Top 10 stories of the day: Gayton McKenzie apologises
In the news today, sports, arts and culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has issued a public apology for 'insensitive, stupid and hurtful' tweets from more than a decade ago.
Meanwhile, Operation Dudula President Zandile Dabula vowed that the NGO-turned-political party would not stop preventing illegal immigrants from accessing the country's public healthcare facilities.
Furthermore, the legal representative for Pethe Sara Simao, the Mozambican national accused of the rape and murder of Amantle Samane, said the accused will plead guilty on all four counts.
Weather tomorrow: 12 August 2025
The South African Weather Service forecasts cool to cold conditions for most provinces on Tuesday, with drizzle in the east and isolated showers inland. Full weather forecast here.
Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.
Gayton McKenzie apologises for being a troll but blames EFF for racism saga
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has issued a public apology for 'insensitive, stupid and hurtful' tweets from more than a decade ago, while vehemently denying allegations of racism and blaming the EFF for orchestrating a political campaign against him.
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader found himself under intense scrutiny last week after old tweets resurfaced on social media.
Minister Gayton McKenzie's social media past is catching up with him. Picture: Gayton McKenzie/Facebook
This came after he called for accountability against the Open Chats Podcast hosts for making racist remarks about coloured people.
McKenzie mounted a defence during a Facebook Live broadcast on Sunday night, asking: 'How can I be racist against black people if I'm black?'
CONTINUE READING: Gayton McKenzie apologises for being a troll but blames EFF for racism saga
'We've not broken any laws': Operation Dudula to press on with ID checks after members freed on warning
Three women believed to be linked to the anti-foreigner group Operation Dudula have been released on warning after being arrested for allegedly disrupting services at the Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Centre in Diepkloof, Soweto.
The women, aged between 49 and 60, appeared briefly at the Orlando Magistrate's Court on Monday, facing charges of public violence, trespassing, and violating the National Health Act.
Disgruntled South Africans march against illegal immigrants in Orange Grove, Johannesburg on 13 February 2022. Picture: Michel Bega
Speaking to the crowd outside the court, Operation Dudula President Zandile Dabula vowed that the NGO-turned-political party would not halt its work.
'We're not going to stop. I'm not inciting violence, but if we have to fight, if this country has to be ungovernable, then let it be. We're going to operate.
CONTINUE READING: 'We've not broken any laws': Operation Dudula to press on with ID checks after members freed on warning
Amantle Samane case: Pethe Sara Simao to plead guilty on all counts — lawyer
The legal representative for Pethe Sara Simao, the Mozambican national accused of the rape and murder of Amantle Samane, said the accused will plead guilty on all four counts.
Simao made a brief appearance in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg, on Monday.
Pethe Sara Simao appears for murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane at the Johannesburg High Court on 11 August 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen
Speaking to the SABC News following his appearance, Advocate Ndivhuwo Masindi confirmed his client had decided to plead guilty on all four counts.
'Before we go on trial, we have to receive copies of the docket, which we have received. We perused it. After a thorough consultation with my client, we decided that he will plead guilty on all four counts. We took the decision after receiving the disclosure from the state,' said the advocate.
CONTINUE READING: Amantle Samane case: Pethe Sara Simao to plead guilty on all counts — lawyer
'Military veterans' born in the 90s banked R3.5 million in business support
Funds earmarked for businesses owned by military veterans have been given to companies headed by directors who had not yet started school when the new South Africa was born.
A budget allocation meant for military veterans exists within the Gauteng government, but the opposition has called the past two financial years' payments 'questionable'.
Members of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) members arrives at Avelon Cemetery in Soweto, 6 January 2020, for the SA Communist Party's commemoration ceremony for Joe Slovo. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
The Department of Sport, Art, Culture and Recreation (SACR) recently confirmed its expenditure on military veteran support programmes via a written response to questions posed in the provincial legislature.
The Gauteng government gave R8.5 million to companies owned by military veterans in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years, but at least R3.5 million of that went to directors born in or later than 1990.
CONTINUE READING: 'Military veterans' born in the 90s banked R3.5 million in business support
Boom, goes your job: Man's fake bomb threats to skip work earn him real jail time
A 50-year-old Bellville man who sparked mass panic by making hoax bomb threats to police has been sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment.
