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Vuma FM clarifies Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's contract termination claims

Vuma FM clarifies Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's contract termination claims

IOL News4 days ago
According to Vuma FM, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's contract was coming to an end. The station says line-up changes are based on internal, annual evaluation and not influenced by any external party.
Vuma FM has come out fighting following claims it terminated Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's contract due to her links with the March on March movement.
In a short statement on Monday, the KwaZulu-Natal-based radio station 'set the record straight' explaining that Ngobese-Zuma was not dismissed but rather that, as an independent contractor, her contract had reached its natural conclusion.
"All of our presenter contracts are subject to annual renewal at the station's discretion, a standard practice in our industry.
"Vuma FM made the line-up based on internal, annual evaluation and not influenced by any external party," the radio station said.
It further thanked Ngobese-Zuma for her contribution to the station and wished her well in the future.
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New cryptocurrency may be aiding Russia to dodge sanctions
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New cryptocurrency may be aiding Russia to dodge sanctions

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Worrying drop in Durban business confidence index
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time15 hours ago

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Worrying drop in Durban business confidence index

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Next Stay Close ✕ This decline is primarily attributed to global uncertainties and animal diseases that affect production and market stability in the animal husbandry sub-sector. However, confidence in the agricultural sector was 1% higher in 2025Q2 than in the corresponding quarter in 2024. Manufacturing experienced a sharp decline in business confidence during the second quarter of 2025, with confidence in this sector dropping from 61.71 to 41.82 between the first and second quarters. Ongoing global trade uncertainty, weak domestic and global demand, high operating costs, infrastructure constraints, and logistical inefficiencies continue to be the main causes of this deterioration. The financial intermediation, insurance, real estate, and business services sector experienced a 2% contraction, declining from 54.85 in the first quarter of 2025 to 53.52 in the second quarter. This indicates that confidence in this sector was 0.96% lower compared to the same quarter in 2024. Business confidence in the electricity, gas, and water sector was also significantly low in the second quarter of 2025. The wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and personal and household goods, as well as catering and accommodation, recorded a 13% improvement in business confidence in the second quarter of 2025, rising from 43.79 in the previous quarter to 49.63 in the quarter under review. This improvement, the report said, is largely due to reductions in the cost of living, with inflation falling below the target range, coupled with the recent interest rate cut. However, this is countered by the increasing tax burden and the recent rise in the prices of petroleum products. The transport, storage, and communication sector recorded a 6% improvement in confidence, which was attributed to improved land cargo and air transport operations. The report also found that poor service delivery continues to be a concern for businesspeople in Durban. 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South African intellectuals propose new strategies for economic empowerment
South African intellectuals propose new strategies for economic empowerment

IOL News

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South African intellectuals propose new strategies for economic empowerment

Christo Van der Rheede hosted the FW De Klerk Foundation conference. Image: File A recent conference hosted by the FW de Klerk Foundation in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung brought together prominent South African intellectuals to discuss alternative ways to empower South Africans and stimulate economic growth. The Constitutional Rights conference, titled "Achieving an Inclusive Economy", featured panellists including Moeletsi Mbeki, Ashor Sarupen, Dr Celeste Campher, Ismail Joosub, and Professor William Gumede. One of the key topics discussed at the conference, hosted by its Executive Director Christo van der Rheede, was the need to rethink the current Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy. Mbeki, a prominent economist and businessman, argued that BEE has failed to achieve its intended goals and has instead created a culture of dependency among black professionals. Video Player is loading. 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Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "We have to repeal Black Economic Empowerment legislation," Mbeki said. 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Secondly, we need to reward skills training and reward employment so that empowerment becomes that if you employ young people.' Gumede said pragmatism was a philosophy that must be implemented in South Africa. 'From South Africa's point of view, we need to focus all our state, economic, and nation-building initiatives on pragmatism… We need to look at what works and what is in the interest of everyone. We need to remove anti-growth policies,' he said. The conference also discussed the need to reduce the public sector wage bill, which is seen as unsustainable and detrimental to economic growth. Campher, an economist and policy analyst, argued that the government should prioritise infrastructure development and job creation over social interventions. "The current public sector wage bill must be reduced drastically to afford the building of public infrastructure," Campher said. "Our roads, harbours, and railway system are in a dilapidated state and must be fixed." 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