Author: Silver Sibiya
A place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League is on the line as Arsenal host Bayer Leverkusen in their round of 16 second-leg encounter in London on Tuesday night. The tie is finely balanced at 1-1 following the first leg in Germany, where Kai Havertz struck late against his former club to level matters. Mikel Arteta’s side head into the clash with confidence, boasting an impressive home record this season. The Gunners have lost just once at home across all competitions and have been particularly dominant in Europe, winning all four of their league-phase matches in front of…
The case involving Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused Tobias Matonhodze has been postponed to next Tuesday following a brief appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning. The pair face multiple serious charges, including attempted murder, pointing a firearm, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice relating to a missing firearm, and contraventions of the Immigration Act. The charges stem from a February incident at the Mugabe family’s Hyde Park residence, where an employee was allegedly shot in the back. State prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri says the…
Police have raised alarm over a disturbing trend of wealthy individuals allegedly recruiting highly trained officers to carry out violent crimes, following revelations in court that a former elite policeman was paid to assassinate a key witness. This emerged at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court, where former Special Task Force (STF) officer Matiphandile Sotheni appeared in connection with the murder of Marius van der Merwe known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission. According to SAPS, Sotheni once part of the police’s most specialised and highly trained unit was allegedly hired to execute the killing, highlighting what authorities describe as a…
The case against former Special Task Force police officer Matiphandile Sotheni has been postponed following a brief appearance at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Sotheni is linked to the murder of Marius van der Merwe, who appeared as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission late last year. He faces six charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed ammunition. State prosecutor Advocate Nqobile Maphalala says the state will oppose Sotheni’s bail application, arguing that the matter falls under a Schedule 6 offence. “We are alleging that it is a Schedule 6 offence. The…
Newly deployed members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have arrested several suspects in Rietvallei on the West Rand after they were found in possession of goods believed to be used for illegal mining activities. The arrests were made during a coordinated operation targeting areas suspected to be harbouring illegal miners, commonly known as zama-zamas. Authorities also seized an undisclosed amount of cash that was found with some of the suspects. During the operation, soldiers made a significant discovery when they uncovered makeshift processing plants hidden in the backyards of several houses they searched. The facilities are believed…
The City of Johannesburg says it is investigating a strong sulphur-like smell that has been reported by residents in several areas. People living in Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Fourways, and other nearby areas first noticed the smell on 16 January 2026. The odour was reported again on 9 March. The City’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) started an investigation after receiving complaints from residents. City Manager Dr Floyd Brink says protecting residents’ health remains the City’s priority. He says teams are monitoring air quality and working with national and provincial government departments to find the source of the smell. According…
Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have undergone special training to prepare them for interacting with civilians during crime-fighting operations. This was revealed by Athlenda Mathe during a joint operation between the army and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Westbury, west of Johannesburg. The deployment forms part of government’s broader plan to tackle gang violence and illicit mining in several crime hotspot areas. The initiative follows a directive by Cyril Ramaphosa for the police and the military to work together to stabilise communities affected by violent crime. Mathe says soldiers deployed in the operation first…
Defending champions Paris Saint‑Germain and Spanish giants Real Madrid put themselves in strong positions in their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 ties after convincing first-leg victories on Wednesday night. PSG produced an impressive attacking display to beat Chelsea FC 5-2 in Paris, while Real Madrid secured a commanding 3-0 win over Manchester City thanks to a hat-trick from Federico Valverde. Meanwhile, Norwegian side FK Bodø/Glimt continued their fairytale run with a 3-0 victory over Sporting CP, and Arsenal FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany. PSG delivered one of the standout performances of the round,…
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng say it will continue to put pressure on the Constitutional Court to release its long-awaited judgment in the Phala Phala matter. The case relates to a review application challenging Parliament’s decision to reject the findings of an independent panel report into the 2020 theft of foreign currency at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. The panel had found that there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution and anti-corruption laws in relation to the handling of the theft, which allegedly involved about $580,000 (around R10 million) hidden…
Residents of Westbury, west of Johannesburg, have welcomed the deployment of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in their area as authorities intensify efforts to curb gang-related violence. The deployment follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address that 550 soldiers would be sent to crime-plagued communities to assist police in stabilising affected areas. The operation began in Eldorado Park before moving to Riverlea, Westbury and the Newlands Waterfall complex. Soldiers, working alongside police, conducted door-to-door searches during the intelligence-driven operation. Two individuals were detained during the searches. Residents say the presence of…