Saturday Star
MATRIC EXAM SCANDAL:
A DEPARTMENT of Basic Education (DBE) human resources official has been identified as the source of a localised but significant leak of 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination papers, with her Grade 12 son acting as the primary...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GRINCH ALMOST STEALS CHRISTMAS
THE anti-christmas character known as the Grinch gestures as runners dressed as Santa Claus take part in the Santa Run race, marking the start of Christmas festivities in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Mexico City this week. | YURI CORTEZ AFP
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PAYING MORE FOR LESS?
THE countdown to 2026 has become a countdown to a blackout as millions of South African households are staring down the barrel of a New Year's Eve deadline that could see 12 of the country’s most popular channels vanish from their screens at the stroke...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
JOBURG POWER FLIP AS MASUKU TOPPLES MORERO
LOYISO Masuku has defeated incumbent Dada Morero to become ANC regional chairperson in Johannesburg, but Morero will remain the city’s Executive Mayor. Masuku’s victory, confirmed yesterday at the ANC’S 16th Regional Elective Conference, at the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PENSIONER TO RECLAIM HER IDENTITY
AFTER more than two decades of living as a “non-person” in her own country, 76-year-old Sarah Mmaditaba Mokoena is finally on the verge of reclaiming her identity. Once told she had died and blocked from accessing basic services, Mokoena’s long fight...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
South Africa lays down to end GBV
IN AN impressive display of solidarity and urgency ahead of the G20 Summit, thousands gathered across South Africa to draw attention to the pressing issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in honour of those who lost their lives as a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
STOLEN GUNS FUEL DEADLY VIOLENCE
THE smoking gun behind SA’S bloodsoaked streets may be closer to home than many realise. Stolen police firearms, missing civilian guns and smuggled weapons from neighbouring countries such as Namibia are moving easily through the country, often...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PROTEAS WOMEN JOIN GOLDEN ERA
WHEN the Proteas Women take on India in tomorrow’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final in Navi Mumbai, it won’t just be skill and strategy on display – it will be love, care, and trust. These values lie at the heart of head coach Mandla Mashimbyi’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘NOT ATTACK ON AFRIKAANS SCHOOLS’
THE Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has rubbished claims that Afrikaans schools are being singled out following its decision to cut subsidies for Quintile 5 schools by almost 65%. The department says the view is unfounded, noting that Afrikaans...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NO TO ‘PENS DOWN’ DEATH PARTIES
WITH matric finals just days away, the thrill of end-of-year “pens-down” parties is clouded by fear. Authorities warn that past celebrations have turned deadly, leaving families to mourn young lives lost. The Departments of Basic Education and Social...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SA’S DEADLY SHORTAGE OF ICU BEDS, STAFF
DON'T hold your breath if you need an ICU bed. South Africa has just five ICU beds per 100 000 people – far below the global average - leaving critically ill patients at risk of preventable deaths. Research by Professor Fathima Paruk, head of Critical...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
YOUTH TURN TO ‘BLESSERS’ TO SURVIVE
“I WOULD date an older man just to have a roof over my head and food on the table,” says an anonymous young woman, exposing a hidden survival economy sweeping South Africa. As youth unemployment soars to record levels and inequality widens,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TEACHERS FACE PARENT RAGE
WHEN parents attack, teachers pay the price. Across schools, parents are bypassing principals, confronting staff, and escalating disputes over grades, sports, and discipline. Many educators say the abuse is driving them out of the profession. The way...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TODDLER RAPED, STABBED AND LEFT FOR DEAD
A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl is in an induced coma, fighting for her life, after allegedly being raped, stabbed, and left for dead on a shack's roof in the Lion Park informal settlement in Diepsloot. The suspect, the mother’s ex-boyfriend and a once-trusted...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MAYOR’S WATER TANKERS FALL SHORT
JOHANNESBURG West residents vowed a repeat of last week’s water protests, after queuing for hours for water while the mayor’s relief promise falters. Joburg Mayor Dada Morero visited Westbury and Coronationville on Thursday after protests erupted over...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FLOTILLA AIMS TO BREAK GAZA’S BLOCKADE
SOUTH Africa’s Palestine solidarity activists have embarked on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a historic international coalition representing 44 countries, aiming to deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid to Gaza. The civilian fleet, now mobilising more than...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘We slept at taxi rank’: Santaco apologises as strike frustrates residents
