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MAHIKENG - The Department of Health in the North West can confirm the death of another patient who was part of a cohort of thirty-three (33) suspected illegal miners, admitted at the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital complex.  The deceased, identified as Jonny Shingani, was admitted at the facility on the 14th of this month, following a successful extraction of illegal miners underground by National Rescue Operation, at the disused mines in Stilfontein last week.  The deceased passed on Thursday 23 January 2025 due to a medical-related condition.  From the three-day National Rescue Operation, two-hundred and forty-six (246) suspected illegal miners were medically assessed by our healthcare professionals before being handed over to the police, while thirty-three (33) had to be admitted, for further medical care.  The total number of those that have passed on from thirty-three admitted, is now two (2).  Currently, the department only has seventeen (17) admi...

POLOKWANE - The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has condemned the brutal murder of a 29-year-old woman, believed to have been shot by her husband in cold blood in the Free State. The husband is believed to have crossed into Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Port of Entry. On 20 January 2025, police in Musina received information from a tracking company about a white Ford Ranger with Limpopo registration, which had been parked at a residence in Campbell. The vehicle’s owner had been reported missing since Friday, 17 January 2025, under Moroka SAPS in Gauteng, along with his wife. Police rushed to the scene and found the vehicle at the residence. The owner explained that he had kept the bakkie in his yard with permission from the male owner, who had borrowed a large amount of cash and indicated he intended to cross the border to Zimbabwe for spiritual assistance due to issues at his workplace. Further investigation revealed that t...

PRETORIA - President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Expropriation Bill which repeals the pre-democratic Expropriation Act of 1975 and sets out how organs of State may expropriate land in the public interest for varied reasons. The Bill, which has undergone a five-year process of public consultation and parliamentary deliberation, aligns legislation on expropriation with the Constitution. Section 25 of the Constitution recognises expropriation as an essential mechanism for the state to acquire someone’s property for a public purpose or in the public interest, subject to just and equitable compensation being paid. Up to now, expropriation of property has been governed in terms of the Expropriation Act of 1975, which predates the expropriation mechanism provided for in section 25(2) of the Constitution. The Bill assented to by President Ramaphosa outlines how expropriation can be done and on what basis. This law will assist all organs of State - local, provincial and ...

FOCHVILLE - Musawenkosi Khawula (32) appeared briefly in the Fochville Magistrates’ Court today. He faces charges of attempted murder, alternatively reckless driving, as well as an additional charge of failing to render assistance and/or report an accident to the police. These charges allegedly arise from an incident that took place on 20 February 2021, around 18:00 near Mponeng Mine. It is alleged that the complainant and his wife were driving home on a narrow road when they noticed a Volkswagen Polo parked along the roadway. The accused was standing next to the vehicle naked on his lower body.   The couple approached the accused, informing him that he was trespassing on private property. Upon looking inside the vehicle, the complainant allegedly saw another man moving from the back seat to the front seat while getting dressed. After an exchange of words between the complainant and the accused, the accused allegedly returned to his car, drove away, when he reached a d...

GAUTENG - The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has become aware of an online advertisement circulating regarding Traffic Warden Vacancies in Johannesburg.  JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla categorically clarified that this advertisement and the information contained within it are not associated with or endorsed by the JMPD. "The information in the advertisement is misleading. We urge the public to be vigilant and to only consider official communication channels for information related to JMPD recruitment processes. "For any inquiries regarding any vacancies or other JMPD employment opportunities, please visit the City of Johannesburg's official website www.joburg.org.za," he advised.

DURBAN - A firearm used in the murder of a Pakistani National has been recovered and the suspect sought in the matter was arrested by Reaction Officers this morning (Friday, 24 January). Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called out to an apartment on Thompson Lane in the Verulam CBD - KZN after receiving reports of a shooting and hijacking yesterday afternoon (Thursday). On arrival, it was established that the owner of a cellphone shop shot and killed an employee at a flat they were sharing. The suspect fired shots at a second male before fleeing to the basement where he hijacked a grey Hyundai Sonata. All three (3) men are Pakistani Nationals. The injured man succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Reaction Officers tracked the vehicle and recovered it abandoned on Old Main Road in Ottawa - KZN.  This morning (Friday), Reaction Officers were dispatched to a callout regarding an injured male walking on Mission Road in Missionlands - KZN at approximately ...

