Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-03-19 i Daily News

In a captivating celebration of heritage and triumph, Nandi – The Musical promises to bring the extraordinary tale of Queen Nandi, the esteemed mother of King Shaka, to life. Written and directed by Edmund Mhlongo, the founder of K-CAP and the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre, in association with The Playhouse Company, this musical theatre production showcases a remarkable cast of 28, predominantly women, all dedicated to telling a story that resonates deeply with the spirit of the Zulu people. With a narrative woven around Queen Nandi’s commitment to raising her son, Shaka, this musical promises to captivate audiences through its powerful themes of hope, determination and resilience. The production not only highlights her vital role in shaping the future leader but it also reflects on her personal journey filled with…

The Parlotones, one of South Africa's most beloved rock bands, continue their fascinating journey into the archives with the release of their latest project, Forgotten Songs EP 3 – Raw & Unheard. This third installment in their acclaimed Forgotten Songs series sees the band sharing an array of previously unreleased tracks and unheard demo recordings that have been carefully unearthed from an extensive collection of old hard drives and CDs. The band took to Instagram to announce the EP’s release, stating: “The Parlotones continue their captivating journey into the past with the release of Forgotten Songs EP 3 – Raw & Unheard. This third EP brings fans a collection of previously unreleased songs and unheard demo tracks, rediscovered from a treasure trove of old hard drives and CDs. Now, these…

DIRECT and daily exposure to high-stress environments like handling gruesome accident scenes, violent crime encounters and other traumatic events has severely impacted the mental health of Durban metro police officers, a pilot study has revealed. It emerged that there was a dire need for mental health interventions to assist the men and women in blue, who were in distress. The findings revealed that there was a high prevalence of moderate to severe depression among various members of the metro police unit, with some saddled with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) because of their experiences, and also implicated in incidents of gender-based violence and femicide. Substance abuse was the coping mechanism of choice for some of the affected members. The findings from the Metro Police Mental Health Assessment Program was presented by…

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has expanded the Disease Management Area (DMA) in KwaZulu-Natal due to the discovery of new Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) cases in Newcastle. FMD is classified as a controlled animal disease under the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984), which mandates specific control measures, such as isolation and movement restrictions, enforced by Veterinary Services. Ministry spokesperson Joylene van Wyk said the FMD outbreak in KZN had not been contained, with new cases recently detected in the Newcastle area. “The disease has now spread beyond the initial DMA, declared in 2021 when outbreaks of the SAT2 ( South African Territories) FMD strain first emerged in the province,” Van Wyk said. She said the minister had decided to expand the DMA’s boundaries to prevent the…

McDonald’s South Africa has confirmed an investigation is under way into the assault of one of their employees by a customer at their branch in Kenilworth, Cape Town, after a video of the incident went viral. The video has received over 328 000 views, 1 300 reactions, and has been shared more than 3 300 times. The person who filmed the incident has since reached out to the Daily News’ sister newspaper, the Cape Argus, to verify information about the ordeal, but has yet to provide comment. In the video, a white male can be seen standing in the kitchen, which is restricted only to employees, and begins to assault a black employee. Daniel Padiachy, chief marketing officer at McDonald’s South Africa, said: “We are aware of a video online…

THE ongoing legal dispute between the Road Accident Fund (RAF) and the Office of the Auditor-General (A-G) shows no signs of resolution as the former remains entrenched in the battle over the appropriateness of the accounting standards it is now using. This became evident when the RAF was asked during the meeting of the standing committee (Scopa) how long it was prepared to continue getting negative audits while pursuing the matter legally. This comes as the judge president of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) was to decide on a petition the RAF lodged after the same court refused to hear their leave to appeal in a matter over its decision to change the accounting policy. The SCA found that there were no prospects of success when the Gauteng High…

The blitzkrieg of American transactional inside-looking coercive policies since the turn of Donald Trump at the White House risks plunging international relations back to a world of interest-driven anarchy, and conflictual alliances. Since the end of the Second World War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, a new world order informed by the need to forge cooperative world relations emerged from the ashes of war and severe suffering. The imperfections of the liberal world order singularly dominated by Western powers raised calls for its democratisation to create inclusive multilateralism rooted in cooperation and interdependence on the back of the significant role of emerging powers. A new era of interdependence and cooperation recognising the national sovereignty and independence of all states, however big or small, as canonised in the Charter…

Nizaam Carr has been one of the stand-out performers for the Bulls in recent months, but he accepts that he might not feature as much now that Cameron Hanekom is set to return from injury. But the 33-year-old No 8 – who has five Springbok Test caps to his name – knows that he can still add real value in the closing stages of a tight game. Saturday’s massive United Rugby Championship clash against Irish giants Leinster at Loftus Versfeld (5pm kick-off) is sure to be another hard-fought encounter, and Carr’s experience and leadership may be needed to guide the Bulls home. Young Bok upstart Hanekom was scheduled to return to training this week from knee and calf issues, and while the Bulls have yet to officially announce his availability…

