Suspended National Lotteries Commission (NLC) company secretary Nompumelelo Nene has been ordered to pay punitive costs in her failed urgent legal bid to halt disciplinary proceedings against her. In March, Nene’s urgent application was struck from the roll by Johannesburg High Court Judge Stuart Wilson after finding it was without merit. At that time, the judge ordered her attorneys to make submissions as to why they should not pay the costs personally and on a punitive scale. But in his ruling, he has now put the blame for the hopeless application on Nene herself, saying as an admi ..read more

The constitutional court will hear the appeal filed by the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) against the Electoral Court ruling that Jacob Zuma qualified to be a parliamentary candidate for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party in the May elections. The court on Tuesday directed that answering affidavits be filed on or before Thursday. The IEC approached the apex court on an urgent basis ten days ago. In its founding affidavit, it said every argument that the former president’s fledgling party used to overturn a decision by the IEC that his criminal record disqualified him from becoming a member of p ..read more

A painting by symbolist icon Gustav Klimt that reappeared after nearly a century will be sold at auction in Vienna on Wednesday despite questions surrounding its provenance. “Bildnis Fraeulein Lieser” (Portrait of Miss Lieser) was commissioned by a wealthy Jewish industrialist’s family and painted by Klimt in 1917 shortly before he died. The unfinished portrait of a dark-haired woman was likely last seen at a Viennese exhibition in 1925. It reemerged this year when auction house im Kinsky announced its sale. “No one expected that a painting of this importance, which had disappeared for 100 yea ..read more

This year we celebrate 30 years of democracy, the freedom for all citizens as equals and the end of a despotic government in which only some were free.  But, through the years it appears that there is not always a clear understanding of what the term “freedom” means and what it entails. It has two different meanings: 1) freedom from something and, 2) freedom to decide one’s own destiny.   Freedom from something refers to aspects such as freedom from oppression and from a despotic government. In South Africa, obtaining this freedom required many years of struggle, costing the per ..read more

The US Federal Reserve’s ‘higher for longer’ stance and local election jitters have weighed on the rand, adding to price pressures This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: - M&G newsletters access - notifications - the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and ..read more

Despite being labelled a flight risk by law enforcement agencies, Howard Mashaba has been given a suspended fine of R40 000 for failing to detail previous fraud convictions when applying for bail in a separate matter involving Absa in May 2019. Mashaba faces a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) inquiry into national lotteries corruption totalling R34 million, and has three criminal records, including a September 2008 fraud conviction. On Monday, magistrate Phindi Keswa sentenced him in the Johannesburg commercial crimes court for the contempt of court charge after he had failed to disclose that ..read more

Africa’s Travel Indaba is expected to inject at least R1.2 billion into South Africa’s economy when it hosts the continent’s tourism offerings in Durban next month. The 13 to 16 May event is forecast to match or surpass last year’s forum which — according to a post event survey — generated R408.6 million in revenue directly to the local economy and a further R776.4 million in indirect or induced revenue, Deputy Tourism Minister Fish Mahlalela said. “Additionally, the event contributed R75 million to national government taxes and, despite the subdued economic environment, we are confident that ..read more

Make use of Artificial Intelligence to get the smart security solutions you need In a country renowned for its high crime rate, Xiaomi AIoT indoor and outdoor smart cameras offer a range of features that make them ideal for South Africans seeking reliable, affordable home security solutions that are easy to use via the Mi Home app. From their high-quality video recording capabilities to their integration with other smart devices, Xiaomi AIoT cameras provide a comprehensive and convenient way to monitor your home. Just install the Mi Home app to control all your smart appliances and devices fro ..read more

Abahlali BaseMjondolo, the mass based movement organising residents of informal settlements, has decided to back the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the 29 May national and provincial elections. The decision is a boost for the Red Berets as Abahlali has more than 120 000 signed up members in the Durban area alone — and has expanded its footprint to informal settlements and farms around KwaZulu-Natal since it was launched in 2005. The movement initially boycotted elections, but backed the Democratic Alliance in 2014, hoping that this would benefit its members living in shack settlements arou ..read more

Visit Cloud Essentials press office Set Microsoft 365 Copilot free with confidence in your data protection strategy. Microsoft 365 Copilot promises to enhance productivity and creativity, encouraging collaboration; a whole new way to work. Generative AI offers exciting, competitive-edge advantage to organisations able to harness its power. But we’ve also all heard the warnings about the risk to data privacy by allowing Copilot free rein across your data estate. So how do you know when you’re ready to implement Microsoft 365 Copilot with confidence that your data protection strategy will stand ..read more