TrendySA Online

PIETERMARITZBURG - In a joint effort between uMgungundlovu Crime Intelligence, Alexandra police station Crime Prevention officers, and Mi7 National Group, three suspects linked to the kidnapping and assault of a Pietermaritzburg woman were arrested after exhaustive investigations.  On Tuesday, 28 January, the elderly woman was allegedly kidnapped by four people, two men and two women, from a shopping centre in Scottsville. It is believed the four lured the woman into their vehicle, a Suzuki Ertiga, and demanded access to her banking app. When she didn't comply, she was beaten relentlessly inside the vehicle as the suspects left the area.  Unfortunately, the woman was assaulted so badly that her device's facial recognition software could not verify her features to allow access to the banking app. That is when the suspects allegedly contacted the woman's daughter to ask for a passcode to the app. Becoming suspicious, the daughter immediately reported this to the p...

JOHANNESBURG - South African consumers will have to brace for another blow to their cost of living, as the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved a 12.74% electricity price hike for Eskom, set to take effect in the next financial year. The regulator has also approved further hikes of 5.36% for 2026/27 and a further increase of 6.19% for the 2027/28 financial year. The decision comes as part of Eskom’s Sixth Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD6) revenue application for the 2025/26, 2026/27, and 2027/28 financial years, which was announced on Thursday afternoon. Tough balancing act NERSA Board Chairperson, Thembani Bukula, described the complexity of the decision-making process as a “delicate balancing act” of "conflict" that took into account the needs of all stakeholders. “We are required to ensure that Eskom is sustainable within the short and the long term. At the same time, we are required to ensure that the electricity services that Es...

"When every second counts", is a phrase synonymous with First Responders such as Paramedics at an accident scene. Knowing what to do when an ambulance is behind you can save lives!  Here are a few simple but vital steps to help paramedics reach those in need quickly and safely, courtesy of ALS Paramedics Medical Services: * Move to the side: Create space for the ambulance to pass. * Give way: Prioritise the emergency vehicle’s path. * Stop until the ambulance passes through: Avoid driving ahead or next to it. * Keep the centre lane open: This is crucial for smooth passage in heavy traffic. Your quick actions can make all the difference. 

JOHANNESURG - After more than 10 months of uninterrupted electricity supply due to the success of the Generation Recovery Plan, Eskom has issued an alert indicating a high risk of loadshedding at short notice. “This is a potentially temporary setback. Loadshedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in our generation fleet. However, over the past seven days, we have experienced several breakdowns that require extended repair times. This has necessitated the use of all our emergency reserves, which now need to be replenished. Consequently, we are closely monitoring the status of our current emergency reserves, and loadshedding up to Stage 4 may be implemented over the weekend.” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane. Eskom will issue further updates in due course. Source: Eskom

DURBAN - A feared gang leader of the notorious Inanda West Gang and his accomplice were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police at Cottonlands in Verulam on Thursday afternoon. Police operationalised intelligence about the gang leader and his two accomplices who were driving to Umhlanga, reportedly to collect drugs and ammunition. When the three left Umhlanga, they swapped vehicles and vigilant police managed to identify them and followed them until the suspects parked their vehicle along Vincent Dickinson Road in Cottonlands. When police approached their vehicle, the suspects opened fire towards the police and a shootout ensued. The 22-year-old gang leader and his 27-year-old accomplice sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the shootout. A search is underway for the third suspect who narrowly evaded arrest. The gang leader had a warrant of arrest against him on a case of murder. He was linked to over 20 cases and had allegedly killed over 10 people. His other ca...

PRETORIA - International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has urged Rwanda to stop its support for the M23 group and to withdraw its forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “The unauthorised presence of the Rwanda Defence Forces in eastern DRC violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC,” the Minister said at the 1257th Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), on Tuesday.  Several soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the DRC were killed by the M23 rebel group in recent days following intense fighting, including 13 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Deadly clashes have erupted in eastern DRC following Kinshasa’s withdrawal of its diplomats from Kigali, as rebels backed by Rwanda advance toward the key city of Goma, which is rich in minerals.  The soldiers of the SANDF are part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Cong...

DURBAN - Former President Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court today, Thursday, 30 January, facing charges relating to the July 2021 unrest. Represented by Advocate Dali Mpofu, Duduzile was released on warning after a bail of R3000 was proposed. The State did not oppose the bail on the basis that she handed herself over for processing and court appearance. The matter will now move to the Durban High Court on 20 March 2025. Duduzile, a member of uMkhonto Wesizwe Party, is accused of encouraging anarchy during the 2021 July unrest which left parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in dissarry. The unrest saw the looting and torching of shopping centres which was triggered by the arrest of Zuma for contempt of court.  More than 300 people lost their lives during the act.

