Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-11-02 i Sunday Independent

Some fashion items come and go, but then there are the true classics. Right up there with a perfect pair of jeans is the effortlessly chic white dress. It embodies simplicity, freshness, and instant polish, and honestly, you can never go wrong having one (or two) hanging in your closet.​ Why does this seemingly simple garment hold such power? It all comes down to its incredible versatility and timeless appeal. White goes with everything. It’s the perfect backdrop for colourful accessories, bold jewellery, or even just a killer pair of shoes. White reflects light, giving your skin a beautiful, sun-kissed glow. It instantly makes you look and feel fresh and vibrant. While we often associate it with summer, a white dress transitions beautifully. Now that we still have a few…

Scopa uncovers unlawful practices and ministerial complicity THE Road Accident Fund (RAF), tasked with protecting millions of road-crash victims, is facing its worst financial and governance crisis in history, as Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) this week confirmed grave unlawful conduct within the RAF, validating more than a decade of warnings from the Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (Aprav). The findings reveal staggering manipulations of liabilities, illegal accounting practices, and the erasure of 80 000 legitimate claims, amounting to hidden liabilities of R230 billion. This unprecedented crisis has denied justice to hundreds of thousands of South Africans. In 2021, chartered accounting firm Morar Incorporated was appointed to advise the RAF on whether to change its accounting policy from insurance contracts to social benefits under International…

Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of corruption within the criminal justice system will call Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to testify, as it is poised to request an extension of its mandate beyond the looming November 28 deadline. During a briefing on Wednesday night, the committee discussed the witnesses scheduled to give evidence, saying it has yet to consider public submissions. Advocate Norman Arendse, SC, said Matlala is one of the significant figures to be called to testify. “He is proposed to be called but he is either unavailable or further dates for evidence are not available. We will have to subpoena him to come give evidence,” Arendse said. Matlala, now detained at the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Security Prison as he awaits trial for conspiring to commit murder, was implicated in…

South Africa is witnessing a pivotal moment in the quest for justice as the Madlanga Commission and the Parliament’s ad hoc committee probe deep-rooted police corruption that has long obstructed investigations into unresolved murder cases across the country. Both the Madlanga Commission and the parliament’s ad hoc committee are examining allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal SAPS head General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who implicated high-ranking officials in orchestrating the dismantling of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) - a specialised unit charged with investigating politically motivated murders. Recent testimonies have exposed a disturbing nexus of collusion and interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS), revealing how politically motivated murders and organised crime killings have been allowed to go unsolved for years. At this week’s session of the Madlanga Commission, a protected witness…

THE Pietermaritzburg High Court has ruled that the precautionary suspension of Sibusiso Madonsela, uMngeni-uThukela Water’s chief governance and compliance officer, was unlawful. Madonsela's suspension, which occurred on October 9, 2025, stemmed from his refusal to approve a sponsorship request for a New York Marathon in October 2024. The request had been made by a staff member, Zandile Mhlongo, who had sought the sponsorship under the terms of the uMngeni-uThukela Water Sponsorship and Donation policy. “I will suggest that if we want to support the initiative, we must issue a call to employees and choose from a list of employees so as not to be seen to be favouring some over others. And we must have a separate budget for such,” Madonsela had said, declining the sponsorship. Madonsela, who was…

When a drunk driver hit Sipho Mdluli’s taxi in 2021, his left leg was shattered and his livelihood disappeared overnight. Three years later, he’s still waiting for the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to pay his multi-million rand claim, and the impact of being jobless has also shattered his fledgling family. “My case is handled by lawyers, and every time I check on them, they say my case was approved, but we have not received payment. Now I survive by borrowing from my extended family to survive.” Mdluli’s story mirrors thousands of others caught in South Africa’s most important social compensation scheme — a safety net meant to protect every driver, passenger and pedestrian. Today, that safety net is breaking apart. The RAF was established to ensure that anyone injured or…

The DA has released its economic policy document, “The DA’s Plan to Turbocharge the Economy”, which is widely viewed as an antithesis to black economic empowerment (BEE) and a sharp ideological departure from the ANC’s developmental policy framework implemented over the past 30 years. The document advances a liberal economic thesis grounded in deregulation, market openness and fiscal restraint. Yet beneath its managerial confidence lies a deeper ideological ambition – to redefine transformation by erasing race from the grammar of justice. While the DA’s model may accelerate efficiency, it risks reproducing the structural inequalities that have haunted South Africa since 1910. It situates this argument within the intellectual interventions of Moeletsi Mbeki, Duma Gqubule and William Gumede, whose analyses reveal the moral, structural and political failures of BEE. South Africa’s…

