The Citizen (Gauteng)
Time for a snorkel?
Half of Johannesburg’s sewerage treatment plants are in a critical state, according to the 2025 Green Drop Report. The report, released last week by the department of water and sanitation, is the country’s primary regulatory assessment of wastewater...
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Does parole work?
The data gives the answer: nearly 6 000 parolees have reoffended since June 2024, committing violent crimes from rape to murder. Complaints and legal challenges against parole boards expose systemic flaws, fuelling public distrust and intensifying...
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Joburg writes off massive debt
Just days after it agreed to hike its wage bill by R10.3 billion, the Joburg city council has adopted a motion to write off its indigent residents’ debt, but hasn’t said how much it will cost. What is known is that overall debt owed to the city is...
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The mad scramble
Motorists rush to fill up at the Shell garage near Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria yesterday, ahead of fuel price increases at midnight. Is the government’s R3 fuel levy cut enough? And at what cost, as 95-octane petrol may rise by R5.82 per litre,...
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‘Cut fuel levies now’
With fuel prices tipped to go up by R5-R9 per litre from tomorrow, government is under pressure from, especially, farmers. A survey of over 1 000 producers shows daily restrictions ranging from 50l-500l per client, driven by panic buying and surging...
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Suburb to slum
Residents of Ferndale in Randburg are battling ‘slumification’ as hijacked homes, shacks and crime overwhelm their suburb. Despite years of complaints, Joburg officials are turning a blind eye. Community leaders demand enforcement of bylaws and the...
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‘Where’s our raise?’
SA Municipal Workers Union members march at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg yesterday after the DA took legal action to block the City of Joburg’s R10 billion wage deal with municipal workers. The party claims it could plunge the city into a...
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Do the Baartman
Proteas’ fast bowler Ottniel Baartman celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Dane Cleaver during the fifth T20 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday. The Proteas won the game by 33 runs to clinch the five-match series 3-2.
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Home today, gone tomorrow
Residents of Tladi Camp informal settlement in Soweto were celebrating yesterday after a property obstructing the installation of an electric transformer was demolished. The house was erected on a driveway between other structures in the ’80s. Joburg...
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‘Stop, stop... Oh, I messed up’
Transcripts from the crash between an Air Canada jet and a runway fire truck at LaGuardia Airport reveal the air traffic controller saying he ‘messed up’ shortly after the tragic incident. Air traffic control had given permission for the truck to cross...
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A quacking good time
Spectators dressed in duck attire at the rainy final day of LIV Golf South Africa at Steyn City yesterday. The Southern Guards, SA’s four-man team, finished second in the team event of the tournament staged on African soil for the first time.
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‘Please cut off my hand!’
Meet 24-year-old Jonothan Gerds, a man in so much pain for eight months now he’s willing to walk out of hospital, find the nearest butchery and use a bandsaw to sever his left hand – and he blames it all on a doctor who gave him an unnecessary...
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Me, Tarzan...
Poison Ivy, played by Cecilia Nahel, with Adrian van Niekerk as Tarzan, at Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg yesterday for the launch of Rand Show. A magical themed world for young adventurers features face painting, trampolines and interactive...
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Rough road
Kent ‘weak on security – it’s a good thing he’s out.’ Asenior US counterterrorism official resigned yesterday to protest the US-Israeli war against Iran and said the Islamic Republic posed no imminent threat to the US. “I cannot in good conscience...
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Simply the best
The Blitzboks celebrate after winning the New York leg of the World Sevens Series at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on Sunday night. South Africa squeaked past Fiji 10-7 in the final, which also secured them the overall World...
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This is what R90m gets you
Ovegrown with weeds, Kaalfontein’s promised hub in Ekurhuleni lies unfinished despite nearly R90 million being spent. Civil society demands answers as weeds replace opportunity, exposing budget excuses, incompetence and possible corruption in municipal...
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SA wife tells of Dubai hell
A South African woman claims Dubai is not safe, ‘no matter what anyone says’, amid fears for her husband’s life. The damage to a building hit by a drone strike in Creek Harbour yesterday is clearly seen – but ‘you get fined if you tell...’
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Sky’s birds of prey
Personnel check the wings of a B1 bomber at RAF Fairford in Fairford, England. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is allowing the US to use British bases, including RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, to launch ‘defensive’ strikes against Iranian missile sites,...
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Army crime fail?