A minor detour on the road to victory. Mamelodi Sundowns' road to their eighth successive league title took a wrong turn with their 2-1 loss against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Sunday, but their destination is still within their reach. The Brazilians have been head and shoulders above the rest of the Betway Premiership, and they have also made their presence felt in the continent along the way. At the conclusion of the season, Miguel Cardoso and his chargers will be shifting their focus to the Fifa Club World Cup set to be hosted in the United States of America starting in June. Sundowns currently occupy a 15-point gap in the league over their closest rivals, Pirates, with only seven games left before their season draws to a…

AS THE cross-examination of State witness Paulina Tshosa took place in the Joshlin Smith matter, it left many feeling lost as the defence focused on minute details. While the defence for Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis had no questions, Steveno van Rhyn’s lawyer, Nobahle Mkabayi, took her time with the scrutiny of the witness’ submissions. This despite her client not immediately being identified during the evidence in chief given by the witness. Appollis, van Rhyn and Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith are the accused in the matter and face charges relating to kidnapping and human trafficking. Joshlin was reported missing from her home in Middelpos, a village in the Northern Cape, on February 19, 2024. The Middelpos resident told the court she witnessed an altercation on the day before the child was reported…

THE Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has urged residents and stakeholders in metropolitan and local municipalities to fully participate in the ward delimitation process to redetermine wards, ahead of next year’s local government elections. The proposals submitted to the board could see additions to the country’s 257 municipalities. Among the proposed redeterminations to establish a new category A metropolitan municipality in the Umgungundlovu district, it emerged that it was necessary to tinker with the municipal boundaries belonging to Msunduzi and the Richmond local municipalities, and those of the Umgungundlovu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, through a process of amalgamation. In the Free State, it was proposed that the troubled Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality will exclude at least six wards in Kestell, Harrismith and surrounding areas, Tlholong, Intabazwe, Selahlilwe informal settlement, Wilgepark, Schoomplaas, Kings…

POLITICAL instability in South African municipalities is affecting enforcement action as well as the quality and management of waste collection, with 60% of landfill services sites being deemed not compliant in the 2023/2024 financial year. This was brought to the fore during an overview done by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on waste management, including the compliance status of municipal landfill sites in South Africa. The overview was presented to the Portfolio Committee on DFFE yesterday. There are 544 landfill sites in the country. Mamogala Musekene, the deputy director-general of DFFE's Chemicals and Waste Management, stated in the overview report that South Africa was faced with basic service backlogs, including the provision of basic waste services. Musekene said inspections revealed that in the 2023/2024 financial year,…

KWAZULU-NATAL’S Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Reverend Musa Zondi announced the appointment of a new board of directors for Trade and Investment office in the province (TIKZN). The eight-member board, consisting of prominent figures from various sectors including business, academia, law, and civil society, will serve a term of five years, concluding in 2030. TIKZN’s new Strategic Plan 2025-2030 is ready to be launched, and the board’s appointment comes at a crucial time. The entity’s vision was to become a primary partner in developing a sustainable and inclusive economy in KZN through trade and investment. The incoming board will be essential in achieving this vision by ensuring accountability and providing strategic guidance and governance oversight. Sitting on the new TIKZN board of directors are: Musawenkosi Myeni (chairperson) Thandi…

Springbok and Sharks superstar Eben Etzebeth will not make his eagerly-awaited comeback this week in the Durban team’s United Rugby Championship (URC) match against Italian outfit Zebre, a spokeperson within the Durban-based team revealed to Independent Media on Tuesday. "Eben will not be avaliable this week," said the spokeperson. It is, hopefully, a case of the big guy saving himself for the big stage — next week’s game at Hollywoodbets Kings Park against Irish giants Leinster. Nonetheless, South African rugby will continue to hold its breath as the Bok legend returns from a lengthy concussion-enforced break from the game. The 33-year-old suffered a head knock in the Sharks’ Champions Cup match against the Exeter Chiefs on December 7 in 2024 in Durban and the Sharks, to their credit, have insisted…

Welsh rugby could not be in darker times as the national team sits on 17 consecutive defeats but a ray of sunshine is the performance of Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The team from the Welsh capital is sixth on the URC standings and this weekend hosts the Lions. One of the stars of the Cardiff revival is wing Harri Millard and his story is a microcosm of what is going in the Principality. Back in 2023, Millard was left wondering whether his career was coming to an end when he was released by Cardiff amid the contractual uncertainty in Wales. For some four months, he was without a job and considering what to do for a living. But then Cardiff came in with a new offer and…

From no-hopers and the butt of jokes in Mzansi to potential qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, it has been a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Bafana Bafana under coach Hugo Broos. And the exciting journey continues over the next week, as South Africa face Lesotho on Friday and Benin next Tuesday in two vital World Cup qualifiers. While the wily old mentor Broos has been praised for being a straight-talker – often standing up to club bosses and even Safa officials when things are not what they are supposed to be for Bafana – one major factor that stands out for me is his team selections. Unlike some of his predecessors, the 72-year-old Belgian doesn’t subscribe to the ‘big-club mentality’ when he picks his squads. You don’t HAVE…

