A former senior audit executive linked to the massive accounting scandal at Steinhoff International has been sentenced to prison after admitting he failed to report suspicious activities that contributed to the company’s inflated financial statements. The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Hein Odendaal (67), the former Group Audit Executive at Steinhoff at Work, to four years’ direct imprisonment or a fine of R2 million. In addition, Odendaal received a two-year prison sentence wholly suspended for five years on condition…

The murder case linked to the killing of popular amapiano artist DJ Sumbody has been postponed to October after a pre-trial conference concluded in the High Court in Johannesburg. Businessman Katiso Molefe appeared in court on Thursday alongside his co-accused, Michael Pule Tau (55), Tiego Floyd Mabisela (45), and Musa Kekana. The four men face 35 charges related to the murder of DJ Sumbody, whose real name was Oupa John Sefoka. The court postponed the matter to 26 October 2026…

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa are being urged to strengthen their financial planning as the country braces for a potential fuel price increase in April, a development that could place additional strain on already tight business margins. According to Garth Rossiter, Chief Risk Officer at Lula, the impact of rising fuel prices extends far beyond transport and logistics companies. “Fuel price increases don’t only affect logistics companies,” Rossiter said. “They ripple across the entire economy because almost…

As South Africa commemorates Human Rights Month under the theme “Bill of Rights at 30: Making Human Dignity Real,” the Centre for Community Impact (CCI) has launched a large-scale health programme aimed at supporting sex workers across the country. The initiative focuses on comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support services for HIV, tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and gender-based violence (GBV). The programme will be rolled out across eight provinces, reaching 18 districts nationwide. The intervention comes at a…

The bail application of attempted murder accused Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe was abruptly halted at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after he and his co-accused opted to abandon their bid for release and instead pursue plea negotiations with the State. Mugabe, the son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, appeared in court alongside co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhdze in connection with a February shooting incident that left a 23-year-old man seriously wounded. The pair had initially applied for bail following their…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has launched a scathing attack on the United States ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, accusing him of interfering in the country’s domestic and foreign policy and calling for him to be expelled from the country. In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, the EFF condemned remarks Bozell allegedly made during a BizNews conference, where he reportedly expressed frustration on behalf of the administration of US President Donald Trump about South Africa’s…

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has thrown its support behind the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) initiative, which took place on 10 March 2026 at Ladybrand Hall and continued with a walkabout at the Maseru Port of Entry. SAPU says it supports the initiative because it aligns with the union’s longstanding commitment to fighting corruption in law enforcement. “Since the launch of the Border Management Authority (BMA), SAPU has been actively involved in anti-corruption efforts,” said Lesiba…

South Africans are being urged to begin preparing for the 2026 local government elections, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announcing that a nationwide voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June. The commission said the registration weekend is intended to maximise opportunities for eligible voters to register closer to where they live and to broaden participation in the upcoming municipal elections. Preparations for the elections are already underway, with several key administrative milestones either…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has welcomed the tabling of a motion by its caucus in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality council seeking to remove registered indigent households from the municipality’s debtors’ list and shield them from debt collection measures. The motion, scheduled to be debated at council at Germiston City Hall, proposes that all households officially recognised as indigent be removed from the city’s debtors’ database and have their qualifying municipal debt written off in accordance…

Police in Limpopo have launched a major operation targeting suspects linked to a R10 million insurance murder-for-payout scheme, with several arrests already made and more expected. According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, officers are currently executing seven warrants of arrest in connection with the alleged syndicate. Three suspects were arrested on Tuesday morning, including two brothers and a traditional healer believed to have been involved in the crimes. Police said the suspects are linked to a broader network…