• SA teen dies in Mauritius after fight with step-mother

    A once-in-a-lifetime island holiday has ended in tragedy for a South African family with the death of a 17-year-old after a violent altercation with her step-mother at a hotel in Mauritius. South African Maria Vosloo‚ 34‚ appeared in the Bambous District Court on Thursday facing a provisional murder charge. Police on the island said that 17-year-old Mundolene Vosloo – from Springs in Gauteng — allegedly fell to the ground after being struck in the face at the Riu Hotel in Le Morne on Wednesday. The Mauritian (http://www.lemauricien.com) reported on Thursday that witnesses interviewed by the police said that Maria and Mundolene had an argument in the afternoon at the resort swimming pool over

    Sowetan LIVE q

  • HIV cure close as disease 'vanishes'

    The 44-year-old is one of 50 people currently trialling a treatment which targets the disease. Scientists told The Sunday Times that presently the virus is completely undetectable in the man's blood and if it remains that way it will be the first complete cure. "This is one of the first serious attempts at a full cure for HIV," said Mark Samuels, managing director of the National Institute for Health Research Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure. "We are exploring the real possibility of curing HIV." HIV is so difficult to treat because it targets the immune system, splicing itself into the DNA of T-cells so that they not only ignore the disease, but turn into viral factories that reproduce

    Times LIVE q

  • THICK END OF THE WEDGE: Is Malema’s ANC merger a pipe dream or pot stirrer?

    I AM still trying to digest the meaning and implications of what Julius Malema may have unleashed in an interview on eNCA this week, when he said, should the ANC vote fall below 50% in the 2019 general election, then "the first offer I’m going to give the ANC is [a] merger…." He knitted the fingers of both hands together as he continued. "The EFF and the ANC must come together and then we’ll collapse the name ANC and close Luthuli House and go and open up headquarters of this new party in Soweto, where our people are." That’s quite a statement from someone who has changed the face of South African politics by demonising the ANC under Jacob Zuma, and Malema is no media rookie. He must have known

    Business Day Live q

  • AFU seizes car bought with ‘ill-gained funds’ from rhino poaching

    The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) executed a preservation order at a luxury Lovemore Heights home on Thursday morning‚ confiscating a car believed to have been bought with money obtained through the illegal trade of rhino horn. The AFU‚ assisted by the police and the Hawks‚ visited the home of Jabulani Ndlovu‚ a Zimbabwean national who is currently in prison and awaiting trial in Grahamstown‚ to seize a Volkswagen Golf GTI at about 5.30am. At the same time‚ a house in Motherwell was also searched for an Audi‚ also believed to have been bought with “ill-gained funds”‚ but the vehicle was not at the house. The AFU will also be seizing cash in the amount of R18 500‚

    Sowetan LIVE q

  • I’m not going back to school: Hlaudi Motsoeneng - Politics

    Johannesburg - Controversial South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) group executive of corporate affairs, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, on Thursday said that education was important but firmly stated that he was not going back to school. “Coming to the issue of should I go back to school. The answer is a big no because I’m able to do everything that I can do. I am able to beat all those people with degrees,” the former SABC chief operating officer said during a press briefing in Johannesburg. “I understand the importance of education. I employ people with education but having a certificate doesn’t qualify you to be the best, it just opens doors for you in the organisation.” The press briefing was

    Independent Online q

  • Mkhwebane officially appointed as #PublicProtector - Politics

    Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has appointed Advocate Busisiwe Joyce Mkhwebane as the Public Protector for a period of seven years with effect from October 15, the Presidency said in a statement. Zuma thanked outgoing Public Protector Advocate Thulisile Madonsela for her services and wished Advocate Mkhwebane all the best in the execution of her new responsibilities. Parliament approved Mkhwebane’s appointment in September following a majority of parties backing her in the National Assembly. It was the majority of ANC, EFF, IFP, African Christian Democratic Party and other parties that supported Mkhwebane. The 263 MPs outvoted the DA, which scored 79 votes in the National Assembly . Parliament

    Independent Online q

  • Resignation of SA high commissioner to Australia welcomed by DA

    Ndebele's resignation comes after months of speculation about his fate in office as he is facing fraud and corruption charges. Ndebele‚ a member of the ANC national executive committee‚ was indicted in December for allegedly accepting R10-million from companies linked to Tasima through his Investec Bank account in 2010. Sbu Ndebele high commissioner to Australia recalled over fraud charges  "The DA welcomes the resignation of Sbu Ndebele‚ corruption and fraud-accused former Minister of Transport‚ as South Africa’s High Commissioner to Australia‚" the DA said in a statement. Former transport minister S'bu Ndebele and former transport DG charged with graft  "Ndebele stands as accused number one

