By Abigail Visagie
The search for Benjamin van Wyk’s(20) body, who drowned inside the Heidedal Quarry located behind Twin City Mall in Bloemfontein, is now in its third day.
On Thursday afternoon, Van Wyk (20) and two friends went swimming when tragedy struck.
He reportedly jumped into the water...
Senior Counsel Advocate Matthew Chaskalson has been appointed as the Chief Evidence Leader of the Madlanga Commission tasked with probing allegations of criminality, political interference, and criminality in the criminal justice system.
This takes place amid speculation and uncertainty over Senior Counsel Advocate Terry Motau, who held the position in the high-profile inquiry.
When speculation first swirled over Motau’s future in the probe, the Commission remained mum, emphasising that the focus was on the work of the Commission, which is upholding the rule of law.
The hearings continue with crime intelligence head Lt-General Dumisani Khumalo on the stand at 9:30 am.
Khumalo, a central figure who is expected to assist the commission in “joining the dots,” has been painting a picture of the alleged infiltration of crime cartels in the criminal justice system, particularly the Big Five cartel, which includes the alleged membership of Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and Katiso Molefe.
Godongwana says the thorny issue of immigration is one that requires an objective debate by political parties and not from a position of xenophobia.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has questioned the affordability of metros continuing to provide free services to undocumented foreign nationals, saying the constitution has put the country in a difficult position.
Addressing the mayors of metropolitan municipalities on Monday to discuss new reforms aimed at improving the management of utility services, Godongwana acknowledged the frustrations expressed by some mayors regarding the strain that unplanned population growth is having on their cities.
Godongwana says the thorny issue of immigration is one that requires an objective debate by political parties and not from a position of xenophobia.
Godongwana says it's estimated that for every 100 people who enter South Africa, at least half of them remain in Gauteng.
This does not include the impact of urbanisation as people from different parts of the country in search of a better life.
Godongwana says he’s sympathetic to municipalities that can't legally deny services, such as healthcare, to foreign nationals.
"The constitution says South Africa belongs to all who live in it, which was a grave mistake."
Godongwana said those words were penned at a different time in the country's history and the toll of immigration on limited resources can't be ignored.
"People must come to our country, legally. The ones who are sitting here illegally in the country, surely we should be sending them home."
He said foreign nationals living in informal settlements are receiving housing even before those waiting in backyard accommodation for years.
Police in North West have welcomed the sentencing of 40-year-old Lesotho national, Elias Tsetla, who received two life terms for raping his girlfriend.
The Potchefstroom Regional Court handed down the sentence, following the brutal attack which took place in Ikageng, Potchefstroom, in January 2023.
According to evidence presented in court, the victim, then 28 years old, arrived home to find Tsetla, who accused her of having affairs. The accused then assaulted and raped her twice.
The matter was investigated by the Potchefstroom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. Tsetla was arrested three days after the case was registered. He also faced an additional charge under the Immigration Act after failing to prove his legal status in the country.
Although he pleaded not guilty, the court found him guilty and sentenced him as follows:
Count 1: Rape – Life imprisonment
Count 2: Rape – Life imprisonment
Count 3: Violation of Immigration Act – R3,000 fine or three months’ imprisonment
The court further ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
North West provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone praised the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors.
“We extolled Warrant Officer Jaco Jonker, the prosecutor, advocate Annecke Du Toit and everyone who played a critical role to ensure that the conviction is secured as part of the entities’ commitment to deal firmly with violence against women and children,” he said.
“The SAPS will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who harm women and children are brought to justice.”
Meanwhile, the acting provincial commissioner of police in North West, Major General Dintletse Molefe, said crimes against women and children will not go unpunished.
“This sentence clearly demonstrates our resolve to deal with those who commit heinous crimes against women and children," said Molefe.
Dr Rachel Makhari, director of Public Prosecutions in North West, has also hailed the conviction, stressing that it sends a strong message to perpetrators of gender-based violence.
The East London Magistrate’s Court is set to deliver judgment on Monday morning in the long-running firearms discharge trial of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.
