The newly elected Mayor of Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality, Tumelo Thebe, has wasted no time in setting the tone for his administration, unveiling an ambitious plan to restore dignity, improve service delivery, and rebuild public confidence in a municipality that has struggled with governance and infr...
Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe has warned that the termination of the agreement between the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and the Postbank will negatively affect grant beneficiaries.
Tolashe and Sassa management appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development yesterday.
They sought to explain the effect of the termination of the Master Service Agreement between Sassa and the South African Post Office on grant beneficiaries.
Tolashe has appealed to the South African Reserve Bank to closely monitor the migration from the Sassa gold card to the new post office’s black card.
“And we are really appealing to the Reserve Bank to put up their strategy so that we do not get involved in that. Because they have more than once indicated that it’s Sassa’s responsibility where there are financial implications. I accept that Chair … that it’s a lot of work.”
“However, I really want to emphasise that the Reserve Bank can play its game more sharply than it is. That’s my humble plea, Chair. So that in what they are saying it’s in the pipeline, it’s been tough … it’s being processed,” says Tolashe.
Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo is expected to deliver the judgment on the bail application of the former police sergeant and her two accomplices, accused of insurance-related killings.
Rachel Kutumela, her sister Anna Shokane and daughter, Florah Shokane, have been applying for bail since December last year.
They allegedly orchestrated the murders of nine people for insurance payouts amounting to R10 million.
Kutumela faces a total of 32 charges, including nine for murder, fraud and money laundering.
Her co-accused and sister, Anna Shokane, faces three murder charges.
The third accused, Florah Shokane, has been charged with murder, money laundering and fraud.
The court heard the accused transferred funds amongst each other after receiving insurance payouts.
Road Safety Partnership South Africa is calling on motorists to respect the country’s traffic laws.
The organisation was commenting on the recent statistics from the City of Cape Town’s latest traffic records, showing an increase in motorists jumping red lights.
Between July 2024 and June 2025, the city’s Traffic Services recorded more than 2,7 million offences.
The organisation’s chairperson, Eugene Herbert, said it’s clear driver behaviour must be addressed.
“It's shocking to see that motorists take little cognisance of the possible dangers associated with this. Cars coming from the other direction, there could be pedestrian crossing, so if we can appeal to motorists, please do not treat traffic lights just as a suggestion to stop. It is a fact that you must stop, both in your interests, as well as in the interests of other motorists”.
He added that this kind of poor driving behaviour may also happening in other parts of the country.
“This is probably a true reflection of what is happening in the rest of the country. Certainly, in Gauteng, we noticed since the amount of load shedding that took place, traffic lights not working, and we know that the rule because of the congestion that was created, many motorists then took to just making a cursory stop and then moving through.”
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it’s confident about the new evidence in its case against Digital Vibes and several other companies and their directors, former Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, and some of his family members.
The SIU has been given the green light by the Special Tribunal to introduce crucial new evidence in the R150 million Digital Vibes scandal, set to be admitted in court.
The SIU stressed that the affidavit is critical, warning that without it, important details about how public money was laundered through bogus business dealings could be lost.
Investigators say their findings show the Mkhize family, including Dr. Zweli Mkhize’s wife, son and a business associate, personally benefitted from funds meant for COVID-19 and National Health Insurance (NHI) communication contracts.
SIU Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says, “It was very important for us to introduce their affidavit because we wanted to introduce crucial evidence that shows that certain respondents received money without rendering any service and we feel that if this was not introduced therefore the main case we are dealing with might be decided without the kind of information that was gathered after we start the application to the tribunal that’s why it was very important for us to do that.” – Reporting by Ntombi Mavimbela.
A Pakistan government helicopter crashed in the north of the country on Monday, killing all five people on board, a police official said.
The helicopter was carrying out "a test landing on a newly proposed helipad" in a mountainous tourist area when it came down, Abdul Hameed, a senior police officer in Diamer district, told AFP.
"Among the killed were two pilots and three technicians," he said.
The helicopter, which belonged to the Gilgit Baltistan government, crashed in the region's Diamer district around 10:00 am (0500 GMT).
It comes just weeks after a government MI-17 helicopter crashed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province while carrying out flood relief efforts, killing all five crew and pilots.
There have been several deadly helicopter crashes in Pakistan in recent years, including in 2022 when five servicemen and one of the army's top commanders were killed when their helicopter crashed during flood relief operations in southwestern Balochistan province.