Protests rock Cameroon as its president 1982, Paul Biya, the world’s oldest and longest-serving head of state at the age of 92, is set to be sworn in for another seven-year-long term that will last until he is almost 100 years old. On Monday, October 27, the Constitutional Council proclaimed him the winner of the election held on October 12, with 53.66% of the votes, ahead of Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s 35.19%. Ahead of this announcement last Sunday, Tchiroma’s supporters took to the streets in Cameroon’s commercial capital, Douala, in response to his call for protest, alleging that votes were being manipulated, and demanding that his victory be acknowledged. As the protests spread to several neighbourhoods of the city, the police used force, including live ammunition, to disperse the crowd, shooting…

Proteas bowling consultant Albie Morkel says South Africa have no excuses after being thoroughly outplayed by Pakistan in Friday night’s nine-wicket defeat in Lahore, and insists they will need to execute far better in yesterday’s T20 International series decider at the same venue. After winning the opening match of the three-game series, the Proteas were skittled for just 110 at the Gaddafi Stadium, with Pakistan chasing down the target with ease to level the series 1-1. Morkel admitted that the home side were “simply better on the night”. “After our first good game we expected to wrap up the series today. It didn’t happen and you can’t sugar-coat it. I though the Pakistani team bowled really well today – a lot better than the last game. They attacked the wickets,…

India women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur lauded the Proteas women for having a balanced team, but insists that her team is charged for the clash between the two teams in the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Navi Mumbai today. India women have lost three matches in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup thus far, and one of those matches was against the Laura Wolvaardt-led South Africa women’s side. India lost by three wickets with seven balls remaining, courtesy of heroics from Proteas women’s all-rounders Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon. That loss has taught India that the Proteas are a balanced side with depth in the batting department and quality in the bowling attack. Kaur lauded South Africa for recovering from their loss against England in…

Siwelele FC are a side riding high on confidence after notching one of their standout results of the season—a determined 1-0 win over high-flying Sekhukhune United at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Friday night. Siviwe Magidigidi produced the decisive moment with a spectacular long-range second-half strike that handed the Bloemfontein outfit their second victory in three matches. The result lifted them to 12th place on the table, giving them valuable breathing space from the relegation zone for the first time since the opening week of the campaign. The Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium has once again proven a reliable home ground for Lehlohonolo Seema’s side, who have collected all three of their league wins this season at the venue. Their form there has been central to their climb up the…

Woolworths Beauty has reported a 14.7% increase in year-on-year growth, with over one million South African customers now engaging with its beauty offering. The figures were disclosed during the retailer’s latest financial results presentation, which highlighted the division’s expansion across skincare, fragrance, colour cosmetics, and haircare. The company’s strategic focus on experience-led retail was reflected in the return of Summer Escape, held at Summer Place in Hyde Park. Now in its second year, the event drew a curated guest list of influencers, media professionals, top customers and competition winners. No tickets were sold to the public. “This year marks an exciting step forward for Woolworths Beauty. Summer Escape is not just about celebrating our products, but about connecting with our community,” said Julie Maggs, general manager for Beauty at Woolworths.…

By any measure, Sir Anthony Hopkins has lived a life worthy of cinema from his haunting portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs to his Oscar-winning role in The Father. But beyond the spotlight, behind the awards and acclaim, lies a quieter, more human story, one about love, loss, forgiveness, and the complicated ties that bind families together. Now 87, the legendary Welsh actor is preparing to release his memoir We Did Ok, Kid, a deeply personal reflection on the chaos, beauty, and heartbreak of his life off-screen. In excerpts shared by The Daily Mail, he opens up about his first marriage, his long battle with alcoholism, and the deep regrets that followed, particularly his estrangement from his only child, Abigail Hopkins. The fracture that never quite…

This week’s sudden bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) at the instruction of the Jewish State’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves much to be desired. It is an appalling act of genocidal intent made a lot worse by revelations that Netanyahu had given the White House prior warning of the bombardment, and received a go-ahead by commission or omission. The out-of-the-blue mass killings that claimed 104 lives and destruction of the little that is left of the Gaza Strip were a flagrant violation of the ceasefire that has halted two years of genocide, albeit momentarily. Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement that on October 2023 launched a rare, spectacular violent attack inside Israeli territory has been in subsequent rebuke by the IDF thoroughly vanquished. Gaza Strip, the once…

