Warrant Officer Karl Sander underwent a polygraph test regarding the theft of 541kg of cocaine bricks worth R200 million despite never having worked at the Port Shepstone Hawks office where the drugs were stolen during a November 2021 burglary.

Sander, a senior investigator at Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) or the Hawks in  KwaZulu-Natal, told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday that although he was on leave when the Port Shepstone Hawks storage was burgled, he was still named a suspect in the cocaine theft.

"I was on leave when the said incident took place," he said.

He said several officers were sent for polygraphs over the theft, but KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona was not tested despite being present when the cocaine was booked into storage after the June 2021 bust.

Senona, who appeared briefly before the commission on Monday, is expected to testify on June 5, 2026.

The commission is expected to question him further on why he did not take the polygraph test, despite previously testifying that he had never taken one but had no objection to undergoing it.  

The commission’s evidence showed that Sander’s polygraph test results indicated deception, but Sander said he was hearing about the outcome for the first time.

The Hawks seized the drugs, which originated from the Port of Santos in Brazil, from a container at Durban Harbour on 21 June 2021.

The cocaine was first booked into the Isipingo Police Station’s SAP 13 register before Warrant Officer Mpangase booked it out the same day, citing “further investigation”.

KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head for Serious Organised Crime Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa, after consulting with provincial Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona, instructed their relocation to Port Shepstone.

The commission previously heard that burglars cut their way into the Port Shepstone Hawks storage facility with a grinder and stole 541kg of cocaine.

Sander said: "I have never been there. When the incident happened I was on leave. I never worked at Port Shepstone," adding that he had no knowledge the drugs were there.

He said the polygraph examiner asked if he was involved in the exhibit theft and if he knew where the cocaine was.

He also told the commission Senona once ordered a polygraph over the theft of Sander’s coffee machine from the Hawks offices.

"My only safe space was my coffee machine and then they stole my coffee machine (from) inside the DPCI. I am laughing about it but it is still so annoying and I had to get polygraphed because of the theft of my own coffee machine," he said.

He said Senona ordered the polygraph because “other items” had gone missing at the office and he was “seen as a suspect”.

"I passed. I just wanted my coffee machine back. I didn't get it back," he said.

Sander earlier testified that he was removed from the narcotics unit to provincial support services on 13 February 2024 for disrupting the drug trade and stepping on the toes of officials linked to drug syndicates.

He testified he was transferred from the KZN Hawks narcotics unit pending a corruption investigation linked to drug dealing.

He said Senona served him a letter regarding allegations that he was dealing in drugs, but he had not officially been informed of the investigation’s outcome.

Sander said he was informed about the specific allegations against him only verbally, not in writing.

"I was told that an email had been sent to the national head office - that I was accused of supplying or facilitating supply of narcotics to Florida Road nightclub syndicates," he said.

He said he never officially received the investigation's outcome, but unofficially he was told the inquiry closed within four days and was given to Hawks members from Port Shepstone.

He said while in support services, he applied for a post and he underwent a financial vetting, which revealed that he was a director of a shooting club that also comprised some of the SAPS members.

"We preserve the bank account to stop people from changing the name or committing fraud," he said, adding that a non-profit company was registered for that purpose. 

He said he charged for registering a company without disclosing his business interest and received a verbal warning.

Sander told the commission he was moved out of narcotics after “stepping on the toes” of officials he said were linked to drug dealing.

"In short - I am just going to say - maybe I became a thorn in their side because I was interfering with their supply chain. For the supply chain to work correctly you need a corrupt policeman. You need a corrupt customs official; you need a corrupt policeman - then your system flows," he said.

Sander's testimony will resume on Tuesday.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

Gauteng police have confirmed they have started a probe into former Ekurhuleni city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi regarding tender irregularities linked to a lavish R3.5-million private jet trip to London in 2022.

The DA on Monday initiated corruption charges against Mashazi.

According to media reports, Mashazi undertook a R3.5 million sponsored trip paid for by various companies that profited from municipal tenders awarded by the City of Ekurhuleni during her tenure as city manager.

Speaking outside the Germiston police station, the DA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, said they had decided to open a case to ensure 'accountability for those complicit in corruption'.

"We are confident that the police will be able to successfully investigate the matter, and should there be any wrongdoing that is found after the investigation, we are saying those responsible must be held accountable. They must be put behind bars where they belong because when they steal from the city, the 4.2 million residents feel the pinch due to the lack of service delivery," she stated.

The move comes months after Mashazi testified before the Madlanga Commission, where she responded to the allegations against her after she was accused by senior officials of corruption, abuse of power, and deep-rooted misconduct within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD). 

During the inquiry, Mashazi faced accusations of sheltering suspended EMPD acting chief, Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, from disciplinary action. The Commission has since referred Mashazi and various current and former metro and EMPD officials for further criminal investigations based on emerging testimony.

Rasilingwane underscored the gravity of corruption in Ekurhuleni, insisting it transcends mere political rhetoric and must be confronted head-on to restore proper service delivery

"The issue of corruption and criminal activities within the City of Ekurhuleni, a city that has become a crime scene where people have been killed for speaking up, cannot be seen as a political or election campaign. This is a sad reality that we face as residents of Ekurhuleni," she stated.

Mashazi did not respond to a request for comment.

However, Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said: "While no arrests have been made yet, I can confirm that a case of corruption has been opened against the said official."

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

Three foreign nationals, including two Malawian nationals and one Zambian, have been arrested after authorities intercepted a truck carrying 713 kilograms of methaqualone (ABBA), a key drug-manufacturing ingredient valued at nearly R1 billion, at the Beitbridge Border Post in Limpopo.

The interception forms part of the ongoing nationwide crackdown under Operation Shanela, which continues to target organised crime syndicates, drug trafficking networks, and serious violent crime across South Africa.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi said the breakthrough was made in coordination with the Border Management Authority (BMA), which successfully stopped the vehicle at the busy border crossing.

“The South African Police Service (SAPS) ongoing nationwide Shanela Operations continue to secure major breakthroughs in the fight against criminal networks involved in organised crime, drug trafficking and possession as well as other serious and violent crimes,” Mukhathi said.

Authorities confirmed that the seizure of the large consignment of methaqualone was one of several major drug-related busts recorded during the week-long operations conducted between 25 and 31 May 2026.

“Among those arrested are three suspects- two Malawi nationals and one Zambian after the Border Management Authority (BMA) officials successfully intercepted a truck carrying 713 kilograms of methaqualone (ABBA), a drug manufacturing ingredient with a street value of nearly R1 billion at Beitbridge border post in Limpopo,” Mukhathi said.

The seizure is regarded as one of the most significant cross-border drug interdictions in recent months, with authorities warning that international trafficking syndicates continue to exploit regional trade routes to move illicit substances into and through South Africa.

The operation also forms part of broader enforcement actions that led to the arrest of 15 222 suspects nationwide, including 2 462 wanted individuals linked to serious crimes such as murder, rape, armed robbery, and drug trafficking.

Police further reported extensive drug seizures across provinces, including crystal meth worth millions of rand and large quantities of dagga smuggled across provincial and international borders.

In total, drug enforcement operations led to the arrest of 254 alleged drug dealers and 2 408 individuals for possession of drugs, highlighting what authorities describe as intensified pressure on narcotics distribution networks.

“Police also conducted operations targeting drug-related offences, including drug dealing, possession, and cross-border drug trafficking resulting in the arrest of 254 alleged drug dealers and 2,408 for possession of drugs,” Mukhathi said.

Beyond drug-related arrests, authorities recovered firearms, ammunition, vehicles, and dangerous weapons as part of coordinated raids nationwide, aimed at dismantling organised criminal activity.

“Operation Shanela continues to disrupt crime, recover firearms, confiscate drugs and arrest wanted suspects across all nine provinces,” Mukhathi said.

The Beitbridge interception is expected to form part of ongoing investigations into transnational drug trafficking syndicates operating between Southern African countries, with police indicating that further arrests could follow as intelligence operations continue.

The suspects are expected to appear in court on charges linked to drug trafficking and contravention of cross-border smuggling laws.

IOL News

Imagine checking your bank account on payday, only to find your salary has not cleared.

Your rent is due, you need groceries, and your debit orders could bounce. When you ask your manager what happened, they blame cash-flow problems.

In South Africa, late salary payments are a growing frustration for many employees. Some employers believe financial pressure gives them room to bend the rules. It does not.

Under Section 32 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, employers must pay remuneration no later than seven days after the end of the pay period. If your contract sets a specific payday, your employer is generally expected to honour that date.

The Seven-Day Rule

If your pay period runs from the first to the last day of the month, your employer must pay you by no later than the seventh day of the following month.

However, this does not override your employment contract. If your contract says you must be paid on the 25th, your employer cannot simply ignore that agreement.

Financial Distress Is Not an Excuse

Many businesses are under pressure, but employers cannot shift their financial problems onto employees. Repeated late payment may amount to a breach of contract and could expose the employer to legal consequences.

What You Should Do

First, check your employment contract and confirm the agreed payday.

Then raise the issue formally with human resources, management, your union or an employee forum. Put your objection in writing so there is a clear record.

If internal steps fail, employees may refer unpaid salary disputes to the CCMA under Section 73A of the BCEA, provided they earn below the prescribed threshold. From May 1, 2026, that threshold is R269,600.90 a year.

Your salary is your right, not a favour.

** Aslam Moolla is the founder and director of Legal Leaders and co-founder of Legal Leaders Insurance. He is a passionate labour lawyer with over 14 years of experience. Moolla and the Legal Leaders have become a prominent voice for workplace fairness and a commitment to ensuring every South African knows their rights and how to defend them.

***The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.

IOL Opinion

South Africa has cultivated a peculiar hierarchy of foreignness. Among a large segment of society and some political parties, the Zimbabwean gardener, the Malawian labourer, the Mozambican construction worker and the Congolese shopkeeper are denounced as invaders consuming scarce resources. They are blamed for unemployment, overcrowded clinics, strained infrastructure and rising crime. Political opportunists inflame the hysteria with slogans about foreigners “taking our jobs,” while periodic eruptions of violence descend upon vulnerable African migrants whose only crime is attempting to survive. Yet another class of foreigner moves through South Africa with almost complete immunity from scrutiny.

They arrive from Europe, the United States and increasingly Israel, carrying powerful passports, remote incomes and the confidence of people accustomed to moving through the world without restriction. They settle into Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard, transform neighbourhoods into short-term rental zones while living lives insulated from the economic realities surrounding them. Many could not remotely afford in London, Amsterdam, New York or Tel Aviv the lifestyles they casually enjoy in South Africa. The economic arithmetic is simple. Salaries earned in dollars, euros and pounds purchase extraordinary privilege when converted into rands. Domestic labour becomes cheap. Luxury apartments become attainable. Fine dining becomes routine. The ordinary middle-class Westerner suddenly acquires the lifestyle of a colonial elite. The elite in South Africa applauds this as sophistication.

Entire communities increasingly resemble enclaves for transient Western residency. Long-term rentals vanish into the machinery of Airbnb. Property prices soar beyond the reach of ordinary South Africans. Young professionals born in Cape Town cannot compete against foreign currency earners treating the city as a scenic arbitrage opportunity. Families in places like Bo Kaap are quietly displaced while estate agents and landlords celebrate “international demand”. The economic distortions are profound, yet remarkably absent from serious public discourse. The reason is uncomfortable. South African xenophobia is not fundamentally about foreigners. It is about which foreigners are deemed worthy.

The poor African migrant encounters suspicion because that migrant competes visibly within spaces of black economic desperation. Such migrants ride the same taxis, work in the same informal markets and queue at the same public hospitals. Their presence is immediate and therefore politically useful as a target of resentment. The European, American or Israeli expatriate, by contrast, arrives wrapped in the aura of Western prestige, whiteness, wealth and global mobility. That foreignness is romanticised as cosmopolitanism. Such consumption patterns are celebrated as investment. Their presence inflates local prices while simultaneously being marketed as proof that South Africa is “world class”. There is a deeper irony here. Many of the same voices who denounce impoverished African migrants as threats to sovereignty enthusiastically welcome affluent foreigners whose actual footprint on local housing markets and urban inequality is vastly greater. This critique is not directed at every foreign resident individually, but at a political and economic structure that rewards affluent foreign consumption while targeting African poverty.

This contradiction becomes even more morally uncomfortable when one considers that South Africa, despite its anti-apartheid legacy and its case before the International Court of Justice concerning Gaza, increasingly attracts affluent visitors and temporary residents from countries closely associated with systems of global power and conflict, including Israel. Yet public anxiety remains overwhelmingly directed not at affluent global mobility and speculative foreign consumption, but at impoverished African migrants struggling for survival. The contrast reveals how selectively South African society interprets foreignness, legitimacy and belonging.

Perhaps the greatest scandal in all of this is the posture of the ANC government itself. A governing party that endlessly sermonises about transformation, equality and anti-colonial solidarity has displayed astonishing passivity toward this new architecture of economic displacement. Ministers speak endlessly about xenophobia when poor Africans are attacked, and rightly so, yet remain almost silent about the distortions created by affluent Western migration and speculative foreign consumption. The silence is revealing. The ANC appears terrified of confronting wealthy Western interests, property developers, tourism operators and the Airbnb economy that increasingly reshapes urban South Africa for foreign appetites rather than local needs. The result is a form of recolonisation unfolding under the language of investment, tourism and global integration.

Entire sections of Cape Town increasingly feel economically detached from South Africa itself. They function less as communities rooted in national life than as lifestyle satellites for transient Western privilege. The waiter serving cocktails in Camps Bay often cannot dream of living within thirty kilometres of the establishment where that waiter works.

What makes this posture especially disgraceful is that the ANC government possesses no shortage of regulatory tools. Around the world, governments confronting housing crises and speculative foreign ownership have increasingly recognised that unrestricted global capital can hollow out local housing communities. Parts of Ontario and British Columbia introduced substantial foreign buyer taxes aimed at cooling speculative purchases and protecting local housing markets. London has imposed aggressive taxes on vacant high-end properties and scrutinised offshore ownership structures that turned sections of the city into safety deposit boxes for global wealth rather than functioning communities. Australia has imposed restrictions and review requirements on foreign residential purchases, particularly involving existing homes, while several municipalities have targeted speculative vacancy practices. Barcelona has aggressively moved against Airbnb saturation and short-term rental conversions that were displacing residents and distorting neighbourhoods into tourist corridors. Even parts of Switzerland have long maintained stringent restrictions on foreign ownership of residential property in order to preserve local access to housing and prevent speculative distortions.

These governments understand something the ANC appears unwilling to confront: housing is not merely a commodity. Cities are not theme parks for transient foreign consumption. A nation cannot sustain social cohesion while sections of its urban centres become investment playgrounds for people whose economic relationship to the country is fundamentally temporary and extractive. South Africa could impose meaningful taxes on short-term speculative property ownership. It could regulate Airbnb saturation. It could introduce visa structures requiring genuine economic contribution beyond consumption. It could prioritise housing protections for local residents. Instead, the government does virtually nothing.

It is easier politically to allow anger to descend upon vulnerable African migrants than to confront affluent Westerners armed with purchasing power, international status and proximity to elite economic networks. The powerless become convenient targets. The privileged become protected guests. And still, the public fury remains directed overwhelmingly at the undocumented Zimbabwean fruit seller rather than the affluent foreign speculator reshaping entire neighbourhoods. The contrast exposes the intellectual incoherence of South Africa’s immigration discourse. If the concern were genuinely pressure on resources, housing and employment, then affluent foreign consumption and property speculation would occupy the centre of the national debate. If the concern were sovereignty, then the country would interrogate the long-term implications of becoming a playground economy for transient Western privilege.

But South Africa’s anxieties are filtered through older psychological inheritances. Wealthy Western presence continues to be interpreted as validation. Poor African migration continues to be interpreted as contamination. This is colonial residue masquerading as nationalism. A nation born from resistance to hierarchy now risks reproducing its own hierarchy of human worth. The African foreigner is treated as disposable. The affluent Westerner is treated as aspirational.

South Africa therefore finds itself trapped in a strange moral contradiction. It condemns vulnerability while accommodating privilege. It lashes out at the powerless while flattering the globally mobile. And until that contradiction is confronted honestly, xenophobia in South Africa will remain what it too often already is: not patriotism, but selective resentment shaped by class, race and lingering colonial psychology.

Author's Note: This piece was originally submitted to the Daily Maverick. During the editorial process, objections were raised to the section referencing Israel. After extensive back-and-forth correspondence, a final wording was agreed upon and provided to me in the proof version for approval, which I formally signed off on.

However, when the article was published online, substantive changes were introduced to the Israel-related passage without my knowledge or consent, including wording that had previously been debated and deliberately removed during the editing process. I immediately objected to what I regarded as deeply unprofessional conduct and a classic bait-and-switch involving unauthorised alterations to approved text, following which the piece was unpublished.

* Ziyad Motala is a Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana has been elected chairperson of Parliament’s Phala Phala Impeachment Committee, securing 19 votes against ATM MP Dr Wonderboy Mahlatsi, who received 12.

The election took place on Monday during the committee’s first meeting, convened to elect its chairperson.

ANC MP Mikateko Mahlaule nominated Gana for the position, while EFF MP Omphile Maotwe nominated Mahlatsi.

Gana’s nomination was supported by the ANC, DA, Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), while the EFF, MK Party, ActionSA, National Coloured Congress (NCC), Build One South Africa (BOSA), ATM and United Traditional Alliance (UTA) opposed it.

Mahlatsi received backing from the EFF, MK Party, ActionSA, BOSA, ATM and UTA, while the ANC, DA, FF Plus and PA voted against his nomination.

Parliament’s newly established 31-member committee will reassess the Phala Phala report and scrutinise allegations against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The committee was established following a Constitutional Court judgment directing Parliament to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to recommend Ramaphosa’s removal from office over the theft of more than $580,000 from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in 2020.

The committee comprises members from 16 political parties represented in Parliament. 

The ANC has the largest allocation, with nine seats, followed by the DA with five representatives. The MK Party has three members, while the EFF has been allocated two seats.

The remaining parties - the IFP, PA, FF Plus, ActionSA, ACDP, UDM, Rise Mzansi, BOSA, ATM, Al Jama-ah, NCC and UTA - each have one representative on the committee.

*This is a developing story.*

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

Former Special Task Force officer Matipandile Sotheni was dealt a blow after he was denied bail in the Brakpan Magistrate's Court on Monday. 

Sotheni is charged with the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D in the Madlanga Commission. 

The case was postponed to July 30 for further investigations. 

Van der Merwe was gunned down at his Brakpan home on December 5, 2025, in the presence of his wife and kids. 

Sotheni, 42, was arrested on March 14, 2026, 

Sotheni faces 16 charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition-related offences and theft.

Van der Merwe testified before the Madlanga Commission in November 2025, where he implicated suspended EMPD deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi in the alleged murder of Emmanuel Mbhense. 

Mbhense was later found dead at Duduza Dam in Nigel in April 2022, after allegedly being tortured.

The State alleges Sotheni conspired with Wiandre Pretorius to kill Van der Merwe. Pretorius later died by suicide at a Brakpan petrol station. 

Police say he had previously survived a shooting in which his vehicle was struck multiple times.

Opposing bail, prosecutors argued that Sotheni’s release would endanger the public, risk witness intimidation and undermine the justice process. 

They said an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.

The prosecution further claimed Pretorius had sought Sotheni’s help after learning Van der Merwe intended to testify against him.

Sotheni’s lawyer, Nthabiseng Mohamane, challenged the State’s ballistic evidence, arguing that firearm components can be altered or swapped and denying that her client used an AK-47 in the alleged murder.

Sotheni, in an affidavit, denied any involvement in the killing and said he was not in possession of such a weapon on the day of the shooting.

He also told the court that detention would cause severe financial hardship for his family, including his elderly parents and children, and said he is not a flight risk, noting that he had surrendered his passport.

Meanwhile, the magistrate ruled that the State’s case was not weak and found that Sotheni failed to show why release would be in the interests of justice.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

Warrant Officer Karl Sander of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday that he was removed from the narcotics unit for disrupting the drug trade and stepping on the toes of officials linked to drug syndicates.

He testified that for a drug supply chain to operate, a syndicate would need collusion from a corrupt police officer and a customs official.

Sander was transferred from the KZN Hawks narcotics unit to provincial support services on  February 13, 2024 pending a corruption investigation linked to drug dealing.

He told the commission that KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona served him a letter regarding allegations that he was dealing in drugs, but he had not officially been informed of the investigation’s outcome.

In the letter, Senona stated that a complaint was lodged against Sander.

He said he was not informed in writing about the specific allegations against him, only verbally.

"I was told that an email had been sent to the national head office - that I was accused of supplying or facilitating supply of narcotics to Florida Road nightclub syndicates," he said.

He denied corruption, saying he would not sell drugs and that if he were corrupt he would sell guns instead because “my expertise is guns”.

He said he never officially received the investigation's outcome, but unofficially he was told the inquiry closed within four days and was given to Hawks members from Port Shepstone.

Sander said that despite being moved to support services his post never changed on the system; he continued to go to his old office and retained the same title.

Asked about his work experience at support services, he said:"For me it was prison. People I worked with - amazing. I will say that over and over again, incredible humans....but there was a post that I applied for and during the post they did a financial vetting and it came up that I was a director of a shooting club.” 

He added that the shooting club also comprised some of the SAPS members.

"We preserve the bank account to stop people from changing the name or committing fraud," he said, adding that a non-profit company was registered for that purpose. 

“I was charged for registering a company without telling the police I had an interest in the business. The outcome of that was a verbal warning," he said.

He told the commission that he was moved from narcotics because he stepped on their toes.

Sander said: "In short - I am just going to say - maybe I became a thorn in their side because I was interfering with their supply chain. For the supply chain to work correctly you need a corrupt policeman. You need a corrupt customs official; you need a corrupt policeman - then your system flows."

Sander's testimony continues.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

Nedbank must return a repossessed Nissan Navara after the owner claimed he knew nothing about the pending legal action, while the Sheriff claimed the court documents were served on him in the presence of his wife - who turned out to have died a decade earlier.

Following this bungling of the legal proceedings, the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg overturned the earlier default judgment and ordered the bank to this time serve summons on the owner in terms of the court rules.

Refilwe Paul Mokhwesana earlier concluded a sale agreement with Nedbank for the purchase of a 2021 Nissan Navara. Mokhwesana was required to make monthly installment payments into Nedbank’s account. Nedbank claimed that he had fallen in arrears with his payments and in March last year obtained default judgment against him.

In terms of the judgment, the purchase agreement was cancelled and Mokhwesana (in his absence) was ordered to return the vehicle. Following investigations, it had emerged that Mokhwesana’s account had fallen in arrears due to a fraudulent debt reviewing listing. This halted debit orders, but the payments later resumed after the fraud was discovered. Nedbank, nevertheless, obtained default judgment against him.

Mokhwesana said he only became aware of the legal proceedings and the subsequent judgment against him when the Sheriff came to repossess his vehicle. Nedbank, in opposing the rescission application, presented a confirmatory affidavit from the Sheriff to the court to prove that the Sheriff served the documents on Mokhwesana in the “presence of his wife”.

Mokhwesana, on the other hand, handed his wife’s death certificate to the court to prove that she had died more than a decade ago. The installment sale agreement relied on by Nedbank also recorded him as a widower.

Mokhwesana was adamant that he did not receive service of the process leading to Nedbank obtaining judgment against him. He also pointed out that after the fraud relating to his account was discovered, Nedbank re-submitted debit orders to his bank, which were paid each month. Thus, there was no need for Nedbank to obtain judgment, he argued.

The court noted that Nedbank continued to debit Mokhwesana’s account, specifically in the last four months leading to the date of the court order. Yet the bank maintained that he was still in arrears for the time when he fell victim to fraud resulting in a fraudulent reporting to Nedbank that Mokhwesana was in debt review.

Acting Judge K Mvumbu remarked that this matter stands to be resolved on Mokhwesana’s version, and this means that the court finds there is clear and satisfactory evidence that he was not personally served.

This conclusion is reached on the grounds that the sale agreement records him as a widower and the fact that he did hand disclosed his wife’s death certificate to the court. “It is not plausible that the Sheriff could have served the process personally upon Mokhwesana in the presence of his wife who died in 2014,” the judge said.

He added that Nedbank could not genuinely have believed that Mokhwesana was personally served. To harbour such belief, Nedbank would have to accept that it failed in its FICA verification. The judge questioned how the bank could have, under these circumstances, persisted with its opposition to the rescission application.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

A man appeared before the Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday after a 12-year-old girl died after a hunting expedition. 

The 12-year-old girl is from Krugersdorp. 

The Free State police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, said the incident took place at the Franshoek Farm, near Ficksburg on Friday, May 29. 

Mophiring said the young girl was on a hunting expedition with her father and the suspect. 

“It is alleged that on the morning of Friday, May 29, 2026, the deceased's father and the suspect were hunting on the farm when the suspect allegedly accidentally discharged a firearm, fatally wounding the 12-year-old girl,” Mophiring said. 

The girl was rushed to a nearby hospital. 

“The victim was rushed to a local hospital for medical treatment but was unfortunately declared dead upon arrival at approximately 9am,” Mophiring said.

“The incident was reported to the police by hospital personnel. A case of murder was subsequently registered, and all firearms belonging to the suspect were confiscated for further forensic ballistic testing as part of the ongoing investigation,” Mophiring said.

The man was arrested and charged with murder. 

This is not the first incident in the province where a 12-year-old girl lost her life. 

A 12-year-old girl from Azaadville died after she was allegedly struck by a bullet during a qurbani incident on Thursday, with authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Muslims across the country were celebrating Eid al-Adha on the day. 

According to information released following the incident, the tragedy occurred at the Jabadus Salaam premises.

Reports indicate that a bull escaped during the Qurbani process. While workers were attempting to put the animal down, it was shot with a rifle, but the shot was unsuccessful. During the ensuing confusion, the manager allegedly drew a firearm and fired several shots.

One of the shots reportedly struck the girl while she was inside a vehicle.

Qurbani, also known as Udhiyah, means sacrifice in Arabic. It is the Islamic ritual of slaughtering a livestock animal during the days of Eid al-Adha to honour the Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

A routine workday for a security officer from the Venda community working for SBV took an unsettling turn when he was reportedly stopped and questioned by a Zulu-speaking individual who challenged his nationality after he struggled to speak isiZulu fluently.

In a video that has since gone viral, a man is seen asking where the security officer is from. "Why do you care where I'm from? You want to see my ID?"

Mukhethwa Dzhugudzha, a social commentator and activist, told IOL that the incident reflects deeper societal tensions that extend well beyond questions of immigration enforcement.

"Let's be honest, if a Venda man can be called a foreigner in his own country because he does not speak IsiZulu then this is not just about illegal immigration because if this was truly about documentation then South Africans would not be attacked and humiliated simply for speaking the wrong language."

He said that what is unfolding reflects a deeper social fracture. "This is how Afrophobia mutates into tribalism. Xenophobia, Afrophobia and tribalism are all cousins."

Dzhugudzha warned that such attitudes risk widening divisions within the country.

"First the target are Zimbabweans, then Mozambicans, then Nigerians. Then suddenly it becomes Venda people from Limpopo or Tonga people or Peri people. Anyone whose accent or language sounds unfamiliar."

A security officer from the Venda community working for SBV was reportedly asked to produce his ID by a group of Zulu-speaking people after they questioned his nationality because he could not speak Zulu fluently.

The incident has sparked debate about identity, language, and the… pic.twitter.com/xsFxH40WcG

— Vehicle Trackers (@VehicleTracker8) May 31, 2026

Political analyst Zweli Ndevu linked such incidents to linguistic dominance within certain mobilisation spaces.

"Remember that people who are leading this movement around xenophobic issues and all of that are mostly people from KwaZulu-Natal most of them speak only Zulu or their language understanding is limited to Zulu and therefore anything that is outside of Zulu would be seen as foreign. So that's the reason they might be doing that."

He added that tensions could intensify in the coming weeks.

"We'll see this escalating as it grows closer to the deadline that they've set themselves, which is the June 30."

Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, known by her stage name Makhadzi, said the incident had affected her personally and urged people to find a different way of addressing concerns around undocumented migration.

"My Zulu brothers, please let's find a new way to approach this illegal foreigner issue. It must not get to the extent where people from Limpopo are forced to know Zulu. Let it be a choice, not a must," she said.

She also expressed concern about the broader implications of the incident.

"It really pained me seeing my brother being harassed like this just because he is new in Gauteng and does not know how to speak Zulu. Please tell us where we belong so we can go on."

Cici Sebego, a sociology and community development facilitator, said the incident cannot be separated from South Africa's historical legacy of division and classification.

"I often say that South Africa's historical context continues to shape who we are today... by this, I am referring to the legacies of colonialism and apartheid," she said.

According to Sebego, apartheid-era policies entrenched ethnic divisions that continue to influence social relations decades later.

She explained: “Through the ethnic classification of Bantustans, people were separated and categorised according to language and ethnicity. This institutionalised a system of social classification that contributed to tribalism and, in some cases, created perceived hierarchies and tensions between different groups.”

She argued that language can become a powerful marker of belonging during periods of heightened social tension, particularly when anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise.

"Language can become a marker of identity, and at times like these when anti-immigrant sentiments are growing, it can be used to determine who is seen as part of the community and who is viewed as an outsider," Sebego said.

She further suggested that there may be a connection between growing nationalist sentiments and hostility towards outsiders, noting that xenophobia can emerge from broader systems of exclusion and social othering.

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Mama Money is relaunching the Mama Money Card with a renewed focus on helping migrants and workers in South Africa simplify everyday banking and daily life.

Built for people who often face barriers to traditional banking, the Mama Money Card combines accessible banking, payments, and money transfer services into one practical solution designed around real customer needs.

While the card has already been in the market, the relaunch introduces a refreshed positioning under the new tagline, “Now You Can” — highlighting the everyday possibilities that become easier when customers have access to affordable and accessible banking tools.

With the Mama Money Card, customers can:

• Receive salaries directly into their their unique accounts with a R100 000 monthly limit
• Do local bank transfers to South African Bank accounts
• Shop online on platforms like Temu, SHEIN, TakeAlot, & more
• Buy groceries and pay in-store nationwide
• Send money across borders globally, from Africa to Asia, the USA & Europe
• Withdraw cash safely at ATMs
• Buy airtime, electricity, data and vouchers
• Manage money through the Mama Money app and WhatsApp banking features

The card is available through participating Pick n Pay stores nationwide, making it easier for customers to access banking services in familiar retail locations close to where they live and work.

For many migrants and workers in South Africa, access to simple banking remains a daily challenge. Cash-based living can create risks and inconvenience, from long ATM queues and theft concerns to difficulties shopping online or managing monthly expenses.

Mama Money says the relaunch focuses on making everyday financial services more accessible and practical for real communities — including African and Asian migrants, workers, entrepreneurs, and families living in South Africa. From paying a gardener or nanny to supporting workers on-site, the Mama Money Card is helping make everyday payments simpler, safer and more convenient for South Africans and migrants alike. 

“‘Now You Can’ is about opening up everyday possibilities for our customers,” says Mama Money. “Whether it’s receiving a salary safely, shopping online for your family, sending money home, or simply paying for daily essentials more conveniently, we want banking to feel simple and accessible.”

Customers can register using passports or asylum documentation, helping reduce many of the traditional barriers associated with opening bank accounts.

The relaunch also reflects the growing shift toward digital payments and everyday banking tools that fit naturally into modern life. As more consumers move beyond cash, accessible financial products are becoming increasingly important for communities that have historically been underserved by traditional banking systems.

With the Mama Money Card now available nationally through Pick n Pay stores, the company hopes to bring everyday banking closer to the people who need it most — helping more customers move confidently from cash to cards.

What started as a trusted remittance service is now evolving into a full everyday financial partner for migrants, workers and families across South Africa. www.mamamoney.co.za/mama-money-card 

Cards are available at Pick n Pay and  Mama Money Agents nationally

For more information on "Now You Can"  bank, visit: Save, Send and Spend with the new Mama Money Card!

Following a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into allegations of corruption and maladministration at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), a whistleblower who helped expose concerns over a multimillion-rand office lease is set to get his job back.

Alfred Abrahams, a former facilities manager at NSFAS, provided key information to investigators after being referred to the SIU by the organisation's internal forensic audit lead. He was later dismissed for breaching company policies after disclosing information linked to the investigation.

However, the Labour Court found that Abrahams had been fired for making protected disclosures rather than for breaching policy and ordered NSFAS to reinstate him with full retrospective effect.

NSFAS is currently under administration after Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela intervened over what he described as prolonged governance instability, legal concerns and operational weaknesses within the institution.

Governance disputes

The minister said concerns over the legality of the NSFAS board's constitution, combined with board resignations and ongoing governance disputes, left government with little choice but to step in.

Manamela said the intervention was necessary because NSFAS is entrusted with billions of rands in public funds and plays a critical role in funding higher education opportunities for poor and working-class students.

Abrahams’ disclosures centred on a Cape Town office lease that he said left NSFAS paying about R2 million a month in rent for a building that was larger than required and initially stood largely empty.

The Auditor-General later confirmed a number of the concerns he had raised, including procurement failures, inadequate approvals and the risk of fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

Billions

The SIU's broader NSFAS investigation ultimately recovered R1.18 billion and the student funding body remains under administration while implementing reforms and recommendations arising from the probe.

The ruling means Abrahams, a former facilities manager at NSFAS, could return to the organisation he accused of ignoring repeated warnings about a procurement process that he believed resulted in the student funding agency leasing substantially more office space than it required.

In the ruling, the court noted that Abrahams gathered documentary evidence, which he “explained… he did… out of fear of victimisation and in order to preserve evidence for potential future proceedings, as he believed he might be targeted once his disclosures became known”.

Court order

Judge R Lagrange found that Abrahams' dismissal in May 2023 was automatically unfair under the Protected Disclosures Act and ordered NSFAS to reinstate him with full retrospective effect, including back pay from the date of his dismissal until his return to work.

“All the evidence points to the overwhelming cause of his dismissal being his disclosure of the information of various acts of wrongdoing on the part of NSFAS management,” the judge found.

Costs were awarded against NSFAS. "As a matter of fairness and law, I see no reason why he should have to bear any of his legal costs of fighting to overturn his dismissal, which was the result of a disciplinary process instituted with the ulterior motive of punishing a genuine whistle-blower."

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KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce has started processing the replacement of Mbali Shinga after her final expulsion by her party, the National Freedom Party at the weekend.

On Saturday, the party’s appeals committee dismissed Shinga’s appeal for a review of her earlier expulsion in April. On Sunday, the party wrote to Boyce notifying her about the decision and that it had nominated its president Ivan Barnes, to replace Shinga.

In her reply, Boyce acknowledged receiving the party’s letter and promised to process it accordingly.

“This serves to acknowledge your correspondence and will process and revert to you,” said Boyce On Monday, Boyce also wrote to Shinga advising her of intention to remove her unless there is court interdict preventing her from doing so.

The NPF's Secretary-General Sunset Xaba confirmed that he had written to Boyce, asking for Shinga to be replaced with Barnes.

In his letter, Xaba referred the Speaker to Section 106(3)(c) of the Constitution which says that a person loses their Legislature membership if that person ceases to be a member of a political party that nominated that person to be a member of the Legislature. He therefore requested the Speaker to facilitate the swearing in of Barnes.

“We respectfully request that your esteemed office to facilitate his swearing-in without delay, thereby ensuring that uninterrupted representation of the party and safeguarding the dignity of the legislative governance,” read the letter.

However, Shinga  who is also the Social Development MEC, is expected to remain in both positions as her legal team was expected to file court papers on Monday challenging the expulsion. 

Speaking on Sunday, through her attorney Sithembiso Mbhele, Shinga vowed to go to court to challenge the latest decision on her political career.

