With only 14 days to go until South Africans are expected to head to the polls for this year’s local government elections, questions around safety and procedures are without doubt top of mind.

Being the first time citizens are headed to the polls during a pandemic, it is natural to expect there should be some changes in procedure when voting this year.

Mawethu Mosery, deputy chief electoral officer at the Electoral Commission (IEC), explains the health and safety precautions that will be taken at polling stations and what role, if any, vaccine certificates will play during your voting experience.

David Higgs, South Africa’s most genial version of celebrity chef has not watched Squid Games, the bloodthirsty Korean series at the top of the global Netflix popularity contest when he proposes that we meet for lunch at Banchan a Korean restaurant in Morningside. “I don’t usually eat out he says , my house is my safe space, I just love being at home with my dog.” But here we are here on a Monday – his only “free” day in the week on the recommendation of his friends and I am rather glad for it, given that we are living through a Korean moment and the traditional food being presented in a steady stream of fiery but subtle freshness by Jamie Jeong the general manager is outrageously delicious.

A police officer stationed in Durban's CBD was flagged down by the owner of Max's Lifestyle, Max Mqadi, after he was shot outside his establishment in Umlazi, south of Durban.

The unidentified cop radios in the call to control room saying that they have been flagged down by Mqadi who has been shot and requested them to escort him.

A police officer stationed in Durban's CBD was flagged down by the owner of Max's Lifestyle, Max Mqadi, after he was shot outside his establishment in Umlazi, south of Durban.

The unidentified cop radios in the call to control room that they are at Netcare Umhlanga Hospital where Mqadi is being admitted after he was shot multiple times in the legs and he is being rushed into hospital.

Former president Jacob Zuma says he remains a prisoner under very strict parole conditions and it feels like what house arrest and banning orders must have felt like during colonial and apartheid times.

The 79-year-old, who is on medical parole from a 15-month sentence for contempt of court, addressed supporters who gathered in Durban for his welcome home prayer via video.

He said something had gone “terribly wrong” in this country, as the “state has imprisoned me for contempt of court without trial”.

Disgruntled military veterans on Thursday night held ministers Thandi Modise and Mondli Gungubele hostage at the St George's Hotel, forcing police and security forces to intervene.

Speaking to media at the hotel, SAPS spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo confirmed that police had “penetrated the room where the hostages were being held”, and that no shots were fired.

The state has highlighted how murder accused Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu’s modus operandi was similar in several of the cases where she lost loved ones under brutal circumstances.

Delivering closing arguments in the Gauteng High Court, prosecutor Riana Williams said the pattern observed was that the Thembisa-based former policewoman was seemingly the last person to see her relatives alive, or she was the first one to notice them missing and report it before them being found dead.

Reporting from the courthouse, reporter Naledi Shange updates us on all we need to know about the case, ahead of next week's sentencing.

Alleged killer cop Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu’s return to the high court on Thursday coincides with the sixth anniversary of the murder of her lover, Maurice Mabasa.

Speaking to TimesLIVE on Wednesday, Maurice’s brother Justice said they needed more than justice for Maurice, they needed answers — if it was proven that it was Ndlovu behind the murder.

As scores of former president Jacob Zuma supporters were expected to descend to People’s Park at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Thursday, it remains to be seen whether the man of the hour will himself be present.

Some family members who spoke to TimesLIVE on Wednesday said there was confusion over the planned “welcome prayer”, as the former head of state was expecting a visit from religious leaders at his homestead in Nkandla, in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal, on the same day.

During a press briefing last week, Jacob G Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said he could not confirm if Zuma would be at the event.

One beaten into a coma; another doused in acid; a third slipping from a second storey flat window as she tried to escape her attacker.

These Gauteng women are tallied among the increase in violent attacks against women – and police are seemingly not always prepared to help.