TrendySA Online

CAPE TOWN - Airlink notes the concerns expressed in various social media and online forums regarding yesterday’s formation flyby over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium. The flight demanded careful planning and rehearsal, as it required navigating at low altitude, at around 150 knots. The South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided valuable guidance, approval and support to ensure a safe flyby. The two aircraft were flown by highly-experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. The flight data recorded by both aircraft confirms that the flights were performed within the SACAA’s approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast.

KU GOMPO CITY - Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality has warmly welcomed and expressed its profound appreciation for the decision by His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to accord the late former world boxing champion, Zolani “Last Born” Tete, a Special Provincial Official Funeral. This decision was announced on Thursday evening, recognising the immense contribution that Zolani Tete made to South African sport, the Eastern Cape and, most importantly, to the people of Buffalo City.  His passing at the age of 38 has left a deep sense of loss across our communities and throughout the sporting fraternity. Zolani Tete was more than a world champion. He was a proud son of Buffalo City, an inspiration to young people and a powerful ambassador for our city and province on the international stage.  Through his discipline, determination and extraordinary achievements inside the boxing ring, he demonstrated that talent, hard work and perseverance can overcome even the...

PIETERMARITZBURG  - The first Entry Window for the 2027 Comrades Marathon, for Green and Yellow Number-holders, opened at 10am on Tuesday, 25 August, and closed just seven hours later, with all available entries in this window having been snapped up in record time. This was the first of three entry windows for the 100th edition of the race, taking place on Sunday, 13 June 2027. Meanwhile, the amount of money raised for the event’s official charities has already gone past the R8.6-million mark, beating the previous record ofR8,012,438 raised by the 2025 Comrades Marathon, and putting the 2027 event well on track to passing the R15-million target set by theComrades Marathon Association (CMA) for the Centenary Edition of the race. #TheUltimateHumanRace #ComradesMarathon #TheGreatestStoryEverRun

GAUTENG - Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile today officially launched the Olympia Park Vocational and Occupational School of Specialisation in Springs, marking Gauteng’s 41st School of Specialisation and a significant milestone in expanding vocational, occupational and skills-based education. The launch showcased the power of practical education to create meaningful career pathways. Vocational and Occupational education gives learners the opportunity to develop practical and technical competencies, gain recognised qualifications and workplace exposure, and build pathways towards employment, entrepreneurship and further education and training. Olympia Park has 22 workshops covering areas including Motor Mechanics, Agricultural Studies, Consumer Studies, Sheet Metal, Sewing, Hairdressing and Nail and Beauty, alongside aquaculture, poultry farming, butchery, scaffolding, tractor and forklift operation and fibre networking. Learners brought these programmes to life through p...

PRETORIA - The South African Reserve Bank has officially launched two new commemorative circulation coins, celebrating the legacies of Charlotte Maxeke as well as the women of the 1956 Women’s March. The R2 coin featuring Charlotte Maxeke’s profile celebrates her becoming the first black South African woman to obtain a university degree 125 years ago. The design was inspired by the beads she wore in her early years. Addressing the launch, Governor Lesetja Kganyago reflected: “For a black woman at that time, access to higher education was not simply limited; it was almost unimaginable. The barriers before her were legal, social, economic and cultural. That is why her graduation in 1901 … was so extraordinary. It was not only a personal milestone; it was a direct act of defiance against the limits that the authorities and society of her time had placed on black people, and on black women in particular.”   #MilestonesOfFreedom #CharlotteMaxeke #1956WomensMarch #WomenWhoOpe...

SEDIBENG  - Following information received from the Crime Intelligence Unit, members of the SAPS Tactical Team, Gauteng Traffic Police Saturation Unit, Gauteng Highway Patrol and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) conducted an intelligence-driven operation in the Sedibeng area. The operation resulted in the arrest of 17 suspects, while four suspects sustained gunshot wounds during an exchange of fire with the operational team. The suspects are linked to reported offences including attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, impersonating police officials, possession of a signal-jamming device, possession of a hijacked vehicle, conspiracy to commit truck hijacking, and possession of police uniform. During the operation, law enforcement recovered: • 1 AK-47 rifle and 3 pistols • 5 suspected getaway vehicles • 1 signal-jamming device • A white Toyota GD-6 fitted with blue lights • Gauteng Traffic Police uniforms and gloves • Multiple false...