Mbhele said he has been instructed by Shinga to file papers in court on Monday, describing the appeals chairperson’s decision as 'long pre-determined'. 

He said that the appeals committee chairperson 'frustrated Shinga’s appeal from day one by refusing to provide the transcript of the hearing to the legal team to formulate arguments of the appeal'.

Mbhele said instead of being given a transcribed hearing, the chairperson of the disciplinary committee provided audio clips.

“We are taking this matter to court on an urgent basis. The appeals committee chairperson had a predetermined finding against our client. It was practically impossible for us to listen to audio of the four month long hearing, hence we are saying there was a deliberate plan to uphold the expulsion decision,” said Mbhele.

He claimed there was no possibility of an appeal before the decision was taken, saying the legal team had been told that the appeal had been dismissed.

He said Shinga is challenging the powers of the party’s national working committee as the party’s constitution says that the party’s highest decision-making structure is its general conference.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

A 45-year-old woman has been convicted on a money laundering charge in the Oudtshoorn Magistrate’s Court. 

Cathleen Hendricks, 45, pleaded guilty to the charge of money laundering. 

According to the Western Cape spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, this matter stems from a larger investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering activities that emanated from a drug seizure from a taxi that arrived in Oudtshoorn in April 2018.

“It was reported that on April 6, 2018, an intelligence-led operation consisting of members of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in George and K9 Oudtshoorn acted on information received about drug activities. The information received was about an individual who was dealing in drugs,  who sent an amount of R60,000 via a taxi driver to Gqeberha to buy drugs,” Hani said. 

Upon the return of the taxi to Oudtshoorn, SAPS members stopped and searched the taxi and found R57,490 in cash belonging to the drug dealer, together with 200 Mandrax tablets.

The taxi driver was arrested. The drugs and the money were seized.

“Upon further investigation, it was established that the drug dealer instructed Cathleen Hendricks to go to the police station to submit a statement where she declared that the R57,490 belonged to her, but the money was not handed back to her. The drug dealer passed on in 2022,” Hani said. 

Evidence was presented to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) that the contents of Cathleen Hendricks' affidavit were false. 

“As a result, on October 23, 2025, the court issued a summons was issued and served on Cathleen Hendricks to appear in court. On November 14, 2025, the High Court granted a forfeiture order of the amount of R57,490,” Hani said. 

The matter has been postponed until July 14, for sentencing. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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President Cyril Ramaphosa says Bafana Bafana heads into the FIFA World Cup carrying the expectations and unity of “62 million South Africans,” as the country rallies behind the squad ahead of their opening match against Mexico.

Ramaphosa framed the team’s participation as more than sport, describing it as a moment of national identity and collective hope.

“They carry with them the best wishes of more than 62 million South Africans who will be cheering them on at every stage of the tournament,” Ramaphosa said.

The President said the figure reflects not only population scale but national sentiment, positioning the team as a unifying symbol in a country marked by diversity and shared aspiration.

“For 90 minutes, as they play for our country, we will not be divided by language, race, province, club or circumstance,” he said.

“We will simply be South Africans standing together behind our national team and behind our flag.”

Ramaphosa said Bafana Bafana’s return to the World Cup stage, their first since South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010, represents a broader national moment of renewal.

He praised the efforts of players, coaching staff, the South African Football Association, leagues, clubs and sponsors, saying their work had helped restore competitiveness to national football.

“The efforts of all the players in qualifying for the tournament deserve credit and recognition,” he said.

The President linked the team’s journey to South Africa’s democratic progress, saying the squad reflects the country’s constitutional values of “respect, tolerance, fairness and inclusivity.”

“Bafana Bafana will be ambassadors for our country and what we stand for,” he said.

He also invoked South Africa’s post-1994 unity narrative, referencing the 1995 Rugby World Cup as an example of sport’s power to unify the nation.

While urging public support, Ramaphosa also set clear expectations for performance.

“As I told the Bafana Bafana squad last week, the people of South Africa expect them to bring the trophy home,” he said.

However, he added that the significance of their participation extends beyond results, describing it as a symbol of national confidence and resilience.

“Regardless of how Bafana Bafana fare in the tournament, their participation is as rich with meaning as the 1995 Rugby World Cup,” he said.

Ramaphosa called for national unity behind the team:

 “One Team. One Nation. Behind Bafana. Behind South Africa. United by our Flag, inspired by our Team. 62 million cheering voices. One Dream.”

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South Africa has vaccinated approximately 4.4 million animals against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) as government ramps up efforts to contain the outbreak and restore the country's livestock export potential.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said government has secured sufficient vaccine supplies and remains on track to vaccinate the country's entire cattle population twice by the end of the year.

Steenhuisen said the focus has now shifted from vaccine procurement to accelerating vaccinations on the ground.

"We have secured the supply now. We will be able to vaccinate every single of the cattle population twice by the end of this year. I'm convinced, and we have got the vaccine to now do it. Now it turns to pace."

The minister revealed that South Africa has procured 13.5 million vaccine doses to date, describing the achievement as a significant milestone in the country's battle against the highly contagious livestock disease.

"This department has procured every available international vaccine matched to our strains here. There's not a single vaccine out there that we're not interested in procuring. We have gone out actively and procured every available matched vaccine that we can get our hands on."

Steenhuisen acknowledged concerns raised by lawmakers and industry stakeholders about the pace of vaccinations, saying he would only be satisfied once every susceptible animal has been inoculated.

"I will never be happy with the pace unless it's immediate and real time. Our challenge now is to get as many vaccines into as many animals as quickly as possible."

The minister said additional animal health technicians had been recruited, while industry bodies including the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) and other livestock organisations had been brought in to assist with the mass vaccination drive.

He pointed to KwaZulu-Natal as an example of progress, where the appointment of more than 20 animal health technicians had significantly increased vaccination rates.

Steenhuisen also addressed reports that some animals were being vaccinated without proper identification tags, warning that such practices undermine disease surveillance and future vaccination efforts.

"No animal is to be vaccinated without being properly marked."

He said tagging is critical to ensuring animals receive their second vaccination within the required timeframe and to strengthening South Africa's traceability systems.

The minister clarified that most of the 4.4 million vaccinated animals have not yet received booster shots, noting that the oil-based vaccines currently being used provide protection for up to six months before revaccination is required.

"The goal is not to wait for the full six-month period. The goal is to vaccinate as quickly as possible and try and narrow the timeframe between vaccination one and the second vaccination."

Steenhuisen said defeating the outbreak remains a national priority, not only to protect livestock but also to reopen lucrative international markets currently restricted due to South Africa's FMD status.

"Getting this particular outbreak under control, compartmentalising the country, regaining the status of FMD-free and getting it with vaccination will allow us to access many of those markets that have been closed."

He added that South Africa's red meat industry is well-positioned to compete globally once disease control measures are fully implemented.

"We produce some of the best red meat in the world. Undisputable. Once we get this disease under control and we get that status change, we are really going to start to see the red meat sector in South Africa reaping the benefits."

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South Africa's voters and donors appear to be backing different parties.

The African National Congress secured 39.2% of the vote in the 2024 election, making it the country's largest political party. The Democratic Alliance secured 22.1%.

Yet the latest Electoral Commission funding disclosures show the DA declared R57.3 million in donations during the January-to-March 2026 quarter, compared with R10 million for the ANC. This equates to the ANC pulling in 17.5% of the amount the DA did.

On the face of declared donations, political funding is flowing in a markedly different direction from electoral support.

The disclosures show political parties reported R97.2 million in donations during the first quarter of 2026, up from R14.2 million in the corresponding period a year earlier. That represents an increase of more than R83 million in declared political funding – or 85.4%.

Timing matters?

Even though both sets of disclosures come ahead of elections, the 2024 figures were weeks before South Africans voted, while local elections will not be held until November. Much of that increase accrued to the DA.

The DA, previously the official opposition before becoming part of the government of national unity, saw its declared donations rise from R6.2 million in the first quarter of 2025 to R57.3 million this year, an increase of R51.1 million.

The increase alone was more than three times larger than the R14.2 million all political parties combined declared during the comparable quarter a year earlier.

A year ago, the funding landscape looked very different.

The ANC topped the donations table with R7 million in declared funding, narrowly ahead of the DA's R6.2 million. ActionSA reported R1 million, and total disclosed donations amounted to R14.2 million.

Ahead of the rest

The DA led all parties with R57.3 million in declared donations. Rise Mzansi emerged as the second-largest recipient after reporting a R30 million donation from We Are The People. The ANC reported R10 million in donations, while ActionSA disclosed R9.9 million.

Comparing electoral support and disclosed donations highlights the extent of the shift. The ANC's 39.2% share of the vote made it South Africa's largest party in the 2024 election. The DA secured 22.1%, while ActionSA won 1.41% and Rise Mzansi 0.43%.

Yet the latest funding disclosures show that the DA reported almost six times as much funding as the ANC, while Rise Mzansi declared three times more funding than the governing party despite securing less than 1% of the national vote in 2024.

Lion's share

The increase in political funding was also concentrated as the scale of donations flowing to the DA changed significantly.

Of the additional R83 million declared over the year, the DA accounted for R51.1 million. Rise Mzansi added R30 million after reporting no donations above the disclosure threshold in the comparable quarter of 2025.

During the first quarter of 2025, the party's disclosures included a R3 million donation from Naspers, R743,687 from Main Street 1564 and R1 million in-kind support from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

This year, the party reported multiple eight-figure donations, including R13 million from Fynbos Kapitaal, R10 million from Fynbos Ekwiteit, R10 million from Main Street 1564 and R10 million from donor M Slack. It also disclosed a R4 million donation from donor G Ryan.

Political funding disclosures capture only donations above prescribed reporting thresholds and do not provide a complete picture of party finances. They do, however, provide insight into where major donors are directing money.

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The sister of Marius van der Merwe, who was known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission, has described the denial of bail to former Special Task Force officer Matipandile Sotheni as “a victory, but an emotional one.”

She broke down in tears at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where Sotheni was denied bail.

Sotheni, 42, remains in custody after being accused of killing Van der Merwe at his Brakpan home on December 5, 2025.

The matter was postponed to July 30 for further investigation.

Speaking inside the court after the bail judgement, Natasha van der Merwe said the ruling brought relief, but also deep grief.

“This particular opportunity has apparently led me to fail. Very emotional, happy, but emotional, I must say.

“This is what we wanted, but it's emotional to hear how, what they did to my brother, how they killed him…It will never bring my brother back, never. And his soul's not resting.”

She said the decision to deny bail was a victory, but an emotional one.

“Definitely, it's a victory, but it's an emotional victory. I'm happy at the same time that he didn't get by.

“I'm happy with (my) family, we all will be celebrating this…But with this comes emotions of why did they take my brother away? Why did they have to kill him in that way?” she asked.

“The way I saw him in the coffin, and then I heard about all the previous court hearings, that he was allegedly shot in the head.

“It makes me now understand why they covered his face so much, because why kill him in such a brutal way, why? It's my brother, I'll never see him again, never, never ever, never. And I just keep on thinking about him and I wish I could be there for him.

“I wish I could have protected him the way he protected me many years ago,” she added.

Sotheni faces 16 charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition-related offences and theft.

He was arrested on March 14, 2026.

Prosecutors allege he conspired with Wiandre Pretorius to kill Van der Merwe after learning he intended to testify against them. Pretorius later died by suicide.

Van der Merwe had previously testified before the Madlanga Commission in November 2025, implicating suspended EMPD deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi in an alleged murder linked to the case of Emmanuel Mbhense.

Mbhense was later found dead at Duduza Dam in Nigel in April 2022, after allegedly being tortured.

The State alleges Sotheni was involved in the alleged conspiracy to kill Van der Merwe.

Pretorius, who was also implicated in the Madlanga Commission, later died by suicide at a Brakpan petrol station in February 2026.

Police say he had previously survived a shooting in which his vehicle was struck multiple times.

Opposing bail, prosecutors previously argued that Sotheni’s release would pose a risk to public safety, witnesses and the integrity of the investigation.

They said an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were allegedly found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.

Defence lawyer Nthabiseng Mohamane previously challenged the State’s ballistic evidence, arguing that firearm components can be altered or replaced, and denied that her client used an AK-47 in the alleged killing.

In an affidavit, Sotheni denied involvement in the murder, saying he was not in possession of such a weapon on the day of the shooting.

He also said detention would cause severe financial hardship and argued he was not a flight risk, noting he had surrendered his passport.

Magistrate Tlakale Sathekge ruled that the State’s case was not weak and found that Sotheni had failed to show why release would be in the interests of justice.

The court found there was a likelihood that, if released, he could endanger witnesses, interfere with evidence or undermine the criminal justice process.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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The working class is forced to bear the burden of an economic system that prioritises wealth extraction over human dignity. 

The Conference of the Left, which held its inaugural gathering at the weekend, has declared the escalating cost of living a central terrain of class struggle. 

The declaration comes as South Africa faces a structural crisis characterised by mass unemployment (hovering around 43.7% overall and over 71% for youth), deepening poverty, and severe inequality. 

The three -day conference, was hosted by the South African Communist Party (SACP) at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, from Friday to Sunday.

The conference was attended by a broad coalition of leftist and progressive organisations, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO), and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). 

Several smaller parties, labour federations, Marxist and Pan-Africanist groups, and social movements also participated.

The ANC boycotted the conference as it viewed the gathering as a strategic attempt by rival factions to attack, weaken, and dismantle the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance. 

The party also objected to the inclusion of rival parties such as the EFF and MK Party, arguing that these groups do not embody genuine leftist principles. 

In a document shared on social media, the SACP said food prices, electricity tariffs, transport costs, fuel, water charges, and basic goods are influenced by monopoly control, profiteering, weak public regulation, financialisation, austerity, and private profit.

The conference has called for price regulation, action against fixing and profiteering.

The conference also called for stronger measures against monopoly control of essential goods and the defence of affordable basic services as a right. 

“Food, energy, water, sanitation, healthcare, education, housing, and transport must be treated as public goods, not commodities,” read the document.

The conference also opposed privatisation, prepaid exclusion, water and electricity disconnections, and the transfer of the “capitalist crisis” onto working-class households. 

The conference declared its support for a permanent Universal Basic Income Grant set at a level that sustains dignity, financed through redistributive taxation on wealth, concentrated capital, and financial speculation, as part of comprehensive social security.

“The current social relief of distress grant is inadequate and falls far below what is required for a dignified life. The conference notes that millions who require income support remain excluded through restrictive criteria, administrative barriers, and underfunding. 

"The struggle for a Universal Basic Income Grant must therefore be linked to expanded social protection, redistribution of wealth, land justice, and the construction of economic alternatives that place human need before profit,” reads the document.

The conference added that the country’s critical minerals must be used strategically for industrialisation, not merely as exported as new materials for foreign corporations and “imperialist” supply chains.

The conference pronounced that minerals must support beneficiation, public and social ownership, local manufacturing, energy sovereignty, rail and infrastructure development, technological transfer, skills development, worker rights, and decent work. 

“The conference rejects the false choice between corruption and privatisation. Corruption, maladministration, looting, and elite impunity must be confronted decisively. But handing over electricity, rail, ports, water systems, spectrum, public health, public transport, and other strategic network industries to private profiteers is not a solution. It is a continuation of the neoliberal offensive under another name.”  

The MK Party said the conference has demonstrated that progressive forces in South Africa remain resilient, active, and capable of shaping a meaningful alternative for the future.

At the same time, it highlighted the ongoing challenge of fragmentation, ideological confusion, and organisational division that continues to weaken the working class and slow the pace of transformation.

In response, the party called for the establishment of a permanent Council of the Left, which will bring together political parties, trade unions, community organisations, youth and women’s formations, intellectuals, and all progressive forces committed to social and economic change.

The party added that this structure must serve as a platform for coordination, policy development, political education, and collective action in the interests of workers and the poor.

The conference has also called for the rebuilding of public health, the insourcing of health support workers, expansion of community healthcare, public pharmaceutical capacity, democratic accountability and international cooperation in health, including with Cuba.

The conference also stands for redistribution, restitution, security of tenure, and expropriation of land with compensation where appropriate and in public interest, guided by the need to restore dignity, advance equality and place land in the hands of those who work it and live on it.

“The conference supports anti-eviction legislation to protect vulnerable land occupiers, tenants, and farm dwellers, homeless communities and working-class households from unjust, unlawful, illegal and arbitrary evictions.”

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za

The fuel price outlook for June is a mixed bag for motorists and commuters, with petrol set for another increase and diesel seeing a very welcome decrease.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has confirmed that the price of both grades of petrol will increase by R1.43 per litre from Wednesday, June 3. However, diesel is set for significant decreases of R3.25 for 500ppm and R2.62 in the case of 50ppm.

This means that a litre of 95 unleaded petrol will now cost R27.19 at the coast and R28.06 in Gauteng, where the cheaper 93 grade will rise to R27.95. 

The wholesale price of diesel will decrease to R27.05 at the coast and R27.92 inland, with 50ppm falling to R27.88 and R28.75, respectively. Retail margins will typically add around R2 to R3 to these amounts.

The month-end, unaudited data released by the Central Energy Fund actually painted a far more positive picture, in which 95 unleaded petrol could have decreased by 46 cents, while diesel showed over-recoveries of between R4.93 and R5.56.

However, Treasury’s temporary fuel tax relief measures that were announced in April are due to be phased out from June, with R1.50 being reintroduced to the petrol tax tally and R1.96 to diesel. A further R1.50 will be added in July when the tax structure returns to normal.

Further to that, the Slate Levy, which compensates fuel companies for price fluctuations in the preceding month, has increased from R1.22 to R1.57 for the month of June. 

June’s fuel price adjustments come in the wake of record increases in the preceding months, which saw petrol rise by R3.06 per litre in April and R3.27 in May, while diesel surged by R7.37 and R6.19 respectively.

This came after US strikes on Iran caused international oil prices to spike, with the latter placing a chokehold on the critical Strait of Hormuz oil route. However, hopes of an imminent peace deal have seen prices subside slightly during May.

A notable development on the local front that could offer longer-term relief is South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, who is pushing for the establishment of a new state-owned company aimed at addressing rising fuel prices.

In his budget vote speech two weeks ago, Mantashe said South Africa needs a long-term solution to fuel price volatility, as well as a deeper examination of its heavy reliance on fuel imports.

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THERE is a quiet arrogance in declaring a Bill unconstitutional while refusing to confront the one judgment that settles the question once and for all.

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD), the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) have mounted a serious challenge to the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill, 2026.

Their strongest objection rests on section 328(7) of the Constitution. They argue that clauses 4 and 9—which extend the presidential and parliamentary terms—violate that section and therefore require a national referendum.

They present this view with the confidence of revealed truth. Yet it is mistaken. It collapses, brick by brick, under the binding authority of the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe delivered five years ago—an authority the church groupings neither cite, nor distinguish, nor appear to have read.

That authority is Mupungu v Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs & Ors, Judgment No. CCZ 07/21.

It remains the clearest and most authoritative statement in Zimbabwean law on exactly what section 328(7) means and how any court must decide whether a constitutional provision qualifies as a “term-limit provision.” Properly understood, Mupungu does not merely weaken the ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC case. It dismantles it.

The Question the Churches Never Ask

Section 328(7) prevents an amendment to a term-limit provision—one whose effect would be to extend the time a person may hold public office—from applying to anyone already in that office. ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC focus entirely on the phrase “the effect of which.” The Bill lengthens time in office, they say, therefore section 328(7) is triggered and a referendum is mandatory.

This is an effect-based shortcut, and Mupungu closes that road.

The error is fundamental. Section 328(7) does not apply to every or any amendment that lengthens the time of a term. It applies only to an amendment to a term limit provision that first meets the strict definition in section 328(1): “a provision of this Constitution which limits the length of time that a person may hold or occupy a public office.” That definition is the gatekeeper. Only if the provision being amended is a genuine term-limit provision does the protection in subsection (7) ever come into play.

The decisive question is therefore not “what is the effect?” of any provision of the Constitution but “what is the provision?” One must first classify the section being changed. ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC skipped that essential step entirely. They assumed the very conclusion they were required to prove.

What Mupungu Actually Decided

In Mupungu, the Constitutional Court faced an almost identical argument. Constitutional (Amendment No. 2) Act of 2021 had raised the retirement age of judges from 70 to 75. The Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, judges of the Constitutional Court and judges of the Supreme Court could now serve longer.

The High Court had ruled that this offended section 328(7), reasoning that any fixed period or age-based limit concerns time, so raising the age varied a term-limit. That is precisely the logic that ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC now advance.

The Constitutional Court rejected it outright and set the High Court judgment aside.

The Court’s reasoning is straightforward and binding. Whether a provision is a “term-limit provision” is decided by its text, read in its plain and grammatical sense—not by the practical consequences of the amendment.

The phrase “term-limit,” the Court explained, “refers to the limitation of a specific length of time as opposed to the non-specific effluxion of time”: a clear, determinate period with a known beginning and a determinable end. Age, by contrast, is “a variable attribute” that “does not and cannot denote any particular length or portion of time.”

From this the Court drew the governing rule that every Zimbabwean court, law-maker and commentator is bound to follow:

“Thus, a provision that prescribes an age limit for the holding or occupation of a particular office is not a ‘term-limit provision’ within the meaning of subss (1) and (7) of s 328 of the Constitution. Any other interpretation would be contrary to the ordinary and grammatical meaning of the phrase ‘term-limit’.”

The test is textual, not consequential. Effect matters only after the text has been correctly classified. The church groupings have reversed the very order the apex court prescribed.

Applying the Court’s Test to the Bill

Read section 95(2)(b) of the Constitution—the provision clause 4 seeks to amend. It states that the presidential term of office “is five years and coterminous with the life of Parliament.” That wording is decisive. The section does not impose any personal tenure cap on any individual.

It does not say “no person shall serve as President for longer than five years,” or that “a person shall serve for a term of five years, renewable once or for a maximum of 10 years”. Instead, it inextricably ties the President’s term to the life of another institution—Parliament.

In the language of Mupungu, this is tenure measured by a variable external or contingent reference point, not “a specific length of time” fixed to the individual.

The real term-limit on the presidency sits untouched in section 91(2), which bars any person who “has already held office as President under this Constitution for two terms.” Clause 4 does not touch that section. Clause 9 simply governs the lifespan of Parliament as an institution. Neither clause amends a “term-limit provision” as Mupungu defines it. The gatekeeper test in section 328(1) is not satisfied; section 328(7) is never engaged; the demand for a referendum therefore fails at the first hurdle.

The “Notwithstanding” Clause Is Not a Confession

ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC treat the new “notwithstanding section 328(7)” wording in clauses 4 and 9 as an admission of guilt. If the drafters did not think section 328(7) applied, they ask, why mention it at all? Mupungu already answered this exact objection. Constitutional Amendment No. 2 inserted almost identical “notwithstanding” language into section 186 for the judges’ retirement age. The Constitutional Court held that such wording was inserted “to clarify and reinforce the position that” the amended provisions “do not constitute amendments to any term-limit provision” and therefore occasioned “no infringement of s 328(7).”

Far from proving unconstitutionality, the clause is a prudent drafting device that places the matter beyond doubt. The drafters have followed the very precedent employed by Parliament when it amended section 186 under Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 2) Act 2021, and the Constitutional Court has examined that amendment and upheld it.

Who Has the Constitutional Authority to Decide?

Here ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC make their most fundamental mistake. Law-making belongs to Parliament (section 117). Constitutional interpretation belongs, finally and exclusively, to the Constitutional Court (section 167). No church body, however respected, has the standing to pronounce a Bill unconstitutional and demand its withdrawal or a referendum. A submission to Parliament is an opinion—an important voice of conscience—but it is not a judgment. It creates no legal duty.

On the precise issue the churches raise, the binding authority already exists. It is Mupungu. And it says the opposite of what they claim.

There is no disrespect in noting that spiritual authority and legal authority are distinct. The church may—and should—speak to the nation’s conscience, call for prayer, honesty and peace. In that realm its voice needs no permission. But the construction of section 328(7) is not a matter of revelation. It is a matter of legal interpretation, governed by the canons the Constitution itself sets out and decided by the court the Constitution appoints.

A bishop is no more entitled to deliver a binding reading of section 328(7) than a judge is entitled to consecrate the Eucharist.

The Law Is Not a Matter of Revelation

Strip away the scriptural language and the case of ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC rests on one claim: that clauses 4 and 9 amend a term-limit provision and therefore require a referendum under section 328(7).

Tested against Mupungu, that claim fails. Section 95(2)(b) links the presidential term to the life of Parliament; it fixes no limit on personal tenure. The true cap lives in section 91(2), which the Bill leaves untouched. Section 328(7) is simply not engaged.

The three church councils have not engaged Mupungu. They have not distinguished it. They appear not even to know it exists. They have offered an effect-based analysis without naming it, and presented the result not as an argument but as a pronouncement. That is not constitutional interpretation. It is constitutional impersonation.

Parliament’s mandate is to make law. The judiciary’s mandate is to interpret it. Only the voice of the apex court binds the Republic—and on this question that voice has already spoken clearly. It runs against the position taken by ZHOCD, ZCC and ZCBC.

No group, no conference, and no body of clergy may stand before Parliament and declare “withdraw this Bill, for it violates the Constitution” when the only court empowered to decide has already laid down the test that shows it does not. On this question the court has spoken, and its voice—not theirs—is the one the Constitution commands the nation to heed.

* Nomuzikayise Ngwenya is a legal practitioner and the Group Strategy Lead at the International Centre for Political Campaigns. Her work spans political campaign strategy, political communications and war-room operations across Africa.

** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, Independent Media, or IOL.

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Nearly four months after her abrupt resignation from Johannesburg's prestigious Roedean School (SA), former Head of Senior School Phuti Mogale has broken her silence, offering a deeply personal account of the controversy that ended her tenure and raising uncomfortable questions about race, leadership and institutional support in South Africa's elite education sector.

In a lengthy LinkedIn post published on Monday and titled The Final Response, Mogale reflected on the events that led to her departure following the widely publicised tennis fixture controversy involving Roedean and King David Linksfield. Her statement paints a picture of a leader caught between competing political, racial and institutional pressures, while grappling with the personal toll of becoming the public face of a national controversy.

The post marks the first time Mogale has publicly addressed the scandal that dominated headlines earlier this year and ultimately led to her resignation and, she says, a significant part of her professional identity.

Mogale's appointment in July 2025 was widely regarded as a milestone for one of South Africa's most prestigious girls' schools.

A lawyer by training and educator by profession, she joined Roedean after serving as deputy headmistress and head of boarding at St Mary's School, Waverley.

At the time, she described herself as "incredibly privileged" to lead an institution with Roedean's history and reputation, emphasising her commitment to advancing the education of young women and building strong, inclusive school communities.

Her tenure, however, lasted just seven months.

The controversy erupted on February 3 when a scheduled tennis fixture between Roedean and King David Linksfield failed to take place.

King David players arrived expecting to compete, only to discover there was no opposing team waiting for them.

What initially appeared to be a scheduling dispute quickly escalated after a recorded telephone conversation between Mogale and King David principal Lorraine Srage entered the public domain.

In the recording, Mogale acknowledged that some Roedean parents had expressed concerns about participating in a sporting fixture against a school associated with the Jewish community during a period of heightened tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.

South Africa's highly publicised case against Israel at the International Court of Justice had intensified domestic debates, with some parents reportedly arguing that schools should align themselves with the government's position.

Mogale, however, appeared to reject that argument.

"I keep having to remind them that schools are apolitical first and foremost, particularly in SA," she said during the conversation. "We don't take a stance like that."

Despite that position, the match was ultimately cancelled.

Roedean initially cited a compulsory academic workshop as the reason, a version of events that was challenged by King David and later complicated by the contents of the recorded call.

The fallout was swift and severe. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies accused the school of antisemitism, arguing that the cancellation was motivated by concerns about King David's Jewish identity rather than scheduling conflicts.

An independent investigation commissioned by Roedean's board later concluded that established protocols had not been followed and that leadership failures had exacerbated the situation.

The board subsequently acknowledged that its initial understanding of events had been incomplete and issued a formal apology to King David.

Days later, Mogale resigned with immediate effect.

Former board chairperson Dale Quaker also stepped down.

For months, Mogale declined interview requests and made no public comment on the controversy.

Her LinkedIn statement reveals a woman struggling with what she describes as profound powerlessness in the face of a public narrative she felt unable to challenge.

She writes of "finding myself embroiled in a conversation that is not only tainted but misrepresented to the point where any answer or defence is pointless."

The former school head says the controversy unfolded during one of the most vulnerable periods of her life, while she was pregnant and balancing professional responsibilities with concerns for her health and family.

"What became truly humbling for me, as a high achiever," she wrote, "was the reality of having to give up on an aspect of my career when I had worked hard to achieve that height of success and appreciated that I needed to do so, not only for my own welfare but the welfare of my unborn child at that time."

A central theme running through Mogale's reflection is the pressure faced by pioneers, particularly Black women occupying leadership positions in historically white institutions.

Drawing inspiration from comments made by Michelle Obama, Mogale describes what she sees as the burden of being "the first."

She argues that trailblazers are often expected not only to succeed but to do so flawlessly, because any mistake risks being interpreted as a failure of an entire group rather than an individual.

"Through your leadership, you cannot mess up," she writes. "This becomes the point where the separation takes place between the humanity of leadership versus the practice."

Mogale further reveals that a leadership coach had observed that she was attempting to lead according to a model defined by others rather than one aligned with her own values and convictions.

The observation, she suggests, forced her to confront the tension between institutional expectations and authentic leadership.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Mogale's statement is her discussion of race and the hostility she says emerged during the controversy.

She describes being subjected to attacks rooted in what she characterises as hatred and societal tendencies to diminish achievement through racial categorisation.

According to Mogale, she felt some criticism reflected an attitude that viewed her as little more than "a diversity face who needed to understand one's place."

The former educator also disclosed that her maternal grandparents were Jewish members of the Lemba community, an ethnic group whose traditions include longstanding claims of Jewish ancestry.

The revelation adds a further layer of complexity to allegations that she presided over conduct described by critics as antisemitic.

Despite the personal and professional consequences she endured, Mogale says her greatest regret concerns the impact of the controversy on Roedean's pupils.

She writes admiringly of students who displayed courage and conviction during the crisis, but says she remains haunted by the belief that adults failed them.

"I, as an adult, was one of the adults who failed children," she wrote.

"That I was an active participant in failing the girl child. By hearing their voices and not fully asserting the power in that voice."

The admission is particularly poignant given that Mogale built much of her career around empowering young women and advocating for girls' education.

Mogale's statement does not attempt to absolve herself of responsibility, nor does it directly challenge the findings of the independent investigation.

Instead, it raises broader questions about the pressures faced by leaders operating at the intersection of race, politics and institutional accountability.

Her account suggests she found herself navigating a perfect storm of parental activism, national political tensions, allegations of antisemitism and intense public scrutiny, all while attempting to maintain a school's neutrality in a deeply polarised environment.

Whether her resignation represented appropriate accountability or whether she bore a disproportionate share of the blame remains a matter of debate.

What is clear is that the controversy continues to resonate well beyond a single cancelled tennis match.

For Roedean, the episode exposed deep fault lines around governance, communication and community relations.

For Mogale, it became a defining chapter in a career she spent decades building.

karabo.ngoepe@iol.co.za 

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North West businessman Suliman Carrim’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has been shifted to 25 June because he is still recovering after allegedly suffering a heart attack at the gym and being rushed to the hospital for treatment.

This was made known during the commission’s proceedings on Monday, where Carrim was represented by his lawyer Kameel Premhid.

The postponement was confirmed on Monday after chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC and Carrim’s lawyer Kameel Premhid reached an agreement, which the commission made an order of the court.

Chaskalson said Carrim was subpoenaed for Monday but submitted a medical report on Friday showing he was unfit to appear. 

“There has been a fairly lengthy to-ing and fro-ing in correspondence - the upshot of which was that on Friday a detailed current medical report was furnished indicating that Mr Carrim is not fit to appear today,” he said.

He added that the commission undertook to Carrim’s lawyers that it would not disclose the details of the medical report.

Chaskalson said although Carrim was subpoenaed to appear before the commission, in light of the medical report it was not necessary for him to appear in person on Monday.

He explained that the commission faces a challenging situation with only two months of hearings remaining before the submission of its final report on August 31, 2026.

He initially suggested that Carrim’s testimony be scheduled between 29 June and 1 July. However, following engagement with Carrim’s legal team, they reached an agreement for his testimony to be heard on 25 June.

Carrim’s scheduled testimony will be heard following a failed bid by North West businessman and alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi to have Chaskalson recuse himself.

Mogotsi claimed that Chaskalson tried to coerce him into implicating Carrim. 

Carrim testified in March on allegations that he used ANC connections to help alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala secure an irregular tender through his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.

He denied influencing suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, saying he has no connection to him.

Carrim told the commission he advanced Matlala R10 million after Matlala said he’d secured a SAPS medical services tender but was short on cash. Matlala allegedly agreed to repay double that amount over three years.

Carrim said he asked Mogotsi to check if the tender was legitimate, and Mogotsi confirmed it was.

The commission also heard allegations of money laundering involving Carrim, Matlala and tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela, and scrutinised the flow of funds between them.

Meanwhile, the commission also heard that the testimony of KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona, who was also expected to take the stand on Monday, has been postponed to June 5.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

Suspended Hawks KwaZulu-Natal head Major General Lesetja Senona will return to the Madlanga Commission on Friday to give oral testimony after being granted additional time to file his witness statement.

Senona was initially due to appear on Monday but requested more time to prepare. 

Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that his written statement must be submitted by midnight on Tuesday.

His appearance is set for 9.30 am on Friday, June 5, 2026.”

Senona has been implicated in the alleged theft of 541kg of cocaine from a Hawks storage facility in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2021. 

The drugs, valued at about R200m, reportedly disappeared under irregular circumstances linked to the handling and custody of seized exhibits.

Earlier in May, Major General Hendrick Flynn of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) said Senona should have been subjected to a polygraph test, given his involvement in the matter. 

Flynn said Senona was not a distant supervisory figure, but had been directly involved in aspects of the operation, including visiting the Port Shepstone office and taking control of keys.

Flynn told the commission that cocaine seized at a Durban depot was booked into Isipingo police station on June 22 2021, but was booked out the same day by Warrant Officer Mpangase. 

At the instruction of Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa, who had consulted Senona, the drugs were then taken to the Port Shepstone DPCI facility.

He said the chain of custody was compromised, with irregular entries in the SAP 13 register and inconsistencies in documentation. 

In one instance, exhibits were recorded as received at Port Shepstone police station, despite no clear record of who accepted them, while a different officer signed the receipt without providing a name or Persal number.

Flynn also testified that an entry suggesting the exhibits had been taken for analysis was false, as the drugs were never sent for forensic examination at the time.

He told the commission the sequence of events appeared to have been “by design”, pointing to procedural failures at the original crime scene, including the absence of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and improper handling of evidence.

According to Flynn, the cocaine - originating from the Port of Santos in Brazil - should have been properly sealed, photographed and bagged at the scene. Instead, it was transported in a manner that left it vulnerable and compromised the chain of custody.

He further questioned how 541kg of cocaine could have been received at the Port Shepstone DPCI office without a corresponding receipt document, although he said witness statements indicated delivery had taken place.

The inquiry also heard evidence from the deputy national commissioner for policing Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili indicating that there had been seven break-ins at the same DPCI facility prior to a November 2021 incident in which the cocaine was stolen.

Flynn said the drugs were taken between 6 and 8 November 2021 after intruders used a grinder to breach the strong room at the Port Shepstone office. 

At the time, the alarm system was not functioning properly and no armed response service was in place because a security contract had expired in March 2020.

