Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-18 i Daily News

Retro Fest Theatre veterans Lisa Bobbert and Aaron McIlroy as well as Veranda Panda’s Liam Magner and Jane Magner are back with their stage production, Retro Fest. The show offers a joyous tonic of life-affirming memories from the 70s, 80s and 90s, with a fresh new take on familiar characters and music. Theatregoers will be treated to music by eVoid, The Eagles, Boney M, Queen and Abba, among others iconics. Where: Horse Shoe Bend in KZN Midlands. When: Friday and Saturday. Doors open at 6pm. Beauty and the Beast (Jr) Ashton International College students will present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr, an adaptation of the beloved animated film. It portrays the timeless tale of a selfish prince turned beast, who learns about love and compassion through his captivity of…

THE political future of Floyd Shivambu, former secretary-general of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), hangs in the balance after a series of scathing attacks from prominent political figures. Shivambu’s removal from his position earlier this month has sparked speculation about his potential departure from the party and the possibility of starting his political venture. To fire the first salvo was ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji, who has been particularly brutal in his assessment of Shivambu, describing him as “a small boy” who lacked support. Malatji’s comments suggested that Shivambu would not be welcome in the ANC, and that the party would not survive if he were to join. “I don’t want Floyd in the ANC; I want Julius,” Malatji reportedly said, referring to EFF leader Julius Malema. Malatji further…

THE PHYSICAL and emotional well being of SAPS employees who are relied on to serve and protect communities has become a point to ponder on. This was after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that R131.5 million was paid in sick leave by the SAPS on its members during the 2023/24 financial year. The financial outlay begs serious questions about the well-being of police officers, especially as hundreds are reported to be on long-term sick leave due to unresolved mental health issues. Answering parliamentary questions, Mchunu confirmed that 618 SAPS employees have been on paid sick leave for more than six months. The persistent issue of excessive sick leave within the SAPS dates back to at least 2012, when Parliament began scrutinising the trend during oversight visits. This ongoing concern reflects…

CHARGES against accused number five in the Thabo Bester escape case, John Masukela, who is a former G4S employee, have been officially withdrawn. This revelation emerged during a court session where the State Prosecutor announced the decision, stating: “I am going to withdraw the case against one of the accused. I think we can excuse him, and he can go in peace, and that is accused number five, John Masukela.” Bester and his eight co-accused appeared before the Bloemfontein High Court yesterday for a pre-trial hearing over charges linked to his 2022 prison escape. The group is facing charges including fraud, corruption, aiding an escape, violating a corpse, and defeating the ends of justice. Bester and his partner, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, were arrested in Tanzania following his 2022 escape from…

KWAZULU-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has on Tuesday introduced a first-of-its-kind system to stop corruption and politically-connected favouritism in the procurement system, which has kept him frustrated since he took over the position. The Electronic Procurement System (e-Procurement), which was announced during a press briefing held in Pietermaritzburg, was designed to block unscrupulous tenderpreneurs from dominating government tenders that have earned them a multimillionaire or multibillionaire status. Rodgers said KwaZulu-Natal was the first province to implement the e-procurement system, which he believed was unlikely to be corrupted. “We are trying to deal with fruitless and wasteful expenditure, fraud, and corruption. “The system would be monitored and controlled by the treasury, and each department would no longer be able to do its procurement,” he said. The provincial government adopted the system…

The changing of the guard in the Springbok front row will start as early as the opening Tests of 2025, as the world champions look to build on and maintain their dominance upfront of the last couple of Rugby World Cup cycles. Looking ahead to the 2027 edition in Australia, where the Boks will look to defend their title for the second time in a row, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged that it’s time for them to bleed some new blood in the front row. However, he and his assistant coaches want to see the Bok scrum keep that consistent dominance that has been there for the last six years. With a handful of injured front-rankers and double World Cup winners reaching the age where they could start looking at…

The EFF has shared messages of condolences following the deaths of 12 people killed in a horror crash on the R34 highway in Vryheid, in KwaZulu-Natal, early yesterday morning. The members were on their way home after spending Youth Day at uMlazi, in the Durban south area, on Monday. Craig Botha of KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service said a multi-service emergency response team worked to stabilise all patients before transport to nearby medical facilities for treatment. “Nine occupants were declared dead at the scene, having sustained fatal injuries before emergency services arrived. Three critically injured patients later died at hospital despite intensive efforts by paramedics and medical staff,” Botha said. KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said he is awaiting an updated report from the Road Traffic Inspectorate…

AFTER reconfiguring the provincial executive committee four months ago to rebuild structures following last year’s humiliating defeat, the KwaZulu-Natal ANC leadership has disbanded regional executive committees across the province, which will be replaced with task teams. The decision was made recently, and the process was expected to kick off in KwaDukuza, where the party’s national leadership was expected to announce the members who would form the regional task team on Monday. ANC provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi confirmed that the party had decided to disband the regions, adding that most of them, if not all, have had their terms lapsed. “Yes, the process will affect all the regions, and we hope by the end of the month, we will have finished the process,” said Sibisi. He said the party has not…

