Author name: Scott Balson

Political analyst Professor Steven Friedman has criticized the Democratic Alliance (DA) for blaming the African National Congress (ANC) over the 30% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, calling it a sign of deep divisions within South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU). This follows the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decision to “reset” the […]

The last major South African assets of the Gupta family have been sold at auction for a combined R34.5 million, marking the end of a years-long legal process to liquidate properties tied to the controversial family. Park Village Auctions confirmed the sale of all three Saxonwold mansions, along with their contents—including furniture and appliances—far below

Tensions flared in Barberton Township as residents barricaded streets and disrupted services following the Municipal Demarcation Board’s (MDB) decision to keep Umjindi under the City of Mbombela Municipality. The ruling, announced earlier this week, has sparked outrage among locals who demand the reversal of a 2016 merger they claim has brought declining services and economic

The “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) trend is surging in South Africa as cash-strapped consumers turn to these services to cope with rising living costs. While the interest-free installment deals offer short-term relief, financial experts warn that the largely unregulated sector could plunge shoppers into debilitating debt cycles. Certified financial planner Tsungai Masendeke cautions that BNPL services

As South Africa’s National Dialogue approaches, concerns over transparency, budgetary accountability, and public trust in government have taken center stage. Thulasizwe Makhanya, representing the Forum of Stalwart Foundations and the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute, has called for greater openness regarding the costs of the event while acknowledging widespread skepticism toward the government. Calls for Transparency and

Popular caller ID app Truecaller is facing scrutiny from South Africa’s Information Regulator following complaints from businesses and individuals alleging that the platform has wrongly flagged legitimate numbers as spam and charged fees to remove them. The Allegations Several companies have reported that their contact numbers were marked as spam by Truecaller users, leading to blocked calls and lost business opportunities. Some firms claim they were required to

The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration has called for urgent accountability following reports of an alleged fraudulent R1-billion lease agreement involving the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA). The agency’s leadership has been summoned to appear before Parliament to clarify claims of a decade-long lease for a headquarters building that may not exist. Allegations

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has announced that his department will lead an investigation into explosive allegations of racial bias in marking at the University of Cape Town (UCT). The probe follows claims by a former faculty member that white students were systematically awarded higher marks than their black counterparts in the Faculty of Social

While the City of Johannesburg moves forward with a multi-billion-rand hostel revitalization program, residents of Helen Joseph Hostel in Alexandra say they have been left behind in crumbling, unsafe conditions. The city, in partnership with the Gauteng provincial government, has launched a project to refurbish five hostels—including Jeppe and Denver—into modern family units. However, Helen

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has firmly opposed the idea of expanding South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), arguing that adding more parties—particularly the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)—would worsen existing tensions rather than foster stability. Steenhuisen’s remarks come amid speculation that the African National Congress (ANC) is