HOUGHTON - South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested a 25-year-old woman, a web designer by profession, in Houghton on Thursday, 23 January 2025. She faces charges of possession of child pornography and money laundering. This arrest follows the takedown of her 35-year-old boyfriend ( Darren Wilken ), who was apprehended last week during a joint operation conducted by the national and Gauteng provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) Units in Midrand. Wilken has appeared in court this and the matter was postponed to 28 January. Nonetheless, an intensive investigation by the SECI Units uncovered evidence linking the woman to criminal activities, including the possession of an estimated 10 million child pornography images and videos. These materials were discovered on various electronic devices seized during an operation on Friday, 17 January 2025. The suspect is set to appear before the Randburg Magistrates' Court on Monday, 27 January 2025. Inve...

DURBAN - A pedestrian was killed when a minibus taxi collided with a light motor vehicle in Durban today, Thursday, 23 January. The fatal collision happened on the corner of Smith Street and Park Street in the Durban CBD. ALS Paramedics arrived together with EMRS Paramedics to find the that the taxi, after the collision, had lost control and jumped onto the pavement, colliding into pedestrians before coming to rest against the bus stop.  Paramedics found two male pedestrians that had been struck. Unfortunately, one male, believed to be in his early twenties, had sustained major injuries and there was nothing that paramedics could do for him and he was declared deceased at the scene. A second male pedestrians, also in his twenties, had sustained serious injuries and was stabilised on scene, before being transported to a nearby hospital for the further care that he required.  SAPS and Metro Police were in attendance to further probe the accident.

KWAZULU-NATAL- Democratic Alliance in Msunduzi local municipality has submitted a motion calling for the municipality to review and ultimately terminate R27 million sponsorship for the Royal AM football club (view motion here ). "The municipality cannot continue supporting a business facing serious legal proceedings, including allegations of tax evasion. Non-compliance with tax laws and deliberate tax evasion are criminal offences that should not be taken lightly by any municipal authority," argued DA councillor Reggie Khanyile. "Maintaining a relationship with an entity under such scrutiny is damaging to the municipality’s reputation." He added that Royal AM is already under curatorship, facing sequestration processes, and unable to pay staff salaries. The club has breached contracts with former players, is facing sanctions from FIFA, and risks being declared insolvent by the world football governing body. Continuing this sponsorship brings nothing but ...

WELKOM - A search operation has been launched for a missing teen, Buhle Precious Mpuma (14). She reportedly left home on Sunday, 19 January 2025 in Riebeckstad. Buhle left her parent's home going to the shopping mall in Thabong, and has since disappeared. All efforts in trying to locate her, were in vain. Buhle is dark in complexion, medium build, short in height, she has dimples on her cheeks and has short black hair. She was last seen wearing a black, yellow and pink t-shirt, black and white trousers and white crocs shoes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is requested to contact Detective Sergeant Jane Finger of Thabong Detective Services on 082 301 2808 or alternatively the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has released the road accident statistics following the festive season. This past festive season was marred by horried crashes which many claimed the lives of locals and cross-border travellers. #FestiveRoadSafetyReport: The provincial statistics are as follows: *KwaZulu-Natal 304 fatalities from 247 fatal crashes *Gauteng 235 fatalities from 224 fatal crashes *Eastern Cape 231 fatalities from 168 fatal crashes *Limpopo 180 fatalities from 140 fatal crashes 9 *Mpumalanga 143 fatalities from 118 fatal crashes *Western Cape 140 fatalities from 124 fatal crashes *Free State 106 fatalities from 81 fatal crashes *Northwest 100 fatalities from 87 fatal crashes *Northern Cape 63 fatalities from 45 fatal crashes Motorists are reminded to obey the rules of the road, including adhering to speed limits.

JOBURG - The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) conducted intensified roadblocks and patrols across the City of Johannesburg from 13 to 19 January 2025. During this period, a total of 105 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol by JMPD officers. According to JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla, these arrests were made as part of the JMPD's ongoing commitment to ensuring road safety and reducing alcohol-related crashes. The JMPD deployed officers to various locations throughout the city, focusing on areas known for high traffic volumes and potential hotspots for drunk driving. "Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence that puts the lives of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk. The JMPD will continue to enforce traffic laws and take strict action against those who choose to drive while intoxicated," he warned. "We urge all motorists to exercise caution and responsibility on the...

KEMPTON PARK - Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) can confirm that following the fire at the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF) refinery on 4 January 2025, which is impacting the production of fuel nationally, the industry has secured enough supply for O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) for January and is collaborating to mitigate any disruption during the month of February. ORTIA has 27.1 million litres of jet fuel currently available. The airport currently utilises about 3.6 million litres of jet fuel a day which means that there are about 7.6 days of stock on hand until the week ending 02/02/2025. WORKING WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS Given the requirement for 3.6 mil litres consumption per day, with the opening of the refinery on 27/02/2025, this translates to a total of 97.2 million litres required for February. The Fuels Industry Association of Southern Africa (FIASA), NATREF industry partners and government agencies, including Airports Company o...

