Author: Malebogo Putu
A 48 year old man from Roodepan in the Northern Cape, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape of an 11 year old girl on Christmas Day in 2024, police announced this week. The sentence, handed down by a local court, concluded a case that drew attention to the swift intervention of a passerby who discovered the assault in progress. According to Police, the incident occurred on December 25, 2024. The young victim was walking home when the man accosted her in the street, forcibly dragging her into a nearby shack. Once inside, he undressed the…
Millions of South Africans dependent on state support will receive increased financial relief from April 2026, as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) confirmed both revised grant payment dates and higher monthly payouts. The agency announced that grant disbursements will begin in early April, following its structured payment schedule aimed at easing congestion at pay points and improving access for beneficiaries nationwide. Older persons will be the first to receive payments, with the Older Person’s Grant scheduled for Thursday, April 2. This will be followed by the Disability Grant on Tuesday, April 7, and the Children’s Grant on Wednesday,…
A 56 year old male teacher appeared before the Mahwelereng Magistrate in Limpopo on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, charged in connection with the alleged rape of an 18 year old learner at a local secondary school. The suspect, whose identity has not been publicly released pending further proceedings, was remanded in custody following the brief court appearance. The case has been postponed to Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to allow for additional investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS). According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba of the SAPS in Limpopo, the alleged incident took place on school premises in the Mahwelereng…
Mpumalanga Police seized 30 boxes of counterfeit sneakers valued at R2.4 million and arrested two men after stopping a truck traveling from Mozambique on the N4 highway late on March 20, 2026. Members of the Ehlanzeni Anti-Hijacking Team acted on intelligence about a consignment of fake merchandise heading toward Nelspruit. Police identified and tactically halted the vehicle matching the description. A search revealed the boxes containing suspected imitations of a well-known brand. All items were confiscated, and the driver, aged 39, and his crew member, aged 40, were detained and charged with possession of illicit or counterfeit goods. Captain Mpho…
Police in the Eastern Cape have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of a man whose body was discovered earlier this month near Sandile Dam, in what authorities have described as a significant investigative breakthrough. The arrests follow weeks of meticulous detective work after the body of an unidentified African male was found on March 15, 2026, with a gunshot wound to the head. At the time, investigators faced a major challenge, with no immediate leads and the victim’s identity unknown. According to police spokesperson Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, detectives from Keiskammahoek were eventually able to identify the deceased…
Karabo Khakhau, a rising figure within the Democratic Alliance (DA), has announced her withdrawal from the race for Deputy Chairperson of the party’s Federal Council, citing what she describes as a disputed financial compliance issue and an uneven application of internal rules. In a detailed letter addressed to party members, Khakhau said her decision followed a ruling by the DA’s Free State Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), which declined to grant her a letter of good financial standing which is a prerequisite for candidacy. The decision was later upheld by the party’s Federal Executive (FedEx). Khakhau acknowledged that she had missed…
Police in Free State have arrested three men and seized a cache of explosives in the township of Thabong, in what authorities described as a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb violent and organised crime. The arrests were made on Wednesday afternoon during an intelligence-driven operation led by the Vala Umgodi task team, a multi-disciplinary unit targeting illegal mining and associated criminal activities. According to a statement issued by Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State, officers from the Combat and Proactive Units were conducting a disruptive operation in the area at around…
A coordinated multi disciplinary operation in Polokwane has resulted in the seizure of illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R25 million and the arrest of a 39 year old suspect, police announced Thursday. The raid, which took place on Wednesday in the Nirvana suburb, targeted a warehouse suspected of being a major distribution hub for counterfeit and smuggled tobacco products. The operation was led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in conjunction with Customs officials, drawing personnel from Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and the Free State. Upon searching the premises, authorities discovered large quantities of cigarettes believed to…
In a significant escalation of its battle against a widespread livestock contagion, the North West Provincial government has commenced a mass vaccination campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), deploying an initial 100,000 doses as the virus continues to sweep across the region. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed that the outbreak has now infiltrated 16 of the province’s 18 municipalities, with a total of 158 confirmed cases recorded across all four districts. The figures underscore the urgency of the operation, which officially launched following a press conference on Thursday. MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda…
The national budget unveiled on Wednesday has drawn sharp criticism from labor leaders, who argue that the government’s fiscal measures will do little to alleviate the struggles of the working class and may, in fact, deepen the hardship faced by the nation’s poorest citizens. In a fiery reaction following the finance minister’s address, Dr. Wonder Mahlatsi, President of the United Africans Transformation (UAT), dismissed claims of an impending economic turnaround, insisting that the recovery touted by officials has not translated into relief for ordinary South Africans. “No, I’ve indicated before. They’ve indicated that there is an economic turnaround. But the…