North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has acknowledged that political considerations played a role in his decision to reshuffle the provincial cabinet, adding a new dimension to changes he initially described as necessary to strengthen government performance and service delivery. Mokgosi was responding to questions in the North West Legislature on Thursday when he addressed the circumstances surrounding the reshuffle, which affected three members of the Executive Council. The changes included the removal of Viola Motsumi as Education MEC and her…

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has arrested two of three suspects implicated in the alleged Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) “blue lights saga”. IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping said the two suspects include an EMPD official and a private citizen. “They face charges of fraud and corruption and are expected to make their first appearance in the Germiston Magistrates’ Court tomorrow,” Suping said. The third suspect, who is also an EMPD official, was expected to be arrested later on Thursday…

Former Hawks boss Major-General Godfrey Lebeya has come under intense questioning at the Madlanga Commission over allegations involving suspected criminal networks, the arrest of Katiso “KT” Molefe and the handling of sensitive investigations. Taking the stand on Thursday, Lebeya firmly denied knowing Molefe and rejected claims that he deployed Hawks officers to disrupt Molefe’s arrest in Sandton two years ago. The arrest operation involved several law-enforcement agencies. Questions were later raised about the presence and conduct of Hawks members at…