East Rand Crime Watch News

 

  Yesterday on the H4-1, this leopard mother and her cub gave Lukas du Plessis the sighting of a lifetime! She carefully carried her baby across the road to keep it safe. After reaching the other side, they both moved off into the bush together. What a sighting!

  We love our country but don’t like its government By Thinc Foundation Published in the Sunday Times, 12 April 2026 Thirty years after South Africa’s democratic transition, the paradox of being a voter has sharpened. Citizens continue to love their country deeply, yet their trust in those who govern has eroded. Voting, once an uncomplicated expression of loyalty to the liberation movement, has become a difficult balancing act between patriotism, identity, and political dissatisfaction. With turnout now below half of eligible voters, many South Africans no longer believe elections will improve their lived realities. Patriotism in South Africa has always been a layered construct. Without national conscription or other compulsory civic duties, it has drawn from cultural identity, political affiliation, and personal experience of the state. For the African majority, and for the last 30 years, supporting the party of liberation has been widely treated as synonymous with loving the coun...

  🚨 🇿🇦 CHIKUNGA DENIES KNOWING ABOUT ALLEGED TAXI CARTEL ACTIVITIES Former Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has strongly rejected claims made by Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni during testimony before the Madlanga Commission. Sibanyoni told the commission that he had raised concerns about alleged cartel activities with Chikunga during a meeting in 2023, claiming that she was aware of issues involving organised interests within the taxi industry. Chikunga, however, has disputed that account and says the meeting did not involve discussions about taxi cartels, organised crime or officials allegedly having divided loyalties. According to Chikunga, she met Sibanyoni only once while serving as Transport Minister. She says the meeting was requested by Sibanyoni and focused on an operational grievance involving his taxis. Her office maintains that Chikunga had no knowledge of the allegations that Sibanyoni later presented to the commission and that matters relating to...

  Eskom proves that state ownership and commercial viability can go hand in hand. Public ownership. Financial sustainability. Development. That is the power of a capable developmental state. #ANCDelivers #ANCAtWork

  BREAKING | Cat Matlala and Four Co-Accused Back in Court as Trial-Within-a-Trial Resumes Johannesburg – Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused return to the High Court today as the trial-within-a-trial in their attempted-murder case picks up after a scheduled August break. Read more https://centralnews.co.za/breaking-cat-matlala-and-four.../ #Cat

By Thulani Ndaba | News On The Go JOHANNESBURG - Advocate Malesela Teffo has appeared in the Johannesburg High Court seeking to bring an application in the Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala trial. The court questioned Teffo’s standing after he was struck off the roll of legal practitioners in September 2022. In July 2026, the Legal Practice Council (LPC) confirmed that Teffo had not been readmitted to the roll and was therefore not entitled to practise as a legal practitioner. Teffo has now been told to provide proof that he was legally and properly readmitted before he can bring any application before the court. #MaleselaTeffo #LPC #LegalPracticeCouncil #CatMatlala #NDABANEWS #NewsOnTheGo

  Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football, stating that he has nothing left to give after leading Argentina to the World Cup final. He expressed his emotional farewell through a heartfelt message on social media, confirming his decision to retire from the national team. However, there is speculation about whether this will be his final appearance, especially after the World Cup final defeat to Spain, as he has not confirmed his retirement from club football with Inter Miami.

  The Madlanga Commission has laid criminal charges against North West businessman Suliman Carrim following his repeated failure to appear before the inquiry. Despite being ordered to testify in person, Carrim did not comply with the commission's summons and did not undergo an independent medical examination as required. The commission's chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, confirmed the decision to lay charges, emphasizing the importance of adhering to established procedures to maintain the integrity of the inquiry process. Carrim's testimony has been postponed multiple times, with his legal team citing health concerns. However, evidence leaders have raised concerns about his absence, suggesting he may have been seen in public while reportedly too ill to testify. The Madlanga Commission's decision to lay charges marks a significant moment in the inquiry, as it will no longer pursue Carrim to complete his testimony and will rely on the evidence he provided during pr...

  Advocate Matthew Chaskalson says more than R3 million was paid into Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan Govender’s bank accounts between August 2022 and December 2023. Chaskalson told the commission that the amount was roughly 100 times Govender’s monthly take-home salary over the period in question. Govender maintains that the money paid into his accounts did not come from illicit sources.

  Alcohol and guns are the main contributors in murder cases in South Africa Alcohol and guns are indeed major contributors to murder cases in South Africa. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has highlighted that alcohol is a significant factor behind murders and serious assaults, with many incidents occurring in and around liquor outlets. The Acting Police Minister has called for stronger enforcement of liquor licensing laws and municipal by-laws to address this issue. In terms of firearms, the South African Police Service's 2023/24 annual crime statistics show that firearms are central to the pattern of violence in the country, with firearm-related murders increasing from 31% to 44% of all murders between 2020 and 2025. This trend indicates that firearms are a significant driver of violence, not only in interpersonal conflicts but also in violence against women and children. The combination of alcohol and firearms is a public health emergency in South Africa, with the countr...

