News

The murder of a key witness in a high-profile commission has triggered urgent calls for a complete overhaul of South Africa’s approach to protecting whistleblowers, with advocates warning that the state’s failure to ensure anonymity is enabling a climate of fear and impunity. The calls follow the killing of Marius van der Merwe, identified as […]

In a candid briefing today, Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato revealed that the authority is operating at only a quarter of its required capacity, forcing it to depend on partnerships with other agencies to manage South Africa’s ports of entry. Despite achieving 92% of its operational targets in a “progressive” term, Commissioner

Woodstock Hospital, currently occupied by more than 800 people, is to be advertised for sale. The successful bidder will be required to build affordable housing on the site. The housing will probably not be state-subsidised: instead, a discount will be offered on the property to enable the developer to build affordable housing for households earning

The long-delayed Thabo Bester trial is scheduled to begin on 20 July 2026. Bester has at least six pending court cases that are delaying proceedings. The cases are centred on complaints about his detention conditions, “unlawful deportation”, prison classification, access to classified documents, and frozen bank accounts. His co-accused, Nandipha Magudumana, is also challenging her

South Africa has responded to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s newsletter on Substack. In the newsletter Rubio criticised Pretoria, stating that Washington will not tolerate what he describes as the “radical” ANC-led government. He also condemned South Africa’s focus on climate change, diversity, and inclusion during its presidency of the Group of 20 (G20).

President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his deep condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Marius van der Merwe, who recently testified before the Madlanga Commission. Van der Merwe was a Brakpan-based security industry member and former Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department official. He was shot multiple times in full view of his family outside their

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has welcomed the 20-year sentence imposed on an Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer for the murder of his partner in 2023. On 21 September 2023, at around 13:00, two Constables from EMPD went to fetch their colleague, Constable Robert Ngobeni from home on their way to work. Upon

Police in the Vhembe District are investigating a murder case following the death of a 16-year-old boy from stab wounds on Thursday, 04 December 2025. According to authorities, the victim was transported to Malamulele Hospital with a critical chest wound but was certified dead upon arrival. Preliminary police information indicates that the stabbing was allegedly

In a targeted operation to combat ongoing gang violence, members of the provincial Anti-Gang Unit arrested a suspect in possession of an unlicensed firearm in the Steenberg policing precinct on Saturday night, 06 December 2025. The arrest followed an intelligence-driven operation. Officers, who are specifically deployed in the area to address gang-related crimes, acted on

In a major bust on Friday night, police in Delmas arrested a 43-year-old man from the Kingdom of Eswatini for possession of illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R17.4 million. The operation unfolded on the evening of Friday, 05 December 2025, at approximately 22:00 in Sundra. According to police reports, Delmas police, assisted