Author: newsnote correspondent
National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi was publicly rebuked by Justice Bess Nkabinde, chairperson of the Nkabinde Enquiry, for what the judge described as disrespectful conduct during proceedings. The enquiry is investigating the fitness of suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andrew Chauke, to hold office. The confrontation occurred after Batohi failed to return to the witness stand following a lunch adjournment, during intense cross-examination by Chauke’s lawyer, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi. When summoned back, Batohi told commissioners she would prefer to return next year to consult her legal team. “You have been totally disrespectful to…
A deadly mass shooting on the Brown University campus has left two students dead and nine others wounded, officials confirmed as the investigation enters its third day. The attack occurred on Saturday afternoon, December 13, during final exam review sessions inside the Barus & Holley Engineering Building, a central academic facility. Witnesses reported chaos as a gunman dressed in dark clothing opened fire before fleeing the scene on foot. Victims and Injuries Local authorities confirmed that two students were fatally shot, and nine others were injured — most of them students — with at least one remaining in critical but stable condition as of Monday. The first…
South Africa has reaffirmed its dominance on the African netball stage, with both the Proteas women and men successfully defending their titles at the Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe, Malawi, over the weekend. The Proteas women claimed a convincing 56–34 victory over Uganda in a repeat of last year’s final, while the men defeated Zimbabwe 40–29 to retain their crown. Ranked fifth in the world, the South African women went into the final as favourites against sixth-ranked Uganda, although the encounter was expected to be closely contested. Instead, the Proteas delivered a dominant performance from the opening whistle. South Africa led 27–16 at half-time and continued to control proceedings in the second half. Although Uganda,…
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has criticised Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi, accusing him of attempting to bypass South Africa’s laws to allow SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service to operate in the country. The party claims Malatsi is using a Ministerial Policy Directive to sidestep provisions of the Electronic Communications Act and the ICT Sector Code, which regulate ownership and transformation in the telecommunications sector. According to the EFF, the directive would allow foreign satellite network operators, including Starlink, to avoid the 30% Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) local ownership requirement. In a statement, the EFF said the directive…
Hundreds of law enforcement officers were deployed across Providence, Rhode Island, on Sunday as authorities continued an intensive search for a gunman who killed two people and wounded nine others during a shooting at Brown University, plunging the Ivy League campus into lockdown. The attack unfolded on Saturday afternoon at the Barus and Holley building, home to the university’s engineering and physics departments, where final examinations were under way. Streets surrounding the campus were flooded with emergency vehicles for hours following the shooting, as local, state and federal authorities coordinated the manhunt. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed at a news…
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has called for those responsible for the tragic collapse of the River Range Temple in Verulam, north of Durban, to be held accountable. The incident, which occurred on Friday, has so far claimed at least five lives, while many others were injured. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of people who may still be trapped under the rubble. Premier Ntuli visited the disaster site on Sunday, expressing concern over the incident and the urgent need for clarity regarding its causes. He emphasised that the ongoing investigation must determine whether the collapse was due to…
Top US diplomat Marco Rubio has condemned Rwanda for violating the peace agreement it signed with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week and vowed unspecified “action” in response. The condemnation comes after the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group captured the key border city of Uvira in eastern DRC, just days after leaders of both nations and US President Donald Trump signed the “Washington Accords” on December 4 in Washington, D.C. Rubio called Rwanda’s actions a “clear violation” of the agreement, emphasizing that the United States will act to ensure that promises made under the accords are upheld. The capture…
The African National Congress (ANC) national leadership has criticised its Tshwane members for attempting to stop the party’s regional conference through the courts instead of following internal dispute resolution procedures. The 12th Greater Tshwane Regional Conference, taking place at the Velmore Hotel in Pretoria, is set to elect a new regional leadership structure. The event faced a potential disruption after some members filed a last-minute court application to interdict the conference over unresolved disputes. However, the court dismissed the application. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, member of the ANC National Executive Committee, stressed the importance of using party mechanisms to resolve disagreements. “Comrades,…
Twelve people have tragically died in two separate head-on collisions on the N12 in South Africa on Saturday. In the Northern Cape, seven people—including a baby—lost their lives when an SUV and a light delivery vehicle collided between Kimberley and Warrenton. In Gauteng, five people died in Fochville after two vehicles were involved in another head-on collision. Three victims died at the scene, while two others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) confirmed that investigations into both crashes are ongoing. Spokesperson Simon Zwane urged motorists to drive with extreme caution, reduce speed, and…
Lionel Messi will unveil a 21-metre (70-foot) statue of himself in Kolkata, India, on Saturday as part of his three-day GOAT Tour across four Indian cities, sparking excitement among fans nationwide. The iron monument depicts Messi holding aloft the World Cup and will be unveiled virtually for security reasons. A “Hola Messi” fan zone in Kolkata features a life-sized replica of Messi on a throne and a recreation of his Miami home. Sculptor Monty Paul said the statue was built in just 40 days and is the tallest he has ever made. During the trip, Messi will meet Bollywood star…