Hlophe suspension ball in Ramaphosa’s court

All eyes will be on President Cyril Ramaphosa as he prepares to act on a recommendation to suspend Western Cape judge president John Hlophe. 

The Judicial Service Commission has recommended that he suspend Hlophe, who was found guilty of gross misconduct in April 2021 in a saga spanning nearly a quarter of a century.

Dirty money puts South African banks at risk

SA's largest banks are at "high risk" of falling foul of money laundering, terrorism and proliferation financing activity, according to a new report by the Prudential Authority (PA), a division of the Reserve Bank that regulates financial institutions.

The PA released its second banking sector risk assessment on Tuesday. It surveyed 34 lenders active in SA, including five large banks, nine medium to small locally controlled banks, 17 foreign-controlled banks and branches of foreign banks, and three mutual banks.

Maya appointed as deputy chief justice

Justice Mandisa Maya, current head of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), has been formally appointed as the country's deputy chief justice, beginning her tenure in the Constitutional Court on September 1.

The Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) interviewed her as the sole candidate for the post in June and recommended to Ramaphosa that she be appointed. 

#Competition - #Win a bottle of Val Du Charron Black Countess red wine blend

The blend has an intense dark red colour with a rich black berry fruit aroma. 

Notes of plums and cherries can be picked up on the nose. The tannins are rounded and balanced on the palate with a smooth creamy aftertaste.

#WineReview: Val Du Charron reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Abv: 14%

Style: Red Wine

Price per bottle: R175

Availability: Online and liquor outlets

Nose: The distinct berry richness illuminates the nose. Also present is spicy oak, leather, and dark chocolate mint aromas. 

#WineReview: Val Du Charron's Reserve Malbec

Abv: 14.5%

Style: Red Wine

Price per bottle: R175

Availability: Online and liquor outlets

Nose: It's scent signals the beauty of celebrating life as it oozes some cherry flavour to the nose. Inky tones on the nose arealso strong. 

Former KZN ANC chair Sihle Zikalala excluded from provincial committee

Former KwaZulu-Natal ANC chair and premier Sihle Zikalala's political woes continued at the weekend, as he failed to make it onto the party's provincial executive committee (PEC).
Zikalala, who is now exposed and is at the mercy of the new leadership, had accepted nomination as an additional member of the structure on Sunday, after losing the chair position to Siboniso Duma by more than 200 votes.

#WineReview: Val Du Charron's Four White Legs Wine is a real treat at R95 a bottle

Abv: 13%

Style: White Wine

Price per bottle: R95

Availability: Online and liquor outlets

Health authorities engaging with minister Sisulu

The SA Health Products and Regulatory Authority has confirmed that it is engaging with Minister Lindiwe Sisulu's office following claims that the minister had secured medication for the late ANC Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte, but Duarte died before the medication arrived in South Africa.

Countries with the worst passport power

The Pakistani passport continues to be the fourth worst in the world, not changing its position from a year ago and providing access to only 32 destinations, according to the Henley Passport Index for 2022.

The Henley Passport Index is a ranking of all the world's 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.