Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-29 i Sunday Independent

As we plunge deeper into the digital age, a new societal affliction is taking root: digital addiction. According to the recent Hooked in 2025 survey presented by Casinos Blockchain, a staggering 95% of US adults engage with YouTube, affirming its status as the most habit-forming platform. Coupled with rising screen time across social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, this data raises critical questions about our relationship with technology and its far-reaching implications on mental health. The survey, which sampled 1 000 participants, paints a vivid picture of how behavioural dependencies are evolving, with distinct patterns fluctuating across different age groups and platforms. With nearly one in five users reporting over five hours spent daily on YouTube, and around 80% of respondents admitting to engaging frequently with social media,…

As South Africa gears up for one of its most anticipated social events, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (HDJ) 2025 promises an extravagant display of glamour, excitement and fierce competition. Taking place next Saturday, at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse, this year’s “Marvels of Mzansi” theme is set to showcase the best of South African culture and creativity, bringing together fashionistas, racing enthusiasts and socialites alike. For many, the marquee experience is as vital to the event’s allure as the thrilling horse races themselves. From lavish decorations to exquisite dining, each tent presents a unique atmosphere that reflects the theme while providing guests with an unforgettable experience. As the anticipation builds, we explore some standout marquees to look forward to this year. Halisi Afrique’s Hospitality Step into the vibrant energy of Halisi…

“JUST because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.” – Thomas Edison ONE of my favourite Japanese proverbs states: “If a man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.” I hope everyone has had enough tea to see clearly where the democratic government may have gone wrong since taking power in 1994, and not to react with unnecessary emotion to the views this piece advances. If a nation decides to change principles when what is truly needed is to tweak its techne, it will have succeeded in nothing more than throwing out the baby with the bathwater. We must embrace what we have learned from experience and tradition, as much of it comes at a dear price. We…

Without the DA, the government will continue to function as the ANC will invite other parties, which are represented in parliament, to join the Government of National Unity (GNU). In anticipation that the DA might quit, political analyst Tessa Dooms said even if the DA were to leave the 10-party GNU, the ANC would bring in eight other parties to replace it. Addressing the press briefing in Cape Town yesterday, it became clear that DA leader John Steenhuisen had no intention to announce the party's departure from the GNU. “If the ANC wants to kick the DA out for fighting against corruption, well, so be it,” said Steenhuisen. The DA had on Thursday reacted harshly to President Cyril Ramaphosa removing its MP, Andrew Whitfield, as the Trade, Industry and Competition…

THE atmosphere at this year’s US-Africa Business Summit in Luanda was far from what American delegates expected. Instead of handshakes and optimistic speeches, African leaders delivered one of the most pointed and unified rebukes Washington has faced in recent years. On the first day of the forum, African heads of state made it clear: if the US wants genuine partnership, it needs to rethink the direction it has taken under the new Trump administration. The tensions have been building for months. Under Joe Biden, relations between Africa and the US entered a period of strategic renewal. Biden’s presidency, from 2021 to 2025, was marked by efforts to strengthen economic ties, promote development partnerships, and treat African nations as equal players. His historic visit to Angola in late 2024, the first…

IN a move that could redefine regional governance in Southern Africa, South Africa’s parliamentary committees have thrown their weight behind a transformative, and contentious, vision for the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Regional Parliament. But as the draft protocol undergoes scrutiny, critical questions emerge: Will this body become a genuine legislative force, or will it remain another bureaucratic talk shop? This week, the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation and the Select Committee on Security and Justice adopted a draft report on the Sadc Protocol on the Regional Parliament, demanding sweeping changes to empower the institution. The committees, led by chairpersons Supra Mahumapelo and Jane Mananiso, insisted that the regional parliament must evolve beyond its current advisory role into a binding law-making authority. “Members strongly called for the Sadc…

“WE have heard your cries, the fees have fallen,” announced Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. A mere month into her presidency, the first female president of the sub-Saharan nation made waves this week after announcing that university fees would be scrapped from 2026. “I am pleased to announce that from the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100% subsidised by the government,” the president said during her first State of the Nation Address in Parliament. She emphasised that “no registration (or) tuition fees” would be required from any student at a public university or technical college. This is a particularly significant achievement by Nandi-Ndaitwah, considering the #FeesMustFall movement across neighbouring South Africa, a student-led campaign that drew global acclaim as a powerful call for decolonised and affordable education.…

