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TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Amanda Black, Yaya Mavundla, Rosie Motene and more talk Women's Day
In light of Women's Month celebrating the strides made by South African women, August 9 has become the most important day to honour these achievements and acknowledge the progress. TimesLIVE Premium tasked five women in various fields to discuss the progress made and whether Women's Day is still a calendar date worth celebrating. For singer and songwriter Amanda Black, the day is no longer celebrated because it is on the calendar. 'Women are the source of life, nurturing and creativity. The womb is a sacred space where our imagination first sparks and where healing takes place. By embracing and celebrating women's lives, we can overcome the negativity that roams among us, including jealousy and hatred, and instead foster a culture of love and support,' she said. She said women need to be celebrated every day, as one month is not enough to dedicate to the strides they have made. The same sentiment is held by Rosie Motene, a pan-Africanist queer writer, activist and life coach, who is a survivor of multiple forms of abuse that she experienced in the media space. She said an important facet of healing from the tribulations of womanhood comes from understanding each violation has its weight, its own timeline and a unique pathway to healing. 'When I resigned from a production [ Zabalaza ] in 2015, I felt that the channel [Mzansi Magic] should be commended for how they handled the situation. They did not try to silence me. Instead, they gave me a platform to tell my truth after both the producer and my then-agent lied about the circumstances — the channel's decision was to respect my voice, rather than cover up the truth. This was a rare and powerful example of accountability in an industry that too often protects perpetrators and punishes whistle-blowers,' she said Motene said it is also important for the media to stop lumping together all people who speak out; not everyone is ready to be called a 'survivor', and not everyone who shares their truth identifies as a victim. She said more women need to stop 'carrying a badge of resilience' as though it is a prize. For Motene, resilience has been weaponised against them and used to justify women's continued suffering. For Motene, a revolution lies in demanding healing. 'Women deserve to rest, to laugh without guilt, to cry without apology and to live without constantly having to prove their worth or justify their pain.' Yaya Mavundla, who is a multi-award-winning activist, described her struggles as a transgender woman in South Africa. Having faced rejection and transphobia, she feels society does not allow transgender people to exist freely, even though they face similar issues. Mavundla said ignorance towards transgender women in South Africa, especially on Women's Day, is still an issue, and it needs those who have a voice and the media to have conversations so society understands that transgender women belong. 'Transgender women are women, they are not men or the other. Therefore, trans women have the right to celebrate Women's Day.' While the march to the Union Buildings in 1956 saw women of different races unite against the oppressive dompas, protest culture has since morphed and has created an apathy around its efficacy in the modern context. For Palesa Musa, an activist who was detained at age 12 for her involvement in the 1976 Soweto uprising, protests are still a valid way to fight oppressive systems, and it's important to continue the same tactics such as closing down shops to ensure women's voices will be heard. 'Women must speak up and take to the streets. We fought for democracy, and we were heard. Yes, police were fighting us, and yes, it wasn't easy, but we tried. Young people must stay in school, study hard because education is key,' she said
TimesLIVE
31-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
Search still on for kidnapped Pretoria businessman Jerry Boshoga: police
Police have dismissed claims circulating on social media that kidnapped businessman Jerry Boshoga has been found dead. Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed on Thursday the investigation into his kidnapping was still at a sensitive stage and that the businessman had not yet been found. 'We call on all social media users to stop the spread of unverified information. Social media users are also urged to spare a thought for the family of the victim. The spreading of such misleading information has caused unnecessary trauma, panic and anxiety for close family members including his mother, wife and children,' she said. Mathe said police were in close contact with the family and if there were any developments in the case, the family would be the first to be notified by the investigating team. Boshoga, from Silver Lakes, Pretoria, was kidnapped in Centurion in November last year and his kidnappers demanded a R10m ransom, sending videos to the family purporting to show him being tortured. TimesLIVE Premium reported that Boshoga was last seen in November 2024 after he said he had to meet someone in Rooihuiskraal, Centurion. His brother struggled to get hold of him and while trying to trace his location, his wife received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number with a voice note from Boshoga saying: 'I've been kidnapped.'
TimesLIVE
09-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Beware the Trumps and Musks who ‘win elections', or suffer straatmeid antics
Before the Donald Trump-Elon Musk straatmeid fight eight days ago, just before the Trump-Musk marriage-in-hell broke open, I penned an anticipatory column on TimesLIVE Premium ( Little did I know everything that could go wrong with democracy would go really wrong in the US. It was a real dance to the Kay Invictus instrumental song titled Straatmate. Trump and Musk livened it up with straatmeid lyrics. ..
