Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-13 i Sunday Independent

The relentless, grinding problem of unemployment – and youth unemployment in particular – is understandably a recurring priority in virtually all government, civil society and business engagements. There is universal acceptance that this is the most pressing threat to the country’s long-term stability. But the conversation often jumps from proposed policy interventions straight to the desired outcome: jobs. What’s often missing is an obvious but critical fact: an efficient state can only absorb so many workers. If we are to create jobs at scale, they must come from private businesses. But pro-business interventions only succeed if there are actual businesses – and entrepreneurs – positioned to take advantage of them. What we should be most obsessed with, then, is building an education system that consistently produces business creators and leaders.…

It was only a matter of time before something adorable became the target of an internet witch hunt. Labubu dolls, the wide-eyed, toothy little monsters dangling from the designer bags of Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Dua Lipa, are the latest victims of a digital-age moral panic. Cute? Sure. Slightly creepy? Definitely. But demonic? That’s the claim currently sweeping across TikTok and X, and it’s sent conspiracy-loving corners of the internet into a frenzy. What are Labubu dolls? Labubus are palm-sized fuzzy creatures attached to keychains, available in multiple quirky variations. They're sold in a “blind box” format, which means you never quite know what you’re getting – a marketing strategy that’s irresistible to collectors and children alike. They’ve become must-haves for fashionistas and collectors alike, popping up everywhere, and naturally,…

AS the nation awaits President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address regarding serious allegations of political interference and corruption within the SA Police Service (SAPS), concerns about the integrity of law enforcement and governance continue to deepen. The president’s forthcoming speech follows a dramatic public statement on July 6 by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who revealed allegations implicating senior political figures, including Minister Senzo Mchunu and police officials, in systemic corruption and manipulation. Ramaphosa, having been at the BRICS Summit in Brazil when the allegations emerged, promised to act decisively upon his return. Experts say the situation reflects longstanding challenges within the SAPS and the broader justice system. Dr Simon Howell of the University of Cape Town’s Centre of Criminology explained that while such public accusations at national level are…

“SUMMER bodies are made in winter!” This is the popular chant across the globe, particularly at the start of the winter season. But in South Africa, this seasonal motivation underscores deep inequalities in access to health and fitness resources. The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), a mere two months ago, reported that our national health crisis has been seriously intensifying. Beyond the national quadruple-burden of diseases, infections, trauma, maternal and child health, and much more, the ever-growing hypertension (high blood pressure) epidemic in South Africa seeks to push us over the edge. SAMRC reported that across the nation, hypertension affects 48% of women and 34% of men. In fact, there is a rising prevalence of childhood hypertension, which is often directly linked to early life exposure and increased rates…

Political allegiances and interference within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) allegedly play a significant role in its failure to secure convictions in high-profile cases. A source with intimate knowledge of the NPA’s inner workings indicated that factionalism within its leadership impacts its independence and effectiveness, leading some prosecutors to join political parties immediately after leaving the NPA, highlighting that political alliances are often hidden until they depart. The NPA’s record in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases is dismal. It has failed to act on numerous major corruption cases identified in forensic reports into Prasa, Transnet, and Eskom, as well as the Zondo Commission. These reports often provided a complete basis for issuing indictments, yet no high-profile politicians responsible for state capture have been successfully prosecuted. The NPA, constitutionally mandated to institute…

SOUTH Africa could generate at least R540 million in additional tax revenue by updating a single element of its cryptocurrency regulations to align with global best practices, according to an analysis by Luno, one of the world’s oldest and largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The findings, shared in a media statement by Marius Reitz, Luno’s general manager for Africa and Europe, highlight the untapped potential of digital assets in bolstering the country’s strained fiscus amid sluggish economic growth and mounting debt. Reitz emphasised that Bitcoin and other digital assets have vastly outperformed traditional investments such as stocks and bonds over the past decade, yet South African institutional investors are missing out due to regulatory hurdles. “Recently, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of over R2 010 800, showing over 1 000% growth in…

Nearly half a million people were forced to flee from North Darfur state’s capital, El Fasher, and the nearby Zamzam camp for displaced people in just the two months of April and May, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a press briefing on Monday. North Darfur is the only one of the five states where the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have retained a foothold in the war-torn Sudan’s vast western region of Darfur, overrun by its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF), within six months of the war’s start in April 2023. Moving against this last holdout, the RSF laid siege in May 2024 on El Fasher, where the SAF has a base, and the Zamzam camp on its outskirts, where some of the local self-defence units…

Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has defended her decision to rotate the starting line-up after a 1-1 draw with Tanzania, insisting her selections were good enough to win the match. The result, played at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco, on Friday night, means South Africa remain top of Group C on goal difference ahead of Mali — both sides sitting on four points — but a win would have secured qualification to the knockout stages with a game to spare. The defending champions were shocked in the 24th minute when Tanzania captain Opa Clement gave the Twiga Stars the lead. Banyana responded in the second half with an equaliser from Bambanani Mbane, but it wasn’t enough to secure all three points. Ellis’ decision to make four changes to…

Noah Lyles fired a warning shot at contenders over the 200m at the world championships by scorching to victory in the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday as Julien Alfred notched up another win in the 100m. Lyles delivered a near-faultless run to clock 19.88 seconds to edge Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo into second with 19.97sec. And Alfred timed a very comfortable looking 10.79sec to win the women's event-ending blue riband race ahead of American Jacious Sears (11.02). But Lyles was the star of the show at a packed Stade Louis II in perfect balmy conditions. Tebogo had even said that when the American's face appears on meet posters, people want to come and see him perform. And so it proved, Lyles coasting to a morale-boosting victory after successfully…

Earlier this year, Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams cracked a vertebra in his neck and played about four or five games with it until he had to stop playing with the injury for his own safety. Then, a couple of frustrating months followed on the sidelines as the nippy scrumhalf had to bide his time and stay away from rugby for a bit to ensure that he recovered sufficiently. Surgery was not necessary because the injury was not deemed to be serious, his coach at the Sharks, John Plumtree, confirmed a couple of months ago. Now that Williams has fully recovered, he is ready to spark the attack of the teams he is playing for as he looks to put the injury-plagued start of the year behind him. Williams, a World…

“Power in organisations is the capacity generated by relationships. What gives power its charge, positive or negative, is the quality of the relationship.” — Margaret J Wheatley, A Simpler Way AT a 2008 book launch in Addis Ababa, renowned economist George Ayittey coined the catchphrase “African solutions to African problems”, urging political leaders to abandon recycled colonial clichés that no longer serve 21st-century Africa. In his seminal work, Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa’s Future, Ayittey lamented the “so-too-must-we” syndrome, the uncritical imitation of the West: “If all they can do is imitate, they might as well bring back the foreigners to rule Africa.” Yet, while African politicians claim ownership of the solutions they adopt, they seldom agree on what the real problems are. Periods of intense social and political…

APOLOGIES are necessary, but are not enough; material redress and structural consequences should be the next steps against medical schemes that racially profile black healthcare professionals. Healthcare workers union, Health & Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa), expressed deep concern and condemnation following the announcement of the findings of the Section 59 Investigation Report in which three medical schemes, namely Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems), Medscheme, and Discovery Health, applied discriminatory risk ratios to black health professionals. The discrimination affected black healthcare professionals in disciplines such as physiotherapy, psychology, and social work, who are said to be ‘more likely’ to be guilty of fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA). The panel reviewed statistical and testimonial evidence, and found that black providers were disproportionately flagged, audited, or penalised through…

THERE is a raging war of words between Elon Musk and the Empire, or President Donald J Trump, to be exact. Musk, the X proprietor, is the perfect backdrop against which a drama of such enormous proportions can play out. A rivalry billed as a tussle between the richest man in the world against the most powerful president in the world, their public spat over social media may be the terminal episode of the empire games. Whatever the deeper underlying causes of this tragicomedy are, they have profound unintended consequences. For one, and most importantly, how far can money be permitted to influence or taint with impropriety the sanctity of elections and their outcomes? Put differently, in the determination whether or not the outcomes of a general election met the…

LAW enforcement inefficiencies are once again under scrutiny as the South African Police Service (SAPS) drags its feet in investigating a high-profile social media abuse case involving former Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Sisulu laid a criminal complaint on July 21, 2024, at the Roodepoort Police Station against Goolam Mohammed Sulieman Vawda, who is widely believed to be behind the controversial X (formerly Twitter) handle @goolammv — an account accused of spreading hate speech, cyberbullying, and defamatory statements targeting political figures and private citizens alike. A year later, the case remains stagnant, with no progress communicated by the Gauteng police. SAPS failed to provide any update when approached for comment in May, and has not responded to subsequent queries. This comes despite allegations that Vawda fled the country shortly after the…

