South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit has detailed an alleged bribery network within the Department of Home Affairs, describing how elements of the country’s immigration system were manipulated for financial gain. The probe, initiated in May2024 following information provided by a whistleblower, has linked several department officials to irregular processing of visas and residency permits. Acting…
South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, conducted coordinated raids across four provinces on Sunday as part of a probe into alleged irregular education tenders worth R114 million. More than 14 operational teams targeted properties in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape. Authorities said those under investigation include government officials,…
A Cape Town magistrate has handed down the toughest sentence available under South Africa’s Animal Protection Act after two severely emaciated boerboels were rescued in the Sea Winds area. The case dates back to 2022, when inspectors from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA responded to a complaint and discovered the dogs in a critically…
Chinese home appliance manufacturer Haier has formally launched its brand in South Africa, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy. The company, ranked the world’s largest home appliance brand for 17 consecutive years by Euromonitor International, said South Africa represents a strategically important growth market due to rising urbanisation, expanding household electrification and…
A new study by the University of the Free State has found that sanitary pads and pantyliners sold in South Africa contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including in products marketed as free from harmful substances. The research, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, analysed 16 brands of sanitary pads and eight types of pantyliners…
South Africa’s R15.5 billion antiretroviral (ARV) procurement programme, which supplies treatment to roughly eight million people, is under parliamentary scrutiny after officials conceded they have not verified whether the majority of medicines are genuinely produced locally. The Department of Health has long maintained that at least 70% of ARVs under the national tender are sourced…
E-hailing drivers in South Africa are increasingly being targeted in violent robberies, with criminals using ride-hailing apps to lure drivers before stealing their vehicles, mobile phones and cash. The National E-hailers Federation of South Africa (NEFSA) says attacks on drivers have escalated in recent months, with incidents reported across several major cities. Spokesperson Tella Masakale…
A nine-month-old child was among three people killed in a shooting in the Cape Town suburb of Athlone on Tuesday night, police confirmed. The other fatalities were two women aged 25 and 36. Two men were also wounded and taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities said preliminary information indicates that three suspects were involved. The…
A 42-year-old payroll administrator has been arrested in connection with an alleged R10.5 million fraud scheme at Isuzu Motors South Africa. Natasja Slabbert was detained on Monday in Struandale, Gqeberha, by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit following an inquiry conducted in cooperation with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit. The investigation…
South Africa will extend its Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant until March 2027 while preparing to introduce a redesigned successor programme, the Department of Social Development has confirmed. The monthly payment of R370, originally introduced as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, was due to end on 31 March 2026. It will now…
