Category: Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has called for a thorough and expedited investigation into the murder of three minor children in Lulwane village in Manguzi, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the incident occurred on the night of 30 January 2026 and resulted in the deaths of Kwanele Gumede (15), Amanda Khumalo (9), and Ayabonga Khumalo (7).

Ntuli expressed profound shock, sorrow, and outrage at the tragedy, describing it as deeply disturbing, senseless, and an unforgivable violation of the sanctity of life, particularly that of children who depend on adults for love, safety, and protection.

“The killing of innocent children, especially within the family environment that should serve as their safest space, has left the province devastated and in mourning,” Ntuli said.

The Premier conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the affected community in Lulwane, and all those traumatised by the incident.

He acknowledged the immense emotional pain experienced by the community and assured residents that the provincial government stands with them during this difficult time.

Ntuli has called on law enforcement agencies to ensure a comprehensive and speedy investigation so that justice is served and the perpetrator is held fully accountable.

He also urged communities to remain vigilant and to report early warning signs of domestic violence, abuse, or severe emotional distress within households, warning that silence can lead to tragic and irreversible consequences.

“The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, through relevant departments including Social Development and Community Safety and Liaison, will work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that psychosocial support and trauma counselling are provided to the affected family and community,” the Premier said.

Reaffirming the province’s commitment to child protection, Ntuli called on families, communities, faith-based organisations, and civil society to work together to safeguard children and confront all forms of violence.

“The safety, dignity, and wellbeing of children remain a top priority for the provincial government. Decisive action will continue to be taken to combat violence in all its forms,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

With the 2026 Winter Olympic Games set to get underway, cross-country skier Matthew Smith and skeleton athlete Nicole Burger have been selected to carry the South African flag at the opening ceremony of the games.

“Smith (35) and Burger (31) are the oldest members among the five athletes who will do duty for Team SA at the XXV Winter Olympics. This is the biggest delegation that the country has ever sent to a Winter Games. All five are experiencing their first Winter Olympics at senior level,” the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) said ahead of the Friday, 06 February opening of the games in Italy.

The President of the (SASCOC), Barry Hendricks, congratulated the athletes and wished them well at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. 

“I’m delighted that we have five worthy athletes representing Team SA. Congratulations to all ahead of their first Winter Olympics, and a special note of congratulations to Matthew and Nicole who will carry our flag. It’s a huge life milestone for any athlete to lead their nation at the opening ceremony of any Games”, Hendricks said in a post on the SASCOC website.

SASCOC CEO, Nozipho Jafta said the presence of the athletes at the games has attracted a significant amount of positive media attention in South Africa and abroad.

“We believe that this will push a lot more of our South African youngsters to dream bigger. We look forward to seeing them all donning the green and gold of Team SA on Friday,” she said.

Smith and Burger were both born in South Africa, before relocating and qualifying for the biggest stage overseas. This is significant because their presence, and the expanded team of five, reflects the growth of winter sport within the country and highlights pathways being built for future generations.

“Team SA’s other three athletes were born overseas. Malica Malherbe (British Columbia), Lara Markthaler (Germany), and Thomas Weir (Switzerland) are talented young athletes with bright Olympic futures and aged 21, 18 and 17, respectively,” said SASCOC.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be staged from 6- 22 February 2026. –SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape has recorded significant operational successes during the 2025/2026 Festive Season Operation, which resulted in the arrest of 4 178 perpetrators for serious and priority crimes.

The Festive Season Operation was implemented to ensure the safety and security of residents and visitors across the province.

The operation which commenced on 1 October 2025, and concluded on 31 January 2026, focused on intensified crime prevention, visible policing, road safety enforcement, coordinated multi-disciplinary operations and awareness campaigns across all five districts in the province.

Through the dedication and commitment of SAPS members, supported by law enforcement partners and community policing structures, the suspects were arrested for various crimes including murder, attempted murder, robbery, rape, sexual assault, assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, burglary and drug related crime.

Detectives throughout the province conducted tracing operations and apprehended several wanted suspects who have been evading the law. The suspects were wanted in connection with serious crimes including rape, burglary, armed robbery and hijacking.

The police operations resulted in the confiscation of 183 illegal firearms and ammunition, 1 663 dangerous weapons and a substantial number of drugs and alcohol.

Copper cable, counterfeit goods, illicit cigarettes, livestock, tools and electronic equipment were also seized.

“Actions included the successful execution of roadblocks, stop-and-search operations and vehicle checkpoints and increased police visibility in identified crime hotspots,” the police said in a statement.

In total 145 089 persons and 69 553 vehicles were stopped and thoroughly searched.

“During this period 90 897 compliance inspections were conducted at firearm dealers, liquor outlets, recyclers, second hand goods dealers and scrap metal dealers in the province, which subsequently resulted in the closure of 225 unlicensed liquor premises.

“During high visibility patrols law enforcement conducted visits to ATM’s and banks, shopping malls, tuck shops, farms, filling stations, holiday resorts, taxi ranks and mining areas.

“Road safety operations also yielded positive results, with thousands of vehicles stopped and searched, unroadworthy vehicles removed from the roads, and 86 motorists arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol,” the police said.