DURING the “III Edição das Conversas Economia 100 Makas”, an event hosted by economist Carlos Rosado de Carvalho, Adalberto Costa Júnior, the leader of UNITA, did more than just talk policy. He launched what now appears to be the official start of his 2027 presidential campaign, signalling a bold shift in Angola’s political landscape. The forum, which was meant to address macroeconomic reforms, quickly turned into a platform for Costa Júnior’s emerging vision for the country, one focused on economic liberalism, international cooperation, and a clear pivot toward the United States. While the ruling MPLA wrestles with internal divisions and corruption allegations, UNITA has taken the offensive, and the message is clear: the black rooster is ready to rule. At the event, 100 MAKAS, Costa Júnior repeatedly stressed the need…

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has become the face of a growing anti-corruption movement after alleging that senior politicians and police leaders are entangled in a syndicate that obstructs justice in South Africa. His accusations levelled at Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya during a bombshell media briefing on July 6 have reverberated across the country, triggering widespread political fallout and igniting unprecedented grassroots support. Mkhwanazi claimed the minister and his deputy had deliberately disbanded the political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal and ordered the concealment of sensitive case dockets implicating high-ranking figures in government, law enforcement, and the judiciary. The allegations have shaken public trust in government, but also rallied support for Mkhwanazi as a principled figure within the embattled South African…

AS South Africa’s cryptocurrency sector hurtles through a turbulent regulatory and tax landscape, evolving rules and heightened scrutiny are forcing investors and service providers to scramble for clarity. As regulatory authorities tighten their grip, questions loom large: How do capital gains taxes apply to crypto disposals? What exactly are the obligations for those simply holding digital assets? While cryptocurrencies may not be legal tender, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) has made one thing clear — it is treating them as taxable intangible assets, triggering capital gains tax upon sale or disposal. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) introduced licensing requirements for crypto asset service providers under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (Fais) Act, aiming to strengthen consumer protection by classifying crypto assets as financial products. Meanwhile, the Gauteng High…

August 15, 2025 has been etched into the political calendar as a historic moment, the National Dialogue. At its most aspirational, it is meant to be a nation-defining platform, a civic summit for collective introspection, healing and democratic recommitment. But even before its formal commencement, this national project risks being engulfed by the shallow political theatrics and elite tantrums that have paralysed genuine nation-building for far too long. Chief among the culprits is the DA, which is now using the recent dismissal of Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield, a figure occupying neither cabinet status nor national executive prominence, as a spark to fuel political hysteria. Let it be clear: this is not statesmanship. It is a political gaslighting strategy, a sophisticated act of deflection designed to distract South Africans from the…

The year 2025 should be a time of celebration, marking eight decades of the UN’s existence. But it risks going down in history as the year when the international order built since 1945 collapsed. The cracks had long been visible. Since the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the intervention in Libya and the war in Ukraine, some permanent members of the Security Council have trivialised the illegal use of force. The failure to act vis-à-vis the genocide in Gaza represents a denial of the most basic values of humanity. The inability to overcome differences is fueling a new escalation of violence in the Middle East, the latest chapter of which includes the attack on Iran. The law of the strongest also threatens the multilateral trading system. Sweeping tariffs disrupt value…

Kaizer Chiefs cannot afford to repeat the defensive struggles that haunted them throughout the 2024/25 season. As the Soweto giants step up their pre-season preparations, one key department is still in need of urgent attention — the goalkeeping position. The club has made some promising moves in the transfer market, with several new arrivals announced in recent weeks. However, despite identifying several problem areas, none of the incoming players have been brought in to fix one of the team’s biggest weaknesses from the last campaign — the issues between the sticks. Goalkeepers often go under the radar, with strikers usually getting the glory, but any successful team will tell you that a reliable shot-stopper is just as important as a clinical finisher. A quality goalkeeper does more than just making…

Kaizer Chiefs have officially embarked on their journey into the women’s game through a strategic partnership with Springs Home Sweepers FC, a Kwa-Thema club, playing in the Sasol League, South Africa’s second-tier women’s football division. This landmark development formalises the growing relationship between the two clubs and signifies a significant investment in the empowerment and development of women in sport. The storied AmaKhosi, also known as the Phefeni Glamour Boys, qualified for the Confederation Cup competition after clinching the 2025 Nedbank Cup earlier this year. Under the regulations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), clubs must have a women’s team or a formal partnership with one to participate in inter-club competitions. This new alliance with Springs Home Sweepers, owned by former Chiefs player and ex-Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza,…

As the dawn of a new season creates space for fresh hopes and aspirations, Kaizer Chiefs’ specialist goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi is brimming with anticipation and determination. With the momentum of last season's rare success, namely winning the Nedbank Cup, Mzoughi understands that the expectations of supporters have grown stronger. “Having won the Nedbank Cup, our supporters are expecting more trophies and the technical staff share that aspiration,” Mzoughi said, looking towards the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The connection between the team and the country’s biggest fan base, he continued, is vital in this quest for continued success. “Their support is crucial – our unity gives us power,” he added profoundly, in an interview with kaizerchiefs.com. Mzoughi highlighted the significance of solidarity in achieving their collective goals. His…

