Innholdsfortegnelse for 2026-01-05 i Daily News

Former South African ambassador to Venezuela, Bheki Gila, has dismissed the allegations of “counter-narcotics” and “narco-terrorism” used by US President Donald Trump as the primary justification to launch a major military operation against Venezuela. Instead Gila has attributed the US forces “large-scale strike” involving more than 150 aircraft, targeting military and government infrastructure in Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira to Venezuela's largest proven oil reserves. The US captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores with Trump justifying the actions as necessary to combat “narco-terrorism”, accusing Maduro of leading the “Cartel of the Suns” and facilitating the flow of drugs into the US. Maduro was indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation and weapons offences. Trump…

As the festive season comes to a close in KwaZulu-Natal, Deputy Police Commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba unveiled a comprehensive report that detailed the efforts of law enforcement in tackling crime during the bustling period. Since the launch of operations on October 15, the police have been on high alert, and implemented a strategy aimed at curbing various criminal activities and ensuring the safety of residents. The overview that was presented to Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, highlighted the strides made in the fight against crime. Makoba said that for contravening the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No 60 and 2000), 329 people were arrested. “We have arrested 429 people for possession of firearms without a licence, and for ammunition (illegal possession) there are 454,” Makoba said. “For dangerous weapons, it’s 469.…

South Africa has confirmed that all its citizens in Venezuela were safe amid heightened tensions following recent United States military action in the country. Clayson Monyela, South Africa’s Head of Public Diplomacy, said the South African Embassy in Caracas remained in direct contact with South African nationals on the ground. “The South African Embassy in Caracas (staff is safe) is in touch with all SA nationals in that country (mostly teachers) .... about 23. All accounted for and safe,” Monyela said. He added that authorities would continue to closely track developments as a precaution. “We’ll continue to monitor the situation which is currently reported as calm,” he said. The confirmation comes after the United States carried out a military operation in Venezuela, escalating tensions in a country already grappling with…

BY THE time you read this, we fervently hope our talented team has secured their place among the top eight, thereby avoiding the dreaded early exit. This continental showdown is not merely a sporting event; it serves as a crucial benchmark of South Africa’s footballing prowess and readiness for next year’s worldwide spectacle, where they will share the stage with Mexico, South Korea, and a fourth team yet to be announced. With a promising roster dotted with skilful players, Bafana Bafana possesses the talent and potential to carve through opposition defences. At the helm of this hopeful campaign is Manager Hugo Broos, who carries a unique history into this crucial match against Cameroon. Having previously coached the Indomitable Lions in 2016 and 2017, Broos’s appointment to lead Bafana Bafana saw…

It took four seasons for a Zimbabwean to make an appearance in Betway SA20, but Sikandar Raza is fast making up for lost time. The Zimbabwe T20 captain followed up his stirring debut on Friday night at Boland Park with a match-winning performance at Newlands yesterday afternoon. The 39-year-old bagged 4/13, and with the assistance of seamers Nqobani Mokoena (2/10) and Ottneil Baartman (2/8), routed MI Cape Town for just 88. This excellent bowling performance after MI Cape Town won the toss and elected to bat for the first time in five matches saw the Royals romp to a bonus-point seven-wicket victory. “It’s nice to win the game and know your contribution in a win feels more special,” Raza said. “I’ve heard great things about this tournament but due…

AUSTRALIA’S spin bowling coach, Daniel Vettori, has defended the side’s decision to field an all-seam attack in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) but insisted that spin bowling remains very important in the longer format. With veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon sidelined by a hamstring injury, Australia opted not to select a frontline spinner for the Test match in Sydney, the first time since 1888. It’s also the third time Australia has fielded an all-pace bowling attack in the ongoing series. “It’s probably just a point in time. I don’t think it’s going to be something that’s going to continue for years on end. I think spin bowling is incredibly important to Test match cricket. I think people love watching it when it’s at its absolute best…

In a move that has caused untold despair and destabilisation of the relatively peaceful global south nation, the United States recently embarked on a controversial operation that saw the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The event, unfolding in the last 48 hours, has stirred an international uproar, signalling a dangerous precedent in global diplomacy and power dynamics. Let us picture this for a second: You lie peacefully in your home, your only concern, a mundane day ahead. Suddenly, your door is kicked in, and intruders haul you from your bedroom, dragging you out in your pyjamas, mercilessly assaulting you before your family, handcuffed and thrown into the boot of a truck, whisked away to a foreign land without so much as a hint of consent. This heinous scenario captures…

Social justice and human rights activist group, Forum for South Africa (FOSA), has made a demand to the government to officially declare the country's teenage pregnancy rate a national crisis. FOSA were alarmed at the revelation made by the Social Development and Health Department that 21 children were born to teenagers aged between 15 and 19 years in the Eastern Cape on New Year's Day. The organisation's call for urgent action was further exacerbated by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) recently reporting that mothers aged 19 and younger gave birth to over 100,000 children between January 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025. Their leaders argued that the perception of “young mothers” as bearers of “blessings” must be challenged, as these pregnancies often indicate a grim reality requiring urgent societal intervention.…