KWAZULU-NATAL - Approximately 150 bags of cement were looted from a truck in Hambanathi in KZN on Wednesday, 29 January. Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called out to Manzekhofi Road after approximately thirty (30) individuals on foot and in vehicles began looting the truck.  On arrival, Reaction Officers dispersed the crowd and secured the balance of the load.  According to the driver, he took a wrong turn and ended up on a narrow road. He experienced difficulty in reversing due to the length of the trailers.  Reaction Officers escorted the truck to its destination.

KWAZULU-NATAL- Royal AM is looking to bolster its ladies squad by trialing new talent this week. The Pietermaritzburg-based club, owned by Shawn Mkhize aka Mamkhize will be holding trials on Friday and Saturday, details below: Royal AM is excited to announce open trials for our Ladies team! Join us at Dare Osborn Sports Ground (Harry Gwala stadium) on: Friday, January 31st | 9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday, February 1st | 9:00am - 1:00pm Age: 16 to 22 "Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your skills and join the Royal AM family! "We look forward to seeing you on the pitch!"  While the future looks promising for the female squad, the gents are currently dark following the indefinite suspension of all the matches in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

RANDBURG - Gossip blogger Musawenkosi Khawula returned to the Randburg Magistrate’s Court today, Wednesday,  29 January, where he appeared briefly and unexpectedly abandoned his bail application. His legal representative told the court that Khawula will be abandoning bail for now due to a pending matter in the Fochville Magistrate's Court . The court has postponed the case to 18 February. 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. The celebrity blogger also faces charges of crimen injuria and Contravention of Section 19 of the Cyber Crimes Act of 2020 and Hate Speech. This is a developing story.

KWAZULU-NATAL - Prudential Authority of the South African Reserve Bank applied for a provisional liquidation of the Ithala SOC Limited (Ithala) at the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Subsequently, the accounts of clients at Ithala, which includes just over 65 000 (sixty five thousand) social assistance beneficiaries, were frozen. This includes beneficiaries of Old Age, Covid-19 SRD, Care Dependency, Child Support, Combination, Disability, Care Dependency and Foster Care Grants. The National Treasury reached out to the Banking Association of South African (BASA) to find support from its members, in particular, for social grant beneficiaries. In turn, BASA contacted its member banks to identify one or more institutions capable of swiftly opening new accounts for all grant beneficiaries banking at Ithala. The National Treasury informed SASSA that in the interim, out of all the banks that were approached by BASA, First National Bank (FNB) offered emergency assistance to open accou...

DURBAN - Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president and uMkhonto Wesizwe Party leader Jacob Zuma, is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 30 January for her alleged involvement in the July unrest.  It is reported that Duduzile, a member of Parliament and the chairperson of the Southern Caucus of the Pan African Parliament, is accused of encouraging anarchy during the 2021 July unrest which left parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in dissarry. The unrest saw the looting and torching of shopping centres which was triggered by the arrest of Zuma for contempt of court. The MK Party has rallied its members to support Duduzile. This is a developing story.

ALBERTON - Fans of South African rapper Big Zulu have heaved a sigh of relief after the musician was discharged from hospital today, Tuesday, 28 January. Big Zulu, real name, Siyabonga Nene, took to social media to share the good news accompanied by a collage of images being embraced by the nursing staff and close friends in hospital. Nkabi Records confirmed that the rapper was involved in a car accident on Sunday night (26 January).  It is reported that Big Zulu was travelling in his vintage BMW (Gusheshe) when the accident took place. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for swift medical intervention. He has since sent heaps of praises to the doctors and nurses at Netcare Alberton for offering him the best medical care which spared his life.

GAUTENG - Congress of the People says it is deeply saddened by the tragic news of four more SANDF soldiers losing their lives amidst ongoing and intense fighting in the DRC.  This brings the total number of fallen soldiers to 13.  "We pray that these numbers do not escalate," said COPE Acting National Treasurer, Teboho Loate.   Although President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a ceasefire in response to the escalating conflict in the DRC, Laote believes that more decisive action is required from him, especially given his role as Commander in Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).   "The tragic loss of soldiers in the line of duty demands not only a call for peace but also a clear and comprehensive strategy to protect the lives of our military personnel.   "How many more soldiers should die on the battlefield before Ramaphosa comes out of hiding to show sympathy and empathy with the families, friends, and the broader community by a...

PROTEA - Ann Makgotso Mofokeng, also known as Gogo Maweni (38), was granted R5 000 bail by the Protea Magistrates' Court on Monday, 27 January.   She is facing a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (gbh). The accused was arrested on 19 January 2025 after handing herself over to the Mondeor South African Police Service (SAPS) in connection with an alleged assault that took place on 17 December 2019 in Dlamini, Soweto. It is alleged that Mofokeng struck the complainant in the mouth with a bottle. The case was previously provisionally closed because the complainant could not be located. However, ongoing investigations have resulted in the accused’s arrest and subsequent court appearance. In court, the state did not oppose bail and the magistrate granted Mofokeng bail on conditions that she must inform the investigating officer of any plans to leave the country and must not make any contact with witnesses.  The matter has been adjourned to ...

