ANC conducts flurry of meetings as coalition crisis drags on:

The Democratic Alliance’s federal executive has held an urgent meeting to decide how to respond to an invitation to talks by the ANC’s national working committee

– The Mail & Guardian

Lebo M’s legacy goes live:

When one thinks of the sounds that have shaped cinema and global culture, few names resonate as deeply as that of Lebohang Morake. 

Known to the world as Lebo M, the South African producer, composer and vocal mastermind has a career that has transcended borders and genres, creating a legacy that lives on in the melodies and rhythms of his work. From The Lion King to the Oscar-nominated short film The Last Ranger, Lebo?M has firmly etched his name into the annals of film history, cementing his place as one of South Africa’s most celebrated musical exports.

“It has never been easy but I have always believed in the music and that has been carrying me and has been with me throughout my career,” he says. 

Now, after his recent return from the Oscars in Los Angeles, where he was recognised for his contribution to The Last Ranger, Lebo M is set to take his legacy to new heights with the announcement of Lebo M Live, a one-of-a-kind concert experience that will showcase his musical journey. 

The show, to take place on 18 April at the Grand Arena in Cape Town, is set to be an immersive, unforgettable experience for both fans of his work and new audiences alike. 

“I have called on all the musicians I have respected and loved to be a part of this moment with me — Mi Casa, Soweto Gospel Choir and German film-score composer Hans Zimmer as special guests,” he says.  

The concert promises to be a celebration of the music and craft of one of South Africa’s most prolific musical figures.

At 60, Lebo M has reached a pivotal time in his career — one where the accumulated experiences, accomplishments and lessons learned over the decades are brought to the forefront in a celebration of his legacy. 

In an interview with the Mail & Guardian, Lebo M opened up about the inspiration and motivation behind the concert, revealing that the idea for such a grand showcase has been in the back of his mind since he was a teenager.

“Since I was a kid, when I first entered the stage, the thought of having such a concert has always been there. 

“But you go on and do other things, and, however, a small voice always reminds you of this dream you have.”

The composer goes on to explain that the dream took more concrete shape about three years ago, when he began to focus on how to structure the concert, who he wanted to share the stage with, and where the event should take place. 

With the goal of honouring his past while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what South African music could achieve, Lebo M Live promises to be a testament to his growth as an artist and a visionary.

“I have built a career on the premise of forming an everlasting sound that I have always hoped will transcend time. Now I get to do this on stage in my own country,” he says.  

The concert will not simply be a retrospective of his greatest hits, although those will undoubtedly be a focal point. 

Instead, it will delve deep into the evolution of his artistry, touching on everything from the songs he first penned as a teenager to tracks he has yet to share with the world. 

Lebo M is clear that this concert is not just a showcase — it’s an immersive, multi-layered performance that reflects his technical mastery as a producer and composer.

“It will represent an evolution of Lebo M, from all the hits to the unreleased songs. 

“More than anything, this will be a very technical concert because that is just who I am at the core — very technical about my sound and music,” he shares. 

The show, as Lebo M describes it, will be an audio-visual extravaganza that combines the grandeur of live performance with the intricacies of musical production. 

For a man whose career has been marked by his pursuit of perfection in every note and arrangement, it is no surprise that he is determined to ensure that every aspect of the concert speaks to the high standards of South African music.

Lebo M is no stranger to the global stage. His contribution to the original soundtrack of The Lion King, which came out in 1994, became a milestone in his career. His hauntingly beautiful African-inspired compositions struck a chord with audiences around the world and earned him multiple accolades. 

The producer also views this concert as an opportunity to send a message about the potential for South African music to compete at the highest levels of international entertainment.

“Hopefully, my concert, which is the only concert I have ever had, makes a statement that we can actually produce products with high quality,” Lebo M says. 

“With the right mindset, and the right financial support, we can deliver a globally competitive product.”

This vision of South African music being on par with international standards has been a driving force in his career. 