This is what South Africans are not seeing on their streets, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s promise to deploy the SA National Defence Force nationwide to help police fight gangsters and illegal mining. Boots should’ve hit the ground already but...
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Will we run out of fuel?
Long queues and even a ban on fuel sales may await South Africans as Iran yesterday targets Gulf energy installations and oil prices surge. One politician admits our supplies are ‘vulnerable’, with SA relying heavily on imported fuel from that region....
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Holi and happy
People at a Holi festival with their faces covered in colourful powders at the Shree Radhe Shyam Mandir temple in Marlboro, Johannesburg, yesterday. Holi is a Hindu festival celebrating colours, joy and renewal. The event was organised by the India...
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Toll of war on innocents
A boy plays with his sheep next to an unexploded missile that landed in an open field on the outskirts of Qamishli, eastern Syria, yesterday. Thousands of civilians across the Gulf are becoming displaced as the Iran war with the US and Israel...
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Why, Proteas, why?
Proteas captain Aiden Markram will be left to wonder what went wrong as their unbeaten streak in the T20 World Cup came to grinding halt in the semifinals at the hands of New Zealand at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. The Black Caps won by nine...
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‘We want water, not statues’
Residents wanting water in their dry taps protest at the unveiling of a statue of Oliver Tambo at North Beach in Durban yesterday. The statue celebrates the historic contribution made by former ANC president Tambo to SA’s liberation and democracy. Also...
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Nothing left to steal
In tatters, like this forgotten grow tunnel – that is what’s left of the R30 million ‘vanity project’ of late Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza to polish his image. The agricultural hub, hailed to benefit large- and small-scale farmers, is stripped bare,...
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Business as usual
After coasting into the semifinals of the T20 World Cup, captain Aiden Markram insisted the seemingly minimal effort displayed by the Proteas had been deceptive after they racked up their sixth straight victory of the tournament yesterday. Having...
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It’s a give and take
No painful tax hikes, social grants are increased and tax inflation is adjusted for the first time in years... it’s a feel-good budget Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presented yesterday. But those who indulge in booze and smokes will cough up,...
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All fired up over dry taps
It was not surprising when ActionSA unveiled Herman Mashaba as its Joburg mayoral candidate this past weekend. In truth, the party is inseparable from its leader: members of the selection committee report to Mashaba directly or indirectly, his family...
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Three murdered every hour
This is the shocking statistic released by the SA Police Service, hailing a 10% year-on-year decrease in murder cases. Not good enough, say experts, calling the ‘absolute scale of violence devastating and unacceptable’. A lot of the victims are young...
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Massive statement
Proteas speedster Marco Jansen celebrates after taking the wicket of India’s Tilak Varma during their T20 World Cup Super Eights match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad yesterday. Jansen took 4/24 as South Africa won by 76 runs.
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Bitter end to sweet life
As the fate of Tongaat Hulett, SA’s sugar producing giant founded over a century ago in KwaZulu-Natal, hangs in the balance, the ripple effects are unimaginable. This month, the group’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs) approached the KwaZulu-Natal...
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R1.5trn to fix our towns
This massive bill to fix South Africa’s crumbling infrastructure is just the beginning. The SA Local Government Association says the state will also then have to chip in another R150 billion a year. The DA says if corruption is done away with, the...
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Joburg bills: watch out
If you owe the council, do not sign any agreement to pay off your municipal debt. Amid the Joburg billing chaos, putting your signature on a debt acknowledgement form may just lock you into paying money you may not actually owe, especially if you are...
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‘Help us bury our boy’
The family of slain Nigerian e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat have made an emotional plea for financial aid. ‘We need funds to take him back home so he can be laid to rest in his hometown,’ his uncle, Otila Onoja, told eNCA. The trio accused of strangling...
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Can Cyril save our towns?
It seems the water crisis is a wake-up call for SA’s president: he is laying criminal charges left, right and centre against those that fail to serve residents and promises ‘a far-reaching overhaul’ of municipalities. But only those managed by his...
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Will water pull plug on ANC?
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pre-Sona scramble by sending two ministers to help Jozi’s water crisis may be too little, too late to save his party as irate residents roast not only government, but also Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi’s ill-timed: ‘We also...
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‘Don’t fiddle while SA is dry’
Water experts’ message to the president is clear: ‘Cyril, stop giving us wild promises about big projects saying this dam is being built because, on the ground, we don’t see it. Use your State of the Nation Address today to declare water a national...
