Indholdsfortegnelse for 2026-01-15 i Daily News

Last year around this time, Netflix’s blockbuster to kick off 2025 was Back In Action, which saw Cameron Diaz returning to our screens alongside Jamie Foxx. For January 2026, the global streamer gambled on People We Meet on Vacation, its brand-new comedy drama. With its interesting cast – which features heartthrob English actor Tom Blyth and My Lady Jane star Emily Bader in the leading roles – as well as a quirky and emotional tale told through multiple exotic locations, this film offers some sweet escapism as you ease into the year. While it won’t be walking away with major awards and won’t go on to redefine the genre, there are some genuinely heartwarming moments that will tug at your heartstrings. The chemistry between the cast, which also includes Jameela…

IFP rejects governing with the MKP, saying the party is an unstable entity capable of disrupting the province’s progress More chaos erupted within the ranks of the National Freedom Party (NFP), the organisation that is regarded as the kingmaker in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal. Two of their high-ranking officials, party leader Ivan Barnes and the NFP's Uthukela district chairperson Manqoba Dlamini, were involved in a bust-up at Durban's Edward Hotel yesterday. The fist-fight occurred before the party's national chairperson Shevu Mkhabela broke ranks with Barnes and called for his removal during an impromptu media briefing held at the hotel. The clash between Barnes and Dlamini occurred ahead of Mkhabela's address. At the same time, another party leader, Mbali Shinga, who is also the Social Development MEC…

Nearly all parents experience financial and emotional pressure during the back-to-school period, with 95% describing the process as stressful, according to 1Life Insurance’s annual Back-to-School Survey for the 2026 academic year. The survey shows that 80% of families face financial setbacks when preparing for school, often forcing difficult compromises. While the figure remains high, it reflects a modest improvement from 88% recorded in the previous year. Key Findings ■ School uniforms and fees continue to place the greatest strain on household budgets, identified as the most expensive costs by 62% of respondents, down from 75% in 2025. ■ Stationery accounted for 28% of responses, while 9% cited expenses related to extramural activities, transport, and food. Only 1% said back-to-school costs were not a concern. Rising living costs have compounded the…

Homeowners in the Silversand housing development in Blue Downs, Cape Town, say they have been left financially and emotionally devastated after waiting nearly four years for homes that were meant to be completed in early 2024. The development involves 35 homeowners, many of whom applied for home loans through banks, including Nedbank and Absa. While funds were approved and released in phases to CSD Construction, most houses remain unfinished. Some residents have completed their bond repayments, but still have not received their homes. “It has officially been four years since we applied for our home loans, yet we are still not living in our houses,” said Fezeka Dlephu, one of the affected homeowners. “We have been paying interim interest this whole time, but we are renting elsewhere because we have…

The son of slain KwaDukuza senior superintendent Mariemuthoo Arumugam delivered a heartbreaking account to the Durban High Court, describing how his life has been irrevocably changed since Philakahle Hloniphani Dladla fatally shot his father in November 2024. The murder occurred after Arumugam, who was in a full police uniform, stopped to investigate a stationary taxi. Dladla, convicted in November 2025 by Acting Judge Vikela Ntlokwana, was robbing the passengers and the driver of the taxi he boarded at the KwaDukuza taxi rank. He forced the driver, Bheki Xulu, to take the Groutville off-ramp before producing a firearm and robbing those inside at gunpoint. Arumugam, arrived at the scene to investigate the stationary vehicle. When he inquired, Dladla immediately turned his firearm on the senior superintendent and shot him six times…

When I watch the Bulls imploding in game after game this season, I have flashbacks to the Springboks’ Ellis Park nightmare against the Wallabies last year. In case your subconscious has blocked out that horror show, the Boks played sublime attacking rugby in the opening quarter to lead 22–0, but they ran themselves off their feet. In the second half, the Australians profited from the mistakes of the tiring Boks and ran in 38 unanswered points for a remarkable comeback victory. Ellis Park, of course, is where Johan Ackermann took the Lions to historic heights in Super Rugby. Ackermann and the brilliant attack coach Swys de Bruin had Warren Whiteley’s men playing exhilarating rugby, and three Super Rugby finals were the result – two under Ackermann before he left for…

Eskom has gotten flak for proceeding with its review application challenging the granting of trading licences to five private trading companies, but the electricity giant defended this step. Eskom CEO Dan Marokane said in a statement that the utility had little choice but to participate in legal proceedings challenging the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa)'s decision to grant trading licences to the companies. NOA Group Trading, Green Electron Market, CBI Electric Apollo, GreenCo Power Services, and Discovery Green were last year issued trading licences by Nersa, aimed at introducing competition and flexibility into the electricity supply sector. In September last year, Eskom said it “paused” or “stayed” its legal challenge. But it has, meanwhile, emerged that Eskom has confirmed with the court that it will go ahead with…

The SAPS has been ordered to pay R764 million to three service providers who sold computer programs to it. In Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, papers, Forensic Data Analysts (FDA), Investigative Software Solutions and Solve Forensics claimed R644m, which had agreed to on January 31, 2020. On February 3, 2020 the agreement was changed because the National Treasury wanted to set the price, so the FDA called it a breach of agreement. High Court Judge Sulet Potterill granted an order directing the SAPS to fulfill any unfulfilled requirements imposed by law for the lawfulness of the procurement, insofar as there may be such requirements and its obligations in terms of the oral contract (as amended) by paying the companies.…

Excitement bubbled at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) this week as they celebrated a remarkable event at uShaka Sea World. Their Open Ocean aquarium exhibit welcomed the birth of three healthy thorntail ray pups, with two females and one male. The pups were released on Tuesday morning following their birth overnight in the exhibit. Saambr spokesperson Ann Kunz said the aquarium housed three adult animals: Two females and one male, weighing from 90-130kg. “Although we knew that the mom was heavily pregnant and that the birth was imminent, it was still a wonderful surprise to see the strong and healthy trio swimming around the exhibit this morning,” Kunz said on Tuesday. “The newborn rays are miniature replicas of the adult animals, with one notable difference: each…

