Author name: Scott Balson

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has called for stricter penalties against police officers who commit crimes while on duty. “We cannot have criminals within our ranks who hide behind the badge. Those who undermine our efforts to combat crime must be exposed, […]

A 36-year-old stepfather has been sentenced to two life terms of imprisonment for the rape and sexual assault of his 15-year-old stepson, a conviction the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo has commended. The Groblersdal Regional Court handed down the sentence on Tuesday, 24 March 2026. The accused was found guilty of two counts of

Police have arrested a 38-year-old suspect in connection with the kidnapping and extortion of two Indian men from Polokwane, with the incident dating back to August 2025. The suspect, a resident of Mokomotji village, is alleged to have been part of a gang that abducted the victims, aged 41 and 43, on Thursday, 21 August

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo has welcomed the sentencing of a 27-year-old woman for arson by the Lephalale Regional Court. Meriam Tutje (27) was sentenced to seven years of direct imprisonment on March 24, 2026, following her conviction for unlawfully and intentionally setting fire to her ex-boyfriend’s house.

The Butterworth High Court has sentenced a 33-year-old man to 25 years of direct imprisonment for the murder of his 23-year-old girlfriend. The accused was on parole at the time of the offence. The murder occurred on 28 June 2025 at approximately 07:30 at Mbongendlu Location, Khobodi Administrative Area. A 64-year-old male witness, while passing

 A 62-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the repeated rape of a 9-year-old girl in the Bainsvlei area, a sentence welcomed by police. The case came to light on August 9, 2022, when the victim’s mother noticed physical symptoms and a discharge while assisting with laundry at her parental home. After questioning

Seventy, maybe eighty people pack the room: gogos with watery eyes and wide smiles; young men with low-slung jeans, unlaced takkies, and edgy youthful energy; a council of mkhulus sits silently to the side, one resting his chin on his cane, another nodding, eyes shut. Young mothers arrive with babies on their backs. Some look

South Africa has urged restraint, diplomacy, and respect for international law in response to the ongoing Middle East conflict, following joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran late last month. The South African government has opposed the imposition of war on Iran, describing it as a violation of international law with no basis. While

A 48-year-old man from Roodepan was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for the rape of an 11-year-old girl on Christmas Day in 2024. The incident occurred at approximately 18:00 on Wednesday, 25 December 2024, when the victim was walking home. The accused accosted her in the street and forcibly dragged her into a nearby shack.

A 24-year-old man from Kakamas has been found guilty and sentenced in the Kakamas Regional Court for assaulting his two-year-old child. The court handed down a five-year prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years. The accused faced a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). The case was registered at the