Ray Leathern

South Africa

Editor and Journalist at Freelance

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Articles

Is GNU helping South Africa or hindering it?

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

Following yet another overturned billed, the question must be asked: is GNU helping South Africa or actually getting in the way of effective governance? When the coalition Government of National Unity (GNU) came about after the May 2024 elections, many felt democracy had won the day in South Africa.
SASSA pension grants will NOT be doubled, confirms department

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

The Department of Social Development (DSD) has confirmed that SASSA pension grants will not be doubled. In fact, speaking before the Parliamentary portfolio committee on social development this week, the department said it is ‘between a rock and a hard place’ on social grants. Referring to the still-unapproved 2025 Budget, the DSD was responding to calls for SASSA pension grants to be doubled. Or at the very least increased again in 2025.
SIX appeal: Mazda CX-60 3.3D AWD Takumi review

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

The Mazda CX-60 is not exactly a brand-new car. Due to the vagaries of global automotive supply chains, the one-million-Rand SUV has been around since 2023 in other markets. However, don’t let that dissuade you. Because, as you’ll see, this sophisticated family SUV might actually be worth the tall pile of cash needed to purchase one …Principle to the argument is Mazda’s ever-evolving ‘Kodo’ design language. Genuinely, the Mazda CX-60 is something to behold in the metal.
6 expert tips to save money on groceries in South Africa in 2025

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

Retails experts have put together tips to save money on groceries in South Africa in 2025. We may have deftly side-stepped proposed VAT increases, but that doesn’t mean were immune to a general rising cost of living in 2025. Eskom raised electricity prices by 12.7% back in April, which retailers and producers are passing onto the consumer. And the full extent of Trump’s tariffs are yet to be felt on the economy.
B20 Digital Transformation Archives

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Garrin Lambley |Nokwanda Ncwane |Ray Leathern

TheSouthAfrican.com is all about South Africa and the stories that affect South Africans, wherever they are in the world. We're independent. No agenda. No bias. Follow us Our offices are for administrative purposes only, no visitors will be accepted without an appointment.
6 essential FOOD items that are cheaper than before

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

Essential food items are under the spotlight following Treasury’s about-face on 2025 VAT increases. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana proposed an increase in VAT but would counter this by adding more essential food items to the VAT-exempt list. Nevertheless, data from the latest Essential Food Price Monitoring (EFPM) report suggests many of these items have seen price improvements anyway.
WHY the majority of South Africans prefer cash in hand … still

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

Despite the sharp digitsation of banking, the majority of South Africans prefer cash transactions. New data suggests that digital transactions may be on the rise for wealthier residents/businesses, but the majority of South Africans prefer cash in hand. Impressively, even with the rise in digital banking, cash transactions have not decreased over the last decade. As a result, the lower-income majority in South Africa still prefer dealing in hard currency.
Brown claps back at McLaren cheating suspicions

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

This past weekend in Miami, McLaren cheating suspicions grew to a chorus, as rival F1 team principles all agreed that McLaren was on a ‘different planet.’ The papaya cars of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished a comfortable one-two, several seconds up the road from third-placed George Russell. Nevertheless, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has defended McLaren cheating accusations, saying he has no idea how the team is pulling off its tyre mastery but it’s nothing illegal.
The END of boarding passes in South African airports is nigh

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

If you think boarding passes in South African airports are positively outdated, you are not alone. How needless is it to sometimes print one, or try use your mobile device that never scans correctly? Nevertheless, newly proposed airport processes could make boarding passes in South African airports a thing of the past. In fact, not just locally, but all around the globe.
The miracle Hyundai Creta that survived the 2025 Silvermine fires

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

My review of the Hyundai Creta 1.5 Executive IVT Matte Edition is unlike any road test I’ve ever written. Due to a conurbation of totally surreal circumstances, this must be one of the most remarkable car reviews ever committed to the internet … On Friday 25 April, a fire broke out on the slopes of Table Mountain National Park. By Sunday the 27th, it was well contained above the Tokai forest. So much so that our weekly hike into Silvermine Nature Reserve appeared totally doable.