Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-03-28 i Daily News

ETHEKWINI ratepayers have reacted with outrage at the proposed R2.8 million city rebranding proposal, describing it as a vanity project that will not improve service. The head of eThekwini communications unit Mandla Nsele said in a statement that the municipality was undergoing a brand transformation. He said that the current municipal brand, aka “the Dome”, was introduced around 2000 as part of the consolidation of all Durban local councils into the eThekwini Metro. Nsele said the goal was to create a new logo that reflected the City’s evolving identity, future aspirations and a brand that resonated with all. Ish Prahladh, president of the Ethekwini Ratepayers and Residents Association said this could be a “tender for a pal” scenario. “Heads must roll for those that conceived this proposal. It should be…

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has briefed the media on a variety of post-Cabinet decisions taken by members of Parliament following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. These include the withdrawal of funding by the US, cannabis, the foot-and-mouth disease, crime prevention, employment statistics, the misinformation campaigns by AfriForum and other right-wing organisations, as well as the country’s state of readiness to host the G20 Summit and registration of spaza shops. On the campaign by right-wing forces, including the dispute in the farm murder statistics and the Land Expropriation Act, the minister indicated that the government has been in talks with some of the right-wing forces while a probe into their behaviour was being handled by law enforcement agencies. Last month, Afrikaner rights organisations Solidarity and AfriForum met with representatives…

TODAY’S Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium (7pm kick-off) is set against a backdrop of prolific scoring between Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United in league matches this season. Sundowns have showcased their attacking prowess with dominant 3-0 and 4-2 victories, racking up a staggering nine goals in two encounters. With the prospect of a semi-final berth looming, another high-scoring game could propel this clash into the spotlight. Historically, the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals have been low goal-scoring affairs, but recent trends suggest an upward trajectory. This season alone, 82 goals have been scored across 26 ties, averaging an impressive 3.23 goals per game. The prospect of a goal-fest will be music to the ears of Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile, who goes into Friday’s match two goals shy of…

Durban businessman Chockalingam ‘Roy’ Moodley has emerged as the preferred buyer of Premiership club Royal AM. While the deal has been agreed upon between Moodley’s camp and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), it is still pending approval from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) before it can be officially finalised. SARS, seeking to recover an alleged R40 million debt from Mkhize, appointed Jaco Venter as the club’s curator. With no immediate resolution in sight, SARS initiated proceedings to either liquidate or sell the club. Moodley’s successful bid comes after a competitive process, with interest from bidders across South Africa and even DR Congo. While the businessman has secured the winning bid, the deal cannot be completed until the PSL gives their official green light, which is expected to happen soon.…

LOTS of noise was made about Kaizer Chiefs players not making the cut in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad for the two recent successful outings in the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin. Chiefs fans and some pundits questioned Broos’ decision to not call up the Chiefs duo of midfielder Thabo Cele and goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma. In response to that, Broos did not mince his words, but he shot straight back, stating that he cautiously left out Chiefs players because the team are struggling. “You can’t say that Chiefs already are back. I thought maybe at the beginning of the season, but I don’t know what happened, because they are still struggling,” Broos said. Even when the likes of Tim Sukazi, the TS Galaxy owner, added fuel to that…

THE almost similar comments made by coaches Arthur Zwane of AmaZulu and Thabo September of Chippa United, after their last matches ahead of the recent international break, might just see them approaching their Premiership encounter this weekend in the same way. The match will be played at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London tomorrow at 3.30pm. In their last matches, AmaZulu lost 2-1 to high-flying TS Galaxy, whilst Chippa beat Polokwane City 2-0. September and Zwane might as well have been singing from the same hymn book ahead of the break. “We need to do well in our finishing, we need to create good chances for us to score,” September said. “We need to make the right decision in the final third, I think the build-up... I think we…

