Top Stories

Nine siblings and a dog called Zoomer – Wirtz in his own words
Florian Wirtz sits down with Kelly Somers to talk about his slow start at Anfield, playing padel and making Bundesliga history.
News24 | Judge Mbenenge guilty of conducting ‘flirtatious relationship’, but he won’t be impeached
A JSC Judicial Conduct Tribunal has found Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of misconduct for initiating and conducting a “flirtatious relationship” with secretary Andiswa Mengo on WhatsApp – but found he was not guilty of impeachable gross misconduct.
News24 | The Weekender | Carspreading, Leon Schuster’s car… and a dragon
The unintended consequences of supersized vehicles; Leon Schuster on cars, comedy and memory; and why you’re missing South Africa’s most exciting wine story.

‘A vaccine against murder’? Israel split over return of death penalty
In a highly controversial move, some Israeli MPs are trying to introduce the death penalty for Palestinian attackers.
News24 | Police make second arrest in DJ Warras murder case
Police have arrested a second suspect in connection with the murder of Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock, following a Crime Intelligence-led operation in Gauteng.

Blow for Sundowns in Group C with defeat to Al-Hilal
Brazilians had a middling start, then things get worse in Kigali.

Checkers and Pick n Pay will crush Walmart in South Africa
Walmart’s low prices may not be enough to take on South Africa’s listed retailers, with the global giant lacking one critical element to success in the country’s competitive food retail market.

US government partially shuts down despite last minute funding deal
The soonest the US House of Representatives can vote on the funding deal and end the shutdown is Monday.

The man trying to make ends meet by operating forgotten municipal infrastructure in South Africa
A man in the Krugersdorp CBD, faced with a crumbling town, decided to pick up a mop and hold the line.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Cringe with a helping of polony as The Office gets a lekker local twist
With cutting humour and a local edge, Die Kantoor reworks the mockumentary sitcom franchise The Office for South African audiences.

Huge fuel price cuts on the horizon
South Africa’s long-squeezed motorists might find fresh relief next month as recent datafrom the Central Energy Fund (CEF) data points to meaningful fuel price cuts in February — a rare bright spot in a world rattled by geopolitical theatrics and jittery oil markets. In an unexpected twist, the rand has staged its strongest run in […]

From Ford Ranger Platinum to entry-level ease
After spending almost six months in the Platinum model, the adjustment to the entry-level XL was tough but refreshing

Festive drive: Chery Tiggo 9 and all its might
Spending December with Chery’s flagship SUV meant that we were surrounded by luxury and the fuel consumption was not bad either

US cities hold anti-ICE protests during nationwide day of action
Demonstrations were held to protest the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

LUNCEDO MTWENTWE | Late payments are sabotaging SME growth
Public procurement has the potential to stabilise thousands of SMEs, but payment delays have become an economic crisis

Imraan Buccus should have consulted me first
Jonis Ghedi-Alasow, head of Pan Africa Today, responds to an opinion piece by Imraan Buccus

Why alcohol tax policy needs urgent reform
Even when presenting the grimmest of budget statements, successive ministers of finance have all found a moment of light-heartedness when they announce increases in alcohol excise tax, which the National Treasury argued in Business Times last week were in
BMW raises red flag over cheap imports
Vehicle influx from China and India is ‘costing jobs’ and harming the economy, says BMW South Africa CEO

HERMAN BEZUIDENHOUT | Why the global FX market matters more than ever
A staggering $9.6-trillion is traded every day on foreign exchange markets, and it affects just about every South African

A strange way to cut red tape
Busa CEO Khulekani Mathe denounces the Business Licensing Bill as flying in the face of Ramaphosa’s exhortations about unnecessary rules and regulations