Malema and his personal protector, Adriaan Snyman, face charges of contravening the Firearms Control Act, including the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The charges stem from an incident seven years ago at the EFF's 5th birthday rally in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
During the rally, a video captured the moment Malema allegedly fired a rifle near a large crowd. Snyman is accused of handing the weapon to Malema immediately before the alleged discharge.
In court, Malema pleaded not guilty, arguing that the item in question was a fake firearm and contained no live ammunition. He told the court that any object lacking live rounds cannot be considered a firearm, and thus, he had not breached the Firearms Control Act.
The EFF leader further testified that no one at the rally appeared concerned about the firearm, which he claimed served as proof that the weapon was a prop.
The East London Magistrate's Court will deliver its long-awaited judgment on the matter on Monday morning.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
Former African National Congress (ANC) president Thabo Mbeki said one of the problems the party faced was people who joined it for personal gain.
Former African National Congress (ANC) president Thabo Mbeki said one of the problems the party faced was people who joined it for personal gain.
Mbeki addressed the KwaZulu-Natal ANC structures during a political school class in Durban on Saturday.
The party invited Mbeki to add his input as it works to regain the decline of support in what used to be its stronghold.
Mbeki said that in the past, people used to join the party to advance the fight for liberation but things took a different turn when they became a government party.
"Then we started attracting wrong people. People who were interested in the membership of the party, comrade Convenor raised this thing this morning when he spoke, not to pursue the objectives of the movement but for self-betterment... self-enrichment... and that’s a problem."
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has issued a stark warning about the rapidly growing problem of employers defaulting on pension fund contributions, a breach that threatens the financial security of nearly 600,000 workers across key sectors.
In a statement released on Sunday, COSATU spokesperson Zanele Sabela revealed that the number of employers failing to pay workers’ deducted pension contributions has more than doubled since last year.
According to the latest Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) report, 15,521 employers are now in default—up from 7,700 in 2024 and dramatically higher than the initial 4,000 reported in 2023.
“This disturbing trend places the livelihoods and futures of hundreds of thousands of South African workers at risk,” Sabela said.
“When pension contributions are withheld or remain in arrears, workers lose critical benefits such as death and disability cover, which can have devastating consequences for them and their families.”
The sectors most affected remain the automotive industry, private security firms, and municipalities. Collectively, these defaulters owe a staggering R7.29 billion in unpaid pension contributions.
COSATU stated that the automotive sector, already weakened by a 30% tariff on exports to the US, faces further strain following shutdowns and retrenchments, such as Goodyear’s closure and Ford’s planned layoffs of over 470 workers.
It stated that such instability makes securing pension funds even more vital.
“Municipal workers, too often grappling with months of unpaid salaries due to maladministration, suffer the added blow of not honoruing pension contributions.
“This withholding erodes their retirement savings through lost compounding returns and complicates their access to funds under South Africa’s Two-Pot Pension system, designed to ease financial pressure.
COSATU said that defaulting employers are violating Section 13A of the Pension Funds Act, which mandates the timely payment of retirement fund contributions and compliance enforcement.
The federation said it has previously called out private security companies that simultaneously default on pension payments yet receive lucrative government contracts—an incongruity COSATU condemns.
“We have insisted that the government must not reward lawbreakers with tenders but lead by example,” Sabela said.
Sabela mentioned that COSATU is engaging with government bodies, including the FSCA and the Department of Employment and Labour, to develop lasting solutions.
The organisation said at Nedlac that dialogue is ongoing to address the crisis, and agreements have been reached to bolster labour inspection mechanisms.
Furthermore, Sabela said that the number of Labour inspectors is set to increase tenfold from 2,000 to 22,000 by 2026 to improve oversight of pension contribution compliance.
“We are ramping up campaigns with our affiliates in the hardest-hit sectors to expose and hold employers accountable,” Sabela added.
“We will ensure that all monies owed—including interest—are paid, to protect the rights and futures of all workers.”