  Representing 🇮🇪 On #DWCS 💥 👊 Adam Darby headlines Week 4 tomorrow night as he looks to secure his spot in the UFC! 👀 📺 Live on @UFCFightPass

  POSTMASBURG, Northern Cape – A 16-year-old Grade 9 pupil from Ratang-Thuto Secondary School died after being stabbed multiple times with a pair of scissors by a fellow classmate on 20 August 2026, police confirmed. The victim, identified as Omphemetse Olyn, was attacked at the school in the Boichoko township area of Postmasburg. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident. A memorial poster shared online mourned him as a beloved pupil, stating, “His life was a blessing, his memory a treasure,” and calling for him to “Rest in Peace.” Northern Cape police reported that a 16-year-old suspect was arrested on the same day and is now facing a murder charge. The case will be processed under South African law governing juvenile offenders. Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive or the exact location of the stabbing on school grounds. Ratang-Thuto Secondary, a Quintile 2 public school in the ZF Mgcawu District, serves hundreds of learners and recorded an unofficial 82.8%...

  VANDERBIJLPARK — The bail hearing for the seven people accused in the Emfuleni electricity fraud case has been postponed to 02 September 2026 in a different courtroom after the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s court revealed that Court B's recording system has not been working for 18 months. The seven are accused of running an alleged R150,000 electricity reconnection scheme and face charges of fraud, theft and tampering with municipal infrastructure. Those in the dock include former ANC councillor Andries Bafana Maduna and David Frederical Senekal.

  Helping school-aged rugby players get the medical care they need when injuries happen

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirms that 37-year-old Stefan Joel Govindraju made his first appearance before the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge. Govindraju faces multiple charges arising from allegations relating to the procurement of medical supplies and equipment at Tembisa Hospital. The charges include 70 counts of fraud, theft, money laundering and corruption-related offences. It is alleged that, between January 2020 and April 2023, Govindraju was the beneficial owner of numerous companies that were used to secure procurement contracts from Tembisa Hospital and the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH). The State alleges that the accused engaged in, among others, fronting practices and cover quoting, thereby creating the false impression that procurement processes were fair, transparent and competitive. It is further alleged that fraudulent and non-compliant documents were submitted in support of quotations and that certain entiti...

  @SARugbymag Seven Springboks have been named in a Sanzaar Team of the Week following the No 1-ranked team’s 33-26 win over the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday. From sarugbymag.co.za

 

  #Thembisa_Online #Breaking_News A learner dies in school at Mpumelelo Primary school in Tswelopele. Mfanelo UPhenyibheshu Dzanibe Supplied A learner has died at Mpumelelo Primary School in Tswelopele allegedly from suspected poisoning. #Developing_Story Thembisa Online is following up on this matter for more details.

  ⛽ Fuel price adjustments take effect from 2 September 2026. Fuel prices will be adjusted based on current local and international factors, with increases across petrol, diesel, illuminating paraffin and LPGas. #GovZAUpdates #FuelAdjustments

  #BenoniPowerUpdate: We are attending to a cable fault affecting 📍 Mayfield Ext 11 and 14. The estimated restoration time is 20h00.

 

  VEGETATION FIRE CONTAINED! Fidelity SecureFire crews were called into action alongside the local municipal fire service to tackle a large vegetation fire in Germiston. Working together, firefighters focused on containing the blaze and limiting its spread through the surrounding vegetation. Crews closely monitored the fire’s behaviour and changing conditions while supporting ongoing firefighting operations. Through swift action, teamwork and coordinated response, the teams helped bring the large-scale fire under control and reduce the risk of further spread. When fire strikes, we’re ready to respond. Fidelity SecureFire — protecting what matters when it matters most. #Germiston #Gauteng #GreenMachine #FireSafety

  Tembisa Hospital procurement fraud accused, Stefan Joel Govindraju, has been granted R200 000 bail by the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. https://tinyurl.com/28uakaa9

  EMERGENCY RESPONSE. TEAMWORK. READY WHEN IT MATTERS. Fidelity SecureFire crews responded alongside the local municipal fire service to a motor vehicle accident in Kempton Park, where a victim was trapped inside the vehicle. Our firefighters worked quickly and professionally to carry out extrication operations, safely accessing and removing the trapped occupant. EMS personnel were also on scene to assess the patient and provide the necessary medical care. It was a coordinated response, with emergency teams working together to manage the scene and ensure the extrication was completed safely and efficiently. When an emergency happens, every second counts — and every team member matters. Fidelity SecureFire. Ready to respond. Ready to protect. #KemptonPark #Gauteng #GreenMachine #FireSafety