    Times LIVE q

  • Twitter roasts DJ Tira over 'twang' and 'fake' accent

    The musician became the talk of the town on Monday night, when he stepped into Scoop's studio to speak about his hustle to fame, discovering Big Nuz and dealing with the death of his friend R. Mashesha. While the content of Tira's interview had viewers wanting more, it was his "twang" that got the most attention. The Nomzamo dancing video that you have to WATCH!  As Twitter does, Tira became the butt of many jokes and memes over his so-called "twang" and "fake accent".  This quickly saw him top the Twitter trends list, which has become a weekly occurrence when Twitter isn't impressed by The Cover's weekly celeb guest. The Cover sees local celebs set the record straight on all those pesky rumours

    Times LIVE q

  • New public protector to reveal why Madonsela’s state capture probe ‘can't be a priority’

    Incoming public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will‚ in an interview to air on Thursday night‚ reveal why she believes her predecessor’s probe into state capture “can’t be a priority”. That’s according to journalist Aldrin Sampear? @AldrinSampear who tweeted: “EXCLUSIVE #SABCNews interview this evening: #PublicProtector Mkhwebane explains why STATE CAPTURE investigation can’t be a priority”. Mkhwebane‚ an advocate‚ was officially appointed to the position on Thursday morning by President Jacob Zuma “for a period of seven years”. She will take over the reins on October 15. Zuma “thanked outgoing public protector‚ advocate Thuli Madonsela for her services and wished advocate Mkhwebane all the best

    Sowetan LIVE q

  • Zuma doesn’t want Thuli handling state capture probe

    Johannesburg – Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, has confirmed to have met with President Jacob Zuma on Thursday as part of her investigation into “state capture”, saying that Zuma wants the matter deferred to her successor. Zuma appointed advocate Busisiwe Joyce Mkhwebane as the new Public Protector on Thursday for a seven year term to succeed Madonsela with effect from October 15. Madonsela’s spokesperson, Kgalalelo Masibi, said the meeting between Madonsela and Zuma was “cordial”. “For the greater part of the four-hour meeting, the President’s legal representative argued that the investigation be deferred to the incoming Public Protector, who he advised had been announced today,

    Independent Online q

  • South Africa: SADC Products to Gain Better Access to EU Market

    Pretoria — A new economic agreement between SADC and the European Union will soon come into effect, giving agricultural products from the region improved access to the EU. The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) on Thursday said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) group has submitted the necessary instruments required to bring the agreement into effect. The SADC group is made up of Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. "The agreement will provisionally enter into force between SACU [Southern African Customs Union] member states and the EU on 10 October 2016 for all provisions of the agreement, except for the new

    AllAfrica.com q

  • Zimbabwe: Mujuru Offers Compensation to Former Farm Owner

    FORMER Vice President, Joice Mujuru, on Thursday met with the owner of her Beatrice farm in London and pledged to compensate him for the land he lost to her late husband, Solomon Mujuru. The disposed commercial farmer, Guy Watson Smith, lost Ruzambu Farm to late former army general during the land grab programme. At the meeting with Smith, who is said to have flown into London from France, the Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader said she was personally going to compensate the former white commercial farmer. Jealousy Mawarire, the ZimPF national spokesperson, confirmed Mujuru's meeting with Smith on his Face book page. "The issue is about the symbolism. Even if she pays from her coffers, the

    AllAfrica.com q

  • AKA spoils Queen B's soirée

    AKA had to spoil a good party when he rocked up with his entourage at the Cîroc Extraordinary affair on Friday afternoon.Next The event, held at Beechwood Gardens in Sandton, had a slow start with celebs strolling in in dribs and drabs. Because Bonang Matheba was the host, launching the Cîroc's apple flavoured vodka, AKA was bound to be there. But he wasn't invited and apparently Queen B was notified of this. She was told she was allowed only two guests - her picture-taking handbag was one. But she used her royalty and went straight to the boss of the brand to allow her bae in. But AKA didn't come alone. His road manager, who received a hot chesa mpama from Black Coffee last week, was with him.

