Author: Larson Thebe

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says the government remains committed to open, constructive and action-oriented dialogue with member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on matters of mutual concern, particularly regional stability and migration management. DIRCO was responding to the final communiqué issued following the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which condemned the recent wave of alleged “xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks” in South Africa. The regional bloc also called for a united response and plans to escalate the matter to…

Suspended Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke has been cleared of all misconduct allegations levelled against him by former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi. The findings follow the completion of the Nkabinde Panel of Inquiry, which was established to determine whether Chauke was fit and proper to continue holding office. Chauke was suspended in July 2025 pending the outcome of the inquiry. The panel, chaired by former Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde, was appointed in September 2025 to investigate serious allegations relating to Chauke’s fitness and propriety to hold office. Presidential…

Banyana Banyana are adapting well to their new surroundings in Casablanca, Morocco, ahead of the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will be held from 26 July to 16 August. The 2022 African champions arrived on Sunday and have already completed two intensive training sessions as they prepare for their opening Group D match against Tanzania next Monday. The group also includes Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. “It was a long journey, but we’ve had two sessions now trying to acclimatise to the heat, as we are coming from a cold South Africa. Fortunately, it’s not as…

The Office of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Oversight Judge has confirmed that it has received complaints relating to the Head of IDAC, Advocate Andrea Johnson. However, the office has declined to disclose the details of the complaints or identify those who submitted them, stating that it does not comment on complaints received or matters under consideration. “However, given the exceptional public interest in this matter, the numerous media enquiries received, and the fact that the existence of the complaints is already in the public domain, the Office considers it appropriate to confirm their receipt. “The complaints are receiving…

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed the deaths of two of its members who fell into an abandoned mine shaft while pursuing suspected illegal miners during Operation Prosper in western Johannesburg on Friday morning. According to the SANDF, the incident occurred at about 6am at the abandoned CRD Mine, where soldiers deployed as part of the anti-illegal mining operation spotted suspected illegal miners emerging from underground workings. A pursuit followed into one of the mine tunnels, during which the two SANDF members fell into an open, abandoned vertical mine shaft. Specialised emergency response teams, including Mine Rescue…

The Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has rejected claims that it has exonerated or cleared individuals implicated during its inquiry. The clarification follows mounting criticism of the committee’s second draft preliminary report, which some members and opposition parties have described as “watered down” and lacking firm findings. Committee Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane dismissed reports suggesting the committee had reached conclusions, describing such claims as “misleading”, “premature”, “irrational” and “gullible”. He stressed that the committee remains in the deliberation phase and that no final decisions have been taken. “During its meeting, the…

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has named four uncapped players in the team that will face Wales in the third Nations Championship fixture on Saturday in Durban. The four are Jaco Williams (wing), Vusi Moyo (fly-half), Ruben van Heerden (lock) and Carlu Sadie (prop). Erasmus has struck a fine balance by naming a strong team while staying true to his word to give every player in his expanded squad a chance to prove themselves at the highest level. The match-day squad also features André-Hugo Venter (hooker) and Herschel Jantjies (scrum-half) among the replacements. Moyo and Williams, who play for the Hollywoodbets…

The Gauteng Health Department has today rolled out the fourth edition of its Mandela Month Surgical Marathon. The department says 19 public healthcare facilities across the province have pledged to perform more than 1,000 surgeries and clinical procedures in honour of Nelson Mandela International Day. According to department spokesperson Steve Mabona, the initiative forms part of its ongoing efforts to reduce surgical waiting lists, improve access to care, and restore the dignity of patients awaiting procedures at Gauteng’s public hospitals.“With a total pledge of 1,078 surgeries and clinical procedures, the department aims to surpass the 806 procedures performed during the…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus makes history today as he takes charge of South Africa for a record-breaking 55th Test when the world champions face Scotland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. According to the South African Rugby Union (SARU), Erasmus now holds the record for the most Tests coached by any Springbok mentor since South Africa played its first Test match in 1891. The milestone comes across two spells in charge – from 2018 to 2019 and from 2024 to the present – eclipsing the previous record of 54 Tests set by 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White between 2004…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the duration of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to 16 November 2026, instead of the original deadline of 31 August. Ramaphosa has also set 2 October 2026 as the deadline for the submission of evidence and 16 November 2026 as the reporting deadline, enabling the Commission to conclude the matters it has opened during hearings to date. “The extension allows the Commission to hear evidence on all of the matters listed in its terms of reference. Without an extension, the Commission would have to leave large parts of its work unfinished,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent…