Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-02 i Daily News

The DA in eThekwini has accused both the IFP and the ANC of politicking and failing to adhere to due diligence methods in the handover of housing units that are ready for occupation. Despite the completion of the Donnelly Road housing project, located in Ward 66 (Bluff), a DA-led area, over a year ago, many rightful beneficiaries are still awaiting the handover of keys to their new homes. The Donnelly Road project is a R52-million initiative by the eThekwini Municipality in the southern Durban residential area, comprising 128 mixed-income housing units. Incensed by the delay, DA councillor Zamani Khuzwayo approached councillor Themba Mvubu, the chairperson of the city’s Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee. Khuzwayo has demanded clarity regarding the delays in delivery, as the people due to receive the homes…

In preparation for next year’s local government, Floyd Shivambu’s Mayibuye consultative forum has released a draft manifesto document for public comment. On Saturday the party’s national executive committee held a meeting where the manifesto and constitution documents were discussed. The party later published the manifesto proposal for public input. Yesterday, the party’s national spokesperson Hlumelo Biko said the manifesto document was now in circulation for the public to make their input and the party will hold a national convention to adopt the manifesto. “The national leadership has decided that we hold a national convention for the members to adopt the manifesto and the constitution, but the date has not been confirmed. We will announce the date once it is finalised by the leadership,” said Biko. A few weeks ago, the…

SUSPENDED deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant-Genenral Shadrack Sibiya, has used the tensions between acting police minister Firoz Cachalia and Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola to strengthen his fight for reinstatement. Masemola suspended Sibiya, his deputy, responsible for crime detection, of intentionally disobeying his instructions on the disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal political task team investigating high-profile murders. The task team was at the centre of the claims of political interference within the criminal justice system - claims that were made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Sibiya filed a supplementary affidavit following Cachalia’s remarks regarding the decision to return 121 dockets to the political killings task team. This was after Masemola reportedly told the media last week that the dockets were being returned from Sibiya’s office back to the task team. Cachalia said…

The taxi industry plays a critical role in the South African economy. As the government struggles to provide reliable public transport like other countries do, the taxi industry has filled that void diligently. It ferries learners to school, students to tertiary institutions, and employees to their workplaces. This is commendable. However, while this industry is the country’s lifeline when it comes to transportation of the people, it is gradually becoming a liability to the country and a threat to people’s lives. The question is: what is the political leadership doing about that? If little or nothing is being done, what are the reasons? Firstly, it should be noted that the increased number of taxis in the country has resulted in two developments. On the one hand, this increase means that…

RG Snyman is looking forward to his reunion with Jordie Barrett, but this time around the duo will face each other on Saturday when the Springboks and All Blacks clash in the first of two Rugby Championship Tests in Auckland. The Bok lock and Barrett were instrumental in Leinster winning the United Rugby Championship (URC) this past season, but there will be no friendly exchanges between the two should they face each other. It’s a crucial clash at Eden Park, where the Springboks will look to win for the first time since 1937. The hosts will look to keep their unbeaten record at the Test stadium that they’ve held since 1994. “Much is made about the records at Eden Park,” Snyman said on Monday. “However, it is always tough to…

South Africa’s leading cricketers Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, and a host of international stars will go under the hammer when the SA20 Season 4 player auction takes place in Johannesburg next week Tuesday. With more than 500 players shortlisted for the auction, the six franchises will finalise their 19-member squads ahead of the tournament, which begins on December 26. In a statement on Monday, SA20 confirmed it had received a record 800-plus player registrations – the highest in its four-year history – before the list was reduced to 541 following franchise reviews. The final auction pool comprises 300 South African cricketers and 241 overseas players. Markram, South Africa’s T20I captain, headlines the local contingent, which also features de Kock, Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil…

Taylor Swift has built a career on songs that reflect personal experiences of love, heartbreak and growth. Over nearly two decades, she has transformed these intimate themes into a billion-dollar enterprise, with lyrics that deeply resonate with listeners. Building on her well-known storytelling, Swift announced a major personal milestone last week: her engagement to NFL player Travis Kelce. She shared the news on Instagram, posting photos of the proposal that have already drawn millions of likes. Swift and Kelce began dating two years ago. Their story started when Kelce expressed interest in the singer on his football podcast and later tried to meet her backstage at the Eras Tour. At the time he was turned away, but the gesture eventually led to a relationship. Speaking on Kelce’s podcast earlier this…

Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee has raised significant concerns about the integrity of criminal justice system officials involved in unlawful activities. Abramjee’s remarks come on the heels of recent arrests implicating two police officers and a public prosecutor for drunk driving over the weekend in KwaZulu-Natal. A Port Edward SAPS policeman was arrested with an alcohol content of 1.05 mg/l, which was six times over the legal limit, and a Southport SAPS policewoman was arrested with an alcohol content of 0.85 mg/l, which is four times over the legal limit. A female public prosecutor was also arrested with a reading of 0.83mg/l. The arrests were part of the KZN Department of Transport’s battle against drinking and driving. Abramjee said: “The fact that law enforcement officers, who are meant to uphold and…

A father of four who was shot at close range by police with rubber bullets in the aftermath of a service delivery protest, which he did not partake in, is to receive R250 000 in damages. Plus, the SAPS have been ordered to also pay him a further R104 700 towards his future psychological treatment following his nightmare ordeal. Tebogo Gasetingwe was shot in the thigh and arm while he was standing outside his car after a protest, to ensure that his family inside the car was safe. He turned to the North West Division of the high court, sitting in Mahikeng, where he made his claim for R500 000 in damages from the police. The 38-year-old broke down in tears as he testified about his harrowing ordeal. The police,…

On August 10, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his government’s latest military proposal, a plan to seize what remains of Gaza City under the pretext of bringing the war to an end. The United Nations immediately warned that the plan would produce “another calamity of starvation and destruction” in a territory already on the brink of total collapse. For nearly a year, Gaza has been subjected to one of the most devastating military campaigns of the 21st century. What Netanyahu calls “the best and fastest way to end the war” is, in truth, the final phase of a genocide, a deliberate and systematic attempt to destroy a people’s ability to exist. What is unfolding in Gaza is not a conventional war between equal forces. It is the dismantling of…

Kaizer Chiefs have ridden on the wave of consistency and tactical balance to open the Betway Premiership season with a five-game unbeaten streak. Chiefs are currently second in the league standings with 13 points, level with leaders Sekhukhune United. It marks a dream start, especially considering how differently they fared last campaign. Beyond results, what has stood out most this season is the camaraderie and fighting spirit within the squad. Fullbacks Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane, who joined from arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, have slotted in seamlessly. When Monyane sealed Mako’s Player of the Match performance with a celebratory kiss after the 1-0 win over Golden Arrows – Chiefs’ fourth win in five games – the moment epitomised the togetherness in the camp. Coach Nasreddine Nabi has been quick to praise…

Hugo Broos’ nonchalance in the face of a situation that should have him pulling out strands of his silver hair is further indication of just how good a coach Bafana Bafana have got. The Belgian septuagenarian, who has restored South Africa to the top table of continental football, is on the verge of guiding the country back to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2010. But ahead of the penultimate round of qualifying, which sees African countries playing two matches each month, Broos finds himself forced to improvise, with injuries hampering his preparations. Having already announced the squad to face both Lesotho and Nigeria in Bloemfontein on Friday and next Tuesday respectively, the Africa Cup of Nations winner has had to make adjustments. At the mandatory arrivals…

Liverpool boast the only perfect Premier League record three games into the new season after Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant free-kick secured a 1-0 win over title rivals Arsenal at Anfield. Manchester City’s title challenge is already faltering after a second defeat in three games for Pep Guardiola’s men at Brighton, while Tottenham’s promising start under Thomas Frank was derailed in a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth. Manchester United claimed their first win of the season against Burnley on Saturday, needing a dramatic 97th-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty to ease scrutiny on Ruben Amorim ahead of the two-week international break. Here, we look at three talking points from the Premier League weekend. Reds show Gunners the reward of taking risks Szoboszlai said he took a “risk” with the power behind his free-kick to become…

Consumers are set to absorb the severe reverberations from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) staggering R54 billion costs recovery, due to a calculation error. This costly oversight means that electricity tariffs, which were initially set to rise by 5.4% in 2026 and 6.2% in 2027, will instead spike by 8.8% over the next two financial periods to compensate for the Nersa blunder. The new tariffs, expected to take effect in the 2026/27 financial year and into the next term (2027/28), are three times higher than the anticipated consumer inflation rate. Charles Hlebela, Nersa’s spokesperson, confirmed the tariff hike decision in a statement released last week, which prompted immediate backlash from energy experts, political parties, and others. Nersa had identified errors in its earlier price determination. The revised…

