Hlabisa urges South Africans to register, vote for competent local leaders

Posted on July 29, 2026July 29, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has urged South Africans to register to vote during the second and final national voter registration weekend on 1-2 August, 2026.

Hlabisa’s call comes as South Africa prepares for the next Local Government Elections, with the voter registration weekend providing eligible citizens an opportunity to register or update their registration details before the polls.

Speaking during a joint media briefing with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on the temporary withholding of municipal equitable share transfers, Hlabisa said active citizen participation is essential to improve the performance of municipalities.

The Minister encouraged eligible citizens to use the voter registration weekend on 1-2 August, to register ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections.

"I would like to urge the people of South Africa to go and register. The coming weekend, 1 and 2 August, is an open weekend for registration. Go and register as a voter," Hlabisa said.

Hlabisa also encouraged citizens to participate in the nomination of candidates, and to vote for leaders capable of serving their communities.

"Go and vote for people who will serve you. It is not going to help to complain if you don't participate in selecting who should be your candidate.”

Hlabisa emphasised that the quality of local governance depends on the calibre of councillors elected to office, saying: “If we want to fix municipalities, we must fix who becomes a councillor. That is the bottom line.”

He added that elected leaders must ensure that public funds are spent on essential services and priority needs, rather than non-essential projects.

"When the money comes, it must do what it is supposed to do and not be spent on the nice-to-haves - eventually leading municipalities into a critical state," Hlabisa said.

SAPS warns the public against fraudulent traffic fine scams

Posted on July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

The South African Police Service is warning members of the public to remain vigilant following reports of fraudulent emails, SMS messages and phone calls in which scammers falsely claim to represent the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS), municipal traffic services or other traffic authorities.

In these scams, recipients are informed that they have outstanding traffic fines and are pressured to make immediate payment to avoid additional penalties, legal action or increased fees. These messages often contain links to fraudulent websites or payment portals designed to steal personal and financial information.

Members of the public are urged to exercise caution and not to respond to unsolicited messages demanding immediate payment.
Some of the warning signs of these scams include:

* Unsolicited emails or messages requesting payment of traffic fines;
* Threats of immediate legal action or increased penalties if payment is not made without delay;
* Requests to click on unfamiliar links or provide banking or personal information; and
* Notices that do not contain accurate personal details, vehicle registration information or legitimate infringement reference numbers.

The public is reminded that legitimate traffic infringement notices are issued through official channels and that payments should only be made using recognised government or authorised payment platforms after verifying the authenticity of the fine.

Anyone who receives a suspicious message or suspects they have been targeted by fraud is advised not to make any payment, not to click on embedded links, and to report the matter to the South African Police Service. Where financial information may have been compromised, affected persons should immediately notify their banking institution.

SAPS encourages all road users to remain alert and to share this warning with family and friends to prevent more people from becoming victims of these scams.

Weather service warns of snowfall in parts of the country

Posted on July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says very cold and wet conditions, with light snowfall, are expected to set in from Tuesday evening in parts of the Eastern Cape, southern KwaZulu-Natal, the southern Free State and along the Lesotho border.

The weather conditions are due to the passage of a cut-off low weather system, which is expected to clear from the west by Thursday.

SAWS has advised farmers to take precautionary measures to mitigate the negative impact of the adverse weather conditions.
The weather service has issued several weather alerts as follows:

Orange Level 6 Warning: Disruptive rain resulting in flooding of bridges/roads/settlements and damage to property/infrastructure is expected in places along the coast and adjacent interior between East London and Port Edward.

Orange Level 5 Warning: Disruptive snow resulting in traffic disruptions, disruption to essential services and some communities being temporarily cut off is expected in places over the extreme north-eastern high ground of the Eastern Cape.

Yellow Level 4 Warning: Disruptive rain resulting in flooding of bridges/roads/settlements and damage to property/infrastructure is expected in places along the coast and adjacent interior of KwaZulu-Natal, south of St. Lucia.

Yellow Level 2 Warning: Disruptive rain resulting in flooding of bridges/roads/settlements and damage to property/infrastructure is expected over the south-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape and the eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, except in the extreme north-east.

Yellow Level 2 Warning: Disruptive snow resulting in traffic disruptions, disruption to essential services and some communities being temporarily cut off is expected in places over the north-eastern high ground of the Eastern Cape.

Yellow Level 1 Warning: Damaging coastal winds and waves leading to difficulty in navigation at sea for small vessels and personal watercraft, as well as localised disruption to beachfront activities, are expected between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas.

Operation Shanela nets over 1 800 suspects for various offences

Posted on July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested 16 684 suspects for various offences as part of ongoing efforts to combat and prevent crime through the nationwide Operation Shanela.

