Author: Silver Sibiya

The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Public Safety has announced the passing of one of its most respected figures, Mr David Tembe, a long-serving public safety professional and former Chief of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). Tembe, who most recently served as Strategic Advisor to the MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, was found unresponsive at his private residence yesterday. Emergency crews responded swiftly, but he was declared deceased at the scene. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.Widely regarded as a pioneer in Johannesburg’s public safety sector, Tembe dedicated more than 40 years…

Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital CEO, Dr Nthabiseng Makgana, says healthcare workers who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic will never be forgotten. She was speaking on Monday at the launch of the Garden of Heroes, a memorial space dedicated to honouring frontline workers who died while serving the nation.Dr Makgana said the memorial stands as a symbol of the courage and dedication shown by doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff who faced immense pressure as hospitals struggled to cope at the height of the pandemic. “The Garden of Heroes is a reminder that integrity is not optional. It…

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has on Monday launched a large-scale road maintenance activation in Mogale City as part of the province’s intensified campaign to rehabilitate key mobility corridors and improve road safety. The initiative forms part of a wider rollout across all municipalities, aimed at strengthening service-delivery capacity and addressing critical infrastructure needs. The route undergoing upgrades carries high traffic volumes and is considered essential for connecting communities, supporting local businesses, enabling tourism and facilitating freight movement across the West Rand. Diale-Tlabela said the province has significantly boosted its maintenance capability, allowing teams to respond more…

The final day of the G20 Summit is underway, and Johannesburg motorists are being warned to brace for severe traffic disruptions as delegates depart the country. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) says rolling closures remain in effect across the city, with highways and major arterial routes expected to be shut down intermittently to allow VIP convoys to pass. Each closure may halt traffic for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla urged motorists to plan accordingly, saying: “We are urging motorists to plan ahead and avoid major routes where possible. The highway network is…

As South Africa welcomed world leaders for the G20 Summit, reactions from Soweto residents are mixed. The high-profile event, which began on Saturday in Johannesburg, has required extensive security, infrastructure upgrades and logistical planning. Government estimates the total cost of hosting at nearly R700 million. Officials say the summit aims to boost South Africa’s global reputation, attract investment and reinforce its role as a leading voice for the Global South. But residents living just a few kilometres from the main venue remain skeptical. Dobsonville resident Nthabiseng Mlaba expressed hope that the investment will lead to long-term benefits such as economic…

Police clashed with members of Operation Dudula on Friday afternoon after the group attempted to march toward the Nasrec Expo Centre, where world leaders are gathered for the G20 Leaders Summit. Authorities aslo wearing protective gear used teargas and fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd, who pushed back in defiance of the security cordon around the summit venue. The G20 Summit is being hosted on African soil for the first time, with South Africa deploying heavy security across Johannesburg. Roads around the Nasrec precinct have been blocked off, with police warning that no unauthorised marches or gatherings would be…

South Africa is pushing to rebalance its growing trade deficit with Vietnam by shifting from raw commodity exports to value-added, industrialised trade, Deputy President Paul Mashatile said. He was addressing the South Africa–Vietnam Business Forum in Sandton, held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Mashatile revealed that South Africa exported goods worth US$610.89 million (about R10.9 billion) to Vietnam in 2024, while imports from Vietnam reached US$1.14 billion (about R20.3 billion) leaving Pretoria with a trade deficit of nearly 30%. He said the disparity reflects a long-standing structural challenge: South Africa mainly exports raw materials such as minerals, ores…

In a landmark moment for South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa this afternoon formally declared gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) a second national crisis alongside the existing energy emergency, pledging that the state will now treat the epidemic with the same urgency, coordination and resource mobilisation once reserved for the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to a packed hall of almost 4,000 delegates at the closing ceremony of the Presidential Social Sector Summit at Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, Ramaphosa received a standing ovation when he announced: “We in government, having listened to the cries of our people, and recognising the daily plight of…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says US President Donald Trump will not intimidate or derail the G20 Leaders’ Summit, despite reports that Trump has urged South Africa and other member states not to endorse the final G20 Declaration. Speaking at the closing session of the G20 Social Summit in Boksburg, Ramaphosa stressed that global decision-making must not be influenced by pressure from any single powerful nation. This comes as world leaders prepare for the formal G20 Leaders’ Summit, where negotiations over the final declaration often highlight tensions between major economies. Trump’s objections according to diplomatic sources relate to disagreements over global trade,…

The North West’s signature summer celebration is officially back and it promises to be bigger, bolder, and more vibrant than ever. Under the warm Hartbeespoort Dam sunshine, the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports, and Recreation unveiled the 2025 Mahika Mahikeng Music Cultural Festival, setting the tone for a December weekend bursting with music, creativity, and homegrown pride. Speaking at the launch, Head of Department Itumeleng Mogorosi described the festival as the beating heart of the province’s cultural identity and a fast-growing magnet for tourists and creatives alike. “We’re proud that last year we saw around 16,000 people come…