Consultation processes and efforts to extend KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park into Mozambique as a Transboundary World Heritage Site are underway. This was one of the big six priorities announced by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Minister Dion George during the budget vote on Friday. George referred to KISS – Kruger National Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Icon Status Strategy, which the DFFE is elevating into engines of ecological protection, job creation, inclusive tourism, and community empowerment. George added that iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is advancing its commercialisation strategy, with 62 contracts already signed and new revenue from tourism concessionaires set to flow directly to the entity from 1 September 2025. “South Africa’s biodiversity is a powerful engine for development. The revised National…

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has refuted allegations of a substantial backlog of forensic exhibits in the South African Police Service (SAPS) laboratories. This after EFF MP Rebecca Mohlala, EFF member in parliament, had asked about what concrete steps the police took to address the persistent and massive DNA backlog that continued to delay justice. This included victims of rape and femicide amid thousands of forensic samples remain unprocessed for years, perpetrators remain at large within communities and affected families are left in a prolonged state of uncertainty. “How does the SAPS justify the ongoing backlog crisis when the lives and dignity of women urgently depend on timely forensic intervention?” Mohlala asked. Mchunu said the assertion that there was a persistent and massive backlog of exhibits at the police forensic science…

On June 26, 1955, the Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown, Soweto, in Johannesburg. This document envisioned a free South Africa post-apartheid. It gave hope of a better future where people’s dignity would be restored, and racial stratification be a thing of the past. This gave hope for a better life for all South Africans. Of the 10 clauses in the Freedom Charter as the focal points, a few stood out and have been ventilated over the years. The first clause stated that “the people shall govern”. This assumed that a government of the people would be constituted, not the apartheid government which represented a white minority. The fourth promise was that “the land shall be shared among those who work it”. Implicit in this vision was that the black…

South African wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso “KG” Montjane is gearing up for the defence of her Wimbledon doubles title, alongside Japanese partner Yui Kamiji, and is hoping for back-to-back Grand Slam wins. KG is keen to carry the momentum from the defence of their French Open title on the clay of Roland Garros onto the grass courts of the All England Club. The title in Paris was the fourth Grand Slam win for the South African tennis superstar who recently celebrated her 39th birthday. They had to dig deep to see off the Chinese pairing of Xiaohui Li and Ziying Wang in the women’s doubles final, coming back from a set down to secure a 4-6 7-5 (10-7) victory. Her major victories also include the 2023 US Open. While she…

Manchester City's statement 5-2 hammering of Juventus in their final group stage game at the Club World Cup on Thursday left new captain Bernardo Silva purring over the new-look team's future. After a frustrating trophyless season last term, City delivered a performance that indicated they have a real chance of battling for the title of world champions in New Jersey on July 13. “We've always been potential winners in all competitions that we play. Obviously it's just one game, but we're happy that the performance was the way it was. “It shows that we're improving, we're coming back to the levels and to the standards that we got people used to at this club,” said Silva. “That's good. That's a good sign for next season. Not only for this competition,…

In an age where mass production dominates the consumer landscape, House of Lemba is carving out a niche in the jewellery industry that resonates with authenticity and cultural depth. Founded by Bernice Pearl Dickson, this bespoke jewellery brand offers a unique blend of creativity and heritage, drawing from her rich cultural background and a deep-seated fascination with natural diamonds and gold. At 48 years old, Bernice’s journey is both inspiring and indicative of the challenges many entrepreneurs, particularly black female business owners, face in South Africa. Born on December 7, 1976 in the township of Mabopane, Pretoria, Dickson embodies the spirit of resilience that has come to define the Lemba community, known for their rich traditions and entrepreneurial spirit. Her childhood was steeped in family tales of business ventures, including…

In 1996, Pastor Baker led the chant of a group of Christians protesting at the Joburg Pride, as he had done on previous occasions, holding up the usual “Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve” posters, while clutching and preaching from his Bible. A bunch of queens armed with posters bearing our Tree Emblem and Preamble to our Constitution leapt onto a float at Library Gardens in a fabulous flurry, thrusting the posters in front of themselves, forward and backward, and getting the whole crowd to chant back: “God loves me, and he knows I'm gay!” Pure genius If you didn't know, Gay is an acronym for “Good As You”. It was not the first Pride event I had ever attended, but it was certainly light years apart from the…