JOHANNESBURG - The Randburg Magistrates Court has postponed the case Musa Khawula (33), to 29 January 2025, for a formal bail application. Khawula faces charges of crimen injuria and contempt of court. The accused is alleged to have posted defamatory statements on his social media platform, which has a large following between 10 and 12 October 2024, with the alleged intention of harming the dignity of businessman Zesimdumise Nxumalo (44). During the proceedings, the state was prepared to proceed with the bail application, however, the defence requested a postponement, stating they needed additional time to prepare a comprehensive bail statement.  Khawula is remanded in custody until the hearing of his formal application.

NELSPRUIT - The Police in Skukuza are investigating an incident after the body of a man, who is in his late 40's, was found with some injuries on his lower right limb inside the park in the early hours of Monday, 20 January 2025. This comes after field rangers in the Kruger National Park came across the body while conducting their daily patrols. The Police were contacted, and upon arrival, they discovered that the man had already passed on with part of his right leg missing. Preliminary investigations by the Police show that the man may have been bitten and killed by wild animals. However, that will form part of the investigation. "An inquest case has been opened and is currently under investigation. Police records also show that the man was previously arrested and was currently attending court on a case of trespassing. "The identity of the deceased will be released once the family has formally identified him. "Members of the public are warned to refrai...

KWAZULU-NATAL - Midlands EMS responded to an emergency call following a rhino attack just outside the Pietermaritzburg area on Monday, 20 January. The EMS' advanced life support ambulance was promptly dispatched to the scene to provide urgent medical assistance. On arrival, the Midlands EMS team found one person who had sustained serious injuries and was in critical condition. Immediate advanced life support treatment was initiated to stabilize the patient. This included the use of specialized rescue equipment to ensure safe and effective care in a challenging environment. After the patient was stabilized on-site, they were carefully transported to a Level 1 trauma hospital for further treatment and ongoing care.

SOWETO - Traditional healer Ann Makgotso Mofokeng, also known as Gogo Maweni(38), appeared in the Protea Magistrates’ Court facing a charge of Assault with Intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH). The accused was arrested on 19 January 2025, in connection with an alleged incident that occurred on 17 December 2019, in Dlamini, Soweto. It is alleged that Mofokeng used a bottle to assault the complainant, striking her in the mouth. The matter was previously provisionally closed due to the untraceability of the complainant. However, further investigations have led to the accused's arrest and court appearance. The case has been postponed to 27 January 2025, for bail application and profiling of the accused.

GAUTENG - Illegal connections and electricity theft burdens transformer load, warns Eskom. While loadshedding remains suspended, Eskom says it implements load reduction from 05:00 – 09:00 and 17:00 – 22:00.  According to the power utility, continued pressure on its transformers/mini-substations due to illegal connections and electricity theft in some areas necessitates load reduction to avoid equipment damage.  Below is a list of the affected areas where load reduction will be implemented. Click below to view the area schedule. i.e. Block A, B, or C will indicate the specific area, and the schedule will display the times when load reduction will occur. See Eskom load reduction schedule for your area here

DURBAN - A 33 year old bus driver was executed in Westham near Phoenix, north of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal earlier today, Monday, 20 January. Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called out to the scene at approximately 05:34. On arrival, Reaction Officers discovered the white bus partially off the road. The driver was found to have been shot multiple times and demised prior to the arrival of First Responders.  It was alleged that three (3) occupants of a white Toyota Etios (registration unknown) opened fire on the bus before they sped off. There were no passengers in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.  The motive for the murder is unknown at this stage.

STILFONTEIN - The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng has ordered maximum resources to be mobilised in finding an alleged kingpin who resurfaced from shaft 11 in Stilfontein last week. Major General Asaneng has also warned that heads will roll once they find those officials that aided the kingpin to escape from police custody after resurfacing from shaft 11 last week. Extensive investigations and tracing operations are underway to find those officials who aided his escape between shaft 11 and the Stilfontein police holding cells. According to records, TIGER was never booked into various other stations where some illegal miners are being kept. TIGER is also not admitted at a local hospital for further medical care. The alleged kingpin and ringleader is a Lesotho national and according to records his name is James Neo Tshoaeli but is commonly known as TIGER. TIGER is being fingered in several statements as one of the ring leaders who co...