Author: newsnote correspondent
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title following a controversial ruling by its appeals board. Host nation Morocco has been awarded the championship on default, with the January final result overturned from Senegal’s on-field 1-0 victory to a 3-0 forfeit win for the Atlas Lions. The decision stems from chaotic scenes in the final held in Rabat on January 18-19, 2025. Late in regulation time, a VAR-reviewed penalty was awarded to Morocco, prompting Senegal’s players—led by coach Pape Thiaw—to walk off the pitch in protest for approximately 15 minutes.…
The price of Brent crude oil has remained highly volatile as the Middle East conflict intensifies, with the international benchmark hovering near $109–$110 per barrel as of this week due to continuing military escalation and threats to regional energy infrastructure. Tensions escalated sharply after Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field and related facilities in the Persian Gulf — the world’s largest natural gas field shared with Qatar — which both Tehran and Gulf partners condemned as a dangerous escalation. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned it may target oil and gas facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that he did not approve the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and expressed dissatisfaction at not being consulted by suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu beforehand. Ramaphosa provided these details in written responses submitted to Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations by KZN provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The president’s submissions were handed in on Tuesday, following a requested extension after the initial deadline was missed. Minister Overstepped Authority, President Says According to Ramaphosa, the decision to disband the PKTT was taken solely by Mchunu, whereas such matters fall under the authority of…
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has reinstated John Hlophe as its parliamentary leader and first deputy president, ending a months-long suspension that sparked internal controversy. MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela confirmed that Hlophe’s suspension has been lifted, effective Wednesday. Hlophe was originally suspended in November 2025 after allegations surfaced that he made key decisions without consulting the party’s president, Jacob Zuma. The suspension followed a contentious move in which Hlophe fired Colleen Makhubele from her position as parliamentary chief whip while Zuma was on a trip to Burkina Faso. The decision was later reversed when the former state president returned.…
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has confirmed that he currently does not hold top security clearance, citing delays by the State Security Agency (SSA) and the police’s Crime Intelligence Unit, which have stalled the process since 2018, when his previous certificate expired. Mkhwanazi made the disclosure while responding to testimony by investigator Paul O’Sullivan, who noted that the commissioner’s clearance had not been issued. The delay stems from Mkhwanazi being incorrectly flagged by Crime Intelligence, based on allegations from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). An IPID official in KwaZulu-Natal had claimed Mkhwanazi was implicated in a 2013 hit squad…
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made his final appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating corruption, criminal infiltration, and political interference in the criminal justice system. Mkhwanazi addressed his earlier 2025 allegation that former Police Minister Bheki Cele had sent bank account details (not in Cele’s name) via WhatsApp to controversial tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who then deposited funds. He confirmed the full retraction, explaining the error stemmed from his team’s data analysis mishap—a near-identical cellphone number mix-up (differing by just one digit) between Cele’s contact and the actual recipient’s. Matlala reportedly made the same mistake, transferring money…
The South African rugby sevens team, the Blitzboks, have been crowned 2026 HSBC SVNS Series champions after a dramatic 10-7 victory over Fiji in the first-ever New York leg at Sports Illustrated Stadium. This win marks their fourth tournament gold of the season and secures the overall series title by a narrow two-point margin, finishing with 106 points to Fiji’s 104. Thrilling Final Decides Series The championship final was a tense, physical showdown, with every try and tackle crucial. South Africa’s defence held strong as Fiji pressed for an equaliser, and Coach Philip Snyman praised the team’s courage and determination.…
The parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system is set to conclude its hearings this week. The final sessions will feature the return of KwaZulu-Natal’s top police official, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, for his closing testimony. Mkhwanazi’s explosive press conference last year triggered the establishment of the inquiry, publicly implicating high-ranking officials, including Minister on special leave Senzo Mchunu and suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. In response, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza quickly initiated the committee to probe these claims. Key Witnesses and Testimonies Throughout the inquiry, the committee has heard from several prominent…
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has called on North West businessman Brown Mogotsi to provide evidence supporting his allegations that Masemola received payments from alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The claims were raised before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption, where Masemola firmly denied any wrongdoing. He stated he will engage relevant authorities to compel Mogotsi to either retract the allegations or provide proof. Mogotsi, who has previously submitted evidence to both the parliamentary committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, accused Masemola of accepting money linked to Matlala. The commissioner rejected these claims, suggesting that if any…
The head of the National Counterterrorism Center has resigned, becoming the first senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration to step down over the ongoing war in Iran. Joseph Kent announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the president and shared on X. In the message, he said he could not support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed the war was initiated under pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence. Legal experts have noted that, under current U.S. law, military action is typically justified only in response…