He said the lack of security oversight contributed to the theft but emphasised that stronger safeguards could have prevented access to the exhibits.

“You need additional layers of security measures to make it difficult or impossible to breach the premises,” Flynn said.

The commission resumed its public hearings on Monday, after it has been on recess for two weeks preparing its second interim report.

President Cyril Ramaphosa received the commission’s second interim report last week on Friday, May 29, 2026 and is studying its findings while the inquiry continues its public hearings.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

In a move that has once again set South African political circles abuzz, 25-year-old politician Liam Jacobs has announced his return to the Democratic Alliance (DA), less than a year after dramatically defecting to the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

Jacobs made the announcement in a Facebook Live broadcast, reflecting on a period of personal and political introspection that ultimately led him back to his former party.

"The past month has been what gets me going in the morning and what brings me to politics," Jacobs said during the live session. "We are taught that this country is all we have, regardless of the colour of our skin. We have each other, and it comes back to why we are in this space; we are here to defend."

Jacobs, who holds an Honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pretoria, said the decision was rooted in a deep re-examination of his values. He first rose to prominence as the leader of the Democratic Alliance Students Organisation (DASO) from 2022, before being elected to the National Assembly representing Gauteng in the 2024 general elections.

"When I look at my political career, is it in line with my values?" Jacobs said in the broadcast. "Do we want to see politics of cadre deployment and Zuma politics in another form? I don't think so. It should be the politics where everybody holds hands, politics of the heart, and it is that which is going to change this country."

He was unambiguous about the DA's role in South Africa's future: "The DA is the only party serious about defeating the ANC."

According to two senior DA party sources, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis made the case for Jacobs' return as a consultant during an online meeting on Sunday evening. Hill-Lewis himself took to social media to welcome the prodigal politician back.

"Welcome home. It's amazing to have you back in the DA," Hill-Lewis wrote. "It would be a mistake not to expect anyone to make mistakes. You have to learn and grow. When you left, Helen said something very profound, that you are a young man who is very talented, and as often, she was right. This is not about me, Liam, or Tertius. It's about making our country succeed."

The return is a remarkable political reversal. Jacobs had joined the PA in a bombshell announcement during a late-night Facebook Live session on June 13 2025, stunning political observers, particularly given that just days earlier he had accused PA leader Gayton McKenzie of running a "dictatorial party" and raised serious ethical concerns about appointments allegedly based on loyalty rather than merit.

He went on to serve as president of the Patriotic Youth Alliance and was announced as the PA's mayoral candidate for Cape Town in the 2026 local government elections. He also briefly served as a City of Johannesburg councillor, replacing Kenny Kunene, who resigned after being found at the home of a murder accused when police arrived to make an arrest.

Hill-Lewis's comment that "many former colleagues of the PA are reaching out to us" suggests the DA may be hoping to use Jacobs' return as a catalyst for further defections from the PA ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Jacobs himself appeared to signal that his time abroad had reshaped his perspective: "International travel is important. You discover who you are outside of who you are. You discover your values."

karabo.ngoepe@iol.co.za

IOL News 

Six suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon after police managed to rescue a kidnapping victim on Sunday, May 31. 

According to the Free State police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane, the swift response and tactical alertness by members of the SAPS’ Parkweg Client Service Centre and the Bloemfontein Flying Squad during Operation Shanela 2 led to the rescue of the 35-year-old victim and the arrest of the suspects. 

“At approximately 2am, Parkweg police members were conducting routine patrols in the Lourier Park area when they noticed two stationary, suspicious-looking silver vehicles bearing Lesotho registration plates. As members tactically approached the scene, one of the vehicles sped off at high speed. The patrolling members immediately intercepted and blocked the remaining vehicle, securing the two occupants inside,” Covane said. 

A nearby Bloemfontein Flying Squad unit noticed the second vehicle fleeing and immediately gave chase. The vehicle was successfully cornered in a nearby street, where four male suspects were quickly apprehended. 

“Upon searching the second vehicle, police discovered a badly injured 35-year-old male inside. Preliminary interviews revealed that the victim had allegedly been abducted from his shack in front of his family under accusations of damaging another individual’s window. He was then severely assaulted by the suspects,” Covane said. 

The kidnapping victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. 

“All six suspects, aged between 18 and 40, have been arrested and will face charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and malicious damage to property. The two silver vehicles have also been seized as part of the ongoing investigation. The suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon,” Covane said. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

Property owners are increasingly renting out their homes to capitalise on the critical shortage of student accommodation in South Africa, but unless they are legally compliant, they are exposing themselves to fines, eviction halts and financial losses.

That is according to Just Property CEO Paul Stevens, who warns that landlords who do not comply can face hefty fines.

“Many small landlords wrongly believe that they can fly under the radar. But a recent legal ruling show that the number of neighbours reporting suspected communes is also on the rise.

“The reality is that student digs have to comply with strict municipal bylaws, zoning laws, and national regulations which are drastically different from the traditional buy-to-let playing field”.

In student hubs like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Stellenbosch, communes and boarding houses require specific consent use or rezoning permits from the local municipality.

“Municipalities are clamping down on un-zoned communes by issuing non-compliance notices to illegal operators as well as fines and the threat of legal action".

Stevens explains that when landlords subdivide rooms or convert communal living areas into extra bedrooms, they frequently end up violating the local environmental health bylaws that govern maximum occupancy. This can invalidate their building and public liability insurance policies. “If an emergency or a fire occurs in an un-zoned, overcrowded student commune, the landlord could face financial ruin as a result of the uninsured loss, as well as criminal negligence charges".

Stevens further reminds landlords that they cannot charge more than the annual National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) baseline of R52,000 in 2025 for non-catered, university accommodation in metropolitan areas.

Referencing the Rental Housing Act, Stevens says all student lease agreements have to be in writing. But, he adds, even when landlords do put pen to paper, some make the mistake of signing a single lease with a group of students rather than one per person.

Stevens also points out that lower courts no longer require institutional landlords to serve PIE (Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act) notices. Instead, they will grant eviction orders based on the common law rei vindication, which is an owner's absolute right to reclaim their property from an unlawful occupier.

“When assessing new eviction cases, these courts will look for a finite academic term rather than a standard year-long lease".

Lower courts do not automatically extend this precedent to private residential leases. “Chances are that if a student signs a 12-month private lease that’s not linked to a university timetable, the courts will regard that property as a home, which means the landlord has to go the PIE route".

Litigation comes at a high price and while many landlords believe that if they win their case, the tenant will have to pay all the legal bills, this is not always the case, he warns. To minimise legal and financial risk, Stevens recommends incorporating two commonly acknowledged facts into lease agreements: that most students look for accommodation between September and February, and that typically, student accommodation is usually vacant between November and February, when exams end and they return home for the holidays.

He suggests inserting lease clauses which include that it is an “educational accommodation agreement", not a standard residential lease, with the student’s right of occupation dependent upon their active enrolment at a specific college or university. Further that the lease will terminate 72 hours after the student writes their last exam or on the date their tertiary institution closes and that the student accepts that the accommodation provided does not in any way take the place of their primary domicile.

“For private landlords, the safest path is to treat student accommodation as a specialised asset class rather than an informal income stream. When the legal groundwork is done properly, student housing can be a stable, high‑demand investment,” Stevens says.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

From wagging tails to highly trained noses, a special team of four-legged security experts spent the weekend helping to protect Woolworths stores across South Africa following recent explosions at two branches.

The retailer shared a glimpse of the heightened security measures, revealing that sniffer dogs and their handlers had been deployed to stores around the country after explosive devices detonated at Woolworths stores at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria and Preller Square Shopping Centre in Bloemfontein last week.

In a message to customers, the company thanked the canine teams for their work.

"Hi Woolies shoppers, this weekend we had a few esteemed guests in attendance at stores across the country."

The dogs, trained to detect explosives and other potential threats, formed part of the retailer's enhanced security response as police continue investigating the incidents. Woolworths has since increased security measures at stores nationwide.

Paying tribute to the animals and their handlers, Woolworths added: "A big thank you to all the selfless helpers who are working (and sniffing) hard to keep us all safe."

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that a National Forensic Task Team and Crime Intelligence experts have been deployed to investigate the incidents. 

"Investigations are currently at a very early stage, and all possible motives are being explored by investigators. At this stage, it would be premature to classify the incidents as acts of terrorism," said police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

She added that the police will remain on high alert and will keep monitoring developments as the investigation progresses.

"Any additional security measures, including monitoring around affected or related premises, will be informed by ongoing investigations and threat assessments."

Mathe also urged the public to remain calm. "The public is urged to remain calm and allow investigators space to conduct their work."

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Few days after Africa Day fell silent in the shadow of boycotts and repatriations, South Africa is confronting an uncomfortable truth about the crisis unfolding within its own borders.  On 25 May, the day the African continent traditionally gathers to affirm its unity, African ambassadors refused to attend South Africa's official celebrations. They did not feel safe. Nigeria and Ghana had already begun repatriating their citizens.

According to reports, at least seven people were dead. The movements behind the violence, March and March and Operation Dudula, had swept through Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban, leaving fractured communities, destroyed businesses, and formal diplomatic complaints from Nigeria, Ghana, and Mozambique in their wake. A United Nations warning had drawn international headlines. A country that presents itself as the gateway to Africa was being watched with alarm by the very neighbours it claims to lead.

Why now, and why with such intensity? Although not the only response, the answer lies at the intersection of deep economic frustration, deliberate political orchestration, and a digital ecosystem built to reward outrage over reason. South Africa's own 2022 census shows that migrants make up just 3.9% of the total population, roughly 2.4 million people in a nation of 62 million. The country is not being overrun. It is, however, in acute economic pain. And pain, in the age of social media, travels fast, particularly when algorithms are specifically engineered to move it faster and to the largest possible audience.

Legitimate Grievances, Distorted by Design 

The Centre of Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development www.CAISD.co.za, one of the many centres in the continent working to harness the role of technology to achieve development, wanted to pinpoint the role technology plays in exacerbating the antipathy without dismissing the frustrations of South African nationals.

To do so would be dishonest and counterproductive. The official unemployment rate stood at 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, with more than 8.1 million people without work and youth unemployment reaching a staggering 57%. These are lived realities in communities that have spent three decades waiting for the economic transformation promised by democracy.

Against this backdrop, the visible economic presence of foreign nationals creates friction that is psychologically real, even where it is statistically misread. Statistics South Africa data shows that foreign nationals carry an employment absorption rate of 64%, compared to 37.7% for South African-born workers, and in some townships, they own up to 40% of informal businesses.

A 2025 Human Sciences Research Council survey found that 42% of South Africans would "welcome no immigrants," while 77% agreed that immigrants increase crime. The crime link is not supported by evidence, but these numbers reveal something equally significant: a large portion of the population has already been persuaded by a narrative. The critical question is who built that narrative, and how was it distributed so effectively? 

The Algorithm: Not the Cause, but the Accelerant

The social media platforms most South Africans use daily, including Facebook, TikTok, X, WhatsApp and YouTube, are not neutral infrastructure. They are built around a single commercial objective: sustained engagement. Decades of research, including internal studies from Meta, show consistently that the content most likely to sustain engagement is content that provokes anger. 

Anger travels. A video of a foreign national behaving badly, stripped of context, spreads further and faster than any evidence-based article about what immigrants contribute to the economy. In the lead-up to the 2026 protests, populist leaders and influencers circulated incendiary content without context. Those videos were algorithmically rewarded with reach, shared into WhatsApp groups where factchecking is practically impossible, and broadcast live on platforms that amplified these movements before any journalist had assessed whether their claims were truthful.

Research on South African electoral cycles reveals a consistent and troubling correlation: xenophobic discourse spikes reliably in the approach to local elections, in 2016, 2019, 2020, and now 2026, with local government elections scheduled between November 2026 and January 2027. Xenowatch data confirms the trajectory, with recorded incidents rising from 58 in 2020 to a peak of 110 in 2022, before climbing again to 83 in 2024. The algorithm does not cause xenophobia. But it is extraordinarily effective at timing it, scaling it, and normalising it.

The Dark Labs: Organised Narrative Operations

Beyond algorithmic mechanics lies something more deliberate. There is growing evidence of what we at CAISD terms "coordinated narrative architecture": the strategic seeding of divisive content by small, well-resourced operations, some functioning entirely outside South Africa. These are not spontaneous expressions of public anger. They are manufactured interventions, exploiting the fact that, if enough accounts share the same message within a narrow window, platforms will push it to audiences who were never searching for it.

This is a documented feature of contemporary information warfare, evidenced in Brexit, in the United States during the 2016 election cycle, and increasingly in African political contexts. When mainstream media then covers these movements without adequately challenging their claims, including the demonstrably false assertion that some youths purported to be undocumented migrants are not entitled to public healthcare and education under South African law, it lends those claims a credibility they do not deserve.

Evidence, Policy, and the Way Forward 

The World Bank's studies of South African labour markets have found that immigrants are net contributors to job creation. Foreign-owned enterprises sustain supply chains that employ South Africans. South Africa's chronically low GDP growth of between 0.6 and 1.3% annually is a structural problem rooted in energy infrastructure failure, skills deficits, investor uncertainty, and governance weaknesses that predate every foreign-owned spaza shop in the country. Deporting 2.4 million people will not build a single power station, train one additional nurse, or resolve the Eskom crisis.

The government has a legitimate mandate to enforce immigration law, process permits efficiently and protect South African workers. What is far more troubling is when the tone of official policy pronouncements begins to track the mood of protests rather than the weight of evidence. That convergence, historically, is where crises cross thresholds they cannot easily come back from.

CAISD's call is therefore clear. Social media platforms must be held accountable for algorithmic amplification of xenophobic content, including through multilingual content moderation. Digital literacy must become a civic priority. Counter-narratives must be deployed as strategically as the narratives they counter, because facts alone do not go viral, but stories do. And African governments and civil society must speak with one continental voice, because the diplomatic rupture South Africa is experiencing today is a warning of what silence costs the entire continent. The algorithm did not start this fire. But it is fanning it, and it will keep doing so until platforms are held accountable, communities are equipped to resist manipulation, and policymakers choose evidence over the applause of the crowd. 

* The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development (CAISD) is a pan-African non-profit think tank operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, policy, and sustainable development. CAISD is committed to peaceful cohabitation across the African continent as a foundational condition for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Dr AD Essome is its Co-chair and former United Nations Communications Specialist who extensively wrote on how “Legacy Media and Social Media platforms can promote conflicts resolution within the continent”

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

South Africa’s fight against sexual violence against children remains critically weakened by low reporting and an even lower rate of convictions, Parliament has warned during National Child Protection Week.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Bridget Masango, has called on communities to break their silence on abuse, saying the country “cannot continue to look away while children are abused by people they know and trust.”

The committee warned that the justice system continues to fail survivors of sexual violence, with only a fraction of cases ending in conviction.

“In the 2022/2023 financial year, more than 43 000 rape cases were recorded in South Africa. About 10 590 of those cases involved children under the age of 18,” Masango said.

The committee added that the outcome of reported cases remains deeply concerning.

“Of the cases that eventually reach court, only 8.6% end in a guilty verdict.”

The 8.6% conviction rate has been flagged as a key indicator of systemic weaknesses in the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of sexual offences, particularly those involving children.

The committee also highlighted the scale of underreporting, noting that fewer than 4% of rape survivors report abuse to police.

Legal obligations to report suspected abuse were also reinforced. The statement referenced Section 54 of the Sexual Offences Act, which criminalises failure to report child sexual abuse, and Section 110 of the Children’s Act, which compels professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses, and social workers to report suspected cases.

“Yet many cases still go unreported,” Masango warned.

The crisis is further compounded by online exploitation. According to a UNICEF-supported study cited by Parliament, more than half of children who experience unwanted sexual advances online never report it to anyone, while only 1% report to authorities.

“Children are increasingly targeted through social media platforms such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Many are manipulated, blackmailed or pressured into sharing sexual images through promises of money, gifts or affection,” Masango said.

Parliament also revealed that in 2020 alone, nearly 700 babies were born to girls aged nine and ten, underscoring the severity of statutory rape cases in the country.

To strengthen the national response, the committee reiterated proposed interventions including daily public reporting on abuse statistics, a confidential online reporting system, and stronger accountability for professionals who fail to act on suspicions of abuse.

It also called for greater support for male victims, partnerships with traditional leaders to challenge harmful norms, and private-sector funding to support social workers in high-risk communities.

The committee urged South Africans to act decisively.

“The committee urges communities across the country to speak out, report abuse and work together to end violence against children.”

IOL News

Whenever the world hears the word Ebola, attention immediately turns to Africa. Headlines appear. International organisations mobilise. Experts conduct briefings. Governments issue warnings. For a moment, the world’s attention focuses on a region that is too often overlooked until a crisis emerges.

Yet Ebola is not the real story.

The real story is the millions of people whose lives are defined not by a virus, but by poverty, inadequate healthcare, fragile infrastructure, limited housing, and a lack of opportunity. Ebola merely exposes conditions that have existed long before any outbreak and that will remain long after the headlines disappear.

Disease does not create inequality. It reveals it.

When an outbreak occurs in a wealthy nation, society relies on hospitals, clinics, laboratories, transportation networks, and public health systems that have been built over generations. When an outbreak strikes some of the poorest communities in Africa, those same protections are often limited, underfunded, or entirely absent. The result is not simply a medical challenge. It becomes a test of human dignity.

Too often, discussions about Africa focus on statistics rather than people. We discuss infection rates, mortality rates, economic losses, and aid packages. What is frequently forgotten is that behind every number is a mother caring for her children, a farmer trying to feed a family, a student pursuing an education, or an elderly grandparent hoping to live out their remaining years with dignity and peace.

The poor are not asking for sympathy. They are asking for opportunity.

They are asking for access to healthcare that treats illness before it becomes a crisis. They are asking for safe housing where families can live without fear of disease spreading through overcrowded conditions. They are asking for educational opportunities that allow young people to build a future. Most importantly, they are asking for a voice in decisions that directly affect their lives.

One of the greatest failures of modern development efforts has been the tendency to speak for people rather than listen to them.

Solutions designed in distant capitals often overlook the wisdom, resilience, and experience of the communities they seek to help. Lasting progress occurs when local leaders, healthcare workers, faith communities, educators, and families become partners in creating solutions rather than passive recipients of them.

Africa does not lack talent. It does not lack ambition. It does not lack innovation.

Across the continent, entrepreneurs are building businesses, physicians are improving healthcare delivery, educators are transforming schools, and young people are demonstrating extraordinary creativity despite significant obstacles. The challenge is not a lack of human potential. The challenge is ensuring that opportunity reaches those who have historically been excluded from it.

The Ebola outbreaks that periodically capture international attention should remind us of a broader moral obligation. Every human being possesses inherent worth and dignity regardless of income, geography, race, religion, or social status.

That principle sounds obvious, but our actions often tell a different story.

If we truly believe in human dignity, then access to basic healthcare cannot be viewed as a luxury reserved for the fortunate. Safe housing cannot be considered optional. Clean water cannot be treated as an aspiration. Education cannot be reserved for those born into privilege. These are not merely policy objectives. They are expressions of respect for human life itself.

The measure of a society is not how it treats its most powerful citizens. It is how it treats those with the least power.

Throughout history, some of humanity’s greatest moral advances occurred when societies expanded the circle of concern to include those who had previously been ignored. The challenge before the global community today is to ensure that the poor are not viewed as statistics to be managed, but as individuals whose lives matter equally.

Faith traditions around the world have long understood this truth. The poor, the sick, the vulnerable, and the marginalised occupy a special place in the moral imagination of humanity. Their struggles remind us that prosperity carries responsibilities as well as privileges.

Ebola should therefore serve as more than a public health warning. It should serve as a moral wake-up call.

The world should not wait for an outbreak to notice the conditions in which millions of people live. Compassion that appears only during a crisis is incomplete. Genuine concern requires sustained investment in healthcare systems, housing, education, sanitation, economic development, and local leadership.

Most importantly, it requires listening.

The poor deserve more than charity. They deserve dignity.

They deserve more than temporary assistance. They deserve opportunity.

They deserve more than being spoken about. They deserve to be heard.

The future of Africa will not be determined solely by governments, international organizations, or foreign aid. It will be determined by whether ordinary people are given the tools, resources, and voice necessary to shape their own destiny.

That is not simply an economic imperative. It is a moral one.

And in a world increasingly defined by wealth, technology, and power, perhaps the greatest measure of our humanity will be whether we remember those whose voices are too often drowned out by all three.

* Armstrong Williams is the manager and Sole Owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.

A public tip-off led to the discovery of more than 6,500 illegally harvested rock mussels, a makeshift processing facility, and several illegal fishing nets along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline on Saturday.

The Coastal Marine Task Force (CMTF)  — a volunteer organisation that provides support to environmental stakeholders in the protection and conservation of biodiversity resources in coastal operational areas — said authorities sprang into action after a member of the public tipped them off to a large-scale mussel harvesting operation south of Durban.

“Along with members of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the South African Police Service and eThekwini Municipality Coastal Aquatic Safety and Law Enforcement, as well as the Merewent Fishing Forum, observation was quickly set up, and apprehension followed shortly thereafter,” a CMTF media spokesperson said.

He said a makeshift and rudimentary processing facility and four separate gill nets totalling nearly 170m in length were also discovered.

“In addition to the above, further marine life consisting of Sea Cucumbers, Sea Snails, and Periwinkles was also uncovered.”

Two Mozambican men were taken into custody.

CMTF works with DFFE, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Durban Metro Police, eThekwini Municipality Coastal Aquatic Safety and Law Enforcement, Lifesaving South Africa, as well as a huge network of informants along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.

IOL News

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is set to resume its proceedings on Monday at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria following a two-week break to compile its second interim report, which was submitted to the Presidency on Friday.

The commission is expected to hear a postponement application from North West businessman Suliman Carrim, whose testimony scheduled for April 29 was postponed after he allegedly suffered a heart attack while at a gym and was rushed to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, where he received treatment. 

Two weeks ago his lawyer Kameel Premhid was not in position to give an update on whether Carrim's health had improved enough for him to testify. 

"I cannot talk to the media about the matter as that would breach our ethical rules. You may contact the attorney for such information as they can talk to you," Premhid said.

North West businessman and alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi told the commission during his recent appearance that Chief Evidence Leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC tried to coerce him into implicating Carrim. 

Mogotsi’s bid to have Chaskalson recuse himself was unsuccessful.

In March, Carrim testified on allegations linking him to an irregular tender awarded to alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District. 

He is accused of using ANC connections to help Matlala secure it. Carrim denied influencing suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, saying he has no connection to him.

Carrim said he loaned Matlala R10 million after Matlala claimed he had won a SAPS medical services contract but lacked cash flow. Matlala allegedly agreed to repay R20 million over three years.

Carrim testified he asked Mogotsi to verify the tender, and Mogotsi reportedly confirmed it was legitimate.

The commission also heard evidence of alleged money laundering involving Matlala, tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela, and Carrim, and scrutinised the movement of alleged proceeds of crime between them. 

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

Three suspects are expected to appear in the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, on drug trafficking charges after they were busted with drugs worth R11 million over the weekend. 

The suspects were arrested during an operation by members of the Hoedspruit SAPS in collaboration with Farm Watch members between Saturday, May 30, and the early hours of Sunday, May 31. 

Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said the relentless implementation of Operation Shanela 2 continues to deliver significant results in the fight against organised crime. 

“Acting on information regarding the movement of a large quantity of drugs through the area, operational members intercepted a Toyota Quantum taxi and a Hyundai sedan along the R527 near Snake Park at about 9.15pm on Saturday,” Ledwaba said.

 A total of 130 bags of dagga were discovered and seized by police. 

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the consignment originated in Eswatini and was being transported through Limpopo for distribution elsewhere in the country. Three suspects, aged between 34 and 35, were immediately arrested on charges of dealing in dagga,” Ledwaba said. 

The consignment of dagga has been estimated to be worth approximately R11 million. 

The operation yielded additional arrests, including three suspects for urinating in public and one suspect for the use of dagga.

Operational teams also conducted patrols in three villages, ten farms, an airport, four banking institutions and six ATMs as part of ongoing crime prevention and visibility operations.

The Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the collaborative efforts of SAPS members and Farm Watch and said the success highlighted the importance of partnerships in safeguarding communities and disrupting criminal activities. 

“This seizure has prevented a substantial quantity of illicit drugs from reaching communities and demonstrates the effectiveness of joint operations. Criminals must know that law enforcement remains determined to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect our communities from the harmful effects of drugs,” Hadebe said. 

Police said their investigations continue. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

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The ANC has poured cold water on any prospect of Mmusi Maimane chairing Parliament’s impeachment committee probing the Phala Phala scandal, with Fikile Mbalula dismissing him as a “man with one seat” and declaring the governing party would not back his appointment.

Mbalula said the ANC is not entering the impeachment committee process to defend President Cyril Ramaphosa, but is instead guided by the Constitutional Court’s ruling.

This comes after BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane raised concerns that the process could be compromised if an ANC member is chosen to chair the committee.

Mbalula said the ANC will not back Maimane’s bid for the position.

“We are not going into the impeachment process to defend. We are going into the impeachment guided by the ruling of the constitutional court and follow all matters step by step up to the latter. “If at the end the president has to appear before the impeachment committee, we have acted, even in the adult committee, we have acted without fear or favor against our own.”

“Where does this thing that Mmusi Maimane talks about and formulate an unfounded principle? I mean, Maimane has got ambitions to chair the committee. It's all in his own right. He must come forward about it, and then I can tell you now we will not support it.”

Mbalula said Maimane was seeking to chair the committee.

“Mmusi Maimane is just formulating his own rules. I know he wants to chair the committee.”

“He has made an overchoice to us, a man with one seat (in Parliament) We can also argue. We have given him more than what he can chew in that parliament, appropriation committee, and one seat.”

“It is not that he did not even sign a statement of intent in the government of national unity. We gave him a seat just on the basis of an understanding. We are not enslaved to Mmusi Maimane.”

“We are a principled party. We agreed to give him that seat because of the fact of the matter that it is in the public interest to do that. Who is he to tell us today that we cannot chair a committee? He cannot.”

Mbalula added that Maimane was challenging the ANC’s role in parliamentary processes.

“Everybody has got interest. Don't want to blackmail the ANC.”

“Those who want Ramaphosa to appear before the impeachment committee for him to be impeached, they want to overthrow the ANC,” he said.

“The committee was established following a Constitutional Court judgment directing Parliament to determine whether there are valid grounds to recommend President Cyril Ramaphosa’s removal from office over the theft of more than $580,000 at his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in 2020.

It will hold its first meeting on Monday to elect a chairperson and begin proceedings.

The 31-member committee includes nine ANC representatives, five from the Democratic Alliance, three from the MK Party, two from the EFF, and 12 members from smaller parties, each holding one seat.

According to reports, the ANC is expected to nominate Doris Mpapane, who chairs Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on the Presidency.

Opposition parties have argued that the chairperson should come from a smaller party to ensure neutrality.

Earlier on Monday, IOL News reported that BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons said the committee should be led by someone with legal competence and a strong understanding of the issues.

“(The chair should be someone) in pursuit of getting the facts, and not partisan. The question on the table is whether there's a serious breach of the Constitution, and that must be the (central) question, not whether or not they want the president to be impeached. For example, the ANC would never want its own president to be impeached.”

“It cannot be chaired by the ANC or, in particular, members who are sitting within the GNU. We think that the opposition must be able to chair that,” Solomons said.

When asked if Maimane would be open to chairing the committee, Solomons said he would be available for the role, pointing to his parliamentary experience and ability to work across parties.

Last week, Ramaphosa approached the Western Cape High Court to challenge the Phala Phala independent panel report that found he may have violated the Constitution and abused his position.

Ramaphosa wants the report scrapped, especially the section recommending that Parliament consider impeachment proceedings against him.

The report, compiled in 2022 by an independent panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, concluded there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious misconduct linked to the Phala Phala farm scandal.

But Ramaphosa said the panel got it wrong.

In court papers, the president argued the panel relied on hearsay, misunderstood its powers and used questionable evidence to reach damaging conclusions.

“Save for the limited evidence I introduced in my response, there was no evidence before the panel,” Ramaphosa said.

He also questioned how confidential Namibian police documents and an audio recording ended up before the panel, warning the information may have been obtained unlawfully.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

An on-duty soldier for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was among a group of drunk drivers arrested in KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend. 

The provincial MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, welcomed the arrests made during an operation by the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and Operation Shanela. 

Duma said the arrest of the SANDF soldier by a "no-nonsense RTI officer" is a clear indication that nobody is above the law. 

The soldier was arrested on Sunday, May 31, during the execution of the #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation in Ladysmith.

During this operation, 13 motorists were arrested for drunk driving, including a taxi driver with the concentration of alcohol in his blood 20 times over the legal limit. The taxi driver was carrying passengers.

A total of 59 motorists were arrested for drunk driving at the weekend across the province. 

Duma said this brought the number of drunk drivers arrested since the beginning of the operation in August last year to 6,345. 

“Importantly, last Friday, we announced the deployment of more than 2,000 highly efficient and no-nonsense Road Traffic Inspectorate and Operation Shanela teams throughout the corners of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. We wish to inform the people of this province that we ensured the free flow of traffic despite widespread fears of major disruption linked to the shutdown. There was no shutdown of traffic along the N2 and N3 freeways,” Duma said. 

The MEC further thanked the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, for deploying SAPS members. 

Duma also explained that the motorists arrested for drunk driving were working professionals, such as: 

• SANDF soldier
• Taxi driver carrying passengers (alcohol in his blood 20 times over the legal limit)
• Quality surveyor
• Nurse
• Teacher
• Data capturer
• Electrician
• HR officer

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

The Brakpan Magistrate's Court is expected to rule on Monday on whether former Police Special Task Force officer Matipandile Sotheni will be granted bail.

Sotheni, 42, is accused of killing Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D, during the Madlanga Commission. 

He appeared in court on May 22, where he applied for bail, but the presiding officer reserved judgment until Monday, June 1.

Sotheni was arrested on March 14, 2026, in connection with the fatal shooting of Van der Merwe at his Brakpan home on December 5, 2025. 

The shooting allegedly took place in front of Van der Merwe's family, leaving his wife and two children traumatised but physically unharmed.

He faces 16 charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition-related offences and theft.

Van der Merwe was killed weeks after testifying before the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating alleged misconduct within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD). 

During his testimony in November 2025, he implicated suspended EMPD deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi in the alleged murder of Emmanuel Mbhense.

Mbhense was allegedly tortured after stolen property was discovered, and his body was later found at Duduza Dam in Nigel in April 2022.

The State alleges Sotheni conspired with Wiandre Pretorius to kill Van der Merwe. Pretorius, who was linked to the Madlanga Commission, later died by suicide at a petrol station in Brakpan.

According to police, Pretorius drove a Suzuki Swift linked to Sotheni's girlfriend. Pretorius had previously survived a shooting in which his vehicle was reportedly struck 16 times.

The State has opposed bail, arguing that Sotheni's release would endanger the public, interfere with witnesses and undermine the criminal justice system.

"The onus rests on the applicant to satisfy the court that it is in the interests of justice to permit his release in terms of Section 60," the prosecutor told the court.

The State argued that Sotheni's release could result in further offences being committed, witnesses being influenced or intimidated, evidence being concealed or destroyed, or the accused evading trial.

Prosecutors said they relied on the investigating officer's affidavit, to support their opposition.

"It is submitted that proof of one of the grounds relied upon by the State to oppose bail is sufficient for this honourable court to deny bail to the applicant," the prosecutor said.

The State further argued that Sotheni had admitted to having a close relationship with Pretorius.

"The deceased and Pretorius were working together for a security company during the period surrounding the death of Mbhense," the prosecutor said.

The State also argued that Pretorius sought Sotheni's assistance after learning that Van der Merwe intended to testify against him in a future criminal trial.

"The State submits that Pretorius solicited the services of the applicant when he realised that the deceased was going to testify against him in a subsequent trial," the prosecutor said.

The State also told the court that an AK-47 rifle and a large quantity of ammunition were found in Sotheni's vehicle when he was arrested in March.

Sotheni's lawyer, Nthabiseng Mohamane, challenged the State's ballistic evidence, arguing that firearm components can be swapped or tampered with.

She denied that Sotheni possessed or used an AK-47 rifle in connection with the alleged murder.

"Another firearm with a different serial number but of the same calibre was fitted into the applicant's firearm," Mohamane told the court.

According to Mohamane, the ballistic report identified the bolt carrier and bolt as critical firearm components because they leave unique marks that can be traced.

She argued that bolt carriers can be exchanged and said any tampering could only be determined if the firearm had previously undergone testing.

"When a firearm is handed to you by an employer for the execution of your duties, we check whether it functions, test it at the shooting range and verify that the serial number corresponds," she said.

Mohamane added that Sotheni denied tampering with the firearm in any way.

"I deny using any firearm to commit a crime. I further deny that on December 5, 2025, I was in possession of an AK-47 rifle," Sotheni said in an affidavit before the court.

He has consistently denied any involvement in Van der Merwe's murder.

In support of his bail application, Sotheni told the court that his continued detention would place severe hardship on his family.

"My father is 82 years old and terminally ill with cancer, while my mother is 76 and suffers from diabetes," he said.

He told the court he supports his three minor children, his elderly parents and his late sister's children, aged 24, 13 and 8.

"I assist with groceries, electricity, transport, stationery and school expenses," he said.

According to Sotheni, his parents receive government pensions, but the income is insufficient to meet household and medical costs.

He also told the court that he and his wife, Ntombizodwa Bambo, have been separated for about two years and are currently going through divorce proceedings.

"We have been separated for approximately two years. I visit the children, but I do not keep clothes or personal belongings at the property," he said.

Sotheni said he currently shares a rented home and a child with his girlfriend. He rejected the State's suggestion that his wife and girlfriend could support themselves financially without his assistance.

"My wife works for a government institution, but I still have a duty to contribute to our joint estate," he said.

"My girlfriend works in retail, which is not lucrative."

Sotheni also denied being a flight risk, telling the court that he had already surrendered his passport to the investigating officer.

"My children depend on me financially and emotionally. I attend their sporting events, school ceremonies and extramural activities," he said.

Mohamane previously told the court that Sotheni could afford bail of R30,000.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

A drunk truck driver crashed into a crowd waiting for free food for a Buddhist festival near Sri Lanka's capital, killing six people and injuring seven others, police said Monday.

The 42-year-old driver fled the scene after the crash in Meegoda, on the outskirts of Colombo, late Sunday.

He was later arrested, and tests confirmed he was drunk, police said.

The victims had been waiting to receive food distributed as part of the Buddhist festival of Vesak.

Sri Lanka records about 3,000 road fatalities each year.

AFP 

An explosion at a plant run by South Korean defence firm Hanwha Aerospace killed five people on Monday, local fire authorities said.

The explosion was reported to authorities at around 11:00 am (0200 GMT) at Hanwha's plant in Daejeon, about 150 kilometres south of Seoul.

A representative of the Daejeon Fire Headquarters told AFP that five people have died and two others were injured, without providing further details.

The blast is believed to have happened inside the factory according to authorities speaking with Yonhap news agency.

Hanwha Aerospace is a major South Korean defence manufacturer which produces weapons, artillery systems and aerospace components.

Its Daejeon facility focuses on research and development, including advanced weapons technologies and space-related systems.

A Hanwha representative told AFP "the exact circumstances and extent of the damage have not yet been fully determined. The fire has not yet been completely extinguished".

President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to mobilise all available resources to bring the fire under control, his office said.

AFP 

A suspected shell left over from World War II exploded under a stilt house in an Indonesian fishing village, killing five people and wounding nearly 20, police said Monday.

The blast in Indonesia's restive eastern Papua region startled locals with a thunderous boom on Sunday afternoon, emitting a ball of flames followed by a thick smoke column, according to footage broadcast on Kompas TV.

Nine homes were destroyed.

"The source of the explosion is strongly suspected to have been a bomb or mortar left over from World War II," Papua police spokesman Cahyo Sukarnito told AFP.

Three people are still recorded as missing, but Cahyo said several body parts have yet to be identified.

At least 19 people were treated for minor injuries, he added.

"We will provide further updates once the search for victims and the investigation have been completed," said Cahyo.

Last year, nine civilians were among 13 people killed in West Java province when an explosion occurred as Indonesian troops attempted to dispose of rejected munitions by detonating them in a pit.

Indonesia was a major battle zone during WWII when Japanese forces occupied what was then the Dutch East Indies, and Allied forces fought to retake control.

AFP 

The National Freedom Party (NFP) has dismissed a legal threat by its now-expelled member and sole MEC in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Mbali Shinga.

In a letter sent by the NFP's lawyers to Shinga, the party warned that it would oppose any legal bid by her to overturn her expulsion following her failed appeal to the party's National Working Committee.

Shinga has rejected the outcome, arguing that the party's National General Council — and not the National Working Committee — is the ultimate decision-making body responsible for hearing her appeal.

The NFP has dismissed this argument and is preparing to oppose any legal action by Shinga challenging her expulsion from the party.

"Members who hold office at district, provincial and national levels shall be brought before the District Tribunal constituted by the National Executive Committee. They may only appeal to the National Executive Committee," the NFP's legal response states, citing provisions of the party's constitution.

However, Shinga has vowed to pursue her legal challenge and is preparing to approach the courts this week.

The party has formally written to the provincial legislature advising that party president Ivan Barnes will replace Shinga as MEC for Social Development.

Should Shinga succeed in obtaining an interdict preventing the party from effecting the change pending the outcome of her legal challenge, she will remain in office as MEC.

This will mark the second legal showdown between the two sides after Shinga previously and successfully challenged her expulsion from the party earlier this year.

Shinga's battle with the party began after she defied an instruction to support an MK Party motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli in December last year. Since then, tensions have escalated, with the party repeatedly attempting to remove her.

Shinga has continued to defy party instructions to resign despite twice losing internal appeals against her expulsion. She maintains that only the premier — and not the party — has the authority to remove her as MEC.

The NFP occupies a pivotal kingmaker role in KwaZulu-Natal despite holding just one seat in the 80-seat legislature. Its position helped tilt the balance of power in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) following the 2024 elections, earning the party a place in the governing coalition.

However, the NFP later withdrew from the GPU following political disagreements with its coalition partners and now sits on the opposition benches.

This has left the provincial legislature on a political tightrope. The governing coalition — comprising the IFP, ANC and DA — collectively holds 40 seats, while the opposition bloc of the MK Party, EFF and NFP also commands 40 seats.

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Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Monday they had targeted a base used by the United States military to strike Iranian territory.

The base's location was not specified in the Guards' statement, broadcast by IRIB and other state media.

Earlier, Kuwait's military said its air defences were responding to a drone and missile attack.

The United States struck Iranian radar and drone control sites over the weekend, its military said on Sunday.

"US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted self-defence strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island this weekend," CENTCOM said in a post on X.

The strikes were in response to the shootdown of a US MQ-1 drone, it added.

Iran says does not trust US as Trump toughens terms

Iran's chief negotiator warned on Sunday the United States was not to be trusted, saying Tehran would not agree to any deal with Washington unless it fully secured Iranian rights.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's remarks came as reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Iran, and underlined the rift that the parties still need to close.

Any tweaks to the draft could further delay an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of fraught negotiations marked by sharp rhetoric and occasional flare-ups of violence.

Iran was already in talks with the United States about the fate of its nuclear programme in February when the US and Israel launched air and missile strikes that wiped out much of the Islamic republic's senior leadership.

And, while Tehran has long insisted that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian ends, the United States and its Western allies suspect it aims to develop a weapon.

The New York Times and Axios reported on Saturday that Trump had sent back a "tougher" new framework to be considered by Iran, though details remain unclear.

Trump has said his priorities include stopping Iran from developing any nuclear weapon and reopening the Hormuz shipping lane, which Iran has blockaded since the war began.

"The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons. They've agreed to that, and it was very interesting," he told his daughter-in-law Lara Trump in an interview on her Fox News show.

Tehran, however, has previously cast doubt on Trump's assertions and the sides remain far apart on key issues.

"We will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld," Ghalibaf said in a video broadcast on state television.

According to the Tasnim news agency, exchanges on the text "are ongoing, with both parties regularly proposing amendments".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, said that "until a clear conclusion is reached...everything that is being said now is speculation", according to state TV.

Iran has said it needs the release of $12 billion in frozen assets before engaging in substantive talks on its nuclear programme, dismissing earlier Trump comments that its enriched uranium stockpile would be destroyed as "baseless", according to Iranian media.

Hezbollah needs to cease attacks first: US official

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the ongoing diplomatic negotiations, a senior US official told AFP on Sunday, asserting that Hezbollah must be the first to cease its attacks.

"To advance those talks, the United States proposed a clear sequence: Hezbollah must stop all attacks on Israel. In return, Israel would refrain from escalation in Beirut," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, about the conversations between the three leaders.

Netanyahu vowed Sunday to push Israeli forces deeper into Lebanon, with France prompting the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting Monday over the expanding offensive.

The US official said Aoun attempted to advance the proposal submitted by Washington, but speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon Nabih Berri's "response was evasive and disappointing." Berri is considered an ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Hezbollah for its part says Israel must cease its hostilities first.

"Hezbollah is following Tehran's lead. It clearly has no interest in the welfare of the Lebanese people," the US official said.

"The fastest way to de-escalate and protect civilians on all sides is for Hezbollah to stop firing immediately," the official added.

The US official's remarks come as another meeting between Israel and Lebanon, which do not have diplomatic relations, are scheduled to take place June 2 and 3 in Washington.

Lebanon's health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,412 people since early March, with over a million others displaced.

AFP

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Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has raised questions over a R30 million donation declared by RISE Mzansi, while figures show political parties received more than R97 million in donations ahead of the local government elections.

The elections will take place on November 4, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced.

The IEC's latest disclosure report, covering January to March 2026, shows that political parties declared a combined R97.2 million in funding, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) receiving the largest share by a wide margin.

The commission confirmed it is seeking further information about RISE Mzansi's R30 million declaration after the party reported that the amount arose from the conversion of a previous loan into a donation from an entity known as "We Are The People."

According to the IEC, the transaction did not originate as a direct donation and the terms of the loan conversion are being examined to determine whether they fully comply with the Political Party Funding Act.

DA dominates fundraising race

The DA emerged as the biggest beneficiary of political donations during the reporting period, declaring a total of R57.3 million, representing nearly 60% of all donations disclosed.

The party's funding included:- R54.9 million in monetary donations.

- R2.4 million in in-kind donations.

Major contributors included:- Main Street 1564 (Pty) Ltd.

- Fynbos Ekwiteit (Pty) Ltd.

- M. Slack.

- Fynbos Kapitaal (Pty) Ltd.

Each of these donors contributed between R10 million and R13 million.

Other significant donations included:- R4 million from G. Ryan.

- R3 million from D. Barnes.

- R1.27 million from the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme.

The party also received substantial non-financial support, including donations from the Voices of South Africa Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

RISE Mzansi's R30 million under scrutiny

RISE Mzansi declared a single donation worth R30 million, making it one of the largest individual declarations recorded since political funding disclosures became mandatory.

The donation stemmed from the conversion of an existing loan into a donation rather than a new cash contribution, prompting the IEC to seek clarity on the arrangement.

While the commission has not suggested any wrongdoing, it says further assessment is required.

ActionSA secures nearly R10 million

ActionSA declared donations totalling R9.9 million.

Its largest donations included:- R5 million from businessman Martin Moshal.

- R1 million from Siyaya Free to Air TV.

- R1 million from African Equity Corporation.

Approximately R2.9 million in cumulative donations from party leader Herman Mashaba.

ANC and smaller parties face disclosure issues

The IEC also highlighted compliance concerns involving several parties.

The Alliance of Citizens for Change (A.C.C.) declared a R440,500 donation from founder Masizole Mnqasela nearly a year after it was received.

The commission has requested an explanation for the late disclosure.

Build One South Africa (BOSA) declared an in-kind donation of R113,794.60 from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

The ANC, meanwhile, has been asked to account for donor declarations worth R770,000 that had not yet been acknowledged by the party when the report was published.

The party also submitted late declarations totalling R10.5 million, including:

- R10 million from Botho Botho Commercial Enterprises.

- R501,230.21 from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

Millions flow into election battle

Overall, political parties declared R94.8 million in cash donations and R2.4 million in non-monetary contributions during the quarter.

With local government elections fast approaching, the figures underline the growing financial stakes of the nation’s political contest.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

A year after sports, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie let the curtain fall on funding for some arts festivals, many are still struggling to keep their heads above water.

Barely having recovered from the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown, showbiz folk said the funding cuts could not have come at a worse time, with those already living hand to mouth now struggling even more so to put food on the table.

Since time immemorial, festivals entertained audiences and provided a stage for Mzansi's thespians, alongside seasonal work for thousands of people — an entire ecosystem that has now been pulled out from under them.

This as productions increasingly trim their casts to save money.

Adding insult to injury, McKenzie last week dissolved the board of the National Arts Council, the statutory body responsible for supporting and promoting the arts in SA.

The seeds of the crisis were sown shortly after McKenzie took office mid-2024, juxtaposing his department's treatment of the arts with its support for sport.

And while festivals such as the National Arts Festival, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees and Cape Town International Jazz Festival struggled to keep the show on the road, McKenzie continued to back major sporting events.

He even announced on Sunday that all six players who narrowly missed out on Hugo Broos’ final 26-man Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will travel to Mexico to witness the team’s opening Group A match against co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca on June 11.

The trip, he said, has been made possible through the "generous support" of the SA brand Old School, whose partnership will cover the full cost of travel and accommodation for Brandon Petersen, Patrick Maswanganyi, Thabiso Monyane, Thapelo Morena, Lebohang Maboe, and Brooklyn Poggenpoel.

Soon after taking office as part of the Government of National Unity, McKenzie scrapped the long-standing funding model that had supported established national arts festivals for years.

"The defunding of popular, long running arts festivals by the sports, arts, and culture department remains a matter of grave concern," Jack Devnarain, actor and SA Guild of Actors chair, said.

It is an organisation representing actors in the film, television, stage, commercials and corporate sectors.

"There has never been a satisfactory justification for this disruption, and industry bodies naturally demand answers.

"Festival administrators have worked hard at building trust in their events, and if the department seeks to implement sweeping changes, this should be done in consultation with industry bodies.

"We are the guardians of SA's cultural heritage, and we take pride in hosting festivals that showcase our depth of talent in music, literature, filmmaking, and stagecraft.

"Our creative outputs cannot be held ransom by government, while they simultaneously lavish us with praise when we win international accolades."

McKenzie last year announced, with much fanfare, that taxpayer money should not indefinitely support these events and that legacy festivals needed to learn to "stand on their own feet" and find corporate sponsors instead.

While he told organisers to apply for one-off grants through the Mzansi Golden Economy fund, this plan fell apart because the fund was never designed to handle large, multi-day festivals.

The latter is government's main funding programme for the arts, culture and heritage sector.

Launched in 2011, it was designed to treat the creative sector as SA's "new gold" by funding festivals, cultural events, touring productions and other creative projects that create jobs, support artists and stimulate economic activity.

Veteran television and theatre actress Vinette Ebrahim said the sudden funding cuts have put the entire creative sector into a state of panic.

"I do feel terribly sorry for the people and festivals that genuinely depend on that funding," she said.

"I think it is an absolute disaster that they are no longer going to receive funding."

Ebrahim, beloved for her role as Charmaine Meintjies in 7de Laan and now seen as Nenna Abrahams in Kelders van Geheime, did not mince her words when asked about McKenzie's handling of arts funding.

"I do not think he [McKenzie] knows what he is doing," she said.

"I think he is a very foolish man and to be quite honest, I do not have words for him.

"He is so ridiculous, a buffoon and a moron ... the festivals are really being hit hard by this."

She added: "My biggest disappointment, however, is that there is still an imbalance when it comes to funding.

"Some groups receive too much money, while others that deserve proper funding receive far too little.

"There is definitely an imbalance in the way funding is allocated."

Alexa Strachan, CEO of the Aardklop National Arts Festival, explained getting the department's ear has always been an uphill battle, especially since McKenzie took over.

Aardklop is one of SA's largest arts festivals, held annually in Potchefstroom in the North West.

She said communication with the ministry completely ground to a halt after his appointment:

"Since he was elected though as an appointed minister of our industry... I couldn't reach him and the festival couldn't get hold of him anymore," Strachan said.

Strachan also questioned why sport and arts are grouped under the same ministry.

The arts sector has been crying out for help for years.

Singer Sibongile Mngoma made headlines back in 2021 with her solo protest outside the department’s offices in Pretoria.

Police tried to drag her away and even ripped her shirt off.

At the time, Mngoma said artists sent a list of questions to the late ex-sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa with a request he make public a forensic report on the alleged abuse of funds from the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme.

When McKenzie took the reins, hopes were high that he would breathe new life into the struggling sector.

Today, entertainers said his alleged neglect was still leaving local artists completely out in the cold.

According to figures presented to the National Assembly, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival generated around R900m for the Western Cape economy, supporting over 5,000 jobs.

Stellenbosch Woordfees reached over 250,000 schools and 270,000 learners annually.

Suidoosterfees sustained more than 4,000 jobs and hosted a junior festival for 8,000 schoolchildren.

The same was true for several other festivals.

Aardklop generated between R50m and R65m annually for the North West, Innibos injected between R80m and R90m into Mpumalanga’s economy, Vryfees generated an estimated R208m for the Free State, and the National Arts Festival in Makhanda featured 2,000 performers, attracted over 200,000 attendees, and contributed R350m annually to the local economy.

Industry leaders and watchdog groups said the festival cancellations had cost local economies close to R1bn.

They said the cancellations meant fewer tourists, less business for hotels and restaurants, and a loss of income for vendors who depended on the events just to make a living.

According to a written reply by Western Cape cultural affairs and sport MEC Ricardo Mackenzie, the provincial government financially supported this year's Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK).

Mackenzie said the festival did not receive national funding in 2025 after the application process was scrapped and restarted, leaving KKNK unable to reapply before the event took place.

Despite this, he said KKNK generated an estimated R72m to R89m for the Oudtshoorn economy and between R161m and R178m across the Western Cape.

The festival also created 781 jobs and a further 142 participation and exposure opportunities, bringing the total number of opportunities supported by the event to 923.

Strachan said many in the arts sector believed the department gave more attention to major sporting events than to local arts and cultural projects.

Speaking about funding, Strachan said Aardklop has largely operated without direct funding from the national department.

She said the festival chose not to rely on the department because of what she described as a frustrating funding application process.

However, she said independent initiatives like the Festival Enterprise Catalyst through the Jobs Fund — originally driven by former National Arts Festival CEO Monica Newton — remained a "brilliant exception" that genuinely kept local creatives employed.

"They are really great and we all benefited," she said.

Cape Town Carnival CEO Jay Douwes said the withdrawal was devastating.

"In a country grappling with unemployment, inequality, and disconnection, the Carnival provides an avenue for hope, economic impact, but most importantly social cohesion," Douwes said.

"We recognise that priorities shift, and that funding is finite.

"But we are deeply disheartened by the lack of transparency and the seeming abandonment of home-grown, community-based initiatives."

Douwes said the carnival played a major role in creating jobs and supporting small businesses.

He said the carnival:

• Created about 1,000 paid opportunities each year for artists, artisans, technicians, facilitators and seasonal staff;
• Supported more than 280 SMMEs, many of which relied on the event to keep their businesses going;
• About 40% of its annual budget, or R6.5m, was spent directly on SMMEs, while a further 39%, or R6.2m, went towards employment;
• More than 1,500 participants, mostly young people from over 50 communities, took part each year, often as volunteers gaining skills, experience and confidence; and
• The carnival was free and open to everyone, attracting thousands of locals and visitors to Cape Town while promoting pride, unity and creative expression.

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The Johannesburg High Court has dismissed an application by a Gauteng homeowner seeking to rescind a default judgment obtained by the Lombardy Home Owners Association, ruling that the judgment was neither erroneously sought nor erroneously granted.

Acting Judge LM du Plessis handed down the judgment in a dispute between Lombardy Home Owners Association and homeowner Makgolela Lillian Mokgalakane.

The matter arose after the homeowners association obtained a default judgment against Mokgalakane and a co-defendant for outstanding estate-related debts.

The association had instituted legal proceedings in February 2024, claiming more than R333,000, together with interest and costs. Summonses were served on the defendants at their chosen address on February 7, 2024.

According to the court, the defendants failed to deliver a valid notice of intention to defend within the prescribed period. Although Mokgalakane's attorneys served a notice of intention to defend on the homeowners association's attorneys on March 7, 2024, they failed to upload the notice onto the Court Online system as required by the rules of court.

The court found that the notice was only properly delivered on April 5, 2024, several weeks after a default judgment had already been granted on 14 March 2024.

In her rescission application, Mokgalakane argued that the default judgment should be set aside because her attorneys had made an error by failing to upload the notice of intention to defend. She contended that had the document been uploaded timeously, the registrar would not have granted default judgment.

Judge du Plessis, however, rejected this argument, finding that the failure to comply with the court's filing requirements was attributable to the applicant's legal representatives and did not render the judgment erroneous.

The court noted that the homeowners association had applied for default judgment only after the period for entering an appearance to defend had expired. When the registrar considered the application, no properly filed notice of intention to defend appeared on the court record.

The judge emphasised that the registrar therefore acted correctly in granting the judgment.

Mokgalakane also argued that once her notice of intention to defend had been served on the association's attorneys, the association was obliged to withdraw its default judgment application and inform the registrar that the matter was being defended.

The court found no legal basis for that argument and held that the association was entitled to proceed because the notice had not been properly delivered in accordance with the Uniform Rules of Court.

Judge du Plessis further rejected submissions that the registrar lacked authority to grant the judgment once the notice had been served. The court described those contentions as legally untenable and based on a misunderstanding of the relevant legal principles.

The homeowners association raised several objections to the rescission application, including an argument that the application itself was fatally defective because it had not been served by the sheriff as required for proceedings of that nature. The court found authority supporting that contention but proceeded to consider the merits of the rescission application in any event.

After examining the chronology of events, the court concluded that the homeowners association had been procedurally entitled to seek default judgment and that the registrar had been entitled to grant it. As a result, Mokgalakane failed to establish the key requirement under Rule 42(1)(a), namely that the judgment had been erroneously sought or granted.

The judge also pointed out that the applicant had not placed evidence before the court demonstrating good cause for rescission, such as the absence of wilful default or the existence of a bona fide defence to the homeowners association's claim. In addition, no replying affidavit was filed to challenge the allegations made by the association in its answering papers.

When dealing with costs, the court highlighted that the Lombardy Home Owners Association is a non-profit entity dependent on its members to pay levies and other charges. The judge observed that compliant members should not effectively subsidise residents who fail to meet their financial obligations while continuing to enjoy the benefits of estate membership.

Although the association argued that Mokgalakane's attorneys should personally bear the costs because their failure to properly file the notice of intention to defend had caused the problem, the court declined to make such an order.

Instead, judge du Plessis said the applicant retained the right to pursue any remedies she may have against her legal representatives.

The court ultimately dismissed the rescission application and ordered Mokgalakane to pay the homeowners association's legal costs on the attorney-and-client scale, bringing to an end her attempt to overturn the default judgment.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

IOL News

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Iran's chief negotiator warned the United States is not to be trusted Sunday, saying Tehran would not agree to any deal with Washington unless it fully secures Iranian rights.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's remarks came as reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Iran, and underlined the rift that the parties still need to close.

Any further tweaks to the draft could further delay an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of fraught negotiations marked by sharp rhetoric and occasional flare-ups of violence.

Iran was already in negotiations with the United States about the fate of its nuclear programme in February, when the US and Israel launched air and missile strikes that wiped out much of the Islamic republic's senior leadership.

And, while Tehran has long insisted that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian ends, the United States and its Western allies have long suspected it aims to develop a weapon.

Nuclear guarantees

The New York Times and Axios reported on Saturday that Trump had sent back a "tougher" new framework to be considered by Iran, though details remain unclear.

Trump has said his priorities include stopping Iran from any nuclear weapon development and re-opening the Hormuz shipping lane, over which Iran has sought to impose control since the war began.

"The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons. They've agreed to that, and it was very interesting," he told his daughter-in-law Lara Trump in an interview on her Fox News show.

But Tehran has previously cast doubt on Trump's assertions and the sides remain far apart on key issues.

"We will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld," Ghalibaf said, in a video broadcast on state television.

According to the Tasnim news agency, "exchanges between Iran and the United States regarding the text of a possible memorandum of understanding are ongoing, with both parties regularly proposing amendments.

"No agreement has yet been finalised, and it is possible that any agreement will be rejected," it said.

Iran has said it needs the release of $12 billion in frozen assets before engaging in substantive talks on its nuclear program, dismissing earlier Trump comments that its enriched uranium stockpile would be destroyed as "baseless", according to Iranian media.

Tehran has also insisted that Lebanon be included in any deal, despite ongoing fighting, with Beirut accusing Israel of a "scorched-earth policy" as it expands operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Flare-ups

Though daily strikes throughout Iran and the Gulf halted after Tehran and Washington struck a temporary ceasefire in April and talks mediated by Pakistan, sporadic fighting has continued.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards had shot down a US military drone "about to enter Iranian territorial waters", Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported, though Washington has not confirmed the incident.

Earlier this week, the worst fighting since the ceasefire erupted when US forces struck the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, prompting retaliatory fire from Iran.

Nevertheless diplomacy has continued with Trump under pressure to secure a deal that would lift competing US and Iranian blockades around the Strait of Hormuz that have strangled a vital route for global oil supplies.

After Trump said Iran would charge "no tolls" on ships passing through the strait under any deal, Iranian news agency Fars cited sources saying "no such clause" existed.

Iran's ISNA news agency on Saturday quoted lawmaker Alireza Salimi as saying a plan "to implement Iran's management and sovereignty" over the strait -- which includes imposing "administrative fees" for navigation -- would soon go before parliament.

Lebanon front

Israeli said Sunday that troops had also crossed the Litani river and raised the Israeli flag over the strategic medieval fortress of Beaufort in southern Lebanon.

Smoke billowed from the surrounding area as the invading army's banner was seen by AFP above the castle, which Israel famously used as a base during their previous two-decade-long occupation.

The push to Beaufort came as the Israeli military issued a sweeping evacuation order to areas south of the Zahrani River, north of the Litani and around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the border, warning that it was targeting Hezbollah.

"The capture of Beaufort is a dramatic stage and a dramatic shift in the policy we are leading. We have broken the barrier of fear. We are taking the initiative, we are operating on all fronts –- in Syria, in Gaza, in Lebanon," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The Israeli military said Sunday that one soldier was killed the previous day in a Hezbollah drone strike.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched-earth policy and collective punishment", and called for "a swift and real ceasefire."

Israel confirmed it was expanding its ground offensive in a statement released early on Sunday, saying "a significant number" of its forces were operating against Hezbollah beyond the Litani river.

A truce between Israel and Hezbollah formally began on April 17 but it has never been observed, with both sides accusing each other of violating it.

South Africa’s National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) and business group Sakeliga lost their Constitutional Court fight to halt the government’s new employment equity (EE) quotas, but they vowed to continue the fight.

The Constitutional Court declined Sakeliga and Neasa's application for leave to appeal in their urgent application for an interdict against the Employment Equity quotas enacted in 2025. But they will now pursue the matter through a review on a non-urgent basis to have several sections of the Employment Equity Act declared unconstitutional and set aside.

Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, meanwhile, welcomed the Constitutional Court dismissal of the urgent application and said that, absent an interdict, the department is forging ahead with the implementation of the EE Regulations and the 5-year sector numerical EE targets.

The Employment Equity Amendment Act and its accompanying two sets of Employment Equity Regulations, including the 5-year sector numerical EE targets for the 18 economic sectors, came into effect last year for designated employers, such as those that employ 50 or more employees.

Meth said it is important to note that the numerical goals are set by the designated employers, and companies must therefore submit their annual EE reports against their own set annual EE targets in their EE plans.

After the commencement of the EE Amendment Act and its EE Regulations, several legal challenges were instituted against the department and the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE). These cases primarily challenged the constitutional validity, lawfulness, consultation process, and the implementation of the amended EE legislative framework and the 5-year sectoral numerical EE targets.

Neasa and Sakeliga were amongst the first to file an urgent application with the Gauteng High Court, where they tried to suspend the implementation of the EE targets. The High Court dismissed Part A of the application and held that an interdict was not appropriate where the minister had already exercised statutory powers.

The court declined to suspend what it regarded as a lawful exercise of statutory authority, emphasising the separation of powers. The court further held that the consultation process preceding the publication of the sectoral numerical EE targets was lawful and that employers retain flexibility to justify deviations for non-compliance in terms of the Employment Equity Act.

The applicants then approached the Supreme Court of Appeal, which also turned down leave to appeal. They subsequently approached the Constitutional Court on an urgent basis for leave to appeal, to be followed by a review application.

The minister said her department will also oppose the pending review application. The department explained that the key objectives and implications of the EE Amendment Act include empowering the minister to regulate sector-specific EE numerical targets. This is to ensure the equitable representation of suitably qualified people from the designated groups (Africans, Coloureds, and Indians, women of all race groups, as well as people with disabilities irrespective of their race and gender).

It also calls for an EE Compliance Certificate as a prerequisite for access to state contracts and doing business with any organ of state. All the designated employers are legally obligated to fully comply with the Employment Equity amendments by aligning their annual EE targets in the EE Plans with the 5-year sector numerical EE targets, the minister said.

In response to the Constitutional Court ruling against them, Sakeliga said that the Constitutional Court has failed to acknowledge the tremendous compliance costs, business planning risks, and investment deterrence caused by the quotas.

While the quotas prescribe strict limitations on employment by race and sex for organisations with 50 or more employees, it also limits white male employment to as little as 4% in many cases and dictates absurd and unrealistic gender hiring prescriptions in many industries, Sakeliga said.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

Democratic Alliance (DA) is set to lay criminal charges on Monday against former Ekurhuleni City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi and a businessman Ze Nxumalo, after reports linked them to alleged tender irregularities in Ekurhuleni.

The charges follow reports linking a R3.5-million private jet trip to London undertaken by Mashazi in 2022 to companies that benefited from municipal tenders awarded by the City of Ekurhuleni.

The DA confirmed that its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, will open a criminal case at the Germiston Police Station, arguing that the allegations warrant a full law-enforcement investigation.

The move comes months after Mashazi testified before the Madlanga Commission, where she responded to the allegations against her.

She was accused by senior officials of corruption, abuse of power and deep-rooted misconduct within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD).

One of the accusations was that she protected the suspended EMPD acting chief, commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, from disciplinary action.

However, the commission's findings widened the spotlight beyond her allegations.

It referred Mashazi and several current and former metro and EMPD officials for criminal investigation after uncovering evidence requiring further scrutiny.

Central to the referral was the controversial luxury private jet trip allegedly financed by a businessman with interests linked to municipal contracts.

Investigators are expected to examine whether any tender processes were improperly influenced and whether public office was used for private benefit.

Neither Mashazi nor the businessman has been convicted of any wrongdoing, and both remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

AmaZulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini has finally clarified the continued presence of his former Private Secretary, Arnold Nododile in the royal family circles despite the announcement of his dismissal by the Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi a week ago. 

Speaking during a meeting attended by Buthelezi and other princes at the weekend, the king personally addressed Nododile’s presence, and dismissed notions that he was expelled.

In an audio clip that was shared by Nododile after the meeting, the king put the matter to bed by telling his Prime Minister that Nododile was still very much part of the royal family proceedings.

“Let me emphasise this, Ndamase (Nododile) is not fired. Ndamase has other duties that he would perform here in the royal family. I am saying this to dispel concerns that there is a vacant position here, Ndamase would remain here and continue to provide services to the crown,” said the king.

Despite the announcement of his removal last week, which was announced by Buthelezi in a statement, Nododile continued his work at his office at Mashobeni palace and attended high profile meetings with the king, including an event where the king met with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.

At that meeting, the king was said to have also informed the Premier that he should continue communicating with Nododile with regard to the king's activities.

The king’s clarity raised questions about whether he sanctioned the statement that was issued by his Prime Minister about the closure of the king’s Private Office which Nododile headed. Buthelezi’s statement was immediately denied by both Nododile and the Royal Chancellor inkosi Malusi Zondi. In the statement, Buthelezi had also announced the removal of Zondi.

Their controversial removal was followed by another statement by the king’s spokesperson Prince Thulani, which emphasised the closure of the Private Office and the announcement of king’s new diary controller, Prince Khishwangubani Zulu from the Gazini royal residence.

It was unclear whether the new prince had assumed his duties as Nododile was always seen next to the king and led the king’s salutation in line with the protocol.

Prince Thulani also announced that there would be new roles for inkosi Zondi and Prince Africa Zulu, who was Vice Chancellor.

Although no official announcement was made on what these new positions would entail, Prince Zulu announced last week that Zondi had been promoted to a new role. In the announcement, Zulu said a new delegation of princes would be led by Prince Africa of the Onkweni palace to inform Zondi of his new role, however, no official announcement regarding Zondi’s new position was made.

Last week, royal insiders said Zondi and Prince Africa would continue with their roles but not under the titles of Royal Chancellor and Vice Chancellor respectively. The sources said that they would be known as Iso leSilo (king’s representatives) in urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, working hand in hand with hostel headmen and various government entities.

The pair would also, on behalf of the king, meet with private businesses to negotiate for better working conditions of Zulu employees and they would use the Embelebeni royal palace in KwaMashu as their operational centre. 

There was speculation that the removal of the two senior officials, who formed part of the decision-making structure in the royal family known as the Prime Minister Executive Council, was a result of the intense power struggle between council members over their proximity to the king and access to the king’s diary, which was controlled by Nododile.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

Fifty years after the June 16, 1976 Soweto uprising, the legacy of the student revolt continues to resonate across South Africa — including in the Western Cape, where pupils, students and communities staged solidarity protests and acts of resistance against apartheid.

June is observed annually as Youth Month, with June 16 commemorated as National Youth Day in honour of the role young people played in the liberation struggle. This year marks the Golden Jubilee of the Soweto uprising under the theme: “Reset@50 – The Future Calls”.

Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities spokesperson Cassius Selala said the commemoration aims to honour the legacy of the 1976 uprising while empowering a new generation of young people.

Selala said the Soweto uprising — sparked by opposition to the compulsory use of Afrikaans in black schools — became a turning point in resistance against apartheid. He noted that black students across the country had already been protesting against the apartheid government’s education policies, before June 1976.

He said the uprising became a lasting symbol of youth courage, resistance and the fight for equality, education and human rights. According to Selala, June 16 also instilled a sense of responsibility among young people and inspired future generations to challenge injustice and fight for social change.

In the Western Cape, the Soweto uprising triggered waves of protests, school boycotts and unrest.

On 24 June 1976, the principal’s office at Hlangisi Primary School in Nyanga was set alight. Days later, arson attacks spread to the Langa Post Office and Zimosa School.

By August, student activism had intensified. University of the Western Cape students held meetings in solidarity with Soweto pupils and launched class boycotts, while Hewat Training College in Athlone was later torched in support of the protests.

Further incidents included fires at schools in Struisbaai and Bellville South, while marches were held by pupils from Langa, Gugulethu and Nyanga. Selala said police closely monitored the demonstrations, and dozens of people were killed in looting-related violence.

He added that UCT students also marched toward the Cape Town city centre in protest before police intervened and arrested 73 students. In Bellville, about 600 coloured students from Bellville Training College clashed with police during demonstrations.

Former ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool, who was 13 and a pupil at Livingstone High School at the time, said the uprising profoundly shaped his political consciousness.

Rasool described Livingstone High as politically aware but rooted more in intellectual activism than direct political mobilisation. Following the Soweto uprising, pupils at the school held marches within the school grounds while police gathered outside.

“We saw the police outside our fences with their weapons, and it was the first real sense that we were dealing with a brutal state,” he said.

Rasool said his daily commute exposed him to the stark contrast between middle-class Claremont and the unrest unfolding in communities such as Manenberg and Elsies River. Through friends and protests in the city centre, he experienced teargas and police violence for the first time.

He said the 1976 uprising shattered the climate of fear created after the Sharpeville massacre, the Rivonia Trial and the banning of liberation movements in the 1960s.

Rasool said many families — particularly in Cape Town’s Muslim coloured communities after the death of Imam Abdullah Haron — had become fearful of openly discussing politics. But the generation of 1976, he said, broke that silence.

“This 1976 generation broke that barrier of silence and fear, and so, in a sense, my generation was the one who had to teach those who were the witnesses to the 60s massacres and jailings, we had to teach them (the older generation) again to become active.

He added that black consciousness ideology also forced coloured communities to rethink racial identity under apartheid. Inspired by Steve Biko, many young activists began identifying as black in opposition to apartheid’s racial divisions.

“For the coloured community, to call itself black, as taught by Steve Biko, was a big thing, because apartheid thrived on the fine separations between black, coloured, Indian, Malay, etc., and suddenly, there was this overarching identity.

“We also had to teach our parents that we were black, because we now transcended the political organising... We were transcending that with the black consciousness.

Rasool said the generation of 1976 not only overcame fear, but also embraced more direct confrontation with the apartheid state after witnessing violence against schoolchildren in Soweto and across the country.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

Following a similar move by then DA leader John Steenhuisen in 2022, former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has again requested that US law enforcement and financial authorities probe President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm scandal.

Mkhwebane, through the Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation, last week submitted a formal request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a criminal investigation against Ramaphosa.

The foundation urges the FBI to investigate the origin, transportation, and concealment of the US dollars found at Phala Phala, and to consider possible violations of American criminal and financial laws. 

The action follows the long-standing Phala Phala scandal, which originally erupted after former South African spy boss Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against the President in 2022.

The charges alleged money laundering, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice stemming from the 2020 theft of over $4 million in cash concealed at the President's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. 

However, Ramaphosa stated that the stolen money amounted to $580,000 (not $4 million) and was legitimate revenue from the sale of buffalo and game on his property. 

In a letter sent by then DA leader Steenhuisen in 2022, the party requested the FBI to consider investigating the source of the funds and whether the money was brought into South Africa legitimately and declared to the appropriate authorities.

The party sought international intervention because the FBI's mandate covers money laundering and irregularities involving US dollars crossing international borders.

The DA said it was concerned that the money stolen from the farm may have originally come from possibly unlawful or nefarious activities from both a national and international source. 

The party had argued that withdrawing such substantial amounts of USD is not feasible within South Africa, nor is it the nation's legal tender. 

The DA added that while Ramaphosa claimed the money was revenue from farm-hosted wild game auctions, the receipt of physical foreign currency for a sale within South Africa inherently calls for closer scrutiny.

“As the President has not been open with those people or entities who had paid him in USD, and given the suspicious amount of USD that had been found tucked inside furniture, we cannot be certain that this money has not come from a nefarious source within the USA and as such we request your offices to consider conducting an investigation into the source of funds and ascertain if the money was brought into the country legitimately, was above board and was declared to the appropriate authorities,” read the letter.

The party says Ramaphosa faces serious allegations that “will continue to do enormous damage to our economy and our prospects for attracting investment and creating jobs, as well as to the credibility of the office of the presidency and the police and justice system. 