THE identity of the Proteas teams, be it in the white-ball or Test arenas, has always been founded in resilience. But as admirable as the trait is for the team, it has somehow cost the team in many instances. After all, to show resilience, you have to take damage – absorb the first punch, instead of being the one to land the first punch or inflict the damage. In recent years, Proteas teams have worked tirelessly to address this challenge. Little did they know that the international schedule, despite it not being in favour of South Africa in terms of the number of Tests played as compared to the big three – India, England and Australia – would help accelerate their process in redefining the meaning of resilience for the…

The crash that McLaren dreaded, but that everyone else was waiting for, will not change the team’s approach, even though Lando Norris lost valuable points in Canada. Although history suggests it is unwise to allow teammates to compete for wins and drivers’ titles – a lesson McLaren learned notably with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in 1989 and 1990 – the team’s current management believe in their approach. AFP Sport looked at three things we learned from Sunday’s intriguing Canadian Grand Prix, which George Russell won for Mercedes ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, reshaping the landscape of the championship... McLaren’s internal scrap for glory Tough talks are expected in Woking this week after Sunday’s 67th-lap crash at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, when Norris accidentally drove into his McLaren teammate…

Building and maintaining depth has always been one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the Springbok Women’s side. However, under the tutelage of performance coach Swys de Bruin and his assistants Franzel September, Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Bafana Nhleko, they have ticked one box after the other on their way to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. A few blocks must still fall in place over the next month, especially on the field, but the Bok Women are set to head to the United Kingdom in August with their strongest squad ever to compete at the event. The women’s game in South Africa will not only benefit ahead of the World Cup, but also in the long run as well. De Bruin has ensured the blueprint of Springbok head coach…

Pride Month serves as both a jubilant celebration and a call to action, encouraging individuals to reflect on the significant contributions and struggles of queer and transgender people. As we embrace the vibrancy of this period, it is essential to foster conversations about inclusion, justice, and the varied experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. One of the most impactful ways to engage with these themes is through literature, which can provide insight, provoke thought, and inspire change. This season marks an opportunity for book lovers of all genres and ages to delve into a selection of powerful narratives and truths. Whether your preference leans towards fiction or non-fiction, there is something for everyone that mirrors the realities and aspirations of the LGBTQ+ community. A wide array of titles reflect fierce and…

TWO suburbs within the eThekwini Municipality have been found to have illegally connected to the water supply, which was one of the issues the city was dealing with, including beefing up security around infrastructure. The areas identified by the municipality as “off the system” were Trenance Park 3 and Luganda in Umlazi. The municipality was concerned that the Trenance Park 3 (near Verulam) system was a major problem due to the increase in illegal connections and rapid development in the area. The city plans to redesign infrastructure to meet current needs, considering changes in communities and infrastructure performance. Richard Mngoma, deputy head of operations at the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit, presented the state of water supply report at the Executive Committee meeting yesterday. Mngoma said the supply to…

One silent crisis continues to claim lives: men’s health. Across South Africa, men are suffering – and dying – in silence. The reasons? Fear, stigma and a deeply ingrained culture of avoidance when it comes to medical check-ups and health screenings. This Men’s Health Month, we are calling on men of all ages to take charge of their well-being by prioritising regular health screenings, embracing healthier habits, and speaking openly about both physical and mental health challenges. Too many men only visit a doctor when it’s already too late. We need to normalise proactive care because prevention is far more powerful than a cure. The stats speak for themselves South African men are living, on average, seven years less than women, with an average life expectancy of just around 62…

Mamelodi Sundowns have continued to grow in stature both on the domestic front and across the African continent. As they embark on yet another significant chapter in their illustrious journey, their participation in the Fifa Club World Cup stands as a powerful testament to their sustained excellence over the past decade. This tournament marks the Brazilians’ second appearance on the global stage, having previously featured in 2016 under the leadership of Pitso Mosimane, who guided the club to their first-ever CAF Champions League title earlier that year. Their debut at the Club World Cup presented a stern challenge, as they returned home with two defeats from two matches, offering them valuable lessons about football at the highest level. This time, however, they approach the competition with greater maturity and deeper…

THE World Test Championship final at Lord’s last week was once again a Proteas fast-bowler exhibition as Kagiso Rabada led from the front, returning a nine-wicket haul to help South Africa claim all 20 Australian wickets. Going into the London encounter, there were a lot of questions with regards to Rabada’s ability to stand up from the drug scandal he faced leading up to the match, and boy did the 30-year-old silence his doubters against the No 1-ranked Aussies. He took five wickets in the first innings, his 17th Test fifer, and followed with a four-for in the second as he narrowly missed out on what would’ve been a great 10-for at the Home of Cricket. In the process, Rabada broke Allan Donald’s Test record (330) to move to fourth…

The 2024/25 Premiership season has been the most fiercely contested campaign in recent memory, and what has truly stood out is the rise of young talent across the league. Many youngsters have not only stepped up, but have also played pivotal roles in their teams’ success. Here, Obakeng Meletse profiles five stand-out under-21 players who have caught the eye, and could be in serious contention for the PSL Young Player of the Season award. Puso Dithejane – TS Galaxy (20) Since swapping Kaizer Chiefs’ youth structures for TS Galaxy, Dithejane has been on an upward trajectory. His contribution has been instrumental in the Rockets’ remarkable turnaround – climbing from the bottom of the table to an impressive fifth-place finish. The young midfielder featured in 27 matches, scoring twice, and displayed…