Author name: Scott Balson

A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 18 years in prison for a violent home invasion and rape in the Phomolong informal settlement of Bloemspruit. The swift response of the victim and a thorough investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) ensured his immediate arrest and conviction. The horrific incident occurred in […]

The Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court handed down a life imprisonment sentence to 44-year-old Molemi Makwale Tema on Thursday, 26 June 2025, for the rape of a 49-year-old woman in Seleteng Village, Ga-Mphahlele. The horrific crime took place between 18 and 19 May 2025. According to court proceedings, the victim was returning from her parents’ home in

A 39-year-old man, whose identity has been withheld to protect the victim, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 26 June 2025, for the repeated rape of his 14-year-old daughter. The court heard that the horrific abuse began on 18 October 2024, when the accused was left alone to

As South Africa prepares for the 2026 local government elections, concerns are growing over the instability of coalition governments in Gauteng and other municipalities nationwide. The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in Gauteng is pushing for urgent legislative reforms to regulate coalition governance, aiming to improve accountability, strengthen oversight, and ensure service delivery. Coalition

Members of Operation Dudula conducted raids on hijacked buildings in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, yesterday, confronting South African Police Service (SAPS) officers over what they claim is inadequate action against illegal occupation. The group, led by Operation Dudula president Zandile Dabula, accused police of failing to enforce the law effectively, allowing illegal immigrants to occupy and hijack

More than 300 households in Overcome Heights informal settlement, near Seawinds, are battling to stay warm and dry as many of their belongings have been drenched by flooding. This comes as a cold front and torrential rain continue to batter many parts of the Western Cape. Community worker Karen Mentoor told GroundUp on Friday that

South Africa has experienced a politically charged week marked by high-stakes legal battles, internal party conflicts, and growing tensions within the government of national unity (GNU). Key developments include Floyd Shivambu’s public apology to MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, former President Jacob Zuma’s court challenge against ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa, the abrupt dismissal of the

Two families are grieving the devastating loss of their children after a deadly fire tore through a shack in Villa Liza, Boksburg, on Friday night. The blaze trapped four young victims inside, leaving the community in shock and mourning. The incident occurred around 8:00 PM in the informal settlement on the outskirts of Boksburg. Despite

In a shocking act of violence, seven people were shot dead in the early hours of this morning at the Kanana Informal Settlement in Gugulethu. According to Western Cape Police Warrant Officer Joseph Swaartbooi, unknown gunmen opened fire on a group of individuals who were socializing in a kitchen. The attack occurred around 3 a.m.

Under the banner of Women on Farms Project over 100 women marched in Paarl on Thursday. Many women are facing eviction or have been evicted and now live in informal settlements. New Rest, a site for temporary housing for those evicted from farms, experiences frequent fires, is overcrowded and lacks sanitation. The Drakenstein municipality said