Author name: Scott Balson

International relations expert Dr. Kingsley Makhubela has warned that the United States could extend sanctions to President Cyril Ramaphosa and other senior African National Congress (ANC) leaders if a proposed bill targeting South African officials passes in Congress. The bill, which has gained traction among US lawmakers, could see ANC leaders barred from entering the […]

The National Assembly has passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill, authorizing government expenditure for the coming financial year, but not without sharp divisions and last-minute political maneuvering. The bill was approved with 260 votes in favor and 88 against, with opposition parties such as the MK Party, EFF, and ATM rejecting it outright. The Democratic Alliance

A staggering 70% of South Africans are grappling with financial anxiety, according to the latest Money Stress Tracker survey by DebtBusters. While this marks a slight drop from 75% in 2023, the figure remains alarmingly high, with women bearing the brunt of the stress. Financial Stress Taking a Toll The fourth annual survey highlights how money worries

Government officials and business leaders convened in Johannesburg this week to address the chronic dysfunction plaguing many municipalities, which has led to poor service delivery and challenging operating conditions for businesses. The meeting, attended by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), and the Association of South African

In a harrowing courtroom confession, former preschool teacher Amber Lee Hughes has admitted to drowning her ex-boyfriend’s four-year-old daughter, Nada-Jane Challita, in January 2023. Hughes is currently on trial at the High Court in Johannesburg, facing charges of murder and rape. A Disturbing Admission Through her legal counsel, Hughes acknowledged that she intentionally drowned the

North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane, is under fire from opposition parties after reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to the R15 billion Urban Blue Gas-to-Power Plant project in Matlosana. The project, initially handed over to the City of Matlosana earlier this year, was paused for public consultation and legal

Five suspects linked to cash-in-transit robberies were fatally wounded in a shootout with police in Crown Mines, Johannesburg, yesterday. The incident follows a nationwide crackdown on armed gangs targeting cash vehicles, particularly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Intelligence-Led Operation Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni confirmed that the suspects were tracked from KwaZulu-Natal, where they were allegedly

Frustrated residents of Tshepisong, Soweto, have taken to the streets in protest after enduring a week without electricity. The blackout follows Johannesburg City Power’s decision to suspend services in the area after several workers were allegedly held hostage earlier this month. Police Presence Heightened Amid Protest Fears A heavy police presence, including officers from the

The Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, conducted a raid on the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) headquarters in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, yesterday. The operation is linked to allegations of irregular tenders totaling more than R18 billion. This development comes just over a month after the nonprofit organization Open Secrets took legal action against

The Executive Mayor of Polokwane, John Mpe, has dismissed explosive corruption allegations involving tender irregularities worth over R700 million, labeling them a politically motivated smear campaign. The claims, brought forward by a whistleblower, implicate Mpe and Municipal Manager Thuso Nemugumoni in alleged fraud involving incomplete projects and duplicate payments to companies linked to them. Explosive