KEMPTON PARK - Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has applauded the work of a multidisciplinary team at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) following the seizure of cocaine worth an estimated R200 million. On Tuesday, 25 August 2026, SAPS members attached to ORTIA, working with other law enforcement authorities, including Customs officials, intercepted two separate consignments of cocaine. In the first incident, two large travel suitcases were intercepted at the airport terminal. The suitcases contained blocks of suspected cocaine weighing approximately 84 kilograms. In a separate interception at the cargo section, four boxes containing approximately 250 kilograms of suspected cocaine, packed into 220 blocks, were seized. The combined estimated street value of the seized cocaine is more than R200 million. No arrests have been made at this stage. Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend ...

GAUTENG - The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) wishes to once again confirm that the fourth payment day remains in place for social grant beneficiaries whose grants are under review during the September 2026 payment cycle. The September 2026 payment schedule is as follows: • Wednesday, 02 September 2026: Older Persons Grants • Thursday, 03 September 2026: Disability Grants • Friday, 04 September 2026: Children's Grants • Monday, 07 September 2026: Fourth-day payment for beneficiaries whose grants are under review SASSA emphasises that 07 September 2026 is not an additional general payment day. It is specifically intended for beneficiaries whose grants are undergoing review and who are therefore not paid during the normal three-day payment cycle. Beneficiaries who do not receive their grants on 02, 03 or 04 September 2026 should not panic or rush to SASSA offices. If a beneficiary's grant is under review, payment will be processed on Monday, 07 September ...

RANDBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed the first court appearance of Stuart Scharnick (40) in the Randburg Magistrates' Court on charges relating to alleged contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.  The matter was postponed to 1 September 2026 for a formal bail application, and the accused remains in custody. Scharnick faces charges arising from an investigation conducted by the South African Police Service relating to compliance with firearm storage and registration requirements. It is alleged that police officials sought to conduct an inspection of the accused's firearms and visited his residential address in Douglasdale.  Upon arriving at the address, they were unable to locate him and subsequently discovered that he had relocated to another residence without notifying the Central Firearms Registry of his change of address, as required by law. Police then proceeded to the accused's new residence, which belongs to his partner. During ...

KU GOMPO CITY - Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Princess Faku today visited the family of boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete at their home in Mdantsane. The visit was a gesture of solidarity and comfort to the Tete family following the tragic passing of the beloved champion. Premier Mabuyane and Mayor Faku conveyed their deepest condolences to the family, while reflecting on Tete’s remarkable contribution to boxing and the pride he brought to Mdantsane, Buffalo City and the Eastern Cape. The leaders also reaffirmed government’s commitment to standing with the family and community during this difficult period, as the province mourns the loss of one of its sporting sons.

SOWETO - The South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to intensify its efforts to combat the proliferation and misuse of firearms through targeted operations aimed at removing illegal firearms from circulation and ensuring strict compliance with the Firearms Control Act, 60 of 2000. Following a compliance inspection operation, members deployed under OPERATION BUYISA seized 100 firearms and ammunition from a security company based in Soweto, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 22 August 2026, for contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, 60 of 2000. According to a preliminary report, the security company's Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) accreditation was recently suspended, whereafter the responsible person failed to dispose of the firearms as required. The compliance inspection further revealed that the company's firearm storage facility does not meet the requirements stipulated in the Act. The seized firearms will be subjected to ballistic tes...

DURBAN -  The eThekwini Municipality's Recreation and Parks Directorate, working together with the City's Emergency Services, are attending to multiple incidents across the city following strong winds that swept through eThekwini this afternoon and early evening, uprooting trees and disrupting traffic in several communities. No injuries have been reported at this stage. Since last night, 23 fallen trees had been reported across the city. Recreation and Parks teams are cutting and removing fallen trees and clearing debris at the following locations, among others: • Masabalala Yengwa Avenue (four trees) • Currie Road (five trees) • Prospect Road • Balmoral Road • Kenneth Kaunda Road • Ridge Road, uMhlanga • Mazisi Kunene Road • John Zikhali Road • Patrick Duncan Road, Kloof • Margaret Maytom Avenue • Hilltop Road, uMkomaas • Marian Road, Amanzimtoti • O'Flaherty Road and Quarry Road • Penzance Road • Hatton Avenue, Sherwood The Durban Metro Police Service is manag...

