At least 18 local government councillors have been targeted and assassinated across KwaZulu-Natal since the 2021 municipal elections, according to a sobering disclosure by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government.

The statistics were released by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli following the fatal shooting of eThekwini Municipality Councillor Sibusiso Khwela. Khwela was gunned down directly at his local constituency office in Klaarwater, west of Durban.

The Premier condemned the ongoing bloodbath, asserting that the killings hit at the very heart of South African democracy.

ALSO READ: KZN Political Killings Task Team takes over probe into murder of ANC eThekwini councillor

He said targeting locally elected leaders deeply destabilized municipal government operations and crippled service delivery for vulnerable communities.

According to the official data, the eThekwini metropolitan area remains the deadliest region for public representatives, accounting for five of the fatalities. Multiple assassinations have also stained towns like Newcastle, uMngeni, and

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The Gauteng Department of Education recorded 22,020 child abuse, learner protection and related cases across its reporting, counselling and investigation systems between 2023 and 2026.

The figures were disclosed by Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile in a written reply to questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature about mechanisms available to learners to report abuse and access support services.

ALSO READ: Malatsi puts rural digital inclusion at centre of Eksteenskuil Computer Centre launch

According to the department, 18,843 cases were recorded through its 24-hour helpline, 3,022 by the Learner Psycho-Social Support Directorate’s clinical counselling service and 155 were reported to the Special Investigations Directorate (SID).

“The total number of child abuse cases reported over the past ten years is not available. However, a total of 22 020 cases were reported during the period 2023 to 2026,” Maile said in his written response.

The figures cover a range of

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The ANC has fallen to 18% support in Johannesburg while the DA holds a commanding lead on 42%, according to new polling conducted ahead of South Africa’s local government elections on 4 November.

The Johannesburg survey covered 504 registered voters between 8 and 31 July and was conducted by Victory Research in conjunction with The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation (SRF).

The metro results carry a stated margin of error of 4.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

Behind the DA and ANC, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) polled at 13%, ActionSA at 10% and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) at 8%.

ALSO READ: Church leaders announce Limpopo march over alleged threats to religious freedom

The latest numbers point to a sharp deterioration in the ANC’s position since an earlier Johannesburg survey in March.

At that stage, the ANC stood at 30%, compared with

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eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba on Wednesday unveiled the R1.2 billion Southern Aqueduct Upgrade in Chatsworth, describing the project as a major investment to improve water security and strengthen service delivery across the metro.

Accompanied by Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo, Xaba led a day-long programme showcasing key water and housing infrastructure projects aimed at expanding access to reliable basic services.

The programme began with an oversight visit to the Southern Aqueduct Upgrade, where construction is under way on a 24km bulk water pipeline that is expected to significantly improve and stabilise water supply to communities in southern eThekwini once completed.

The project is one of the municipality’s largest water infrastructure investments and forms part of efforts to modernise ageing infrastructure, strengthen network resilience and improve the reliability of water supply.

The delegation then visited Amaotana, where they unveiled a borehole project intended to

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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane has tabled a motion of no confidence against the city’s Council Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana, saying that he should be removed from office after the high court found that he acted unlawfully by deducting 13 votes during a council sitting.

The motion, submitted on Thursday, follows a recent high court judgment which ruled that Ndzwanana unlawfully reduced the recorded vote during a council meeting, a decision that resulted in the suspension of City Manager Johann Mettler. The court later set aside the suspension.

ALSO READ: Joburg rolls out packed Women’s Month programme

The DA said the Speaker’s conduct undermined the integrity of the council and exposed the City of Tshwane to unnecessary legal costs.

DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink said the party had approached the courts to challenge the decision and succeeded in overturning it.

“A recent High Court judgment confirmed

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The Mpumalanga provincial government has approved plans to gradually insource cleaning services across government departments, saying the move will create jobs, improve working conditions and reduce reliance on outsourced contracts.

The decision was taken during a recent meeting of the Mpumalanga Executive Council (EXCO), which approved a report analysing the costs and benefits of bringing cleaning services in-house as part of the provincial government’s priorities under the seventh administration to drive inclusive economic growth, reduce the high cost of living and build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

According to EXCO, the report showed that insourcing would offer greater long-term value than relying on outsourced service providers.

“EXCO noted that insourcing will provide direct employment opportunities for the unemployed, thus restoring their dignity, provide job security, and fair remuneration to the workers who will maintain government facilities daily,” the province said in a statement.

“It was further

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The City of Johannesburg is marking Women’s Month with a packed August line-up of sporting events, leadership dialogues, business seminars and wellness activities in various parts of the city.

The programme will run under this year’s national theme, “Empowered Women Empower the Nation”, with a focus on celebrating women’s achievements and expanding opportunities for women and girls.

According to the city, the activities are intended to celebrate women’s achievements, promote healthy lifestyles, advance economic participation and strengthen social cohesion.

ALSO READ: Madlanga’s latest referrals target Sibiya, Witness G, Nkosi and Mogotsi

“Women’s Month is an opportunity for us to celebrate the resilience, achievements and leadership of women while renewing our commitment to building a city where every woman and girl has access to opportunities that enable them to succeed,” said the city’s member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Thapelo Amad.

The programme officially started

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The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has obtained a high court order preserving more than R6.2 million allegedly linked to an illegal live-streaming operation involving copyrighted MultiChoice content.

The Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, sitting in Gqeberha, granted the preservation order this week against funds held in the bank account of Damian Grundlingh, a resident of Despatch.

The order was obtained in terms of section 38 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).

ALSO READ: Madlanga’s latest referrals target Sibiya, Witness G, Nkosi and Mogotsi

According to the NPA, the AFU, represented by Senior State Advocate Warren-Mark Myburgh, argued that the money constituted the proceeds of alleged unlawful activities, including fraud and cybercrime.

Evidence presented in support of the application alleges that Grundlingh had operated an unauthorised live-streaming service since at least October 2024 by accessing and distributing copyrighted MultiChoice

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Davis, 63, is accused of orchestrating the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip that also wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Davis’ jury trial will begin Aug. 10, nearly three years after he was arrested in 2023. He pleaded not guilty.

On the night of Sept. 7, 1996, Shakur was in the passenger seat of a black BMW that Knight was driving when a white Cadillac pulled up on their right side and gunfire erupted. Knight was wounded but survived. Shakur died a week later at the age of 25.

Police and prosecutors say the shooting stemmed from a fierce competition for dominance in a musical genre that pitted East Coast members of a Bloods gang sect against West Coast members of a

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“In the words of Muhammad Ali, we shook up the world,” El-Sayed told supporters Wednesday morning.

The real test of El-Sayed’s and progressives’ strength will now come in a November matchup against Mike Rogers, a former congressman who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.

The seat is pivotal to Democrats’ chances of flipping the Senate and El-Sayed will face the challenge of uniting a divided Democratic base after a bruising primary.

Stevens called El-Sayed to concede Wednesday, and she issued a statement saying she would back El-Sayed’s candidacy.

“I am proud to offer my support as he takes on Mike Rogers in the general election,” she said.

Stevens added, “This was a thorough and rigorous campaign that brought out the full span

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