Sowetan

INSIDE GAMBLING SA’S ADDICTION

● Meet a gambler who lost everything, including his marriage, his career, more than R1m, and nearly ended his life ● Philips got addicted to the habit at only 13, is one of thousands of South Africans who have sought help to overcome the addiction

BAFANA PITSO RETURN EYES

Revered SA coach Pitso Mosimane has confirmed he has held talks with the SA Football Association (Safa) about the possibility of replacing Hugo Broos at Bafana Bafana. Broos initially said he’d retire after the Fifa World Cup but it seems Safa wants...

DAMAGING ‘ERROR’

● Idac boss concedes to Madlanga inquiry that corruption complaint against crime intelligence head failed the NPA Act’s legal test ● Commission questions the directorate’s mandate and competence after it sought an affidavit from MP Fadiel Adams...

HOW ‘FERRARI’ JOE CHEATED DEATH

The Johannesburg high court was yesterday taken back to the chaotic night that taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni drove into Centurion Golf Estate in his red Ferrari, only to be ambushed a few moments later by gunmen with AK47s travelling in a white BMW...

MAUMELA EMPIRE GOING GONE!

● Alleged Tembisa Hospital looter suffers hammer blow as court grants NPA final forfeiture of his R326m assets ● Civil groups hail return of recovered funds to Gauteng health but call for criminal prosecutions to follow

WHY SO EXPENSIVE MEAT IS

You are likely paying R12.10 more for a kilogram of beef mince meat than you did a year ago. The price of boerewors has also increased by R14.56 per kilogram and chicken portions by R5.96, while beef, pork and mutton sausages have risen by almost R20...

I’LL RECEIPTS BRING — GAYTON

Sports minister Gayton McKenzie has promised to provide receipts of his department’s R31m World Cup junket as criticism for the splurge gains momentum. As the 2026 Fifa World Cup comes to an end this weekend, McKenzie has found himself trying to put...

IS MCHUNU OFF THE HOOK?

Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has found no evidence of criminality against police minister Senzo Mchunu but concluded that serious governance and integrity...

MADLANGA OF DELAYS

When the head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) submitted a medical certificate before the Madlanga commission on Monday morning which excused her from taking the stand, she became the ninth witness to have their testimony...

Police open inquest into the death of Bafana Bafana player Jayden Adams

Norway and England players observe a moment of silence before their World Cup game in Miami in memory of Bafana Bafana star Jayden Adams, who passed away on Saturday.

HOW MASHAZI & CO MILKED EKURHULENI

● Former EMPD boss faced disciplinary process for an unlawful blue-light deal for vehicles belonging to suspected crime boss Cat Matlala

Police and the SA National Defence Force members,

accompanied by Sibanye Protection Services, arrested over 200 people over illegal mining activities during Operation Prosper conducted at Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria yesterday.

TEXTS REVEAL KHAN’S DEALINGS TENDER

Police crime intelligence operation support boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan allegedly had a hand in a tender facilitated by National Treasuty worth more than R50m for automotive spare parts. Evidence from Khan’s WhatsApp chats with entrepreneur Ismail Vally...

A YEAR OF UNRAVELLING SAPS ROT

Today is exactly a year since KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi dropped the bombshell about criminality infiltrating the police and judicial system. His claims led to the establishment of the Madlanga commission which exposed...

OSCAR'S WIN WON'T STOP SIU PROBE

The ANC is sticking by its cadre Dina Pule in the midst of a public onslaught over her appointment as minister of social development. Yesterday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula defended President Cyril Ramaphosa s decision to appoint Pule,...

WHY GAUTENG FEW ARRESTS SHOOTINGS FOR

Only 21% of the more than 2,800 shooting incidents recorded in Gauteng in the first five months of this year resulted in arrests. The reason for this low arrest rate, according to Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi, is the unavailability of witnesses and...

JUNE 30 PANIC SETS IN

● Acting police minister urges officers to protect demonstrators and everyone who lives and works in SA

SIYABANGENA

Following SA’s famous 1-0 win over South Korea in their final Group A Fifa World Cup match on Thursday, former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego “Killer” Mphela has explained how Hugo Broos got it right. After a disappointing 2-0 defeat to co-host Mexico...

