ActionSA has dismissed allegations of internal tensions involving its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo and his wife, Bokani Moyo, describing the claims as unverified, speculative and factually incorrect. The allegations, obtained by African Times from multiple sources, suggest that divisions have emerged within the party over Khumalo’s public image and campaign branding ahead of the upcoming local government elections. However, no documentary evidence had been provided to African Times confirming claims that Moyo had been removed as campaign manager or…

A 69-year-old Canadian tourist has died following what authorities believe was an accidental firearm discharge during a bush braai experience at the Kruger National Park, prompting a police investigation into the tragic incident. The fatal shooting occurred on Wednesday evening at a concession-operated picnic and braai site near Phabeni Gate, one of the main entrances to the world-renowned wildlife reserve. According to preliminary information released by South African National Parks (SANParks), a private guide attached to a concession operator allegedly…

The Funeral Industry Reformed Association (FIRA) has raised concerns about alleged exclusive arrangements between some private hospitals and funeral parlours, warning that the practice could undermine consumer choice and leave grieving families facing unexpected costs. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association said it had received reports that certain private hospitals without their own mortuary facilities were relying exclusively on a single funeral parlour to remove and temporarily store the bodies of deceased patients. According to FIRA, there are…

Four people have been arrested after a police anti-gang operation in Heidedal, Free State, descended into chaos when officers were allegedly attacked by dogs, pelted with stones and forced to use stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse an aggressive crowd. The incident unfolded during a drug raid in Joe Slovo, Heidedal, on Tuesday morning, highlighting the growing dangers faced by police officers conducting operations against drug dealers and criminal networks in communities across South Africa. According to the South…

Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has removed former party leader John Steenhuisen from one of the party’s most prominent Cabinet positions, announcing a sweeping reshuffle of the DA’s Government of National Unity (GNU) team that will see Forestry Minister Willie Aucamp take over the Agriculture portfolio. The changes, announced on Wednesday, mark the first major reconfiguration of the DA’s representation in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet since the formation of the GNU following the 2024 general election. In a letter to…

Alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused will return to the Johannesburg High Court on June 17 after a pre-trial hearing on Monday focused on outstanding disclosure issues, changes to legal representation and a dispute over the collection of fingerprints linked to a separate criminal investigation. The matter forms part of the attempted murder case connected to actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, who survived a brazen shooting attack in Johannesburg in 2023. Matlala, who has been denied bail…

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has intensified calls for South Africans to replace their green barcoded identity books with Smart ID cards, warning that the ageing document has become a prime target for fraudsters and criminal syndicates. Speaking amid a broader government crackdown on immigration fraud and undocumented migration, Schreiber said the green ID book’s security weaknesses have allowed identity thieves to manipulate documents and commit various forms of fraud. “The green ID book is far less secure than…

The inquiry into the fitness of South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke has delivered a stinging rebuke of former National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi, accusing her of disregarding due process and displaying what the panel described as a potentially “disdainful attitude” towards the proceedings. In a strongly worded ruling released on Friday, the Nkabinde Inquiry dismissed Batohi’s application to submit written representations explaining why she abandoned her testimony while under cross-examination and later refused…

For decades, South Africans have lived with the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, a disease that has claimed millions of lives, torn families apart and left communities grappling with stigma and loss. Now, health authorities believe a groundbreaking new prevention tool could help turn the tide in the fight against the epidemic. The City of Ekurhuleni has welcomed the rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention injection that is now available at selected public healthcare facilities across the metro. The injection…

The number of people injured in the mass shooting that devastated the Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, has risen to 15, while the death toll remains at 12 as police intensify investigations into one of Gauteng’s deadliest attacks in recent years. Gauteng police confirmed on Thursday that the number of injured victims had increased from the initial figure of 10 reported following the attack. “The number of injured victims in the Cleveland mass shooting has increased to…