SEVERAL taxi commuters spent the night at taxi ranks around Kempton Park after taxi operators affiliated to the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) withdrew their services. The strike has affected thousands of commuters in parts of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Sex work law won’t protect us, just pimps’
WHILE political leaders argue over the legalisation of sex work in South Africa, the women at the heart of the trade are calling for the country to look deeper. Survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation say legalisation would only cement the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TENSIONS HIGH AFTER E-HAILING DRIVER’S MURDER
ALTHOUGH the smoke has cleared and Maponya Mall has reopened, tensions remain high in Soweto, following the killing of an e-hailing driver who was shot and set alight in his car outside the mall on Wednesday night. The mall — which was shut down by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
THE SCREAMS THAT SHOOK A NEIGHBOURHOOD
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl from Eldorado Park has died from injuries sustained in a brutal assault, allegedly at the hands of her father. The father, who was initially charged with attempted murder, now faces a murder charge, while the girl's mother has...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CACHALIA TAKES REINS WITH REFORM
FACING a department rocked by political interference claims and crumbling public trust, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says the real work starts now. He was sworn in at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday by President Cyril Ramaphosa. In...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OR TAMBO LETS GRENADES FLY
A MAJOR security failure at OR Tambo International Airport - where a passenger boarded a flight with two grenades - has triggered alarm over passenger safety, raising serious questions about airport screening, oversight, and South Africa’s ability to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
LIGHTS, CAMERA… CUT AS LOCAL TV FEARS FADING OUT
LOCAL creatives fear being sidelined as French media giant Canal+ moves to merge with Multichoice - a deal that could reshape South Africa’s TV industry and put local jobs and content at risk. Actors, filmmakers and industry bodies say the deal lacks...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DEEPEN MURDER TRAGEDY
THE arrest of a close family member in connection with the murder of 11-yearold Jayden-lee Meek has reignited anger and grief in the Fleurhof community, where residents have been demanding answers since the child's body was found nearly two months...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
COUNTRY IS BLEEDING JOBS
THE South African economy is bleeding jobs at an alarming rate and what was once a crisis is turning into an unemployement emergency with experts warning of resultant civil instability. Nearly 75 000 formal sector jobs were lost in the first quarter...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FEMALE SEXUAL PREDATORS: THE UNDER-REPORTED CRIMES
THE case involving a Grade R teacher at a primary school in Cape Town, accused of sending explicit videos to a Grade 7 learner, has brought renewed attention to the often-overlooked issue of female-perpetrated sexual abuse. Clinical Psychologist Dr...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FUEL PRICE PAIN AS MISSILES FLY
WHILE missiles fly thousands of kilometres away, the effects of a deepening conflict between Israel and Iran are beginning to reach South African shores - not through politics or security, but through rising prices at the pump and pressure on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BORN FREE, BLOCKED BY THE SYSTEM
FORTY-NINE years after the 1976 youth rose up for their future, a new generation is still fighting - this time, for access to basic survival. Blocked by digital dead-ends, outdated databases, and silent systems, many young South Africans are being...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
COULD HIT YOUR WALLET HARD
SOUTH African consumers may face higher meat prices this winter as outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, an avian flu-related ban on Brazilian poultry imports, and financial turmoil in the local poultry sector tighten supply. Prices of mechanically...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
LOOMING CRISIS FOR CRIME INVESTIGATIONS
SOUTH Africa's investigative ability is facing a serious crisis with 1.9 million case dockets and detectives sitting with 300 to 500 dockets each. On top of it is a growing concern about the experience of detectives with more and more younger police...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
READY TO SAIL
SAILORS from across South Africa are preparing for the annual Vasco da Gama Yacht Race which starts tomorrow. The event, hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club in Durban, is the country’s oldest coastal ocean race. Covering approximately 250 nautical...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MINISTER BLOCKS HIV ‘TESTING CRISIS’ SPIN
SOUTH Africa’s HIV/AIDS programme is not collapsing despite recent declines in viral load testing linked to funding cuts from the US’ President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has said. This comes after...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DODGE JUSTICE SYSTEM
WIDESPREAD Trust Fund theft by legal practitioners is going largely unpunished due to the fragmented oversight and lack of co-ordination between key regulatory and prosecutorial bodies. As a result thousands of non-compliant lawyers are falling...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Who will reign supreme?
