Author: Staff Writer

Fans of smart, high-stakes global thrillers can tune in to 20th Century Studios’ The Amateur on Disney+ starting 17 July whenever and wherever they want the rush of espionage and striking visual effects mounted on a worldwide scale. The Amateur portrays the gripping journey of CIA codebreaker Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) as he channels his intellect into a relentless pursuit of justice after his wife is killed in a terrorist attack. Under the tactical guidance of seasoned CIA operative Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), Heller evolves from analyst to avenger in a riveting story of love, loss, and retribution. Set against a visually striking international backdrop, The Amateur is brought…

Volvo Car South Africa (VCSA) is expanding its footprint in the Eastern Cape with the opening of a new full-service dealership in Gqeberha. Located within the Moffett Retail Park, the facility will officially open its doors on 1 October 2025, offering Volvo owners in the region a comprehensive sales and after-sales experience. Grant Locke, Managing Director of Volvo Car South Africa, says the Gqerberha-based full-service dealership demonstrates Volvo’s ongoing commitment to its customers in the region. “We know that for our customers, having access to dedicated sales and after-sales support is essential to their ownership journey. This new dealership ensures that…

LEPAS will officially debut in South Africa in 2026, introducing a fresh perspective on what a premium SUV can be – elegant, expressive, and tailored to a contemporary lifestyle. LEPAS made its global debut in April 2025, aimed at younger, style-conscious drivers seeking more than just mobility, the brand combines design-led thinking with advanced technology in a range of vehicles that reflect individuality, modern luxury, and purpose.  To lead the rollout of LEPAS in South Africa, Chery South Africa has appointed Letitia Herold as National Brand & Marketing Manager. Her appointment marks a bold step in shaping the identity of LEPAS in the local…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, as Acting Minister of Police with immediate effect. “Minister Mantashe will serve in this capacity until Prof Firoz Cachalia, who will retire from his position at the University of the Witwatersrand at the end of this month, assumes his position at the start of August,” the Presidency said in a statement. “Minister Mantashe will retain his responsibilities as Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.”

Two South African scientists are doing such internationally trailblazing research that the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust has granted each of them its most prestigious honours: the R2.5-million Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award.  “Each of our awardees made such a strong case that we found it impossible to choose between them – so we decided to double down in a time when our country needs it most. We’re very excited to be supporting their quests to make our world a better place for all who live in it,” says OMT chair Rebecca Oppenheimer. The prize rewards high-calibre scholars who are “engaged in cutting-edge…

The Presidency has issued a strong statement refuting the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) claims that Special Envoy Mcebisi Jonas was denied a US visa, calling it a deliberate attempt to spread disinformation. In a statement, the Presidency said: “The Presidency cautions South Africa against treating Democratic Alliance (DA) disinformation on matters of international relations and diplomacy as official Government policy.” The DA had alleged that the US rejected Jonas’ credentials, hindering his role as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to North America. The Presidency dismissed these claims as sensationalist, particularly amid ongoing US-SA trade negotiations following President Donald Trump’s recent tariff announcements.…

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has taken the decisive step of dissolving the Board of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), marking a critical intervention to address what she described as “persistent governance and operational challenges” that have severely compromised the entity’s ability to fulfill its mandate. The move comes after months of escalating crises that have undermined public confidence in the RAF’s leadership and financial management. The decision follows a comprehensive review that revealed multiple systemic failures within the RAF’s governance structures. Among the most pressing concerns was the Board’s engagement in protracted and costly litigation regarding accounting standards, which placed…

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has announced that Monde Bala, Group Executive: Eskom Distribution, will be seconded to the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer (ICEO), NTCSA, effective from 1 August 2025, succeeding Segomoco Scheppers. The accelerated process of recruiting and appointing a permanent chief executive officer for the NTCSA is currently underway.   “Bala is a seasoned executive with solid experience of the power sector and the NTCSA Board is looking forward to working with him and the team as we drive our strategic deliverables. This leadership appointment ensures that we maintain and accelerate the execution of our strategy…

In a shocking revelation, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has uncovered that President Cyril Ramaphosa has known for months that his appointed “Special Envoy,” Mcebisi Jonas, is not recognised by the United States government. With just two weeks remaining before South Africa faces devastating 30% US tariffs, the DA confirms the following: The US denied Jonas a diplomatic visa in May 2024. Washington formally rejected his credentials, refusing to recognize him as South Africa’s official representative. The Ramaphosa administration was repeatedly advised to appoint an alternative envoy but chose to ignore these warnings. Despite these clear rejections, President Ramaphosa publicly insisted…

Vodacom Business has teamed up with the National Vehicle Intelligence Cloud (NAVIC) to harness technology for public safety as part of a move to curb criminal activity and aid law enforcement in South Africa. Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) via Vodacom Business, NAVIC’s real-time cloud-based vehicle intelligence platform enables security organisations to access and act on critical vehicle data, with verified alerts processed in seconds. Navic.Cloud integrates Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera data, cross-referencing it with Vehicle of Interest (VoI) databases and third-party sources like the South African Police Services. Alerts are verified through the NAVIC Alert Room,…