Category: Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has commended the arrest of a suspect in connection with the recent brutal mass murder that shocked the Umlazi community.

This comes after the arrest of a 28-year-old man in connection with the murder of eight people on 16 May 2025, at Zama informal settlement in U-section, Umlazi, south of Durban.

The victims, including six men and two women, aged between 22 and 40 years, were found lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds.

According to the police report, the incident took place when unknown armed men entered an informal settlement and opened fire. Eight victims died on the scene.

The mass killing, which left multiple lives lost and families shattered, drew national attention and widespread condemnation.

Ntuli visited the affected area and called for a multi-agency response to restore peace and strengthen community policing.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ntuli hailed the arrest as a significant breakthrough.

“This arrest is a clear indication that our law enforcement agencies are capable, committed, and determined to restore safety and dignity in our communities. We commend the SAPS (South African Police Service), the Hawks, and all intelligence-led operations that worked relentlessly around the clock to ensure this progress,” Ntuli said.

Ntuli emphasised that people of Umlazi and KwaZulu-Natal at large deserve to live without fear, and “no individual or group has the right to undermine the safety and security of our communities.”

He added that the provincial government is intensifying its collaboration with the police and other safety structures to dismantle criminal syndicates, improve visibility in hotspots, and fast-track the installation of community-based crime prevention programmes.

The Premier also appealed to community members to work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies.

“Our fight against crime is a collective one. We urge residents to report any suspicious activities and to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations. It is only through unity and active citizenry that we can defeat crime and reclaim our communities.”

As the case proceeds through the justice system, Ntuli assured that the provincial government will continue to provide the necessary psychosocial support to the victims’ families, and work to ensure that justice is served without delay. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) says Vala Umgodi operations continue to be conducted across the country to combat illegal mining and associated criminal activities.

The most recent operations have led to the arrest of 142 suspects of different nationalities for illegal mining activities.

“These suspects were arrested for illegal mining related offences and various other crimes that include, among others, trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of unpolished diamonds, unlawful possession of explosives, contravention of Immigration Act and drug trafficking,” the police said in a statement.

Police made several notable arrests and confiscated large quantities of gold bearing material in the past week.

In a series of targeted interventions, Operation Vala Umgodi teams successfully apprehended 130 undocumented foreign nationals directly involved in illicit mining activities and related offences across the Free State province. 

Police actions led to the seizure of substantial quantities of gold-bearing material and equipment crucial to these illegal activities, as well as three unlicensed firearms, 16 rounds of ammunition and a vehicle.

In the Northern Cape, on 17 June 2025, members executed intelligence-driven operation and arrested 15 suspects for contravention of the Immigration Act, illegal mining activities and possession of suspected unpolished diamonds in the Koingnaas and Beefmaster illegal mining camps, respectively. The team seized unpolished diamonds and a significant quantity of dagga.

On 19 June 2025, four suspects were arrested for trespassing, contravention of the Immigration Act in the Free State. One suspect was also arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniform, dagga and suspected gold bearing material. The team also arrested three suspects aged between 45 and 32 years, after being found in possession of gold-bearing material at Theunissen. Police also seized packaged and sealed food items destined for the illegal miners underground, along with explosive detonators.

An intelligence-driven disruptive Vala Umgodi operation conducted at the Clovedene Informal Settlement in Crystal Park, Ekurhuleni in Gauteng, led to the arrest of eight illegal foreign nationals and suspected illegal miners. Police confiscated equipment used for illegal mining activities.

In Limpopo, on 17 June 2025, the Sekhukhune District’s Operation Vala Umgodi team apprehended nine suspects aged between 22 and 44 years for illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act. Several items including three wheelbarrows, a generator, a jackhammer, two shovels, three chisels, and bottles of petrol were confiscated.

In KwaZulu-Natal, on 17 June 2025,  40-year-old Sydwell Shane Mkhantswa appeared briefly in the Kwa-Mbonambi Periodical Court in connection with a case of theft of minerals over R800 000 from Richards Bay Minerals (RBM). Further investigation linked the suspect with another Kwa-Mbonambi case of theft of minerals in which he allegedly delivered RBM minerals to Isipingo in Durban, where police found over R24 million worth of suspected stolen minerals. 

“Operation Vala Umgodi remains committed to dismantling illegal mining syndicates and ensuring law and order to the affected provinces as well as safeguarding the country’s mineral resources,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

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In a crackdown against wrongdoing, the Gauteng Provincial Government has removed three provincial heads of department following their failure of lifestyle audits.

This was announced by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi who briefed the media on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, a report by the Special Investigating Unit revealed that at least 37% of senior officials in the provincial government had failed lifestyle audits.

“In line with due processes, officials whose lifestyles were found to be inconsistent with the audits were given an opportunity to provide an explanation. In response to these findings, the provincial government, in collaboration with the SIU [Special Investigating Unit] which conducted the audits, have notified the affected employees and directed them to address and rectify the identified areas that the SIU was not happy with.

“Over the weekend, I received the last reports from the SIU [and] I have now directed the HOD to engage with the relevant HODs so that they can conclude this process. Of the four outstanding reports of these HODs, three of them came back again as failed audit outcomes. 

“On the basis of this, I’ve taken a decision to immediately remove these HODs from their positions. The DG will facilitate this process and make the public announcement on the changes of administrative head of department,” he said.

