Author: Kgaogelo Magolego
Liquor traders are being challenged to play their part in improving safety in and around their establishments following a string of deadly crimes. The call from the Liquor Traders Association comes in the wake of yet another mass shooting, this time at a tavern in Carletonville, where at least 17 people were killed and 15 others injured. Kgaogelo Magolego was at the scene, where Liquor Traders Association spokesperson Lucky Ntimane addressed journalists. Recent crime statistics show that some of the most violent crimes occur in areas surrounding drinking establishments, prompting Ntimane to challenge liquor traders to take greater responsibility for…
Authorities are confident that arrests will be made soon following Sunday morning’s mass shooting in Carletonville, which left at least 17 people dead and a further 15 hospitalised. Just hours after the attack, police were already searching for persons of interest believed to also be involved in illegal mining. Senior police officials, including Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni, descended on the scene of the shooting, at a busy tavern that was apparently hosting an event at the time of the attack. Mthombeni revealed that the faces of eight shooters had been captured on CCTV and urged residents to help identify…
The government is considering measures to reduce electricity costs for businesses and consumers, including proposals to prevent customers from carrying the financial burden of technical failures and non-payment by municipalities and Eskom customers. Electricity and Energy Minister Sputla Ramokgopa says the government is reviewing the electricity pricing system to ensure that consumers are not unfairly charged for costs that arise from inefficiencies within the electricity supply chain. Briefing the media in Pretoria, Ramokgopa said bringing energy costs under control was important for households and businesses, particularly as electricity remains a significant input cost for the economy. He said some costs…
Dramatic scenes unfolded at the United Nations General Assembly as a large number of diplomats walked out in protest shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the podium.Netanyahu appeared to address those leaving the chamber directly, telling those who remained that anyone unwilling to hear his speech should leave. “Before I begin, just a short announcement. If there are any moral cowards remaining in the room, they must leave now,” Netanyahu said. The Israeli prime minister used his address to defend Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and strongly criticised international figures who have accused Israel of genocide. He…
As South Africa celebrates Heritage Day, communities across the country have embarked on various sporting and cultural activities, with an emphasis on community safety. In Heatherly, Pretoria, a private entity organised a fun walk as well as a soccer tournament. Of major concern in the area is the high crime rate, with community leaders saying elderly residents are among those targeted the most. An elderly resident who took part in the fun walk, Maria Matemane, raised concerns about bushes that demarcate different parts of the area, saying they are dangerous to walk through. “We appreciate the soccer ground that has…
A lease agreement is the source of alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s latest legal trouble. The National Prosecuting Authority accuses Matlala, his wife, Tsakane Matlala, and two others of fraudulently acquiring a lease for a residential property in Waterkloof, Pretoria. Matlala remains in custody, while his wife and the two co-accused have been granted R10,000 bail. The four made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. The National Prosecuting Authority believes the four colluded in forging documents to secure a lease for the benefit of the Matlalas. “So the four accused face multiple charges, including fraud. What basically…
It is now up to President Cyril Ramaphosa to decide if and when to lift the suspension of National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. This is according to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was reacting to the withdrawal of criminal charges against Masemola. Newsnote spoke to Ntshavheni on the sidelines of the government-led clean-up campaign in KwaThema, Springs. She said the government welcomed the withdrawal of the charges against Masemola. “So we welcome the withdrawal of the charges against the National Commissioner, General Masemola. We had indicated even from the beginning that justice will take its course, and…
Communities on the outskirts of Ekurhuleni have widely welcomed the ongoing clean-up campaign aimed at creating safer communities in response to a rise in incidents of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni launched the Love Your Street programme with the clearing of a particularly dangerous spot in KwaThema, Springs, where residents have been complaining for years. Community leader Nthabiseng Mochesane expressed relief, saying residents have been complaining about the spot, which was meant to be a heritage park but has become a deadly zone. “So today the Minister and President was here in Guatema, and they…
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn the criminal charges against National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola in connection with the controversial SAPS health-services tender involving businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court formally recorded the withdrawal of the charges on Tuesday, 22 September. Masemola had faced four counts of contravening Section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), relating to his responsibilities as an accounting officer. The charges stemmed from the procurement of a SAPS health-services contract linked to Matlala’s company, Medicare24. The broader tender was budgeted at R360 million, while the contract at the centre of…
The body of an unidentified woman was found in a dam in Moroka, Soweto, on Sunday. The discovery comes as the province continues to reel from the discovery of nine bodies in Ekurhuleni, an area that has since been placed under lockdown. Gauteng police are appealing to members of the public to come forward with information that could assist with the investigation. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulu confirmed the discovery of the body, which was found wrapped in a duvet. “The unidentified body was found wrapped in a duvet on 20 September 2026 at about 17:00. The victim is…