Author name: Scott Balson

Members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) have taken to the streets of Tshwane in protest, demanding the implementation of long-overdue salary increases and the reinstatement of workers dismissed in 2021 following a wage dispute. The City of Tshwane has refused to honor a bargaining council agreement that stipulated salary increases of 3.5% […]

The community of Dunoon is grappling with severe flooding after two days of relentless rainfall submerged homes and displaced residents. Local leaders now point to an overflowing quarry owned by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Department as a major factor in the disaster, raising concerns that further rainfall could worsen the crisis. Homes Submerged, Lives

Five learners from Thuto-Lefa Secondary School in Munsieville, Krugersdorp, have been arrested after allegedly setting fire to two mobile classrooms on Wednesday afternoon. The Gauteng Education Department confirmed that four Grade 10 pupils and one Grade 9 learner were taken into custody following the incident, which was reportedly sparked by dissatisfaction over recent timetable changes.

Free State Agriculture launched its annual two-day congress yesterday, bringing together farmers, commercial banks, and key stakeholders to discuss pressing issues and future strategies for the sector. Under the theme “Roots of Resilience: Power from the Ground Up,” the event focused on sustainability, profitability, and overcoming obstacles that threaten agricultural productivity. The congress comes as the organization

The South African economy continues to demonstrate resilience despite persistent challenges, with the latest BankservAfrica Economic Transactions Index (BETI) rising for the third consecutive month, reaching a new record high in July 2025. The BETI, which tracks the real value of electronic transactions processed through BankservAfrica, climbed to 139.3 in July, marking a 1.9% year-on-year

Pressure is mounting on the Free State government to address widespread failures in local municipalities, with five mayors now in the firing line following damning findings by the Auditor-General. The report highlights financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and questionable appointments in critical positions, leaving several municipalities in disarray. Among the worst affected are Nala, Masilonyana, Nketoana

Police in the North West are investigating a devastating fire that killed four children in Tshing township, Ventersdorp, over the weekend. The blaze broke out during a sleepover at an RDP house, leaving the community in mourning. The victims were aged 1,3,7 and 8 year old. One family lost two children in the tragedy. A

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) assigned to Operation Vala Umgodi arrested six suspects and confiscated explosives during a targeted operation in Verulam, Barberton, on Wednesday, 06 August 2025. Among those arrested, two were foreign nationals found without valid documentation, while the others were allegedly in possession of explosives. This breakthrough is part of ongoing

Dr. Kgosi Letlape, a member of the Health Portfolio Committee, has raised serious concerns over the insufficient health budget and the lack of proper patient nationality tracking in public hospitals, warning that the system is being stretched beyond its limits. Speaking during a recent interview, Dr. Letlape criticized the government’s failure to collect data on

The South African government has formally raised concerns with both the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Kingdom of Morocco over separate diplomatic issues, citing national security and the misuse of national symbols. Eswatini’s Agreement to Accept Deported Violent Offenders Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson Chrispin Phiri confirmed that South Africa has engaged