DETECTIVE Captain Wesley Lombard detailed how the investigation into Joshlin Smith’s disappearance was disrupted by misinformation and social media activity. This was revealed as the trial into the missing six-year-old girl continued at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the White City Multipurpose Centre on yesterday afternoon. Weeks after Joshlin’s disappearance, her mom Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, and former accused Lourentia Lombaard were arrested and charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. Charges were withdrawn against Lombaard as she had turned State witness. The detective testified that during the investigation, he found out that Smith had been rumoured to be involved in prostitution. “I followed up with the ladies in the same profession, thinking that the disappearance could have been linked to that but…

IT WAS a very emotional day for the Clegg family as they gathered for the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of the late musician, anthropologist and anti-apartheid activist, Johnny Clegg at the Long March to Freedom exhibition in Century City, Cape Town, yesterday. Johnny Clegg was a pioneering South African musician, anthropologist, and anti-apartheid activist, known for blending Western rock with traditional Zulu music to create a unique sound that transcended racial and cultural boundaries. As a young man, he defied apartheid’s racial segregation by forming multi-racial bands, most notably Savuka and Juluka, which faced immense opposition and censorship from the apartheid regime. His songs, including Asimbonanga and Scatterlings of Africa, became anthems of resistance and unity. The much-loved singer passed away in 2019, at the age of 66.…

CONTROVERSIAL South Africa-born billionaire businessman Elon Musk’s Starlink has not applied for a license to operate in South Africa, despite claiming that broad-based black economic empowerment laws were preventing his company from setting up. The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) confirmed that Starlink has not yet applied for a license. In South Africa, Starlink is listed as “service date is unknown”, while it is starting in 2025 in Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania, Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its services are available in eSwatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Burundi, among other African countries. The Electronic Communications Act of 2005 states that a person may only apply for an individual licence under an invitation published by Icasa calling upon persons to do so, and this invitation must be…

GENDER-based violence (GBV) is deeply rooted and widespread in South Africa, significantly impacting nearly every aspect of life. Women and adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable, often experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) which is a form of GBV. According to the World Health Organization, IPV is “behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviours.” This form of violence is perpetrated by a current, former, or would-be romantic partner. The First South African National Gender-Based Violence Study, 2022 reported that 22.4% of women had experienced physical violence from a partner in their lifetime, while 7.9% disclosed having been sexually assaulted by a partner. Additionally, the study found that 41.6% of women who had experienced physical…

As the Teboho Mokoena saga continues to unravel, palpable tension has engulfed Bafana Bafana, whose 2026 World Cup qualifying dreams could be scuppered due to the team's administration falling foul of the rules. The saga has captivated South African football fans, igniting a storm of controversy and uncertainty at a time when national pride is at stake. Bafana Bafana have been playing with the fervour of champions, striving for glory in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. However, the unfolding drama raises critical questions about the team's regulatory compliance. Their recent performances have drawn cheers echoing around stadiums nationwide as supporters rally behind them. Yet, the euphoria generated on the field is tarnished by troubling news. The Mokoena issue has cast a shadow over the squad, introducing a layer of anxiety…

Dismiss Quinton de Kock at your peril. That was the clear message from the veteran South African opener in Wednesday night’s Indian Premier League clash against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. De Kock has endured a lean trot of late, starting at Australia’s Big Bash continuing through to the Betway SA20, where he averaged just 19.8 in a disappointing Durban’s Super Giants campaign. But the flamboyant left-hander was back to his best for his new team, Kolkata Knight Riders, smashing an undefeated 97 off 61 balls this week. It was enough to steer the Knight Riders, who are the defending champions, to a convincing eight-wicket victory. “I love meeting new people, being in new environments. It is about finding your feet within the team,” De Kock said of his new team.…

With Lenny Kravitz playing a fictionalised version of himself, the rock star stands on stage announcing the Male Model of the Year Award. First up is Hansel McDonald, played by Owen Wilson, with a ridiculous montage describing him as edgy, a rebel, a maverick of the business. The villainous Mugatu, sitting and watching from the gathered movers and shakers in this world of Zoolander, leans towards his underling, the femme fatale Katinka, and whispers: “That Hansel is so hot right now.” Most recently, I found myself doing something similar, nudging a colleague in the ribs and proclaiming: “Them Springboks are so hot right now.” And I don’t mean that regarding their on-field prowess, which has undoubtedly been impressive since 2018, and especially in the last two years, but rather when…