MZANSI will come to a standstill this afternoon when Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates slug it out for bragging rights – and three log points – in a much-anticipated Premiership Soweto derby at the FNB Stadium. The organisers understood the assignment...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SHOCKING TEACHER VETTING RATES
IN A shocking revelation, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has confirmed that only 19% of teachers have been screened and vetted at public schools against the National Register for Sex Offenders. This data, concerning over 400000 teachers...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
EASTER MESSAGE RINGS HOLLOW
AS CHRISTIANS around the world mark one of their holiest seasons with Easter, the genocide in Gaza overshadows the celebrations and Christian leaders have spoken out on the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has cast a sombre pall over the sacred...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FLOOD ALARM AS SA BATTLES RELENTLESS RAINS
THE Vaal Dam crisis has turned into a perfect storm of disruption as water levels surge to a dangerous 114%, threatening riverside businesses with financial ruin, forcing evacuations from low-lying areas, cancelling Easter religious ceremonies, and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SA REJECTS TIT-FOR-TAT BATTLE WITH US
THE government has announced its plans to counter the stiff retaliatory tariffs imposed on the country by US President Donald Trump but will not enter into a tit-for-tat battle with its second-largest trading partner. Trade, Industry and Competition...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TURNING TO GAMBLING FOR SURVIVAL
AS SOUTH Africa faces ongoing economic challenges, a troubling trend has emerged with many citizens increasingly turning to gambling, not as a form of entertainment but as a desperate means of survival. What was once considered a leisure activity has...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Africa leads SA’S tourism resurgence
AS SOUTH Africa continues to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism sector posted a remarkable 5.1% growth, with the country seeing a significant influx of visitors arriving primarily from the African continent. The latest figures shared by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mother guilty of murder in case of baby Impilo
THE Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) organisation has welcomed the recent verdict in the baby Impilo case, where a newborn was killed by his mother The Johannesburg High Court has found the mother guilty of murder, rejecting her desperate...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ALARM OVER DEEDS OFFICE CLOSURE
THE closure of the Johannesburg Deeds Office has triggered a wave of anxiety among sellers and real estate agents, as the disruption of new lodgements and delayed transactions is increasingly impacting the local property market. The Deeds Office is...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sex offenders register not ready to go live yet
THE long awaited public access to the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) has been postponed. The register which contains the names and details of over 32 000 people who were all convicted for sexual offences was expected to go live yesterday,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FOOD INDUSTRY LEADERS DEBATE PROPOSED VAT HIKE
A PROPOSED 2% VAT hike from 15% to 17%, unveiled in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s postponed Budget speech, has ignited fierce debate, with farming associations decrying economic strain and the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mayor promises water restoration within a week
AFTER weeks of frustration and silence, Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has finally apologised to the city’s residents and assured them that water will be restored in all areas within seven days after weeks of no supply in some parts. Morero was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OVERCROWDING CRISIS HIGHLIGHTS EDUCATION WOES
IN A STARK illustration of South Africa’s education crisis, Cosmos City Junior Primary School is a microcosm of the challenges faced by the nation’s schools. An astonishing 80 children are crammed into a single Grade 1 classroom, a situation that has...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Feeeesh’ and Bartlett pin their colours to Soweto Derby mast
BAFANA Bafana legends Mark Fish and Shaun Bartlett have experienced the thrill of playing in the famous Soweto Derby during their stellar careers. Fish, nicknamed “Feeeesh”, played more than 100 games for Orlando Pirates before he won fame abroad...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Farmers’ call to stop liquidation
THE potential liquidation of Ithala Bank is sending shockwaves through South Africa’s emerging black business community, with thousands of farmers, taxi operators, and small entrepreneurs at risk of losing their primary financial lifeline. As the bank...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Matric results highlight the 30% benchmark debate
