Indholdsfortegnelse for 2026-01-08 i Daily News

There’s no disputing that Stranger Things is an incredible series, which helped establish Netflix as a streaming juggernaut. As memorable as the series was in its run since 2016 though, the finale was just about as forgettable. I’m not even talking about the major plot points though, as it was simply too long. At 128 minutes long, the final 40 minutes came after Vecna was defeated and the gates to the Upside Down were destroyed. Those final 40 minutes could have easily been made into a montage of a couple of minutes, but instead drew it out with some really cheesy endings and dialogues for what once was an epic tale. In fact, it reminded me of the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King climax. After that bloody…

The Department of Higher Education and Training has disclosed that the Post School Education and Training (PSET) system in South Africa is equipped with multiple pathways for first-time entrants looking to pursue higher education. Minister Buti Manamela announced that his department is actively collaborating with various institutions, including Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges, Private Colleges, and Community Education Colleges, to enhance access to these pathways. “The number of spaces available at our public institutions of higher learning is currently 535 000, not factoring in the additional 90 000 spaces available at registered private colleges,” he said. Despite this capacity, the minister also highlighted the ongoing struggle of the system to admit all the matriculants currently taking exams, echoing concerns about limited…

A widow and her children are expected to receive R3.7 million from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) after the death of her husband and father to her children in a motorcycle accident. The widow turned to the Northwest High Court, sitting in Mafikeng, to claim loss of support from the RAF, as her husband was the family’s breadwinner. The fund earlier accepted liability towards the woman and the children, and the matter was subsequently back in court to determine the amount with which she should be compensated. The court confirmed the deceased’s legal duty to support both the plaintiff and the minor children in terms of the Constitution and the Children’s Act. Despite actuarial evidence suggesting a 53% reduction in the amount the widow should receive based on remarriage statistics,…

Police have arrested a suspect who shot at police officers in Phoenix, Durban. The firearm belonged to a man who was killed last month. The incident unfolded on Tuesday afternoon when officers noticed a suspicious vehicle, leading to a chase that ended with an exchange of gunfire. “Police have arrested a suspect for attempted murder of police officers, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition following an incident in which police noticed a suspicious vehicle with five occupants and pursued it,” said KZN police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda. He said the vehicle was intercepted on the corner of Stanmore Drive and Phoenix Highway. “One person fled from the vehicle while the other four remained inside the vehicle. Police gave chase, and the suspect started shooting at police officers. Police fired back…

The Lions are far from throwing in the towel in the EPCR Challenge Cup, stressing that matches like Saturday’s visit of French side Lyon to Ellis Park (5.15pm kick-off) are key to building momentum in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and improving squad depth. Despite back-to-back defeats in their opening two Challenge Cup pool matches, the Lions remain mathematically alive in the competition, knowing that victories in their final two fixtures could still secure a play-off berth. More importantly, the coaching staff believe the competition provides a platform to sharpen performance levels and prepare a wider group of players for the demands of the URC, where they are in the play-off spots in seventh place, basking in the afterglow of the weekend's derby win against the Sharks. The weekend's victory…

Whether they confirm it or deny it, it is quite clear that Rachel John and Siya Kolisi are indeed in a relationship. Following some digital detective work, the evidence suggests that the Springbok captain and the Dutch model celebrated her birthday together in Jeffreys Bay. The most telling clue? His unmistakable reflection in the window as he played photographer during the celebration. The second clue lies in the wardrobe. On his Instagram Stories, Kolisi was seen sporting a white T-shirt, light blue jeans, and his unmistakable signature yellow wristwatch. Sharp-eyed followers quickly connected the dots when the 25-year-old model shared a video featuring a man dancing in the background, wearing that exact same outfit and distinctive timepiece. The plot thickened when both of them checked into the same lodge at…

The KwaZulu-Natal NFP’s provincial executive committee has turned against its own embattled chairperson, Mbali Shinga, as she fights to keep her seat and MEC’s position. Shinga, who is also Social Development MEC under the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), has been banking on her PEC support, arguing that the seat she occupies in the legislature belongs to it, not to Ivan Barnes’s national executive committee. However, on her first day of disciplinary hearing yesterday, the national executive committee (NEC) announced that its first witness would be the Deputy provincial secretary Zethembe Ngobese. Shinga came to the hearing flanked by her new legal team, which included the instructing attorney and the advocate. Her team asked for an adjournment until next Thursday to familiarise themselves with the case; however, the NEC’s legal…

ANC Secretary General (SG) Fikile Mbalula has delivered a stern message to councillors in the North West, urging them to prioritise tangible service delivery over “speaking big English” to communities. This strong message by the ANC SG was delivered during a community meeting held at the Mamakato Community Hall in Rustenburg on Tuesday. “ANC councillors have a responsibility to ensure that services are delivered to our people at all times. They should go into our communities and ensure they deliver on what they promise and not speak big English, but rather be on the ground and resolve all service delivery challenges faced by our people,” Mbalula charged. The SG pointedly noted that councillors who are disconnected from the communities they serve cannot effectively advocate for their needs. “We cannot have…

The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) has welcomed the early opening of schools for Grades 11 and 12 in KwaZulu-Natal. Sipho Hlomuka, the MEC for Education in KZN, conducted an oversight visit to Ekukhuleni High School and Ezakheni High School in the Uthukela District yesterday. Hlomuka stated that several high schools across the province opened earlier, specifically for gateway subjects for Grades 11 and 12 learners, ahead of the general reopening date. KZN schools reopen on January 14. “This was part of the provincial academic improvement strategy. The early start is one of the department’s academic support programs set to give matriculants more instructional time to prepare adequately for the 2026 academic year,” he said. In 2025, the KZN Department of Education had over 2.8 million learners…

PROTEAS batting coach Ashwell Prince has reiterated the importance of getting game time in the SA20 for the T20 World Cup- bound players, especially those returning from injury, including Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and David Miller. On paper, the Proteas T20 World Cup squad is filled with seasoned professionals, with Aiden Markram set to lead the side in his second ICC event after steering the team to the final in the previous edition of the showpiece. However, a deeper dive into the squad reveals that several key players are set to head into the World Cup with little to no recent international game time. Fast bowlers Rabada and Kwena Maphaka missed the Proteas T20I series in India due to injuries, while Nortje and Miller only returned during that series. At…

It has been a long time between drinks, but Oli Kebble is at last set to reach the 50-cap milestone for the Stormers, the team he grew up supporting and who gave him his start in professional rugby. Kebble, the son of former Springbok Guy, will feature in the Stormers’ Champions Cup match against Harlequins in London on Sunday. Like his father, Kebble was schooled at Bishops in Cape Town before making his debut for Western Province in 2012. Oli played 47 matches for the Stormers between 2014 and 2017, and then played 105 times for the Glasgow Warriors. Before rejoining the Stormers late last year, Kebble featured in 17 games for Oyonnax in the French Pro D2. “I’m very excited for Sunday,” said Kebble, who has played 12 Tests…

AS Kaizer Chiefs turned 56 years old, the discerning Amakhosi fan would have been tempted to say the “Glamour Boys” of South African football are truly approaching the proverbial retirement age. After all, the team that once dominated the local game is seemingly off the boil — the one-time cup kings are playing second fiddle to arch-enemies Orlando Pirates while watching Mamelodi Sundowns rule the roost in the championship. But out at Taung Village in Naturena, the club’s headquarters, the outlook was highly positive as they cut the cake and celebrated yet another birthday for a club that has been painstakingly built to become arguably one of the biggest brands — not just in football but overall — in South Africa. Football manager Bobby Motaung — who, ironically, also turns…

As South Africans embark on their journeys across the country, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has emphasised the importance of passenger safety, especially following a serious incident involving a minibus taxi in KwaZulu-Natal. The chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal SANTACO, Boy Zondi, reiterated the commitment to ensuring the safety of commuters and all road users as a top priority for the taxi industry. This declaration came after a worrying collision that occurred on Tuesday evening involving a minibus taxi affiliated with the council, which was operating under the jurisdiction of the Mafunze Taxi Association. The crash, which took place just outside Pietermaritzburg, resulted in injuries to seventeen people, three of whom are in a serious condition. “SANTACO KZN is deeply concerned by the circumstances surrounding the crash and the injuries…

