Author: newsnote correspondent
The three suspects charged in connection with the murder of e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat have abandoned their bid for bail. The Pretoria Magistrates Court has postponed the matter to allow for further investigations. Satlat was allegedly hijacked and strangled to death last week after picking up a man and woman who had requested an e-hailing ride. The attack, which was captured on his dashboard camera, has since been widely circulated on social media. Dikeledi Mphela, Gotsione Machidi and McLaren Mushwana made a brief appearance in court on Monday, where they formally withdrew their bail applications. They will remain in custody.…
A surge in global demand for copper is reshaping the economic fortunes of Zambia, five years after it became Africa’s first sovereign default of the Covid-19 era. Driven by expansion in artificial intelligence, renewable energy and defence industries, copper — essential for power grids, electric vehicles, data centres, solar panels and wind turbines — has become one of the world’s most sought-after commodities. Billions in new investment President Hakainde Hichilema says renewed investor confidence is transforming the sector. Speaking at the African Mining Indaba, he revealed that more than $12 billion has been invested in Zambia’s mining industry since 2022.…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent and coordinated action to address escalating conflicts across the continent, warning that instability threatens Africa’s development ambitions. Addressing the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063 blueprint. He welcomed the AU Peace and Security Council’s latest report but said the continent remains deeply troubled by growing instability in several regions. The President pointed to countries currently suspended from the AU due to unconstitutional…
South Africa solidified their position at the top of Group D in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding seven-wicket victory over New Zealand on Saturday, maintaining their perfect record with three wins from three matches. The Proteas, led by an unbeaten 86 from captain Aiden Markram, chased down New Zealand’s 175-7 with 17 balls to spare at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This triumph follows their earlier successes: a 57-run drubbing of Canada and a thrilling double Super Over win against Afghanistan. Marco Jansen was the star with the ball for South Africa, claiming 4-40 to restrict the…
Hundreds of scholar transport operators are marching to the offices of Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela to voice their concerns over what they describe as newly imposed requirements by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. The protest is primarily led by members of the Benoni Education Scholar Transport Association, who say the department has introduced stricter regulations for private scholar transport operators following a tragic accident in Vanderbijlpark, which claimed the lives of 14 children. The operators argue that the new rules unfairly penalise them for an incident that involved government scholar transport. John Chauke, speaking to media on…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to parts of the Western Cape and Gauteng in a move aimed at protecting public safety and curbing organised crime. Speaking at the Presidential Golf Challenge in Cape Town, held annually after the State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa said the deployment is intended to assist the police in addressing gang violence and illegal mining activities. He warned that soldiers are not police officers, emphasizing that they are “trained to kill” and will act to defend the peace. “They’ve performed extremely well whenever deployed alongside the police. Their role is to protect communities and restore order,” he said. Ramaphosa…
Residents of Westbury in Johannesburg have welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to assist police in tackling escalating gang violence. The announcement was made during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), where Ramaphosa said the police and the SANDF must urgently develop a technical plan to confront gang-related crime. He added that the military deployment would also support efforts to combat illegal mining. Westbury has been plagued by recurring gang shootings, prompting renewed calls for stronger intervention. Community leader Jefferson Johnson described the move as long overdue, saying crime…
The Zimbabwe national cricket team delivered the biggest surprise of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup so far with a commanding 23-run victory over the Australia national cricket team in Colombo on Friday. Led by an unbeaten 64 from Brian Bennett, Zimbabwe posted an imposing 169 for two in their 20 overs after choosing to bat. Australia’s reply unraveled quickly as Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling attack tore through the top order, reducing the five-time world champions to 29 for four. Although there was resistance in the middle overs, the Australians were ultimately bowled out for 146 in 19.3 overs. Fast bowler…
Global mining company Anglo American has called for closer cooperation between government and the private sector to unlock much-needed investment in South Africa’s energy sector. Speaking on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the company’s Chief Projects and Development Officer, Alison Atkinson, said that while Africa’s electricity generation capacity is improving, inadequate transmission infrastructure remains a major bottleneck. Her comments come as government advances plans to restructure state utility Eskom by unbundling it into three separate entities: generation, transmission and distribution. Under the revised roadmap, the National Transmission Company South Africa will remain a subsidiary of Eskom…
Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), Senegal’s largest and most prominent university, has suspended all student associations following violent protests over unpaid scholarships that left a second-year medical student dead. The unrest unfolded on the university’s campus in Dakar, where students had been demonstrating against delays in the disbursement of stipends — a recurring grievance that has long disrupted the country’s academic calendar. Tensions escalated when security forces entered the campus to disperse protesters, firing tear gas and confronting students who reportedly threw stones in response. Amid the clashes, student Abdoulaye Ba was killed during what authorities described as a police…