Author: newsnote correspondent
The revelations from the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) meeting on December 5, 2025, paint a stark picture of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) struggles in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As South Africa continues its long-standing commitment to UN peacekeeping under Operation Mistral (part of the MONUSCO mission), the session exposed not just logistical failures but deeper systemic issues rooted in chronic underfunding and poor planning. Below, I’ll break down the key elements from the report, contextualize them with recent developments, and outline the implications. Equipment Shortages: A Matter of Life and Limb The committee’s…
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu told the Madlanga Commission on Friday that he regrets using the term “disband” in his December directive regarding the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). Mchunu said his intention had been for the PKTT to be absorbed into the Murder and Robbery Unit, with all personnel retained. The order has drawn heavy criticism, with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi suggesting the instruction may have been linked to the task team’s recent investigations into Gauteng’s criminal networks. Mchunu insisted his language was incorrect, telling the commission: “The actual intention is you transform, you absorb… you are not…
Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester and co-accused Nandipha Magudumana have requested additional time to finalise pending legal matters during a pre-trial hearing at the Bloemfontein High Court. The duo faces multiple charges, including aiding Bester’s prison escape, arson, and violating a corpse. Bester’s lawyer, Moafrika Wa Maila, told the court that six pending cases, including applications to access Bester’s funds to finance his defence, are directly linked to the main trial and could also impact a deportation case in the Pretoria High Court. Magudumana, meanwhile, aims to finalise a Constitutional Court case seeking to declare her arrest in Tanzania…
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, led by former South African President Jacob Zuma, is indeed preparing to fill multiple vacancies in the National Assembly, including replacing one of Zuma’s daughters with another. This move comes on the heels of a high-profile resignation tied to international controversy. Here’s a breakdown of the latest developments, based on recent reports and confirmations. Background on Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s Resignation Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, Jacob Zuma’s high-profile daughter and an MK MP since June 2024, resigned from Parliament and all party structures effective immediately on November 28, 2025. Her departure was announced during a media briefing in Durban…
The South African government has announced that it will not participate in G20 activities during 2026, following confirmation from the United States that South Africa will not be invited to events held under the U.S. presidency. The decision was communicated by presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Wednesday evening, shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly reiterated that South Africa would be excluded from the 2026 summit and related meetings. Magwenya stated that South Africa would “take a commercial break” from the forum in 2026 and resume full engagement once the rotating presidency passes to the United Kingdom in…
The marathon Senzo Meyiwa murder trial continued Thursday with arguments over the admissibility of a key defence witness statement, a day after defence advocate Charles Mnisi attempted to withdraw, claiming he is under investigation for allegedly plotting to kill two senior police investigators. Mnisi, representing accused one and two, told Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng on Wednesday that he felt “mentally affected” after being labelled a person of interest in a conspiracy targeting Brigadier Bongani Gininda and Sergeant Moses Mogola. The judge rejected the recusal bid and allowed Mnisi a short medical break. Proceedings resumed Thursday morning under heavy security. Focus shifted…
Isibaya Actress Gcina Mkhize Wins Reprieve in Eviction Fight Former Isibaya actress Gcina Mkhize has secured a temporary lifeline in her battle to save her Glenvista home from eviction. Appearing unrepresented at the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Mkhize successfully applied for the postponement of execution proceedings. The matter will now be argued on 5 February 2026, giving her time to find legal representation. The property was auctioned by a bank in October 2023 after she fell into arrears following her husband’s death. Businessman Dzivhu Tevin Mashila purchased the house for around R700,000 and obtained an eviction order earlier this…
U.S. President Donald Trump will host Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi on Thursday to sign a new peace agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict in eastern DRC, despite heavy fighting that continued overnight in the region. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace – the former U.S. Institute of Peace, which the administration closed earlier this year as part of broad federal spending cuts. White House officials described the accord as a “historic breakthrough” that includes a ceasefire framework, regional economic…
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the family of Oupa Magashula, former Commissioner of SARS, have announced his passing at the age of 63.In a heartfelt statement, family spokesperson Thebe Ikalafeng remembered Magashula as a dedicated public servant who “served South Africa with distinction in both the private and public sectors, including senior roles at Telkom and South African Breweries (SAB), and later as Commissioner of SARS. He will be remembered for humility, warmth and unwavering commitment to South Africa and its people. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, colleague and friend whose generosity of spirit touched countless…
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Acting Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi faced a bruising cross-examination at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, as evidence leaders and the chairperson tore into two controversial memoranda of understanding (MOUs) he signed with companies linked to attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The MOUs – one with Matlala associate Mike van Wyk’s Medicare 24 and another with Matlala’s CAT VIP Protection Services – were signed by Mkhwanazi alone in October 2021 and have been branded unlawful by previous witnesses. Under intense questioning, Mkhwanazi insisted he never “approved” the fitting of blue lights on private vehicles,…