“We recommend that the ledgers or journals which would have recorded the alleged sale of wild game at an auction be requested from the President to ascertain the identities of those involved in the suspicious cash transactions.”

The Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation has reignited calls for the FBI to get involved, saying they have a whistleblower report which accuses Ramaphosa of bulk cash smuggling, money laundering, and cross-border currency violations. 

The foundation argues that US federal agencies have jurisdiction because the case centers on undeclared US currency stashed at the Phala Phala farm. They claim the money may have breached US currency-smuggling and anti-money laundering laws. 

The foundation requested the authorities to pursue civil and criminal forfeiture of any US dollars that constitute the proceeds of criminal activity, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §§ 981 and 982, and 31 U.S.C. § 5332(b)(2), and consider designating any individuals or entities involved as foreign money laundering concerns under 31 U.S.C. § 5318A (Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act).

Among other steps, the foundation wants investigators to seek is assistance from South African authorities, including SARS, the South African Reserve Bank, the Hawks, and the National Prosecuting Authority, to obtain records relating to the matter.

International law Professor Andre Thomashausen said that because the United States government maintains legal ownership of all physical cash in circulation, using these bills in any illegal activity triggers American federal jurisdiction.

“Hiding and hoarding of large amounts of US Dollar notes normally only happens in serious criminal environments such as the South American drug cartels. Because the US retains the ownership of each dollar note in circulation, American criminal law jurisdiction is attracted whenever the notes are used in a criminal endeavour.

"Naturally, only serious cases are prosecuted in the US, and normally only if they affect US interests and the security of the United States,” he said.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that an urgent court application brought to stop the execution of arrest warrants in the case involving Madoda Johannes Sibanyoni and others has been formally withdrawn.

According to the NPA, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the Mpumalanga Division received a notice of withdrawal on Friday, May 29, from attorneys representing Messrs Sibanyoni and Sindane.

The applicants had lodged an urgent application on Wednesday, May 27, seeking to interdict the execution of a J50 warrant of arrest against the accused. The matter was scheduled to be heard on May 28 at the Delmas Magistrates’ Court.

NPA national spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, said the application followed the prosecution’s decision to re-enrol the criminal case, which had previously been struck off the roll on 18 May 2026 in the Kwaggafontein Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutors had obtained a J50 warrant of arrest and requested that the accused be presented through their legal representatives for the matter’s re-enrolment.

In response, the accused launched an urgent application against the National Director of Public Prosecutions (Adv Andy Mothibi) and the DPP, challenging both the execution of the warrants and the re-enrolment of the case. The matter had been set down for hearing at the Mbombela High Court in Mpumalanga on June 2.

Kganyago says the withdrawal of the application brings an end to the dispute relating to the re-enrolment of the criminal case and the execution of the warrants of arrest.

The authority also noted that the Magistrates Commission has confirmed it is investigating a formal complaint lodged by the DPP against Chief Magistrate Tonjeni on May 26.

The NPA added that it is still awaiting written reasons from Chief Magistrate Tonjeni, as well as a date for the hearing of its application for leave to appeal filed on May 22.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

IOL

A retirement fund has 12 months from the date it becomes aware of a member’s death - not from the date of death itself - to trace dependents and pay out the death benefit.

In a groundbreaking judgment for dependents of pension benefits following the death of a loved one, the SCA has affirmed the Pension Funds Adjudicator’s ruling in this regard. The court dismissed an appeal against the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court’s earlier judgment, brought by the South African Retirement Annuity Fund that had sought to overturn the Adjudicator’s decision.

The Adjudicator found in favour of the complainant, Sophia Viljoen, criticising the fund for bypassing a proper investigation and instead allocating the benefit to the deceased’s estate “through the back door".

The Adjudicator emphasised that the 12-month period refers to tracing beneficiaries, not to a general payment deadline. Since tracing requires investigation, the obligation only arises once the fund learns of the member’s death, it holds. “It is clear that the fund will not know if there are dependents or not without conducting an investigation,” the Adjudicator said, declaring the fund’s decision unlawful.

Marius Viljoen, who died intestate in 2019, left a retirement annuity benefit of R52,120 with no nominated beneficiary. His estate fell below the statutory threshold of R250,000, so no executor was appointed. His widow, reliant solely on a state old age grant, only learned of the benefit through a broker more than two years later and lodged a claim.

The fund repudiated her claim and resolved to pay the benefit into the estate, despite it not being reported to the Master of the High Court. Aggrieved, the widow approached the Adjudicator, who set aside the fund’s decision. The high court confirmed her order, but the fund appealed to the SCA.

SCA Judge Yvonne Mbatha, who penned the judgment, held that the process of identifying and verifying dependents can only begin once the fund has knowledge of the death. To fulfil section 37C of the Act, the fund must identify dependents, determine equitable distribution, and decide on payment. The SCA acknowledged that section 37C could have multiple interpretations. However, it found the fund’s interpretation was illogical and contrary to the Act’s purpose and spirit. 

The SCA held that the fund’s interpretation would hinder the fund from fulfilling its mandate to trace dependents and investigate their dependency. The fund could delay taking action until the 12 months lapse and then claim that it was not aware of the death of the member. 

The SCA found that the Adjudicator’s order was consistent with the purpose of the Act. The fund’s interpretation could prejudice the dependants of deceased members by allowing the fund to evade its responsibility, the court found.

The SCA further ruled that payment into the estate is permissible only once all statutory avenues to trace dependents and nominees have been exhausted. Judge Mbatha, in slapping the fund with the legal costs, commented that the decision to appeal a judgment where there is a pittance of pension benefit payout was insensitive.

“The fund could have used another matter as a test case,” she said. The judge pointed out that the widow’s lawyer appeared free of charge on her behalf, and she said this legal challenge must have been costly to them.

Pension Funds Adjudicator, Lebogang Mogashoa, meanwhile said: "We believe the judgement provides clarity on this important point of law".

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

The National Freedom Party (NFP) and its embattled KwaZulu-Natal Legislature member, Mbali Shinga, are headed for a legal showdown following the dismissal of her appeal against her expulsion from the party.

On Saturday, the party announced that the appeals committee chairperson dismissed Shinga's appeal and upheld her earlier expulsion from the party. However on Sunday, speaking through her attorney Sithembiso Mbhele, Shinga vowed to go to court to challenge the latest decision on her political career.

Mbhele said he has been instructed by Shinga to file papers in court on Monday, describing the appeals chairperson’s decision as long pre-determined. 

He said that the appeals committee chairperson 'frustrated Shinga’s appeal from day one by refusing to provide the transcript of the hearing to the legal team to formulate arguments of the appeal'.

Mbhele said instead of being given a transcribed hearing, the chairperson of the disciplinary committee provided the audio clips.

“We are taking this matter to court on an urgent basis. The appeals committee chairperson had a predetermined finding against our client. It was practically impossible for us to listen to audio of the four month long hearing, hence we are saying there was a deliberate plan to uphold the expulsion decision,” said Mbhele.

He claimed there was not even an appeal before the decision was taken, saying on Friday he sent the heads of argument detailing her client’s grounds for the appeal which she was going to present during the sitting, however, on Saturday the legal team received the news that the appeal had been dismissed.

He said Shinga is challenging the powers of the party’s national working committee as the party’s constitution says that the party’s highest decision-making structure is the general conference.

The party’s Secretary-General Sunset Xaba did not respond to the questions on what the party will do about Shinga's threat of legal action, however he confirmed the dismissal of Shinga’s appeal.

In a statement issued by Xaba on Saturday, he said the party welcomed the ruling, which he said has confirmed both the findings of guilt and the sanction of expulsion imposed following disciplinary proceedings.

He said the tribunal carefully considered all submissions made by the appellant (Shinga) and the respondent, including allegations relating to the composition of party structures, procedural fairness, the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the authority of the disciplinary and appeals processes. 

“After a thorough examination of the evidence, applicable legal principles, and the constitution of the National Freedom Party, the tribunal found no basis to overturn the original decision. Importantly, the tribunal reaffirmed that:

* The National Executive Committee acted within the powers conferred upon it by the Constitution of the National Freedom Party.

* The NEC was properly quorate and competent to take the decisions that became the subject of the disciplinary process.

* The disciplinary proceedings were conducted fairly and in accordance with the Party Constitution.

* The Appeals Tribunal was lawfully and properly constituted.

* The Appellant failed to demonstrate any material procedural irregularity or legal basis upon which the findings and sanction could be set aside."

The disciplinary proceedings stem from Shinga's decision to defy a party instruction to vote alongside the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in support of a motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli on December 15, 2025.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

Negotiations for the chairperson of Parliament’s Impeachment Committee are set to continue just before the committee’s first meeting on Monday afternoon, with opposition parties uniting and hoping to leave the ANC as the odd man out. 

Several political parties on the committee have indicated that negotiations for the position of chairperson are ongoing, and that, for the committee to retain its integrity, the chairperson should not come from the ANC but rather the opposition parties.

The committee, which was established after the Constitutional Court judgment directed Parliament to investigate whether there are valid grounds to recommend President Cyril Ramaphosa’s removal from office, will have their first meeting on Monday at 2 pm to elect a chairperson.

Out of the 31-member seats on the committee, the ANC has nine, followed by the DA with five, the MK Party with three, EFF with two, while the 12 smaller political parties have one seat.

According to reports, the ANC are expected to nominate Doris Mpapane as their nominee, but parties have made their opinions clear that they would prefer to have the chairperson come from a smaller party.

DA spokesperson, Jan de Villiers, said that while negotiations for the committee chair are ongoing, “the DA has from the outset said that we don't think it's a good idea that the ANC gets a chairperson position”.

“Neither will we push for ourselves to be the chairperson. The negotiations, which will continue until tomorrow (Monday), will be about who would be the best independent and objective chairperson for the committee. I think that decision will probably be closer to the committee's start of its work.”

De Villiers said that they believe it is in the best interest of the impeachment committee and its integrity for the chairperson not to come from the ANC.

“It really is, obviously, a very important committee, and they're going to do something, which should be above reproach. There should be an objective chairperson who is not going into the process with pre-determined ideas of determining the outcome before the process has actually been completed.”

De Villiers said that it is important for the process to stand up to scrutiny.

ATM President Vuyo Zungula said that the chairperson must be from the opposition. 

“The principle has always been that since the days of Nkandla Ad Hoc. A party that has signed the Statement of Intent and is part of the GNU will be conflicted.”

RISE Mzansi Chief Whip, and impeachment committee member, Makashule Gana, said: “The conversations are ongoing, and I'm confident that before the start of the meeting tomorrow, parties who have found each other in terms of the best candidate to chair the committee.

“The conversations are progressing in an encouraging direction, and I’m quite confident that by tomorrow, a sufficient consensus will start emerging,” Gana said.

“The vote is taking place in less than 24 hours from now. It's a delicate time at this stage. The phones are ringing, the conversations are ongoing, and permutations are being considered.”

Build One South Africa (BOSA) spokesperson Roger Solomons said they believe the impeachment committee must be chaired by someone who ultimately displays legal competence and has a sense of knowing what the historical issues are that go into that. 

“(The chair should be someone) in pursuit of getting the facts, and not partisan. The question on the table is whether there's a serious breach of the Constitution, and that must be the (central) question, not whether or not they want the president to be impeached. For example, the ANC would never want its own president to be impeached.

“It cannot be chaired by the ANC or, in particular, members who are sitting within the GNU. We think that the opposition must be able to chair that,” Solomons said. 

When asked if BOSA leader, Mmusi Maimane, would be open to chairing the committee, Solomons said that Maimane would be available for the job, given his experience in Parliament and having worked with the respective parties.

Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe, however, believes that the ANC will do everything in their power to retain the position of chairperson of the committee. He said that Ramaphosa is “a desperate man” who took advantage of being able to tell members of the ANC to 'kill the Phala Phala report'.

“We see that at the moment, he's also busy running to the courts. He's trying to make sure that there's no stone left unturned to stop the whole impeachment process from going ahead. 

“You can rest assured that, from his level of desperation, members of the ANC will also be persuaded to ensure that they stick to the idea that the chairperson of the impeachment committee will be a member of the ANC,” Seepe said.

“Because once you are a chairperson, you have leverage in terms of directing the discussion. You have leverage in giving weight to certain things.

“Looking at Ramaphosa’s desperation, I don't see this as something that they will give in to,” Seepe said.

“They (the ANC) are also hoping that the impeachment process will not even proceed… The parties can negotiate, can do whatever, but the ANC will always use its numbers to get its way.”

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has published its political party funding declarations report for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, covering donations made between January 1 and March 31 2026.

The report, released ahead of the Local Government Elections on 4 November, revealed that political parties declared a combined R97.2 million in donations during the three months.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) emerged as the biggest beneficiary, declaring donations worth R57.3 million—more than half of all funds reported during the quarter.

RISE Mzansi followed with R30 million, while ActionSA declared R9.9 million. Smaller declarations were submitted by the Alliance of Citizens for Change and Build One South Africa.

In total, parties reported R94.8 million in direct financial contributions and R2.4 million in donations received through goods and services.

However, the report's most significant disclosure is RISE Mzansi's R30 million declaration, which the party recorded as the conversion of an existing loan into a donation.

The IEC said the details surrounding the transaction have not yet been fully clarified and confirmed that it will engage further with the party to determine whether the arrangement complies with the Political Party Funding Act.

The latest declarations mark the final funding disclosure cycle before voters head to the polls later this year, placing party finances firmly in the public spotlight.

The reporting period also falls under revised political funding rules that increased the disclosure threshold from R100,000 to R200,000 and raised the annual donation cap from R15 million to R30 million, allowing substantially larger contributions to be made and declared.

Meanwhile, the commission has flagged several donations linked to the African National Congress (ANC) that had not yet been formally acknowledged or declared by the party at the time of publication, raising concerns over compliance with political funding regulations.

Among the donations highlighted were R500,000 from Valumax Projects to the ANC's Ekurhuleni branch and R270,000 from Captrust Investments to the party's Veterans League.

The ANC has also come under scrutiny for submitting two substantial donation declarations after the prescribed deadline.

The late disclosures, valued at more than R10.5 million, include R10 million from Botho Botho Commercial Enterprises and R501,230 from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. The Electoral Commission has subsequently directed the party to provide representations explaining the delays.

The Multi-Party Democracy Fund recorded contributions totalling R4.5 million during the reporting period, including R3 million from Vodacom South Africa and R1.5 million from Standard Bank.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

Following a similar move by then DA leader John Steenhuisen in 2022, former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has again requested that US law enforcement and financial authorities probe President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm scandal.

Mkhwebane, through the Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation, last week submitted a formal request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a criminal investigation against Ramaphosa.

The foundation urges the FBI to investigate the origin, transportation, and concealment of the US dollars found at Phala Phala, and to consider possible violations of American criminal and financial laws. 

The action follows the long-standing Phala Phala scandal, which originally erupted after former South African spy boss Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against the President in 2022.

The charges alleged money laundering, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice stemming from the 2020 theft of over $4 million in cash concealed at the President's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. 

However, Ramaphosa stated that the stolen money amounted to $580,000 (not $4 million) and was legitimate revenue from the sale of buffalo and game on his property. 

In a letter sent by then DA leader Steenhuisen in 2022, the party requested the FBI to consider investigating the source of the funds and whether the money was brought into South Africa legitimately and declared to the appropriate authorities.

The party sought international intervention because the FBI's mandate covers money laundering and irregularities involving US dollars crossing international borders.

The DA said it was concerned that the money stolen from the farm may have originally come from possibly unlawful or nefarious activities from both a national and international source. 

The party had argued that withdrawing such substantial amounts of USD is not feasible within South Africa, nor is it the nation's legal tender. 

The DA added that while Ramaphosa claimed the money was revenue from farm-hosted wild game auctions, the receipt of physical foreign currency for a sale within South Africa inherently calls for closer scrutiny.

“As the President has not been open with those people or entities who had paid him in USD, and given the suspicious amount of USD that had been found tucked inside furniture, we cannot be certain that this money has not come from a nefarious source within the USA and as such we request your offices to consider conducting an investigation into the source of funds and ascertain if the money was brought into the country legitimately, was above board and was declared to the appropriate authorities,” read the letter.

The party says Ramaphosa faces serious allegations that “will continue to do enormous damage to our economy and our prospects for attracting investment and creating jobs, as well as to the credibility of the office of the presidency and the police and justice system. 

“We recommend that the ledgers or journals which would have recorded the alleged sale of wild game at an auction be requested from the President to ascertain the identities of those involved in the suspicious cash transactions.”

The Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation has reignited calls for the FBI to get involved, saying they have a whistleblower report which accuses Ramaphosa of bulk cash smuggling, money laundering, and cross-border currency violations. 

The foundation argues that US federal agencies have jurisdiction because the case centers on undeclared US currency stashed at the Phala Phala farm. They claim the money may have breached US currency-smuggling and anti-money laundering laws. 

The foundation requested the authorities to pursue civil and criminal forfeiture of any US dollars that constitute the proceeds of criminal activity, in accordance with US legislation.

Among other steps, the foundation wants investigators to seek is assistance from South African authorities, including SARS, the South African Reserve Bank, the Hawks, and the National Prosecuting Authority, to obtain records relating to the matter.

International law Professor Andre Thomashausen said that because the United States government maintains legal ownership of all physical cash in circulation, using these bills in any illegal activity triggers American federal jurisdiction.

“Hiding and hoarding of large amounts of US Dollar notes normally only happens in serious criminal environments such as the South American drug cartels. Because the US retains the ownership of each dollar note in circulation, American criminal law jurisdiction is attracted whenever the notes are used in a criminal endeavour.

"Naturally, only serious cases are prosecuted in the US, and normally only if they affect US interests and the security of the United States,” he said.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of bitterly cold, wet and windy conditions across parts of South Africa during the first week of June.

While Monday and Tuesday are expected to be partly cloudy and cold, conditions are set to deteriorate from Wednesday, with snowfall forecast in parts of the Western and Northern Cape.

SAWS said very cold weather and rainfall are expected over the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, as well as the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape.

"Light snowfall is expected over the mountain tops of the central and eastern parts of the Western Cape, and the higher-lying areas of the southern Namakwa District during this period," the weather service said.

The forecaster warned that travel over mountain passes could become difficult, while strong winds and cold conditions may disrupt outdoor activities.

Weather warnings

SAWS has issued an Orange Level 5 warning for disruptive rain in the Eastern Cape from Wednesday.

According to the weather service, a ridging high-pressure system combined with a cut-off low in the upper atmosphere is expected to bring cold conditions, snowfall over high-lying areas and widespread rainfall across the province, with heavy downpours forecast in some areas.

A Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rain has also been issued for the western half and central parts of the Eastern Cape.

Along the coast, a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds and waves has been issued between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday and Thursday.

SAWS said south-easterly swells of between 4m and 6m, coupled with strong winds, are expected to create very rough sea conditions.

In the Western Cape, the Garden Route has been placed under both an Orange Level 5 and a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rain.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.

IOL

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is warning of bitterly cold, wet and windy conditions during the first week of June.

While Monday and Tuesday are expected to be partly cloudy and cold, South Africans should brace for a chilly week, with snow forecast in several areas.

According to the forecaster, very cold conditions and rainfall are expected over the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, as well as the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape, from Wednesday.

"Light snowfall is expected over the mountain tops of the central and eastern parts of the Western Cape, and the higher-lying areas of the southern Namakwa District during this period," SAWS said.

The weather service warned that travel over mountain passes could be difficult, while strong winds and cold weather may disrupt outdoor activities.

Weather warnings

Meanwhile, an Orange Level 5 warning has been issued for disruptive rain in the Eastern Cape from Wednesday.

"Ridging high pressure, together with a cut-off low in the upper atmosphere, will result in cold conditions with snowfall over high-lying areas and widespread rainfall across the province, with heavy downpours expected in places from Wednesday," SAWS said.

A Yellow Level 2 warning has also been issued for disruptive rain in the western half and central parts of the Eastern Cape.

A Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds and waves has been issued for very rough seas between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday and Thursday.

The forecaster said south-easterly swells with wave heights of 4m to 6m, coupled with strong winds, are expected.

An Orange Level 5 warning and a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rain have also been issued for the Garden Route region of the Western Cape.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.

IOL

The proposed renaming of the City of Tshwane's municipal entity Wonderboom National Airport in honour of the Ndebele people who were forced out of the area during apartheid has been described as a fitting move to restore dignity to the original inhabitants of the land.

This was according to Joel Masilela, the Section 79 chairperson of Economic Development & Spatial Planning in Tshwane, who responded to opposition parties' criticism against the airport's name-change proposal.

Opposition parties believe the exercise, which has been approved for public consultation, would be an unnecessary waste of taxpayer money.

Masilela said: "What we are doing is to dignify the black people. There can never be a history that started in 1652 that will replace the history of the Nguni tribe that started even before the 1500s."

He added that the city would ensure the airport becomes internationally recognised and profitable.

DA’s Dikeledi Selowa, also former MMC for Roads and Transport, said Wonderboom Airport faces serious operational and financial challenges.

"The City of Tshwane has acknowledged that the airport has been operating at a loss for many years and only five out of the eight turnaround interventions have been completed," she said.

She criticised the city for wanting to rename the airport by replacing "one part of history with another when they could all co-exist. Wonderport Airport played a part during World War Two and those parts of our history cannot be erased". 

Sarah Mabotsa, MMC for Economic Development & Spatial Planning, said the proposer of the name-change, Jan Mthimkhulu Mahlangu, first submitted the proposal in April 2018 and resubmitted it in 2024. 

Mabotsa said it is being considered under the City’s Geographical Names Policy, approved in 2023.

She confirmed that the city approved initiating a public participation process to seek residents’ input on a proposal to rename Wonderboom Airport in recognition of the original Ndebele landowners of the area.

"The name 'Wonderboom' refers to the historic fig tree located in the Wonderboom Nature Reserve. The tree, believed to be more than 1,000 years old, was named by Voortrekker leader Hendrik Potgieter in 1836. Historically, the site became associated with the commemoration of the Day of the Vow under the tree’s shade," she said.

Mabotsa said over time, the tree was damaged by a fire reportedly caused by a hunting party in 1870, while disease further reduced its size. However, several of its branches developed roots where they touched the ground, creating new trunks and extending the canopy.

She said the proposal seeks to honour the Ndebele nation as the original landowners of the area on which the airport is situated.

Mabotsa added that a public participation process would be undertaken to allow Tshwane residents and stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on the proposal before any final decision is taken.

"Dates and details of the public participation meetings will be communicated in due course," she said.

Dana Wannenburg, DA Tshwane chief whip, said the municipal-run airport is a key economic asset with potential to boost investment, tourism, aviation development and job creation. He said the debate should focus on sustainability, expansion and economic opportunity.

"The DA’s position is that municipalities should not continue operating airports where doing so places ongoing financial pressure on the city and ratepayers. Airports require specialised operational expertise, long-term infrastructure investment, and commercially driven management models to remain competitive and viable.

"For this reason, the DA supports the exploration of a transparent long-term public-private partnership model through a lease agreement that would allow the private sector to invest in, improve, maintain, and expand the airport while the city retains ownership of the asset," he said.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

Nkosikhona "Phakel’umthakathi" Ndabandaba, leader of the Insizwa Ngobunsizwa Development Foundation which is working along March and March against illegal foreigners, on Sunday said the June 30 deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country, will not involve violence or looting.

"We will be showing the government that we are a peaceful group of people, and there will be no looting as we lead one million men".

During a media briefing held on Thursday, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber announced new measures following a significant drug bust at the Beitbridge border, with contraband worth over R1 billion seized.

Schreiber said: "The time for our borders to be a free-for-all is over," indicating a shift towards more robust enforcement of border security.

The Border Management Authority (BMA) also revealed plans for the deployment of cutting-edge technology. This high-tech system will include facial recognition and electronic traveller verification, aimed at bolstering the detection of undocumented migrants attempting to cross into South Africa. 

Speaking to members of the media on Sunday, Ndabandaba welcomed some of the efforts being made to manage the country's "porous" borders.

"I can confirm and take you into my confidence that the government is doing something about the issue of illegal immigration," he said.

Reflecting on the June 30 deadline and what it means for illegal immigrants in the country, Ndababandaba stated that to expect everyone to leave by the end of June is not possible.

He emphasised the need for those who can leave voluntarily to do so, while calling on all African countries, whose citizens are here illegally, to ensure the safe evacuation of their citizens ahead of the deadline. 

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, has said that South Africa and India are forging a partnership worthy of the extraordinary history that binds the two countries together.

Mashatile said this while on a working visit to India. Mashatile arrived on Friday, 29 May 2026, in the Capital of India, New Delhi. He is expected to be in India until 3 June 2026.

As part of his trip, the deputy president will engage in a bilateral meeting with Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, pay a courtesy call on Her Excellency Mrs Smt. Droupadi Murmu, President of the Republic of India.

Together, South Africa and India can demonstrate how collaboration between the Global South can reshape industries, empower communities, and inspire a future of renewal.#SAInIndia 🇿🇦🇮🇳#BilateralRelations #BetterAfricaBetterWorld
#BRICS #GlobalSouth#Investment… pic.twitter.com/3gjkj6QbNS

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) May 31, 2026

Mashatile is accompanied by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina and Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele.

The visit aims to reaffirm the South African Government's commitment to its relationship with India, emphasising historical and cultural ties. The visit will highlight the importance of India's role in global affairs and its contributions to the African Agenda, advocating for India as a key investment partner.

Additionally, the visit seeks to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums such as the UN, BRICS, and G20, enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, research, technology transfer, and support for small enterprises.

Mashatile, on his second visit as Deputy President to India, engaged with Indian business leaders and investors at the South Africa–India Technology, Trade and Investment roundtable discussion aimed at encouraging greater investment flows and economic collaboration between the two countries. 

Mashatile said that since their arrival, they had been received warming with the people of India, embodying the timeless saying, “Atithi Devo Bhavah — the guest is equivalent to God,” for their hospitality and generosity are unmatched.

As part of exploring the cultural heritage of India this morning, we visited Dilli Haat in New Delhi.

Dilli Haat has become India’s popular tourist destination where visitors enjoy live music, dance performances, and art exhibitions that represent the various states of India.… pic.twitter.com/xOwr8kkzNt

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) May 31, 2026

“South Africa and India share a historical and cultural relationship, unified by their commitment to non-alignment and the development of the Global South through South-South partnerships. Both nations are active in multilateral organisations such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), BRICS, IBSA, and IORA, reflecting their dedication to these principles and democratic values,” Mashatile said.

He said that projects like the Square Kilometre Array, the world's largest radio telescope, led by South Africa with India as a key partner, and with trade between the nations which increased from $4 billion in 2005 to nearly $20 billion in 2024, are part of the pillar of their connection. 

“Recent engagements between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, have reaffirmed our shared commitment to unity, deeper cooperation in technology, skills, infrastructure and critical minerals. 

“Through BRICS, IBSA and the G20, our two countries continue to champion a more inclusive global economic order. The question before us today is therefore not whether South Africa and India should work together. The question is how decisively we move from dialogue to delivery,” Mashatile said.

Our collective task is therefore to transform these shared challenges into opportunities, to turn climate action into renewal, technology into empowerment, and global governance into a voice for all. This is the call of our time to face the limits of our planet with courage, to… pic.twitter.com/ykHprCiFcY

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) May 30, 2026

The first pillar of our bond is the Gandhi–Mandela legacy, rooted in Mohandas Gandhi's evolution into Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa, where he pioneered non-violent resistance. Nelson Mandela later affirmed India's solidarity, highlighting that "the soul of India lies in South… pic.twitter.com/7KPiaJyiC1

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) May 30, 2026

He said that three concrete flagship outcomes will support a focused collaboration agenda built around four strategic priorities.

“We will therefore work with Global Trade & Technology Council of India (GTTCI), the DTIC and SEDA to establish an SA–India SMME Industrial Linkage Programme, focused on supply chain integration, coproduction and joint market access. 

“We see immediate opportunity in fintech and digital payments, health technology and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and agricultural technology, including precision farming and cold-chain logistics,” Mashatile said.

“South Africa welcomes Indian investment into data centres, cloud infrastructure and fibre connectivity, strengthening Africa’s digital economy and enabling scale under the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

Mashatile said that they are seeking to deepen manufacturing-focused investment, particularly in critical minerals such as platinum-group metals, manganese and vanadium, as well as pharmaceuticals and renewable energy technologies.

“Through InvestSA and our One Stop Shop, the government stands ready to support investors seeking long-term, value-adding partnerships. We invite GTTCI and Indian investors to engage actively in South Africa’s upcoming Investment Conferences as we build a stronger bilateral pipeline.”

He added that they will also pursue an SA–India Skills and Innovation Exchange, anchored in university partnerships, youth technology programmes and vocational training aligned to industry demand.

“To focus our collective effort, we propose three flagship outcomes from this collaboration: First, the launch of the SA–India SMME Industrial Linkage Programme within the next year. Second, the establishment of at least two joint technology or pharmaceutical manufacturing projects serving African markets. Third, the rollout of an SA–India Youth Technology Skills Programme, targeting AI, digital services and advanced manufacturing,” Mashatile said.

“These initiatives will provide tangible platforms for partnership, investment and job creation. We are here to forge a partnership worthy of the extraordinary history that binds South Africa and India together.”

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

The Western Cape High Court granted controversial businessman and alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack and one of his nine co-accused, Faried van der Schyff, access to Kindles for the purpose of preparing for and for the duration of their trial. 

This is so that they can access the voluminous documents related to their case, in which they face some 700 charges, including VAT fraud, forgery, and uttering.

‘Kindles’, as they are commonly known, are hand-held electronic devices that can be used for reading material which is loaded onto them, or which may be accessed by them, via the internet. 

It is alleged in the indictment that between 2011 and 2015, the accused participated in a criminal enterprise under the control of Modack, which set about fraudulently claiming VAT refunds from the SA Revenue Service (SARS) via 24 corporate entities and trusts, resulting in a R46 million-plus loss to the fiscus.

Van der Schyff was allegedly responsible for administering the tax affairs of these entities and for submitting most of the VAT returns to SARS to claim refunds.

Modack is accused of allegedly being behind the hit on slain Anti-Gang Unit detective, Charl Kinnear.

The court directed that the devices be made available to Modack and Van der Schyff together with their covers, charging cables, and chargers, with effect from February 12, 2027.  

The duo will be allowed access to the devices as they prepare for their trial under case number CC 50/2022, daily between 8 am and 9 pm from Monday to Friday, and from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

On the days when they are transported from their places of detention to the High Court for the specific case, the Kindles shall be transported in lockboxes.  

Meanwhile, ahead of the trial, the devices will be held in safekeeping by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Western Cape, until February 11, 2027.

The application for access to the devices was supported by the DPP, who initially proposed providing the two with e-readers.

However, the Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) opposed the application due to security concerns.

Court documents detail: “In prosecuting the charges which the accused are facing (which are detailed in a draft indictment which runs to over 300 pages excluding annexures), the State will present evidence from various SARS officials as to the operation of the VAT e-filing system and several investigations which were carried out, including search and cash flow analyses. 

“As part of their testimony, the State intends to present a vast quantity of documentary evidence, including corporate and VAT registration documents and returns, supplier invoices, and documents which were submitted electronically by the accused, and a trove of email correspondence. In hard form, the documents the State intends to submit comprise some 20,300 pages or so and will take up more than 60 lever arch files. In digital form, they take up some 2.3 gigabytes of data.”

On September 11, 2023, the DPP addressed a letter to the Commissioner in which she pointed out that, given the large volume of documentation which was to be supplied to the applicants, it was not practical or feasible to do so in hard form, as more than 60 lever arch files filled with documents could not reasonably be accommodated in their cells and was likely to constitute a potential security risk, at least in the form of a fire hazard. 

The Commissioner opposed the application and, among other reasons, said there were “security concerns as the Kindle had Wi-Fi capability and was residually capable of connecting to the internet, should the code for the parental lock which was placed on it by officials of the NPA, be obtained or hacked”.

In his ruling and addressing the security concerns, High Court Judge Mark Sher said IT technicians who were engaged by the NPA activated parental locks on both Kindles, which rendered them unable to access the internet or to connect to any Wi-Fi network.

“In matters such as this one where a vast quantity of documentary evidence will be referred to and the presiding judge, legal representatives, and State witnesses will be making use of laptops and a courtroom monitor for the presentation of evidence, it makes no practical sense for the accused to be handicapped by compelling them to trawl their way through thousands of pages of paper, to prepare for trial, and to find hard copy documents to provide proper instructions to their legal representatives, who will be able to refer to and search for them instantly, on their laptops and other devices…

“It makes sense, and fairness dictates that where electronic means are readily available to the accused, they should also be able to use them,” said Judge Sher. 

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

AmaZulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini has finally clarified the continued presence of his former Private Secretary, Arnold Nododile in the royal family despite the announcement of his dismissal by the Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi a week ago. 

Speaking during a meeting attended by Buthelezi and other princes at the weekend, the king personally addressed Nododile’s presence, dismissing any notions that he was expelled.

In an audio clip that was shared by Nododile after the meeting, the king put the matter to bed by telling his Prime Minister that Nododile was still very much part of the royal family proceedings.

“Let me emphasise this, Ndamase (Nododile) is not fired. Ndamase has other duties that he would perform here in the royal family. I am saying this to dispel concerns that there is a vacant position here, Ndamase would remain here and continue to provide services to the crown,” said the king.

Despite the announcement of his removal last week, which was announced by Buthelezi in a statement, Nododile continued his work at his office at Mashobeni palace and attended high profile meetings with the king, including an event where the king met with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli recently. In that meeting, the king is said to have also informed the Premier that he must continue communicating with Nododile with regard to the king's activities.

The king’s clarity raises questions about whether he sanctioned the statement that was issued by his Prime Minister about the closure of the king’s Private Office which Nododile headed. Buthelezi’s statement was immediately denied by both Nododile and the Royal Chancellor inkosi Malusi Zondi. In the statement, Buthelezi had also announced the removal of Zondi.

Their controversial removal was followed by another statement by the king’s spokesperson Prince Thulani which emphasised the closure of the Private Office and the announcement of king’s new diary controller, Prince Khishwangubani Zulu from the Gazini royal residence.

It is unclear whether the new prince has assumed his duties as Nododile is always seen next to the king and leads the king’s salutation in line with the protocol.

Prince Thulani also announced that there would be new roles for inkosi Zondi and Prince Africa Zulu, who was Vice Chancellor.

Although no official announcement has been made on what these new positions will entail, Prince Zulu announced last week that Zondi has been promoted to a new role. In the announcement, Zulu said a new delegation of princes would be led by Prince Africa of Onkweni palace to inform Zondi of his new role, however, no official announcement regarding Zondi’s new position has been made.

Last week, royal insiders said Zondi and Prince Africa would continue with their roles but not under the titles of Royal Chancellor and Vice Chancellor respectively. The sources said that they would be known as Iso leSilo (king’s representatives) in urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, working hand in hand with hostel headmen and various government entities.

The pair would also, on behalf of the king, meet with private businesses to negotiate for better working conditions of Zulu employees and they will use the Embelebeni royal palace in KwaMashu as their operational centre. 

There was speculation that the removal of the two senior officials, who formed part of the decision-making structure in the royal family known as the Prime Minister Executive Council, was a result of the intense power struggle between council members over their proximity to the king and access to the king’s diary, which was controlled by Nododile.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

The City of Tshwane’s potential decision to rehire 43 former employees dismissed during the 2023 unprotected strike for allegedly burning buses under the DA-led administration has drawn mixed reactions.

While the DA criticised the move, saying the city would be bringing criminals back into its workforce, the ANC said there was no proof to support claims that the workers committed any crime.

The South African Municipal Workers Union has demanded reinstatement for almost three years since the 2023 unprotected strike, and recently welcomed the council’s move.

