Gauteng residents were left reeling on Monday morning following two separate shooting incidents that claimed the lives of six people and left several others injured — one in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, and another in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria. The deadly incidents have once again drawn attention to the province’s growing crisis of gun violence. In the early hours of Monday, prominent Alexandra businessman and president of the local Alexandra Parliament, Vincent “Vinny” Ndima, was shot dead in what…

The sudden death of South Africa’s Ambassador to France and former Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, has shaken political and diplomatic circles, while sparking heated debates in both South Africa and Europe. Mthethwa, who passed away this week in Paris, is mourned as a liberation stalwart and long-serving government figure. But the official circumstances around his death remain contested, with French authorities pointing to suicide while his family and supporters in South Africa suspect foul play. The French prosecutor’s office…

The Office of the Minister of Police has moved swiftly to reinforce its leadership structure as the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry continues to cast a long shadow over the country’s law enforcement institutions. On Friday, Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia announced the secondment of two senior officials into his office: Major General S. Pienaar as Chief of Staff, and Ms S.S. Matlala from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as Personal Assistant. The appointments come at a critical moment. The…

Day two of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into political killings and corruption in KwaZulu-Natal delivered explosive testimony that left the chamber stunned. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, named several high-profile individuals whom he accused of benefitting from illegal privileges, interfering with crime intelligence operations, and fueling a climate of lawlessness within the criminal justice system. At the center of his testimony was alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who, Mkhwanazi claimed, enjoyed extraordinary protection and privileges…

Day one of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system closed at about 4pm on Tuesday at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria after almost six hours of testimony from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi began his evidence just after 10:30 and, following a lunch adjournment, resumed at 14:00. His testimony set the tone for what many observers believe may be a fraught and revealing inquiry:…

The long-awaited Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system opened in Pretoria on Wednesday with dramatic testimony from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi, who has served in the South African Police Service (SAPS) for decades, became the first senior witness to take the stand before Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. His evidence set the tone for what promises to be one of the most consequential inquiries into policing and governance…

The Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday handed down 20-year prison sentences to seven Chinese nationals found guilty of human trafficking, child labour, and related offences, marking a significant victory in South Africa’s ongoing fight against exploitation. The seven—Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian—were convicted in February 2025 on 160 charges, including aiding trafficking, bondage, and benefiting from the exploitation of foreign nationals. Judge David Mahango, who presided over the case,…

What began as a family dispute in the quiet streets of Mamelodi East turned into a tragedy that has shaken the police fraternity and left a community searching for answers. On Tuesday, a 16-hour hostage drama ended in heartbreak when Constable Thapelo Mashigo, 32, shot and killed his 18-year-old nephew before turning the gun on himself. The standoff, which began early in the morning, saw heavily armed police officers, hostage negotiators, and the SAPS Special Task Force converge on a…

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday dismissed Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya’s urgent application to overturn a stay-at-home order, deepening the leadership crisis at the top of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Sibiya had asked the court to declare the directive unlawful, insisting it amounted to a political purge. But Judge Thandeka Mbatha ruled that the order was both lawful and necessary, saying it protected the integrity of the police while sensitive…

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced a major breakthrough in the fight against political killings, but the success comes amid dramatic upheaval at the highest levels of the police and government. National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed that two suspects — a traditional chief and an alleged hitman — have been arrested in connection with the 2022 assassination of whistleblower Xolani Ndlovu Ntombela in KwaZulu-Natal. The arrests form part of renewed investigations into 121 unresolved dockets linked to…