Whether it was his work on The Lion King, his collaborations with artists such as Zimmer, or his continued commitment to creating authentic African soundscapes, Lebo M has shown time and again that South African music can speak the universal language of emotion, passion and power.

As the concert approaches, it’s clear that this is not just a moment for Lebo M to celebrate his legacy but also a powerful statement about what is possible when artists from diverse backgrounds and genres come together to create something extraordinary. 

For a man who has spent his life shaping the soundtrack of South Africa’s cultural landscape, this concert represents a culmination of years of hard work, vision and musical innovation.

In the words of Lebo M himself, “This has been a long time coming.” 

It will be more than worth the wait.

– The Mail & Guardian

Joslin Smith: Defence accuses cop of trying to exploit accused’s weaknesses to gain confession:

A defence lawyer in the Joslin Smith kidnapping and human trafficking trial told a police officer on Wednesday that he had “taken advantage” of her client’s “youth and vulnerability” by scaring him into making a false confession. 

During cross-examination at the trial-within-a-trial at the Western Cape high court, attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, representing accused two Steveno van Rhyn, told Sergeant Dawid Fortuin that he and Captain Wesley Lombard had “taken advantage of [Van Rhyn’s] youth and vulnerability” during a re-interview session. 

Mkabayi said the strategy Fortuin and his superior Lombard devised in March 2024 while re-interviewing Van Rhyn — who was at first being questioned as a witness to the disappearance of the child — resulted in police saying things that contained “an element of threat”. 

Fortuin denied the accusation. 

The trial-within-a-trial, in its first week of the sixth week of the actual trial, is meant to  determine if the “confessions” made by Van Rhyn and accused number one, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, should be admitted as evidence because they were, according to Mkabayi and Appollis’s defence advocate Fanie Harmse, false confessions made because of “torture” by police.

Previous testimony from the doctor who examined both men prior to their police interviews, and the doctor who examined them after the interviews, did not point to any form of torture. 

Part of the strategy employed by the two police officers was to separate the men and tell Van Rhyn that Appollis and Kelly Smith — accused number three, who is the mother of Joslin and the partner of Appollis — were not going to protect him because they were lovers and only concerned about each other’s welfare.

According to Fortuin’s previously-led evidence-in-chief, he also told Van Rhyn that he was embroiled in a serious matter and could face a maximum prison sentence if found guilty of the then six-year-old’s disappearance. 

“I told him he must think carefully and tell the truth so we can find Joslin,” he had said. 

Fortuin said Van Rhyn, when re-interviewed on 4 March 2024, for the first time made mention of a woman called “Makalima” — the sangoma that Joslin was allegedly sold to — who lived in a shack at the Middelpos informal settlement near the shack where Smith, Appollis, Joslin and her two brothers lived. 

Makalima is the name by which Phumza Sigaqa was known to the accused. 

Sigaqa was arrested on 5 March 2024 and appeared in court twice in the early part of the case. But charges were withdrawn because there was no evidence implicating her in Joslin’s disappearance. Sigaqa has not been called a witness and it is unclear if she will be. 

Appollis, Van Rhyn and Smith pleaded not guilty when the trial started on 3 March. 

Joslin went missing from the Middelpos area on 19 February 2024, while in the care of Appollis, and has not been seen since. 

The state alleges that Smith organised for the child to be sold to a sangoma for R20 000.

The court has heard in previous testimony that Lourentia Lombaard, who was accused four before she became a state witness, and Van Rhyn overheard Smith arguing with Appollis the day before Joslin went missing about how Smith was going to sell the child because she needed the money. 

According to Lombaard, Smith offered her R 1000, and Van Rhyn R1 200, in hush money. 

After she completed cross-examination of Fortuin, Mkabayi moved on to cross-examining Captain Philip Seekoei, who was responsible for recording Van Rhyn’s confession on 5 March 2024. 

Seekoei has previously testified that he saw no signs of injury on Van Rhyn when taking his confession. This will form the basis of Mkabayi’s cross-examination.

– The Mail & Guardian

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