Umdoni Municipality Mayor Mbali Cele-Luthuli has strongly condemned the theft of a municipal grader machine, hindering the municipality’s efforts to enhance service delivery in rural areas. A municipal employee was allegedly assaulted during the theft. The employee escaped with minor injuries and was recovering. The municipality has opened a theft case at SAPS’ Umkomaas branch with the hope that the service delivery-oriented resource will be recovered, the perpetrators will be apprehended and face the full might of the law. Mayor Cele-Luthuli has strongly condemned the actions and said that such criminal activity endangered an employee’s life and simultaneously hindered the municipality’s efforts to advance service delivery in rural communities. “We are grateful that our employee’s life was spared in this traumatic ordeal and wish him a speedy recovery. We are,…

The KwaZulu-Natal Government has reversed its decision to place the Umkhanyakude District Municipality under administration. After months of public spats and a court battle, the provincial cabinet finally agreed to withdraw the Section 139(b) intervention which it used to curtail the powers of the municipality. Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution empowers a provincial executive to intervene in a municipality by assuming responsibility for its functions when the entity is unable to deliver on its obligations. The withdrawal was confirmed by the provincial spokesperson Bongani Gina, who said that after the cabinet considered a new presentation by the municipality, with proof of improvements in the areas the cabinet had based its decision on, it agreed that the Section 139(b) action was no longer necessary. The provincial government has now resorted to…

Diesel customers can look forward to significant savings at the pumps from today, while petrol sees a minor reduction. According to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources official fuel price adjustments for September, diesel will decrease by between 56 cents (500ppm) and 57c (50ppm), while both grades of petrol will see reductions of just 4c. This means a litre of 95 Unleaded petrol will cost R20.76 at the coast and R21.55 in Gauteng, while 93 Unleaded will retail for R21.47. The wholesale price of 50ppm diesel is expected to decline to R18.71 at the coast and R19.47 in Gauteng. Illuminating paraffin will see a 37c decrease, while LPG comes down by R1.32 per kg across most of the country, and R1.51 / kg in the Western Cape. Lower international…

THE life of an international cricketer often revolves solely around airports, buses, hotels, cricket stadiums and back again. That’s particularly evident on the subcontinent where players are viewed as demi-gods causing them not to venture out in the public domain - particularly not without state-like security in tow. It is for this reason that England tours are cherished, where cricketers revel in their obscurity by roaming the high streets, attending theatre productions and even get to go watch their favourite football teams, like Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and a couple of his teammates did on Sunday with a visit to Anfield. “The boys enjoy a UK tour. And we’ll try to make it as fun as it can be,” Bavuma quipped ahead of the first ODI against England at Headingley…

The Springbok Women, still celebrating their first-ever World Cup quarter-final qualification following a stunning win over Italy, face a formidable challenge on Sunday. Fourth-ranked France await at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton (kick-off 5.45pm), a side boasting the experience and firepower to punish any lapse. While the victory over Italy was historic, De Bruin’s side know they will need to raise their game even further to beat one of the tournament’s dark horses. Sunday’s thrilling 29-24 victory over the higher-ranked Italy in York, resulted in the Bok Women climbing two places to 10th. Should they pull off the victory over the fourth-ranked France at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday, coach Swys de Bruin’s side would top the group. De Bruin had a word of warning for those who would write…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has admitted that the club must manage a difficult situation as eight of his players depart for international duty just two weeks before the MTN8 final. The Buccaneers, who are preparing to face Stellenbosch on 13 September, will be without seven players called up by Bafana Bafana, while Abdoulaye Mariko has joined up with Guinea-Bissau. It leaves Ouaddou and his technical staff with a reduced squad during what should have been a vital period of preparation for the season’s first piece of silverware. By contrast, Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has a full complement of players to work with. Stellies have no representatives in national-team camps, allowing them an uninterrupted fortnight to refine their approach before the final. Ouaddou, however, remained philosophical about the challenge. “We…

Liverpool’s British-record capture of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak brought an end to a transfer saga that had dragged on for far too long, as the headline signing of a dramatic deadline day when a number of puzzle pieces fell into place for English Premier League sides. The Swedish forward completed his medical at the Premier League champions on Monday afternoon, after the conclusion of a deal worth about £125m (about R2.92 billion), according to Sky Sports. The lanky sharpshooter divided opinion among football fans, and incurred the wrath of supporters of the Magpies, after insisting he would never play for the club again amid claims of broken promises. He was banished from the Newcastle first-team squad as he forced through a move away. Liverpool had failed with an opening…