Controversial attempted murder accused businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala told police investigators that his bank statements provide evidence that he bankrolled suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's ANC presidential ambitions through one of fixer Brown Mogotsi's companies. The Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry this week heard recordings of interviews with Matlala. The interview took place on May 14 this year with police investigators identified only as Witnesses C, B, and A, at the commission led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The investigation focused on allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption within the criminal justice system. During the interview, the officers and Matlala discussed funding Mchunu's ANC January 8 anniversary celebration delegates to Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Matlala said he had evidence through bank account statements showing the funding for Mchunu's…

IF Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) has truly benefited and transformed the lives of black people, why is its loudest advocacy coming from the likes of Khusela Diko and Fikile Mbalula from the ANC NEC, and not from the millions of real black entrepreneurs who engage with this policy daily? The answer is evident. Authentic black entrepreneurs have seen how these political leaders have systematically abused BBBEE for their own nefarious reasons and not for the people they claim the policy empowers. In the three decades since South Africa’s democratic dawn, BBBEE has been heralded as the cornerstone of economic redress for the black majority. Yet, as we confront the stark realities of persistent poverty, unemployment, and inequality among black South Africans, a deeper interrogation reveals BBBEE not as a…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said on Thursday that the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will shed more light on what needed to be done to strengthen the criminal justice system as a whole. Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly, Mashatile refrained from commenting about the commission and parliamentary inquiry, but said they we will continue to strengthen the Crime Intelligence division to counter organised crime against terrorism and violent criminality in hotspot areas through structural and technological interventions. Mashatile said some of the revelations emerging from the Madlanga Commission revealed exactly how much was needed to do to clean up policing. “It is important that we, as Cabinet, should ensure that the leadership of the police and other…

THE year 2015 was a landmark moment for multilateralism. In September, leaders from around the world adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, charting a roadmap to a just and sustainable future. And in December, world leaders once again came together to adopt the Paris Agreement, collectively committing to tackle global warming. In 2025, the pendulum has swung to the opposite side. We are in the midst of rising nationalism and weakening multilateralism. Countries are falling dramatically short on their commitments under both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Trade wars are spurring anger and mistrust among nations. The number of state-based armed conflicts has reached a new high. But 2025 also presents opportunities for countries to recommit to the purposes and principles of the United Nations and achieve…

The Khulumani Support Group (KSG) has blamed the government for delaying the distribution of “R2 billion” to families of struggle icons, including Inkosi Albert Luthuli, killed by apartheid operatives. The group, which is fighting for apartheid victims, claims that the money, which is the reparation for the apartheid atrocities, has been sitting idle for years in the President's Fund waiting for the Department of Justice (DoJ) to come up with a reparation policy. However, the DoJ said over R882.7 million has already been disbursed to the victims. KSG National Director Dr Marjorie Jobson made the allegations when she was reacting to the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling that ANC president-general Inkosi Albert Luthuli was actually killed by apartheid law enforcement. Judge Nompumelelo Radebe released the outcome of the National Prosecuting Authority-led…

Collins Letsoalo was hailed as the ideal “cleaner” when he became CEO of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in September 2019, a technocrat tasked with fixing one of South Africa’s most troubled state entities. Six years later, he is suspended, under investigation, and at the centre of a political and legal storm — raising the question: was this bold reform run amok, or a clash between accountability and power? This was not Letsoalo’s first assignment at a troubled organisation. A seasoned public-sector executive, he had previously been tasked with turning around failing state institutions and held senior positions at both the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). In 2016, Letsoalo was appointed acting CEO of Prasa but was dismissed months later amid…

The decision by the ANC, DA and the IFP to work together at the national government level following the 2024 general election paved the way for the IFP’s usurpation of power in KZN from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed that this decision had no bearing in KZN. However, in the same statement, Hlabisa stated that as the IFP, they had already proposed the name of Thamsanqa Ntuli to be the premier candidate, a proposal both the ANC and the DA supported. When these parties convinced the NFP to join them, this shut the door for the MKP to use its majority to lead the province. Eventually, the IFP’s 15 seats, the ANC’s 14 seats, the DA’s 11 seats, and the NFP’s one seat gave this…