The operation, said the police in a statement, resulted in the arrest of 1 869 undocumented immigrants between 20 and 26 July 2026.

In addition, detectives arrested 2 547 wanted individuals linked to violent offences, including murder, attempted murder, rape, carjacking, illegal possession of firearms, and house and business robberies.

“This week, amongst those arrested is a popular traditional healer from KwaMashu for allegedly orchestrating the murders of African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) member Thamsanqa Kingdom Gcabashe and eThekwini Metro Police officials Lindokuhle Madonsela and Ndumiso Thusi,” police said.

On 25 July 2026, SAPS also arrested a 37-year-old alleged mastermind behind the murder of DA candidate councillor Sinovuyo Dyokwe. The arrest followed a joint, intelligence-driven operation involving Western Cape Serious Violent Crime Investigation (SVCI) detectives and the Special Task Force (STF) in Parklands.

“Operation Shanela continues to send a strong message that crime and lawlessness will not be tolerated in South Africa, whether committed by locals or foreign nationals,” police said.

The multidisciplinary operations resulted in significant arrests across several crime categories:

-114 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, with Gauteng recording the highest number of arrests at 26, followed by the Eastern Cape with 24.
-152 suspects were arrested for rape.
-101 suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms. The Western Cape recorded the highest number of arrests at 38, followed by Gauteng with 20.
-660 suspects were arrested for the illegal dealing in liquor.
-230 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs.
-2 530 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs, with the Western Cape recording the highest number of arrests at 1 314.
-1 383 suspects were arrested for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH).
-715 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Confiscations and recoveries
The operations also resulted in the following confiscations and recoveries across the provinces:
-128 unlicensed firearms, including handguns, shotguns and rifles;
-2 296 rounds of ammunition;
-Contraband goods worth more than R46 million;
-Various types of drugs; and
-55 hijacked and stolen vehicles.

Provincial takedowns
Free State: On 25 July 2026, members of the Bloemfontein Flying Squad intercepted a white Volvo Stralis 430 truck on the N1 near Glen, which was suspected of transporting stolen copper cable.
Centlec technicians confirmed that some of the seized cables belonged to the company, while Telkom and Eskom later identified additional cables worth more than R300 000.
A 43-year-old driver was arrested and charged under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act for tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of stolen property. He is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.

Western Cape: On 19 July 2026, Crime Intelligence members arrested a 29-year-old suspect at an apartment in Richwood, Bothasig, which was allegedly being used as a gang storage facility.
Police seized seven pistols, 17 magazines, 1 030 rounds of ammunition and assorted drugs valued at R10 million.

Gauteng: On 23 July 2026, the Ekurhuleni Task Team arrested a 40-year-old suspect in Ebony Park. Police recovered nine unlicensed firearms, including five AK-47 rifles, rounds of ammunition and four stolen vehicles - a Mercedes-Benz, a BMW and two Volkswagen Polos.

In Eldorado Park on 22 July 2026, a 45-year-old suspect was arrested with two 9mm pistols, a shotgun, magazines and 37 rounds of ammunition. The suspect is allegedly linked to multiple business robberies, and the firearms were sent for ballistic examination.
Between 20 and 23 July 2026, the Gauteng Provincial Counterfeit Unit seized more than 572 000 counterfeit and illicit items worth over R27.5 million across Sedibeng, the West Rand, Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Major seizures included 41 120 counterfeit Rizla dispensers, 522 000 Trust condom packets and 4 200 Darling hair pieces.

Mpumalanga: On 21 July 2026, members of the Ermelo K9 Unit arrested two suspects, aged 42 and 47, on the N4 near Middelburg for allegedly possessing 204 kg of dagga valued at R1.2 million.
A bakkie allegedly used to transport the drugs was also confiscated. The suspects appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on 22 July 2026.

North West: Police in Brits arrested a 26-year-old man in Oukasie following a shootout on 22 July 2026.
The suspect allegedly robbed his 68-year-old grandfather of a licensed firearm and fired shots at him. He later allegedly opened fire on police during a pursuit, wounding an officer and a bystander before being apprehended.
The stolen firearm and ammunition were recovered.

Limpopo: On 21 July 2026, the Provincial Commercial Crimes Unit arrested a 26-year-old female cashier, Sune Grobbelaar, in Mokopane in connection with alleged fraud involving R500 000 at a milling company.
Investigations allegedly revealed duplicate receipts and missing stock, which were identified through CCTV footage and audits.
Grobbelaar appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on the same day and was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 27 July 2026 for further investigation and a bail application.

