Read more
Here’s your daily news update for Thursday, 22 May 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
Photo: iStock / The Citizen / Cheryl Kahla
News today includes as the tone of political rhetoric in South Africa was broadcast from Washington to the international community this week.
Meanwhile, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has come under fire for allegedly instructing his department’s managers to “get rid of the foreign nationals”.
Furthermore, Tammy Taylor Global Franchising and its owner, Melany Viljoen and her husband, Peet, got a hiding in the Pretoria High Court recently when a judge issued an order that includes paying back R600 000 to a prospective franchisee.
Weather tomorrow: 23 May 2025
The weather service hasn’t issued any severe weather alerts but you can expect fine and cool weather across the country. Full weather forecast here.
Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.
Here is the origin of the white cross video Trump used to ambush Ramaphosa
The tone of political rhetoric in South Africa was broadcast from Washington to the international community this week.
United States President Donald Trump gave those gathered in the Oval Office on Wednesday an impromptu highlight reel of EFF leader Julius Malema’s most inflammatory remarks.
Comprising mainly of Malema’s campaign fervour that South Africans now find commonplace, there was also a cameo from former president Jacob Zuma singing about chasing away “boers”.
CONTINUE READING: Here is the origin of the white cross video Trump used to ambush Ramaphosa
Budget 3.0: Fuel levy replaced VAT hike but is it the better option?
When the VAT increase of 0.5% was scrapped, South Africans breathed a little easier, although they likely knew that they would pay for it in other ways. One of those ways is the fuel levy that Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana announced in Budget 3.0 on Wednesday.
Now South Africans are wondering if the fuel levy will not be worse than the VAT increase of 0.5% as everybody who sells you something will now add to the price, saying it is due to increasing fuel prices. However, two economists The Citizen spoke to said the fuel levy is still the better option.
Frank Blackmore, lead economist at KPMG South Africa, says the proposed fuel tax hike represents an inflationary increase of 4% in the fuel price, which is larger than the proposed VAT increases, but is limited to 16 cents on the current 385c for a litre of petrol and 15c on 370c for diesel, but it is broad based in terms of all transport of people and goods being subject to this increase.
CONTINUE READING: Budget 3.0: Fuel levy replaced VAT hike but is it the better option?
Gayton McKenzie slammed for anti-foreigner rhetoric
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has come under fire for allegedly instructing his department’s managers to “get rid of the foreign nationals”.
McKenzie reportedly said this a few days ago during a stakeholder meeting. He was quoted as saying: “I want them out… Get them out before I get you out.”
Political analyst Prof Ntsikelelo Breakfast said: “Politicians holding positions in the GNU need proper training so they know how to represent the government in a reputable way. These ministers when they speak, you will not understand whether they are doing so on behalf of the government or representing their political parties.”
CONTINUE READING: Gayton McKenzie slammed for anti-foreigner rhetoric
Gauteng government splashes R2.9 million on near-empty office used mainly for photocopies, says DA
The Gauteng provincial government has been accused of using a building it is renting for R2.9 million per month solely for making photocopies.
The building is believed to have five floors and is situated on 55 Fox Street in the Johannesburg CBD.
DA members of the provincial legislatures in Gauteng, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, told The Citizen that the party had been reliably informed that Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) staff would only use the building when there was a need to use the printer.
CONTINUE READING: Gauteng government splashes R2.9 million on near-empty office used mainly for photocopies, says DA
Tammy Taylor Global Franchising gets a big hiding in South African high court
Tammy Taylor Global Franchising and its owner, Melany Viljoen and her husband, Peet, got a hiding in the Pretoria High Court recently when a judge issued an order that includes paying back R600 000 to a prospective franchisee.
They must also immediately stop claiming that they have the legal authority and right to sell Tammy Taylor franchises in South Africa.
Judge Joseph Raulinga issued the order on 25 April after Lebohang Hlathuka, a woman from Johannesburg, sued Tammy Taylor Global Franchising and both the Viljoens to pay back the money she paid for a Tammy Taylor franchise.
CONTINUE READING: Tammy Taylor Global Franchising gets a big hiding in South African high court
Here are five more stories of the day:
- Pothole crisis: Tshwane mayor blames rain for municipality not fixing crumbling roads
- ‘We pay too much’: Public funds wasted on inflated government costs, says Zibi
- Will Trump go after Malema and Zuma? IRR says ‘Kill the Boer’ chant created problems for SA
- Tariffs and Agoa: How Parks Tau summarised US-SA trade talks
- ‘There’s a hole in my heart and house’ – mother of slain Brandon Pretorius
Yesterday’s News recap
READ HERE: Trump ambushes Ramaphosa | Mixed reactions to Budget 3.0 | Two newborns snatched
Download our app