THE annual BRICS Summit, to be attended by heads of state, takes place in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro in July. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is expanding at light speed. At the 2023 BRICS Summit in South Africa, six more countries were accepted as members of BRICS. They were Ethiopia, Egypt, UAE, Iran, Qatar and Argentina. Argentina pulled out soon afterwards following an electoral victory by a pro-West Libertarian Party led by President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires. Yet as things stand, up to 40 countries are knocking on the door of BRICS. They are led by the great Asian regional powerhouse, Indonesia. I paint a picture of the role of BRICS in global affairs to illustrate its emergence as a power of great significance. The BRICS…

Justice has been served for a KwaZulu-Natal teenager who was repeatedly raped by her father when she was just 12 years old. The Empangeni Regional Court sentenced the 39-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape on diverse occasions of his biological daughter in December 2020 in the Ndabayakhe area. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the accused and the complainant’s mother were separated and did not live together. She said in December 2020, the complainant and her brother went to visit the accused at his home. He was married and had two other children. “At night, the complainant slept on a bed while her brother slept on a sponge on the floor, and the accused would go into the room and rape her. When she attempted…

SOUTH Africa’s water crisis is spiralling out of control, with nearly half the country’s drinking water now unsafe, wastewater treatment plants collapsing, and billions of rand owed by bankrupt municipalities. A damning presentation to Parliament’s Select Committee on Water and Sanitation this week revealed a system in freefall, where corruption, incompetence, and neglect have pushed the nation to the brink of a full-blown public health disaster. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) admitted that nearly half of the country’s water supply systems failed basic safety standards, a shocking increase from just 5% 10 years ago. The Blue Drop Report for 2023 painted a grim picture: Gauteng, with the most skilled personnel, has the best-performing systems, while the Northern Cape, plagued by severe staff shortages, had the worst. Meanwhile, a…

As Mandela Day approaches, corporate South Africa prepares for the annual routine: 67 minutes of service, feel-good social media posts, and the collective sense that business is contributing to social change. “But what happens on 19 July?” asks Palesa Mokomele, Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa. She continues, “Mandela Day stirs hearts and headlines, but complex social challenges won’t be solved in 67 minutes. What’s needed is consistent, year-round engagement that addresses root causes. Fortunately, Corporate South Africa is already evolving.” South African companies invested R12.7 billion in social initiatives last year, with just 100 companies accounting for 76% of that spending. The landscape is, however, shifting from one-off donations toward deeper partnerships. Mokomele explains that companies are leveraging their full resources, not just funding, but expertise,…

IN a rapidly changing world where social, environmental, and economic challenges intersect, organisations are under increasing pressure to not only do good but to prove it. The ability to scale their impact meaningfully depends on how well a company can learn from its actions, adapt to new insights, and stay accountable to its goals. At the heart of this approach lies a critical, often underleveraged, tool — monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). Since 2018, the Vodacom Foundation has embedded MEL into the core of our social investment work. This has allowed us to move beyond traditional philanthropic models and embrace a more developmental, evidence-based and evolving approach that informs decision-making and prioritises impact and learning over optics. One common pitfall organisations face is treating MEL as an administrative task to…

A northern KwaZulu-Natal man has been handed a sentence of life in prison for killing his “secret” girlfriend. The Vryheid Regional Court sentenced Innocent Fanyane Dubazane, 51, on Friday for the murder of Nonsikelelo Nqobile Xaba, 45, in February 2024 in the Mondlo area. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the pair were in a relationship, but they had kept it a secret from their families. On February 8, last year, Xaba’s body was discovered in a ditch in the C section area of Mondlo. “The body was covered with a duvet cover and shade netting. The deceased was fully clothed, but she did not have shoes on. It appeared that she was brutally assaulted with a blunt object,” said Ramkisson - Kara. She said Xaba was…

A DAMNING new report by UNAIDS revealed that South Africa’s failure to adequately invest in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for young people was costing the nation a staggering $33.7 billion (about R599bn) over a cohort’s lifetime, equivalent to 10.1% of the country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP). The report, titled The Cost of Inaction and funded by the Swedish government, painted a grim picture of how policy failures in adolescent health were creating long-term economic consequences that far outweigh the costs of intervention. The numbers told a devastating story. South Africa’s cost of inaction on youth SRHR exceeded the country’s entire annual education budget and was more than double its health budget. “For every R100 spent in the country over a year, the cost of inaction on…

MKP, Shivambu tussle signs of a deeper conflict Reactions to and commentary on Floyd Shivambu’s press conference have come fast and furiously from many quarters. This is understandable. First, Shivambu is no ordinary politician. He was part of the formidable leadership of the ANC Youth League led by Julius Malema. The two were pivotal in the formation of EFF, its policy framework, and its electoral appeal. Shivambu’s political shift to the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) after the 2024 national election caused a stir. His position as secretary-general placed him at the hub of the new party. As a person of considerable stature in all of these political parties, with ready access to confidential decision-making and information, he was regarded as a trusted comrade. As a result, many were shocked…