Tshwane Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise recently said the coalition government found workers “frustrated and hurt” after the 2023 strike dismissals. He promised all 43 workers fired under the DA-led administration would be reinstated.

ANC caucus spokesperson Joel Masilela said the regional ANC executive committee welcomed the council’s decision to possibly reinstate the workers.

He said: "The ANC has always maintained that the DA led coalition was an instrument of dismantling a capable local state, they inherited, through deliberately frustrating workers of the city, and the creation of a racist political arsenal aimed at weakening the municipality."

The DA has slammed Tshwane’s plan to rehire workers fired for torching buses during a 2023 unprotected strike, saying it would return criminals to the municipality. 

DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink said those workers took part in public violence, intimidation, assault and wilful destruction of property.

He said: "The illegal strike caused immense damage to the City of Tshwane. Municipal vehicles were torched, infrastructure was vandalised, workers were intimidated, an employee was shot, and critical services including refuse removal, public transport and electricity operations were severely disrupted."

Brink said residents and ratepayers paid the price for weeks, and the DA-led government at the time took a firm stance by dismissing employees involved in the crime.

"We sent a clear message that violence is not a legitimate form of negotiation and that intimidation and destruction would not be tolerated as bargaining tools inside the municipality," he said.

He vowed that the DA will strongly oppose any attempt to reverse disciplinary processes involving misconduct linked to violence and criminality. 

"If such a decision were to go through, it would expose the coalition government’s continued disregard for accountability, discipline and the rule of law,” he said.

Brink said the DA has written to City Manager Johann Mettler, warning that if the reports prove true and he proceeds with any unlawful reinstatements, the DA will consider legal action.

Masilela said the DA called the 43 dismissed workers “criminals” but provided no proof when challenged.

He said the council has resolved to allow the city manager to submit a detailed report on the claims and the mayoral committee will then recommend to council how to implement the reinstatement.

"So, as the ANC, we welcome this decision and we are confident that the government will continue to roll out massive infrastructure investments into our townships and make sure that we employ more of our people in the city and afford them the dignity they deserve," he said.

Masilela added that the council has passed a report to insource 100 security guards , a move he said will contribute towards increasing the advancement of a capable local state.

"The 100 security guards that will be brought into the City of Tshwane, will be supported with all required equipment, with every necessary tool of trade," Masilela said, adding that those security guards will be employed on a full-time basis.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

A 12-year-old girl from Azaadville has died after she was allegedly struck by a bullet during a qurbani incident, with authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

According to information released following the incident, the tragedy occurred at the Jabadus Salaam premises.

Reports indicate that a bull escaped during the qurbani process. While workers were attempting to put the animal down, it was shot with a rifle, but the shot was unsuccessful. During the ensuing confusion, the manager allegedly drew a firearm and fired several shots.

One of the shots reportedly struck the girl while she was inside a vehicle.

In a statement issued after the incident, management at the premises said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a young girl's life following an incident that occurred yesterday at our premises."

They said the matter was currently under investigation by the relevant authorities and that those responsible for the premises were cooperating fully with investigators.

"We are fully cooperating with the authorities and will provide all assistance, information and support required to facilitate a thorough and impartial investigation," the statement read.

Management said its immediate focus was on supporting the bereaved family.

"At this stage, our focus is on extending our sincere condolences to the family and making du'aa that Allah Ta'ala grants the deceased child the highest stages of Jannah, grants her family sabr during this difficult time, and guides all concerned through the investigation process."

They also appealed to members of the public to avoid speculation while investigations continue.

"Out of respect for the family, and to avoid the spread of misinformation, we encourage everyone to refrain from speculation and allow the authorities to determine the facts," the statement said.

Management further stated that the safety and wellbeing of guests, visitors and staff remain a priority and that all necessary processes would be followed in accordance with the law.

Further updates, it said, would be provided when appropriate and subject to the progress of the official investigation.

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Mpumalanga police have arrested two 28-year-old suspects in connection with the murder of three people in Marite, marking a breakthrough in the Calcutta policing precinct triple murder investigation.

The suspects were arrested on Friday, following an intelligence-driven operation conducted by detectives from the Calcutta and Acornhoek police stations.

They are expected to appear before the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on Monday, June 1, 2026.

During the operation, one of the suspects was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm which is believed to have been used in the commission of the murders.

Police said the arrests form part of ongoing investigations into the killing of three people in Marite on May 16, 2026, with further investigative processes, including ballistic analysis, expected to assist in linking the weapon to other possible cases in the area.

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie commended the police breakthrough, saying, “We applaud the work done by Police so far and as we promised to deal decisively with crime in Calcutta area, the arrest of the two is a sign that we are moving towards the right direction.”

He added that more arrests are expected as investigations continue, stating, “According to our plan, we still expect more of such arrests.”

Macie further said ballistic results from the recovered firearm could assist in resolving other murder cases in the area.

“We hope that ballistic results of the firearm recovered will perhaps assist in resolving other murder cases in the area.

''We anticipate that anyone else involved in recent incidents in Calcutta policing precinct or anywhere else in the province to face the full consequences of their actions. Our communities deserve to live in peace,'' Macie said. 

While condemning the killings, Macie also praised the work of investigators. 

“While we condemn these acts of violence in the strongest possible terms, we commend the efforts of the team.

''We must remain highly focused and bring all perpetrators to book. Their efforts will inspire communities to work with Police in preventing and solving crime, ” he said.

He added that police visibility and patrols should be strengthened in the Calcutta policing precinct, particularly during weekends and at night.

Members of the public have been urged to assist ongoing investigations by reporting information to Calcutta SAPS or anonymously via Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Authorities said all information will be treated confidentially.

Macie extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng, together with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), have arrested 36 suspects and seized 16 unlicensed firearms during ongoing intelligence-driven operations under Operation Prosper targeting gangsterism and illegal mining in the province.

According to Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the joint deployments, which continue across the West Rand, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni districts, are focused on stabilising communities affected by gang-related crime and illegal mining activities.

''For the week of 25 to 31 May 2026, SAPS also confiscated 810 rounds of live ammunition, as well as illegal mining equipment including phendukas, gas cylinders, generators and steel pot crushers,'' she said. 

The police said the operations are intelligence-driven and ongoing, with SAPS acting as the lead agency and the SANDF deployed as a force multiplier.

It added that all operations are being conducted within the law and in respect of human rights.

Nevhuhulwi said the operations form part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal networks and strengthen stability in affected areas.

She said the interventions are aimed at tackling gang-related crime and illegal mining through sustained enforcement operations.

Communities have been urged to assist police by reporting criminal activity to their nearest police station or by contacting Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can also be submitted via the MySAPS App.

SAPS said community cooperation remains critical in strengthening law enforcement efforts and improving safety in affected areas.

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Police on Saturday detained more than 280 people in Paris after violent clashes erupted when thousands poured onto the streets during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League final victory.

Some 22,000 police were deployed across France for the game, including 8,000 in Paris, after unrest marred PSG's win in the competition last year. Paris tram lines were halted, several metro stations shut and bus traffic halted in places in a bid to minimise disturbances.

According to the French interior ministry, 416 people were detained nationwide, including 283 who were apprehended in Paris. It was not immediately clear how many of these individuals were remanded in custody to face further investigation.

Interior minister Laurent Nunez said seven officers had been wounded and called the unrest "absolutely unacceptable."

Six vehicles and two businesses were damaged.

A group of supporters also stormed the Paris ring road, the peripherique, bringing traffic to a halt for a time and letting off flares, an AFP photographer said.

Paris (early May 31) — Rioters started fires by the Eiffel Tower to celebrate Paris Saint-Germain winning the Champions League soccer game. pic.twitter.com/TSzReZOCJG

— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) May 31, 2026

Paris (May 30) — North African youths are rioting and attacking law enforcement with fireworks to celebrate Paris Saint-Germain winning the Champions League. pic.twitter.com/1RdTNgxBpt

— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) May 30, 2026

PARIS TONIGHT.

The Eiffel Tower shrouded in smoke.
Fireworks being fired at police.
Vehicles burning on the streets.
Tear gas in the air.

What began as celebrations after PSG's Champions League triumph over Arsenal has, in parts of Paris, descended into chaos.

The match ended… pic.twitter.com/jKB1WLVAL6

— Ravi Prakash Official (@raviprakash_rtv) May 31, 2026

As fans celebrated the dramatic penalty shoot out victory in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, some 20,000 people converged on Paris's iconic Champs-Elysees avenue, police said.

Shops boarded up their windows ahead of the match to avoid a repeat of disturbances last year when youths ransacked shops on the Champs-Elysees and other streets. Hundreds of people were arrested.

Two dozen flares and about 100 fireworks were seized Saturday, while a bus shelter was destroyed near the Champs-Elysees.

The match also came on a hectic evening in Paris, with singer Aya Nakamura performing at the Stade de France national stadium, rapper Damso at the La Defense Arena and the French Open tennis in full swing.

Police said a bakery and a restaurant were damaged near PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, where tens of thousands gathered inside to watch the match but 4,000 to 5,000 people loitered outside with projectiles which were thrown at officers.

About 150 people "attempted to enter through one of the gates" at the stadium but police pushed them back, a police spokesperson said.

Some also attempted to erect a barricade with rental bikes which was cleared by police.

An AFP reporter at the scene said clashes broke out between police and supporters near the stadium, and officers responded with tear gas when fireworks were thrown at them.

The scenes angered the French far right, with three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen writing on X that "only in France does a football club's victory spark riots."

"Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence," she added.

Nunez said there was a "very robust, very solid system in place" to curb violence.

"Our responsibility is to guarantee everyone a festive celebration that is calm and fully secure," a police spokesperson said.

The players will take part in a parade on Sunday afternoon on the Champs-de-Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower with some 100,000 peopl expected, before being received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC and National Freedom Party (NFP) provincial chairperson Mbali Shinga has had her appeal dismissed and her expulsion from the party confirmed, after the party’s Appeals Tribunal upheld earlier disciplinary findings against her.

Shinga faced disciplinary action after she allegedly defied a directive from the party’s national leadership instructing her to support an uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli in December.

In April, an NFP disciplinary committee found Shinga, who also served as the party’s provincial chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal, guilty of gross insubordination and recommended that she be expelled from the organisation.

The NFP said it noted and welcomed the ruling, which upheld findings of guilt and confirmed the sanction imposed following internal disciplinary proceedings.

It said the Tribunal had considered submissions from both the appellant and the respondent, including issues relating to the composition of party structures, procedural fairness, and the authority of the party’s disciplinary processes.

''The Tribunal carefully considered all submissions made by the Appellant and the Respondent, including allegations relating to the composition of Party structures, procedural fairness, the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the authority of the disciplinary and appeals processes.''

The party said the Tribunal found no basis to overturn the original decision after what it described as a thorough examination of the evidence, applicable legal principles and the party’s constitution.

According to the NFP, the Tribunal confirmed that the NEC acted within its constitutional powers and was properly quorate and competent when it took the decisions that led to the disciplinary process.

It further said disciplinary proceedings were conducted fairly and in line with the party constitution, while the Appeals Tribunal itself was lawfully constituted.

“The Appellant failed to demonstrate any material procedural irregularity or legal basis upon which the findings and sanction could be set aside,” the party said.

The NFP said the ruling underscores a key principle within the organisation, stating that “no individual member, irrespective of position or office, is above the Constitution of the organisation or the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.”

The party added that organisational strength depends on “adherence to constitutional governance, collective accountability, and respect for democratically adopted decisions.”

It further stated that while members are entitled to be heard and to challenge decisions through established mechanisms, they are also required to respect outcomes once processes have been concluded.

The NFP said the principle of collective leadership remains central to the organisation, adding that “decisions of duly constituted structures are binding on all members and public representatives.”

It further said organisational discipline and constitutional governance “cannot be substituted by individual preference, personal ambition, or selective compliance.”

The party described the ruling as an important affirmation of organisational discipline, accountability, and constitutional governance, adding that it reinforces broader constitutional values including the rule of law and procedural fairness.

The NFP said it now considers the matter finalised through its internal constitutional processes and called on members, supporters, leaders, and public representatives to remain united in advancing the party’s objectives.

It reiterated its commitment to serving communities and strengthening democratic governance. 

“The Constitution must remain supreme, justice must remain impartial, and collective leadership must remain the cornerstone of organisational democracy.”

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The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) is expected to act against its president, Sisisi Tolashe, amid pressure from the ANC NEC following an Integrity Commission report.

The ANCWL is meeting in Boksburg to deliberate on the commission’s findings, which found Tolashe guilty of misconduct in public office.

Speaking at a media briefing on Saturday, ANCWL secretary-general Nokuthula Nqaba said no decision had yet been made regarding instructions from the ANC.

She said the league was still discussing the way forward and confirmed that it had met with Tolashe before its NEC meeting.

Nqaba also clarified that Tolashe had shown no intention of resigning or stepping down.

“We then realised that there was already a process unfolding, initiated by the ANC Integrity Commission.

“We then took a decision that we might as well wait for that process, because as the ANC Women’s League, our argument was that we are not dealing with the president per se, but with a member of the organisation,” Nqaba said.

“It was within that understanding that we allowed her to be subjected to the Integrity Commission process.”

Tolashe was removed as Minister of Social Development amid allegations that two luxury SUVs donated to the ANCWL by Chinese officials were registered in the names of her adult children.

The ANC has since instructed her to resign as an MP and as ANCWL president.

Nqaba said the league accepted the Integrity Commission’s findings.

“We don’t doubt her as a member of the organisation, but as she said earlier, honour rests with us as individuals. It is about individual conscience and the integrity of the organisation.

“We will await the actions of the president in terms of the decisions flowing from the ANC report to the Women’s League,” she said.

Meanwhile, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party would give the league space to discuss the matter and reach a conclusion.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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Tolashe was removed as Minister of Social Development amid allegations that two luxury SUVs donated to the ANCWL by Chinese officials were registered in the names of her adult children.

The ANC has since instructed her to resign as an MP and as ANCWL president.

Nqaba said the league accepted the Integrity Commission’s findings.

“We don’t doubt her as a member of the organisation, but as she said earlier, honour rests with us as individuals. It is about individual conscience and the integrity of the organisation.

“We will await the actions of the president in terms of the decisions flowing from the ANC report to the Women’s League,” she said.

Meanwhile, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party would give the league space to discuss the matter and reach a conclusion.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said Parliament’s impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa must focus on one thing only but the truth.

Speaking on the sidelines of the DA’s voter registration rally in Eersterust on Saturday, Hill-Lewis said the newly established impeachment committee carries a responsibility far greater than any single government, political party or president.

“This is not about this government. It is much bigger than any individual person or president. It’s about the kind of future we want for our country,” he said.

Hill-Lewis argued that South Africa’s democratic future depends on leaders being held to the same standards of accountability, ethics and honesty expected of ordinary citizens.

“If we want a better future, we have to stand up for values. Accountability and ethics must be precious and important.

“If there is evidence of wrongdoing, then the person responsible must be accountable. There can be no fear or favour,” he added.

His remarks come as Parliament’s 31-member Impeachment Committee prepares to begin a Section 89 inquiry into Ramaphosa’s conduct in relation to the Phala Phala matter, following a Constitutional Court ruling that cleared the way for the process.

The committee is expected to elect a chairperson and finalise its terms of reference before commencing its work.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa is pursuing legal action to halt the proceedings, seeking to challenge the Section 89 independent panel report that underpins the inquiry.

However, parliamentary officials have confirmed that no court order currently exists preventing the committee from moving ahead.

With political tensions rising, the inquiry is set to become one of the most closely watched cases.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has urged young women and girls to remain vigilant and prioritise their safety when using e-hailing services amid growing concerns over commuter safety.

Chikunga said that while e-hailing services remain a convenient and accessible mode of transport, users should take precautionary measures to reduce potential risks.

“The safety of women and girls remains a priority. As we continue to advocate for safer communities, it is important that young women remain alert and take necessary precautions when using e-hailing services,” she said.

She advised commuters to verify key details before entering a vehicle, including the driver’s identity, vehicle registration number and trip information.

Chikunga also encouraged users to share trip details with trusted family members or friends, avoid travelling alone late at night where possible, and sit in the back seat while staying aware of the route being taken.

She further urged users to report any suspicious behaviour or safety concerns through e-hailing platforms or to law enforcement authorities.

Chikunga said responsibility for commuter safety rests with all sectors of society, including transport operators, technology platforms, law enforcement agencies and communities.

''Communities and members of society are equally urged to work together to create safer environments for women and girls, including persons with disabilities,'' she said. 

Meanwhile, she said the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities continues to work with stakeholders across government, civil society and the private sector to strengthen women’s safety interventions.

“The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities continues to work with all stakeholders across government, civil society, and the private sector to promote women’s safety and advance the objectives of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.''

Chikunga said the government remains committed to preventing gender-based violence and femicide and protecting the rights and dignity of women and girls.

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A police warrant officer has been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal for allegedly helping three suspects escape from custody at KwaMsane police station.

The officer was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit on Friday, 29 May 2026. He faces charges of aiding and abetting suspects to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice and corruption.

The charges stem from an incident on 27 February 2024 when three suspects escaped from holding cells at KwaMsane police station after cutting through steel burglar bars and a roof iron sheet.

One of the escapees, Sibusiso Gumede, was rearrested a month later at a roadblock in Vryheid.

Police investigations allegedly revealed that the escape was orchestrated by a detective warrant officer, who is accused of supplying the suspects with a steel saw. Investigators further allege that the suspects paid the officer R5,000 in exchange for his assistance.

Following the investigation, a warrant for the officer's arrest was issued by the court and he was subsequently taken into custody.

The accused is expected to appear in the KwaMsane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, on charges of aiding and abetting suspects to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice and corruption.

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uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) chief whip, Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi, who is out on R30,000 bail for extorting money from her party’s parliamentary staff, might be a perpetual fraudster as she was investigated more than a decade ago for faking her academic qualification.    

The MKP recently removed Mokoena-Zondi as one of its representatives in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Impeachment Committee after she was granted bail in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court for charges related to allegations that she illegally docked R233,000 from the party’s employees' salaries.

She would appear in the Belville Commercial Crime Court on June 18.

Mokoena-Zondi has not responded to questions sent to her on Saturday, nor has she answered her phone. 

SABC News reported that during the bail hearing, it was revealed that she was convicted of another fraud offence in 2016, but the report did not elaborate. 

Mokoena-Zondi, who surrendered to the Hawks this week, is charged with extortion and fraud for allegedly deducting up to 60% from the salaries of MKP researchers she recruited without their consent in 2024, with the money ending up in her bank account

She was appointed as the MK Party's National Assembly Chief Whip in February 2026.

It is alleged that she claimed the money was for the welfare of the party in Nkandla, party’s president Jacob Zuma’s hometown, and for Zuma’s legal fees. 

Previously known as Seeng Mokoena-Brown, Mokoena-Zondi faced another corruption scandal when she was employed as a municipal manager by Ingwe Municipality, which is now Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality, between 2010 and 2013.

An MKP senior official, who cannot be named as he is not allowed to speak to the media, said the party was unaware of her past when appointing her as chief whip. 

“We did not know that Seeng Mokoena-Brown is Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi,” the official said.

MKP spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said Zuma and party officials would hold a three-day meeting to discuss Mokoena-Zondi’s matter.

“We believe in the principle of innocence until proven guilty, but we are seized with the matter, and we are very concerned about it. At the national officials’ meeting, the decision will be made and communicated,” said Mahlangu.

He said the party will interrogate Mokoena-Zondi following the criminal charge. 

“We have seen the Mercury story and we are looking into it,” he said. 

Mahlangu said the party was looking at whether or not she disclosed her past before she was deployed to Parliament.

“We have asked for all information, and so we will also look at that fully, and we will also engage the Mercury report.”

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) investigated her for allegedly obtaining positions at two municipalities.

At the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality, she earned R50,000 monthly after being promoted to a municipal manager (MM) position, using a fake Bachelor's degree certificate, which she claimed was awarded to her by the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2001.

Before joining Ingwe, Mokoena-Zondi worked for the Emadlangeni Municipality in Utrecht from 2004 as deputy manager of corporate services, and was promoted to director of corporate services in 2006.

The then-Ingwe speaker, Winneth Mtolo, and the then-Emadlangeni MM, Velaphi Kubheka, told the Mercury newspaper at the time that Mokoena-Zondi was appointed to the positions because she possessed a Bachelor’s degree.

While he was KwaZulu-Natal CoGTA spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso said Mokoena-Brown resigned soon after the department started an investigation into her qualifications.

The results of CoGTA’s investigation were never revealed; however, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality Whip of Council, Vusi Mthembu, confirmed that Mokoena-Zondi is the same person as Mokoena-Brown, who resigned from the municipality amid the investigation against her.

“She worked in my municipality while it was Ingwe. She ran away after it was discovered that she had a fake degree.

“During the bail hearing, her lawyer pleaded for her when she was asked about her previous corruption for faking a UNISA degree, which her lawyer admitted.

“She was charged and convicted,” said Mthembu. 

Mthembu said as MM, Mokoena-Zondi was no nonsense especially against the ANC councillors, whom she accused of corruption.

Before being promoted to the MM position, Mokoena-Zondi was hired by the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality as Corporate and Social Development manager. 

Despite having told the Mercury in 2013 that she did not have a Bachelor’s degree, never studied at UNISA, and that she obtained a Management and Development in Municipal Finance certificate after a nine-month course at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2008. 

But her parliamentary profile states: “Mokoena holds an Honours Degree in Public Administration from the Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA) and is currently pursuing a Master of Management in the field of Governance.” 

The profile does not mention the University of the Witwatersrand. 

It also claimed she has experience in Local Government, Legislation, and HR within the municipalities after having worked as corporate services director. 

“I have experience in local government and started in 2004 as a Director of Corporate Services so I've always been in HR and I am very well vested with local government; legislation as well as how to run HR within the municipalities. 

“Prior to coming to Parliament, I had my own Consultancy, and it dealt with local government issues,” read her profile.

It does not say anything about the MM position.

She said her political journey started with the ANC Youth League, where she learned the power of politics, “and the importance of just standing up for those without a voice”. 

“So those areas, I would say, shaped me, but obviously, as I grew up and, after everything that happened to Jacob Zuma, I saw the need for a move to a new political home (MKP),” it read.

bongani. hans@inl.co.za

As statistics show that 70% of eligible young people are unregistered to vote, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has called on political parties to up their game in convincing them to register, almost five months before the November local government elections. 

The IEC revealed during its voter education campaign launch at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg that a huge number of young people between the ages of 18 and 19 are not registered. 

According to its voter registration statistics, 11.3 million young people, between the ages of 18 and 39, are registered to vote of which 4.6 million of them are between the ages of 18 and 29. 

KwaZulu-Natal IEC spokesperson Thabani Ngwira said the survey states that young people highlight high rates of unemployment, lack of service delivery, and a weak economy as reasons not to participate in elections.

“If those things can be resolved and political parties convince the youth, the youth will be willing to participate,” said Ngwira. 

The IEC will hold a voter registration weekend on June 20 and 21, and there is also online registration available. He said further registration weekends will depend on budget availability.

He said in KwaZulu-Natal, the IEC has employed about 160 municipal outreach coordinators to visit communities, register people, and conduct voter education.

He said unemployment and lack of service delivery were the main issues stopping young people from registering.

Ngwira said since those issues might need a long-term solution, political parties would need to address them significantly in their manifestos to convince young people that they would bring solutions.

“If you convince them enough that if you let us in, we will come up with a solution that would increase voter turnout. It will depend on how they (parties) sell themselves to voters,” he said. 

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said it would be a challenge to convince the youth as they are “generally very cynical”.

“Given what we have been seeing in the Madlanga Commission and Zondo Commission, young people have lost faith in the system, as they feel that people in positions of power are inherently corrupt and unethical.

“They see no need in legitimising something that is not working for the country.”

He said many people have lost interest in politics while others are disillusioned. 

“Campaigns such as March and March attract many young people because they believe that the system has let them down," he said.

Ndlovu said he recently told his students that democracy is the number’s game and that most people in South Africa are illiterate and many of them are high on drugs to care about voting.

“The apartheid left a huge damage in people’s lives and their right to vote does not help them. Young people also think that their vote will not make a difference because they would be beaten by numbers. 

“I once asked another young woman who was wearing an EFF T-shirt that ‘You are always filling the stadium, but why is that not reflected in votes?’ and she said she wanted to fit in with the EFF, but she did not believe that voting is making a different because numbers are not on their side,” Ndlovu said. 

He said it would be difficult to convince young people who are hooked on drugs to register to vote. 

“That is another challenge,” he said. 

ANC Youth League (ANCYL) national spokesperson Sindiswa Scheepers said the league has already formulated programmes to encourage young people to register.

“One thing that we probably undermine is that young people think that ‘my one vote won’t make a difference’. What would happen if you got a thousand people saying that?” asked Scheepers.

She also concurred that young people are no longer interested in political parties. 

“They are just not interested in party politics hence a lack of participation. Another problem is the old method of going to the voting district and registering because young people don’t have time for that, as they are despondent and discouraged by unemployment.

“Innovative ways of reaching them through the social media where they are, would assist,” said Scheepers.

She said the ANCYL has also realised that many young people socialise with social activist groups.

“Now that we have also noted that, we would want to work hand in glove with social activists to ensure that we get their viewers and followers to understand that they should register to vote because we are in a democratic country that is governed and eventually a certain political party would have to govern them,” she said.

The ANCYL said it is going all out to recruit young people to register for elections ahead of November, but Ndlovu believes that this will be futile, as corruption has robbed them of their faith in the government system.  

The IFP Youth Brigade also attributed the decline of young people's interest in voting to failed economic transformation, failed economic development, and sluggish social transformation.

“IFP Youth Brigade currently has a voter registration programme targeting the strongly organised community like student populace and sporting community through various campaigns like sport Day and Campus Visits to encourage and assist young people to vote and educate them about governance of the country,” said IFPYB national chairperson Sanele Zondo.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is studying the second interim report of the Madlanga Commission, describing it as a crucial process to address alleged wrongdoing within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

Ramaphosa received the report on Friday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a door-to-door campaign in Diepsloot on Saturday, Ramaphosa said he had received the report and was carefully reviewing its contents.

“It is a second interim report, and the Madlanga Commission is an absolutely fantastic process,” Ramaphosa said.

He said the commission was part of broader efforts to deal with what he described as “rot” within the criminal justice system, adding that the country was continuing efforts to address challenges exposed after the state capture era.

“And it is a process that is going to help us to get rid of the rot within the criminal justice system. And we’ve gone through state capture, and we’ve largely been able to rid our country of state capture,” he said.

Ramaphosa said the commission was now focusing on serious challenges within law enforcement institutions and was helping to expose wrongdoing.

“We’re now looking at the criminal justice system, which has enormous problems and challenges. The Madlanga Commission is helping us to do that,” he said.

He added that it was encouraging that individuals implicated in wrongdoing were being identified and held accountable.

“And what is pleasing with the Madlanga Commission is that people are getting identified who are involved in wrong things. They’re getting suspended. They’re getting arrested. So it is a self-cleansing process that we are going through,” Ramaphosa said.

The president said the process demonstrated that there were no political motives behind the investigations, but rather an effort to address systemic failures.

“And nobody can ever say that we are targeting them with political motives or whatever. It is unraveling things that have been going on wrongly,” he said.

Ramaphosa said that once the process was complete, it would help strengthen and “cleanse” the police service going forward.

Meanwhile, IOL previously reported that the commission will resume its public hearings on Monday, June 1,  2026, as part of its ongoing work.

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uMkhonto weSizwe Party MP and ex-Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s foundation has asked US authorities to go after President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal.

The Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation (BM Foundation), which describes itself as a South African justice advocacy organisation, has asked the US government to investigate the matter based on reasonable grounds to believe that violations of the US code have occurred in connection with the transportation, receipt, and concealment of a substantial volume of US currency at Ramaphosa’s private game farm in Bela-Bela, Limpopo.

“This report identifies, with specificity, the provisions of title 18 and title 31 of the United States code that appear to have been violated.

“The foundation respectfully requests that the relevant agencies initiate a formal investigation and, where the evidence so warrants, pursue criminal prosecution and civil or criminal forfeiture.”

According to the foundation, the precise quantum of US dollars has been the subject of conflicting representations.

The foundation said in representations to the Section 89 Independent Panel, chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, stated that US$580,000 (about R9.6 million at the time) in February 2020 was stolen, which the president claimed represented the proceeds of a cash sale of game to a Sudanese national, Mustafa Mohamed Ibrahim Hazim.

“On any version of the facts, the quantum of US currency involved exceeds the statutory threshold of US$10,000 by a factor of between 58 and 14,000,” the BM Foundation stated.

It accused Ramaphosa of failing to declare the foreign currency, and in March 2023, the SA Revenue Service (SARS) publicly confirmed that the stolen US dollars had not been declared upon entry into South Africa.

“Any lawful cross-border movement of currency in such volume would have required compliance with South African exchange control regulations, customs declarations, and tax reporting. No such compliance occurred,” the foundation added.

The Independent Panel concluded on a prima facie basis that Ramaphosa “may have committed a serious violation of the law”.

In addition, Mkhwebane’s 2023 report deferred investigation of foreign exchange compliance, tax compliance, and criminality to other bodies, none of which had completed their determinations.

“To date, no lawful account of the origin, transportation, or tax treatment of the US dollars has been provided,” the foundation stated.

It also accuses Ramaphosa of bulk cash smuggling.

In terms of US law, whoever, with the intent to evade a currency reporting requirement, knowingly conceals more than US$10,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on the person of such individual or in any conveyance, article of commerce, luggage, or other container, and transports or transfers or attempts to transport or transfer such currency or monetary instruments from a place within the US to an outside place, or from a place outside the US to a place within the US shall be guilty of a currency smuggling offence and subject to punishment.

Shirley Willemse, chairperson of the Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation, said the letter has been sent to various whistle-blowing agencies, including Crime Intelligence, hoping that they will do their job and refer to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as in South Africa, there is no direct link to the FBI.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

Relations between Pretoria and Washington sank to a new low on Friday after a US government department accused SA of failing its people, while politicians get richer and more citizens look overseas for a better future.

The remarks come days after International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola told Parliament the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement was opposed to a range of progressive causes.

"We know that the US, the MAGA movement, is very clear to attack black people," Lamola said.

"We know what they stand for... they stand against the human rights of women and LGBTQI communities.

"It is driven by a particular ideology."

He also questioned whether members of the Democratic Alliance aligned themselves with the movement and its views.

In a scathing post on X aimed at Lamola, the US state department’s Bureau of African Affairs pointed to SA’s high unemployment, recent evacuations of foreign nationals and the “Kill the Boer” chant, before declaring: “If caring about your own citizens is MAGA, SA might want to give it a try.”

The Bureau of African Affairs also wrote: "Ghana and Nigeria just airlifted their citizens out of your country.

"Thousands of South Africans are fleeing to America to escape your government's left-wing policies.

"Unemployment still remains at 33% while you and corrupt government elites get rich while promoting race-based laws and chanting 'Kill the Boer'.

"If caring about your own citizens is MAGA, SA might want to give it a try,'' the bureau added. 

The unusually sharp statement is the latest sign of worsening tensions between Pretoria and Washington under US President Donald Trump.

Relations between the two countries have been strained for months over SA's foreign policy positions, race legislation, claims of discrimination against Afrikaners and Pretoria's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The US post also comes as both Ghana and Nigeria have raised concerns about the treatment of their citizens in SA following a recent wave of anti-immigrant tensions and attacks.

This week, Ghana repatriated nearly 300 of its citizens from SA, while more than 800 reportedly registered for voluntary evacuation flights.

Nigerian authorities have also expressed concern and considered similar measures.

The South African government has repeatedly condemned attacks on foreign nationals and rejected claims that xenophobic violence is official government policy.

Lamola has held talks with counterparts across the continent and insisted South Africa is prepared to account for the situation before the African Union.

The latest clash also lands against the backdrop of Washington's controversial refugee programme for white South Africans.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that it would increase refugee admissions by 10,000 places specifically to accommodate more white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, claiming they face racially motivated persecution.

Pretoria has strongly rejected those claims as unfounded.

Meanwhile, political analyst and international relations expert Dr Seshupo Mosala of North-West University described the Bureau of African Affairs' comments as an escalation of already strained relations between South Africa and the United States.

"It's an escalation and it's very undiplomatic," Mosala said, arguing that concerns between governments are ordinarily addressed through diplomatic channels rather than public exchanges on social media.

He said the remarks also raised questions about policy coherence within the Trump administration at a time when efforts have been made to repair relations between Pretoria and Washington.

"We have seen [President] Cyril [Ramaphosa] going to America, wanting to mend relations and so on.

"Now, when his State Department says stuff like this, escalating already fragile relations, it's a problem. It's a huge problem."

Mosala said South Africa could not ignore the significance of its relationship with the United States, given its economic and political influence globally.

"The reality of the matter is that this is one of the biggest economies in the world, the most powerful nation on earth.

"You wouldn't want to continuously be on their bad side, especially on the basis of your economic relations and trade relations," he said.

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The Constitutional Court judgment on Phala Phala and the remuneration of Secretary to Parliament Xolile George took centre stage when MPs debated the institution’s 2026/27 budget on Thursday.

Tabling the budget vote, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza emphasised the challenges faced by the legislature over its 30 years of democracy.

“The recent Constitutional Court judgment has found that some of our rules are not consistent with the Constitution, and therefore require review and amendment,” Didiza said.

Central to the debate was the need for greater parliamentary autonomy, as articulated by ANC Deputy Chief Whip Nobuhle Nkabane.

She raised an alarm over the institution's reliance on the executive for budget allocations, noting a significant R772 million shortfall compared to the requested funding. 

“This intervention is unsustainable and erodes the independence of Parliament,” Nkabane said, adding that the institution must finalise its funding model.

MK Party MP Des van Rooyen echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the current Westminster-style system limits Parliament's administrative and financial autonomy. 

“We are expected to bite the hand that feeds us,” said Van Rooyen before urging a multi-party budget forum to champion better funding.

The debate took on an intensified tone concerning George’s salary increase, which has been termed “gigantic” by DA MP Michele Clarke. 

She said her party disagreed with the motion by the ANC to declare the matter closed and called for a legal opinion.

“We demand a proper investigation regarding the salary increase of the Secretary,” Clarke said.

Didiza's leadership was criticised when EFF MP Omphile Maotwe accused the Speaker of neglecting the alleged irregularities in George's appointment and salary increase, as well as alleged mismanagement related to the hosting of the BRICS Summit, which saw costs balloon from R3.9 million to R6 million.

“The Secretary was appointed by the former Speaker in what we consider a corrupt manner. He worked for two months in Parliament while being paid by Salga without a contract. This Speaker turns a blind eye to this corruption,” Maotwe said.

Didiza defended herself, cautioning Maotwe against saying a person has done something when they have not.

“She (Maotwe) made a reference about decisions that executive authorities have taken in the appointment of the Secretary of Parliament, and in terms of date and time, I think she's wrong. The Secretary of Parliament was appointed in 2022 by the sixth administration,” she said, adding that the BRICS Summit was also in 2023 under the sixth administration.

Didiza said parliamentary employees were professionals who decided to come and work in the institution to support their work.

“It may be Xolile George today. It may be your son or your daughter tomorrow, because they, too, will at times work for the institutions of government. If there are wrong things that were done by the then-administration in terms of executive authority and Members of Parliament, let's correct them.

“Secondly, if there are things that we might not have done correctly in how we are hosts in South Africa, we need to correct that, but not make it a cheap political point.”

Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls defended Didiza’s leadership, saying her dedication and her sterling work have not gone unnoticed.

