip to meet fugitive preacher Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi. The party condemned the visit as damaging to its reputation and integrity, marking…