Dancing comes naturally to most South Africans. When we hear music, our bodies instinctively move to the beat. Our music and dance are among our most authentic exports – from the Hamba Nawe and Jerusalema to the more recent Push to Start dance. So it was not unusual to see President Cyril Ramaphosa moving gracefully on a dance floor in Malaysia. It was a light-hearted moment, but also a subtle advancement of cultural diplomacy – a deliberate effort to establish a broader rhythm in international trade. The president’s attendance at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East Asian summits, which followed official trips to Indonesia and Vietnam, marked a significant moment in South Africa’s trade diplomacy. The trip underscored a clear strategic message: South Africa is…

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef says his side’s narrow 1-0 victory over Durban City was a show of character and mental resilience, coming just days after their Confederation Cup win last weekend. A late header from Portuguese born Fabio Silva secured all three points for Amakhosi at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night, ending a four-match winless streak in the Betway Premiership and lifting them to third on the log. Ben Youssef admitted the clash was always going to be tricky after their emotional continental success, with fatigue and focus both key factors. “We expected that this game could be tough for us,” he said. “We expected that it would be difficult to keep the same performance after the cup game and qualifying for the group stage.” The…

IT is alien to Laura Wolvaardt’s nature to issue rallying cries. She is, by her own admission, loath to speak in front of a group because “it doesn’t come super naturally to me”. She prefers to let others like coach Mandla Mashimbyi do the Coach Carter-like Hollywood blockbuster dressing room motivational talks. This should not be confused though with a lack of ambition or determination. Wolvaardt is fiercely competitive and possesses an inner core of steel that leads by tenacious example through her inspirational deeds. Just re-watch her epic semi-final innings against England. But yesterday, on the eve of the Proteas’ Women’s first-ever appearance in a World Cup final, she had a simple message to her team. “Mandla normally does the really inspirational stuff, the you're carrying your country type…

It is a great honour for me to address this distinguished gathering. The East Asia Summit is a vital platform for strategic dialogue and cooperation on the most pressing political, security, and economic challenges of our time. Our participation reflects our commitment to multilateralism, regionalism, and the strengthening of South-South cooperation. We are proud to have joined ASEAN as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 2023, which affirms our shared commitment to peace, prosperity, and inclusive development. The ASEAN ethos of mutual upliftment and regional solidarity is one we share. It resonates with South Africa’s values and those embedded in the African Union. The world is undergoing profound change and uncertainty. We face crises of climate change, inequality, and geopolitical instability. Rising protectionism, supply chain disruptions, and unequal access to markets…

The troubled Emfuleni Local Municipality in the Vaal in Gauteng has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorise a wide-ranging Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into its affairs. Emfuleni Mayor Sipho Radebe this week informed Ramaphosa and copied Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and the province’s Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Jacob Mamabolo about the dire state of the municipality. Radebe’s letter follows complaints received over a week ago from the Roshnee community in Vereeniging regarding serious allegations of unlawful and unfair electricity disconnections, inaccurate billing, and claims of bribery and extortion involving municipal officials. He promised that the municipality was committed to addressing the Roshnee community matters with the urgency they deserve. According to Radebe, the community has been unhappy with…

A MAN described by the Durban High Court as a belligerent individual who had no regard for human life has been handed five life sentences for a shooting spree that left five people dead in the Umlazi Uganda informal settlement. Judge Rithy Singh sentenced 31-year-old Siphamandla ‘Chillies’ Gumede to life imprisonment for each of the five murders committed on November 13, 2023. The victims were Nontlomelo Golumbiza, Nandipha Ndabeni, Nkosinathi Phutheni, Cebolenkosi Mbuzeleni Zwane, and Mabongi Nkwanyana. In addition to the murder sentences, Gumede received 10 years' imprisonment for attempted murder and 15 years' imprisonment each for two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. During the trial, the court heard that on the night of the attack, around 20:30, Gumede and his unknown accomplices first targeted the home of Golumbiza…

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has dared the National Coloured Congress (NCC) Parliament member Fadiel Adams to do what he likes about his testimony at the Madlanga Commission and the Ad Hoc Committee. During his testimony, Mkhwanazi testified that Adams handled classified State information recklessly. He also said former police minister Bheki Cele had requested money from alleged organised crime boss, Vusi 'Cat' Matlala. Although Mkhwanazi later withdrew his testimony against Cele, saying it was an error, Adams opened a case of perjury against him. The criminal charges were laid at Cape Town Central police station on Tuesday morning. Adams said after the retraction was made, which was sent via SMS, MPs objected to the manner of withdrawal and demanded that Mkhwanazi return to the committee and formally retract…

