'Senzo's killing ushered me to God'

The horror scene of the cold-blooded murder of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa still lingers in Sello "Chicco" Twala's son's memory. Longwe Twala was among those who witnessed the brutal killing of Meyiwa at Kelly Khumalo's Vosloorus home. Khumalo's children, Christian and Thingo, as well as her mother, Ntombi, and her sister Zandi were in the house during the shooting. In seeking help after the tragedy, Longwe has found solace in God.

Malema in dispute with rebel MP over legal bill

EFF MP Mpho Ramakatsa is faced with the prospect of paying off a legal bill close to R800000 after party leader Julius Malema washed his hands of him. Ramakatsa told Sowetan yesterday that Malema had undertaken to settle the bill he raked up in legal fees during his days in the ANC. In June 2012 Ramakatsa successfully took the ANC to court to overturn the outcome of the Free State elective conference where current chairman and premier Ace Magashule was re-elected. Yesterday Malema said the EFF paid R100000 towards Ramakatsa's bill after he approached the party for help.

Tide turning against Zuma in KZN - Politics | IOL News

For the first time in nearly nine years KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC’s biggest and most powerful province, appears to be fragmented and patchy, its closely-guarded unity having all but vanished. Gone are the days when KwaZulu-Natal jumped hurdle after hurdle in ensuring the tsunami that is President Jacob Zuma entrenched all political hegemony. With all 11 regions having held their conference and the eThekwini region emerging under murky conditions, it has become a known secret that the tide is turning. Provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala is known to be a Zuma man, but he is haplessly watching his grip slip as rebellion takes form.

Mugabe’s 91st birthday bash - PICS - Africa | IOL News

The elephant might have been in the room but it was not on the menu, after all, at Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s 91st birthday party at the Elephant Hills hotel in the country’s premier tourist attraction, Victoria Falls, on Saturday. Although Zanu PF supporter Tendai Musasa, who farms on disputed game land in the area, had promised to shoot a couple of elephant, buffalo, possibly a crocodile and other game for the dinner, none arrived at the hotel in the end. All 1060 hotel rooms were booked well before the festivities and the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe said “a couple of hundred” more rooms in the bed and breakfast lodges and rooms in private houses were also booked.

Petrol price hike: S.Africans urged to cut costs

As motorists brace themselves for next week’s fuel price increase, South Africans have been urged to find areas where they can cut their expenses. The Energy Department announced last night that the price of petrol will go up by 96 cents a litre while a litre of diesel will cost 74 cents more. The petrol price is expected to go up from 4 March and will be the first increase in the fuel price after it hit record lows last year. The last time petrol increased was in April last year by 7 cents a litre and before that in March when it increased by 36 cents a litre.

Lupita's Oscar gown returned - Tonight News

REUTERS Actress Lupita Nyong'o wears a Calvin Klein gown and Chopard diamonds as she arrives at the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. Los Angeles - The $150 000 Oscar gown worn by actress Lupita Nyong'o that was stolen two days ago was returned on Friday by the thief, who tipped off celebrity news site TMZ.com after learning the pearls on the dress were fake, according to officials and the website. TMZ said the thief took the Calvin Klein dress from Nyong'o's hotel room on Wednesday after finding the door ajar.

Envoy quiet after fake CV exposed - Politics | IOL News

South Africa’s ambassador to Japan, Mohau Pheko, was lying low on Friday after revelations that she claimed to have a doctorate on her CV that she never received. Amid calls from the opposition DA for her immediate recall and suspension, a tired-sounding Pheko initially answered a call from Independent Newspapers around 10pm Japanese time, but ended it abruptly when she was asked to confirm the story. The Financial Mail reported that Pheko had made the same claim on her CV when she was posted to Canada in 2010, but had corrected it when the Canadians raised the alarm. The Department of International Relations and Co-operation declined to comment, as did the Canadian high commission and the Japanese embassy.

'Isibaya' rocks Saftas

LOCAL soapie Isibaya continues its dominance on the small screen, scooping a handsome 12 nominations at last night's SA Film and TV Awards (Saftas). Isibaya competes with Rhythm City and Binnelanders in the Best TV Soap category. Isibaya actors also dominated. Bongani Gumede, who plays Mandla Ndlovu, is up against Jamie Bartlett of Isidingo and Motlatsi Mafatshe of Isidingo for the Best Actor in a Lead Role - TV soap award.

Home affairs loses millions in courts

THE Department of Home Affairs is wasting millions of taxpayers' money every year on court cases for matters that could be resolved easily by competent staff. Last year alone, said Nicola Lochner of Ashman Attorneys - who are in partnership with Immigration South Africa, the department spent more than R100-million on court battles. According to information on Immigration South Africa website, the department spent R46.3-million on legal costs in the 2011/2012 financial year. Applications are done through a private company but get lost when they reach the Department of Home Affairs.

8 injured in Randburg mall wall collapse

It's unclear what caused the collapse but it’s understood the site is under construction.

How AB beat gastro - Proteas Cricket

“He was lying on the couch (in the dressing room) half dead, and I was just going, ‘Abbas, come on boy, what can I get you, can I get you some Gatorade just to get the spice going?’ I was telling him he was making me tired just looking at him,” Rilee Rossouw quipped afterwards. Having already lost JP Duminy on account of a side strain, the absence of De Villiers would have left the batting seriously thin, and of course robbing the tournament of one of it’s great innings. Rossouw, De Villiers admitted, was the catalyst that ignited his thrilling late charge that took what had been a reasonably even contest well beyond the West Indies.

Tshwane cops raid ‘brothel’ - Crime & Courts | IOL News

Independent Media Tshwane Metro Police raid a house suspected of being run as a brothel and drug den in Rietondale. After days of monitoring an alleged brothel in Rietondale the Tshwane Metro Police Department pounced on Thursday night and arrested one person. Tshwane Metro Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the raids were part of the city’s efforts to ensure the capital city was free of criminal elements.

These Stunning Photographs From Around The World Are Shortlisted For Sony's Photo Award

Professionals and amateurs alike compete to be the world's best photographer.

18 Black Women Breaking Boundaries In The 21st Century

In 2000, Foster, who grew up in the segregated South, became the first black woman to be nominated for vice president by a Federal Election Commision-recognized and federally funded party. Simmons, formerly the president of Smith College, became the first black woman to head an Ivy League university when she became the 18th president of Brown in 2001.

19 Times Jennifer Lopez Proved She Was The Celeb Having The Most Fun On Instagram

Or 19 times we're reminded just how incredible it would be to live like J.Lo.

Black lawyers blast Mbete - City Press

Black lawyers’ organisations are furious that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, hires expensive, white-male advocates to win court cases involving Parliament. The chairperson of Advocates for Transformation, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, said the chief justice had repeatedly appealed to all sectors of government to promote the transformation of the legal profession by appointing black advocates, but it appeared even Parliament could not be bothered. “Sometimes, when you ask some government attorneys why they are not appointing black advocates, they say: ‘We want people who are going to win the case,’” Ntsebeza said.

No judging this weekend, says Kelly - Independent on Saturday | News