insert_link South Africa Freedom Front Plus Opposes Expropriation Bill Amid Concerns of ANC Maneuvering South Africa's Freedom Front Plus has voiced strong opposition to the Expropriation Bill, alleging that the ANC is determined to push it through before the elections. Following approval by the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday, the bill, with additions, is now back in the National Assembly for further changes before reaching President Cyril Ramaphosa for signing into law. Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus, asserts their firm stance […] todayMarch 22, 2024 19
insert_link Lifestyle Karabo Morule wants more Africans to invest in art For anyone unsure what art to buy or which artist to follow, Karabo Morule is a godsend. At the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in mid-February, while walking a group of patrons - all wearing eye-catching headphones - through the exhibits, she explained the exhibits and at the same time advised her group on which art they should potentially be investing in. “Buying art should be seen as […] todayMarch 22, 2024 31
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s National Assembly Speaker Surrenders to Police Amid Corruption Allegations Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the National Assembly speaker of South Africa, turned herself over to the police in Pretoria this morning in response to corruption accusations. Allegations suggest she received over two million rand in tender bribes from a contractor to the South African National Defence Force during her tenure as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Reports indicate her anticipated appearance in the High Court in Pretoria today. todayMarch 22, 2024 8
insert_link Entertainment This is how President Ramaphosa got to the 25% figure of progress in land reform in South Africa By Johann Kirsten, Stellenbosch University and Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University Nearly three decades into democracy, land reform remains central to South Africa’s transformation policies and agricultural policy. We have over the years pointed out that the progress on land reform has been incorrectly reported. It’s been consistently understated. We have argued that, if the statistics are treated carefully, the progress has been much better than politicians […] todayMarch 22, 2024 23
insert_link South Africa SA Speaker takes special leave following corruption allegations Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says that “given the seriousness of allegations [made against her] and the attendant extensive media speculation, [she] has decided to take special leave [from her role]”. News24 reports that the move comes after heavy backlash following the National Prosecuting Authority's Investigating Directorate's raid at her Johannesburg home, linked to a probe into alleged corruption during her time as defence minister. todayMarch 22, 2024 26
insert_link Business / Economics Steinhof CEO dies by suicide Former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste died by suicide in Hermanus on Thursday, a day before he was told to hand himself over to law enforcement. News24 reports that Jooste told his wife he was going out for a walk, and it was during his walk that he shot himself. According to local police, Jooste “was still alive at the time [they reported to a beach in Hermanus, where a 63-year-old man […] todayMarch 22, 2024 143
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s election management body has done a good job for 30 years: here’s why By Dirk Kotze, University of South Africa More than in previous elections, South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) will be tested to the hilt in this year’s national and provincial elections on 29 May. For the first time in 30 years, the electoral majority of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is in jeopardy. This makes the upcoming poll the most consequential one since 1994, when the country […] todayMarch 20, 2024 34
insert_link South Africa Tshwane Mayor Releases Audit Report Amid Criticism Tshwane City's mayor, Cilliers Brink, says the improved qualified audit report and the audited financial statements have been published to enable public scrutiny. The mayor has been criticised for withholding the Auditor-General’s report and failing to make known the metro’s financial statements for 2022/2023 to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange at the end of January. Brink says the publishing of the documents demonstrates good fiscal governance: todayMarch 20, 2024 41
insert_link South Africa South African Union Applauds Adoption of Expropriation Bill by National Council of Provinces Cosatu has welcomed the South African National Council of Province’s adoption of the Expropriation Bill. The Western Cape was the only province that voted against the legislation, which was adopted with proposed amendments, that require the National Assembly to approve. One of the objectives of the bill is to expropriate land and property in the interest of the public. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says president Cyril Ramaphosa must ignore opposition from […] todayMarch 20, 2024 36