Approximately 6000 fines were issued for various traffic violations.

During this period, the new academic year also started which seen various Back-to-School campaigns held in the districts to ensure the safety and security of learners, educators and students at schools and learning institutions.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola applauded SAPS members for their tireless efforts, unwavering commitment and professionalism throughout the festive season.

“The success of this operation is a direct result of teamwork, dedication and the strong partnership between the police, other law enforcement agencies and our communities. We remain firm and committed to sustaining this momentum to ensure safer communities beyond the festive period,” said Otola.

The police also commended the public for their cooperation and adherence to the law, which contributed significantly to the overall success of the operation.

The SAPS reiterated its commitment to continue proactive policing and crime prevention initiatives to ensure the safety and security of all residents in the Northern Cape. – SAnews.gov.za

Government has congratulated Professor Vukosi Marivate on the recommendation by the United Nations Secretary-General to appoint him as a member of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.

In a statement on Thursday, government said Professor Marivate of the University of Pretoria was recommended alongside 40 leading experts from across the world, drawn from diverse disciplines and recognised for their significant expertise in artificial intelligence and related fields.

“The panel will be the first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to closing the AI knowledge gap and assessing the real-world impacts of artificial intelligence across economies and societies,” said the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

It added that the panel will play a critical role in helping the global community distinguish fact from fiction, and science from misinformation, by providing an authoritative, unbiased reference point.

According to the United Nations, the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI serves as the first global scientific body on Artificial Intelligence (AI), bringing together leading experts to assess how AI is transforming lives. 

“The 40 nominees recommended by the Secretary-General were identified from among applicants to an open call that resulted in over 2,600 applications from more than 140 countries, ensuring world-class expertise,” said the United Nations.-SAnews.gov.za

The eThekwini Municipality has intensified its efforts to combat cable theft, leading to the successful conviction of perpetrators involved in crimes targeting municipal infrastructure.

The municipality said the convictions highlight the Energy Management Directorate’s continued commitment to protecting municipal infrastructure and ensuring reliable service delivery to residents.

In a recent case, a 53-year-old man, who was employed as a contractor staff member, was convicted in the Durban Magistrate’s Court for possession of suspected stolen property, including electricity cables and a streetlight belonging to the municipality.

The arrest occurred in 2023 during a coordinated operation that involved an inspection of a scrap dealer’s premises where stolen municipal property was discovered.

Further investigations led to additional inspections, which uncovered two rolls of eThekwini Municipality cables, additional streetlight components, and evidence of illegal cable processing at the suspect’s residence.

Director of the Energy Management Directorate, Philani Shange, expressed disappointment at the involvement of a contractor staff member in such criminal activities.

“It is disheartening to witness individuals who are contracted to assist the Municipality in delivering essential services choosing to engage in theft instead. Their actions not only undermine the integrity of our workforce but also hinder our efforts to improve service delivery to our communities,” Shange said.

In addition to this recent conviction, two other individuals were sentenced late last year for related offences. A 44-year-old man was found guilty of possessing suspected stolen electricity cables and received a three-year prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years.

In a separate case, a 32-year-old man was convicted of tampering with essential infrastructure and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, with half of the sentence suspended for five years.

“The Energy Management Directorate continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of infrastructure theft are brought to justice, reinforcing the message that such criminal activities will not be tolerated,” Shange said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Electoral Commission (IEC) on Thursday announced its countrywide Online Voter Registration Campaign, marking a key milestone in preparations for the upcoming 2026 local government elections and expanding access to voter registration for millions of South Africans.

The campaign went live this week across media platforms, calling on eligible South Africans to register online, update their voter details and verify their registration status ahead of election day later in the year.

In 2021, the Electoral Commission introduced the online portal, a self-service voter registration system – which has proven effective among eligible South Africans. 

It enables citizens to register, update and verify their details remotely, significantly improving the accessibility, efficiency and integrity of the voter registration process.

This year alone, the portal recorded 26,743 newly registered voters, bringing the total number of registered voters to 27,718, 204. 

The highly sought-after youth demographic now accounts for 7,756,911 registered voters, underscoring the urgent need to intensify efforts to mobilise young people ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Acting Chief Electoral Officer, George Mahlangu, says the Electoral Commission is stepping up efforts to empower all voters, particularly young people, to actively participate in South Africa’s democratic and electoral processes.

“We urge all eligible South Africans to register online, and those already registered to verify and, where necessary, update their address details. In the 2026 municipal elections, you register where you live and vote where you are registered. 

“This ensures voters can continue to shape the affairs of their communities by participating in elections in the wards where they ordinarily reside,” Mahlangu said.

Furthermore, the Electoral Commission is intensifying voter registration and civic education initiatives at institutions of learning nationwide, reinforcing civic and democracy drives aimed at young people.

Eligible South Africans aged 16 years and older, with a valid identity document, can register to vote or update their details on the online portal.

Go to www.registertovote.elections.org.za – the process is quick, safe and easy. Voters will only be permitted to vote at the voting station where they are registered. It is therefore essential that voters ensure their registration details, including their voting district and voting station, are correct and up to date ahead of Election Day. – SAnews.gov.za