The global shocks Africa has had to deal with have been coming fast and furiously in recent years. The Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the re-election of Donald Trump as the US president in 2024 are some of the external shocks that have had a massive impact on Africa’s economic standing and prospects. As the continent was still trying to find its feet from the devastation caused by these geopolitical wrecking balls, another, potentially more devastating one, suddenly emerged on the horizon. On June 14, the world woke up to the news of Israel’s surprise attack on its long-time foe, Iran in the so-called Operation Rising Lion. The Jewish state deployed hundreds of its warplanes over the Iranian skies dropping bombs on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and other military…

How Africa can foster sustainable diplomacy amid global trade wars The abrupt exit of Donald Trump from the G7 Summit in Canada, without having side meetings with Global South leaders from South Africa, India et al, and this week’s Nato Summit where core nations committed to a 5% of GDP spending on Defence amid Trump tariffs has cemented ‘nationalism as the new normal.’ Meanwhile, 9 July is a key date when Trump tariffs kick in and will further erode African nations – who face high costs of capital and many face social conflicts amid multiple cost of living crises facing the continent. In this context, South Africa should develop a smart agile and sustainable diplomacy rooted in both national interest and continental solidarity. Traditional blocks and alliances…

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce punched her ticket to a ninth World Championships with a third-placed finish in the 100m at the Jamaican national athletics trials on Friday. Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and 10-time world champion, clocked 10.91sec to finish third in the women's 100m final and secure a berth for the World Championships in Tokyo in September. Tina Clayton won her first national title in a personal best of 10.81 with reigning 200m world champion Shericka Jackson second in 10.88. Tia Clayton, twin sister of Tina, was fastest in the semi-finals but pulled up with an apparent injury in the final. Fraser-Pryce won her first world championships medal at Osaka in 2007 - a silver in the 4x100m relay -- before going on to win 10 world titles, five of…

One of the major pillars of the South African economy, the tourism sector, has seen some substantial growth year-on-year According to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), tourism accommodation for April 2025 indicated that total income for the tourist accommodation industry increased by 9.8% in April 2025 compared with April 2024. The tourism and hospitality sector have welcomed the news as a huge positive for the sector. Stats SA said that measured in nominal terms (current prices), total income for the tourist accommodation industry increased by 9.8% in April 2025 compared with April 2024. “Income from accommodation increased by 14.8% year-on-year in April 2025, the result of a 4.5% increase in the number of stay unit nights sold and a 9.9% increase in the average income per stay unit night sold. In…

THE rubric of robust statistical measures is essential for evaluating policies and plans within the context of democratic governance. A recent Sunday Independent article questioned the relevance of the Gini coefficient as a measure of inequality in South Africa, describing it as outdated, narrow, and even politically manipulative. It argued that the Gini fails to account for social grants, informal economies, and the growing black middle class, concluding that we must retire it and replace it with a new, locally informed metric. The critique is welcome and necessary. As Statistician-General, I support public scrutiny of the tools we use to measure our society. But I caution against discarding useful instruments because they are imperfect. The Gini coefficient is not the full story of inequality in South Africa, but it…

AS South Africa grapples with deepening inequalities and a faltering public service, the recently adopted Budget Vote Reports for 2025 expose a troubling reality: while the government touts nominal increases in budget allocations, the harsh truth reveals a significant erosion of real-term funding. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Public Service Commission (PSC), and National School of Governance (NSG) all face budget cuts that threaten to undermine service delivery and exacerbate existing disparities. In a virtual meeting this week, the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, chaired by the DA’s Jan Naudé De Villiers, confronted these critical issues head-on. The reports presented revealed a complex interplay between budget allocations and the pressing needs of public service delivery. Julius Ngoepe, the committee content advisor, noted that the overall…

IN Sean O’Casey’s scathing definition, universities have ignominiously become “places where they polish pebbles and dim diamonds”. Thomas Jefferson, one of history’s most persuasive and poetic writers, left an enduring vision for higher education. His words, inscribed on the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, remain resonant: “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilisation, it expects what never was and never will be.” Jefferson’s ideas were revolutionary, not just in curriculum or architectural design, but in his belief that universities should enshrine “the illimitable freedom of the human mind… for here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” He imagined institutions that extended beyond classrooms,…

