The national Human Settlements Department will hand over new homes in Bethlehem's Bakenpark Extensions 6 and 7. Minister Thembi Simelane, Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, and MEC Saki Mokoena will officiate the event. The project provides fully subsidized Breaking New Ground houses to qualifying low-income families.
Infrastructure work, including water and sewer connections, is ongoing at the site. Beneficiaries are selected from waiting lists, with priority given to vulnerable groups. The development is part of broader efforts to deliver integrated settlements with access to basic services.
This handover represents a tangible step in addressing housing backlogs within the Thabo Mofutsanyana district. The initiative aligns...
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for the United Nations to intervene in the escalating crisis between the United States and Venezuela. Speaking from Mexico City, she criticized the UN's current absence and offered her country as a neutral site for diplomatic talks. This appeal follows recent US military deployments and a blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers ordered by President Donald Trump.
Sheinbaum emphasized Mexico's constitutional principle of non-intervention and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Her position contrasts with the Trump administration's aggressive stance, which labels Venezuela's government a terrorist entity and enforces strict sanctions. Venezuela has condemned these actions as illegal, planning to...
Police arrested four people in Diepkloof, Soweto, for allegedly running a truck hijacking operation. A coordinated team from Johannesburg Metro Police and Gauteng units, along with private security firms Randtrack and Tracker, recovered a stolen truck and its cargo of alcohol. One suspect managed to evade capture.
Authorities seized four vehicles during the bust, including the hijacked truck with its trailers and three suspected getaway cars. The suspects face charges related to possessing stolen property and a hijacked vehicle. Their arrests follow intelligence about the syndicate offloading stolen goods.
This operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat organized cargo theft in Gauteng, a region experiencing high rates of truck...
A major new LPG terminal is planned for Durban harbor. Transnet National Ports Authority signed a twenty-five-year deal with a partnership of WASAA Gases and the Central Energy Fund to build the R1.4 billion facility. The project, backed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, aims to add fifty thousand cubic meters of storage capacity by late 2027.
This infrastructure is a direct response to South Africa's rising demand for liquefied petroleum gas amid declining domestic production. It is designed to improve import capacity and distribution reliability for households and industries. Officials expect the construction and operation phases to generate significant local employment in KwaZulu-Natal.
The terminal represents a strategic...
President Cyril Ramaphosa is chairing a virtual SADC summit focusing on Madagascar. Leaders from the sixteen member states will review a fact-finding report concerning political stability on the island nation. The meeting underscores regional efforts to address governance and electoral challenges.
Ramaphosa, serving as interim chair of the bloc's security organ, will guide discussions aimed at fostering dialogue and support. The summit follows previous engagements where SADC has mediated in Madagascar's political affairs. The collective goal is to promote durable peace and economic stability within the region.
The outcomes could include recommendations for institutional support or electoral assistance. This coordinated approach...
Cynthia Dumakude, a 44-year-old marketing manager from South Africa's Wild Coast Sun, won the Ms Transcontinental 2026 title in the United States. Hailing from a small town and raising a child as a single mother, she represented the African continent in the international pageant.
Her victory is framed as a triumph of perseverance over humble beginnings. She balanced her career and parental duties while pursuing the competition, which recognizes women over twenty-five for their professional and personal achievements. Dumakude intends to leverage her new platform to advocate for women's education and support networks for single parents.
The win highlights a narrative of personal determination, aiming to inspire others with similar...
The Madlanga Commission has handed its interim report to President Cyril Ramaphosa. This judicial inquiry, chaired by retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is investigating corruption and political interference within South Africa's criminal justice system. It has heard testimony from thirty-seven witnesses over forty-five days of hearings.
The commission's proceedings have been widely followed via free public livestreams. Its work was shadowed by the murder of a key witness, Marius van der Merwe, who was killed after giving testimony. The interim document details initial findings based on evidence from twenty-eight witnesses in the first phase. A second phase, featuring responses from implicated individuals, is ongoing with more...
Johannesburg's water supply got messed up after recent maintenance by Rand Water. City Manager Floyd Brink stated the work at the Zuikerbosch plant impacted systems more than anticipated, draining key reservoirs. Over a hundred suburbs, including Soweto and Randburg, experienced low pressure or dry taps.
The planned repairs on major supply lines caused a widespread network disruption, particularly affecting the Palmiet system. Brink acknowledged the severe inconvenience but emphasized the necessity of the upkeep. Johannesburg Water has deployed tankers to the hardest hit areas while crews work to refill reservoirs.
This incident highlights the city's ongoing infrastructure challenges, like aging pipes and high demand. Brink urged...
Marius van der Merwe was laid to rest in Brakpan. The funeral for the 41-year-old whistleblower, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission, drew a crowd of mourners. Van der Merwe was assassinated outside his Brenthurst home in early December, shot multiple times in front of his wife and children. He had recently given explosive testimony about a police cover-up.
His testimony detailed an incident where a robbery suspect was allegedly tortured and killed by EMPD officers in 2022. Van der Merwe stated he was ordered by a suspended deputy chief to dump the body in Nigel Dam. His claims pointed to a syndicate with influence inside the Ekurhuleni police. A former reservist and private security operator, he had declined formal...