THE pass mark of 30% in certain subjects and the low uptake in subjects such as maths and science could have a detrimental impact on the future economy of the country. Although most schools are gloating over their high matric pass rates, education...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CHILDREN ARE ADDICTED TO PORN
CHILDREN as young as nine are already addicted to pornography and even six year olds are taking nude pictures of themselves. Research by the non-profit National Centre for Child Protection (NCCP) shows that the unsupervised use of cell phones plays a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Legal dispute escalates in the Ace Magashule asbestos case
THE intricate legal saga enveloping Ace Magashule, the former ANC secretary general and Free State Premier, has taken a significant turn as the ongoing asbestos court case faces intense scrutiny. At the heart of this debacle is a provocative request...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DRUNK DRIVING A NATIONAL DISASTER
AS South Africa gears up for the busy holiday traffic rush, road safety advocacy group South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD) is calling for the declaration of drunk driving as a national disaster. The move aims to compel the government to take...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Stilfontein zama zamas highlight urgent need for mine rehabilitation in NW
MINERAL Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has disclosed that there are over 1 000 derelict and ownerless mines in the North West province, with the disused Stilfontein mine becoming a notorious hotspot for illegal mining activities,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RAMAPHOSA’S PRESIDENCY STILL IN THE BALANCE
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is navigating one of the most challenging weeks of his presidency, with two significant court battles that could define his leadership amid allegations of misconduct and accountability concerns. Central to these challenges is...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Religious outrage over Cape Town’s hosting of World Pride event
CONSERVATIVE religious groups have accused the City of Cape Town of buying into the “wokeness” agenda by agreeing to be the host for World Pride 2028, an event that celebrates gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights. It includes parades, festivals, and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Anglican Church refuses inquiry after damning report
A REVIEW inquiry into the abuse by a lay minister in the Church of England, that led to the resignation of Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, has called for a similar inquiry into his abuse while he was in Zimbabwe and South Africa. However...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SHUT ALL SPAZA SHOPS DOWN
THE government has been urged to shut all spaza shops, forcing owners to re-register, after a spate of deaths caused by poisoned snacks. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who said 12 children had died, called for immediate action, urging the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FESTIVE WORRIES AS CRIME SPIKES
AS SOUTH Africa enters the festive season, law enforcement officials and reformed criminals warn of an increase in cash-in-transit heists and armed robberies. With multiple incidents reported across provinces, citizens are urged to remain vigilant...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
50% PASS MARK BACK ON THE TABLE
BASIC Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has revealed her intention to form an advisory council that will advice her on policy reforms, including whether the 30% pass mark should be revisited. Gwarube made her intention known in a written reply to a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Gloves are off as ANC succession battle heats up
THE ANC succession battle is heating up, with alliances forming and factions emerging as ambitious officials jostle to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa. Despite denials from ANC leadership, saying it was too early to entertain the succession battle,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
UNCLAIMED BODIES CRISIS
THERE is a growing crisis of unclaimed bodies across South Africa with more than 3000 unidentified bodies nationwide and experts are now urgently calling for improved systems to connect missing persons with unidentified bodies, potentially solving cold...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FURY OVER TWO-POT FRAUD
THE two-pot system has exposed thousands of employers who have left workers with no pension funds and other benefits because they have “stolen” fund money. The non-compliance only come to light when people were allowed to access a portion of their...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
COURT BARS HLOPHE FROM JSC
UMKHONTO wesizwe Party’s (MKP’S) parliamentary leader John Hlophe was yesterday interdicted from participating in the processes of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) pending a review of the decision of the National Assembly to designate him as one...
Read Full Story (Page 1)