Northern Cape: On 22 July 2026, SAPS members and Provincial Traffic officials seized 379.3 kg of dagga valued at R7.5 million. The drugs were allegedly concealed in mobile toilets on a truck at the N1 Weigh Bridge in Colesberg.
A 37-year-old foreign national was arrested and charged with dealing in dagga. The truck and trailer were also confiscated.

KwaZulu-Natal: Acting on a tip-off, members of the eThekwini District Tracing Unit arrested a 71-year-old suspect during an operation in Cato Manor.
The suspect allegedly modified replica firearms and manufactured homemade guns, which he allegedly sold, along with ammunition, to foreign nationals.
He was charged with possession of unlicensed firearms.

Eastern Cape: A multidisciplinary operation involving members of the Mount Ruth Rapid Rail Unit, Transnet and Ndevana SAPS led to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of suspected stolen Transnet infrastructure valued at R10 million outside Qonce.
The team seized 49 rolls of overhead track equipment, 18 railway rails weighing approximately 40kg each, four transformer batteries and one bag containing damaged copper.

Snowfall expected as cold front moves across South Africa

Posted on July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says typical winter conditions are expected across the country this week as a cold front moves through.

These conditions will be followed by a ridging high, which is expected to bring an onshore flow of moisture over the southern and south-eastern coast.

“This will result in scattered to widespread showers and rain associated with snowfall on mountain peaks from Monday to Wednesday. Fine weather conditions will dominate from Thursday into the weekend across the country,” SAWS said.

Monday’s forecast indicates partly cloudy and cold to cool conditions, although it will be warm in places, with isolated to scattered showers and rain in the south and south-east.

On Tuesday, conditions are expected to be partly cloudy and cold to cool, but warm in places, with isolated to scattered showers and rain in the south and widespread rain in the south-east.

Snowfall is expected over mountain peaks in the Eastern Cape, southern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

“Very cold and wet conditions with snowfall expected over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, especially over the Drakensberg area and the southern parts of the Free State and the Lesotho border. Farmers are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the negative impact due to the adverse weather conditions,” the weather service said.

IDAC head’s resignation accepted

Posted on July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the request by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption’s (IDAC) head, Advocate Andrea Johnson, to resign with immediate effect.

The President acceded to the request in terms of section 12(8)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998.

Johnson has come under scrutiny for her role in certain prosecutorial matters arising from her evidence at the Madlanga Commission.

“The President’s agreement follows a recommendation by [the] Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, and supported by National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi that Advocate Johnson’s request be granted.

“Advocate Johnson directed her request for an immediate release from office to the National Director of Public Prosecutions and President Ramaphosa.

“President Ramaphosa thanked Adv Johnson for her years of service in the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] and as the head of IDAC. The President assures the leadership and staff of the NPA of government’s unwavering support for its work in the fight against crime and corruption,” the Presidency said in a short statement on Monday.

Johnson continues to give evidence at the Madlanga Commission today.

President unveils national plan to tackle SA’s water crisis

Posted on July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a National Water Action Plan aimed at addressing South Africa's worsening water supply crisis and ensuring a reliable supply of quality water across the country.

The plan was released on Thursday, following a meeting of the National Water Crisis Committee (WATERCOM) at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The National Water Action Plan sets out short, medium-and long-term interventions to tackle the root causes of persistent water supply challenges affecting municipalities, communities and businesses.

Among the measures outlined in the plan are increased investment in water infrastructure, including through private-sector participation, legal and regulatory reforms to improve municipal service delivery, and efforts to tackle corruption and criminality in the water sector.

WATERCOM, which is chaired by President Ramaphosa, was established following the 2026 State of the Nation Address in response to increasingly severe water supply interruptions in parts of the country.

The committee brings together government departments and public agencies responsible for implementing the plan, as well as the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).

The Presidency said the plan was developed following extensive consultations across all three spheres of government and with key stakeholders.

WATERCOM will work with municipalities to mobilise resources, technical expertise and new partnerships to stabilise failing water systems, restore critical services and expand access.

A key part of the plan is to reform the way water services are managed and financed, including ring-fencing water revenues to ensure that money collected for water services is used to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure.

The plan also seeks to increase investment in bulk water and distribution infrastructure.

According to the Presidency, the water crisis is partly rooted in a delivery model that has resulted in water revenues being diverted to other municipal functions, leaving insufficient funds for infrastructure maintenance, investment and the recruitment of skilled personnel.

The government also identified fragmented accountability as a challenge, saying municipal water and sanitation departments often oversee technical operations while having limited control over billing, revenue collection and the protection of water assets.

The Presidency said dedicated teams have been appointed to drive implementation of the plan, accelerate results and support long-term reforms in the sector.

President Ramaphosa compared the approach to the government's response to the energy crisis, saying the same focus used to improve Eskom and reform the energy system would now be applied to the country's water challenges.

