Doctor Khumalo’s football artistry made him a household name—now his legacy is sealed with an honorary doctorate. From heart-stopping goals to inspiring the next generation, his journey is a testament to passion and excellence. By Jabu Kumalo The ball wizardry from the educated feet of legendary former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana midfielder, Theophilus Doctor Khumalo, culminated in a crowning achievement: being honoured with a doctorate by the Tshwane University of Technology on Thursday, 30 April 2026 The tactical genius was awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Science: Kinesiology and Coaching Science, recognising his outstanding contribution to soccer in…
Author: nkosinathi
In a significant expansion of its trade policy, China will eliminate tariffs on imports from 53 African countries from 1 May 2026 through to 30 April 2028. Eswatini is excluded, reflecting its continued relations with Taiwan. By Kelly Ng China will scrap tariffs for all African countries from Friday, 1 May 2026 – except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Taiwan. As of December 2024, China had already implemented a duty-free policy for 33 least-developed African nations. The policy now covers 53 countries, and will be in place until 30 April 2028. It is unclear what will happen after that. Beijing…
Speeches grow sharper, promises grander, but in the end, it is just another round of thunder with no rain. The only thing tougher than talk is the wait that follows it—days that blur into weeks, while ordinary lives carry on beneath a sky full of noise but empty of change. By Themba Khumalo Well, hold onto your leaky taps and brace yourself for a deluge of déjà vu: President Cyril Ramaphosa has once more sounded the clarion call to South Africa’s municipalities, that most reliable source of national embarrassment. In a moment of almost Shakespearean self-awareness, Ramaphosa has urged local…
By Humeyra Pamuk, Tala Ramadan Iran said on Thursday it would respond with “long and painful strikes” on U.S. positions if Washington renewed attacks, and also restated its claim to the Strait of Hormuz, complicating U.S. plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway. Two months into the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, the vital sea channel remains closed, choking off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies. That has sent global energy prices surging and heightened concerns about the risks of an economic downturn. Efforts to resolve the conflict have hit an impasse, with a ceasefire in place since…
A Joburg mother of two faces possible bankruptcy over a water bill that has climbed to nearly R3 million. This number alone should trigger Joburg City’s alarm bells. Instead, it appears to have triggered nothing but bureaucratic deflection. By Themba Khumalo I was reading a news report by GroundUp when my jaw dropped. It was not a gentle, theatrical slow-motion drop for show, but a reaction so forceful and disbelieving it felt as though my jaw struck the floor with a violent, bone-shaking thud. This was not a passing shock. It was the kind that leaves you momentarily winded, mouth…
Orlando Pirates’ young sensation, Relebohile Mofokeng, is catching the eye of Europe’s elite after a standout season, with South African coaching legend Pitso Mosimane tipping Aston Villa as the perfect Premier League fit for the rising star. By Siseko Gwegwe Orlando Pirates’ 21-year-old superstar Relebohile Mofokeng is increasingly linked with a move to Europe after another stellar season. With four games left for the season, the Sharpeville-born star has already hit double figures with 11 goals and eight assists in 32 games. The legendary Pitso Mosimane, Africa’s greatest ever coach with three CAF Champions League titles, has joined the chat…
The ANC has called for the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies to provide an account regarding the recently withdrawn draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. By Simnikiwe Mzekandaba – IT in government editor – itweb.co.za The African National Congress (ANC) wants Minister Solly Malatsi to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies to account for the now-withdrawn draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. This is one of the demands made by the ANC Study Group on Communications and Digital Technologies in a statement,…
Across much of Africa, motorcycles are not leisure vehicles. They are workhorses. They carry commuters, schoolchildren, goods, medicines and deliveries. For millions of people, they provide the most affordable and accessible form of transport, while also creating livelihoods for riders and small businesses. By Thinus Booysen In many places across Africa, motorcycles fill the gap left by limited public transport. Kenya alone has about 1.5 million riders. Of the 27 million motorbikes in sub-Saharan Africa, only about 0.1% are electric, running on clean and low-cost energy. As part of a team of electrical and industrial engineers at Stellenbosch University, I…
As South Africa grows more volatile, migrants face a relentless squeeze—caught in a grinding crisis shaped less by sudden catastrophe than by the steady erosion of protection, options, and hope. (This article is the final part of a two-part series on how leadership failures and broken promises have left migrants vulnerable across Southern Africa.) By Themba Khumalo In northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, waves of violence have forced hundreds of thousands from their homes since 2017. Entire communities have been uprooted with little warning, as attacks by armed groups continue to destabilise the region. For many, displacement is not a…
South Africa’s deepening socio-economic crisis has fuelled an atmosphere of toxic rage. As conditions deteriorate, migrants are caught in an ever-tightening vice: rising local resentment, a faltering state, and a region unwilling—or unable—to confront the forces driving displacement. The result is a slow-burning ordeal, leaving millions exposed and with no credible end in sight. (This article is the first in a two-part series exploring how leadership failures and unfulfilled promises have left migrants vulnerable across Southern Africa.) By Themba Khumalo In May 2008, South Africa’s democratic promise did not simply falter under pressure — it split open in full public…