Author: Malebogo Putu
EFF leader says prosecutors are “going for the kill” ahead of sentencing in East London court The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, says prosecutors are seeking a 15 year prison sentence as his firearm discharge case enters its final phase, with sentencing proceedings set to begin next week. Malema is expected to appear before the East London Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and Thursday, where a magistrate will determine his sentence following his conviction on multiple firearm related charges. The case stems from an incident in 2018 during the party’s fifth anniversary rally at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in…
Two men from Mankweng appeared in the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court on Friday facing charges of murder and attempted murder in the shooting death of 25 year old Lekompo music producer Gadifele “Lastborn” Maimela. Masheleng July Mashishi, 25, and Karabo Kgoroshi Lucas Mothiba, 27, are accused of forcing their way into a property in Polokwane on April 6, 2026, where a confrontation erupted after the victims confronted them at the gate. According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi, Maimela was with friends at his residence when they asked him to request a Bolt ride for them. After arranging the transport,…
South African Police Service members arrested three suspects and recovered five unlicensed firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, during an intelligence-driven operation targeting extortion-related crime in Hout Bay on Wednesday morning. Acting on intelligence, members of the Anti-Economic Crime Task Team and the Counterfeit and Illicit Policing Team searched premises linked to individuals believed to be involved in extortion activities. During the searches, officers confiscated an AK-47 assault rifle with 30 rounds of ammunition, three 9mm pistols, a .38 Special revolver, and an assortment of ammunition. The suspects, aged between 25 and 36, face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms…
President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana participates today in the One Health Summit in Lyon, France, which coincides with World Health Day. The summit, hosted by the French Government as a flagship event of its G7 Presidency, brings together heads of state and government, international organizations, scientists, the private sector, youth, and civil society. It focuses on the interdependence of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health, and promotes coordinated, science based approaches to shared threats such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, sustainable food systems, and exposure to pollution. The gathering highlights the Quadripartite partnership involving the Food and Agriculture…
Fresh fury has erupted over Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s controversial cabinet reshuffle, with the Democratic Alliance accusing him of sacrificing Gauteng residents to protect his own political survival. In a hard hitting statement, DA Gauteng Leader and Official Opposition Leader Solly Msimanga MPL blasted the appointment of EFF provincial leader Nkululeko Dunga as the new MEC for Finance. Msimanga claimed Lesufi made the move not to help residents, but to secure EFF support and safeguard his position as ANC Gauteng chairperson ahead of local government elections. “Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s desperate attempt to keep his position as the provincial chairperson of…
Award winning South African artist and cultural activist Nomsa Mazwai has announced the launch of Sober Fest, a family oriented music and wellness festival set to take place on April 26, 2026, at the Soweto Theatre. The event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the Freedom Day weekend, aims to promote what Mazwai describes as “a New Freedom”, one centered on substance free living, community well being and conscious celebration. Mazwai said the initiative comes against the backdrop of South Africa’s high levels of substance abuse, which she noted carry significant social and economic costs. According to estimates…
Skincare brand Afriderm has launched a new national campaign titled Celebrate Ubuhle Bendalo Yakho, aimed at promoting natural beauty, self expression and confidence rooted in African identity. The campaign brings together a group of prominent South African creatives, including singer and songwriter Zoë Modiga, actress and model Avumile Qongqo, and the photographic collective Woza Sisi. Afriderm said the initiative seeks to encourage women to embrace their natural skin tones and individuality, particularly those with melanin rich skin, while challenging conventional beauty standards shaped by trends and external expectations. The campaign centres on storytelling, with each collaborator sharing personal narratives around…
A new luxury accommodation venture has officially opened its doors in Khayelitsha, as South Africa’s tourism sector continues its strong recovery. According to South African Tourism, the country welcomed more than 10 million international visitors between January and December 2025, a 17.6% increase compared to 2024 and the highest number on record. Domestic travel also grew, with passenger numbers rising by 7% to 7.8 million. Riding this wave, local businessman Luzuko Mteto has launched Mteto’s Child Villa, a high-end boutique accommodation offering aimed at both local and international visitors. The villa opened on Friday, 3 April 2026. Mteto, who also…
Easter blitz as South African cops storm nine dealers and seize R137000 of killer narcotics Hard as nails cops from the Free State Anti Gang Unit have smashed a drug ring in a blistering four day Easter crackdown. The elite squad stormed suspected poison pushing dens across Mangaung to keep families safe over the holiday weekend and left dealers reeling. Using search warrants, they hit multiple hotspots in Bloemfontein known for flooding the streets with deadly gear. In total they nabbed nine suspects and seized drugs worth a staggering R137,000 on the streets, including the notorious Mandrax, crystal meth and…
The inclusion of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng’s Government of Provincial Unity has triggered sharp internal criticism within the African National Congress (ANC), even as the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie publicly defended the arrangement. On 5 April 2026, the ANC Veterans League issued a strongly worded media statement expressing dismay over Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s appointment of EFF Gauteng provincial leader Nkululeko Dunga as MEC for Finance. The league criticised the decision to entrust the province’s R179 billion budget to Dunga, who was previously relieved of his position as MMC for Finance in Ekurhuleni amid allegations of…