“We commend your efforts to uphold with dignity this institution and ensure the voice of the people remains central to our democracy,” Sauls said.

ANC MP Soviet Lekganyane said the matters related to George had been dealt with by the Auditor-General in 2023/24.

“As co-chairs, we want to reiterate that we are forever open to every question members would want to ask regarding that matter. They should follow the procedure, and we are not hiding anything,” he said.

However, the debate underscored a crucial turning point for Parliament, as several parties acknowledged its consistent reprimands by the Constitutional Court for lapses in accountability and oversight. 

ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni highlighted that the ANC has historically leveraged its majority to undermine these essential democratic processes.

“The Concourt reminded us that its duty is to the Constitution, not to a political party,” she said, framing the ongoing issues in the context of parliamentary integrity.

UDM MP Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said chickens have come home to roost as they were not listened to when the ANC used its majority to vote against the Independent Panel report to breach principles of accountability.

“We are not to shield you from consequences of your actions. As we set motion towards impeachment, due process must be followed. We must not end up with an egg on our face by making the same mistakes,” Kwankwa said.

Didiza welcomed the proposal that Parliament must look at its funding model.

She detailed the steps she has taken to comply with the Constitutional Court's decisions, including the establishment of an Impeachment Committee.

“We have announced that on Monday, the first meeting of that committee will sit. So what is it that we say the Speaker has been partial, has not acted in the interest of this House? I do not think it's true,” added Didiza.

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Government of National Unity (GNU) leaders, DA Geordin Hill-Lewis and Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald, have butted heads over reports that suggested there are almost 28,000 untraceable parolees.

This after Hill-Lewis took to the social media platform X to demand that Groenewald not hide behind excuses.

“He must act today to find these parolees, bring them back before the law, and hold every official accountable who allowed them to disappear,” he said.

He made the remarks after the investigative media group, Amabhungane, reported this week that the Department of Correctional Services cannot account for 27,797 high risk parolees who have absconded.

It also reported that more than half of those who cannot be traced were 15,860 “archived absconders”, parolees who were released between 1991 and 2004, and that the cases were listed as “non-active” and remain separate from the current case loads of absconders.

Despite the department dismissing suggestions that it has abandoned the tracing of absconders as incorrect, Hill-Lewis still posted that his party will not accept a system where criminals roam free, and communities are left to pay the price.

“A DA-led government will implement electronic monitoring, proper supervision, and real accountability,” he said.

In response, Groenewald warned the newly minted DA leader against cheap politicking.

He told Hill-Lewis that the number referred to in the article dates back to 1991.

Groenewald further said he had on record stated that he was in the process of electronic bracelets for parolees.

“There is progress,” he said without elaborating on the same initiative Hill-Lewis indicated his party would implement.

Groenewald also said the department had last year in September held a parole summit on the revision of the parole system.

“We are busy with legislative amendments. Don't practise cheap politics,” said the minister who has been in office under the GNU established two years ago.

Unperturbed by Groenewald's response and the criticism from those who responded, Hill-Lewis charged that the minister was grateful for the summit, which was a talk-shop, while many of the 28,000 parolees were convicted of violent offences under the minister’s watch.

“And you want the victims of murders and rapists who re-offend because you’ve done nothing to find these criminals for two years,” he said.

In a statement, Hill-Lewis said his party will write to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services to request a full parliamentary review of the community corrections system.

“We will also call for a resolution from the portfolio committee petitioning the Minister of Correctional Services to issue a request for proposals for GPS-enabled electronic monitoring within 90 days, for a pilot programme to commence within 12 months, and for legislative amendments to ensure mandatory electronic monitoring of all parolees convicted of violent crimes,” he said.

Kgomotso Ramolobeng, chairperson of the portfolio committee, said she has noted with concern reports about absconding parolees and will request urgent information on the matter from the department.

Ramolobeng also said the committee was especially concerned that the media reports indicated that some of the absconded parolees served sentences for serious crimes such as murder, armed robbery, and rape.

“The committee received several requests for an urgent meeting on the matter. The committee will slot in an urgent engagement with the department to receive a full report on the allegations in the media before it pronounces on the matter,” she said.

Meanwhile, department spokesperson Sibongakonke Nxumalo said the department maintained active tracking and tracing capabilities in all regions and no longer used “archived absconders” as an inactive category.

“Dedicated regional teams continue to strengthen monitoring and re-apprehension efforts. Therefore, any suggestion that the department has abandoned efforts to trace absconders is incorrect,” he said.

Nxumalo stated that parolees and probationers were subjected to various forms of supervision.

“Absconding remains a criminal offence, and every absconder is immediately reported to the South African Police Service to support tracing and investigation processes.” 

Nxumalo rejected suggestions that parolees were left unmonitored or that systems do not exist to address absconding.

“Community Corrections officials continue to perform supervision duties under difficult and often dangerous conditions to ensure compliance with parole conditions and protect communities.”

Nxumalo further said the electronic monitoring matter remains before the courts. 

“As the matter is sub judice, the department is limited in what it can publicly discuss at this stage,”  he said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

SEVERAL South African state institutions are facing allegations of misconduct, conflicts of interest, and the failure to fulfill their mandates in managing the estate of the late Black industrialist Paulos Sello Mahlangu.

These claims come from his son, Zweli Mahlangu, and are supported by numerous documents reviewed by the Sunday Independent.

At the crux of these allegations lies a shocking discrepancy: an estate with R4.77 billion in audited assets was valued at only R5 million for estate purposes, a difference Zweli argues cannot be attributed to mere error.

Institutions implicated in these claims include the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the Competition Tribunal, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI, or Hawks), the Master of the High Court, and the Information Regulator.

Concerns about the estate's administration centre on the Master of the High Court and executor Arnold Joseph. Zweli insists that Joseph submitted a liquidation and distribution account valuing the entire estate at R5m, referencing a lack of power of attorney, consent documentation, and recorded activity over a five-year period.

Correspondence provided by Zweli reveals that Joseph allegedly admitted under oath to the Legal Practice Council (LPC) his inability to instruct tax accountants to submit the deceased’s tax return by the date of death.

He was also interviewed by detectives probing a fraudulent Will. These admissions, along with the R5m valuation, fuel Zweli’s claims that the administration process failed to protect the assets of a Black industrialist who had been cleared of state capture allegations during his lifetime.

Specific allegations against the IDC relate to the central valuation issue. Zweli cites internal WhatsApp messages in which IDC staff member Titus Tshelane claims that Paulos Mahlangu was instructed by IDC superiors to misuse loan funds.

When Tshelane was asked why he did not report a bribery proposal to the police, he allegedly expressed fear for his life and that of his children due to Mahlangu’s stature.

If proven, these messages could imply that loan non-repayment was authorized rather than fraudulent, raising questions about the IDC's decision to sue the estate for R180m while allegedly withholding Know Your Customer (KYC) files that would confirm Mahlangu's ownership of Southern Palace Group (SPG).

The IDC denied requests under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for these documents and the WhatsApp messages, citing ongoing litigation.

The Information Regulator upheld this denial, despite Zweli’s contention that the PIC was not involved in the referenced litigation.

In its response to the Sunday Independent, the IDC addressed several allegations directly. When asked whether any employee instructed Mahlangu to misuse loan funds, the IDC stated: “This allegation was investigated and dealt with internally as guided by our governance and internal policies.”

On whether the IDC recognises Mahlangu as the beneficial owner of SPG at that time, the corporation confirmed he was. On the legal grounds for the IDC’s R180m claim against the estate, the IDC noted that it relates to debt owed due to the suretyship provided by Mahlangu.

They also claimed not to have received a PAIA request from Zweli. Tebogo Maoto’s appointment as Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) for SPG is another point of contention. Maoto, a former IDC employee who investigated the same SPG transactions, was approved by the IDC to oversee them, according to Zweli.

The IDC, however, refuted this claim, stating that Maoto was appointed by the SPG Board, not the IDC. Zweli argues that Maoto’s BRP Plan indicates a limited investigation, no audit performed, no post-commencement funding raised, and fees backdated by 100%.

A contentious legal dispute has emerged regarding the business rescue proceedings of Southern Palace Group, with attorneys for the senior BRP rejecting demands for information from Thandiwe Mahlangu, who sought access to documents concerning the company’s assets.

The legal disagreement hinges on whether Mahlangu has legal standing to make such requests under South African corporate law. Citing Section 128 of the Companies Act 71 of 2008, the attorneys argued that only a shareholder or creditor qualifies as an “affected person” entitled to request information from business rescue proceedings.

They refuted Mahlangu’s position, asserting that the late Mr. Mahlangu did not hold shares in the company and that only the appointed executor would have standing.

Broader allegations of misconduct have been reported to media outlets.

In a letter, the attorneys stated: “Our client categorically denies being guilty of any such acts,” and warned against disseminating what they described as “false and misleading information.” They further noted threats in Mahlangu’s original email, dismissing them as unfounded.

These concerns also involve the Public Investment Corporation, which funded SPG’s R277m acquisition of the construction company Concor in 2017. In 2024, the PIC purchased a 28.12% stake in Concor for R400 000, indicating a valuation drop of over 99% from the original acquisition price.

The PIC has faced accusations of selective reporting, having referred Maoto to the Hawks for alleged misconduct in the Daybreak Foods rescue, yet not for his role in the SPG rescue.

The corporation has not responded to letters from chief executive Abel Sithole, and PAIA requests for documents related to the Concor transaction were denied.

The Competition Tribunal’s approval of two merger transactions involving these construction assets has also drawn scrutiny. A merger in 2017, where Firefly Investments, a black-owned company controlled by SPG, acquired Infrastructure and Building from Murray and Roberts, received unconditional approval.

In 2024, the Tribunal conditionally approved a GEPF acquisition of Concor Holdings from SPG, describing it as primarily a rescue transaction to avoid liquidation. Zweli questions the Tribunal's ownership record assessments, noting inconsistencies between the 2017 and 2024 filings.

He also wonders why the Tribunal approved a deal that suggested a Concor valuation of R1.42m, significantly below the original acquisition price. The Tribunal stated it maintains records according to South African legislation and that each merger is assessed based on specific evidence.

It claimed no discrepancies were identified and clarified that its mandate involves assessing competition impacts rather than valuation matters agreed upon by merging parties.

Allegations extend to private entities working with state institutions. Discovery Life paid out a R40m life insurance policy to Gladys Matitoane and Lesedi instead of the IDC, citing the Protection of Personal Information (Popi) Act in their refusal to provide metadata verifying beneficiary records.

Discovery Life responded empathetically, stating it cannot comment on individual policies due to confidentiality obligations but confirmed that access to policy information relating to deceased persons would require appropriate legal authority.

The conduct of law enforcement agencies is also questioned. Zweli opened a criminal case in September 2022 concerning a fraudulent Will and theft of estate assets, yet reports indicate delays as the case remained with the Hawks for over three years before being transferred to the Serious Organised Crime unit.

While the Hawks investigate Maoto for alleged misconduct in Daybreak Foods, questions arise about his role in SPG amidst similar allegations. Zweli presents a sworn affidavit from Huawei about improperly transferred shares, questioning why Gladys Matitoane has not been arrested for the alleged theft.

Three professional firms have come under scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest. Webber Wentzel represents SPG’s largest creditor and the BRPs while also investigating complaints against them.

Norton Rose Fulbright's Gregory Nott worked on Paulos Mahlangu’s trusts while Zweli alleges those trusts were hijacked. Deloitte audited SPG’s 2016 financials, showing R4.77bn in assets but approved the Business Rescue Plan without audited financials.

Zweli has posed specific questions to each institution, seeking clarity on the alleged misdirection of funds, the Concor valuation collapse, and delays in his criminal case.

He states he has fought alone for five years and is seeking truth rather than financial compensation. His father, Paulos Sello Mahlangu, built Southern Palace Group into an enterprise with R4.77bn in presumed assets and was cleared of state capture allegations during his lifetime.

The allegations outlined in Zweli's correspondence question whether state institutions have undermined the legacy of a black industrialist and whether processes meant to ensure accountability have instead protected those who benefited from this undermining.

Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.

ANC eThekwini Councillor Bheki Mngwengwe has acknowledged that the party has not always met the expectations of the people, but he said what defines a movement is not whether it makes mistakes but whether it dares to correct them.

Mngwengwe was speaking at Friday's council meeting, where the eThekwini Municipality's R75.3 billion budget and tariff increases for 2026/27 were approved. 

The tariff increases include electricity (9%), property rates (2%), water (domestic 12% and business 13%), sanitation (8% for domestic and 9% for business), and domestic refuse (9.5%) from July 1, 2026.

Mngwengwe stated that the ANC supported the budget due to its 2021 manifesto and commitment to renewal.

“We have heard the frustrations of our people. We are restoring the capacity of the state to deliver. We are doing so with accountability, discipline, and urgency.”

Mngwengwe said the budget focused on housing, a transport system that opens the doors of opportunity, and ending the era of excuses with engineering services. 

“The budget must be implemented with zero tolerance for waste and underperformance, zero tolerance for corruption and maladministration, and full accountability to the people who elected us,” he said. 

However, DA eThekwini Caucus Leader Councillor Thabani Mthethwa, said they rejected the newly passed municipal budget because it failed to respond meaningfully to the financial and service delivery crisis facing the city.  

Mthethwa said the municipality’s finances are in crisis and that communities across the city continue to suffer the consequences of collapsing infrastructure.

He stated that residents face unresolved water leaks, causing clean drinking water to flow into the streets, prolonged water outages, and sewage spills contaminating roads and beaches, while plumbing contractors remain unpaid for months on end and are often forced to down tools.

Mthethwa also outlined water and electricity losses amounting to billions of rand.

“Uncollected debt has increased by almost R1 billion in the past two months and now exceeds R45.4 billion, more than 50% of the municipality’s newly adopted budget. The eThekwini coalition of parties has demonstrated its inability to manage public funds responsibly, and the DA has no confidence in its handling of this new budget.” 

Residents, he said, cannot rely on the figures presented in this budget either because, within months, requests to reprioritise funds from one project to another will once again surface.

“Incomplete housing projects amid a housing crisis, together with flood victims who remain without permanent housing years later, are clear evidence of this poor financial planning,” he said. 

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said when he was appointed as mayor approximately two years ago, he found a city of immense potential wrestling with structural challenges, such as inner-city decay, ageing infrastructure, water demand which exceeds supply, crime and grime, as well as high levels of unemployment, particularly among the youth. 

“My administration did not look away from these realities. We confronted them. I can report that the trajectory of eThekwini has fundamentally changed,” he said.  

Xaba said the results are tangible as demonstrated by the sharp increase in business confidence, direct tourism spending, and projects that are set to significantly enhance the tourism experience for visitors. 

“We have not solved every problem. We continue to face a significant housing backlog, as evidenced by more than 600 informal settlements and over 40 transit camps resulting from ongoing rural-to-urban migration. Water supply challenges also persist, while infrastructure theft and vandalism remain stubborn.” 

He said the budget prioritises the acceleration of repairs, the upgrading of bulk infrastructure, and the full implementation of trading services turnaround strategies.

Xaba said the eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) is implementing a comprehensive turnaround strategy and institutional governance reform roadmap.

“The trading services reform programme will further improve service delivery, with a specific focus on water, sanitation, electricity, and refuse services. Decisive consequence management will be implemented against corruption, maladministration, poor performance, and any form of abuse of public resources.”  

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

Cape Town-based Independent Media journalist Lilita Gcwabe walked away with the National Press Club (NPC)-University of SA (Unisa) Journalist of the Year for Community Journalism on Friday.

The award is referred to as the Aserie Ndlovu Award for Community Journalism for print or online news and a dozen journalists received it across various categories.

Gcwabe was awarded for her work at Elitsha News, which describes itself as a genuine and alternative community newspaper that reports on community, national and international issues, and news.

At the same ceremony in Tshwane, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi was named the 2025 NPC’s Newsmaker of the Year.

According to the press club, the sought-after accolade is a testament to the impact that the explosive media briefing Mkhwanazi held in July last year had on the national discourse, with far-reaching implications on our socio-economic-political landscape.

Mkhwanazi detailed widespread malfeasance within the SA Police Service, which ultimately led to President Cyril Ramaphosa establishing the judicial commission of inquiry into alleged criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

Revelations at the commission have led to several high-profile arrests of police officers, as well as the setting up of the Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament to probe Mkhwanazi's explosive allegations.

The awards honour journalists and communicators who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of truth and the art of storytelling.

The award Gcwabe won was named in honour of Ndlovu, who was killed last year along with his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, after their abduction.

The NPC-Unisa Spokesperson of the Year went to Ndabezinhle Sibiya of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements.

NPC Chairperson Antoinette Slabbert stated that the press club was encouraged by the exceptional quality of nominations received this year and was deeply impressed by the calibre of work submitted across all categories.

“The volume and standard of entries reflect a vibrant, talented and highly competitive communications and journalism sector,” said Slabbert.

She added that the NPC was delighted by the overwhelming interest shown by journalists and communications practitioners, which underscores the credibility of the awards and their growing stature within the industry.

“This enthusiastic response affirms the relevance of the NPC platform in recognising excellence, innovation and impact, and reinforces our commitment to celebrating outstanding storytelling and professional achievement,” Slabbert stated.

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula said the institution fully supported the freedom of press.

“Part of our commitment in this regard is our steadfast commitment to hosting the annual Percy Qoboza lecture. This year, 2026, will mark the 16th iteration of this important lecture.

“Hence Unisa’s partnerships with the NPC and those of its kind, are not coincidental. No! They are deliberate. They are necessary. And they are, in many respects, acts of democratic stewardship. We are intentional about cultivating this partnership for mutual benefit,” LenkaBula said.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has characterised the recent seizure of methaqualone at the Beitbridge Port of Entry, valued at approximately R1 billion, as conclusive evidence that South Africa’s extensive border reforms are effective.

The seizure of 713 kilograms of the Mandrax precursor, hidden within a sophisticated false compartment of a Malawian-registered truck, followed an intensive eight-hour operation by the Border Management Authority (BMA).

Minister Schreiber emphasised that the breakthrough was the result of a deliberate shift toward intelligence-led enforcement rather than random inspections.

“This singular breakthrough vividly demonstrates that our investments into intelligence-driven work, modern technology, digital transformation, and building a new organisational culture exemplified by BMA personnel are improving the security environment at our ports of entry,” Schreiber stated.

He noted that the BMA was “not flying blind”, as the National Targeting Centre had identified the vehicle before it reached the border.

Central to this new strategy is the rapid development of biometric technology.

The minister revealed that the BMA is currently installing advanced facial recognition cameras at major airports as a precursor to the full-scale-up of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system.

Already live for visitors from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico, the ETA allows the state to digitally verify identities before foreign nationals even set foot in the country.

According to Schreiber, this technology has already prevented thousands of irregular entries by allowing for automated detection of malfeasance and overstayers.

The technological arsenal used at Beitbridge included sophisticated SARS scanners that confirmed the presence of the hidden compartment, proving the value of inter-agency cooperation.

However, the minister did note: “We are not saying that the journey is over, we are not saying that the work is complete, but what we are saying is that we are making rapid and meaningful progress.”

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato highlighted that the authority acts as a multidisciplinary hub, coordinating with over 10 government departments to secure the border ecosystem.

He explained that the National Border Targeting Centre serves as the “brains” behind frontline operations, utilising empirical data to understand cross-border crime patterns.

Masiapato detailed the rigor required for such an operation, noting: “This is a very serious, sophisticated enterprise... They build it into the truck and seal it with very serious steel.”

He further explained that the BMA is moving toward a model where every person and conveyance is subjected to layered screening, from port health to high-tech imaging.

The commissioner also noted that the BMA’s deterrence measures are yielding results beyond drug seizures, citing a reduction in attempted illegal crossings from 58,000 in the previous festive period to 26,000 this year.

Schreiber stated that the era of porous borders is coming to an end through the integration of the ETA, the replacement of the Green ID book with Smart IDs, and the introduction of a biometrically secured digital ID system.

“Taking almost R1 billion worth of drugs off the street means the BMA is literally saving lives,” Schreiber said, affirming that these reforms are rebuilding the rule of law at South Africa’s ports of entry.

karen.singh@inl.co.za

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has raised the question of the threshold on the value of investigations when proclamations are requested for investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

Kubayi said her office was committed to ensuring that the SIU is supported and is able to do its work without hindrance.

“We try our level best to ensure that matters are processed timeously,” she said in reference to the processing of applications for the proclamations that are sent to the Presidency.

On Friday, Kubayi, her department, and the SIU briefed the Standing Committee on Auditor-General regarding the matters referred by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke for investigation.

Kubayi said she has noticed that when the SIU makes a submission to her department, she would sign and recommend it to President Cyril Ramaphosa for a proclamation.

“Sometimes there is to and fro,” she said.

Kubayi also said she has requested the SIU and her department to share with her where there are difficulties and challenges so that she can intervene.

“There is one that I had to deal with, where it was found that the value of the investigations is lower than the cost of the investigation. It is one of the challenges that we consistently have to deal with.” 

Kubayi also said the SIU would conduct an investigation based on a narrow proclamation, only to find issues requiring further investigation.

“They must reapply for an extension of the proclamation, and one of the issues, perhaps, as they draft the proclamations and send them through for recommendation, let's do them broadly enough.”

The department’s Acting Director-General, Kalay Pillay, said there must be some kind of threshold in terms of investigations.

“The R2.5m is but one. If there are other factors that point to systemic issues around corruption, failing procurement processes, or just actions of an individual within a particular entity, it does not mean R2.5m in our work would be a bar to an investigation,” Pillay said.

Maluleke said she has taken to heart the observations of the department on the size of the matters referred to the SIU for investigation.

Maluleke said her office gazetted regulations in support of implementing the new powers dealing with material irregularities and referrals.

“Those regulations stipulate that transactions meet material irregularities when we assess, and financial losses hit the number of R1m. The SIU is looking to consider R2.5m and above. There is some complexity around how we have to deal with matters that are under R2.5m or even R10m, but then still meet R1m.

“Maybe it is time to relook that R1m but that is a debate, I think, we need to have between ourselves as AGSA and the Standing Committee on Auditor-General,” Maluleke said.

SIU Acting Head Leonard Lekgetho said whenever they get a referral, there are already referrals available that were consolidated and make sure they meet their delegations.

“We take note of the requirement. This calls for us to have an engagement with the department to map the way forward in terms of making sure our matters are dealt with speedily, and also address challenges they have about our matters. It is something to take up with the department,” Lekgetho said.

The department told the MPs that out of nine requests for proclamations from the SIU, these were consolidated into six.

Kubayi has yet to decide on a request for a proclamation on Mangaung Metro, Department of Military Veterans, Northern Cape Roads, Public Works Department, and Education Department.

The request for Tlholo, Malebogo, and Caleb Motshabi primary schools in the Free State has been consolidated into one.

The proclamation on the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority has been signed by Ramaphosa and will be published soon.

Lekgetho said the SIU reported that out of 32 material irregularities referred to the SIU by Maluleke, eight proclaimed investigations have since been finalised, nine are still ongoing, and one is a secondment.

There were nine motivations for proclamations that were under consideration by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development; five were being prepared for assessment against the jurisdictional requirements of the SIU and Special Tribunal Act.

He also said the corruption-busting body has recovered R6.9 million, and R26.5m could still be recovered, and matters valued at R25m were referred for civil proceedings.

There were 43 referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority, 58 disciplinary referrals, and 16 administrative action referrals.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

Democratic Alliance (DA) says the country is witnessing a major political shift after securing a surprise victory in a township ward in Emfuleni, a result that has rattled the ANC and injected fresh energy into the battle for Gauteng.

Speaking at a voter registration rally in Pretoria, DA Federal Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis described the win as a historic breakthrough for his party and a sign that voters are demanding change.

The victory came in Evaton, a township where the DA once received only a tiny share of the vote.

This week, the party captured the ward from the ANC, a result political observers say could signal growing frustration with poor service delivery and years of government failures.

"This is a huge moment," Hill-Lewis told supporters. "People are tired of corruption, tired of broken promises and tired of governments that fail them."

The result has put fresh pressure on the ANC in Gauteng, where residents continue to complain about failing infrastructure, unreliable services, crime and unemployment.

Hill-Lewis claimed the victory showed that communities traditionally seen as ANC strongholds are becoming more open to opposition parties that promise better governance.

The DA leader used the occasion to draw a sharp contrast between Emfuleni and nearby Midvaal, a municipality run by the DA.

He argued that voters are increasingly comparing governments based on results rather than political history.

The speech quickly turned to what the DA calls "coalition chaos" in municipalities across South Africa.

Hill-Lewis said unstable coalition governments have delayed service delivery, created uncertainty and left residents paying the price while political parties fight for power behind closed doors.

"For ordinary people, coalition chaos means potholes that never get fixed, broken streetlights, unreliable services and politicians arguing while communities suffer," he said.

He also raised concerns about public safety after reports that thousands of parolees cannot currently be traced by authorities.

Hill-Lewis described the situation as deeply alarming and called for tougher monitoring measures to ensure dangerous offenders are properly tracked after their release.

Crime remains one of the biggest concerns for South Africans and is expected to play a major role in upcoming election campaigns.

Throughout his address, Hill-Lewis repeatedly returned to one central message: that voters have the power to change the direction of their communities through the ballot box.

The DA used the rally to encourage voter registration ahead of future elections, arguing that political change will only happen if citizens participate.

The party believed Gauteng will be the key battleground in the years ahead.

With growing frustration over service delivery, corruption and economic hardship, competition between the ANC, DA, EFF and smaller parties is expected to intensify.

While it remains unclear whether the Emfuleni result marks the start of a broader political shift, it has already become one of the most talked-about victories in recent local politics.

For the DA, it is proof that change is possible.For the ANC, it is a warning that voters are becoming increasingly impatient, he said.

And for Gauteng residents, it signals that the fight for political control of South Africa's most important province is only beginning.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

The family of the murdered Mbekweni woman, Ntombi Ntsondwa, says they are struggling to cope as the case against the man accused of killing her continues to move through the courts with postponements and bail proceedings.

Ntsondwa, affectionately known as Asaphiwe by her family, was found dead at her boyfriend's home in Dumisani Street, Drommedaris, Mbekweni, in April.

Her boyfriend, Mnikelo Khese, who is also the father of her child, appeared briefly in the Paarl magistrate's Court again on Thursday, May 28.

Family members described the court appearance as short yet painful, as they once again faced the man accused of taking their daughter's life.

Family members were supported at court by community members, local political party structures and community organisations who have rallied behind them as they continue to seek justice for Ntsondwa.

The matter was postponed after a brief appearance, with family members saying proceedings moved so quickly that they were left with little time to process what had happened in court.

In an earlier report, police confirmed that Ntsondwa was found at the suspect’s home on Monday, April 13, at around 12.30pm. She was found lying on her back with multiple stab wounds to her forehead and arms. Police said at the time that the motive for the attack remained under investigation.

The killing has left her family shattered and has also deeply affected the couple’s young child, who relatives say has been left traumatised and fearful.

According to the family, the six-year-old child is struggling to understand what happened and is now afraid that her father could one day do the same thing to her.

Nosethu Krengo, Ntsondwa’s aunt, said the family had not been coping since her death, especially as the matter continues to return to court.

"The constant knowledge that we have to go to court to go and see him appear is really painful for the family," Krengo said.

She said Ntsondwa’s mother, who is diabetic, had been badly affected by the court proceedings and the trauma of repeatedly seeing the accused in court.

"Ntombi’s mom is diabetic, and after she checked her blood sugar on the day of his last appearance, her blood sugar was 24, which is alarmingly high. We are worried about her health because she is really battling." 

Family members described the appearance as short yet painful, as they once again faced the man accused of taking their daughter's life.

Krengo said the family lives in the same community as the accused and fears for their safety if he is granted bail.

"We live with this man in our community. He knows where we stay and who we are. We are scared that when he is out, even if he doesn’t come for us himself, he will send his people to terrorise us or hurt us because he is a dangerous and violent man." 

Krengo said the family also wished they could speak directly to the prosecutor handling the case to explain their fears about the possibility of Khese being released on bail. 

She said they had not yet had an opportunity to fully express their concerns to the legal team handling the matter.

"Although we buried Ntombi, the family is still traumatised," Krengo said.

The family previously told reporters that Ntsondwa and the accused had been in a relationship and shared a child. They said she had at one stage returned home after the couple experienced challenges, but later moved back in with him.

Her death sparked shock and anger in the Mbekweni community, where residents had joined a search for the accused after her body was discovered. He was later arrested in Aberdeen after a search that stretched beyond the community.

For the family, each court appearance has become another reminder of the violent way in which Ntsondwa died and the life she left behind.

They said they want the matter to move forward without further delays and want justice for Ntsondwa, whose death has left her child without a mother and her family living with grief and fear.

The case is expected to return to court on June 10 for further proceedings.

lilita.gcwabe@inl.co.za

Denying claims of violent blockades near Bergville, the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) has criticised the South African Police Service (SAPS), alleging that officers used live rounds during a peaceful demonstration.

The response comes after three individuals, including a national office bearer, identified by the ATDF-ASA as their secretary general (SG), were arrested on Saturday morning for alleged public violence and inciting disruption on the N3 southbound.

The ATDF-ASA interim committee issued a statement demanding a full and transparent investigation into the police’s conduct, claiming the law enforcement response represented an unprovoked escalation of a peaceful industrial action.

“The demonstration in question was entirely peaceful. There was absolutely no violence, destruction of property, or intimidation taking place,” a statement from the committee read, clarifying that the action was a standard ‘go-slow’ demonstration, and regular traffic was passing by normally without any disruption.

The committee claims the situation only turned chaotic upon the arrival of the police.

According to the committee, police immediately opened fire with live ammunition without justification, causing panic and forcing those present to flee for their lives.

To substantiate their claim of excessive force, the ATDF-ASA points to physical evidence left on the scene. “The physical evidence of this excessive force can be seen directly on the trucks themselves, as one of the truck containers was left with bullet holes from the live rounds fired by SAPS,” the committee noted.

In contrast to the committee's account, provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda stated that police were conducting patrols in the early hours of Saturday morning, when they noticed N3 traffic slowing to a standstill.

Upon investigation, he said they discovered approximately 10 people stopping trucks. Realising the police presence, the suspects allegedly fled into the bushes, abandoning a white Isuzu bakkie with all its doors open.

Preliminary investigations linked the vehicle to a prominent ATDF-SA office bearer, and inside the abandoned bakkie, police discovered an ATDF-SA banner and stones. The arrests followed shortly after.

Netshiunda confirmed that a suspicious white VW Polo was spotted and intercepted on the N3 northbound, where it had allegedly come to pick up the owner of the abandoned bakkie.

The bakkie owner and the two occupants of the Polo, both identified as truck drivers, were arrested.

Police also indicated the bakkie owner may be linked to the stoning of a bus at the N3 Colenso interchange shortly before the arrests, adding that more charges could be filed as suspects are processed.

The ATDF-ASA interim committee, however, maintained that the arrests occurred after the initial confrontation subsided and the three individuals returned peacefully to retrieve the abandoned Isuzu bakkie. They strongly condemned the actions of the officers involved.

“By firing live ammunition into a peaceful gathering of SA truck drivers, the police heavily misused their power and placed the lives of innocent citizens in severe, unnecessary danger,” the committee stated.

karen.singh@inl.co.za

The United States warned on Saturday it was "more than capable" of resuming war with Iran after President Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons.

The White House had signaled Trump was close to a decision on a potential deal, though Tehran denied there was a final agreement on ending the conflict.

US sources had told AFP the deal was waiting on Trump's sign-off, but he made no decision after a White House Situation Room meeting on Friday.

Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, while attending a defense summit in Singapore, said on Saturday that Washington was "more than capable" of restarting the war.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X that American forces "remain present and vigilant across the region."

The efforts to reach a deal were thrown into question this week by US strikes on the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, countered by retaliatory Iranian fire.

Iran's IRNA state news agency said air defenses shot down a drone "belonging to the US-Zionist aggressor enemy" on Saturday, citing a statement from the army.

Nevertheless diplomacy continued, including to stop fighting in Lebanon, which Iran has insisted be included in any end to the war and where Israeli forces advanced further even as military delegations from both nations met at the Pentagon.

Trump said his priorities in any deal include Iran agreeing to never develop nuclear weapons and the re-opening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.

"President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines," a White House official told AFP, adding: "Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon."

Competing conditions

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei pushed back on Trump's conditions, saying the Islamic republic "said goodbye to the language of 'must' 47 years ago."

Exchanges of messages were continuing, he added, but "no final agreement has been reached."

In his social media post, Trump said Tehran would remove mines from the Strait and end its closure of the waterway with "no tolls," while the US would lift its blockade.

The two countries would also coordinate on removing and destroying Iran's enriched uranium, he said, adding that "no money will be exchanged, until further notice."

Iran's Fars news agency, however, cited sources as saying Tehran was demanding "the immediate release of $12 billion" before moving to the next phase of negotiations.

On the toll-free reopening of Hormuz, the sources said "no such clause appears in the text of the agreement," while Trump's comment on destroying Iran's nuclear material "is fundamentally baseless."

Iran's ISNA news agency on Saturday cited lawmaker Alireza Salimi as saying a plan "to implement Iran's management and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz will soon be approved by parliament."

Meanwhile, Iran's Tasnim news agency said the US blockade in the strait remains in place and its ships "are receiving warnings from CENTCOM to stop and not cross the blockade line."

"Both sides are speaking in a way that keeps their supporters satisfied. It's not clear who is telling the truth," Ali, from Tonekabon north of Tehran, told AFP.

Fighting in Lebanon

Fighting continues on the war's Lebanese front.

Israel's military issued evacuation warnings on Saturday for residents of seven villages in southern Lebanon, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had pushed deeper into the country.

Israel has kept up its heavy bombardment of south Lebanon, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasising in a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "the need to exert all efforts to reach a ceasefire."

A truce between Israel and Hezbollah began on April 17 but has never been observed, with both sides accusing each other of violating it.

In early March, Tehran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel over the US-Israeli killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes across Lebanon and a ground invasion.

Israel and Lebanon began direct talks in April, with a fourth round expected next week.

AFP

Cederberg Municipality says it is moving closer to clearing an inherited R47 million Eskom debt after National Treasury confirmed a second debt relief write-off of almost R15 million earlier this month.

In a statement released earlier this month, the municipality announced that it had received official confirmation from the National Treasury of a second Eskom debt relief write-off amounting to R14.9 million, describing it as a significant step towards financial sustainability and growth.

According to the statement, the first debt relief write-off was approved on January 16, 2025, for the same amount of R14.9 million, bringing the total debt relief granted to the municipality to R29.9 million.

The latest development comes after Cederberg was previously listed among Western Cape municipalities struggling with Eskom arrears. In November 2024, IOL reported that Cederberg was among municipalities owing Eskom, with the municipality’s overdue debt listed at R41.77 million.

At the time, the Western Cape Government said Cederberg, Matzikama, Kannaland, and Beaufort West were approved for the Municipal Debt Relief Programme and would have their Eskom arrears written off if they adhered to the conditions of the programme over three years.

Cederberg Municipality said its commitment to complying with the conditions set out by Eskom and National Treasury over more than two years had enabled it to benefit from the debt relief process.

It is not immediately clear how much Cederberg Municipality still owes Eskom following the second write-off, with the statement only indicating that the municipality is working towards meeting the conditions for Eskom to write off the last R14 million.

Executive Mayor Azrial Scheepers said the write-off was the result of the municipality’s financial discipline and responsible governance.

"We are pleased to announce that our commitment to financial discipline and responsible governance has yielded tangible results," Scheepers said.

"This debt relief is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our municipal team and council. We remain committed to delivering quality services to our community and ensuring that Cederberg remains a place where people can live, work, and thrive."