MPUMALANGA - The police in Mpumalanga have heightened visibility following an incident whereby 51 Putco buses were torched in Nkangala District last night, 27 January 2025 by a group of armed suspects driving in a white Toyota Quantum.  16 buses were burnt at KwaMhlanga, whilst 35 busses were brought to ashes at Siyabuswa, (18 in Maphotla and 17 in Thanane). According to a report, approximately 15 suspects wearing black clothes and balaclavas stormed into a bus depot at Moloto (KwaMhlanga area) and held the employees at gunpoint. The suspects are said to have then shot as well as injured one security guard. It was during this period when the 16 busses were burnt. Meanwhile, at Maphotla (Siyabuswa area), about 10 suspects attacked and assaulted a security guard then torched the 18 buses. The police urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the suspects to call the CrimeStop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MySAPSApp. All received informati...

JOHANNESBURG - Nkabi Records has asked fans to keep label boss Big Zulu in their prayers following a devastating accident over the weekend. Real name Siyabonga Nene, the label confirmed that the rapper was involved in a car accident on Sunday night (26 January).  It is reported that Big Zulu was travelling in his vintage BMW (Gusheshe) when the accident took place. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for swift medical intervention. This isn't the first car accident involving Nkabi Records. Label signee, Xowla was also involved in a car accident with his brand-new BMW. He sustained minor injuries while his DJ escaped unharmed. TrendySA wishes Big Zulu a speedy recovery. 

JOHANNESBURG - Parolee Janusz Walus, convicted for assassinating South African anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, has shook South Africans during an interview with independent broadcaster eNCA .  In what is perceived to be a lack of remorse for killing Hani, Wales during the interview, stated that he would repeat the assassination if it could have halted the transition to a democratic South Africa.  Walus, a Polish immigrant, was convicted in 1993 for the murder of Chris Hani, the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party and a prominent figure in the African National Congress. His actions nearly derailed the country's negotiations to end apartheid.  Asked, Walus claimed he acted alone and was motivated by his opposition to communism and the political changes occurring in South Africa at the time. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's decision to deny him amnesty, arguing that he was denied justice.  ...

MPUMALANGA - The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga has announced the automatic cancellation of all fraudulent R370 COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments. The SRD grant is administered in terms of app-section 32 of the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (Act No. 13 of 2004) and is implemented with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance. The grant is meant for South African citizens, refugees, asylum seekers and special permit holders, who are between the ages of 18 and 60 years, who have insufficient means, who do not receive social grants on behalf of themselves, or who are not contributing to or eligible for Unemployment Insurance Fund payment, and have no financial support from any other source. In a statement on Monday, the agency informed all beneficiaries that it is mandated to cancel all fraudulent grant payments, while emphasising its commitment to combatting fraud and ensuring that grants are paid to the rightful beneficiaries...

GAUTENG - Eskom says it is concerned about a misleading post circulating online that falsely claims the company is providing R200 worth of free electricity units to all customers. Eskom strongly emphasises that this information is not accurate. In light of this, Eskom urges all customers to purchase their electricity solely from its accredited vendors to ensure authenticity and avoid potential scams. A comprehensive list of authorized vending outlets is available on Eskom's official website . 

DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli has expressed profound sadness and extends heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, and loved ones of Paddy Harper, a veteran political journalist and political editor of the Mail & Guardian , who passed away on Saturday morning in Durban.   Paddy Harper was a towering figure in South African journalism, known for his fearless commitment to speaking truth to power, his unwavering ethical standards, and his incisive and thought-provoking commentary. Over his illustrious career, he earned the respect and admiration of both the media industry and political spheres.   "Paddy Harper’s passing is a great loss to journalism and to the nation. His fearless reporting and sharp wit shaped political discourse and held those in power accountable. Paddy was a beacon of integrity and a voice of truth in a challenging and ever-changing media landscape," said Premier Ntuli.   Harper’s contrib...

PRETORIA - The National Department of Transport has announced today that the fuels industry and its stakeholders have in total secured 121.1 million litres of jet fuel needed at the O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) until the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF) refinery opens its doors at the end of February 2025. This announcement follows an urgent meeting convened by the Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy last Friday the 24th of January 2025, with relevant fuel industry stakeholders to resolve jet fuel shortages. The meeting was attended by Airport Company South Africa (ACSA), Fuel Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) and SASOL. The aim was to resolve jet fuel shortages that were threatening to disrupt flight operations at OR Tambo International Airport in February 2025. The cause of the anticipated fuel shortages was the shutdown of the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF), which caught fire on the 4th of January 2025...