TimesLIVE
29-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
No timelines set for trade deals with US, says Ntshavheni
The government has put no timelines to its discussions on bilateral trade agreements with the US. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday there can be no deadlines attached to any clinched deals as agreements will be staggered. 'There is a basket of offerings that have been tabled through the department of trade, industry and competition, working with the department of mineral resources & energy, department of agriculture, and other departments.' According to the minister, the various deals will be signed as they are finalised. 'There are many discussions taking place, for example on poultry, pork and citrus. If we close a deal on pork tomorrow, because we are a net importer of pork, why should it wait for a discussion on energy and gas that may only be closed in two months' time? 'So as the deals and areas of agreements are reached, they will be implemented. The US remains one of our strategic partners so we will want to work and conclude those as speedily as possible.' President Cyril Ramaphosa led a delegation, which included Ntshavheni, to the White House to reset and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries after allegations of persecution of white South Africans by US President Donald Trump's administration. 'The issue of relations between South Africa and the US was an issue that occupied the minds of many people in our country. Many were concerned about the deteriorating relationship between our two countries, having recognised the important roles we play in each other's economies, apart from various political and diplomatic relations,' said Ramaphosa earlier this week. Ntshavheni reported the two countries will discuss not only tariffs but also non-tariff barriers. 'We have proposed that we need a quarter of 40,000 vehicles manufactured in South Africa to enter the US in the current no tariff arrangement. There was a discussion about critical minerals, which is in everybody's interest, but you'll recall that in the previous cabinet meeting we approved a critical minerals strategy driven from the fact that we are no longer exporters of sand and rock. 'We are going to beneficiate at source or nearest to source and that discussion must be framed within the provision of our critical minerals strategy. There are licensing requirements to mine in South Africa and we have indicated that if they want to mine they must partner with those who already hold exploration or mining licences.' She said cabinet welcomed the 'reset of strategic relationships' between Pretoria and Washington, adding they look forward to the US' continued participation. 'The South African and US teams will finalise the details of trade deals. It is safe to emphasise the objectives South Africa had set have been met,' said Ntshavheni. Trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau previously told TimesLIVE Premium South Africa submitted to the US government a framework that seeks to balance and promote bilateral trade and investment. 'Given that the expectation from the US side was for countries to address the issues around trade deficit and non-tariff barriers to trade, the framework includes elements that address these issues and will be subject to negotiations between our two countries. 'The elements include procurement of gas from the US, addressing agricultural market access from both sides, promoting two-way investment, co-operation on critical minerals, co-operation among our development finance institutions and discussion on tariffs — in a manner that protects the common external tariff — and digital trade. All this will be done in a manner that preserves regional integration and industrial capabilities. The request from the South African side, among others, is for a maximum tariff of 10% while the two countries conduct negotiations,' Tau said. He added that the gas element of the package was twofold. 'First, to work on import of gas from the US to ensure security of supply and cater for domestic needs. Further, given the discovery of shale gas in South Africa, there is a need for co-operation on technologies,' Tau said.
TimesLIVE
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Amapiano star Vigro Deep takes over the Big Apple
South African amapiano star DJ and producer Vigro Deep (real name Kamogelo Phetla) took over Brooklyn, New York, at the weekend. The headline act of the Descendants: Afrohouse & Amapiano Experience at SILO in Brooklyn, Vigro performed for his first time in New York to a sold-out capacity show on Saturday night which also included DJs Meedy, Ethan Tomas, Vonnie Mack and Pizzi on the decks. The son of South Africa's renowned DJ Spring (Victor Ngcongwana), one of the founding members of the legendary Godfather of Deep House Collective, Vigro experimented with sounds at a young age and attributed his success to his father. 'My dad's influence played a big part, as he's seen as a legend in house music in South Africa — so that really already set the ball in how my work ethic should be,' he told TimesLIVE Premium. 'I got used to spending hours perfecting beats and understanding the emotional side of music too, not just the technical.' When asked about what's going through his mind when he's behind the decks and the crowd is vibing, the 23-year-old star from Atteridgeville, Pretoria, said: 'In those moments, I'm locked in. It's almost spiritual. 'I'm reading the energy of the crowd, but also letting the music speak through me. I don't overthink — I feel. That connection between me and the people, is what fuels every drop, every transition. And I'm always making sure I have fun. It's important for the crowd to see that I'm enjoying it as much as they are.'
