Two detainees died on Wednesday at Pollsmoor Remand Detention Facility after warders responded to a stabbing attack. Officials used force to subdue prisoners who assaulted staff members with bladed weapons at the Cape Town jail. Several other individuals sustained injuries before authorities regained control.
The police began an independent investigation, while the Department of Correctional Services launched its own separate inquiry. National Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale condemned the violence and offered sympathy to bereaved families. Emergency responders transported wounded persons to area medical centers for treatment.
The facility restored normal operations after the confrontation ended. Authorities have not disclosed...
A Hawks officer disrupted an arrest operation targeting alleged crime boss Katiso Molefe at his Johannesburg residence on 6 December 2024. Captain Maxwell Wanda testified on Wednesday before the Madlanga Commission that aggressive Hawks personnel questioned his team's authority while a helicopter circled above. The inquiry examines criminal corruption within South Africa's law enforcement agencies.
Molefe faces allegations of orchestrating the killings of engineer Armand Swart and musician DJ Sumbody. Investigators discovered a rifle and ammunition at the property. Ballistic analysis connected an AK-47 from the location to multiple homicides. Evidence mismanagement allowed recovered weapons to return to criminal networks.
The...
Media personality Somizi Mhlongo graduated from the Villioti Fashion Institute at the age of 52 with his first formal qualification in fashion design. The television star completed the Johannesburg program while managing his entertainment career and plans to apply his new skills to his clothing brand Sompire.
Mhlongo enrolled at the institute in 2024 and finished his coursework by August 2025. He met with principal Spero Villioti in July 2024 to review his academic progress. The graduate shared updates about his studies through social media posts that documented his educational journey.
His achievement sparked widespread reaction on social platforms. Commentator Musa Khawula noted the milestone on X. Supporters celebrated the...
Pan-African theologian Rev. Mo'hau Khumalo criticized Cameroon President Paul Biya after his eighth electoral victory sparked deadly demonstrations. The 92-year-old leader secured 71 percent of the votes in the Oct. 12 ballot despite opposition claims of widespread manipulation. Security forces killed at least 17 protesters and detained more than 500 people following the Oct. 27 results announcement.
Khumalo accused foreign governments and corporations of sustaining Biya's 43-year administration through military support and resource extraction agreements. Israel provides security training while European and Chinese companies control oil, timber and mineral exports. African Union officials condemned the violence but regional leaders...
Zimbabwe dismissed electricity transmission chief Abel Gurupira after a blackout forced President Emmerson Mnangagwa to deliver his annual address under mobile phone lights on Monday, Oct. 28. Energy Minister July Moyo ordered the immediate removal following the power failure that disrupted Parliament and sparked widespread criticism on social media. The outage highlighted persistent electricity shortages affecting millions of citizens across the nation.
The country generates approximately 1,200 megawatts, against daily demand exceeding 2,200 megawatts. Aging coal plants at Hwange and reduced hydroelectric output from the Kariba Dam contribute to supply deficits, forcing daily load shedding that can last up to 18 hours in some regions...
A Pretoria court panel delayed its ruling after hearing arguments on Monday, Oct. 27, and Tuesday, Oct. 28, about public access to matriculation examination scores. The Information Regulator claims the Department of Basic Education is violating privacy laws by publishing student names alongside their results in newspapers and on websites. Judges will determine whether traditional disclosure methods conflict with the Protection of Personal Information Act.
The regulator issued an enforcement notice in November 2024 after receiving complaints about identity theft risks from public result lists. Department officials defend the practice as necessary for transparency and accountability within the education system. Judge Ronel Tolmay...
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in Gauteng rejected a Democratic Alliance no-confidence motion against Premier Panyaza Lesufi after a Public Protector report criticized the Crime Prevention Wardens program. Union officials said the findings addressed procedural violations rather than corruption or financial misconduct. The wardens' initiative created 8,200 positions and contributed to a 7.9 percent reduction in crime before authorities restructured it to comply with traffic enforcement legislation.
Provincial COSATU leaders Amos Monyela and Louisah Modikwe warned that unstable governance could harm the region, which is responsible for 40 percent of national economic output. The Public Protector determined the Community...
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal rejected Ngwathe Local Municipality's attempt to overturn a dissolution order on Tuesday, 22 October. The ruling confirmed a June 2025 High Court decision, which required Free State provincial authorities to dismantle the council and install an administrator. Executive Mayor Victoria De Beer-Mthombeni said officials would review the judgment before announcing further actions.
Civil rights organization AfriForum initiated legal proceedings after residents complained about water contamination, sewage spills and financial collapse. The municipality owes Eskom, the power utility, more than 2 billion rand. Judge JP Daffue's 184-page June decision detailed liabilities exceeding assets by 1.6 billion...
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday, October 28, for talks with President Karin Keller-Sutter, focusing on trade expansion and cultural cooperation. The leaders will sign agreements on Wednesday covering arts, heritage, and peace mediation efforts. Switzerland ranks as South Africa's sixth-largest trading partner, with bilateral commerce reaching 159.5 billion rand, including gold transactions.
The visit includes the return of sacred artifacts from the Nkuna Royal Family that Swiss missionary Henri-Alexandre Junod acquired over a century ago. Ramaphosa will tour vocational training centers on Thursday, Oct. 30, to examine apprenticeship models for South African youth employment programs. Ministers...