KU GOMPO CITY - Two persons of interest have been apprehended in connection with the murder of well-known boxer Zolani Tete, who was fatally shot at NU 17, Mdantsane, on 21 August 2026. The individuals aged 30 and 22 were apprehended in Ku Gompo on Saturday, 22 August 2026, following a swift and intelligence-driven operation involving multiple law enforcement units. They are currently in custody and are being questioned in relation to the murder and attempted murder relating to the 27-year-old female passenger who was wounded in the attack. Due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, the SAPS is unable to disclose further details regarding the motive or the circumstances surrounding the arrests at this time. Investigators are following up on several leads, and more arrests are imminent. We caution the public and the media against speculation or the dissemination of unverified information, as this may compromise the investigation and the integrity of the upcomi...

POLOKWANE - Orlando Pirates gained a slight upper hand in their MTN8 semifinal tie against Sekhukhune United, winning 1-0 in the first leg fixture played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. The win, along with the crucial away goal, gave them the advantage ahead of the deciding leg set to take place at Orlando Amstel Arena in a week’s time. It also extended their unbeaten run in the competition, which now stands at 11 matches since their last defeat.

KU GOMPO CITY - The Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Councillor Princess Faku, has expressed her deepest condolences to the family, friends, boxing fraternity and the people of Buffalo City following the tragic passing of Mdantsane-born boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete. Tete, a former two-weight world champion, was reportedly shot and killed in Mdantsane on Friday evening. He was 38.  Police have opened a murder investigation. Mayor Faku said the shocking news had left Buffalo City Metro devastated. “This evening, Buffalo City has lost not only a champion in the boxing ring, but one of our own sons who carried the name of our city with pride onto the international stage. “Zolani Tete was a symbol of determination, discipline, resilience and excellence. “We are deeply saddened that a life that gave so much inspiration to our communities has been cut short in such a tragic manner. There are no words adequate enough to express our pain.” Ma...

MUSINA - A suspected multimillion-rand crystal methamphetamine manufacturing operation has suffered a major setback following a high-impact, intelligence-driven operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African Narcotics Bureau Head Office, Crime Intelligence Head Office, Hawks Limpopo, Special Task Force, Drug Enforcement Agency and Homeland Security. The operation uncovered a suspected clandestine drug laboratory on a farm in Musina, Vhembe District, during the late hours of Thursday, 20 August 2026. Five suspects were arrested, while drugs and laboratory equipment with an estimated street value of R600 million, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash, were seized. This is the third clandestine drug laboratory to be shut down in Limpopo. The breakthrough follows a two-month intensive investigation into suspected drug manufacturing activities at the farm. The discovery has ex...

CAPE TOWN - Russell Baatjies, Group Chief Executive of Transnet Freight Rail, has been confirmed as a speaker at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – Africa's premier gathering for the mining industry – taking place October 14-16 in Cape Town. Baatjies will participate in the Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa's Mineral Infrastructure panel, where he is expected to discuss Transnet's strategy to modernize South Africa's freight rail network, expand private sector participation and strengthen regional logistics corridors to support mining growth and cross-border trade. His participation comes as South Africa accelerates sweeping logistics reforms aimed at removing infrastructure bottlenecks and unlocking greater investment across its mining sector. As the country seeks to mobilize R2 trillion to develop its critical minerals industry – including an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore resources – expanding rail and port capacity has become central to ...

  DURBAN -  The Department of Health has noted with serious concern a video circulating on social media depicting a nurse physically assaulting a patient at King Dinuzulu Hospital. In a statement, the Department says it unequivocally condemns this behavior in the strongest possible terms.  The conduct displayed in the video is completely unacceptable, violates the core values of our healthcare system, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Following the emergence of the video, the Department has acted decisively. The nurse in question will be placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect, pending a full and thorough internal investigation into the matter. The video appears to show the nurse striking the patient on the face while making inappropriate remarks. 

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FREE STATE - A 50-year-old suspect, who is the husband of the victim, will appear in Zastron magistrate court soon on a charge of rape. This is after the incident that happened at their home in Refeng-kgotso in Zastron.   The 54-year-old victim alleges that on Friday, 14 August 2026, at 02:00, she was at home busy with her clients as she is a Sangoma. Her husband came to her and demanded to be intimate with her. The victim refused as she was busy working. The suspect grabbed her and forcefully took her to the room. He undressed both of them and violated her without consent. After he finished, he got into bed and went to sleep. During the morning of Friday, 18 August 2026, at 07:00, the victim decided to report the incident. A case of rape was opened and is being investigated by the Smitfield Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit.