Latest news with #Joburg
Mail & Guardian
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Mail & Guardian
Dry humour isn't funny
Dribs and drabs: Suburbs in the east of Joburg have spent eight days and counting without water. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy It is early on Monday morning and I wake to the sound of a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning. This is followed by the unmistakable sound of raindrops on the roof. The promised cold front has arrived. Ignoring the icy cold I leap out of bed and rush outside barefoot to check that my primitive water collection system is in place. The old plastic rubbish bin and the vintage zinc bathtub have to be positioned correctly to catch the maximum amount of water running down from my leaking gutters. The reason for this frantic early morning activity is that our suburb is one of the many that have been affected by the ongoing water crisis. The east of Joburg has been particularly badly hit recently and I have not had water for at least eight days since the one day where there was a weak trickle from the taps. Before that there was no water for three or four days at a time and when there was water it was switched off at night in what Joburg Water terms 'throttling'. This violent-sounding nocturnal activity is to allow our much-abused reservoir to recover and fill to a level where at least some areas can get some water the next day. The result of this situation is that my vast collection of five-litre plastic bottles that I spent the summer months filling with rainwater has been depleted and flushing the toilet is becoming a problem. An attack by a nasty stomach bug that required multiple toilet flushings didn't help. So the unseasonal rainfall was perfectly timed but unfortunately it didn't last long and a pathetic amount of water was collected. Disconsolately I go back inside and check that there is enough water in the kettle for a cup of coffee, making sure to divert my eyes from the counter piled high with dirty dishes, pots, cutlery, glasses and mugs. To do the washing-up requires a visit to a friend's house to collect multiple bottles of water. Back home I must heat up water in the kettle and in pots on the stove to clear the unsavoury mess in the kitchen. Grudgingly I fill the dogs' water bowl while delivering a stern lecture on their reckless water consumption. I pour a small glass of water to wash down my blood pressure pills and make sure there is enough left to rinse after brushing my teeth. It is time for the first news diary meeting of the week and once again I tell my colleagues how lucky they are that this is a remote meeting and none of them have to be confined in a small office space with me. A daily shower in the morning is a distant memory so personal hygiene standards have dropped. There is a discussion about how the water crisis is a major story and we have to cover it. But we have done this so many times before that the problem is how to present it in a different way that will make people want to read it. There is no easy solution to this problem so I return to the kitchen in the hope that there is enough water in the kettle for a second cup of coffee. Like a moth to a flame I check on the Water Crisis: Time for Action WhatsApp group. There are 109 new messages, mostly from people saying that there is still no water in their street. There is a map with a growing red line marking the areas that don't have water. There are messages filled with angry words in capital letters. There are plans to hold protests and to visit the offices of those responsible for this shocking lack of basic services. There are many posts about the whereabouts of the elusive water tankers, and many pictures of people filling up containers. The unusual sight of people pushing wheelbarrows filled with plastic bottles down the tree-lined suburban streets has become a familiar one. And there are alarming stories about how air being pushed through the pipes keeps your meter ticking over even though there is no water. In among all this I come across an official statement: 'Today, MMC Jack Sekwaila conducted a site inspection at the Alexandra Park Reservoir with Johannesburg water officials, including Ops GM Mzakhwe Mtshweni. The visit formed part of the city's efforts to accelerate water recovery in affected areas and assess the condition of critical pipeline infrastructure. During the inspection, severe blockages were discovered — caused by illegal dumping, vandalism, and misuse of underground systems. In a concerning development, some underground chambers are being accessed and used as shelter by unhoused individuals, highlighting a deeper human and infrastructure crisis.' In desperate need of distraction I page through a cookery book looking for a new one-pot recipe to make for supper. Perhaps a hearty minestrone soup that the family can spoon from the communal pot. I need to shop for ingredients and the trip to the supermarket takes me down one of the main streets of the suburb. For more than a month it has been reduced to one lane by a series of large craters, the result of ongoing work to repair several sewage pipe leaks. It is not surprising to see nasty grey-green water bubbling up from a new hole in the road. The good news is that I have a gas stove to cook the meal on because there is another fault at the local substation and the power is out. At this stage it is like water off a duck's back.
