Latest news with #TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Is SA ready to be the next Hollywood? Here's what our stars had to say
The Simon Sabela Awards returned for another night of glitz and glam at the weekend. While everyone was looking for the best outfits of the night, many top awards were dished out to the cast and crews of the past year's top productions produced in KZN. This year's theme called on attendees to have 'giants of storytelling' in mind, and TimesLIVE sought to find out how South Africa could become a giant of TV and filmmaking like our counterparts in Hollywood. Here's what the guests had to say. We have diverse stories that we need to tap into says Ziya Xulu. Image: Thobela Khumalo PORTIA NCWANE We have to keep the original stories and not try to modernise them too much. If we can keep the authenticity we have right now by maintaining our customs and cultures, we will never go wrong. ZIYA XULU The Africans. That sounds so redundant but honestly it's the Africans and the stories we have to tell. We have diverse stories, we have diverse languages, we have diverse ideas and we just need to tap into them. KHAYA DLADLA They must give me more jobs — I'm joking. Nothing is as authentic as telling our own stories. We have to tell our own stories to the world, and we can be epic. JACKIE MOTSEPE We have stories that resonate with our audience. The local content that we produce is the most consumed not only in South Africa but throughout the continent. That in itself makes us a giant, because they are being appreciated by core audiences. Where we need to grow is in making that content commercial so that people in the industry are able to make a living from the work they do to sustain themselves and their families. And that is what we need to get right, because people should get a return on investment from the work they produce. Image: Supplied RETHABILE RAMAPHAKELA The fact that we are able to tell stories already makes us a giant, and they travel globally. My film Disaster Holiday was on the Netflix global top 10 and I would never have expected that. I was making a road trip family film and there it is being enjoyed by the world, but most loved in South Africa. ANGUS GIBSON I think we've got a way to go before we are a giant. I think we are on our way there. We should be making things like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. We shouldn't feel like we can't do that. I think we are on the road and we've got to aim high. MUSA MSELEKU When we entered the television space, I think we influenced that space. Many people who want to leave a mark on TV tend to copy exactly what we have been doing. When we entered that space we changed it. Our champions of storytelling will not only be seen in Africa — they will travel the world. MBUYISELO VILAKAZI First, I see a lot of women getting opportunities and that's a great way of empowering the nation. I like the representation we see from queer filmmakers as well in South Africa. NKANYISO MAKHANYA I think we already are giants. People are telling our own stories in other countries without even asking us about them. It's just that we need a platform to push us further on the global stage. ZAMANTU KHOZA We're always unpredictable. It's something that makes me look forward to seeing African storytelling, from films to TV series. Also, we always have great newcomers. Last year I was a newcomer nominee. It's exciting because we are always making space for new talent to come into the entertainment industry.
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Money saving tips to help you survive Cyril's economy
Saving may seem like a distant priority in an economy fuelled by inflation, leading to a rise in living costs. While developing a savings habit in your 20s can have a profound impact on your financial future, is it possible in President Cyril Ramaphosa's economy? According to a report by The Guardian, rather than aggressively stockpiling for retirement, Gen Z is embracing a soft saving approach, prioritising memorable experiences while saving extra cash for the future. TimesLIVE spoke to financial literacy content creator Nicolette Mashile on the rise of online banking, which has increased participation in banked savings, especially among Gen Z and millennials. 'It's incredibly tough. Many young people face income instability, high debt and rising living costs, all of which make saving feel out of reach. But behaviourally, it's not always about income. It's about mental bandwidth,' she said. Mashile says saving isn't just about access to money but creating the right environment and narrative to make saving feel possible and worthwhile. The convenience of digital banking helps overcome procrastination, inertia and the cognitive load of manual saving, she says. Mashile's concern, however, is that access to digital banking doesn't guarantee effective saving. 'While the number of people with savings accounts has increased, consistent saving behaviour remains erratic, often influenced by cash flow unpredictability, income volatility and short-term gratification patterns, especially in an economy where many young people experience financial instability.' She noticed a behavioural pattern indicating that literacy alone isn't enough. People don't save just because they know they should; they save when the environment makes it easier to do so. 'In lower-income groups, good saving behaviour often stems from community structures like stokvels, which offer social accountability and cultural familiarity. In higher income groups, savings behaviour may be more goal-based, for example, saving for a child's education, a funeral or investment-driven saving with the intention of growing your money over time, and not keeping it like the tax-free savings accounts,' she said. 'Behaviourally, Gen Z is more open to hybrid saving. They split funds between bank accounts for safety and investment-based savings (like money market funds, Unit trust, exchange trading funds, Cryptocurrency and fractional property platforms) for growth. This signals a shift from 'store and protect' to 'optimise and grow.' Mashile said young people are driven by visibility and control. They want to see their progress and feel a sense of momentum. This sees tools such as cryptocurrency make saving feel rewarding. Cryptocurrency feels more exciting and rewarding than traditional saving methods. She said: 'It offers the potential for quick growth, which makes it feel more dynamic, especially compared to a regular savings account with low interest.' While it may feel more rewarding emotionally, it's important to remember crypto is volatile and can just as easily lose value. Introducing behavioural risks such as overconfidence bias, herd mentality and loss aversion leads to poor outcomes. 'Young people don't want to be locked into rigid products. Platforms that allow both flexibility and growth are winning. They help shift the mindset from short-term gratification to long-term planning without losing control. 'I think moving forward, the challenge is not only to give young South Africans access to savings products, but also to design tools and narratives that align with how they actually live, feel, and behave about money. That's where financial wellness, tech innovation and behavioural insight must meet.'