Jubilant members of the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC) during a church service. The Mpumalanga provincial government has urged churches to heighten security following a string of robberies at churches.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, Jackie Macie, has called on church leaders across the province to ramp up security measures and protocols to better protect themselves and their congregants.
Macie was reacting to the recent spate of business robberies that occurred at church services in Bushbuckridge and KwaMhlanga.
“Two business robberies were reported at two separate places of worship in the Calcutta policing precinct. The third robbery was reported at KwaMhlanga during a night vigil on Friday, August 29, 2025, at around 11 pm,” the MEC said.
Macie said churches should enhance security measures by implementing steps, including working closely with the police; making arrangements with local security companies, especially for night services; and utilizing private security for monitoring premises during services and events.
He also urged churches to install CCTV cameras and alarm systems to deter and detect potential threats, designate a security team or ushers to keep an eye on the congregation and respond to incidents, and conduct risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities, such as isolated areas or unsecured entrances.
Churches are also urged to assess the likelihood of robbery or other safety threats based on location, time of day, and other factors.
"The recent attacks are a clear indication of moral decay in our society. Therefore, we must all work together by reporting suspects to the police. What happened in these three robberies is an indication that more still needs to be done to secure our communities,” said Macie.
“Men and women in blue should remain undeterred in their efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.”
Earlier on Monday, IOL reported that police in Mpumalanga are investigating the incident of robbery that occurred at a church in KwaMhlanga at around midnight on Friday.
Provincial police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, said the robbery occurred while congregants were having a night prayer service.
“According to a (police) report, approximately 60 congregants were praying inside the church when six armed men stormed the premises. The suspects reportedly held the victims at gunpoint, ordered them to lie down, and robbed them of mobile phones, wallets, clothing items, and an undisclosed amount of cash,” said Mdhluli.
Thereafter, it is alleged that the assailants switched off the premises’ lights before they fled the scene with the stolen items.
Last week, the South African Community of Faith-based Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF) raised the alarm over the regular targeting of churches and other places of worship across South Africa, following several reports of violent attacks reported by IOL.
On Monday last week, IOL reported that the police in Mpumalanga launched an investigation into a case of business robbery that occurred at a church in Mkhuhlu, Calcutta, on Sunday. Three unknown suspects allegedly stormed the church while congregants were worshipping, and shots were fired during the incident.
“It is with deep concern and sorrow that we note the escalating trend of violent robberies taking place in churches across South Africa. The recent spate of incidents, particularly in Mpumalanga, reflects not only a blatant disregard for the law but also a total lack of respect for the lives and dignity of fellow South Africans,” said Pastor Bert Pretorius, president of SACOFF.
“Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peace, healing, and refuge. They are spaces where people gather in faith and unity to seek the presence of God. For criminals to boldly storm into these sacred spaces with firearms, firing shots and stripping congregants of their dignity and possessions, is not only an attack on individuals but also on the spiritual fabric of our nation.”
Bert, who is also Senior Pastor at the 3C Church, told IOL that it is shocking and unacceptable that in South Africa today, “one cannot even worship without fear of violence”.
Last month, IOL reported that a church service in Klipfontein, Witbank, was violently interrupted when a group of armed suspects stormed the premises, robbing and kidnapping nine congregants, including the pastor.
Two suspects were arrested, and the victims were later found, said Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.
“According to a report, on this fateful day, a group of more than five armed males stormed into the church premises, threatening the congregants with firearms. About nine church members, including the pastor and church elders, were present at the time, and were ordered to lie down,” Mdhluli said at the time.
The victims were subsequently searched by the armed intruders and tied with cable ties before being robbed of their mobile phones, wallets containing bank cards, laptops, as well as a computer screen belonging to the church.
On the other hand, the South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC), which represents affiliated federations of charismatic, evangelical outreach mission ministries and pentecostal churches, has raised the alarm about the escalating trend of church robberies, particularly around Mpumalanga.
Speaking to IOL News, national spokesperson of the SA Union Council of Independent Churches, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said the frequent robberies suggest that churches are viewed as “soft targets by heartless criminals” who have no regard for the sanctity of life.
“The firing of gunshots in the house of the Lord shows the extent to which the criminals are desperate and will not stop at anything. Churches are therefore advised to take precautionary measures and minimise cash transactions for tithes as well as offerings particularly during evening services,” said Kgwele.
“We are appealing to police not to leave any stone unturned until the culprits who defiled the house of the Lord and put the lives of congregants at risk are behind bars.”
