Author: newsnote correspondent

Young South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi delivered a commanding performance in Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 loss to Egypt at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 on Friday, effectively neutralizing Liverpool star Mohamed Salah until a controversial first-half penalty proved decisive. The 20-year-old Chicago Fire-bound centre-back, fresh from his $3 million transfer from Orlando Pirates, registered a game-high 86 touches, won all his duels, and provided sharp defending. Mbokazi largely shut down Salah and Omar Marmoush, earning praise for his maturity against world-class attackers. Bafana coach Hugo Broos lauded Mbokazi’s display but reiterated criticism of his MLS move as premature, arguing it’s not challenging…

Israel on Friday became the first United Nations member state to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign nation, more than three decades after the breakaway region declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi during a phone call. Netanyahu described the move as “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords” — the U.S.-brokered normalization agreements that expanded Israel’s ties with several Arab states — and pledged immediate cooperation in agriculture, technology, health, economy, and…

A fierce debate has ignited within Cape Town’s minstrel community over a proposed rerouting of the annual Kaapse Klopse (Cape Minstrel Carnival) parade, traditionally held on Tweede Nuwe Jaar. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have joined critics in condemning the plan, accusing the DA-led City of Cape Town and the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) of commercialising a cherished cultural heritage event without proper consultation. The KKKA has applied to shift the 2026 parade – scheduled for Monday, 5 January – from its historic path through the city centre, including areas like District Six and Bo-Kaap, to a new route…

Herman Mashaba, the former mayor of Johannesburg and leader of the opposition party ActionSA, has renewed his urgent call for reclaiming so-called “hijacked buildings” in the city’s inner core, warning that these illegally occupied structures continue to fuel crime, fires, structural dangers, and inhumane living conditions. “Hijacked buildings pose a serious and immediate threat to our communities,” Mashaba said in recent statements. “They expose our people to fires, structural collapse, crime, and inhumane living conditions. This is why reclaiming these buildings is essential to restoring safety and dignity in our cities.” Mashaba’s comments come amid heightened tensions following the December…

Controversy surrounds the upcoming performance by South African musician David Scott, better known as The Kiffness, at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden’s Summer Sunset Concerts series on December 28. Pro-Palestine groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Mothers4Gaza, have accused the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), which manages the publicly funded venue, of breaching its core values by allowing the concert to proceed despite widespread objections. The groups staged multiple protests, including pickets and a sit-in at Kirstenbosch, demanding the cancellation of the show. They argue that Scott’s public statements – which include defending Israel’s military actions in…

Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial barrages of the war on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, targeting Kyiv and other regions with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. The prolonged attack, lasting nearly 10 hours, struck energy infrastructure and civilian areas, causing widespread power outages amid freezing winter temperatures—just one day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida to discuss a potential peace framework. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia deployed approximately 500 drones (primarily Iranian-designed Shahed models) and 40 missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal and cruise types. Air defenses intercepted many, but…

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana face a decisive final group match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Egypt on Friday night. Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty proved the difference, handing the Pharaohs maximum points and top spot in Group B. Hugo Broos’ side, who opened with a 2-1 win over Angola on 22 December, now sit on three points. Angola and Zimbabwe, who played out a 1-1 draw earlier on Friday, each have one point. Bafana must beat Zimbabwe on Monday in Marrakech to guarantee progression to the knockout stage, though a draw could still…

A brazen cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery unfolded on Khumalo Street in Thokoza on Saturday afternoon, leaving a 14-year-old girl injured by a stray bullet and authorities launching a manhunt for the suspects. According to reports, a gang of armed robbers in a white Mercedes-Benz rammed an armored security cash van, forcing it to overturn. The attackers then gained access to the vehicle, making off with an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene. A charred vehicle, believed to have been used by the robbers and possibly set alight to destroy evidence, was left abandoned next to the overturned van. In…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss key issues in ongoing efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. “This meeting is specifically for the purpose of finalising everything as much as we can,” Zelenskyy told reporters, echoing his earlier statements. The talks, expected at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, will focus on territorial disputes—particularly in the Donbas region and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—as well as robust security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskyy described a U.S.-backed 20-point peace framework as “about 90% ready,” with separate drafts on…

A 37-year-old minibus taxi operator has been arrested following the tragic death of a 29-year-old soccer spectator in Ga-Dikgale, outside Polokwane. The incident, which unfolded during a local soccer match, reportedly began as a dispute over a bag. According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the victim approached the taxi driver, pleading for the return of his belongings. “The deceased reportedly approached the taxi driver and pleaded with him to return his bag. The driver allegedly refused and drove off,” Ledwaba said in a statement. In an attempt to stop the vehicle, the man stood in front of the…