The Bellville regional court convicted Ferdinand Fortuin on three counts under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA), after he falsely claimed to have planted explosives at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Transnet offices and the Bellville taxi rank.
Picture: iStock
The threats, made on 11 November 2024, forced the evacuation of more than 3 500 people and the deployment of multiple specialised police units.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Fortuin admitted in his plea and sentencing agreement that he had been drinking heavily the day before and 'did not want to go to work the following day'.
CONTINUE READING: Boom, goes your job: Man's fake bomb threats to skip work earn him real jail time
Here are five more stories of the day:
Yesterday's News recap
READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Police commissioner to be arrested? | National Dialogue disaster | 'Give Gayton the boot'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
36 minutes ago
- eNCA
Warning Issued Over OTP Security After Spike in Banking Fraud
As incidents of banking fraud continue to rise in South Africa, personal finance expert Maya Fisher-French has urged consumers to take immediate steps to secure their mobile phones—starting with how one-time PINs (OTPs) are displayed. Speaking during an interview with eNCA, Fisher-French highlighted a recent case in which a reader became a victim of fraud after his mobile phone and wallet were stolen from his car. While he was out kite surfing, criminals broke into his vehicle, stole his belongings, and were able to complete online purchases using his bank cards—because the OTP messages were visible on his phone's locked screen. 'People don't realise that your SMSs, including OTPs, can show up even when your phone is locked,' she told eNCA. 'It's a serious security risk that often goes unnoticed.' A Hidden Vulnerability in Plain Sight In this particular case, the criminals never needed to unlock the phone. The OTP codes, displayed automatically on the lock screen, gave them direct access to complete transactions. Fisher-French urged South Africans to adjust their phone settings to prevent SMS notifications from appearing unless the device is unlocked. 'I went straight to my phone and blocked OTPs from showing on the lock screen,' she said. However, she acknowledged the trade-off many users face. 'I still want to see when there's activity on my account—so disabling all SMS notifications isn't ideal either,' she added. Some newer mobile operating systems, such as iOS and Android 16, now offer more granular controls, allowing users to block OTPs specifically without turning off all alerts. Call for Banks to Step Up Fisher-French also appealed directly to financial institutions, urging them to help address the vulnerability by changing how OTPs are structured in SMS messages. 'I've asked banks to move the OTP down to the third or fourth line of the message,' she explained. 'That way, if it does flash on a locked screen, the actual code isn't immediately visible to anyone who picks up the phone.' Vigilance is Key The interview comes amid an uptick in phishing scams and digital fraud, with consumers being targeted through SMS, email, phone calls, and online platforms. 'I can't stress this enough—we have to be vigilant,' Fisher-French said. 'Don't click on suspicious links, don't share OTPs over the phone, and don't assume your phone is secure just because it's locked.' She described the lock-screen OTP issue as just one of many vulnerabilities facing consumers in an increasingly digital banking environment. 'Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. We need to stay a step ahead—and that starts with understanding where we're exposed.'
