A youth league official called for using sports to directly fight gender based violence during a community soccer event in Parys. Dikgang Parker, the ANC Youth League deputy chairperson for the Free State, spoke at the Edgar Legoale Festive Soccer Tournament. The tournament is happening at Mandela Sports Ground in Tumahole.
He framed sports as a critical tool for social change, not just games. Parker told the crowd that community violence and gender based violence represent a serious social sickness. He pushed for activities like this tournament to give young people an alternative to crime and abusive behavior. The event itself draws teams from multiple provinces and offers a sizable cash prize.
Parker connected the soccer games to...
A travel agent from Johannesburg remains in custody after her bail hearing was delayed. Premila Shunmugam, who operates Silver Touch Events and Travel, faces fraud charges involving roughly five million rand. She is accused of accepting large payments for pilgrimage packages and canceling them without refunds, leaving numerous families financially and emotionally devastated.
Her court appearance in Pretoria was postponed, extending her detention. Prosecutors argue she presents a flight risk given the serious nature of the allegations. The case underscores a broader trend of travel fraud in the country, particularly targeting those booking religious trips. Authorities urge the public to verify travel agents' credentials before making...
Free State officials are pushing hard for safe driving this holiday season. Finance MEC Ketso Makume joined a traffic operation on the N1 at Parys, stressing that road safety is an economic necessity for tourism. He argued that visitors who feel secure are more likely to spend money in the province.
The roadblock focused on common violations like drunk driving and vehicle defects. Makume encouraged travelers to take rest breaks and avoid night driving to prevent fatigue-related crashes. He connected these safety efforts directly to the province's summer tourism campaign, aiming to change the perception of the Free State as merely a corridor to other destinations.
The MEC promoted local attractions like geological sites and major dams...
A law to fix South Africa's intelligence services is stuck in limbo. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act over eight months ago, but it still needs a formal proclamation to take effect. The legislation aims to split the troubled State Security Agency into separate domestic and foreign branches.
This delay leaves planned reforms, born from state capture scandals, inactive. The overhaul seeks to increase accountability and reduce political interference by adding parliamentary oversight. The hold up reportedly involves drafting detailed regulations for the transition. Without the proclamation, the system continues under its old, flawed structure, raising concerns about ongoing vulnerabilities...
Search efforts for a missing teenager from Verulam have stopped for now. The seventeen-year-old boy disappeared while swimming at eMdloti Beach in KwaZulu-Natal. Rescue teams, including police divers and lifeguards, paused operations because of rough seas and low visibility.
The incident highlights the dangers of rip currents at popular beaches, especially during the busy summer season. Community support has grown for the family during the agonizing wait. Authorities plan to resume the search when conditions improve.
The group AfriForum, led by Kallie Kriel, is accused of systematically spreading false information to protect an unequal status quo. Critics argue the organization uses a facade of advocating for minority rights to mask its true goal, which is preserving economic advantages linked to the apartheid era. Their strategy involves promoting narratives of targeted persecution and state failure, both locally and to international right-wing audiences, while ignoring broader issues like crime in Black communities and unresolved land inequality.
This effort is rooted in a neoliberal ideology that opposes state-led redistribution and land reform. The group's concept of rights and freedom is seen as protecting existing property and capital, not...
South Africa's Department for Women and disabled persons issued a warning about increasing financial abuse. They note this hidden form of control often worsens during the festive season due to holiday spending pressures. Perpetrators may seize salaries or social grants, impose debt, or block access to funds.
This economic manipulation is legally recognized as domestic violence. Victims can seek protection orders, but many cases go unreported. Women and persons with disabilities are at higher risk, particularly those reliant on state grants. Studies link such abuse to broader gender based violence trends, costing the national economy billions annually.
The department urges public vigilance and systemic action. They recommend community...
South Africa's upper legislative house unanimously passed an amended immigration bill. It now goes to President Cyril Ramaphosa for final approval. The changes mandate a magistrate's review within two days for anyone detained for deportation. It also provides a state-funded lawyer in cases where substantial injustice would occur without one.
Major political parties across the spectrum supported the bill. This move follows constitutional court rulings that found previous detention practices unlawful. The legislation aims to prevent prolonged detention without oversight, addressing past issues with overcrowded facilities and unclear procedures. For undocumented individuals, it establishes clearer rights during the deportation process...
The Gambia confirmed a new plan to develop digital skills for workers. Officials from the trade and communications ministries backed the program at a hotel in Kololi, with World Bank support through a regional project. A deputy permanent secretary, Dampha Manneh, said the plan tackles serious skill shortages. He pointed to fast tech changes and rising mobile use, calling digital literacy vital for jobs and growth, especially for young people and women.
A project coordinator, Kawsu Barrow, outlined the financial side. Part of a larger twelve-million-dollar fund, over three million is set for boosting business competition and digital labor skills. The effort will focus on small businesses and vulnerable groups, aiming to train at least...
