Explore every episode of the podcast TimesLIVE - In The News

While not letting President Cyril Ramaphosa off the hook for failings in the provision of service delivery at home, there have been moments where he defiantly stood firm on the global stage in high-stakes situations, representing South Africa and the African continent with a mature approach.

South Africa "will not be bullied," President Cyril Ramaphosa said, referencing global political shifts and tensions during his State of the Nation address on Thursday.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has called for an investigation into lobby group AfriForum for “pursuing treason” after it said it would approach the US to target South African politicians on the land issue.

EFF leader Julius Malema has voiced his frustration at Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s response to President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying: “He can’t address us like that."

EFF leader Julius Malema says the party is on the verge of entering the government of national unity should the ANC boot out the DA.

Mineral and petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe has scoffed at US President Donald Trump's threat that the world’s largest economy will withdraw aid to the South African economy, saying South Africa could leverage its minerals in kind.

The ANC argued for free alcohol at the state of the nation address (Sona) as the majority of MPs raised concerns about how comfortable the City Hall would be for them as the venue for the event. The National Assembly was meeting ahead of the Sona, which will be delivered by the president next week.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has been released with a warning. The daughter of former president Jacob Zuma appeared before the Durban magistrate's court on Thursday where she faces charges relating to the July 2021 unrest. Zuma-Sambudla said the charges against her were malicious and politically motivated, aimed at settling the current regime's political scores with her father.

DA leader John Steenhuisen has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for not consulting the government of national unity (GNU) partners before signing the Expropriation Bill. Steenhuisen said despite the challenges in the GNU, the DA was is not exiting. The DA leadership was briefing the media on Tuesday after its first federal council meeting of 2025

Traditional healer Makhotso Mofokeng, known as Gogo Maweni, has been granted bail of R5,000 by the Protea magistrate's court. She is charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, for an incident in 2019. The bail was granted despite the court being told she withheld critical information relating to her previous convictions in her first appearance, which include fraud. In her affidavit Mofokeng says the complainant is known to her.

The EFF laid a corruption charge against public works minister Dean Macpherson at the Pretoria Central police station on Wednesday. According to the EFF, the minister allegedly interfered in the tender affairs of the Independent Development Trust (IDT). The IDT is mandated to support all spheres of government with social infrastructure management and programme implementation.Speaking outside the police station, EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini said the party has enough “evidence to prove the minister was involved in tender interference at the IDT”.

Controversial blogger Musa Khawula will remain in custody after his appearance in the Randburg magistrate's court on Tuesday. He faces charges of crimen injuria and contempt of court. According to the NPA, Khawula has two pending matters.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC's plan to reconfigure its provincial executive committees (PECs) in Gauteng and KZN will not affect government work. This means that Panyaza Lesufi will remain as Gauteng premier of the province while S'boniso Duma is likely to continue as Economic Development MEC in KwaZulu-Natal. During a media briefing on Monday, Mbalula said the national officials must put forward the proposal for reconfiguring the two provinces within a week. 

A manhunt has been launched for the alleged illegal mining kingpin who surfaced from shaft 11 in Stilfontein last week. By Thursday, 78 bodies had been retrieved and 246 illegal miners were rescued. However, the true extent of the tragedy continues to unfold. According to police statement, police officials aided the kingpin to escape from custody after surfacing from shaft 11 last week. The kingpin, known as Tiger, was never booked into any police station where some illegal miners are being kept. He was also never admitted to a local hospital for medical care.

Day five of the Judicial Conduct Tribunal hearing the sexual harassment allegations against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge continued on Friday. The judge's secretary, Andiswa Mengo, continued her testimony, saying the judge allegedly sent her a video of his private parts, calling it a python. If Judge Mbenenge is found guilty, he could be impeached from his position as Judge President.

TimesLIVE provides an update on the rescue operation of illegal miners at the Stilfontein mine in the North West. 
We hear the gruelling conditions faced by rescue personnel involved in the operations which started on Monday. Members of the South African Police Service also provide an update on the the arrest of alleged ringleaders and the continuation of Operation Vala Umgodi.

Audio gathered by TimesLIVE senior reporter Isaac Mahlangu.

Two suspects accused of the murders of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane have been denied bail for the second time the Durban magistrate's court on Wednesday. The applicants again applied for bail on the basis of “new facts”. However, looking at the evidence in totality, magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo, found there were no new facts in the case.

The matric class of 2024 who sat for the National Senior Certificate achieved a pass rate of 87.3%, up from 82.9% the year before.

The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, Umalusi, has approved the release of the November 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam results.

Umalusi held a media briefing on Monday ahead of the results' release on Wednesday.

The Johannesburg magistrates court has ordered that the five accused arrested at the property of former president Nelson Mandela on Wednesday not be named before an identity parade is conducted.

