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Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalless draw with Richards Bay last Sunday was the first time Miguel Cardoso’s team has gone without a victory in consecutive matches during the Portuguese tactician’s tenure.

Sundowns had, of course, also played to a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch mid-week, which resulted in the champions leaving four valuable Betway Premiership points on the table.

The consequence is that Sundowns have failed to overtake Orlando Pirates at the top of the table, with the Buccaneers holding onto a slender one-point lead, despite themselves being held to a stalemate in the Soweto derby.

Sundowns still have a game in hand on Pirates, but the pressure has certainly been ramped up on the Brazilians to return to winning ways when they face Polokwane City at the Seshego Stadium on Wednesday. It will be no easy task, with “Rise and Shine” filled with confidence after their morale-boosting victory over Stellenbosch over the weekend.

Bafana Bafana right-back Khuliso Mudau believes the key to Sundowns returning to winning ways is by shutting out the growing outside noise.

“We're taking one game at a time. We're not pushing ourselves under pressure,” Mudau said. “I think it's very important in a situation like this to calm down and focus more on ourselves, not on other things that are happening.

“Obviously, with Polokwane City, I think it's going to be a difficult game, to be honest, but I believe everyone is ready for the game tomorrow. It's going to be a tough one, but we have to go there and make sure that we make ourselves, our supporters, and our families back home happy. Because it's very important. I mean, we played two draws in a row. It's unlike us, but, yeah.”

Due to Sundowns’ involvement in the CAF Champions League final, they will, in fact, be playing Polokwane City back-to-back in the Premiership.

The first instalment is in Limpopo on Wednesday with the 15,000-capacity Seshego Stadium, situated in the heart of the Seshego township, set to be transformed into a cauldron—much like Sundowns experienced last Sunday when they faced Richards Bay at a sold-out Umhlathuze Sports Complex.

Mudau, though, promised the Masandawana will be going full tilt on the road before the return fixture at Fortress Loftus on Sunday.

“There's no reserving yourself at Sundowns. We want to win every match,” he said. “Obviously, playing them two times home and away, I mean, it's going to be an advantage because they’re playing at home. They're coming to Loftus also. It won't be nice. It's going to be difficult for both sides.”

Cardoso will have some pondering to do about his starting line-up after ace Colombian striker Brayan Leon missed the Richards Bay clash due to injury, while Brazilian Arthur Sales also limped off against the Natal Rich Boyz.

There was at least some positive news for Sundowns, as Namibian hitman Peter Shalulile made his return to action off the bench in KwaZulu-Natal after two months on the sidelines.

This story was originally posted by IOL

The rand is weakening as global uncertainty, rising oil prices and a stronger US dollar drive investors away from emerging market currencies ahead of an interest rate vote in the US.

The rand dropped to around R16.60 to the dollar by midday, after trading closer to R16.40 in recent days. However, it is still off its one-year low of more than R18 to the greenback.

Wichard Cilliers, head of Market Risk at TreasuryONE, said that US President Donald Trump remains unhappy with the latest proposal from Iran to end the war in the Middle East. Iran's latest proposal would set the discussion of its nuclear program aside until the war is ended and the US blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz is lifted.

Cilliers added that the rand was trading softer in line with broader market trends as the dollar firms and emerging market currencies decline. Trading Economics explains that traders are seeking refuge in the greenback amid ongoing Middle East uncertainty and rising oil prices

“The hopes for an early end are fading away, with the war continuing to disrupt energy supplies, raising fears of spikes in inflation,” Cilliers said.

Persistent volatility

According to Bianca Botes, MD of Citadel Global, volatility is expected to persist through a shortened trading week.

As an emerging-market currency, the rand is particularly vulnerable during periods of uncertainty, said Harry Scherzer, CEO of Future Forex. “The rand is especially vulnerable to shocks because investors typically dump riskier assets and rush into safe haven currencies when volatility spikes,” he said.

Scherzer added that South Africa’s reliance on fuel imports amplifies the impact of rising oil prices. “When the war premium pushes Brent crude above $120 per barrel… it tilts the trade balance and fuels domestic inflation,” he said.

Botes noted that the oil derivative had pushed higher again. “This morning, Brent crude is up just under 1%, trading at $109/barrel,” she said, adding that ongoing discussions around the conflict were containing some of the fallout.