    sundayworld.co.za q

  • Durban teen in spiked drink ordeal

    A number of tablets - thought to be ecstasy - were seized from the area and at least one other child was admitted to hospital that night. “That phone call is every parent’s worst nightmare,” the devastated father told The Mercury on Sunday. “You think it will never happen to you.” He said his daughter was going to an under-18 Party in the Park event at Chris Saunders Park, near Gateway, on Friday evening. She had not yet entered the party venue and was in a large group that had gathered outside when she took a sip of what she believed to be Sprite, offered to her by a male in the group. The next thing the girl remembered was feeling dizzy. “It got worse and she quickly realised she was losing

    Independent Online q

  • We will never accept money from white people, says Malema

    “If we sell our soul‚ if we compromise the radical EFF‚ we can have the biggest posters we want. But we're not going to do that. We will rely on ourselves to finance the EFF‚ not anyone else‚” he said. Malema said that R7‚000 of his salary was given to the party monthly to ensure that it could be financially self-sufficient. This was also the reason for the party deducting 50% of all 78 of its councillors' salaries for the first three months of their term‚ and 10% every month after that. “We're taking half of their salaries‚ and we're not apologising about that. Let me explain why we are taking their money. The EFF must be self sustainable. If the EFF doesn't have its own money it will depend

    Times LIVE q

  • How Hlaudi Motsoeneng ate Lotus FM

    In the four months since the decree took effect, the Durban-based radio station has lost about a third of its listeners, with its average listener numbers falling by about 130,000, from 390,000 to 260,000. Advertisers have followed the listeners, saying their research shows that their target market no longer listens to Lotus FM. An inside source — who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals — says the 33-year-old Lotus FM has been adversely affected by the decree. Presenters now have to play kwaito, Afrikaans and other local music. After the decree came into effect, listeners called Lotus FM shows to express their displeasure at the sudden change, but the source says SABC management

    Times LIVE q

  • Keagan out to show Chiefs he's the perfect 10

    Johannesburg - It’s quite poetic that Keagan Buchanan’s first big game in a Kaizer Chiefs jersey will be against his former club Bloemfontein Celtic in the Macufe Cup on Sunday. It might only be a friendly, but it’s a big game for the 24-year-old because he hasn’t kicked a ball in a competitive game since November 22 due to a knee injury. Amakhosi signed him despite that because of his talent as a playmaker, something the club desperately needed as they lacked inspiration last season. But if he is to play that role, he has to displace a Hendrick Ekstein who is getting better with each game. That’s why Buchanan has to make the most of every chance he gets. He was frank when he talked about the

    Independent Online q

  • ‘Brain drain' hits southern Africa - IMF

    Johannesburg - Skilled workers are leaving sub-Saharan Africa in rapidly increasingly numbers, producing a “brain drain” that causes long-term social damage, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday. The IMF said that the number of sub-Saharan migrants living in developed countries could increase from about seven million in 2013 to about 34 million by 2050. It described a “profound demographic transition” under way in the region as the working-age population grows faster than the total population - driving a migration boom. “Brain drain is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa,” the IMF's latest report said, noting that it creates “welfare losses beyond those that are purely economic”.

    Independent Online q

  • Women to sit in Gauteng, not black silks

    THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recommended for appointment all three of the women who applied for positions on the Gauteng High Court bench, but overlooked senior counsel Gcina Malindi and Takalani Madima, which may raise eyebrows. The Gauteng courts are the country’s busiest and biggest divisions and had lagged behind in gender representivity. They have been steadily turning the corner, with more and more quality women candidates coming forward. However, Malindi, a respected leader of the bar, and Madima were the first black silks to avail themselves for appointment in years. After nearly two hours of deliberating behind closed doors, the JSC announced that it has recommended attorneys

    Business Day Live q

  • South Africa: Radio Is Now Mine, Hlaudi Tells SABC Staff

    Embattled SABC executive for corporate affairs and former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has told staffers at a meeting that he is now in charge of the radio division of the public broadcaster. "Radio is now mine," Motsoeneng said to staffers at Friday's meeting, two inside sources told News24. Motsoeneng invited all radio staff to the meeting where he announced that leadership in the radio division had been reshuffled due to Leslie Ntloko's departure. Ntloko was the group executive of radio, but resigned in September. "All radio people now report to me from today," he apparently said. He was joined in the meeting by acting SABC chief executive officer James Aguma. Some of the plans

    AllAfrica.com q