The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has launched an investigation following a viral video showing JMPD officers assaulting a motorist. What began as a routine traffic stop turned violent after the driver was verbally assaulted, manhandled inside the vehicle, grabbed by the throat, pulled from the vehicle, and thrown onto the tarmac. JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said the department had noted the incident with serious concern. “While the department has not yet received a formal complaint regarding this specific…

A key witness in the corruption trial of former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has told the Pretoria High Court how discussions around a senior military appointment allegedly became linked to a request for money. Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the state’s star witness, testified that Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly sought financial benefits from her while she was serving as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the sole director of defence logistics company Umkhombe Marine, told the court that she delivered R150,000 to Mapisa-Nqakula…

uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party President Jacob Zuma has assumed direct control of the party’s finances after revoking all signing authority on the party’s bank accounts from all officials, including the secretary-general and treasurer-general. Newsnote has seen a letter dated 23 July in which Zuma informed all national, provincial, regional and other relevant party structures of his decision. In the letter, Zuma wrote: “With immediate effect, all signing powers and authority to operate any and all MK Party bank accounts are…