While the legal battle over the publication of the matric results is still ongoing, matrics awaiting their results will be able to access it via their local newspapers. Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona on Wednesday confirmed that this will be the case. “There was a decision on this matter and yes, the results will be available in the newspapers,” Mabona said. The Information Regulator (IR), however, maintained that the information cannot be published in light of the pending appeal. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in December turned down an application by the IR for an order barring the publication of the results. Three judges ruled that the results may be published, but that this had to be done by only using the candidate’s exam number. The IR, however,…

Firefighting operations remain active in Aalwyndal and surrounding areas in Mossel Bay as crews continue to monitor and manage flare-ups following a devastating vegetation fire that broke out on Tuesday. The Garden Route SPCA has taken in three dogs, eight birds, and one tortoise for safety and medical care. In an update yesterday, Mossel Bay Municipality confirmed the fire’s earlier spread to the Num Num area on the north-eastern flank has been contained. Other flanks of the fire are also contained, although active firefighting continues on the north-western flank at the top of Aalwyndal. Fire crews remain deployed across the affected areas, attending to flare-ups and monitoring conditions. Aerial firefighting resources have been deployed, with authorities saying the resulting firefighting efforts have been effective. “No structures are in danger due…

A city councillor is pleading with city officials to take action and put a stop to the ongoing breaches of municipal and national building by-laws in Cato Manor, Durban. Warren Burne, Ward 30 councillor, wrote to City Manager Musa Mbhele on October 8, 2025, outlining his concerns over land grabbing and building houses on the pavements along Blinkbonnie Road in Bonela. In an act of alleged intimidation, on October 24, Burne’s office, a container park home, was overturned in Bonela by an unruly crowd that got wind of the letter he had written. In 2018, land grabbers occupied a vacant piece of land bordered by Blinkbonnie Road, Buckingham Road, Carlow Road, and Wiggins Road. The Enkanini settlement, which consists of 600 brick houses, is considered uncontrollable, according to Burne.…

Sharks owner Marco Masotti’s chirp that the Sale Sharks should rebrand themselves as the “Sale Tuna” could come back to bite him when the teams meet in a Champions Cup fixture on Saturday in Manchester. Masotti said on social media that one of his New Year’s wishes was for Sale to undergo a name change to leave the Durban team as world rugby’s sole “Sharks” team. Masotti said: “I will be there in person. I hope the Sale fans show up to see the real @SharksRugby. There can be only one. Good luck to the Sale Tuna.” While Masotti is known for his tongue-in-cheek jibes on social media, he may, in this case, have shot himself in the foot for two reasons: one, the Sharks are resting their Springboks for…

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Roger De Sa says the team may need to consider a different approach in their striking department after a slightly ineffective AFCON campaign from their talismans. Bafana crashed out of the continental showpiece in the last 16 after losing 2–1 to Cameroon on Sunday in Rabat. Hugo Broos’ men were their own worst enemies up front in that game, squandering three clear-cut chances to take the lead in the first 20 minutes. That came back to haunt them, resulting in the Indomitable Lions going 2–0 up on the stroke of half-time and early in the second half. Evidence Makgopa, having come on as a substitute, scored the consolation goal with two minutes remaining in regulation time. His goal meant there were three goals and two assists…

Willie le Roux has always been a player that the fans tend to either love or hate, and it was the former emotion that pervaded Bulls supporters at the conclusion of last week’s enthralling north-south derby in Cape Town. In the last movement of the game, with the Stormers leading 13-8 but with the Bulls in possession, the Springbok full-back chose not to keep the ball in hand. Instead, he sent a speculative kick to the open-side touchline, but it sailed over the head of chasing Bulls wing Stravino Jacobs and into touch. The final whistle went, that was that for the Bulls, and a groan erupted out of Pretoria, followed by the collective refrain, ”Why the heck did he kick it?!” Why indeed … After the match, Bulls coach…