Author: Kgaogelo Magolego

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has cautioned political parties against using dirty campaign tactics ahead of the November local government elections. The IEC briefed the media at its Centurion headquarters on Wednesday, where it revealed that it had been inundated with complaints from political parties. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said political parties and candidates have an obligation to comply with the Electoral Code of Conduct, which is intended to help create an environment conducive to free and fair elections. He said political parties are key to maintaining a stable environment during an election campaign and urged their leaders to…

Questions have been raised over discrepancies in the medical certificate submitted by Deputy Head of Crime Intelligence, Major General Feroz Khan, to explain his absence from the Madlanga Commission. Evidence leader Adila Hassim highlighted discrepancies in the doctor’s note, which are also being investigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS). According to the dates reflected on the medical certificate, Khan was reportedly booked off sick at the time he was shot and injured while driving in Johannesburg shortly before midnight. Hassim said this raised several questions. Referring to the SAPS answering affidavit filed in Khan’s Labour Court case by…

While claiming to be a victim, Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan Govender, who is attached to the Serious Organised Crime Unit of the Hawks and is also the head of its KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Tracing Team, has faced difficulties explaining large sums of money that flowed into his bank account. Govender received no less than R3 million between 2022 and now under rather questionable circumstances. He appeared before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, where his bank transactions were presented, including an amount of R300,000 that he said took him more than an hour to deposit at an ATM, prompting further questions from the commission.…

COSATU finds itself caught between a rock and a hard place ahead of the November local government elections, in which its alliance partners, the ANC and SACP, are set to contest against each other for the first time. COSATU briefed the media in Johannesburg, where it indicated that affiliates may have to decide which party they are going to support. COSATU president Zingisa Losi called for patience as the federation struggles to make a choice. “Firstly, the unity of the federation is sacrosanct. The unity of affiliates within it is important. And so every union has a responsibility to converse…

There continues to be a stubborn link between alcohol abuse and violent crimes, including killings. This was revealed in the quarterly crime statistics announced by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia in Pretoria. Cachalia painted a picture of how alcohol abuse persistently contributes to violence. “Now, there is one matter that I want to emphasise this morning, and that is the connection between alcohol abuse and violent crime. These stats show unmistakably a pattern that we have all been familiar with for a long period of time, and I’m somewhat frustrated that we haven’t fully tackled this problem. “Violent crimes occur…

The Democratic Alliance is doubling down its onslaught against the ANC-led coalition government of the City of Tshwane which has been rendered vulnerable by mayor Nasiphi Moya’s so-called ‘swimming pool’ scandal. The allegation is that that a municipal contractor identified as Tlopo Construction, used city funds to carry out renovations at her private residences in Pretoria and the Eastern Cape including the building of a swimming pool, a charge the mayor denies. The DA is using the scandal along with the coalition’s failed attempt to fire City Manager Johann Mettler who is seen as being loyal to the blue party…

Former Hawks head, retired Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, has denied having any links to the alleged cartel now known as the Big Five. He appeared before the Madlanga Commission on Thursday and said his involvement in a failed attempt to prevent the arrest of criminally accused businessman and alleged cartel member Katiso “KT” Molefe in December 2024 was purely the result of confusion. Lebeya blamed KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Crime Intelligence Head Dumisani Khumalo, whom he claimed failed to inform him that they were planning to arrest Molefe, who was wanted in connection with a number of crimes, including…

Alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala has expressed frustration at being implicated in too many investigations, which he claims makes it nearly impossible for him to answer questions honestly. Matlala continued his testimony at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday, where he pulled out all the stops to avoid answering questions about his relationship with former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona. Matlala claimed that he had been visited by a police task team and prison officials to be questioned about his dealings with Senona. On Tuesday, Matlala experienced similar difficulties when addressing his relationship with suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner…

Alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala caused a stir at the Madlanga Commission when he used an example that appeared to suggest he could shoot Evidence Leader Mahlape Sello. While this was purely an example used by Matlala in an effort to explain his reluctance to answer questions about his dealings with controversial businessmen Hangwani Maumela and Suleiman Carrim, the reference to possibly shooting the Evidence Leader got the room talking, with many others expressing their views on social media. “Commissioner, if I can make an example and I say to you that tomorrow I’m going to shoot you, obviously…

Alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has revealed that he and the late taxi boss Jotham Mswazi Msibi were planning to jointly buy a private jet, but the venture did not materialise. Matlala revealed this while responding to questions about whether he knew Msibi and others suspected of being part of a cartel that has come to be known as the Big Five. Matlala confirmed that he rendered security services to Msibi and that he only came to know the other individuals, including fellow accused criminal Katiso Molefe, as well as relatively unknown figures identified as Ignatius Mthakathi and Andrew…