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Here's why B-BBEE should not be scrapped – and what needs to change
Although the DA wants to get rid of B-BBEE, political analysts say the policy should not be scrapped yet. Despite concerns about the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) policies in South Africa, some economists and political analysts believe this policy can still benefit many black people. On Monday, DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party is declaring war on the B-BBEE system. Other political parties, such as the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), have criticised the policy, describing it as dysfunctional and only benefiting a few politically connected people. They also claim it has not helped create work opportunities for the majority of previously disadvantaged people. Why B-BBEE is seen as a failure However, Sanet Solomon, a political analyst from Free State University (UFS), believes that this policy can still work if implemented properly. 'It is important to note that B-BBEE is not a form of affirmative action favouring a singular group, but rather legislation aimed at helping marginalised groups enter sectors in which they are underrepresented. 'If it is implemented correctly, it could assist large portions of society,' she said. The problem, she said, is that the B-BBEE policy has been manipulated by some individuals. 'Despite the continued updates to legislation, individuals and groups have still managed to find loopholes to bypass what could be a beneficial policy and system. She said this creates the impression that B-BBEE is 'an absolute failure'. ALSO READ: Ramokgopa dismisses claims US tariffs target BEE policy but admits it needs 'tweaking' Solomon said when this legislation was introduced in 1994 it had good intentions of leveling the scales between black and white South Africans. 'The introduction of the BEE was needed post-1994 to remedy the impact of South Africa's apartheid legacy. 'Despite their good intentions, these policies have been utilised to abuse the country's procurement policies, which have resulted in high levels of bureaucracy and the prominence of entrepreneurs who are solely dependent on state contracts,' she said. Because of this, the political analyst said, B-BBEE has consequently failed emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses instead of assisting them. What will replace B-BBEE? Prof Ntsikelelo Breakfast, a political analyst from Nelson Mandela University (NMU), told The Citizen that he also believes B-BBEE should not be scrapped. 'The policy has not achieved its desired outcome but that does not mean there is no need for black people to get empowered. One can also argue that it has created a scope for corruption coupled with the privatization of services. 'But if you do away with the policy then how do you make sure that black people are part of the main stream economy on a large scale, and how do you make sure that black people are entrenched in the commanding heights of the economy,' he said. Breakfast said the application of B-BBEE has been problematic. 'The people who have benefited from this policy are normally associated with the ruling party, this includes people like Ramaphosa, Tokyo Sexwale and other big names. Those are people who have benefited on a large scale,' he said. The DA does not see colour? Breakfast, said the DA's view is that they do not see colour when it comes to crafting their policies. 'They are moving from the premise that they do not believe in racial categorisation or racial classification. They have the philosophical tradition of non-racialism, meaning that they are colour blind. 'The agreement they are using against this law they are also using it against affirmative action or the Employment Equity Act,' he said. Who benefits from B-BBEE? Breakfast said B-BBEE was intended to benefit women, people with disabilities and all groups that were previously disadvantaged before 1994. 'There are seven pillars of this law before a business is awarded to you; you must meet those requirements,' he said. Prof Dirk Kotze, a political analyst from the University of South Africa (Unisa) said opposition parties such as the DA are not opposed to the empowerment of black people. But instead, are against the negative effects of the law. 'It's not about the principle; it's about the policies. Even inside the the ANC this has been discussed,' he said. Kotze said there is a view that B-BBEE has failed to ensure that businesses that are completely black-owned grow and get listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). 'There is a view that it hampers the development of black companies,' he said. ALSO READ: Economists question if SA has a plan for US tariffs, Tau says here it is Economists weigh in Meanwhile, economist Makwe Masilela told The Citizen that he believes that the policy should not be scrapped. 'The issue with B-BBEE is that it's perceived to benefit the few, and honestly, there's some element of truth in that. 'But that doesn't mean it must be scrapped instead. We need to make sure that the implementation thereof gets done in such a way that the policy meets the intended purpose. 'I guess just like any other policy, if not implemented correctly or allowed to be abused, then it's expected that people will start to be against it,' he said. Another economist, Dawie Roodt, said the problem with B-BBEE is that it was now empowering the rich. 'It does not empower the majority of people but it empowers that few select individuals who are fabulously rich, so we have to get rid of this nonsense called BEE and ensure that government empowers its citizens and not a select few. 'It turned out completely wrong and I am opposed to the way we apply BEE in South Africa,' he said. According to Roodt, real empowerment means equipping the country's citizens with skills and education. He said a functional state that delivers services will create a conducive environment where black people can prosper. NOW READ: DA declares war on B-BBEE system
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
We should all embrace the national dialogue
As the 2030 deadline for the 20-year National Development Plan draws near, the time has come to draft a path forward for the next 30 years 10 August 2025 - 00:00 By LINDIWE MAZIBUKO I wonder how many of us still remember Constitutional Talk, the mid-1990s project of the Constitutional Assembly to engage with and solicit the views of South African people to aid the drafting of the constitution. After years of white minority rule, institutionalised injustice and oppression for the vast majority of society, South Africans were invited to contribute to the drafting of our nation's founding document. What followed was an unprecedented period of public participation and civic engagement...