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
‘I hope we can all find a way to resolve this': Beverley Steyn speaks out
After the explosive second part finale of The Real Housewives of Durban season five, Beverley Steyn has spoken about rumours that her friendship with the show's original cast member Nonku Williams caused a rift with her on and off-screen friend Jojo Robinson. During the tumultuous season, Robinson's open-minded approached to faith created tension between her and Williams, which the former claimed was a wedge made worse by The Real Housewives of Cape Town alumn, Steyn. The latter and Williams met in the franchise's spinoff Ultimate Girls Trip and have since been close. In a statement sent to TimesLIVE, Steyn said she was 'shocked to hear and see what played out on the reunion'. She said she was appalled that cast members pointed fingers at her because Williams was more than capable of making her own decisions. 'I am quietly living my happy life in Cape Town and am not part of the Durban show. I feel unjustly accused of causing a rift in a friendship during a show I wasn't part of, which has been deeply hurtful to me,' she said. Steyn also brought to attention that Robinson blocked her and Williams on Instagram, which has made her feel 'confused and hurt' as she believes they have separate relationships with Williams not based on faith. This follows a video uploaded by Robinson announcing the end of her friendship with Williams. 'Nonku has grown and matured as a person. She deserves respect, specially as no-one truly knows what she has been dealing with in her private life.'
TimesLIVE
7 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Umlazi mother in dock after children's bodies found wrapped in blanket
A woman is expected to appear in the uMlazi magistrate's court on Thursday after her two children were found strangled to death. The bodies of two-year-old Nozibusiso Thusini and her two-month-old brother Nqobizitha were wrapped together in a blanket in Isinkontshe at eNgonyameni on Monday. A note containing telephone numbers for their father, who lives in Johannesburg, and grandmother Neliswe Mkhize was also found. Mkhize told TimesLIVE they were distraught and confused by the discovery of the children's bodies. 'They were bruised. The younger child was bleeding on the nose while the older one was bruised, specially on the side of her ears,' said Mkhize. She said the mother recently moved in with them. 'Before this she lived with her children in Zwelisha near Inanda. The place is owned by my son. Some time back I reached out to her because she had a tendency of being withdrawn and was often reluctant to have company,' she said. She said they were not ruling out the possibility the mother was depressed. 'She often had mood swings and would sometimes deliberately ignore our calls,' said Mkhize. She said after making the move, the mother seemed to have made a good adjustment but on Sunday she could not be found. The trio's belongings were intact in their house. They called her repeatedly but she didn't answer. 'My son received a call from the mother of his kids who told him she was about to take her own life. I am told she said she felt unloved and no-one wanted her,' she said. Mkhize said on Monday they were summoned to bushes near a road where the children's bodies were discovered. She said she went to visit the woman at police holding cells. 'She was adamant her children are alive and well. She denies any wrongdoing,' the grandmother said. She said she hopes bail is denied. Mkhize said they were yet to finalise funeral arrangements but anticipated the burials would take place at the weekend. Police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said Bhekithemba police arrested the 28-year-old woman for two counts of murder. The motive for the killings is unknown.
TimesLIVE
16-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
City Power targets Joburg business properties with R10.2bn debt
City Power has targeted non-paying business properties in Johannesburg that owe the electricity provider R10.2bn. City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena told TimesLIVE that the revenue collection will not only assist the department but also assist the community to get service delivery and improved infrastructure. A debt-collection drive was led on Wednesday by acting mayor Jack Sekwaila. The drive, which included City Power and Johannesburg Water, focused business properties and residential properties in Marshalltown. 'In Marshalltown alone we are owed R93m which makes it R10bn owed across the city,' he said. Mangena said they plan to recover debt to ensure they are able to sustain service delivery to residents . 'We cannot continue to sustain the city when property owners and businesses fail to meet us halfway,' he said. He added that businesses who generate profit should pay for the services they are using. 'Some buildings are taken over and others we are unable to identify their owners and it leads to an impact on City Power because such properties will connect to the network illegally leading to overloading of electricity,' Mangena said. Region F is the highest debtor region with R244m debt. The debt collection is aimed at revenue recovery and ensuring the municipality's financial sustainability. 'Marshaltown has 70 accounts with R93m debt, Fordsburg has 93 accounts with R65m debt and Doornfontein has 56 accounts with R86m debt. All of these accounts have been prioritised for disconnection this week to recover the money', Sekwaila said. Sekwaila added that the collection would be handled in two phases through to December. 'Phase 1 will end by July and phase 2 starts in August. This brings residents time to comply with us and urgently make arrangements to pay their accounts,' he added. A manager of a building providing student accommodation, Collen Sibiya, was shocked to discover that the property owes R2.4m for electricity. Sibiya said he was not aware of the amount and it would be an inconvenience for the students who live in the building. ' . 'According to the documents I have, our account is in order and we do pay on time. I am just surprised that we were supposed to pay for the previous owner's account.'
