Author: Tshegofatso Letsie
A heated confrontation between housemates on the reality show Big Brother Mzansi has ignited a contentious debate around gender-based violence (GBV). The incident followed a physical altercation involving Velile Nongongo, Didintle Mothobi, and Neliswa Ngada, who has since been disqualified from the competition. Shortly after Sunday’s eviction show, the programme announced Ngada’s removal and issued a public statement. “Following an incident in the house last night and a subsequent investigation, Big Brother has made the decision to disqualify and remove a housemate from the game. The safety and well-being of all housemates remain our highest priority,” the statement read. The…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed confidence in the plan to deploy members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to tackle illegal mining and gang violence in Gauteng and the Western Cape. He made the announcement during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening. While the decision was widely welcomed, concerns have been raised over the financial viability of the deployment, given the ongoing budgetary challenges faced by the Defence Ministry. Addressing these concerns during a media briefing on the sidelines of the Presidential Golf Challenge at the Atlantic Beach…
As South Africans await the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), government has called on the media to prioritise accurate, ethical and responsible reporting. Speaking at a Pre-SONA Media Networking Session in Cape Town, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong appealed for closer collaboration between journalists and government communication officers to ensure fact-based coverage of the highly anticipated address. Morolong emphasised the influential role of the media in shaping public discourse, particularly in a diverse country like South Africa. “In a nation as diverse and beautiful as ours, media is not just a conveyor of information. It is…
Media personality and DJ, Sibusiso ‘DJ Sbu’ Leone has sought to clarify and refute any involvement in the alleged corruption at the City of Ekurhuleni Municipality. This emanates from evidence provided by the Municipality’s suspended head of the legal unit, advocate Kemi Behari at the Madlanga Commission on Monday. According to Behari, Leope and ANC leader, Thembinkosi ‘TK’ Nciza, benefited from the Metro’s grants and were implicated in the investigation of more than R100 million. DJ Sbu issued a statement on his Facebook account in response to what he described as false and misleading claims against him. “These allegations, which…
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved Eskom’s revised electricity tariff increases of 8.76% for April this year and a 8.83% increase to kick in by April 2027. These revised tariffs were initially set at 5.36% for 2026/27 and a further increase of 6.19% for the 2027/28 financial year. NERSA justified the redetermination and defended the methods used to reach the figures. “The redetermination follows a High Court judgment [in December], which remitted NERSA’s decision on Eskom’s Generation RAB [Regulatory Asset Base] for 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 for redetermination. The redetermination was conducted using the approved MYPD4 [Multi-Year…
Wiandre Pretorius, a 41-year-old former police reservist implicated in the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, has died in an apparent suicide at a filling station in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg. The incident occurred on Saturday night, where Pretorius allegedly shot himself in front of his fiancée and a family friend following an argument, with a video of the event circulating on social media. This tragic event comes just days after Pretorius survived a brazen assassination attempt on Thursday, during which unknown assailants fired 16 shots at him outside his home in Van Dyk Park, Boksburg. National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda…
The North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has called on initiation school principals to comply with the ongoing registration of customary initiation schools, scheduled from 2nd to 10th February 2026. The Department warned against non-compliance and reminded eligible principals to obtain a valid registration certificate issued by the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC). “Customary initiation schools are not permitted to operate while formal schooling is still in session. Furthermore, each initiation principal may operate only one school per season, and no initiate may be admitted without a signed parental consent form,” the Department emphasized. PICC Chairperson…
Gauteng police are investigating a case of attempted murder following a shooting targeting Wiandre Pretorius, who was implicated in testimony by Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D, at the Madlanga Commission. Pretorius was shot at 16 times by unknown suspects on Thursday in Van Dyk Park, Boksburg. He survived the attack. Pretorius has previously been linked to the dumping of the body of a suspect who was allegedly killed by members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD). Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni confirmed that investigators are relying on CCTV footage that may have captured the…
The North West Legislature’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has sharply criticised delays in the implementation of key municipal service delivery projects across the province. The concerns were raised during public hearings with the Naledi, Kagisano-Molopo, Mamusa and Lekwa-Teemane local municipalities, where the committee assessed the status of municipal public accounts. The hearings also focused on findings related to unauthorised, irregular and wasteful expenditure. SCOPA Chairperson Smuts Matshe urged municipalities to intensify efforts to ensure the completion of all outstanding projects, warning that unfinished developments undermine democratic governance. “These are important projects that our people depend on for services.…
The North-West University (NWU) has expressed optimism that stronger collaboration will help address persistent challenges in the higher education sector, ultimately benefiting students and the country. Vice-Chancellor Professor Bismark Tyobeka made the remarks during an oversight visit by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela, who was assessing the institution’s readiness for the 2026 academic year. “This visit highlights our commitment to working with the Department of Higher Education and Training to foster a vibrant educational environment that responds to the evolving needs of our students and the broader community,” Tyobeka said. “We remain dedicated to delivering exceptional learning experiences,…