News24
12-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
How Lotto was looted; Underworld murder-accused shot dead: Today's top 7 stories
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Scandals, shortlists, showdowns: Battle for Joburg's top job heats up - Floyd Brink, whose previous appointment as Johannesburg's city manager was ruled unconstitutional, is on the shortlist for the same position again. - The appointment process is under scrutiny due to concerns about transparency and governance, particularly regarding the potential involvement of controversial figures like Helen Botes. - Mayor Dada Morero aims to finalise the city manager appointment within two months amid ongoing legal battles and questions surrounding Brink's past tenure. Thahasello Mphatsoe/News24 WASTE LAND | Eight months on, Kagiso residents still live in sewage, despite mayor's promises - Mogale City residents are still dealing with sewage spills in their homes, despite promises from the mayor eight months ago. - The Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Plant is now releasing cleaner water into the nearby river. - Tourists are returning to attractions around the Cradle of Humankind. Gallo Images/Die Burger/Jaco Marais Underworld murder-accused Andre Naudé shot dead in Parow - Security company owner Andre Naudé was shot dead in Parow, Cape Town, on Thursday. - The shooting occurred on Voortrekker Road, and Cape Town's MMC for safety and security, JP Smith, deployed his team to the scene. - Naude was reportedly with his bodyguard at the time of the incident. KZN official trying to attack ex-DG in R100m fund squabble 'restrained' by guards - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli is set to launch a R100-million youth empowerment project amid allegations of irregularities in the selection process. - Former DG Nonhlanhla Mkhize allegedly faced intimidation and almost physical harm for blocking funding to unqualified companies, leading to her abrupt resignation. - ActionSA has requested a postponement of the beneficiary announcement pending an investigation into allegations of interference and irregularities in the appointment process. How Lotto was looted: Limpopo farm shows 4-step plan officials used to siphon funds - Investigations reveal a consistent pattern of Lottery fraud where grant money is channelled to corrupt non-profits and then to attorneys, used to purchase assets. - The SIU has identified a four-step playbook for looting Lotto funds: creating/hijacking a nonprofit, securing funding via internal players, diverting funds to a private company, and sending money to attorneys for asset purchases. - Despite freezing assets worth over R100 million, only R9.5 million in cash has been recovered, and few cases have reached the courts, highlighting the difficulty in prosecuting these crimes. Paul Harding/Gallo Images Proteas Day 1 review: Rabada carrying the weight of three Aussie quicks in WTC final - Kagiso Rabada's five-wicket haul wasn't enough as South Africa struggled against Australia's strong bowling attack on day one of the WTC final. - Australia's pace trio of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood outperformed South Africa, exposing their batting weaknesses and lack of support for Rabada. - Stuart Broad highlighted that Australia's advantage lies in having three top-tier bowlers compared to South Africa's reliance on Rabada alone. Motorpress
News24
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Kings of Joburg season 3 drops — Connie Ferguson and Malik Yoba bring the fire
Kings of Joburg, which premiered in December 2020, is now set to release its third season. The series features Connie Ferguson, who is also the executive producer, Zolisa Xaluva and Thembi Seete, among others. Ferguson says they invested in the show because they believed it was not a one-hit wonder. Season 3 of one of SA's most loved series, the star-studded Kings of Joburg, hits Netflix screens in just a few hours. Executive producer, Connie Ferguson, led a tight ship and kept this going even after her husband Shona's passing in 2021. The iconic actress, who plays Veronica Masire in the series, said that, although viewers thought they knew what to look forward to, based on the first two seasons, they were in for a surprise. Supplied Season 3 will see the Masire family facing new challenges and an enemy who wants to take down their empire. When asked whether they had expected Kings of Joburg to gain momentum the way it had, the former Generations and Generations: The Legacy actress laughed and said: 'Definitely!' She said they believed in the show and were willing to invest in it and the partnerships went a long way. We hoped for it. We had high expectations, but you never know how the public will receive it. It was a risk, what we did with Kings of Joburg [season] 1, but how it was received was such a pleasant surprise because it said to us, we were on the right track. Connie Ferguson She added that, when they developed the first season, they had other seasons in the pipeline. She said season 1 had been a test and they had passed it with flying colours. Ferguson, who recently celebrated her 55th birthday, shared that Netflix was a supportive partner and her US co-executive producer, Samad Davis, brought knowledge about the international film and television space. 'Our approach of bridging the gap between SA, the rest of Africa and America paid off. We didn't know how that would be received, but it was received very well. As much as Kings of Joburg is a South African show, we believe it is a world show.' Ferguson said season 3 would showcase how her character had developed and would do anything to protect her family. Supplied Part of Veronica's development includes revealing her sensitive and loving side. This will introduce US actor Malik Yoba, who plays Isador, Veronica's love interest. Yoba, who was in SA for the season 3 press junket, the launch and Ferguson's birthday party, said he was honoured to be part of the show. He said filming on the continent as an African American was also an honour. 'I don't think I have done this before in a character, where a woman holds the power and the man is in support of that power, which is a nice dynamic.' The actor said his first visit to Johannesburg had been in 1996, adding that this was his sixth. Supplied Veteran actor Abdul Khoza shocked many in May when he announced that he had quit acting after 14 years of bringing different characters to life. At the time, he also shared his last self-tape audition, saying it was for aspiring actors to see what it took to get a role. Talking about his character Lester in Kings of Joburg, Khoza said he experienced physical strain and endurance. In this season, Lester had had to run and fight a lot, but he did his best. 'It was exciting to play Lester. I enjoyed that there was a story for me to finally play as Lester and discover more of Lester myself. With the first season, I only had a glimpse of what my character was really about, the story I had,' he said. Thembi Seete, Busisiwe 'Cici' Thwala, Clint Brink, Enyinna Nwigwe, Maurice Paige and Zolisa Xaluva round up the cast. Season 3 was launched in Sandton last week, with Ferguson assuring viewers that this would be the most thrilling and amazing project. The new series starts streaming on Netflix on Friday.
