Five suspects, including teenagers, have been arrested following an armed robbery targeting a 20-year-old e-hailing driver in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, after a dashcam video of the incident sparked outrage on social media. The arrests come after African Times reported on Wednesday that South Africans were demanding action against the suspects seen in the viral footage, which captured the moments leading up to the attempted robbery. Gauteng police confirmed on Thursday that members of Eldorado Park Crime Intelligence, detectives…

Victims of gender-based violence, abused children and communities battling high crime rates could receive faster police assistance following the handover of 1,087 vehicles to the South African Police Service (SAPS). National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said the vehicles were intended to strengthen frontline policing and ensure that people in distress were not left waiting for help because officers lacked the transport needed to reach them. Speaking at the official handover at the SAPS Academy in Benoni, Gauteng, on Thursday,…

South Africa’s real spending on research and development (R&D) declined by 1.9% in 2024/25, despite total expenditure rising to R44.2 billion, with falling business investment raising concerns about the country’s ability to sustain innovation and economic growth. The latest National R&D Survey, released by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on Thursday, found that R&D spending increased in nominal terms to R44.237 billion. However, after accounting for inflation, expenditure declined, while research spending as a proportion of gross domestic product…

The Police Ministry has stepped up engagements with police leadership, provincial governments and the private security industry to strengthen election security, as South Africa prepares for local government elections in six days. The ministry said the engagements were aimed at ensuring that the elections take place in a safe, secure and peaceful environment, with law enforcement agencies working together to prevent intimidation, violence and disruptions during the electoral period. The ministry confirmed that it had been receiving regular briefings from…

Suliman Carrim, who was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport shortly before boarding an international flight, has been granted R100,000 bail by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court. Lumka Mahanjana, NPA regional spokesperson for the Gauteng Division in Pretoria in Wednesday said Carrim is facing a charge of contravening Section 6(1) of the Commissions Act 8 of 1947 after allegedly failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry despite being warned to attend proceedings on August 14, 2026. Mahanjana said the…

Experts warn that political change alone will not fix struggling municipalities, as water losses climb to 47% and municipal debt to water boards reaches R28 billion, placing infrastructure, investment and service delivery under pressure. South Africa’s municipal governance crisis has come under the spotlight ahead of the 2026 local government elections, with government, business and civil society representatives warning that the next political leadership must do more than promise change. At Frontline Conversations 2026 in Sandton on Tuesday, discussions centred…

A dashcam video capturing an attempted robbery of an e-hailing driver in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, has sparked outrage on social media, with South Africans calling on police to arrest the suspects. The footage, which has gone viral on Facebook and X, allegedly shows a woman identified on social media as Angelique Yaya Munique and two men attempting to rob the driver on Tuesday, October 27, at around 10 am. Gauteng police had not commented on the incident at…

Former presidential adviser and ANC national executive committee member Dr Bejani Chauke has remained silent after the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry reportedly gave him 10 days to explain his WhatsApp conversations with the late taxi boss Jotham Mswazi Msibi. African Times contacted Chauke on Wednesday to obtain his response to the notice and give him an opportunity to explain his side of the story as part of the publication’s commitment to fair, factual and balanced reporting. His mobile phone indicated…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has deployed 510 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members to KwaZulu-Natal to support police operations amid protests against illegal immigration that have taken place in parts of the province, including Durban. The deployment, which will cost the government more than R34 million, is intended to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in maintaining law and order amid concerns about violent incidents linked to misinformation surrounding a Constitutional Court judgment on the Refugees Act. According to…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has received a report from a panel investigating the circumstances surrounding the controversial naval Exercise MOSI III Will of Peace 2026, which proceeded despite his instruction that Iran’s navy should no longer participate. The President instituted the probe in February 2026 following questions about the failure to heed his instruction that the navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran must withdraw from the Chinese-led exercise, which took place in South African waters. The panel was chaired by…