Author: Silver Sibiya

President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s National Heritage Day celebrations in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, on Thursday, as the country marks the annual public holiday celebrating its diverse cultural heritage. The national event will be held at the Bongolethu Sport Stadium under the theme, “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.” The theme focuses on the role of living heritage in promoting national unity, social cohesion, Ubuntu and a shared sense of belonging. National Heritage Day also provides an opportunity for South Africans to celebrate their diverse cultural traditions while reflecting on the role of heritage in…

uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) President Jacob Zuma says he is confident the party will succeed in its legal challenge against the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) ahead of the November 4 Local Government Elections. Zuma was speaking to Newsnote on Wednesday at the IEC’s Electoral Code of Conduct signing ceremony at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. The MK Party has taken legal action relating to alleged irregularities in the 2024 national and provincial elections. Zuma says the court’s decision on the party’s application is taking too long. “We will win that case. No doubt. That’s why they don’t…

The case against 59-year-old suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya has been postponed. Sibiya appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court following his arrest on Monday. He faces allegations of sexually grooming a bodyguard’s 16-year-old daughter between July and August, as well as allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel in May. Sibiya is facing five charges, including sexual grooming of a child, trafficking in persons and rape. The allegations are contained in a charge sheet seen by Newsnote under case number 472/2026. According to the document, one of the complainants is a 16-year-old girl identified as…

Gauteng police have arrested 10 suspects aged between 30 and 54 and recovered nine firearms following a shootout in Cleveland, Johannesburg, on Monday night. Police say the incident happened at about 19:36 while officers were conducting patrols in the area. According to police, officers noticed a suspicious Hyundai H100 fitted with blue lights and a siren. The vehicle allegedly stopped whenever police approached before driving off when officers attempted to intercept it. Police called for backup and continued following the vehicle. “When it eventually stopped, three suspects allegedly got out and opened fire on police, prompting a shootout. Two suspects…

Fortunate Masilela and Tsakani Msithini appeared before the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday in connection with Ntimba’s murder. Ntimba’s body was discovered in Dawn Park on Thursday. The proceedings also considered whether the media should be permitted to photograph and film the accused. Following deliberations, the court ruled that the two women may not be photographed or filmed from the front. The court cited their personal circumstances, including the fact that both accused have minor children. Members of the media were permitted to photograph them from behind. Accused to apply for bail Defence lawyer Samkele Khuzani told the court that…

Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of the ninth woman whose body was found in Dawn Park, Boksburg, amid a series of killings of women under investigation in Gauteng. The suspects — one man and two women — were arrested over the weekend by members of the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit. They are expected to appear before the Boksburg Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The Dawn Park victim was found in an open area in the Boksburg suburb on 17 September. Police previously said the woman, believed to be about 30 years old, had suffered…

Brighton & Hove Albion handed Premier League champions Arsenal their first defeat of the season with a stunning 3-0 victory at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. The Seagulls produced another impressive performance to beat Arsenal for the third consecutive season, following victories over Liverpool last season and Manchester City in the 2024/25 campaign. Pascal Gross opened the scoring before 19-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas continued his impressive run of form by scoring his third goal in three matches. Deadline-day signing Chema Andres completed the rout with his first Brighton goal on his first start. The defeat ended Arsenal’s perfect start and denied…

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has officially opened the 2027 NSFAS application cycle, with prospective students given until 31 October 2026 to apply for financial assistance. Manamela launched the application cycle on Friday in Parktown, Johannesburg, saying the process had been strengthened following a period of significant institutional changes at NSFAS. He said the 2027 cycle would include improved data systems, automated document verification, electronic document signing and a modernised student-support environment. NSFAS will also strengthen the verification of student registration and banking details through collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs. “Applying early gives you time to…

The City of Ekurhuleni has terminated the employment of suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Doctor Mkhwanazi, citing the cumulative impact of several criminal matters, his continued incarceration and delays in internal disciplinary proceedings. Mkhwanazi’s dismissal comes days after he was granted R10,000 bail in a separate blue-lights corruption case but remained in custody after being denied bail in the murder case involving businessman Emmanuel Mbense. The City said on Friday that City Manager Kagiso Lerutla made the decision after considering a detailed submission from the Human Resources Department, internal disciplinary proceedings involving Mkhwanazi and evidence presented…

A gender-based violence (GBV) protest is under way in Johannesburg, with Men For Her chairperson Oscar Kanyane expressing disappointment over the low turnout of men at the march. The group is marching from Joburg Park to the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein to protest against gender-based violence and the killing of women in Gauteng. Kanyane said men have a responsibility to stand up for women and speak out against GBV. “We are here in response to what we’ve seen transpiring in our country, and ours is just to say it’s enough. We’ve called all nobodies that you can think of to…