PIC man digs himself a deep hole
When Paul Magula testified this week about malfeasance, he should have recalled what he reportedly told the VBS investigators
Corruption allegations don’t count, says Magashule
Magashule said candidates who had been convicted of an offence for which the penalty was more than 12 months in jail had been removed from the list
Lists scandal will haunt Ramaphosa
Internal divisions and his focus on reviving the state have warped the selection of ANC candidates
Pollution kills nine million a year
It’s one of the world’s biggest killers and inextricably linked to global warming
Ex ‘VBS’ mayor wants R38-million
Florence Radzilani is claiming R38-million for defamation, loss of income and reputational damage
Silence surrounds SA doc in Syria
Isis is about to be vanquished in Syria. But its shadow looms large in South Africa
Time running out for Parliament to deal with abuses at spy agency
Arthur Fraser was the director general of the state’s spy agency at the time alleged abuses occurred
Eskom wants its Trillian millions back
Trillian’s stance is that Eskom’s case for corruption against the firm is ‘flimsy at best’
Zuma’s first 100 days on Twitter
Now that he can’t call press briefings the ex-prez has taken to social media with mixed success
Mediation helps to rectify abuse
A prosecutor, alarmed that gender-based violence cases are being withdrawn, has tried another tack
Trespassing fox henpecked to death
The young predator is thought to have entered the henhouse at an agricultural school at dusk last week
Hawks investigate crude oil bribes
Strategic Energy Fund CEO Sibusiso Gamede received R20-million in bribes, a forensic report says
The small town with the big money
Anyone who thinks mining is dead should head to Kathu in the far Northern Cape to find out otherwise
Succession battle harms IFP revival
The Inkatha Freedom Party hopes to benefit from the demise of two other parties in KwaZulu-Natal
Moyane takes his fight with Gordhan to Zondo inquiry
At the centre of the row are the damning findings of the Nugent commission
Slice of life: ‘Hei Café helped me thrive’
‘I found a community that helped me to begin my adaptation in South Africa’
ConCourt to rule on farm tenant claims
The farm tenants won in the Land Claims Court but the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned this
This is why we don’t have water
Protests, corruption, mismanagement — the department explains its failure to deliver water
Hormone drug shortage forces desperate solutions
Depo-Testosterone has been out of stock since December last year, possibly increasing the risk of serious physical and mental health problems
Community reduced to squatting on their ancestral land
A Limpopo property mogul has reduced to rubble the homes of people whose families have lived there for more than 200 years
TRC commissioners demand justice
Former truth and reconciliation commissioners are entering a court battle to see a former policeman prosecuted
Technology
No human producer? No problem
A computer has, for the first time, been used to produce an album, but people are still needed for the creative side
Health
When climate change and health collide
A hotter Earth will affect how we eat, how we live, what makes us sick and how we heal.
But is South Africa ready?
Africa
The brutal crackdown in Zimbabwe creates a new generation of exiles
Political dissidents who have fled to South Africa face an uneasy, uncertain future
No truth for Gambia’s queer people
Despite the demise of a dictator and a reparations process, no one will speak out
Business
Carbon tax gets a muted welcome
Critics range from those who feel it is too little too late to those who feel they should be exempted from it
Alarm over PIC Bill pressure
Trade unions fear a late bid to stall the legislation but key aspects have come up at the Mpati commission
Slow growth hits lending to SMEs
The number of small and medium enterprises is not growing and venture capital finance is limited
Sagarmatha offered PIC cut-price deal, inquiry hears
When asked whether this was ethical, Lebogang Molebatsi said, unless the arrangement was disclosed to other shareholders, “it would not be correct”.
My colleague’s stake in the Reserve Bank billionaire club
The bulk of the Reserve Bank’s shareholders are individuals,but include trusts, pension funds, unions, a library, and an archbishop
Ports body bungles gas deal
The Transnet National Ports Authority’s failure to act in Saldanha Bay could saddle it with costs
Comment & Analysis
Not a racist? Then do something
Given the inherent benefits all white people enjoy, they have an obligation to actively tackle injustice
Lies, damn lies, and advertising
This is a time when serious journalism is required, ensuring that voters are kept informed
Ethiopia flies high
Some foreign news outlets were quick to revert to racist stereotypes, implying that “African airlines” are somehow less safe than others
What’s in a name?
Naming streets in informal settlements confirms an area’s legitimacy and facilitates service delivery
ANC applies the Ronaldo principle
Trophies trump principle in the cynical game of politics as the game of politics as the election lists remain loaded with Guptarites
Violence raises the urgent need for more health services
South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence inflicted on women and girls in the world
Fix bias in artificial intelligence
AI is only as clever as the data it’s fed and its financing decisions can be distorted by sexist, racist information
Search for ways to stop the landslide
Experts say an area-based approach is needed, but district and local government are not on board
The forgotten cadres are the ANC’s loss
The death of an Eighties student activist reminds us how much South Africa owes to that generation
‘Boys will be boys’ doesn’t cut it
The focus is on empowering girls and women but more needs to be done to raise boys who are not destructive
‘Praise the Lord, I’m a real fat cat’
Why would a pastor who was not only made rich by God but is also presumably protected by God need guard houses?
Mindfulness in schools makes for happier, confident children
A programme is equipping teachers to help vulnerable children to develop essential life skills
Theatre, play and comedy can encourage a love of reading
There is evidence for the power of play to increase the chances of children trying something new
Appropriating knowledge without compensation is a danger
By misreading the production processes behind our country’s body of knowledge, Parliament may have dealt a death blow to these industries
Friday
The Weekend Guide
For good vibes and an arts fix, don’t miss this.
Darkness of producing R Kelly
dream hampton talks about making the documentary of the alleged serial sex abuser
The Portfolio: Rafs Mayet
“He had a formidable reputation amongst photographers and would not hesitate to throw you out if you disturbed him onstage”
A call for township theatres
Practitioners say there is a need to reignite the fire that kept community theatre burning
Game to deal with a disorder
A girl from Lenz became a game designer and has made waves globally with her after HOURS
Marrabenta, the pulse of Moz
The music festival has revived the genre and it is now a platform for creative reinvention
Memoir the making of a novel
Ivan Vladislavic explains that being true to the past is not so much about incidents as resonant details
Sport
Cricket comes to the aid of East Timor
The struggling young nation needs heroes and two people are hoping to make dreams come true
Steyn leaves an indelible mark
Ever the entertainer, the world-renowned bowler is not quitting the limelight
Zizojik’ izinto for women’s football
Changes are afoot as women’s teams show they’ve got the balls to take on the patriarchy
The great VAR whine begins
The video assistant referee makes things fairer but Fifa needs to address problems it’s raising
Benni love affair puts City in play
The legendary striker has fostered a culture of confidence in his players and the scoreboard reflects that
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