“By acting boldly and decisively to improve the performance of Eskom and reform our energy system, we were able to end load shedding and achieve a secure and reliable energy supply.

“Now, we are applying the same approach to the water crisis that has been unfolding in many parts of our country,” the President said.

The President said the plan provided a “clear, practical and focused approach” to achieving water security for all South Africans.

WATERCOM is expected to meet regularly to oversee implementation of the plan and hold government departments and agencies accountable for delivering on the proposed interventions.

Crime-Combatting Operations Yield Success in Garden Route District

Posted on July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

Ongoing crime combatting operations yielded success when police confiscated an unlicensed firearm at a roadblock on the N2 highway and arrested several suspects at drug outlets during mid-week operations in the Garden Route District.

On Wednesday, 22 July 2026 at about 17:25 police were strategically deployed at the entrance to Plettenberg Bay where the vigilant members conducted a roadblock. The members pulled of a Suzuki motor vehicle and a search ensued. The members found a handgun with eight 9mm round in the possession of one of the occupants. He was unable to provide any documentation for his possession thereof and was subsequently arrested. The 37 year old suspect 4 He is facing charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Meantime, on Thursday, 23 July 2026 at about 14:00 Western Cape Tactical Response Team and Conville Crime Prevention Unit members, armed with a search warrant conducted an operation at O’Connell Street, Rosemore in George. A search of the premises resulted in the confiscation of small quantities of drugs. Four suspects aged 18, 20, 21 and 37 were arrested on charges of possession of drugs.

Later the same day, the same team raided a house at Tiptol Street, Rosemore, George where they found 30 mandrax tablets. A 27 year old man was subsequently arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs.

All arrested will appear in court once charged.

These operations forms part of concerted efforts by police to rid communities of unlicensed firearms and drugs.

President to mark launch of 155MW wind facility

Posted on July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

President Cyril Ramaphosa will next week officiate the start of commercial operations at a 155MW wind energy facility in Mpumalanga, in a move expected to add renewable generation capacity to South Africa's electricity system.

The President will officially mark the commencement of operations at the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility near Bethal on Friday, 31 July 2026.

The facility's launch comes as South Africa continues efforts to strengthen energy security, expand electricity generation capacity and accelerate the country's transition towards a more diversified energy mix.

The first phase of the project will generate 155MW of wind power and forms part of a planned 900MW renewable energy programme.

Located in Mpumalanga, traditionally South Africa's energy-producing heartland, the project is being positioned as an example of the country's Just Energy Transition, combining renewable energy generation with investment in transmission infrastructure and regional economic development.

The project also includes commitments to local supplier participation, skills development, employment opportunities and community investment.

The commencement of commercial operations comes three years after the investment commitment linked to the Seriti Green project was announced at the South African Investment Conference.

The milestone is expected to highlight the role of public-private partnerships and private investment in translating commitments made at investment conferences into operational infrastructure capable of contributing to the country's long-term economic growth.

The project brings together government, private-sector investors and local communities, with the broader programme expected to increase renewable electricity generation while supporting infrastructure development and economic activity in the region.

Western Cape Government invests R550 000 in Swartland Municipality’s firefighting capacity

Posted on July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by Eon Engelbrecht

On Friday, 24 July 2026, the Western Cape Department of Local Government handed over specialised firefighting equipment valued at R550 000 to Swartland Municipality at Banquet Mall, Malmesbury, further strengthening the municipality's emergency response capability and enhancing the safety of firefighters.

The equipment was procured by Swartland Municipality with financial support through the Municipal Fire Services Capacity Grant, administered by the Department of Local Government's Sub-Directorate: Fire and Rescue Services.

The specialised equipment consists of a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) compressor and associated respiratory protection equipment. This investment will strengthen the municipality's firefighting capability by improving the maintenance and operational readiness of breathing apparatus used by firefighters during emergencies, ensuring they have reliable respiratory protection when responding to fires and hazardous incidents.

Speaking at the handover, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, said "Our firefighters put themselves in harm's way to protect our communities, often under extremely difficult conditions. The least we can do is ensure they have the right equipment to do their jobs safely and effectively. This investment is about strengthening Swartland Municipality's ability to respond quickly and professionally when lives, property and the environment are at risk. Well-equipped local fire services are an essential part of building resilient municipalities, and the Western Cape Government remains committed to supporting them."

The handover demonstrates the Western Cape Government's continued investment in building resilient municipal fire services, improving emergency preparedness and enhancing the safety of communities throughout the province.

This investment reflects the Department's commitment to supporting municipalities with the resources they need to protect lives, property and the environment, while strengthening local disaster response capacity across the Western Cape.