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has dismissed calls for an independent forensic audit into the Eastern Cape Education Department’s expenditure of infrastructure funds. Instead, Gwarube said her department was taking measures to address weaknesses identified that caused infrastructure crisis in the province. “There are currently no plans by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to commission an independent forensic audit of the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG) or Equitable Share spending in the Eastern Cape for the period since 1 January 2019. “However, the DBE maintains infrastructure planning and performance information through the Infrastructure Reporting Model and the Education Facilities Management System (EFMS),” she said. Gwarube said the systems contained annual allocations and expenditure performance per infrastructure funding stream, a record of contractors awarded infrastructure projects, and estimated and actual completion…

Durban’s Clairwood residents were informed this week about how a multimodal transport network and the Cato Ridge inland dry port could help prevent the suburb from becoming a logistics hub. Warwick Lord, CEO of Cato Ridge Inland Port, gave a presentation to residents in Clairwood on Friday titled: “Catalyst for the increased efficiency and sustainability of trade in Sub-Saharan Africa’. Desmond D’Sa, co-ordinator of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), called for the meeting. The municipality consulted stakeholders on amending the Land Use Scheme in Clairwood to Special Zone 40: Logistics. This aligned with the Local Area Plan (LAP) adopted by the City in 2014. Lord explained that multimodal transport involved using more than one mode of transport to move goods and offered significant benefits, including lower transportation costs,…

It may not be an official Test match, but there is a lot to play for when the Springboks run out against the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. Here are five Boks who could catch the eye of coach Rassie Erasmus for more important matters later in the season… Morné van den Berg The Bok scrumhalf situation is a bit up-in-the-air at the moment. First-choice No 9 Grant Williams is still injured, Jaden Hendrikse was dropped, and Embrose Papier was ignored despite a stellar season with the Bulls. And while Erasmus had the experienced duo of Cobus Reinach and Faf de Klerk to turn to, he has opted for Lions No 9 Van den Berg to start against the Barbarians. Known for his pace across the ground, Van…

After one season in Japan, Springbok winger Kurt-Lee feels his game has grown significantly as he prepares for another blockbuster international season with the world champions. The 27-year-old was part of the squad that started the first game of the season against the Barbarians yesterday evening in Cape Town as they looked to lay the perfect platform for the international season. The Springboks will play 13 Tests this year, with another one in the making but yet to be confirmed. Arendse, who played for the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynoboars, resumed his deadly wing partnership with Kolbe against the Baabaas yesterday evening. However, it was against the likes of his winger partner (Tokyo Sungoliath) and fellow Boks like Jasper Wiese ( Urayasu D-Rocks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), and Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs)…

The Golden Fireballs have scorched through the first two rounds of the Telkom Netball League unbeaten, but know that they can’t go off the boil in Power Week 3 if they are to win the title. The Joburg side, who have won all nine matches so far at Sun City in North West, were in a similarly strong position in the past two seasons of the country's premier netball competition. Under the mentorship of former Proteas and SA Under-21s coach Dr Elsje Jordaan, assisted by former Proteas skipper Bongi Msomi, they hope to finally add to their 2022 title. “This is my fourth year with the Fireballs. We won it in 2022 when I just took over and they were actually a struggling team,” Jordaan told Independent Media Sport. “In…

Orlando Pirates have rolled the dice again. Three years ago, when Orlando Pirates made the controversial choice to recruit relatively unknown Spaniard Jose Riveiro as their head coach, scepticism flooded sports forums. Many questioned the wisdom of one of Africa's most storied clubs looking to Finland's First Division for inspiration, especially considering the nation's modest ranking of 69th in the world. Fast forward to this week, and the sea of doubt has resurfaced, but this time directed at the new head coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou. Riveiro's tenure did not start very well, but instead of firing him, Pirates persevered with him, much to the disgust of the club's demanding supporters who mocked him by labelling him a 'plumber'. This is a common term used by locals as a veiled reference to…

Mamelodi Sundowns may have exited the Fifa Club World Cup at the group stages, but their campaign in the United States did more than just make up the numbers — it made a statement. Despite falling short of the knockout rounds, their performance and presence on the global stage could be seen as a major win, not just for the club, but potentially for South African football at large. The Betway Premiership champions ended their tournament with four points from three matches — a 1-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai, a narrow 4-3 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, and a goalless draw with Fluminense. While that wasn’t enough to book a place in the last 16, Sundowns walked away with their heads held high and their bank account significantly heavier. The club…