July 11, 2023
South Africa: Special Investigating Unit Called in to Probe Binned SA Tourism-Spurs Sponsorship Deal
Seven incidents previously reported to the SA Tourism whistle-blowing hotline -- but never followed up on -- are being probed by the Special Investigating Unit. Among them is… Read more »
South Africa: Sasol Gas to Be Prosecuted for Excessive Pricing of Natural Gas
The Competition Commission has found that Sasol Gas, a unit of petrochemicals giant Sasol, had markups on natural piped gas of up to 72% and that 'the excessive pricing has… Read more »
South Africa: Eight VIP Protection Officers Suspended After Gauteng Highway Assault
SAPS has suspended the eight police officers caught on video assaulting three people on the N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Read more »
July 10, 2023
South Africa: SA Post Office Goes the Business Rescue Route, High Court Orders
The government's plans to provide more taxpayer-funded bailouts to the SA Post Office prompted the high court to yank the state-owned enterprise (SOE) out of provisional… Read more »
Southern Africa: FBI Officials Kept Waiting As Red Tape Delays Manuel Chang's Deportation to the U.S.
The former Mozambican finance minister is now expected to be flown to the US on Tuesday, 11 July. Read more »
July 09, 2023
South Africa: SAFA President Danny Jordaan Submits Warning Statement to the Hawks After Financial Misdemeanour Claims
Danny Jordaan provided a warning statement to the Hawks in May in answer to complaints from Safa colleagues that he had been instrumental in the dodgy acquisition of a R65m… Read more »
South Africa: National Toll Route Reopened After Gunmen Set Fire to Six Trucks
A clean-up operation was under way at Van Reenen's Pass in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday after six trucks were set alight in the early hours of the morning. A group of armed men stopped… Read more »
Southern Africa: Former Mozambique Finance Minister Manuel Chang to Fly to U.S. to Face Graft Charges
South African police have confirmed that the former Mozambican finance minister will be handed over to the FBI to face fraud and corruption charges. Read more »
July 06, 2023
South Africa: Court Throttles Money Supply to Markus Jooste's Alleged Mistress
The Cape Town High Court has rejected socialite Berdine Odendaal's attempt to access more money from her bank accounts frozen by the SA Reserve Bank. The funds are suspected to… Read more »
July 05, 2023
South Africa: Reserve Bank Freezes Billions in Steinhoff Accounts
The South African Reserve Bank froze the funds in five accounts linked to Steinhoff's local operations - said to hold a cumulative value of about R5.5bn. The Reserve Bank's… Read more »
South Africa: Calls to Rein in VIP Convoys Mount
The authorities appear to be taking action against members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile's security unit who were shown on film viciously assaulting three military trainees on… Read more »
July 04, 2023
South Africa: 'Problem Officers' in Deputy President's Protection Unit Likely to Get Away With Slap On Wrist - Experts
The vicious assault of motorists by Deputy President Paul Mashatile's security unit has been widely perceived as a continuation of police bullying tactics and abuse of power -- but… Read more »
South Africa: Assault Highlights Police Protection an Expensive Excuse for Thuggery and Vanity
We must ask why most current Cabinet members and MECs need their blue lights. If they are in danger of assault or assassination it's probably self-inflicted: the result of their… Read more »
July 03, 2023
South Africa: Suspect in Court After Hawks Make Breakthrough On Theft of 51 Rhino Horns From North West Parks Board
A 40-year-old man has appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrates' Court for the theft of 51 rhino horns from the North West Parks Board last week. Police say more arrests are imminent. Read more »
July 02, 2023
South Africa: Coke Smugglers Playing Chicken With Port Authorities
Cocaine hidden in frozen poultry has been found in Brazil, en route to South Africa - with some seasoning in Spain. Fruit exports are also a cover for drug shipments between the… Read more »
South Africa: 'Evidence' of Global Crooks Crafting a U.S.-Based Plot to Topple Bulgaria's Law Enforcers
Krasimir Kamenov, one of the four Bulgarians assassinated in Cape Town in May, was among a group of alleged thugs operating across countries, from South Africa to Romania, and… Read more »
South Africa: Abahlali Basemjondolo Welcomes Call to Investigate Murders of Its Activists
Land rights movement Abahlali baseMjondolo has been under siege for years. Twenty-four of its activists have been murdered, and there have been convictions in only two of those… Read more »
July 01, 2023
South Africa: Critics of Phala Phala Report Should 'Take the Matter On Review', Mbalula Tells ANCYL Conference
Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka's report clearing President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing pertaining to the Phala Phala matter is a victory for the ANC, which has been… Read more »
June 30, 2023
South Africa: Ramaphosa Cleared of Wrongdoing in Phala Phala Scandal By Public Protector
In the closing report into the handling of the housebreaking and theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa's private Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, the acting Public Protector has cleared… Read more »
June 28, 2023
Southern Africa: Home Affairs Given 12 Months Correct Process Around Future of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits
Zimbabweans living in South Africa with special exemption permits were given a 12-month reprieve when the High Court in Pretoria ruled that the decision to cancel the permits was… Read more »
Southern Africa: Civil Society Hails Court Ruling Declaring ZEP Termination Unlawful As 'A Victory' for Migrant Community
Civil society organisations have welcomed the Pretoria High Court judgment which declared the termination of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit 'unlawful and unconstitutional' --… Read more »
June 27, 2023
South Africa: Fearful Enyobeni Tavern Survivors Abandon Memorial Speeches
Survivors of the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy abandoned plans to speak at a memorial service on Monday for their friends who died in the tragedy, saying they feared for their lives. Read more »
June 26, 2023
South Africa: Hefty Sentences for Rhino Poachers After New Wildlife Trafficking Strategy Starts to Bite
The recent sentencing of six Zimbabweans -- members of the so-called Chitiyo Rhino Poaching Gang -- to prison terms ranging from 16 to 20 years suggests that authorities are slowly… Read more »
South Africa: The Tragic Story of the Enyobeni 21 - No Consequences, Clarity, Action or Change
A year ago, at 4am, we first heard the name of an inconspicuous tavern in Scenery Park, East London: Enyobeni. Crime alerts can be deceiving. When we hear that 21 people died in… Read more »
June 25, 2023
South Africa: Mpumalanga Municipality Fined R70m for Vaal River Sewage Pollution
The Lekwa Local Municipality was fined R70m for failing to stop sewage from flowing into the Vaal River. The penalty is among the highest on record in SA for an environmental crime Read more »