THE revamped Fifa Club World Cup has ushered in a fresh wave of excitement and unpredictability. As the tournament now reaches its grand finale, the stakes couldn’t be higher—with a chance to carve a name into the history books up for grabs. Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea will face off in the final at the MetLife Stadium tonight (kickoff at 21:00 SA time), each aiming to become the first champion of the competition’s new era. With the stage set, both clubs have their eyes fixed on glory. PSG are on the brink of solidifying their place as the dominant force in global football. Just over a month after claiming their maiden Uefa Champions League crown, the French giants are favorites going into the final, especially after their emphatic 4-0 demolition of…

As of August 1, South Africa is bracing for a significant blow to its economy, with a 30% tariff hike imposed by the United States. This decision, announced by US President Donald Trump, threatens to disrupt South Africa’s export industries, jeopardise thousands of jobs, and worsen the already fragile financial situation for many consumers. “Tariffs may be imposed at government level, but the real impact will be felt by ordinary people,” says Neil Roets, the CEO of Debt Rescue. “When exports drop, local businesses are forced to scale back. That means job losses, reduced income, and financial instability for thousands of South Africans who are already buckling under a financial burden that has driven millions of households to the edge of despair.” The tariffs, announced by US President Donald Trump,…

Nail trends come and go, but every now and then, one comes along that stops us mid-scroll. Enter “cube nails” – a bold, boxy, and seriously eye-catching design that’s popping up all over TikTok and Instagram. Forget almond or coffin shapes; cube nails are all about clean lines, sharp edges, and making a statement. And while they’re not exactly practical, they’re turning heads in all the right ways. What exactly are cube nails? Cube nails are exactly what they sound like – nails shaped into miniature cubes, creating a surreal, sculptural effect. Each nail is built out with hard gel or acrylic, slowly shaped into perfect boxy squares. The goal? To make your fingertips look like tiny works of abstract art. Cube nails break the mould of traditional looks. They’re…

BRAZILIAN President Lula Da Silva’s blunt assessment of the current state of world politics would have been frightening were his views not so much of an open secret. During the recently concluded BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, President Lula stated: “We are witnessing an unprecedented collapse of multilateralism.” In more ways than one, the Brazilian leader’s remarks represented, the microcosm of the rapidly collapsing global governance system that had been premised on the principles of the beleaguered UN Charter. “International law has become a dead letter, along with the peaceful settlement of controversies. We have faced an unprecedented number of conflicts since World War II,” President Lula lamented. Here, it is perhaps important to note that “conflicts”, in this instance, are not restricted to military confrontation. “The collapse of…

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the state funeral of former deputy president David Mabuza, describing him as a unifier of the nation. The funeral was held at Hoërskool Bergvlam in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, on Saturday. Ramaphosa praised Mabuza for his dedication to public service and his commitment to improving the lives of ordinary South Africans. "He was a man of sharp intellect, deep pragmatism, and quiet resolve," said Ramaphosa. "To some, he was the 'cat with nine lives' — resilient in the face of political storms." Mabuza's passion for education was evident in his work as a teacher and his efforts to improve access to education for rural communities. Ramaphosa noted that Mabuza's legacy includes establishing many rural boarding schools, which helped eradicate the barrier to education for…

UNDER gentle London twilight on June 25th, I arrived at the gates of St James’s Palace to attend a private reception hosted by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, Patron of Opportunity International UK. The Palace has a storied façade, which was commissioned by King Henry VIII between 1531 and 1536. Entering into the Palace’s corridors, through unbelievable layers of security, I was captivated by the beauty of the tapestries hung on the walls which celebrated the royal ascendancy and the successes of the royalty, as well as personal family photos of the Royal Family such as Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and their children, who included Prince Charles and Princess Anne, their grandchildren and more. In a rare moment, the Throne Room, a magnificent room featuring an ornate throne…

IN a tense and revealing session recently, the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade convened to hear testimony from the Department of Tourism regarding the beleaguered Tourism Equity Fund (TEF). The meeting, led by Minister Patricia de Lille, exposed a web of implementation challenges, transparency failures, and accountability concerns that have plagued the fund since its inception. The TEF, launched in 2021 with the aim of driving transformation and inclusive growth in South Africa’s tourism sector, has been mired in legal battles, administrative delays, and allegations of mismanagement. A court challenge brought by AfriForum and Solidarity initially halted the fund, which was only revived after an out-of-court settlement in mid-2023. Despite this, the fund’s rollout has continued to face serious hurdles — most notably, the refusal of the Small…

