The Weekend View

With the 2021 matric results due to be released in a few days, many deserving matriculants who passed with flying colours but do not qualify for limited national funding or bursaries to further their studies will be asking themselves, What now?

Scores of ANC supporters who had waited in anticipation for President Cyril Ramaphosa's January Eighth annual address, showcased their jubilation in many forms including song and dance. Some supporters who attended were dressed in exhuberent ANC regalia showcasing the colours of the party. Meanwhile small businesses outside the stadium say their businesses thrived on the day

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured ANC members that the party is doing all it can to make sure that emerges victoriously in the midst of all the challenges it is currently facing. This on the back foot of the release of the first part of the State Capture Report, which fingered a number of senior ANC officials. Ramaphosa delivered the January 8th statement, as part of the ANC's 110th birthday celebrations in Polokwane on Saturday.

Covid-19 hung like a threatening storm cloud over the 2021 school year - as it did in 2020. The discovery of new variants and increased COVID-19 infections resulted in a turbulent school year for both educators and learners. Many pupils endured the fallout from an unequal education system as thousands were unable to access online teaching or material on social media. Prabashini Moodley takes a look back at challenges of the 2021 academic year

As the investigation into the cause of the fire at parliament continues, we look at how those who work at the institution are coping with the aftermath. Workers union Nehawu Secretary at parliament Themba Gubula says many of their members have been traumatised.

City of Cape Town Mayor  Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City's Fire Department's  report into Parliament is not a substitute for a full forensic investigation into the cause of the fire. He says the report which could be helpful has already been submitted to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The report is accompanied by three other reports  on various  rescue service inspections on the Parliamentary precinct during the 2019, 2020 and 2021  State of the Nation Address events

African National Congress president, Cyril Ramaphosa says it is imperative for the party to be renewed in order to connect with the people. Ramaphosa delivered a prelude address to members of the business community at Polokwane in Limpopo last night on the eve of the January eight statement to celebrate the party's 110th anniversary. Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the annual January eight statement address at the Old Peter Mokaba stadium today. He says the decision on the strategy to renew and rebuild the ANC was reached during Thursday's National Executive Committee meeting.

The funeral service of seven family members, including four kids, who were shot and killed allegedly by another family member was held at Jimmy Jones village outside Malamulele in Limpopo. The deceased, Mpho Ndou, Portia Chauke, one-year old child Wanga Ndou, Rendani Ndou, Ndivhuwo Ndou, Dakalo Makondo-Ndou and Confidence Ndou, were shot dead on Christmas Day. Police suspect that the incident might have been caused by a family feud. 

The World Health Organization has missed its own deadline of having 40-percent of every country's adult population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021. Two years on and the pandemic continues to rage on as new emerging variants pose threats to bringing the virus under control. More than 287-million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded and nearly 5-and-half-million people have died since the virus first emerged in 2019. Noma Bolani filed this report, looking at the second year of biggest global public health crisis in modern times

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the public to honour the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu by championing the course of social justice that he tirelessly campaigned for during his entire life. He was speaking at the funeral service of the late Arch's funeral at the St Georges's Cathedral in Cape Town on Saturday. The funeral was attended by a number of dignitaries including former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe as well former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Lesotho's King Letsie 111, Reverend Allan Boesak and Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo among others. Tutu died in Cape Town last Sunday at the age of 90.