Civic organisation Defend Our Democracy (DOD) has deployed 2,433 accredited election observers across all nine provinces to promote transparency, accountability and credible electoral processes during the 2026 Local Government Elections. According to the organisation, the observers have undergone comprehensive training and will monitor various stages of the electoral process, including voting and the counting of ballots. In a statement, DOD said its observers would cover 1,515 voting stations across 807 wards and 108 municipalities nationwide. “In the City of Johannesburg…
A chartered private jet trip to London, politically connected businessmen and a multimillion-rand municipal tender have become the focus of a growing controversy involving former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi. The latest allegations surfaced after reports revealed that Mashazi was a passenger on a private flight to London in 2022, allegedly funded by controversial businessman Ze Nxumalo. Also on board was pharmacist Dineo Seletswane, who later secured a R10 million fuel supply tender from the City of Ekurhuleni. The revelations…
A 35-year-old man has been arrested after police seized crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated R3 million during an intelligence-driven operation in Diepsloot on Sunday. The operation was conducted by Counter Narcotics Crime Intelligence officers, the West Rand Tactical Response Team, and the West Rand K9 Unit as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Gauteng. According to police, officers acted on information about two men allegedly involved in drug dealing in the area. After identifying and searching a…
The Phala Phala scandal has once again returned to the spotlight after former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane appealed to United States authorities to investigate the controversial matter. Through the Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation, a formal request was submitted last week to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ), urging the agencies to launch a criminal investigation linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. The foundation is seeking an investigation into the origin, transportation and…