It’s shark week in the Investec Champions Cup, and JP Pietersen’s charges won’t have long to nurse the deep wound inflicted on them by the Lions in the United Rugby Championship this weekend, with a mouth-watering clash against the Sale Sharks looming next Saturday. The Sharks head coach tasted victory in his first match in charge of the Durban franchise with an impressive 28-23 home win over a powerful Saracens side in round two of European rugby’s premier competition, and he will be desperate to rediscover that winning formula when his team travels to the CorpAcq Stadium in Manchester. Saturday’s one-point defeat to the Lions at Kings Park was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly after the hosts showed resilience and attacking intent in a fiercely contested derby. Pietersen was…

Pape Gueye scored twice as much-fancied Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan 3-1 on Saturday and seal a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, while 10-man Mali edged Tunisia in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Champions in 2022, Senegal are seen as the biggest threat to hosts Morocco’s dreams of winning a first AFCON title in half a century. It would have been a huge shock had the Lions of Teranga lost in Tangiers to a Sudan side almost 100 places beneath them in the FIFA rankings. Sudan reached the Cup of Nations knockout stage for just the second time since lifting the trophy in 1970 despite the country being ravaged by civil war for almost the last three years. However, an upset was on the…

New Year's Day means a new year, fresh beginnings, new hopes and dreams, and that's exactly what Olumiyo Miqi's mother got. As did hundreds of other moms around the country, with nearly a quarter of them in KwaZulu-Natal. Bonny and bouncing Olumiyo gave his mom, Thandokazi Miqi (36), the best possible start to 2026 when he was delivered at Tygerberg Hospital at 3:12am on January 1. Weighing a little under 4kg – 3 995 grams to be exact – he was reported to be in good health. Olumiyo is the third child of Miqi, a resident of Wallacedene in Kraaifontein, Western Cape. He was one of about 600 New Year babies born across South Africa on the first day of 2026, with at least 144 of the little bundles…

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has confirmed that it is forging ahead with its intention to participate in the ANC's January 8 celebrations, even as tensions between the two political allies rise. Scheduled for Saturday, January 10, at the Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg, the event marks the anniversary of the ANC's founding in 1912 and traditionally features messages of support from various alliance partners, including the Congress of the South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the SACP itself. However, the relationship between these two longstanding allies has been strained by recent political manoeuvres, most notably the SACP’s decision to contest the forthcoming local government elections independently. This move was met with a hardline response from ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, who announced that SACP members would be barred…

This article is written in response to claims that cross-border military force may be justified by domestic criminal indictments or disputed elections. Such arguments, if left unchallenged, risk normalising a dangerous erosion of the United Nations Charter’s authority at a moment when conflicts in Ukraine and rising tensions around Taiwan already place the international system under severe strain. The purpose of this piece is not to defend any government, but to defend the legal framework that protects all states from coercion by the powerful. There is one rule that prevents the world from sliding into permanent instability: states may not use force to settle political disputes. That rule sits at the heart of the UN Charter, drafted after two world wars to stop power, not…

Orlando Pirates midfielder Relebohile Mofokeng says the pressure he has faced in recent times is something he has learned to live with, using it as fuel to maintain high standards in his performances. Mofokeng and his Pirates teammates remain firmly in contention for the Betway Premiership title and look well placed to launch a serious challenge for the crown for a second successive season. A product of the Buccaneers’ youth development system, the 21-year-old has risen swiftly through the ranks and is widely viewed as one of the most exciting prospects in South African football. With competition for places at both club and international level, Mofokeng has not been a guaranteed starter in recent months, a situation compounded by an injury earlier in the campaign. However, the attacking midfielder believes…

DANI Olmo and Robert Lewandowski’s late strikes helped Barcelona snatch a 2-0 win at Espanyol on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga, with coach Hansi Flick left thanking his goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The champions were largely outplayed by their city rivals and Garcia kept them afloat in the derby clash against his former side before substitute Olmo curled home in the 86th minute. Fermin Lopez created Olmo’s goal before laying the second on a plate for another replacement, Lewandowski, as Barca claimed a ninth consecutive league victory and ended Espanyol’s own run of five wins in a row. “We didn’t deserve it, I’ll be honest, but in the end the quality we brought on the pitch after the changes decided the game,” said Flick.…

In the aftermath of their victory against Tunisia in Morocco on Saturday night, Mali reportedly splashed out 3 million francs on their ‘magic man’ to ensure that fortune swings in their favour in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Mali seemed doomed when Woyo Coulibaly was shown a red card in the 26th minute, leaving Mali to play with 10 men for most of the match against the higher-ranked Tunisia. After Tunisia took the lead in the 88th minute, Mali’s mystical effort came to the fore seven minutes into stoppage time with a sensational penalty to force the match into extra time. Mali’s conquest was one of the intriguing talking points at AFCON. Herculean drawcards In an extraordinary achievement, Mali has reached the quarter-finals of AFCON 2025 without…