The Premier explained that the move reaffirmed the “commitment to ensure that departments are led by people with impeccable credentials”. 

Furthermore, the SIU is conducting lifestyle audits for all supply chain and finance officials in departments.

“Given the scale of this exercise, the SIU will submit reports to departments starting with the Office of the Premier. Currently, investigators are collating outstanding documents, analysing them and compiling submitted information, conducting third party verification and finalising individual audit reports,” Lesufi said.

Forensic investigations

At the media briefing, the Premier also released some 47 forensic investigation reports conducted by institutions, including the SIU, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Public Protector.

“These reports, from multiple departments, cover a range of investigations including alleged cases of abuse of state resources, irregular and unauthorised expenditure, theft, unfair labour practices, ghost employees, procurement irregularities, suspected fraud, Human Resource irregularities, assault and death threats and corruption, amongst others.

“We are proud to release these reports to indicate our commitment that we will not tolerate any form of corruption. We have taken the recommendations to the MECs so that [they] implement the recommendations,” he said.

Additionally, a committee in the Office of the Premier has been established to track the implementation of the recommendations from those reports. 

“The Office of the Premier is tracking the implementation of these forensic investigation reports and recommendations…including financial recoveries, through quarterly reports submitted to the Premier and the Provincial Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee. 

“Additionally, the Office of the Premier is supporting the Gauteng provincial government departments to prioritise fund recovery with progress monitored by the Gauteng Audit Committee.

“To strengthen recovery efforts, the office has already enhanced collaboration with the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the AFU has reaffirmed its readiness to support the Gauteng Provincial Government in asset recovery,” he said.

For even greater accountability, the provincial government is teaming up with the SIU to facilitate fund recovery.

“This includes utilising the Special Tribunal at the SIU established by the President…to expedite the recovery of state funds lost due to corruption or irregular expenditure,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) has condemned the dissemination of inaccurate information regarding COVID-19 vaccines and their associated side effects.

This comes after a recent incident of misinformation making the rounds on the internet. 

In the deepfake video, SABC news anchor Oliver Dickson “interviews” Professor Salim Abdool Karim, the Director of the CAPRISA. During the interview, Abdool Karim makes claims that the COVID-19 vaccine is causing harm and resulting in fatalities. 

“Abdool Karim refutes in its entirety the contents of this latest fake video that is currently being circulated on social media sites and other communication applications,” the statement read. 

According to the AIDS research centre, Karim has since reiterated that COVID-19 vaccines are indeed safe.

“Furthermore, neither Abdool Karim nor CAPRISA have endorsed any medicines for any company.

“Standing by our commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of the public based on accurate and trusted scientific research, CAPRISA urges members of the public to verify all health claims, to refrain from sharing misinformation and to report it as fake immediately.” 

The centre has encouraged citizens to consult credible sources for accurate health information. 

These sources include CAPRISA, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), the Department of Health, or a trusted registered healthcare professional. 

In addition, the centre emphasised the importance of verifying the authenticity of health claims, products, and any suggested actions. 

Meanwhile, CAPRISA has urged citizens to report any instances of fake news encountered online directly to the social media platforms hosting the content, such as X, Facebook, and TikTok, and to avoid sharing fake news images, videos, and messages on mobile chat groups. 

“Should you receive a message of this nature either individually or in a chat group, you are advised to delete it immediately. We urge you to make informed health decisions based on trusted and credible scientific evidence.” – SAnews.gov.za

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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has resolved to launch a full committee inquiry into allegations of maladministration, financial mismanagement, wasteful and reckless expenditure, and related financial misconduct at the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

SCOPA made this decision after months of repeated attempts by the committee to obtain truthful, complete information from the RAF Board and executive management to little avail.

“The committee cannot perform its work effectively if state entities do not provide it with complete and truthful information, with adequate context and supporting information,” SCOPA said on Tuesday.

Some of the issues of concern for the committee include but are not limited to:
•    Failure to perform adequate background checks on senior management and executive appointments who nonetheless have access to and manage significant sums of public funds despite having a deeply concerning employment and disciplinary history involving allegations of reckless financial management decisions.
•    Subsequent refusal by the RAF to disclose to the committee where such funds are kept and for what purpose.
•    Failure to appoint critical officials such as a Chief Claims Officer, Head of Claims Operations, Head of Legal, Chief Corporate Support Officer, Head of People Management etc, for an unacceptably long time while decisions with a significant financial impact on the RAF are being taken, alternatively not being taken when they should.
•    Apparent failures of governance with a direct impact on the rule of law, the authority and powers of Parliament as well as Chapter 9 institutions tasked with performing oversight on behalf of the South African people.
•    Numerous whistleblower accounts relating to supply chain irregularities involving more than R1 billion while internal management controls appear to not be applied.

“These allegations point to failure by the Board to properly oversee management’s decisions and actions in line with their statutory mandate.

“The volume of complaints and related documentary disclosures to the committee about the RAF make it necessary to examine them thoroughly and make such recommendations as may be necessary to ensure that the institution does its work within legal and constitutional prescripts, and serves the public interest as intended. 

“An inquiry will also give everyone involved or implicated the opportunity to state their case under oath and receive a fair hearing before the committee draws its conclusions,” SCOPA Chairperson Songezo Zibi said.

The committee will approve terms of reference on 1 July 2025, and the inquiry will take place after the August recess. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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