Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has denied claims that he ordered police to submit sensitive case dockets, some carrying J50 arrest warrants, for his personal oversight, calling the allegations “misleading” and unsupported by evidence.
This was revealed by the Sedibeng District Commissioner Brig. Mbangwa Nkwashu, who alleged before the Madlanga Commission that such dockets were requested at the highest political level.
Among them, he said, was the docket linked to the fatal shooting of engineer Armand Swart, gunned down outside his Vereeniging office in April 2024.
In response, the Gauteng government insisted that the premier never issued such instructions.
Provincial spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga described Nkwashu’s testimony as “baffling,” pointing instead to a letter from Provincial Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni.
According to Mhlanga, the letter clearly states that it was Mthombeni, not Lesufi, who requested the dockets.
It further clarified that the handling of wanted suspects and J50 warrants falls within the operational domain of SAPS leadership, specifically under Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Khumalo, working alongside Crime Intelligence.
“The premier respects the separation of powers and does not interfere in police operations,” Mhlanga said, underscoring that Lesufi’s office only received routine briefings on crime-fighting strategies.
Lesufi has now challenged Nkwashu to produce written proof of any directive allegedly issued. Without it, the premier argues, the claims risk distorting official records and undermining public trust.
“We support the work of the commission,” Lesufi said.
“But we will correct any misleading statements through proper legal channels.”
He also cautioned against sensationalism, urging stakeholders to allow the commission to complete its work without interference.
Originally published IOL
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie defended the expenditure on car hire while his office is waiting for the delivery of official vehicles for his official use.
McKenzie was responding to parliamentary questions from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, who asked whether there was any internal review conducted to determine whether the specified use of hired vehicles was reasonable and compliant with cost-containment measures.
He said the expenditure on car hire had been incurred through official procurement channels and was consistent with applicable National Treasury regulations and departmental supply chain management processes.
“The department has not identified the expenditure as wasteful or irregular. The procurement of permanent ministerial vehicles, once finalised, will resolve the underlying cost driver,” he said.
The minister stated that there were no functional vehicles available within the ownership department for his travel within South Africa, resulting in the need for such car hire.
“All transport expenditure is subject to normal departmental oversight and financial controls, and my office remains committed to ensuring that public funds are spent appropriately and in the public interest.”
Suspected business fallout over grass cutting contract behind Newark killing
James had noted that McKenzie had, in a recent response to a parliamentary question, revealed that his department spent R2.1 million on car hire for him within six months, an average of approximately R350,000 per month.
She asked how McKenzie justified the extraordinary level of expenditure on car hire, particularly at a time when many artists, athletes, and cultural practitioners continued to struggle for adequate support from his department.
“What measures have been put in place within his department to ensure that transport-related expenditure represents value for money and does not amount to wasteful and/or excessive spending of public funds?” asked James.
In response, McKenzie said the South African Police Service conducted a threat assessment at the beginning of the term in 2024 and determined that he always required a greater contingent of security personnel in two groupings because of his frequent travel between Pretoria and Cape Town.
“I must trust the professional judgment of SAPS in this regard. It is worth noting that, since becoming minister, I was in fact made to scale down the size of my convoy and number of security personnel compared to the personal, private contingent that had been standard for me for more than a decade prior to my taking office.”
McKenzie said he did not seek to expand any official protection arrangements.
“I had also initially proposed using my private vehicles and supplementing the police close-protection officers with my own additional personnel, as a cost-saving measure, but the SAPS advised that this arrangement would be neither operationally feasible for security reasons, nor viable in terms of legal liability concerns.
“I am acutely aware that I have more vehicles and security personnel than most of my fellow ministers. It is also necessary that these vehicles can accelerate and reach speeds to escape dangerous situations more easily.”
He insisted it was not a choice made by himself.
“It is a direct consequence of the threat assessment,” said McKenzie before highlighting that the South African Local Government Association revealed in 2024 that 39 councillors died in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Nearly 100 municipal councillors, party officials, and senior municipal officials have been killed in political violence in this one province alone over the past decade. The security environment is real, and my assessment reflects it.”
He stated that he was “deeply uncomfortable” discussing his security arrangements as doing so could compromise the arrangements and the safety of protecting him.
However, McKenzie said his office placed an order through official channels for the purchase of permanent ministry vehicles around June or July 2025 after the National Treasury made available the provision of a vehicle list by the National Treasury.
“We continue to await delivery. I was formally advised approximately one month ago that the procurement had been approved, though the vehicles have still not been delivered.”
He was confident that as soon as the departmental vehicles were delivered, the need for car hire will fall away entirely or be vastly reduced.
“I wish to make it clear that the car hire costs are a direct consequence of the absence of allocated departmental vehicles, not a preference.”
Originally posted by IOL
Less than a week after celebrating with the Monswamy family at an engagement party, their relatives were battling to secure a venue large enough to hold their funeral service.
Devendra Naidoo, Allen Monswamy’s brother-in-law, told IOL the family planned to hold the funeral service on Sunday.
“We’re just trying to secure a venue. We’re having an issue finding a big venue. We’re all in a state of shock, and we’re all really broken. But we’re just trying to be strong and get this done,” he said.