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‘I’m no agent’
‘There has been 10 attempts on my life’ committee hears. Fraud invstigator Paul O’Sullivan finally appeared before parliament’s ad hoc committee yesterday, where he denied claims that he is a foreign agent or former spy during a tense exchange over...
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Man of the moment
Lowly Canada put up a brave fight, but the Proteas showed too much class. They had no real trouble sweeping aside minnows Canada, but Lungi Ngidi admitted the Proteas had been unsure of how to prepare for their opposition in their opening match of the...
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On top of the world
Philip Snyman praised the Springbok Sevens squad for their effort and belief as they claimed the World Sevens Series Perth title yesterday, with a close, but well-deserved victory over Fiji at HBF Park. The 21-19 win in the final was a convincing...
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In the spirit of the lion
People perform a lion dance during an event to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Cape Town on Sunday. The bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town came alive with vibrant colours and lively performances, attracting hundreds of local residents...
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Johnny the walker
He walked away from the DA leadership race, saying: ‘Simply, mission accomplished’ – but John Steenhuisen’s decision to not seek a third term has sparked a succession debate, with some citing capable contenders; others criticising the party for relying...
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Mayor’s sweet rates deal
Residents of the upmarket suburb of Berg En Dal in Heidelberg are outraged that mayor Mluleki Nkosi’s house is valued at just R800 000 on the latest municipal valuation roll – four times under its market value of R3.5 million. The legality of the roll...
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Tyla strikes gold again
South African singer Tyla won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for her song Push 2 Start, at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. It marked her second win in that category, having first taken the award in 2024. The best in music...
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Govt cuts ‘rich schools’ money
Government schools in “wealthier” areas of Gauteng face slashing cuts to their operational budget from 1 April – the Gauteng government says this is a “realignment” or “stabilisation” because of national budgetary pressures. The Gauteng department of...
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Stop wasting our money
This week we told you about government not using a budget increased by nearly R21 billion to create jobs for unemployed doctors, and the Gauteng health department’s unspent R725 million that landed back in Treasury’s kitty. Today, you’ll read about the...
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Prince William’s haunt ablaze
Nearly 300 tourists were evacuated as a fire rips through the five-star Grandes Alpes hotel at the upscale French Alps ski resort, Courchevel, a frequent haunt of Britain’s Prince William and his family. A room for the night costs an eye-watering £11...
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Global scam bust in SA
It’s a web that took five years to untangle, but the hard work of SA and international law enforcement agencies yesterday paid off as task teams following the money swooped on properties in upmarket Bryanston, nabbing members of an Israeli-based...
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Health’s unspent R725m
It is ‘indefensible’ that this massive amount lands back in Treasury’s kitty because the Gauteng health department decides to not use it. Treasury warns of the risk of medication stock-outs caused by chronic late payment of service providers, salary...
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Captain fantastic
Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs celebrates after he sealed a victory with a six as they claimed the SA20 title by beating the Pretoria Capitals by six wickets in the final at Newlands yesterday. Stubbs scored 63 off 41 balls as they won...
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End of road for Malema?
He has alienated parties and infuriated people during his 17 years in politics, but the wheels can come off for EFF leader Julius Malema today if the court decides to send him to jail for his antics with a rifle at a rally – an offence that carries a...
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Red vellies day
From left, iconic singer/songwriter David Kramer, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Jawaahier Petersen, the daughter of singer and composer Taliep Petersen, who worked extensively with Kramer, at the first awarding of the Freedom of the City in...
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Big fish to fry
Japan’s Naomi Osaka walks into the Rod Laver Arena ahead of her first round match against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. Taken by the jellyfish’s beauty and power, Osaka shared her inspiration with the Nike team,...
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‘Where’s my child?’
A rescue worker comforts a woman, centre, at the scene of an accident where a minibus carrying school pupils collided with a truck, killing 13 children, in Vanderbijlpark yesterday. Distraught parents gathered at the scene, demanding to see their kids.
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Navy row: who is to blame?
Is the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) top brass being made scapegoats in a long-standing political mistake by the government over its relationship with Iran? That’s the question that experts are grappling with as they analyse the...
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Kruger chaos
South African National Parks (SANParks) has begun evacuating staff from the Kruger National Park as more rain is expected. The park suspended day visits yesterday, with rivers flowing well over bridge-level and most camps completely flooded. The SA...