“SPORT has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.” These words by our first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, are as urgent today as they were when he first spoke them. As this football season unfolds — with stadiums vibrating with chants and the world’s gaze fixed on familiar stars — we are reminded not only of sport’s extraordinary capacity to unite and uplift, but also of its untapped potential to transform lives in places that the cameras rarely reach. This season should be more than a showcase of global giants; it should be a call to recognise and spotlight the extraordinary, often unseen, talent that exists across developing nations — in…

In a shocking incident that has rattled the Mbombela community, a 23-year-old taxi driver, Mzakhe Mgiba from Alexandria, was gunned down on Thursday night by a passenger. Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said at approximately 6.30pm, police received information about a shooting along the Marite main road, in Calcutta. Ndubane said when officers arrived at the scene, they found a white Quantum minibus taxi with a man lying on the driver’s seat, showing no signs of life. “The body had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and about five 9mm empty cartridges were found inside the taxi.” A witness, also a passenger, reported that the taxi driver stopped to pick up a male, who had signalled for a lift. This occurred after the taxi departed a filling station on the…

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) pulls in more than R48 billion from the fuel levy annually, but thousands of road crash victims are still waiting for their payouts. The fund’s finances are in serious trouble. It now reportedly owes more than R518 billion, while holding assets worth only R33 billion. According to parliamentary records, the RAF allocated around R1 billion for communications and advertising over about two years, with around R650 million spent through two media companies, MediaMix360 and Dzinge Productions. It also spent R231 million on staff bonuses and R1.8 million on executive protection. However, this is not all. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) members were also left scratching their heads after hearing that the fund, which is meant to assist victims of road accidents, reportedly spent…

Durban City coach Gavin Hunt says his players must learn to translate good performances into results after narrowly losing 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs in a hard-fought Betway Premiership encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night. A late header from Portuguese born Fabio Silva denied Hunt’s side a share of the spoils in a match that saw City match their more established opponents for much of the 90 minutes. Hunt admitted the result was difficult to take, given how close his team came to claiming a valuable point. “The dressing room is obviously devastated after being so close but yet so far,” he said. “But as I said to them with regards to the last three games, in football you have to give yourself something to hold onto and…

Golden Arrows will look to continue their solid cup form when they return to Betway Premiership duty with a tricky home fixture against Marumo Gallants at the King Zwelithini Stadium this afternoon. Abafana Bes’thende booked their place in the semifinals of the Carling Knockout Cup last weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over TS Galaxy, and coach Manqoba Mngqithi will hope that confidence carries into the league. It has been a stop-start campaign for Arrows, who have shown flashes of brilliance in attack but struggled for consistency. The Umlazi-based side currently sit in midtable and will know that a win at home could reignite their push toward the top half of the standings. Arrows’ defensive organisation and sharp transitions were key to their cup win, with Oumar Comara and…

The London High Court has opened hearings in Felipe Massa’s long-awaited legal challenge over the 2008 Formula One World Championship — a case that could redefine how far the courts can reach into sport’s most sacred results. Massa, the former Ferrari driver who lost the 2008 title to Lewis Hamilton by a single point, claims the FIA and Formula One Management failed in their duty to uphold the sport’s integrity by covering up the “Crashgate” scandal at that year’s Singapore Grand Prix. His lawyers argue that had the race been properly investigated or annulled, Massa, not Hamilton, would have been champion. On the opening day, Massa sat in the public gallery as his barrister, Nick De Marco KC, declared that “the deliberate crash constituted one of the biggest sporting scandals…

Dana White’s UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) gave South Africa a world champion in Dricus du Plessis, and now he is unearthing another. In a thrilling display of strength and technique, South African super heavyweight Jaco Marneweck made an electrifying debut in the Power Slap League, further solidifying the nation’s burgeoning reputation in the sport of slap fighting. Marneweck took to the stage at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday evening, showcasing his prowess in the cult arena overseen by UFC President Dana White. Fighting under the nickname ‘Groot Wit’, Marneweck made an indelible impression during his debut at Power Slap 17, facing off against Russian contender Denis Vildanov. From the start of Friday’s bout, Marneweck showed why he is considered a rising star in the league.…