The South African Communist Party (SACP) has called for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Joined by its alliance partners—including COSATU, NEHAWU, POPCRU, and the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA)—the SACP held an emergency picket outside the United States Embassy in Pretoria on Wednesday to condemn what it described as a recent US assault on Venezuela. SACP Secretary-General Solly Mapaila accused the administration of former US President Donald Trump of undermining…

The North West Department of Transport has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring safe scholar transport services ahead of the 2026 academic year. This commitment was highlighted during the Back-to-School Road Safety Campaign, led by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy at the N4 Bapong Weighbridge on Thursday. The department’s Head, Dr Hans Kekana, said inspections conducted during the campaign identified several defects that require urgent attention before schools reopen on 14 January. Kekana noted that one of the major challenges during the…

The City of Johannesburg has intensified its crackdown on so-called property hijackings in upmarket suburbs, following growing complaints from residents about illegal occupations, unlawful electricity and water connections, and safety concerns. Bryanston has been identified as one of the areas affected, prompting coordinated law-enforcement operations late last year. In December 2025, city authorities conducted a raid on a Bryanston property suspected of being unlawfully occupied. During that operation, officials identified individuals believed to be operating an illegal rental scheme, where…