Scherzer said that while, higher gold prices would normally support the rand, that effect has been limited. “Higher gold prices, normally a tailwind for the rand, have also been overwhelmed by dollar strength,” he said.

Trading Economics noted that prices of key precious metals such as gold fell, as investors weighed heightened inflation concerns ahead of key central bank decisions. The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady this week.

This article was originally posted by IOL

Calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty in South Africa grew louder following the brutal murder of the Monswamy family on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. However, legal experts say bringing it back would be extremely difficult under the Constitution.

“Legally, reinstating the death penalty in South Africa is theoretically possible, but in practice it would be extraordinarily difficult,” explained Dr Suhayfa Bhamjee, the discipline head of public law and a senior lecturer in criminal law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Hundreds of South Africans took to social media, calling for capital punishment for the three men accused of killing Alan Monswamy, 52, his wife Sandy, 57, their children Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20, as well as relatives Gonosagren Padayachee, 51, Mooniamma Padayachee, 78, and 83-year-old Mariama Happanah. The family was allegedly kidnapped from their home in Newtown, Newark, before being taken to Melmoth, where they were killed.

Bhamjee said the public reaction to crimes like the Monswamy massacre was entirely understandable.

Dr Suhayfa Bhamjee, the discipline head of public law and a senior lecturer in criminal law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

 “When violence is this extreme, it shatters families and communities, and it exposes a very real fear that nobody is safe. Calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty come from grief, anger and desperation - not ignorance. Those emotions should never be dismissed or trivialised.”

“At the same time, moments of collective trauma are precisely when it is most important to separate what feels like a solution from what actually makes societies safer,” she said.

Bhamjee explained that the Constitution prevents the death penalty from being brought back through ordinary legislation.

“In S v Makwanyane and Another (1995), the Constitutional Court held that capital punishment violates the rights to life and human dignity, as well as the prohibition on cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. Crucially, the judgment did not turn on procedural defects in the way executions were carried out, but on a principled rejection of state-sanctioned killing as incompatible with a constitutional democracy founded on dignity, accountability, and restraint of power.”

 “As long as these rights remain protected in the Constitution, the death penalty cannot be reintroduced through ordinary legislation, regardless of how heinous a particular crime may be or how strong public pressure becomes,” she said.

Reinstatement would require a constitutional amendment, supported by at least a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and six provinces in the National Council of Provinces.

“Even if these thresholds were met, such an amendment would almost certainly face constitutional challenge, because the rights to life and dignity lie at the heart of South Africa’s post-apartheid constitutional settlement.”

“This is therefore not merely a policy question. It would require the country to reverse fundamental moral and legal commitments made in response to a history of systemic state violence and abuse of power,” Bhamjee said.

She said South Africa’s abolition of the death penalty was not naïve idealism.

“It was a deliberate constitutional choice to reject state violence as a response to crime, informed by a history in which coercive power was repeatedly abused.”

Furthermore, reintroducing capital punishment would not address the real drivers of violence: systemic inequality, inadequate policing capacity, investigative failures, overloaded courts, and insufficient victim support.

“It would shift focus away from institutional reform and toward a punishment that offers emotional satisfaction without empirical benefit. The moral question is not whether public anger is justified - it unquestionably is - but whether expanding the state’s power to kill will make anyone safer. The evidence suggests it will not.”

“The harder, necessary work lies in building a criminal justice system that is effective, accountable and humane - one that honours victims not through execution, but through justice that is certain, visible and enduring,” Bhamjee said.

She said countries with the death penalty are not safer.

“Globally, more than 110 countries have abolished the death penalty, while approximately 54 countries continue to use it. Many of the highest-executing countries - including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Somalia, and parts of the United States - continue to experience significant levels of violent crime and political violence.”

Large-scale comparative research found no credible evidence that retention of the death penalty is associated with lower homicide rates.

“In fact, jurisdictions without capital punishment frequently report lower murder rates than comparable jurisdictions that retain it, even within shared cultural or legal contexts.”

“Decades of deterrence research have likewise failed to show that the death penalty deters violent crime more effectively than long-term imprisonment. The evidence consistently points in the opposite direction: certainty of punishment matters far more than its severity,” said Bhamjee.

This article was originally posted by IOL

Freedom Day Celebration in Prieska Marks Progress and Youth Focus

The spirit of freedom and reflection took centre stage in Prieska as residents gathered to commemorate Freedom Day, with this year’s event described as a resounding success.

