Economist Dr. Frederich Kirsten has warned that the increase in electricity prices may affect job security as some small business owners may struggle to keep their businesses afloat. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has officially approved an 8.76% tariff increase for Eskom’s direct customers, effective from 1 April. Municipal customers will face an even larger increase of …

Crime expert Willem Els has raised concerns that some Special Task Force members are now being recruited by organised crime syndicates because of the skills they possess. The remarks come in light of the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness-D at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria. Matipandile Sotheni, a former …

There’s been a heated exchange between Chairperson of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and North West businessman Suliman Carrim’s legal team. This was after Carrim’s legal team suggested that Justice Madlanga had prejudged the application that it was bringing forward. The lawyers asked for a postponement to review some documents they felt had relevance to the line …

A senior education official is reported to be among the five people arrested in the case of former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela. One suspect was arrested in Sebokeng, Gauteng, on Monday. The rest, including two brothers and a sangoma, were arrested in Polokwane on Tuesday morning. The South African Police Service (SAPS) says more arrests are imminent. Kutumela is accused …

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has criticised the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department for retracting its previous approval of the government’s early retirement offer. The department had initially invited employees to apply for early retirement without penalties, but has now cited financial constraints for its inability to comply with the Cabinet decision. Sadtu says this reversal negatively affects teachers who …

Former Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent Smith has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by the High Court in Johannesburg. This is after reaching a plea and sentence agreement with the state. Smith pleaded guilty to several charges, including corruption and fraud. Other charges were of money laundering and the Contravention of the Tax Act in his personal capacity, as …

Struggle icon the Reverend Frank Chikane has described the late Congress of the People (COPE) leader Mosioua Lekota as a transparent person. Lekota died in a hospital in Midrand, Johannesburg, in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 77.  Lekota was the first Premier of the Free State post-apartheid.   Chikane says that Lekota was a very honest person who …

The former deputy leader of the Congress of the People (COPE), Willie Madisha, has remembered the late Mosiuoa Lekota as a man who never compromised on what he believed in. Lekota, who is the former leader of COPE, died earlier on Wednesday morning at a hospital in Midrand, Johannesburg, at the age of 77. He also served as the National …

Gauteng police have confirmed that an inquest docket will be opened following the building collapse in Ormonde, Johannesburg, which resulted in the deaths of nine construction workers. The exact cause of the incident is still unclear at this stage. However, the City of Johannesburg has confirmed that there were no approved plans for the construction of the building. The death …

The ActionSA in Ekurhuleni says it plans to write to Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa soon to ask him to look at the possibility of placing the city under administration. This comes after Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza reshuffled his cabinet. He is facing criticism after Speaker Dorah Mlambo resigned following her appointment to the mayoral committee. ActionSA …