The Weekend View

Judges' Secretary, Andiswa Mengo's lawyers are gearing up to make submissions to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on the Judicial Conduct Tribunal Report outcome against Judge President Selby Mbenenge, which they charge "romanticises sexual harassment in the workplace". This, after the Tribunal Report recommended a lesser sanction of misconduct against the Eastern Cape's top judge, which effectively saves him from possible impeachment. The report is now in the hands of the JSC -- who hold the final cards on whether they will uphold the recommendation or reach a different conclusion. Canny Maphanga filed this report

Several communities across Gauteng say they are still battling with crippling water cuts and shortages, despite numerous government interventions over the past few years. Severely affected areas include Midrand, Melville, Selby, Sedibeng and Hammanskraal, amongst others. Water experts say ongoing water issues in the province can be directly attributed to a combination of ageing infrastructure and the lack of planning for the growing population of the province. Sashin Naidoo reports

SAPS Section Head for Quality Management Brigadier Rachel Matjeng concluded her testimony at the Madlanga Commission on Friday. Matjeng was extensively questioned about her relationship with Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. She testified that while she was in a romantic relationship with Matlala she did not assist him in attaining an SAPS tender. This despite overwhelming evidence suggesting her active involvement in Matlala's SAPS tender processes. Besides tender manipulation and romantic connections, Brigadier Rachel Matjeng's testimony was also peppered with other issues that ignited social media ranging from weight loss medication to Brazilian butt lifts. Our reporter Sibahle Motha gives us this report followed by a discussion with the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at the Nelson Mandela University, Professor Bheki Mngomezulu and Senior Researcher in the Centre of Criminology at the University of Cape Town, Dr Simon Howell

South Africa will pull all it's troops out from the DRC and end it's contribution to MONUSCO. In a statement released LAST NIGHT the Presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed United Nations Secretary‑Genera Antonio Guterres of government's decision to withdraw its contribution of 700 soldiers to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo - MONUSCO . South Africa will work jointly with the UN to finalise the timelines and other modalities of the withdrawal, which will be completed before the end of 2026. In a brief statement Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President acknowledges that budgetary considerations played a major part in the decision to withdraw. Bongiwe Zwane further engaged with by Ricardo Teixeira, Defence analyst at the Institute for Race Relations

Four years after a devastating fire ripped through South Africa's Parliament, destroying the National Assembly as well as the Old Assembly chambers and displacing lawmakers, a new chapter is beginning. On Friday, Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson handed over a newly constructed Dome to National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza. It's a temporary but fully functional structure that will host parliamentary sittings, including the upcoming State of the Nation Address debates. The project, completed in just more than ten weeks, is being presented as a critical step in restoring normal parliamentary business. Mkhokheli Bandla reports

Food insecurity in South Africa is worsening, even among households that are already receiving food aid. This is according to the latest report by FoodForward South Africa  in colloboration with the University of Cape Town's Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit. The report further revealed that seventy percent of surveyed households in the report face moderate to severe food insecurity while one in four go entire days without food. For more on this, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Fund Development Manager for FoodForward SA, Bobbie Jacobs

As South Africans continue to grapple with a high cost of living, the Department of Employment and Labour recently announced a 5% increase to the National Minimum Wage, raising it to R30.23 per hour effective 1 March 2026. While the government frames this as a necessary shield for vulnerable workers, critics argue that these figures still fall dangerously short of what is actually required to lead a dignified life in today's economy. Is this an effective step toward social justice, or are we simply formalising a 'poverty wage' that fails to cover basic essentials like food, transport, and electricity? To unpack the numbers and look at the human reality behind them, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Dr Dick Forslund, Senior Economist at the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) 

Thursday marked exactly ten years since the tragic incident where three Lily Gold Mine workers were swallowed alive during a mine collapse back in 2016. The bodies of Pretty Nkabule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda have never been retrieved since after a container they were working on fell into a sinkhole. The families of the three miners have since lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission accusing the NPA and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy of failing to take action against the mine's management. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the affected families' spokesperson, Harry Mazibuko 

With dry and hot conditions expected to persist in the Western Cape in the coming months,
provincial authorities are hopeful that during his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa will make an announcement on their call for a Disaster Declaration. This after the  wild fires that occurred in the province since October wrecked havoc, destroying thousands of hectares of vegetation and a number of properties. Tando Ntunja reports 

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games officially started in northern Italy YESTERDAY. Some 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries will compete on snow and ice over the next 15 days. South Africa is represented by its largest ever team at the Winter Olympics – with five athletes taking part.  Thomas Weir and Lara Markhaler will participate in Alpine skiing, Malica Malherbe in Freestyle skiing, Matthew Smith in Cross Country skiing and Nicole Burger in Skeleton. Skeleton is a winter sport which starts with the athlete standing and after the initial push, jumps face down onto a sled, descending the icy track at speeds of 130-140 km/hr and guiding the equipment using body movements. We wish our athletes all the best!!!!
Meanwhile...The 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, starts THIS MORNING in India and Sri Lanka.Twenty teams, including South Africa, will compete in the tournament. India are the defending champions, having won the previous edition in 2024 after defeating South Africa. The Proteas will face Canada on Monday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC Senior Sports Journalist, Samatha Marie