SOURCES reveal that allegations made recently by the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi, regarding the infiltration of the NPA hold merit, as recent arrests of prosecutors for sabotaging cases expose deep-rooted corruption within the institution. Batohi has been under fire following a string of recent high-profile failures by the NPA. She caused a stir earlier last month when she said in a series of interviews that the NPA had been infiltrated by unscrupulous prosecutors working with criminals to bungle cases deliberately. This followed several high-profile NPA defeats, including the collapse of Ace Magashule’s corruption case due to the invalid extradition of Moroadi Cholota, his former personal assistant, as well as the acquittal of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso on multiple sexual assault charges. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi summoned…

SINCE the introduction of the Crypto Revenue Augmentation Unit by the sa Revenue Service (Sars), numerous taxpayers who have traded, invested or even used crypto assets for purchases have received audit and requests for relevant material notices, specifically relating to such crypto asset transactions. These Notices are focused on the tax treatment of taxpayers’ crypto asset transactions, for the relevant periods in which they have made disposals of crypto assets, and Sars is indiscriminately cracking down on this potential revenue cash cow. With Sars’s Project AmaBillions bolstering resources and recruitment to focus exclusively on the recovery of tax debt, crypto non-compliance remains on Sars’s radar, and there has never been a better time to become voluntarily compliant! Given the popularity of crypto asset transactions and the potential for substantial revenue…

HAVING had great success with its specialised tax compliance programmes over the last few years, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) has now called in the cavalry this tax return filing season, through Project AmaBillions, to bolster its tax debt collection capabilities. As the name may indicate, the successful collection of billions in outstanding tax revenue, be it disputed or undisputed tax debts, requires the harmonising of manpower and artificial intelligence, both key items on Sars’s agenda. The revenue authority’s recently published monthly collection data showed R95 billion in outstanding taxes being collected for the 12-month period ending March 2025. Although an impressive and unprecedented collection windfall, a staggering R422.6bn in undisputed tax debts, remains outstanding as at the end of May 2025. In its pursuit of making non-compliance hard and…

When President Cyril Ramaphosa ascended to power in 2018, he punched above his weight by making huge promises that would propel South Africa to stardom. He promised to correct what he called “nine wasted years” under President Jacob Zuma, whom he deputised in the ANC and government. He also promised to deliver “The New Dawn”. Once the wheels started rolling, they quickly fell off and sent the car in all directions. One of the areas where challenges have been witnessed is the security cluster, which was accused of dropping the ball in the Nkandla matter. The expectation was that the security cluster would install security features at Zuma’s private home, in line with its mandate. Later, it was discovered that many things went wrong. Zuma was accused of squandering public…

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele says the team is fully embracing the rebuilding phase under head coach Nasreddine Nabi, as they aim to restore the club’s former glory through patience, consistency and gradual progress. Cele, who returned to South Africa in January this year after nearly a decade in Europe, believes the foundations are being laid for sustained success — with the squad now more settled under Nabi, who is heading into his second season with the Soweto giants. “With Kaizer Chiefs, there’s so much potential to win the trophies,” Cele said during the Thabo Thalente Games launch in KwaMashu. “So, for us as a team, we can say that we have become that (successful) team within the club, so we can win things. But for us, we just need…

Italy reached the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on Friday despite losing 3-1 to Group B winners Spain, the Azzurre finishing ahead of rivals Portugal whose tournament ended with a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Belgium. Athenea, Patri Guijarro and Esther Gonzalez scored the goals in Bern for Spain who finished the group stage on a perfect nine points, five ahead of second-placed Italy who will face Norway in the last eight on Wednesday. "We had one key objective and that was to get through," said Andrea Soncin who has taken Italy to the last eight of the women's Euros for the first time since 2013. "We can still develop and there is a gap between us and Spain, but you saw that with good organisation we can compete. "Obviously they…

CHELSEA must somehow try to stop an irresistible Paris Saint-Germain side from adding the Club World Cup trophy to their Uefa Champions League title as the final of the first edition of FIFA's expanded competition takes place today. PSG travelled to the United States fresh from becoming European champions with a stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich in late May, and they have lived up to their favourites' tag at the Club World Cup. Luis Enrique's side put four goals past Atletico Madrid in the group stage, four more past Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the last 16, and then proved too strong for Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. They appeared to hit new heights as they tore apart Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid in the last four, when…