ANC KZN secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli will tomorrow release a report into the people who booed him and provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala when they showed support for former President Jacob Zuma who appeared in court today. This report, Ntuli told TimesLIVE, will show that people are being brought in "carrier bags" to destabilise KZN.

Former president Jacob Zuma will plead not guilty to corruption charges and he wants the state’s lead prosecutor, advocate Billy Downer, out.Zuma’s legal team will file papers on Wednesday in support of the objection against Downer leading the trial against him.In the papers, Zuma will state reasons for calling for Downer’s recusal from the proceedings.Zuma’s trial was expected to start on Monday in the Pietermaritzburg high court, but the court was informed that Zuma planned to object to Downer prosecuting him.Zuma’s lawyer, advocate Thabani Masuku, told the court Zuma was ready to proceed with the trial and that his objection should not be seen as sign that he was stalling.

Reverend Frank Chikane, the vice president of the SA Council of Churches, on Monday said he had heeded the call to come in for his Covid-19 vaccination on Monday as he was hoping it would inspire other elderly people to register and receive the jab.

Users of the popular WhatsApp messaging service have until this weekend to accept its updated privacy policy or risk living that “WhatsApp Lite” life.

The internet lost its mind earlier this year when WhatsApp announced changes to its policy, including that it could share limited user data with Facebook and its group firms.The backlash led to the service pushing back its deadline for agreeing to the terms to May 15. It also reassured users the update was focused on allowing users to message with businesses and would not affect personal conversations.The deadline is this Saturday, but what will happen if you decide to be a rebel and hold out on agreeing to the terms while still living your best blue-tick life?

Palestinian protesters threw rocks and Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets in clashes outside al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on Monday, as Israel marked the anniversary of its capture of parts of the city in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said more than 275 Palestinians were injured in the violence, and at least 205 of them were taken to hospitals. Several of the Palestinians were in critical condition and police said 12 officers were injured.Al-Aqsa, Islam's third-holiest site, has been a focal point of violence in Jerusalem throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The clashes have raised international concern.

Visual artist Loyiso Mkize grew up reading Batman comic books, and now he has had the opportunity of working with American company DC Comics which commissioned him to draw a character called Batwing for a Batman comic series.Mkize, 34, from Butterworth, in the Eastern Cape, said he received an e-mail from DC Comics editor Ben Abernathy earlier this year, telling him that there was a title they wanted him to work on.“I received an e-mail from Ben. He had been introduced to my work a few years ago from Comic Con Africa. He had been aware of my work in Kwezi [comic book] and all the stuff I did,” Mkize said.

Former president Thabo Mbeki yesterday told the ANC national executive committee that the governing party should prepare for a possible split caused by “irreconcilable ideological difference”.

Insiders told the Sunday Times that Mbeki made the comment in response to an input by NEC member Tony Yengeni at yesterday’s heated virtual meeting.

Yengeni had apparently said there were irreconcilable policy differences that existed within the party.

Insiders said Mbeki based his warning of a split on the fact that even late party president Oliver Tambo could not reason with the so-called ‘Gang of Eight’ who ended up being expelled from the party in 1975.

Co-chair of the ministerial advisory committee (MAC) on Covid-19, Professor Koleka Mlisana, says they will know this week whether the B.1.617 variant, which has been responsible for thousands of deaths in India, is present in the country.

Mlisana said SA's leading scientists remain concerned about a possible third wave and highlighted that Gauteng could likely see the worst of the it.

Meanwhile acting vice chancellor of research and innovation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Mosa Moshabela, said government should consider stricter measures given the recent upward trend in positive cases.

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule received a letter this week formally informing him that he has been suspended from the party. However, the suspension need not be permanent and the letter outlines the potential for an appeal process.  We caught up with Sunday Times political reporter Kgothatso Madisa, who has been following the “step-aside” issue, to explain the ins and outs of the suspension and what avenues Magashule will be able to pursue.

Princess Nondumiso Zulu, the daughter of Prince Vincent Zulu is heard in a leaked voice note, allegedly sent to the faction opposed to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

In the audio Princess Nondumiso can be heard claiming that the late Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu is the legitimate queen regent and the next Zulu king should come from her house.