Hot or Not

• This Week

  Hot:

  TV personality Bonang Matheba’s meteoric rise is nothing short of a true South African dream. As we celebrate Youth Day, we salute the achievements of this hardworking young woman. This week, Matheba was named the first ever black South African “spokesmodel” for Revlon, the international cosmetics house. Other faces for the brand are US actresses Halle Berry and Emma Stone.

  Not:

  The Zonder water Prison parole board that was overruled this week by the North Gauteng High Court for their decision to release two of the so-called Waterkloof Four killers on parole in 2011. Justice has finally spoken – the killers will be back behind bars soon and senior correctional services officials were suspended for gross negligence and ignoring procedure.

• Previous Weeks

  Hot:

  We celebrate Benni McCarthy’s early retirement from soccer. This young Capetonian has been one of the country’s greatest exports. He has represented South Africa at all levels, he is currently Bafana’s leading goal scorer of all time, he has played in the most competitive leagues of the world and he even has a Uefa Champions League medal.

  Not:

  The continued disregard of the needs of children in Limpopo schools is unacceptable. Halfway through the current year, some schools are experiencing shortages of books and now midyear exams had to be postponed because officials did not do their jobs. Our children’s future is dependent on this education. Denying them this right shows no one cares.

• Previous Weeks

  Hot:

  Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana goalie Itumeleng Khune has been on the professional scene for six years, but the 26-year-old from Tshing in Ventersdorp, North West, has achieved more than some of those who have been there much longer. This week’s clean sweep of PSL awards confirmed Itu’s status as Mzansi’s No 1 – and his trophy cabinet is running out of space.

  Not:

  Several members of KwaZulu-Natal’s legislature have been miraculously healed after claiming for two years that their “disabilities” meant they needed R15?000 a month for personal drivers. When a change in legislative policy meant they had to produce medical proof of their condition, they suddenly became whole and changed their tune.

• Previous Weeks

  Hot:

  SABC2 Morning Live anchor Vuyo Mbuli’s passing last Saturday will leave a void in many South Africans’ lives. This is the man we woke up with every morning for more than a decade. As a journalist, Mbuli never turned his interviewees into objects, but treated them with respect as human beings. With him gone, we can only wish for more “sharp sharp” in the mornings.

  Not:

  Culture, we all agree, is important. But when young men die in the name of culture, society expects leaders to stand up and deal with the challenges. Mpumalanga health MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini failed to be a leader when she said she could not respond to the deaths of 30 initiates. She should know better that death, irrespective of culture, is still death.

• Previous Weeks

  Hot:

  City Press readers. This week, your newspaper won a clutch of awards at the Sikuvile ceremony. The awards were won for our work on finding the stories of the lives of the miners who died at Marikana and for our investigation into the splurging of R206 million on the president’s estate at Nkandla. Thank you for supporting City Press and our work.

  Not:

  Instructors at the Army Infantry School in Oudtshoorn, who were suspended this week after assaulting 10 recruits who sneaked out for a drink. The recruits were hit with broomsticks on their kidneys while they were forced to carry poles while naked. The military ombudsman is investigating the disgusting incident.