The Herald
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald
Connie Ferguson speaks on how she is taking SA to the world with 'Kings of Joburg' season 3
When King of Joburg made its debut on Netflix in 2020, it changed the tapestry of South Africa's film industry, transcending conventional boundaries. Ahead of the premiere of its highly anticipated third season, the executive producer of the show, actress Connie Ferguson has spoken about what people can expect to see in the action-packed show. 'There was only one objective [with season 3], it was to outdo season one and season two. We had exceptional seasons but this is our third. We had a lot of learnings from season one and season two, now we had to come back and show exactly what the kings of Joburg are made of,' she told TshisaLIVE. 'Based on season one and season two, you guys think you know what to expect but trust me, you do not know what's coming. It's an all-round entertaining and adrenaline rush type of show, something that you've never seen before in SA, that's all I can say.' Connie went on to speak about the vision and journey of Ferguson Films with the show. 'You can achieve so much more when you collaborate with other people when you are not working on your own. Ferguson Films has done a lot of local productions working with my late husband Shona Ferguson and myself. 'We created Kings of Joburg, we had a bigger picture, we wanted to cross over the borders of SA, we didn't just want to focus locally. We got together with the producer Samad Davids, we sat, brainstormed together, talked about taking SA to the continent and to the world, and bringing the world to SA. I believe that's exactly what we did with this show.' The series has featured American stars. American actress and director Terri J. Vaughn played a pivotal role and now, in this coming season, Malik Yoba is set to make his debut on the show. American film producer and director Samad Davis, who has always been part of the show, spoke of how he's proud to see and be a part of something that can compete internationally. 'Hollywood is not a destination, it's a level of execution. This is Hollywood, this is what Hollywood is about. It's not about making it to LA, it's about doing great work where you are. These actors can work anywhere on this planet and they are fantastic. Just as much as we have rockstars on the show, there are other people working hard behind the scenes.'
TimesLIVE
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Connie Ferguson speaks on how she is taking SA to the world with 'Kings of Joburg' season 3
When King of Joburg made its debut on Netflix in 2020, it changed the tapestry of South Africa's film industry, transcending conventional boundaries. Ahead of the premiere of its highly anticipated third season, the executive producer of the show, actress Connie Ferguson has spoken about what people can expect to see in the action-packed show. 'There was only one objective [with season 3], it was to outdo season one and season two. We had exceptional seasons but this is our third. We had a lot of learnings from season one and season two, now we had to come back and show exactly what the kings of Joburg are made of,' she told TshisaLIVE. 'Based on season one and season two, you guys think you know what to expect but trust me, you do not know what's coming. It's an all-round entertaining and adrenaline rush type of show, something that you've never seen before in SA, that's all I can say.' Connie went on to speak about the vision and journey of Ferguson Films with the show. 'You can achieve so much more when you collaborate with other people when you are not working on your own. Ferguson Films has done a lot of local productions working with my late husband Shona Ferguson and myself. 'We created Kings of Joburg, we had a bigger picture, we wanted to cross over the borders of SA, we didn't just want to focus locally. We got together with the producer Samad Davids, we sat, brainstormed together, talked about taking SA to the continent and to the world, and bringing the world to SA. I believe that's exactly what we did with this show.' The series has featured American stars. American actress and director Terri J. Vaughn played a pivotal role and now, in this coming season, Malik Yoba is set to make his debut on the show. American film producer and director Samad Davis, who has always been part of the show, spoke of how he's proud to see and be a part of something that can compete internationally. 'Hollywood is not a destination, it's a level of execution. This is Hollywood, this is what Hollywood is about. It's not about making it to LA, it's about doing great work where you are. These actors can work anywhere on this planet and they are fantastic. Just as much as we have rockstars on the show, there are other people working hard behind the scenes.'