Observed annually on 27 April, Freedom Day remains a powerful reminder of South Africa’s journey from apartheid to democracy. It honours the resilience and sacrifices of those who fought tirelessly against unjust laws, paving the way for the rights and freedoms enjoyed today.

Addressing a large crowd at Gariep High School, Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul placed strong emphasis on the role of young people in shaping the province’s future. Speaking directly to learners and youth in attendance, he urged them to avoid alcohol and drug abuse, highlighting education as a key driver for personal growth and regional development.

Saul stressed that investing in education is critical to unlocking opportunities and building a stronger Northern Cape. His message resonated with many young attendees, reinforcing the importance of discipline and long-term vision in a rapidly changing society.

The Premier also reflected on the significance of Freedom Day itself, noting the strides government has made in improving the lives of citizens since the dawn of democracy. While acknowledging ongoing challenges, he pointed to progress in service delivery and development initiatives across the province.

“Ours is a young democracy, hard-earned by sweat and blood,” he said, reminding attendees that the freedoms celebrated today come at a great historical cost.

The event brought together community members, government officials, and young people in a shared moment of remembrance and celebration. Cultural expressions, speeches, and community engagement activities added to the atmosphere, reinforcing unity and pride.

As South Africa continues to navigate its democratic journey, commemorations such as these serve not only as a tribute to the past, but also as a call to action for the next generation to build on that legacy.

This was originally posted on Northern Cape Provincial Government Facebook page.

SAACYF Applauds Khadeair’s Metro FM Recognition While Raising Alarm Over Artist Exploitation

The South African Arts & Culture Youth Forum has congratulated rising Free State musician Nyakallo Tlale, popularly known as Khadeair, on his standout nominations at the Metro FM Music Awards, while simultaneously raising serious concerns about alleged exploitation of artists within funding processes.

Hailing from Botshabelo, Khadeair earned three major nominations—Best Dance, Best New Artist, and Song of the Year—for his amapiano hit Magumba. Although he did not take home an award, the forum described his recognition as a significant milestone, not only for the artist but for the Free State’s creative sector as a whole. His success has placed both Botshabelo and the province more firmly on the national music map, offering inspiration to young creatives from township and rural communities who aspire to break into the industry.

SAACYF emphasised that achievements like Khadeair’s highlight the depth of untapped talent across smaller towns and underscored the importance of continued investment and support for emerging artists. However, the celebration was accompanied by strong criticism over alleged unethical conduct in the arts funding space. The forum pointed to claims involving Ayanda Roda, who is said to represent artists through a so-called Free State Music Association, accusing him of allegedly submitting a funding proposal worth close to R150 000 to the Free State Provincial Arts & Culture Council on behalf of Khadeair without the artist’s knowledge or consent.

According to SAACYF, such practices—if proven true—reflect a broader and deeply concerning pattern of exploitation, where artists are used as instruments for personal gain. The organisation stressed that any funding application made in an artist’s name must involve their full, informed consent and active participation. It called for tighter oversight mechanisms and greater transparency to ensure that public funds reach their intended beneficiaries.

The forum also turned its attention to the media, raising concerns about the conduct of Mzwakhe Kachela from Lesedi FM, who was criticised for allegedly using his platform to pursue personal disputes. SAACYF urged media houses—particularly public broadcasters—to uphold professional and ethical standards, warning against the misuse of platforms in ways that could deepen divisions within the arts community.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting creatives, SAACYF encouraged artists who feel misrepresented or exploited to pursue formal complaint processes through relevant bodies, including the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa. The forum stressed that safeguarding artists is essential not only for individual careers but for the long-term sustainability and credibility of the sector.

While celebrating Khadeair’s national recognition, SAACYF’s message ultimately reflects a broader call for reform within the industry. The Free State, despite producing a wealth of talent, continues to grapple with limited resources, uneven access to opportunities, and governance challenges in arts funding. By speaking out, the forum hopes to drive accountability and foster an environment where young creatives can thrive without fear of exploitation.

As South Africa continues to celebrate its artists on major platforms, SAACYF’s intervention serves as both a tribute to emerging talent and a warning that success must be matched by fairness, transparency, and meaningful support for those striving to make their mark in the creative economy.

This article was originally posted by IOL