We must accept we are in an extremely dangerous situation where, unless we do something, we will create the moment of chaos.” This is the warning to South Africa from 55-year-old anti-apartheid activist and acclaimed Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) co-founder Zackie Achmat. “Everyone I know, all of us just hope Cyril [Ramaphosa] will win [the..
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Zackie Achmat: SA is on the verge of ‘chaos’ – Yes we know that already!
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Top anti-poaching cop fired due to alleged “trumped-up charges”
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One of South Africa’s top anti-rhino poaching cops has been fired on allegedly “trumped-up charges” and is now unemployed and looking for a job. “It is appalling … the whole thing is a circus,” Warrant Officer JP van Zyl-Roux’s attorney Jacques Botha told The Witness. After 29 years in the police force, the latter 10..
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ESKOM FACING CASHFLOW TROUBLE – THEN STOP SPENDING MONEY ON BONUSES
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Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said the firm’s sales growth had been muted while its operating cost was very high and its tariff for the current financial year was low. South Africa’s scandal-plagued power utility Eskom said on Monday it was not insolvent but was facing serious liquidity issues and would be in “trouble” if the..
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How you will pay for Zuma’s free education plan
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The government is considering drastic budget cuts to fund free higher education, including cutting social grants, freezing the roll-out of RDP houses and increasing taxes. With the country facing an unpre-cedented R50.8‑billion revenue hole, a treasury document has been put before President Jacob Zuma by the presidential fiscal committee, outlining possible areas where budgets could..
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SARS desperate – goes after taxpayer who owes R0.49
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SARS is getting desperate after suffering huge shortfalls, and is now auditing a large portion of taxpayers who need to receive refunds. This is according to the Rapport newspaper, which spoke to tax practitioners about changes at the revenue service. According to the newspaper, more salary earners are subjected to audits – while SARS takes..
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OLX axes old SA flag because it carries the apartheid-era symbol
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Global classifieds group OLX has banned the old South African flag from its platform. The decision comes after TimesLIVE last week revealed that the old flag and different types of memorabilia bearing the apartheid-era symbol were widely available for purchase on the internet. The report came a few days after the Black Monday protests‚ during..
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SANRAL SCRAPS E-TOLL DEBT OF R3.6BN
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Sanral says it will write off R3.6 billion for the current financial year but will continue attempts to recover unpaid e-tolls by taking defaulters to court. The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has confirmed it will be scrapping debt of more than R3 billion in unpaid e-tolls. Sanral says it will write off..
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South Africa is held hostage to the toxic politics of the ANC
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If it showed anything, the recent medium-term budget policy statement has proven that South Africa does not have a government capable of dealing honestly and head on with the developmental crisis that the country finds itself in. It will not have such a government for some time, at least not until the 2019 general election..
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Coffin assault accused in prison’s sick bay due to errors in court papers
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Farm employees Theo Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen‚ who were found guilty of assaulting Victor Mlotshwa and forcing him into a coffin‚ are yet to set foot in a prison cell. The pair have been kept in the sick bay of the Witbank Correctional Services facility since their sentencing two weeks ago‚ Oosthuizen’s attorney‚ Marius Coertze‚..
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BOTSWANA LODGES COMPLAINT OVER NORTH WEST PREMIER’S MOTORCADE
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The Botswana government’s Jeff Ramsay says that North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s security detail did not go through proper security clearance. It’s premier versus president as Botswana’s government takes a South African politician to task. North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo was on an official visit to Gabarone last week. His blue light motorcade forced its..
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Cabinet Ministers set for 4% pay rise as reward for tanking the economy
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Unfortunately, it’s not April Fool’s Day. We are deadly serious when we tell you that political heavyweights who’ve overseen a slump in the South African economy are set to receive a 4% pay rise. In a year of recession, junk-status and a declared tax shortfall of R50bn, it seems like our top brass have found..
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Zuma set to announce “free education across the board” – report
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Do not adjust your computer screen, this is not an April Fool’s joke. In a sensational exclusive, TimesLive reports that President Jacob Zuma is set to make an announcement that “flies in the face of the findings of the Heher Commission”. Zuma is reportedly planning to announce free higher education across the board. TimesLive reports..
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Zuma is ready to step down: “I am not leaving the ANC. I am leaving as president”
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President Jacob Zuma is ready to hand the baton to the next incoming ANC president. Zuma said he was ready to leave his post as the head of the party happily, he remarked during an Oliver Tambo lecture at Kagiso, west of Johannesburg, on Sunday. Speaking to ANC supporters, Zuma said he will have time..
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Five #BlackMonday activists who took part in the protest against farm murders have appeared in courts
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Five people who took part in the #BlackMonday protests against farm murders this week have appeared in courts around the country, or have received summons to appear, on charges that they contravened the Regulation of Gatherings Act and the National Road Traffic Act. Some protesters who took part in the action around the country –..
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Parastatal waste equals tax shortfall: Treasury will need to find new resources to close the budget gap
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The R50‑billion shortfall in tax revenue that the treasury will need to find elsewhere to plug the budget gap is close to how much state-owned entities (SOEs) have thrown down the drain in the past financial year. The auditor general, Kimi Makwetu, released national and provincial audit results on Wednesday. Although the number of clean..
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