The importance of soccer matches is often overestimated. Clashes between teams — be it at club or national team level — are invariably described as ‘do-or-die’ or ‘must-win’ affairs until it all becomes slightly tiresome. Yet, when there is a place at football’s ultimate stage — the Fifa World Cup — at stake, every match takes on that stature. Even for countries ranked lowly and usually adding to the numbers, the World Cup dream ensures they approach matches with the seriousness of a heart attack. It is for that reason that Hugo Broos is taking nothing for granted as he prepares for th e next round of qualifiers for the global showpiece, scheduled for the Americas — US, Canada, and Mexico —in 2026. South Africa’s senior national team coach is…

In July, Prime Video will premiere the highly anticipated third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, a heart-warming drama series based on author Jenny Han's best-selling novel trilogy of the same name. For those unfamiliar with the series, The Summer I Turned Pretty follows the story of Isabella “Belly” Conklin, played by Lola Tung, a young girl who spends her summers at the beach with her family and the Fisher brothers, Conrad, played by Christopher Briney, and Jeremiah, played by Gavin Casalegno. Belly is the main leading actor, a seemingly ordinary girl who experiences a transformative summer at Cousins Beach. Belly, who had just turned 16 that summer, blossomed into a beautiful woman, attracting attention and navigating the complexities of her newfound beauty and popularity. As Belly…

THE minor fuel price cuts announced in early March are looking set to be followed by more significant decreases for both petrol and diesel in April. Data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) is pointing to petrol price decreases in the region of 93 cents for 95 Unleaded and 80c for 93 Unleaded, while diesel prices look set to go down by between 92c (500ppm) and 94c (50ppm). Should these predictions materialise, the price of 95 Unleaded will drop to around R20.60 at the coast and R21.40 inland, where 93 should land around the R21.25 mark. The price of both grades of petrol came down by seven cents at the beginning of March. This followed increases of 82c on February, 19c on January, 17c in December and 25c in November.…

WATER experts want the world to know that South Africa is a major player in the water security space, and was not only learning from others, but also had a few things it can teach. This was the sentiment that emerged from the experts who addressed the media on Monday at the 14th International Water Association (IWA) International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse taking place until March 20. Water re-use is increasingly at the forefront of realistic alternatives to rapidly diminishing supplies of existing water resources (largely surface and groundwater). It is the process of treating and reusing water from various sources for beneficial purposes by using the latest technologies, wastewater can be treated to meet drinking water standards. Water Research Commission CEO, Jennifer Molwantwa, said research had to…

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) continues to elevate its already stellar line-up with two powerhouse international acts, Incognito and Masego, joining the bill, along with Cape Town rising star Muneeb Hermans. Bringing their signature blend of jazz, funk and soul, British acid jazz pioneers Incognito are set to ignite the stage with their dynamic and timeless sound. Since their inception in 1979, the band has defined the acid jazz movement, delivering global hits like Still a Friend of Mine and their legendary rendition of Stevie Wonder’s Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing. Their performances are known to be electrifying, blending intricate musical arrangements with infectious grooves that transcend generations. Having wowed South African audiences before, their return is set to be a major highlight of the festival. Joining…

Taiwan’s recent statement – purporting that South Africa has “repeatedly violated international norms” by insisting on its sovereign right to relocate Taiwan’s representative office – is not only misleading, it smacks of political manoeuvring rather than credible concern. First and foremost, South Africa’s decision to rename and relocate the so-called “Taipei Liaison Office” is a matter of national sovereignty. As any independent nation would insist, Pretoria retains the right to manage its foreign representations as it sees fit. The claim that this decision amounts to a violation of international norms is not only unfounded – it’s a deliberate distortion aimed at undermining South Africa’s dignified exercise of self-determination. Even more egregious is the reference to South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, being declared “persona non grata” by…

Barely two years ago, Tristan Luus was dealing with the heartbreak of missing out on a place in the South Africa U19 squad set to participate in the ICC U19 World Cup on home soil. It was a bitter pill to swallow after the Waterkloof learner had dominated the Cricket SA Cubs Week for Northerns where he topped the bowling charts by claiming two five-fors in Stellenbosch. But as fate would have it, Luus was eventually called up as injury replacement and went on to star alongside Kwena Maphaka with the new ball as the Junior Proteas rode the wave of passionate home support all the way to the semi-finals. Luus’ performances did not go unnoticed this time and he was rewarded with his first professional contract at the Dolphins…

With Kwena Maphaka, South Africa witnessed an unrivalled rise to the highest level. Maphaka went from playing in the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup to becoming a fully fledged, all-format Proteas player in less than 12 months — a rise the country has arguably never witnessed before. At 18-years-old, Maphaka became the youngest ever Proteas Test cricketer, breaking Paul Adams' record, which had stood for almost three decades. With sheer pace, accuracy, and consistency, Maphaka broke into the Proteas' 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad, albeit as a travelling reserve. South Africa made it to the semi-finals of the tournament, and even though Maphaka did not play a single game, he would have gained invaluable experience that could benefit South Africa in the future ... and more immediately in the upcoming…