While five suspects were initially arrested, only four appeared on Friday. The grandson of the former statesmen did not appear but remains a suspect.

ANC Youth League leader Collen Malatji has suggested the reinstatement of the death penalty for those convicted of raping children.

Kwaito pioneer Doc Shebeleza, whose real name was Victor Bogopane, has passed away at the age of 51, his family confirmed in a statement following a prolonged illness. In June 2024, the legendary artist was reported to be hospitalised after a health scare.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is advocating for the processing of South Africa’s mineral resources in the country and the export of finished products rather than raw materials.

This is a heartfelt tribute to the life of Winnie Khumalo, who passed away on January 7 after a brief illness. In 2009, she rose to prominence with her hit album I Just Wanna Live My Life, which sold an impressive 25,000 copies. Her legacy continues to shine through her daughter, Rethabile Khumalo, who has proudly followed in her mother’s musical footsteps

Mosquito activity is on the rise, but an entomologist says there's no need for panic — chances are, you may not even be their type.

The high court in Pretoria has dismissed with costs the Information Regulator's urgent application to prevent the education department publishing the 2024 matric exams results in media such as newspapers.

The regulator citing concerns about the violation of matriculants' right to privacy. Concerns the court says were not brought to its attention by pupils.

The urgency of stopping the publication of the 2024 matric results in the media came under the spotlight in the Pretoria high court on Tuesday. 

The regulator is seeking an interdict against the release of the results in the media, citing concerns about the violation of matriculants' right to privacy.

The department says the urgency is self-created.

Gauteng finance MEC Lebogang Maile has dismissed claims that the country’s economic hub will be on the verge of bankruptcy by June this year.Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday Maile addressed these concerns, providing clarity on the matter.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says its supporters in the Western Cape have no land and no freedom, blaming the DA for abandoning them.

Gauteng recorded 387 births on New Year's Day - 31 of which babies were born to teenagers aged between 15 and 19.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) plans to mobilise “progressive parties to lead the country”, warning against the DA.

Opening up about her diabetes, former National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete urged younger people to take better care of their health.

From a year of seismic political shifts to entertainment that put the country on the global map—or left us cringing—to criminals who continued to undermine the rule of law, our multimedia team revisits the stories that defined 2024.

Public servants who fail to report statutory rape are equally “secondary raping” children, says Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba.

Concerned about children abandoned by fathers, DA federal chair Helen Zille told women “your responsibility is not to get pregnant as soon as you can”.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile acknowledged that the government's economic challenges in reducing the cost of living persist.

Police rescued a kidnapped Pakistani businessman and arrested a 46-year-old female suspect for murder and kidnapping on Monday in Sebokeng, Gauteng.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has urged men to stop viewing women as possessions, saying the mentality of thinking they own women because they provide material items contributes to gender-based violence (GBV).

The Border Management Authority (BMA) and Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) held a media briefing at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday to address operational updates and their plans to ensure seamless movement of travellers during the peak holiday season.

Johannesburg’s emergency services are on high alert as severe thunderstorms and possible flooding are forecast for the city as 80% rain possibility hits the province.

The deadline for spaza shops and other small food outlets to register their businesses has been extended to February 28.  This was announced during a press briefing on Wednesday by ministers leading the multidisciplinary team in government responsible for the national response to instances of food-borne illnesses and illicit trade. 

Frustrated by long patient wait times at a Limpopo hospital, premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba delivered a stern warning to staff that failure to assist patients promptly would result in dismissal.

MKP chair Nathi Nhleko and secretary-general Floyd Shivamvu have told journalists why they think the party has a case of vote fraud against the IEC.

Gauteng finance and economic development MEC Lebogang Maile briefed the media on the progress of the registration of spaza shops in Gauteng. This as the 21-day deadline issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa looms.

South Africans are happier and the country has changed for the better since the MK Party was established, says party leader Jacob Zuma.

MK Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma has warned his party will take its case of alleged vote rigging to international courts if local courts do not rule in its favour, which he says may result in the party being told to govern with immediate effect.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has warned South Africans against registering businesses for illegal foreigners, asking authorities to act against such actions. Mashatile said the government wanted South Africans to own most shops.

KwaZulu-Natal police boss Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has vowed to make a good example of disgruntled taxi owners blocking roads and confiscating keys from vehicles.

EFF leader Julius Malema says he never met my father, and he never saw the need to know him. Malema opened up about his childhood during the recent Hustlers Corner Podcast hosted by broadcaster and businessman DJ Sbu.

Malema also touched on the difficulties of dealing with his mother's epilepsy.

EFF leader Julius Malema threatened his former deputy Floyd Shivambu that he will spill the beans should he be pushed.