PUBLIC Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson will bring his Ministerial Imbizo to Phoenix on Saturday to address the ongoing and “unbearable” water crisis plaguing the area. The Imbizo will take place at Greenheights Primary School. The move comes amid claims by some political figures who allege that the Imbizo was a strategic move by Macpherson to gain favour with voters ahead of the upcoming by-elections on April 16 in the Phoenix area, north of Durban. In an interview with the Daily News, Macpherson dismissed the allegations and emphasised that the event was focused on resolving the water and electricity issues affecting Phoenix. "The entire northern part of Durban is suffering from severe water shortages, electricity issues, and deteriorating public infrastructure that contribute to urban decay," Macpherson said. Suburbs in…

In a roof-top revolution for the University of Pretoria, the university now uses parking lots at its Hatfield campus for water collection. This is part of the university’s commitment to optimal stormwater management, rainwater harvesting, and reducing its environmental footprint. The parking lot project enables the collection of rainwater off a new lightweight roof that provides shade to cars parking in selected campus bays. The water collected will eventually help irrigate the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Gardens, which covers about 3.5 hectares of the campus. The project, as with many other such projects, was designed around the idea of Sustainable Drainage Systems, which allow for a more sustainable approach to stormwater management. “The opportunity to use the parking lot for rainwater harvesting came up when its roof needed replacement,”…

THE Presidential Working Group that was assigned to investigate what led to the governance collapse in eThekwini has completed its work. The team was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April last year and led by Mike Mabuyakhulu. “Yes we have finished our assessment of the eThekwini situation and have briefed the ANC on the outcomes,” said Mabuyakhulu on Tuesdsay. He said that the public would be told soon what went wrong and the solutions to remedy the situation. The group was said to have included the local government expert and former eThekwini municipal manager, Mike Sutcliffe, and former director-general in the Presidency, Dr Cassius Lubisi. Last week, there were rumours that Ramaphosa would oversee the work of eThekwini, while other top seven members would focus on other metros. This…

MEMBERS of Parliament on Wednesday voiced significant concerns regarding the potential liquidation of Ithala Bank, a financial institution regarded as a crucial facilitator of socio-economic development in KwaZulu-Natal. The debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) highlighted fears that the bank’s closure could reverse hard-won transformation gains and exacerbate the financial exclusion of historically disadvantaged communities. Ithala Bank, which has long operated under regulatory exemptions, is facing possible liquidation following an application from the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) Prudential Authority, citing persistent failures to meet essential banking licensing requirements. IFP MP and NCOP deputy chairperson Poobalan Govender, who sponsored the debate, said the future of the bank was one important decision that will speak directly to securing the future of socio-economic rights for millions of people. He said…

Leinster have been tight-lipped over whether they have brought over reinforcements for their United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks tomorrow (7.15pm kick-off). But coach John Plumtree said on Thursday that it makes no difference. “I have no more idea than the public about what team they will field against us, but we know their game model, we know they will come up with certain tricks to get an edge on us,” said Plumtree, who in 2014 was an Ireland assistant coach under Joe Schmidt, the current Wallabies coach. “We can’t predict who they will select but just as important is that we know how they play,” the big Kiwi said. “We know how they attack, we know how they defend and what pressure points will come our way, and…

The Blitzboks are bracing themselves for Uruguay’s never-say-die attitude and Australia’s cunning attacking tactics on the opening day of the Hong Kong SVNS on Friday. Because they are facing two unpredictable sides, the South Africans won’t look further than the first day of matches, but their end goal is to bag silverware in the tournament – the only one in the series where they’ve struggled to win. It’s been almost three decades since the event, but the Springbok Sevens have never claimed first place. They will hope a change of scenery, as the event moved from the Hong Kong Stadium to the 50,000-seater Kai Lak Stadium, could help them break that duck. Firstly, though, according to head coach Philip Snyman, they must get past their opening two games, starting with…