Allen Monswamy, 52, his wife Sandy, 57, their children Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20, as well as relatives Gonosagren Padayachee, 51, Mooniamma Padayachee, 78, and Mariama Happanah, 83, were allegedly kidnapped from their home in Newtown, Newark, on Tuesday night.
They were then taken to Melmoth, where they were killed.
Following an intensive investigation by various law enforcement units, three suspects, aged 21, 26, and 28, were arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner, it said reports indicated that a domestic helper employed by the victims arrived at their home on Wednesday morning to find the house broken into, with seven people and a vehicle missing.
Police discovered that one of the suspects had worked for the victims. The suspects then led police to Melmoth on Wednesday, where the bodies of the seven victims were found.
Naidoo said Kraidon’s fiancée was also devastated.
“We just are shattered,” he said.
Kraidon and his fiancée, Melissa, celebrated their engagement with both families at a party on Saturday.
Photos and videos posted by guests on social media showed his mother escorting him into the venue. They were seen laughing as they walked inside.
The family and others danced together and wished the couple well in their future together.
A few days later, devastated relatives took to social media to post tributes and messages of farewell to the family.
Originally posted by IOL News
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By: JN Reporter
The FNB Stadium stands ready to host the 185th Soweto Derby this Sunday, 26 April 2026, serving as a thunderous opening act for Monday’s Freedom Day celebrations.
This clash between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs has for decades prevailed as a cultural standstill that defines the soul of South African sport.
With the 32nd anniversary of democracy on the horizon, the timing of this encounter adds a profound layer of historic significance to the rivalry. .
Pirates enter the pitch this Sunday as the undeniable favourites, buoyed by a dominant season and a recent clinical run of form. They currently lead the Betway Premiership standings with 58 points from 25 matches, having secured a convincing 3-0 victory over AmaZulu in their last outing.
Despite Bucs’ recent superiority, the club’s head coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, is refusing to let any complacency creep into his camp.
He remains focused on the mental discipline required to navigate a fixture where form often takes a back seat to raw emotion.
“We have to keep the same spirit and intensity in every game we are going to play because that is our target. It is only with that mentality that we can start dreaming about the league title,” stated Ouaddou.
The tactical battle will be immense as Ouaddou has already signalled his respect for the tactical shifts within the opposition camp. He noted that he is wary of a squad that appears revitalised and ready to challenge the status quo.
For the Glamour Boys, on the other hand, this match represents a chance at redemption and a vital step toward securing a respectable top-three finish.
Chiefs occupy third place on the log with 46 points - recently playing out to a 0-0 draw against Polokwane City against the backdrop of a dominant 4-1 win over Magesi FC as well.
The pressure from the Amakhosi faithful is staggering, although the coaching staff is attempting to shield the players from it. To this effect, they are treating the occasion with a pragmatic focus on the league table rather than the weight of history.
“In a few days, it’s the derby - we have to start thinking of that now and continue to work towards it. It is only three points,” Kaizer Chiefs co-coach, Khalil Ben Youssef, said in a recent press briefing.
Recent betting odds reflect a shocking gap between the two sides, with the Buccaneers heavily favoured to continue their winning streak.
However, the unpredictability of the Soweto Derby is what makes it the undisputed jewel in the crown of domestic football.
The FNB Stadium is expected to be a sold-out sea of vibrant colour.As the whistle blows, the tactical nuances will take a back seat to the sheer willpower of 22 men on the pitch.
The streets of South Africa are already painted in the warring colours of black, white, and gold as fans prepare for a weekend that merges athletic passion with national pride
By Matshidiso Selebeleng
On Friday, 22 May, the highest bidder will become the new owner of Middelpos, a quiet Karoo village in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape that is home to around 300 residents.
Real estate agency Home and Hector has invited interested buyers to bid on the 103,260-hectare town, which will be sold as a single property through an online auction. The auction window opens on 21 May.
According to the agency, Middelpos is one of the few remaining authentic Karoo towns in South Africa, retaining its original character and charm, largely untouched by modern mass tourism.
The successful bidder will acquire a fully functional town complete with infrastructure and amenities, including a hotel, post office, factory building, hall, three dwellings, a borehole, and a supermarket.
Situated between Sutherland and Calvinia along the R354 within the Northern Cape’s Hantam Municipality, Middelpos is also located near the Tankwa Karoo National Park, a factor that enhances its tourism appeal.
The agency says the property presents strong development potential across several sectors, including business, residential, manufacturing, tourism, and mixed-use projects. Its proximity to the national park has already made it a popular stop for day visitors and overnight tourists, with the town offering the necessary facilities to accommodate them.
A notable feature of the town is “Die Winkel,” also known as The Shop, described as a hub for retail and community activity, encircled by a wide gravel road.
Home and Hector further highlights Middelpos’s rich history, which dates back to 1860 when Daniel Tomlinson established a trading store after acquiring part of the farm Stinkkuil. Following his death, the Sher family purchased the town and developed it into a thriving centre serving the surrounding farming community.
Among the family’s most prominent members is Sir Anthony Sher, a Cape Town-born, internationally acclaimed Shakespearean actor and member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who also authored a book inspired by Middelpos.
Behind the Middelpos Hotel stands a well-maintained memorial honouring 11 officers and men of the 11th Imperial Yeomanry who lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War on 5 and 6 February 1902.
