Author: Silver Sibiya
The legal representative of alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi says the defence team will return to court with a renewed bail application based on new facts, following his brief appearance at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today. Mogotsi remains in custody after his initial bail application was denied. The court previously ruled that he had failed to provide satisfactory proof of a permanent residential address — a key requirement in assessing whether an accused person can be released on bail, as courts must be satisfied that an accused is properly traceable and unlikely to evade trial. He is facing serious allegations,…
One of the survivors of the deadly Jumpers Informal Settlement mass shooting in Cleveland, Johannesburg, says it is a miracle he is still alive after gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on residents. Twelve people were killed and 10 others injured on Tuesday night when unknown gunmen allegedly arrived in a kombi taxi before launching the brutal attack. While several victims remain in hospital, survivor Rafiq Olees has since been discharged after being shot in the leg. The Malawian national told Newsnote he survived by pretending to be dead as bodies fell around him. “I was chilling with the boys when I…
Reports from Spain suggest that the Spanish giants Real Madrid have confirmed that they made a €150 million (R2.47 billion) offer to sign Argentine forward Julián Álvarez from rivals Atlético Madrid, but the bid was rejected. Insiders from the club reportedly released said the club had formally approached Atlético Madrid for the transfer of the striker. “Real Madrid C. F. communicates that, after the meeting of the Board of Directors held today, he has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atlético de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julián Álvarez,” the statement read. Atlético Madrid,…
Twelve people have been killed and several others injured following a mass shooting at the Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, on Tuesday night. According to police, the shooting happened at about 23:10 when members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to reports of gunfire in the area. On arrival, officers found multiple victims with gunshot wounds scattered across the informal settlement. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene to assist the injured. Police said 11 victims eight men and three women were declared dead at the scene, while another man later died in hospital, bringing the…
The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has announced Councillor Hassan Mako as its Executive Mayoral Candidate for the Emfuleni Local Municipality ahead of upcoming local government elections. The announcement was made by the ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team (PTT), which said the decision followed an internal selection process led by the party’s national office bearers. According to the party, the process included rigorous interviews after three nominations were received from the ANC Sedibeng Regional Executive Committee. Mako is described by the ANC as an experienced community development practitioner and local government leader. He currently serves as a Ward Councillor…
Former nurse Hapiness Sithembile Xulu and her former gardener Simon Isaac Mogale sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Xulu’s stepdaughter, Busisiwe Nxumalo, in a shocking insurance fraud scheme worth about R6 million by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Monday. Xulu, 49, received additional seven-year prison sentences on four counts of fraud after pleading guilty to unlawfully taking out life and funeral insurance policies in Nxumalo’s name while impersonating her. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Nxumalo moved from KwaZulu-Natal to Johannesburg in September 2021 to live and work for Xulu as a domestic worker. The…
Street beggars in Johannesburg have expressed mixed feelings, with some saying motorists have become stingier as the cost of living continues to rise amid global economic pressures linked to the conflict between the United States and Iran. The beggars say many motorists no longer carry cash and some even jokingly ask them to produce card payment machines instead of giving money. “Some ask us to bring tapping machines because they don’t have small change, but when they do give you something it’s only R1,” said Siphelele Nkuna Masedi. “It’s clear some people have just become stingy. It’s their tactic to…
The alleged North West political fixer, Brown Mogotsi, will remain behind bars after the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court denied him bail on Thursday morning. Mogotsi faces charges including defeating the ends of justice for allegedly staging an assassination attempt on himself in Vosloorus in November last year. Magistrate Annelese Tlhapi told the court that all three addresses provided by Mogotsi could not be verified as his residential addresses. “The court found there is no proper address for the applicant and it would be difficult for the state to trace him. There may be a likelihood that he will evade his trial,”…
FlySafair has announced a further reduction to its Dynamic Fuel Surcharge, with charges now 40% lower than the peak recorded in late March 2026. The airline said the move will provide additional savings for South African travellers as global jet fuel prices continue to stabilise. The surcharge was introduced in March after conflict in the Middle East disrupted global oil supply routes, triggering volatility in international oil markets and pushing jet fuel prices sharply higher. Airlines across several regions faced rising operational costs as the price of Jet A1 fuel increased. FlySafair implemented the surcharge as a temporary measure to…
Judgment in the case against Sthembiso Mdlalose, who is accused of starting the blaze that killed 76 people in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, in 2023, has suffered another setback after the Johannesburg High Court postponed the matter on Wednesday. The State requested a postponement following a brief court appearance. Both the prosecution and the defence agreed that the matter should be delayed while awaiting a forensic report. Judge Cassim Moosa granted the postponement, saying the court requires additional time before Mdlalose can learn his fate. “Mr Mdlalose, the matter is unable to proceed today, as you have heard counsel for the State…