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Matric fest of joy
‘I guess we made it. I won the war...’ These words of matriculant Mpho Ntjakata best sum up the odds the public school Class of 2025 had to overcome. With a pass rate of 88%, the top achievers shone despite tales of poverty, bullying and physical...
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Arson or Eskom?
Allegations of arson with nefarious motives and poor maintenance by Eskom have sparked fears that more electricity-related fires could ignite, or that arson may be emerging as a new form of domestic terrorism with criminal intent. Reports and...
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Back to school shock
This is just a little taste of how back-to-school essentials will hit your pocket. Be prepared to fork out much more before your child even gets through the school gate. We break down exactly how much it costs to equip a Grade 8 pupil at a public...
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‘The void is real,’ DJ Warras
The family of slain media personality Warrick Stock, also known as DJ Warras, is still coming to terms with his death as the suspect linked to his murder remains in custody, with his bail hearing postponed. Victor Mthethwa Majola appeared in the...
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Courting the crowd
A young dancer catches a baton during Cape Town’s annual parade of Tweede Nuwe Jaar, or Second New Year, yesterday, despite a last-minute court wrangle over changing the venue and route between the city and the organisers.
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Trump: who’s safe now?
With Venezuelans worldwide rejoicing ‘We’re free at last’ as the US president ousts strongman Nicolas Maduro, world leaders are left with questions: was the surprise move about oil? Who is next in the audacious Trump’s cross-hairs? And how safe is...
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Eskom prices kill jobs
Union calls on government to sort out power utility’s financial woes. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has called on the government to sort out Eskom’s financial woes to save jobs and create new opportunities. Cosatu was reacting...
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What is wrong with parents?
It seems some parents don’t give a flying fish about giving beer to their young kids – some as young as three – causing outrage as the social development department launches an urgent probe.
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Going head to head
Acrobats Ismail Athman, top, and Kbrashidi prepare backstage before a performance of the Circus Galassia in Sandton recently. The traditional all human circus focuses only on human entertainment, with performers assembled from all over the globe,...
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Revved up for Christmas
A motorcycle enthusiast wearing Christmas-themed accessories attends a parade on the busiest streets of the city ahead of Christmas in Bangalore, India. Although Christians comprise just about 2.3% of India’s population, Christmas is widely celebrated...
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Sharing joy
Braamfischerville resident Matome Mathata, centre, prepares food parcels at Soweto’s Multipurpose Centre yesterday as the Black Coffee Foundation’s Christmas campaign delivers 100 parcels to families in need.
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SA’s R3 trillion hidden wealth
The country holds a massive township and rural property wealth. Fintech platform E-DEED uses AI and blockchain to value homes without deeds, unlocking equity, insurance access and financial inclusion. Recognising this invisible asset class could boost...
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Meet the winner of our car
Areader from Tembisa received an early Christmas present yesterday when she was handed the keys to a brand-new Chery Tiggo Cross HEV Elite worth about R500 000. Caroline Ndungwana won The Citizen’s subscriber competition, which ran from 1 September to...
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‘Our rivers are sewers’
Arecent snap survey of South Africa’s water resources indicates E. coli is present in up to two-thirds of the country’s water supply. The Water Community Action Network (WaterCan) sent 500 test kits to random locations nationwide in September – and the...
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Sending tons of love
Proteas batter Suné Luus celebrates after reaching her century during the second women’s ODI against Ireland at St George’s Park in Gqeberha yesterday. Luus and captain Laura Wolvaardt both scored hundreds as the Proteas won by 74 runs to lead the...
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Some early Xmas cheer
A person participates in a Christmas parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday. Inspired by the annual New York spectacle, the parade featured giant inflatables, musicians and dancers – and, of course, Santa Clause.
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‘Protect our kids online’
The government may dismiss Australia’s new social media ban for kids as ‘not African’, but then they are blind to the anguish of a mother whose daughter committed suicide after getting swamped in a toxic online environment; the influencer who carries...
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Bump and grind
It was a year filled with fun as visitors, wearing stuffed costumes, fight in the ‘sumo arena’ at the HaHaHouse Museum of Laughter in central Zagreb, Croatia. The museum, which opened in January, offers eight interactive zones and has also an...
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Melania plays Princess Di
US First Lady Melania Trump and Santa Claus arrive at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia for a Toys for Tots charity drive for 150 children of military families. Approached by one child, Melania gently picked her up and talked to her – and the...
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