Any coach who takes the helm of a Durban-based side risks seeing their season being washed away by the coastal rain – a factor that has often heralded a manager’s demise. Lance Klusener, the current coach of Durban’s Super Giants and a local himself, would have known this better than anyone. Klusener has had to endure three abandoned matches this season, a factor that has played a significant role in the team’s dwindling playoff hopes following their narrow defeat to the Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Tuesday night. While Klusener acknowledged the impact of the weather, he refused to use it as a crutch. “I think the rain’s hurt us a little bit,” Klusener told reporters after the loss in Paarl. “Not to make excuses, but it’s three games…

Such have been Gerda Steyn’s remarkable achievements on the road that you’d be forgiven for thinking anything less than a record-breaking run would be considered minor by the darling of South African running. While victories and records mean a great deal to the “Smiling Assassin” from Bothaville – they are, after all, the stuff of legacy – the Hollywood Athletics Club star has dominated the country’s ultra-marathon scene for over half a decade by valuing the same milestones that social runners strive for. Take the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon Blue Number Club (BNC), for example. Open to runners who have completed the 56km race ten times, the BNC is a dream for many but achieved by few. Steyn is yet to run the “world’s most beautiful marathon” 10 times, but…

Former acting SAPS national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane said yesterday that political interference in the police has been prevalent after the 2007 ANC elective conference. “I am saying in my affidavit we must not shy away that political interference has been prevalent in SAPS. It became more prevalent following the 2007 Polokwane conference. From thereon, we started seeing practices that were not a norm,” Phahlane said. While being led by chief evidence leader, advocate Norman Arendse at the Ad Hoc Committee that is probing allegations made by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, he confirmed that the appointment of former Crime Intelligence divisional commissioner Richard Mdluli that was followed by former minister Nathi Mthethwa had fallen outside established practice. Phahlane said Mthethwa failed to present the submission on the appointment of Mdluli…

While the country’s 2025 matric class got their results this week, 50 pupils accused of cheating in the 2024 exams are set to turn to court after their results have been withheld for over a year, placing their futures on hold Section27, which represents them, said they were wrongfully accused of “group copying”. It has launched a High Court judicial review application on behalf of the ex-Baphutheng Senior Secondary School pupils. The allegation is based on the similarity of their answers in the Business Studies I and Economics II papers. No learner was found in possession of notes or unauthorised material, and there was no evidence of communication or co-ordination observed in the examination venues. The invigilators also confirmed there were no irregularities.…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has issued a warning to residents as it seeks to address the emergence of a fraudulent Facebook page identified as “Doh Kzn”. In a statement, the department said the Facebook page falsely presents itself as an official communication platform of the department. “The department is deeply concerned that this page, which was created just yesterday (Monday, January 10), is using photographs of the KZN Health MEC and purporting to speak on behalf of the department. This is an act of impersonation and potential fraud,” the department said. “Of even greater concern is the fact that this page has made serious allegations against a named individual, claiming that he is stealing medication from the department and selling it at his private pharmacy.” A visit to the…

I write not only as a lawyer, but as a South African who has sat across the table from too many broken souls – people who once walked into workplaces with hope and left with humiliation. They do not arrive in my office speaking the language of diagnoses. They do not say “depression” or “anxiety”. They speak about their boss. About “the treatment”. About how each morning feels heavier than the last. Workplace stress is not simply about tight deadlines or long hours. It is about the slow erosion of dignity. It is about being shouted at in front of colleagues, having your work dismissed, your potential undermined, and your humanity reduced to a line item on a spreadsheet. It is about power – and what happens when power forgets…

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has admitted it was difficult informing players such as Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs that they would not be travelling to the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India. Many were surprised when Conrad announced South Africa’s squad without Stubbs and Rickelton – two talented players who have consistently been in and around the national setup across all three formats. However, the reality is that both players have endured a lean patch for an extended period, and Conrad felt he had to make the tough calls. Tony de Zorzi and Jason Smith have effectively replaced Stubbs and Rickelton in the batting order, and the coach insists there was a clear rationale behind the move. De Zorzi has demonstrated great temperament and skill against spin on…

Paarl Royals hero Sikandar Raza is hoping he can do more “magic things” for his team as they push for a place in the Betway SA20 playoffs. The Zimbabwean T20 captain has been inspirational since joining the Royals midway through the competition with the allrounder joint top of the wicket-takers leaderboard with 11 scalps. But on Tuesday evening, with the game on the line against Durban’s Super Giants, Raza elevated his new-found cult hero status at Boland Park to the next level, by smashing the last ball for six to see the Royals home in thrilling fashion. “Alhamdulillah, to finish the game, it feels nice. Yeah, we needed six of six and we got one of one. So initially, it was just trying to hit the pockets well and then…

Marumo Gallants have moved swiftly to reinforce their squad ahead of the second half of the season, announcing a trio of new signings as preparations intensify for the league’s resumption. The additions follow the high-profile departures of Daniel Msendami and Mpho Chabatsane, who both completed moves to Orlando Pirates this week. With the Betway Premiership set to restart in less than a week, Gallants have acted decisively to address the vacancies left by the duo, strengthening their attacking options ahead of a crucial clash against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on January 21. Leading the new arrivals is Romaric Dognimin Ouattara. The 21-year-old Ivorian centre-forward joins from Algerian side Olympique Akbou and brings a formidable physical presence to the Gallants’ frontline. Standing at 1.90m tall, Ouattara is regarded as a…