Municipal Manager Gerrit Matthyse said the municipality had maintained stringent financial controls and credit control measures as part of the process.

"This achievement underscores our municipality's commitment to good governance and financial discipline," Matthyse said.

"We have maintained stringent controls and credit control measures, enabling us to provide further assistance to our indigent households. With the last two months of the third year of the Eskom debt write-off process remaining, we are working diligently towards meeting the conditions for Eskom to write off the last R14 million, effectively eliminating the previous council's R47 million debt."

Chief Financial Officer Jerome Booysen said improvements in reporting and governance had contributed to the municipality’s progress.

"It's a privilege to manage a competent finance team that serves the community. We are grateful for the strategic support we get from the council; it makes doing our job much easier. We will continue to comply to successfully complete the programme and gain approval for the third write-off," Booysen said.

The Western Cape Government previously said the Eskom debt relief programme required municipalities to meet strict conditions, including improving revenue collection and paying what they owe to suppliers, including Eskom.

It also said qualifying municipalities would be eligible to have the remaining portions of their Eskom debt written off over two further years, provided they continued to honour their commitments.

lilita.gcwabe@inl.co.za

SA Communist Party (SACP) has launched a major push to unite left-wing forces, bringing political parties, trade unions and civil society groups together for a three-day conference aimed at tackling the country's deepening economic crisis.

The conference of the Left, being held in Boksburg from May 29 to 31, comes as unemployment, poverty, inequality and the cost of living continue to place pressure on millions of South Africans.

Leaders from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), MK Party (MKP), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), AZAPO and other organisations are attending the gathering.

Delegates are discussing plans to build a united Left Popular Front focused on economic transformation, job creation, land reform and public ownership of key industries.

The conference also highlights growing political divisions following the African National Congress's decision to govern alongside the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The SACP has strongly opposed the GNU and is preparing to contest future local government elections independently.

One of the conference's biggest talking points is the ANC's absence.

ANC secretary-general (SG) Fikile Mbalula dismissed the gathering, saying there was "nothing leftist" about it.

The SACP responded sharply, accusing ANC leaders of turning their backs on progressive forces at a time when South Africa faces serious economic and social challenges.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

An explosives expert has warned that the two improvised explosive devices detonated at Woolworths stores in Pretoria and Bloemfontein were “possibly lethal”, despite no injuries being reported.

Willem Els, a former SAPS explosives investigator and now a consultant with the Institute for Security Studies’ transnational threats and organised crime programme, said the incidents appeared to bear the hallmarks of a possible extortion campaign aimed at pressuring the retailer.

"A bomb is a bomb. It will always be dangerous even if no one was hurt," Els said.

The first explosion took place in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, at Woolworths Menlyn Park in Pretoria. The second happened less than 24 hours later, in the early hours of Friday, May 29, at the Woolworths Preller Square branch in Bloemfontein.

Woolworths has confirmed that both devices were detonated while the stores were closed, between 1am and 2am. The retailer said no one was harmed in either incident.

The Menlyn Park store has since reopened, while the Preller Square branch remains closed as the investigation continues.

Els said that while there was still limited information available and police investigations would have to determine the facts, an assessment of images from the scene suggested the devices could have caused serious injury or death.

"We don’t have much information and could only go on the assessment of the pictures that were supplied. We see that there was some shrapnel, and if that shrapnel that went through the shelves had hit a person or they were nearby, it could have killed them. It is possibly lethal," he said.

Els said the timing of the blasts and the apparent size of the devices suggested that those responsible may not have intended to cause mass casualties, but rather to send a message.

"The bomb was also small in size, and the fact that they both detonated quite early in the morning in both instances tells us that the perpetrators did not want it to hurt people. It was a message," he said.

"And based on our assessments, it looks very much like extortion, where they are threatening Woolworths outlets and if they don’t pay ransoms, then they will bomb them. That is the indication. The police investigations will reveal more information."

Els said South Africa had previously seen similar attacks in KwaZulu-Natal, where extortion rackets used explosive devices to threaten businesses.

"If you go back in history, in Durban there used to be attacks a few years ago by extortion rackets who also used bombs. The bombs used at Woolworths are very similar to those. The indications are that it might be extortion," Els said.

He said in suspected extortion cases, perpetrators often used threats to damage public trust and pressure businesses into meeting their demands.

"It’s not just about bombing, it affects the public trust in the outlet and customer safety, and so it is damaging for the outlets. That is what the perpetrators are bargaining on, that the outlets will cave in and meet their demands to protect the outlets and the people," Els said.

In a statement, Woolworths said it was the target of two separate incidents this week.

"While the Woolworths Menlyn Park store has reopened, Woolworths Preller Square remains closed while the investigation is under way," the company said.

"Most importantly, Woolworths is relieved to share that no one was harmed in either incident. In both instances, the devices were set off between 01:00 and 02:00, when stores were closed."

The company said SAPS was informed immediately on both occasions, a thorough sweep was done to ensure no further threats were present, and the Hawks were appointed to investigate.

"At this stage, no further information on the nature of the devices or the motive behind these attacks is available," Woolworths said.

The retailer said vigilance across Woolworths stores nationwide had increased, and specialist forensic experts had been contracted to strengthen security and intelligence.

Incoming Woolworths Group CEO Sam Ngumeni said the company was doing everything in its power to protect workers and customers.

"Woolworths is a proudly South African brand that stands for integrity and the courage to do the right thing. We are taking every action and doing everything in our power to protect our people and customers, who remain our priority," Ngumeni said.

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Bloemfontein said it was investigating an alleged explosion at a clothing store in Preller Square.

"According to reports, at around 3:00 on Friday, 29 May 2026, the store manager received a call from a security company informing him about an explosion inside the store," the Hawks said.

"The local SAPS Explosives Unit and other relevant stakeholders are on the scene. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are continuing."

The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union, which represents a number of Woolworths workers, said it was shocked by the bombings and had not been informed by the employer or employees before being approached for comment.

SACCAWU’s Sithembile Tshwete said the union condemned the attacks.

"We don’t support such acts as a union, and we hope that our members were kept safe," Tshwete said.

"The safety of our members and customers is paramount to us, and we urge SAPS to leave no stone unturned and ensure that those groups that have caused this are brought to book."

Tshwete said the union was not aware of any labour dispute or grievance involving its members that could be linked to the bombings.

"We don’t have any disputes or grievances by members that would manifest onto something like this. We have a negotiating forum where we bargain and agree on issues with Woolworths. We have not had disputes with Woolworths in a very long time. Our relationship is cordial," Tshwete said.

lilita.gcwabe@inl.co.za

The Durban Regional Court has sentenced a 30-year-old man and his 30-year-old wife to life imprisonment following their conviction on multiple charges, including attempted murder of a minor, child abuse, child neglect and intimidation.

The offences were committed in the Welbadacht East area, outside Durban, where the couple lived with the victim.

The complainant, who was 10 years old when the abuse began, is the biological sister of the second accused. Following the death of her mother, she moved in with the couple, where the court heard she was subjected to prolonged abuse between 2021 and 2023.

The court was told that the child endured repeated physical assaults, severe neglect and deprivation, and was prevented from attending school. She eventually escaped the home during a power outage and sought help from a neighbour, who alerted authorities.

She was later taken to the RK Khan Thuthuzela Care Centre, where she received medical and psychosocial support.

During sentencing, the State led evidence from multiple witnesses, including the complainant, a neighbour, medical doctors and a clinical psychologist. Medical findings and expert testimony confirmed the extent of the physical and psychological trauma.

In aggravation of sentence, Victim Impact Statements were also presented to the court, detailing the long-term emotional and physical effects on the complainant and other relatives involved in the case.

The court sentenced the first accused to life imprisonment for attempted murder of the minor, as well as 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the counts of child neglect, child abuse and intimidation.

The second accused received life imprisonment for compelled self-sexual assault, as well as an additional effective 20 years’ imprisonment for two counts of attempted murder involving two other relatives.

Both accused were also declared unfit to possess a firearm, and their names were ordered to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

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The Department of Home Affairs has dismissed as fraudulent a notice circulating on social media that falsely claims residents of Bloemfontein can receive rewards of up to R5,000 for reporting undocumented foreign nationals.

The notice, dated May 26, 2026, was addressed to “all citizens and residents of Bloemfontein” and purported to have been issued by immigration authorities. It claimed members of the public could qualify for monetary rewards for information leading to the identification, location or apprehension of undocumented migrants.

However, Home Affairs has categorically denied the authenticity of the document.

"The notice currently circulating is fraudulent and did not originate from the Department of Home Affairs," the department said in a post on X. 

It further clarified that neither the department nor the Minister of Home Affairs offers monetary rewards to members of the public for reporting undocumented foreign nationals.

FAKE NEWS ALERT: The notice currently circulating is fraudulent and did not originate from the Department of Home Affairs. Neither the Department nor the Minister of Home Affairs offers monetary rewards to members of the public for reporting undocumented foreign nationals.

We… pic.twitter.com/HCWjviKABF

— HomeAffairsSA 🇿🇦 (@HomeAffairsSA) May 29, 2026

The department urged South Africans to verify information through official channels before sharing it online.

"We encourage the public to verify information through official channels before sharing it. Let us all play our part in promoting accurate information, responsible engagement, and respect for the rule of law," Home Affairs said.

The fake notice has emerged amid ongoing national discussions around immigration enforcement and undocumented migration, issues that have frequently generated heated debate on social media platforms.

The department warned that the circulation of false information can fuel public confusion and undermine trust in official government communications.

Home Affairs has advised the public to rely on its verified communication platforms for official announcements and updates.

''For verified updates and official announcements, please follow the Department of Home Affairs’ official communication platforms.''

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Children have died in contaminated open pits at abandoned coal mines in Mpumalanga as South Africa’s mine closure crisis deepens, a new Centre for Environmental Rights report alleges.

The report warns that thousands of derelict mines continue to leave communities exposed to environmental, economic and health risks years after mining operations stop. 

"Dangerous, contaminated open pits at the abandoned Imbabala site have led to the deaths of children," report author Tarisai Mugunyani stated.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), in its 2022 report The Forever Mines: Perpetual Rights Risks from Unrehabilitated Coal Mines in South Africa, documented these deaths in what it described as a turning point for two families in Ermelo.

“On 24 September, 2016, everything changed for two families in Ermelo, a town in Mpumalanga province, eastern South Africa, in the heart of South Africa’s coal country.”

Drowning

This, the organisation said, was the day 17-year-old Xolani Mthembu and his 14-year-old friend, Sifiso Yende, drowned in an abandoned coal mine in Wesselton on the northern outskirts of Ermelo.

Following the drownings, an official from the Msukaligwa Local Municipality promised that the government would ensure access was restricted and erect warning signs at the mine site, HRW said.

"Five years later, when Human Rights Watch went to visit, the site was still completely accessible with no fence, restrictions on access, or warning signs," HRW alleged.

The Centre for Environmental Rights said the abandoned mine near Wesselton in Ermelo had continued posing risks to nearby residents more than a decade after operations ceased. "The site continue[s] to pose serious risks to residents," the report said.

A mine that never closed

Imbabala is an abandoned coal mine located in Ermelo, Mpumalanga. Previously owned by Imbabala Coal, the company abandoned operations in 2011 after the then Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) ordered mining activities to cease because the company was operating without a water-use licence.

The DMRE has since transitioned to become the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR).

Despite the mine having been abandoned since 2011, "neither the company nor the government has taken visible steps to properly close or rehabilitate the site," Mugunyani stated.

The report, titled No More Ghost Towns: Lessons from Mpumalanga's Mine Closure Crisis, was produced by the Centre for Environmental Rights and examined the state of mine rehabilitation and financial provision in South Africa's coal mining heartland.

6,100 abandoned mines

South Africa currently had "an estimated 6,100 abandoned and derelict mines", including "at least 400 abandoned coal mines", the report said.

Rehabilitation "rarely takes place during mining operations or after closure, particularly in the coal sector," Mugunyani wrote.

An Auditor-General South Africa (AG-SA) audit in 2021/22 referenced in the report found that, of these 6,100 derelict and ownerless mines, 2,568 were high-risk and there were 1,170 dangerous openings, while only 555 mines had been rehabilitated.

The DMPR's 2025 annual report said the department closed 280 hazardous mine openings and rehabilitated derelict sites, while intensifying action against illegal mining.

Not achieved

However, its actual achievement, as contained on page 80 of the report, showed it only rehabilitated four "derelict and ownerless mine sites" – an increase of one against its plan, but only because two previously targeted mines were carried over from the prior year.

In the Auditor-General's report on the DMPR's finances, it said the department's planned target for rehabilitation was "not achieved”.

In Mpumalanga specifically, "fewer than six closure certificates were issued for mines in the province between 2011 and 2016, none of them for coal," the Centre for Environmental Rights said.

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe's 2026/27 Budget Vote stated that R23.48 million was allocated for the Mine Rehabilitation Research Project and R140.87 million for the rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines.

Communities left behind

Communities living near abandoned and unrehabilitated mines often carried the consequences long after mining companies had left. The report said communities faced "water and soil contamination, loss of arable land, and serious health consequences."

Environmental damage frequently continued "long after mining operations have ceased" and many communities remained trapped with "the long-term legacy of mining and insufficient government action," the report said.

Communities living near mines were often "economically vulnerable and lack the resources needed to participate effectively" in mine closure processes. The report said the law "does not clearly prescribe how these consultations should take place", while consultation practices "vary widely between mining companies."

Mugunyani also linked poorly managed mine closures to wider socioeconomic decline in mining communities. "When mining operations cease without adequate transition planning, communities frequently experience rising unemployment and related social pressures, including declining morale, increased crime, and economic instability," the report said.

Illegal mining moves in

Abandoned mines had become sites of illegal mining activity, "posing serious safety risks," Mugunyani stated. Informal miners "may become trapped or killed underground," the report added, with such incidents contributing to "broader social instability."

In the Free State, the DMPR said that "although illegal mining is still experienced in the region, it has been reduced drastically due to the rehabilitation and closing of old underground holes with rubble.”

Under South African law, mining companies were required to make financial provision for rehabilitation before mining operations began, to ensure sufficient funds or financial guarantees were available to rehabilitate environmental damage, seal dangerous openings and manage pollution once mining activities ended.

However, mining companies typically secured these obligations through mechanisms such as rehabilitation trusts, bank guarantees or insurance guarantees rather than paying cash directly to government upfront.

The report argues this creates risks where guarantees prove insufficient or insurers backing rehabilitation obligations collapse

Significant risks

The Centre for Environmental Rights report specifically warned that South Africa relied "almost exclusively on bank and insurance guarantees rather than ring-fenced cash or trust funds", which it said created "significant risks that rehabilitation costs will ultimately be borne by the public."

The report cited the liquidation of Constantia Insurance in 2022, which had issued approximately R45.5 million in guarantees linked to Mpumalanga mines, warning that there was "no clear mechanism to recover funds" after the collapse.

All active policies were cancelled with a 31-day notice period ending in late 2022, and policyholders with unpaid claims became concurrent creditors of the liquidated estate — meaning they joined the queue with other creditors for compensation, with no guarantee of recovery.

Between 2000 and 2023, companies in Mpumalanga held R14 billion in financial provisions, the Centre for Environmental Rights found.

Mugunyani warned that many older mines nearing closure continued operating under "earlier and weaker financial provision requirements", increasing the likelihood that the state "will ultimately bear the costs of rehabilitation using limited public resources".

Coal, climate and the cost of delay

The report placed the mine closure crisis within the broader context of South Africa's coal dependence and climate pressures.

Coal combustion "accounts for more than 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions" and South Africa was described as "one of Africa's largest emitters and ranks among the top forty globally."

The country faced growing pressure around the Just Energy Transition and the "anticipated phase-out of coal." Despite the scale of the challenge, progress on rehabilitation remained slow, the report said.

The report also raised concerns about transparency and access to information in the mining sector. "Access to information remains a serious and systemic challenge," it said.

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South Africa’s growing political and public pressure over immigration enforcement, border control and citizenship verification has intensified scrutiny over the government’s ability to track dual citizenship, after the Department of Home Affairs confirmed it does not maintain a consolidated record of citizens holding multiple nationalities.

This comes after African Transformation Movement (ATM) Member of Parliament (MP) Vuyo Zungula asked Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber whether the department had records reflecting the number of South Africans who also hold citizenship in one or more foreign countries, including which countries accounted for the highest number of dual citizenship cases.

In a written parliamentary reply, Schreiber said the Department of Home Affairs “does not maintain a comprehensive or consolidated register of South African citizens who hold dual or multiple citizenship.”

He said it was important to clarify that this was “not due to a failure of administration, but rather a function of the current constitutional and legal framework.”

Schreiber explained that the South African Citizenship Act of 1995 previously required citizens to apply for retention of citizenship before voluntarily obtaining foreign citizenship.

However, he said a Constitutional Court judgment delivered on May 6, 2025, declared the relevant provision unconstitutional with retrospective effect.

“As a result, South Africans no longer lose their citizenship when acquiring another nationality, and there is no longer any legal obligation to notify the Department,” Schreiber said.

The Constitutional Court ruling effectively removed the requirement for South Africans acquiring foreign citizenship to notify Home Affairs, significantly limiting the department’s ability to maintain a complete record of dual or multiple citizens.

Schreiber added that Home Affairs had since established an online citizenship portal to help people confirm and update their status on the National Population Register.

“However, this platform is intended to regularise individual records, not to create a complete register of all dual or multiple citizens,” he said.

He further noted that many people acquire foreign citizenship automatically through birth, descent or marriage in foreign jurisdictions, which falls outside the department’s control.

“Accordingly, the absence of a consolidated figure is not a failure of administration, but a reflection of the Constitutional Court ruling, jurisdictional limits, and the realities of global mobility,” Schreiber said.

Responding to questions about the total number of South Africans with dual or multiple citizenship, Schreiber said: “A verified total number of South African citizens holding dual or multiple citizenship is not available”.

He added that the department could only provide administrative data relating to retention of citizenship applications processed over certain periods, but stressed that these records represented “only a subset of dual citizenship cases”.

On questions relating to which countries were associated with the highest number of South Africans holding dual citizenship, Schreiber said the department “does not maintain comprehensive country-specific statistics reflecting all instances of dual citizenship.”

He added that any figures derived from existing records would be based only on partial administrative datasets, such as retention of citizenship applications indicating an intended country of naturalisation, and would therefore “not provide a complete or reliable measure”.

Schreiber said trends in applications for retention of South African citizenship showed “a sustained demand over time”, generally aligned with migration patterns and socio-economic factors influencing emigration.

“While these applications provide an indication of the volume of South African citizens seeking to acquire additional citizenship while retaining their South African citizenship, they do not reflect the full extent of dual or multiple citizenship due to the limitations outlined above,” he said.

He said the department continues to improve its data management systems as part of ongoing modernisation initiatives, although “historical and legal constraints remain a limiting factor in producing a comprehensive dataset on dual or multiple citizenship.”

The disclosure comes amid heightened scrutiny over South Africa’s immigration enforcement systems, border management and citizenship verification processes, with growing political pressure on government to tighten immigration controls and strengthen documentation systems.

The issue of immigration has increasingly become politically charged in South Africa, particularly against the backdrop of rising public concern over undocumented migration, border security, asylum backlogs and pressure on public services.

Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has previously raised concerns about administrative inefficiencies, litigation delays and mounting strain on the Department of Home Affairs’ immigration and refugee systems, warning that operational backlogs continue to affect processing capacity.

Immigration enforcement has meanwhile become a growing source of political and social tension, with protests linked to undocumented migration taking place in parts of Johannesburg and Durban in recent months.

The debate has intensified amid growing calls from some political and civic groups for stricter immigration enforcement, tighter border controls and stronger verification systems, placing increasing pressure on government departments responsible for migration management and citizenship administration.

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As concerns grow over fraud-related complaints at Nedbank and Standard Bank, two long-standing Nedbank customers have come forward with strikingly similar accounts of devastating financial losses, unanswered questions, and what they describe as dismissive “goodwill” settlement offers after their accounts were compromised.

Their stories, now before the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO), raise broader concerns about the security of South Africa’s digital banking systems, the effectiveness of fraud detection tools, and whether banks are doing enough to explain how sophisticated fraud incidents occur.

At the centre of both cases is the same unresolved issue: when customers lose tens of thousands of rands through banking app fraud, what obligation does a bank have to provide a clear technical explanation of how the breach happened?

For Cape Town-based cybersecurity professional Megan Hendriks, the alleged silence from Nedbank has become as distressing as the financial loss itself.

Hendriks, who runs the cybersecurity TikTok platform “The War in Your Wi-Fi” and has authored a children’s book on online safety, says her husband Willie’s Nedbank account was emptied after he was robbed at gunpoint in December 2025.

According to correspondence shared with IOL, Willie Hendriks was ambushed in traffic near Bellevue Avenue in Observatory on December 23 at around 3:30pm. His cellphone was stolen while unlocked during the robbery.

“At the time, only the Waze app was open. No banking applications were active,” Hendriks said.

What followed, however, has left the family with more questions than answers.

Within a short period after the theft, unauthorised transactions amounting to R24,900 were allegedly processed through the Nedbank banking app. These included five eWallet payments of R1,000 each, two transfers of R2,000, a R9,900 beneficiary transfer, and additional transfers of R5,000 and R4,900.

Hendriks maintains that no bank cards were stolen, no PINs were shared, and no banking credentials were disclosed.

More notably, she says other banking apps installed on the same device, including accounts with Discovery Bank and Absa, were never accessed.

“Despite Nedbank employing facial recognition security, the thieves were somehow able to access and fully drain his Nedbank account. Discovery and Absa were not compromised,” she wrote in correspondence shared with IOL.

“For the past five months, we have repeatedly asked Nedbank one fundamental question: how was their app accessed? To date, this has never been satisfactorily answered.”

The timing of the incident compounded the impact on the family.

“Our entire December salary was stolen just days before Christmas,” she said.

What followed, according to the family, were months of financial strain and repeated collection calls over arrears on their home loan, which they say arose directly because of the fraud.

“Despite explaining repeatedly that the arrears were the direct result of fraud on their platform, the calls persisted,” Hendriks wrote.

“We were eventually forced into an unsustainable three-month repayment plan, leaving our family with almost no money to live on.”

Documentation reviewed by IOL shows the incident was reported to Nedbank on the same day as the robbery. The family says they were informed that bank statements would only become available on January 22, 2026, delaying the investigation process.

A police affidavit was later completed at Brixton SAPS, confirming the armed robbery and the theft of the device. The bank also reportedly requested an ITC reference number linked to the stolen cellphone before progressing the fraud investigation.

By February 2026, Nedbank informed the family that it would offer a “goodwill” payment of R5,976 and considered the matter closed.

The offer represented less than a quarter of the amount allegedly stolen.

Hendriks says the family declined the offer because they wanted answers rather than compensation without explanation.

“When we declined, requesting answers instead, the bank ceased communication entirely,” she wrote.

“Emails went unanswered. Escalations stalled. We were, quite literally, ghosted by our own bank.”

For someone who works in cybersecurity, Hendriks says the case raises troubling technical questions.

“From both a professional and personal standpoint, the silence around how a facial-recognition-protected app was breached is alarming,” she said.

In formal correspondence to Nedbank, the family asked the bank to explain what authentication method had been used to access the account, whether Face ID had been bypassed or disabled, why fraud systems failed to flag multiple high-value transactions, and why no intervention was triggered during the transaction window.

According to the family, none of these questions have been answered.

Responding to questions from IOL, Nedbank said there are three ways clients can access the Nedbank Money App: through biometric fingerprint or facial recognition, via the Money App PIN, or by using the client’s Nedbank ID password.

“In this case, the Money App was accessed using the valid App Pin of the client,” the bank said.

Nedbank further stated that no fraud alerts were generated in the Hendriks matter.

The matter has since been escalated to the NFO, while the family says it is also considering legal action. The Hendriks case is not isolated.

A second complaint before the ombud involves Petronella Havenga and her husband Hendrik Havenga, who together spent more than four decades working for Nedbank and say they have never banked elsewhere.

It is alleged that in November 2025, R50,000 was fraudulently transferred from Petronella Havenga’s account through a series of transactions she insists she never authorised.

According to documents shared with IOL, the fraud stemmed from an elaborate social engineering scam.

Havenga had reportedly been searching online for flights and claims she was contacted by individuals claiming to represent Qatar Airways. The callers allegedly offered special discounts for customers over the age of 60 and eventually convinced her to download an application linked through WhatsApp.

Nedbank’s own investigation later concluded that the application was malware.

“I fully trusted Qatar Airlines because I believed the call I received was related to my enquiries,” Hendrik Havenga wrote in submissions to the ombud.

“I do now understand the explanation from Nedbank that it was a ‘Malware’ App which I downloaded and that it infiltrated my phone.”

Despite this acknowledgement, the Havengas dispute a critical element of Nedbank’s findings.

According to the bank’s investigation report, “Approve It” confirmation notifications were sent for all fraudulent transactions.

The couple insist no such notifications were ever received.

“I have definitely not received such or any other confirmation messages from the bank,” Hendrik Havenga wrote.

He subsequently requested the full message trail and proof that the notifications were delivered.

Responding to IOL, Nedbank said four “Approve It” messages had been sent and accepted from the client’s own device.

The bank provided timestamped records, which it says show the approvals were accepted during the fraudulent transaction window.

Nedbank further stated that the client initially lost R150,000, but that the bank had managed to recover R100,000 and immediately re-credited the client’s account.

“In addition, Nedbank verified the client via a selfie match,” the bank said.

The couple say they also experienced long periods of silence from the bank after reporting the fraud.

Petronella Havenga alleges that after filing the complaint in November 2025, she received no meaningful updates for approximately two months.

When the bank eventually responded, she says she was telephonically offered a goodwill payment of R1,300.

Emails reviewed by IOL show that on January 23, 2026, Nedbank Client Service Resolution Manager Thuli Masipa wrote to Havenga apologising for the fraud and offering the payment “because you are a long-standing client and not as an admission of guilt”.

The email further stated that the payment constituted a “full and final settlement” of the matter and that the complaint had been closed.

Havenga rejected the offer.

“I will, however, not accept the goodwill offer of R1300.00 and will immediately be referring this matter to the Banking Ombudsman,” she replied.

“Can you please supply me with the detailed investigation report?”

In further correspondence to the NFO, Havenga expressed frustration at what she viewed as the bank’s treatment of loyal customers.

“I worked for Nedbank for 37 years. We have never banked elsewhere,” she wrote.

“This is the slap in the face we get. All our savings are with them. Nobody from the bank has the decency to speak to us.”

The matter is now under formal adjudication at the ombud.

Asked how it determines goodwill payments, Nedbank said such payments are made as “an ex-gratia gesture where the bank does not accept liability for the loss”.

The bank said each case is assessed individually, taking into account “the specific facts and circumstances of the incident”, the forensic investigation outcome, “the extent of any third-party compromise”, the customer’s adherence to security obligations, as well as “relevant client considerations such as vulnerability and tenure”.

“Accordingly, the goodwill amount offered is not intended to correlate directly to the value of the loss, but rather to reflect a fair and reasonable gesture in the context of the individual case,” the bank said.

The complaints emerge amid growing concern over digital banking fraud in South Africa and the way banks resolve such disputes.

According to NFO data, thousands of fraud-related banking complaints were handled during 2025, with major retail banks appearing regularly in complaint statistics.

Under South Africa’s banking framework, the burden often falls heavily on customers to demonstrate that they did not negligently enable the fraud.

Critics argue that this creates a significant imbalance, particularly in highly technical cases involving malware, device compromise, or biometric authentication systems.

The Nedbank cases also mirror issues recently exposed in an IOL investigation into Standard Bank fraud complaints.

In several Standard Bank matters reviewed by IOL, customers described near-identical experiences: unauthorised withdrawals, no record of OTP notifications being received, prolonged investigations, and eventual offers of partial reimbursement framed as “goodwill gestures”.

Settlement agreements reviewed by IOL in those cases included confidentiality clauses warning customers not to discuss the settlements publicly.

Nedbank confirmed to IOL that some settlement agreements may also contain confidentiality provisions.

“Such clauses are used to prevent disclosure of sensitive security and investigative processes,” the bank said.

The Nedbank complainants say they were not subjected to confidentiality agreements, but only because they rejected the offers outright.

For both families, the issue extends beyond the money lost.

They say the deeper concern is the refusal to explain how the breaches occurred in the first place.

“Nedbank made no attempt to explain how my bank ID, username and password were used by fraudsters to access my account,” Petronella Havenga wrote in correspondence to the ombud.

“I want to make it very clear that at no time were my banking credentials compromised or divulged to any third party.”

Nedbank said customers are provided with written outcome communications summarising investigation findings once fraud complaints are concluded internally.

However, the bank said detailed forensic reports, system logs, and security processes are “not typically disclosed” because doing so “could compromise fraud detection and prevention capabilities”.

The bank also defended its fraud detection systems, saying its capabilities are “continuously enhanced and consistently detect and prevent the majority of fraudulent activity, including anomalous or high-risk transactions”.

“In the case of Ms Havenga, alerts were generated, and preventative actions were taken in line with established controls,” Nedbank said.

“Fraud risk management remains an area of ongoing investment, with layered controls applied across channels to mitigate evolving threats.”

For Hendriks, however, the matter has broader public-interest implications.

“This raises a critical public-interest question: how safe is customer money with Nedbank?” she said.

“Is this indicative of a serious, undisclosed cybersecurity flaw, or something even more concerning?”

“And how many other customers may have accepted ‘goodwill’ settlements without ever being told what truly happened?”

karabo.ngoepe@iol.co.za

IOL News

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The North West Department of Human Settlements is defending the stalled Matlosana N12 Catalytic Project, pushing back against mounting criticism while attempting to shift responsibility for the housing crisis onto contractors, municipal failures and national budget cuts.

The response follows widespread outrage after revelations that the ambitious R4.2 billion housing development in Ward 15, Matlosana, had descended into years of delays, incomplete structures and broken promises, leaving thousands of residents still waiting for homes promised as far back as 2023.

In a lengthy media statement issued on Thursday, the department said it wanted to “set the record straight” regarding claims surrounding the controversial project. But rather than accepting direct responsibility for the collapse in delivery, the statement repeatedly shifted blame to contractor MXN Development Construction, the Matlosana Local Municipality, and broader funding pressures within the national human settlements sector.

“The North West Department of Human Settlements has noted with concern the article published on IOL and wishes to set the record straight regarding the claims made therein,” the department said.

The Matlosana N12 Catalytic Project was initially positioned as a flagship integrated human settlements development aimed at addressing a housing backlog estimated at around 38,500 units within the Matlosana Local Municipality.

Beyond subsidised housing, the development was also expected to include schools, churches, creches, commercial developments, social housing and community facilities.

Instead, it has become a symbol of dysfunction, delays and growing public mistrust.

One of the most striking aspects of the department’s response is the extent to which it distances itself from the project’s troubled origins. According to the department, the municipality, not the province, appointed MXN Development Construction in 2014 to install underground infrastructure and build Breaking New Ground houses.

“In 2023, the department took over the implementation of the 1,667 BNG housing project… from the municipality, as the municipality was not accredited to implement housing projects,” the statement said.

The admission raises serious questions about how an unaccredited municipality was allowed to oversee a multi-billion-rand housing project for nearly a decade before provincial authorities intervened.

The department also confirmed that MXN Development Construction was expected to inject its own capital into the project.

“The contractor was expected to make a financial investment into the development; however, this has not materialised,” the statement said.

Despite this, nearly R1 billion in public money has already been spent. According to the department, “a total of R989 357 295.00 was disbursed and invested in the installation of engineering services.”

The government also appeared eager to narrow public focus away from the widely cited R4.2 billion project value.

“It should be clarified that the initial budget allocated for this specific intervention amounted to approximately R1 billion and not the broader R4.2 billion project value,” officials stated.

The department’s statement also contained a significant admission: the provincial government experienced major financial strain that directly affected project payments and timelines. Officials acknowledged “significant cash flow challenges from the 2023/2024 financial year to date due to budget reductions and broader funding constraints affecting the human settlements sector nationally.”

The department further admitted that limited cash flow forced it to prioritise certain obligations over others.

“As departmental cash flow allocations are linked to approved business plans and conditional grant transfers, the constrained funding environment adversely affected the department’s ability to process certain payments within contractual timelines,” the statement said.

Officials said the department had to “balance limited available cash flow against both financial obligations and the achievement of critical non-financial service delivery targets.”

The statement outlined a series of measures the department claimed were implemented to manage the crisis, including letters sent to contractors in January 2024 warning of financial difficulties and meetings aimed at explaining delays.

But while the department framed these issues as the consequence of national funding pressures, the statement simultaneously revealed a project bogged down by payment disputes, verification problems and administrative confusion.

Claim 46A, according to the department, was only paid four months after submission. Claims 47 and 48, submitted in December 2025, were only processed in January and February 2026, respectively.

Claim 49 remains unresolved.

The department said the dispute centred on “a short-payment dispute associated with roofing milestones and discrepancies on the Housing Subsidy System (HSS).”

Officials described the issue as part of an ongoing “administrative verification and correction” process.

Having acknowledged its own payment difficulties, the department then pivoted sharply to blame the contractor for inactivity on-site.

“We must further state as a department that constant monitoring of the project was done continuously, and the department’s Chief Building Inspector confirmed that the contractor was not active on site,” the statement said.

The department added that “departmental records reflected no project activity indicative of ongoing work on the ground.”

According to officials, the last requests for inspections submitted by the contractor were dated 7 October 2025 and 9 October 2025, which the department said demonstrated “no activity on the ground.”

This ultimately prompted the department to issue a notice of intention to terminate the contract on April 30, 2026, due to “material non-performance and breach of contractual obligations.”

However, in a contradiction that raises fresh questions about accountability and enforcement, the department also confirmed that no final termination notice has yet been issued.

“Following receipt of the notice, the contractor returned to the site and resumed certain construction activities,” officials said.

The result is a deeply conflicted narrative in which the contractor is simultaneously portrayed as responsible for abandoning the project while still being allowed to continue working on it.

One of the most politically sensitive aspects of the controversy involves allegations that funds linked to the project may have been redirected elsewhere. The department categorically denied this.

“The department categorically rejects allegations that funds intended for the development were redirected towards politically connected projects,” the statement said.

It further challenged journalists and critics to produce proof.

“The department further challenges the journalist to provide credible evidence in support of these allegations, as such claims are serious, misleading and without factual basis.”

Yet while the department dismissed the allegations outright, it did not address the broader history of scrutiny surrounding the project.

Previous investigations and reports have already raised questions about procurement processes, oversight failures and the scale of payments linked to the development over the years.

Perhaps the most devastating reality emerging from the department’s own statement is how little tangible progress has been achieved relative to the scale of the promises made.

According to findings from a recent National Council of Provinces oversight visit, only 263 houses out of the planned 1 667 units were fully completed, with others remaining in varying stages of construction.

This is after more than ten years since the project’s inception.

Despite its defensive tone, the department ultimately acknowledged the growing anger among residents.

“The department acknowledges the frustrations, concerns and disappointment experienced by residents of Ward 15 regarding delays in the delivery of houses promised during 2023,” officials said.

“We fully appreciate that access to housing represents dignity, security, and stability for affected communities.”

But for many residents, the statement is unlikely to provide reassurance.

What emerges from the department’s own account is a picture of a project crippled by years of weak oversight, unresolved contractor disputes, funding shortfalls, administrative dysfunction and shifting accountability between multiple layers of government.

The department insists it acted in good faith throughout.

Yet after nearly a decade, hundreds of millions spent and thousands still waiting for homes, residents of Matlosana are left confronting a far more immediate reality: promises made, money spent and houses still unfinished.

karabo.ngoepe@iol.co.za

IOL