Keneilwe Shalaba appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on Monday, alongside Sebokoana Khoanyana, the man who allegedly bought her child.
A mother who allegedly sold her two-year-old son to a sangoma for R75, 000 will remain behind bars.
Keneilwe Shalaba appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on Monday, alongside Sebokoana Khoanyana, the man who allegedly bought her child.
The case has been postponed to Thursday to allow the second accused to apply for legal representation.
Both accused face charges of human trafficking and premeditated murder.
In November last year, Keneilwe Shalaba reported that her child had been kidnapped.
She was arrested three days later, after confessing to selling him to a sangoma.
After further investigation, cellphone records led police to Khoanyana.
And when he was arrested, he confessed to playing a part in his disappearance and pointed out where the child was buried.
They both face charges of human trafficking, premeditated murder, while she faces an additional charge of making a false statement to police and conspiracy to commit robbery.
“The State is opposed to the release of accused number two, your worship, may we remand the matter to the 5th of June as per the arrangement with Mr Khoanyana for legal aid application,” said State Prosecutor Moses Raditsela.
Both accused will remain in custody until their next court appearance on Thursday.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
Transport minister Barbara Creecy’s department invites shipping companies to participate in steering the initiative
Transport minister Barbara Creecy is forging ahead with plans to create a national shipping carrier — 25 years after the state sold Safmarine to logistics major Maersk.
The department on Friday invited shipping companies to take part in a steering committee to establish a model for a national shipping company, with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) set to play a prominent role in the process...
*This article was first published by Business Day
Authority needs to restore its battered image after losing several high-profile cases
Having suffered several blows in high-profile cases, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is under pressure to successfully prosecute the case against Ace Magashule and his co-accused facing corruption charges related to a R255m housing tender.
The controversies about the tender took centre stage at the state capture commission chaired by former chief justice Raymond Zondo that investigated irregular state tenders worth billions of rand...
*This article was first published by Business Day
African airlines saw a 13.6% rise in international passenger demand in April 2025 compared to April 2024, showing steady recovery and growth in Africa’s aviation market amid a global rebound.
This data was obtained from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s April 2025 report, which also showed African carriers increased international passenger capacity by 8.9% year-on-year.
Despite this growth, Africa recorded the lowest load factor among regions at 76.3%, meaning fewer than eight in ten seats on international flights were filled.
Passenger demand measures paying passengers multiplied by distance flown, capacity counts available seats times distance, and load factor is the percentage of seats occupied—a key measure of airline efficiency and profitability.
The report noted, “African airlines saw a 13.6% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose 8.9% year-on-year. The load factor reached 76.3%, a 3.1 percentage point increase from April 2024.”
Following two months of decline, this rebound signals a positive recovery for African carriers. However, the region’s comparatively low load factor points to continued opportunities for market growth and improved operational efficiency.
Looking at the global landscape, international passenger demand grew by 10.8% in April 2025, with every region showing growth except Latin America, which experienced a slight dip in its load factor.
The Asia-Pacific region led this expansion, posting a remarkable 14.4% increase in international passenger demand, supported by a 12.7% capacity rise and an 85.3% load factor—one of the highest worldwide. European carriers followed, with a 9.4% increase in demand and an 84.5% load factor.
Middle Eastern airlines also performed strongly, growing international passenger demand by 11.2%, capacity by 6.6%, and improving their load factor by 3.4 percentage points to 83.1%.
North American carriers recorded a 5.4% increase in passenger demand but faced challenges in premium travel segments, evidenced by a 26% drop in First and Business class demand. Nevertheless, their load factor increased to 83.4%.
Latin American airlines saw a 13.9% rise in international passenger demand, with capacity growing even faster at 14.6%, though their load factor fell slightly by 0.6 percentage points to 83.2%.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, highlighted the positive momentum for airlines worldwide, noting that April was a strong month for travel with growth strengthening, particularly in international demand and record load factors for the month.
He pointed out the encouraging return of growth in the transatlantic market but also cautioned about signs of fragile consumer and business confidence, highlighted by continued weakness in the US domestic market and a sharp decline in North American premium class travel.
*This article was first published by Breaking Travel News
Treasury expects significantly more tax to be raked in this year.
The SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) has warned of the danger of “heavy-handedness” by the SA Revenue Service (Sars) in its treatment of taxpayers as it prepares to ramp up revenue collection.
Sars has been allocated R7.5bn over the next three years — R4bn for debt recovery and R3.5bn for its modernisation programme — and the Treasury expects to collect an additional R20bn-R50bn per year from its debt collection efforts...
*This article was first published by Business Day News
Deputy minister of police Polly Boshielo, condemned the increase in gender-based violence in the country, stating that the suspects in the murder of Olorato Mongale had been linked to 22 other cases targeting women.
Boshielo was speaking during the funeral service held for Mongale, 30, in Bloemfontein in the Free State on Sunday. Mongale, who was living in Johannesburg was found murdered after going on a date last Sunday.
Last week police named three suspects linked to Mongale's murder as Fezile Ngubane, Philangenkosi Sibongokuhle Makhanya and Bongani Mthimkhulu, who is still at large. On Friday Makhanya shot at police, who returned fire and killed him at a residential complex in eManzimtoti while police also clarified that Ngubane had been a victim of identity theft.
Boshielo said: “We will also not rest until we find Mthimkhulu. (KZN Police Commissioner) Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said they will not rest until they find Bongani. We are still searching for him. He and Philangenkosi Makhanya were working together and they were a syndicate that was targeting women in various malls across the country. Our investigation is now standing at 22 cases that they are linked to these two criminals. Women from across the country have positively identified them as the pair that kidnapped and robbed them," Boshielo said.
Mongale was described by her family as a fighter who fought to the end of her life.
Her mother Basetsana Mongale spoke on Sunday during the emotional send off after scores of mourners, including friends, relatives and community members gathered at the Manguang City Hall for her funeral.
"My daughter was extra careful and would not have allowed a total stranger to fetch her from her gate, I know that she is a fighter.
"When I saw her at the government mortuary, I could see that my daughter fought; she fought until her nails broke off..., We might not understand the ways of life, but she fought," Basetsana Mongale said.
Wits University’s representative Jerome Sethemba stated that that Mongale was a dedicated student whose work spoke of her academic abilities and a way of life.
“Olorato Mongale was beautiful in so many ways, in every way possible that you can imagine. She was unique in many ways, you could meet her by the cafe near the library, and she would already know who you are.
"Olorato was with us for a very short time, but she had everything that a Witsie is; excellence and determination," Sethemba said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