Tyla leads SMag’s Class of 2026

Happy 10th birthday Sowetan SMag! This issue coincides with the 50th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto Uprising. In commemoration, we are throwing it forward by handpicking four of the hottest young stars we’ve billed the “Class of 2026”. Leading the...

MKHWANAZI'S R14.9M GEMSTONES HEIST COVER-UP

Metro police officers implicated in the theft of R14.9m in precious stones made attempts to squash the career-ending case, including infiltrating the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), evidence before the Madlanga commission on Tuesday...

HIGH COST OF JUNE 30

The government will spend more than half-a-billion rand on a special security operation to safeguard critical infrastructure and maintain public order ahead of the planned June 30 anti-migrant demonstrations, acting police minister Firoz Cachalia said...

ANC

president Cyril Ramaphosa greets the crowds at Atlyn Mall in Tshwane during the voter registration weekend. The ANC and other political parties went on a campaign trail for votes for the upcoming November 4 local government elections.

Tributes for jazz icon, Abdullah Ibrahim

The piano musical genius and antiapartheid activist Abdullah Ibrahim died in Germany on Monday. Born in Cape Town, a melting pot of cultural influences, on October 9 1934 and christened Adolph Johannes Brand, the young “Dollar” Brand, as he became...

Soweto uprising, 50 years on

“There’s a little coloured girl inside of me that was made to believe that what I have to say is not important.” For archaeologist Lauren Powell, those words capture the experience of many young South Africans who feel unheard in spaces where...

KID VACCINATE OR GET YOUR SUED

Parents who choose not to vaccinate their children could, under certain circumstances, find themselves facing civil lawsuits if their decision results in serious harm to another person. Child vaccinations across the country have slowed, with the...

FATIGUED WORKER DIES AT OFFICE...

● Aunt says her call centre agent niece collapsed and died in the work toilet after falling ill ● She ended up calling the ambulance for Dhladhla as her manager at Cartrack allegedly delayed sending her to the hospital

INSIDE INSURERS SCAM TARGETING PENSIONERS

● Lobby group helps victims who thought they gave their ID numbers for free food offer to people who claimed to be Sassa officials

‘HAWKS IGNORED DRUGS HEIST WARNING'

● Col Jacob tells Madlanga inquiry his unit neglected securing R200m cocaine after attempted break-in at storage ● Investigating officer in the 541kg narcotics haul at Durban port admits partial blame for the missing drugs

RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR JOBURG FAILURES

Johannesburg residents will soon pay a fixed water levy of about R124 a month as Joburg Water scrambles to raise billions needed for infrastructure upgrades. The proposed increase in the fixed connection fee planned to start in July, on top of the...

TOUGH AHEAD TIMES

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to tighten their belts, saying the attack by the US and Israel on Iran continues to disrupt the global economy, hampering job creation and economic growth. Delivering the Presidency Budget Vote in the...

EVICT NO MONEY ‘HIJACKERS’ TO

Johannesburg is too broke to afford rehousing occupants of 59 hijacked buildings it has reclaimed. The city has been on a clean-up campaign to take control of hijacked buildings and demolish illegal structures, and still faces the mammoth task of...

BAFANA’S WORLD CUP VISA LIFELINE

● Minister McKenzie reveals breakthrough for group to travel after initial setback with few travel approvals outstanding

R6M ‘MY STOLEN MANSION’ ID BOUGHT

Four months after illegally registering a shell company using a stolen ID, Oscar Nobungwana, 33, received almost R8m from a businessman allegedly at the centre of a syndicate linked to the looting of R2bn from Tembisa Hospital. The Special...

OUR TEAM, OUR PRIDE

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has conceded trimming his squad from 32 to 26 for the Fifa World Cup was the most difficult task he’s had to do. Broos broke hearts of six players by leaving them out of the squad which leaves for the World cup this...

Downs paint Mamelodi yellow

Mamelodi Sundowns players went on an open bus tour through the streets of Pretoria yesterday, celebrating winning the CAF Champions League trophy in Morocco on Sunday./Muzi

MOGOTSI’S ‘BROWN LIES’

● Self-proclaimed political fixer gave police runaround when they sought him to give a statement on his alleged assassination attempt ● Court hears how he avoided calls from investigators, claimed to be seeing a doctor, later a sangoma before a...

TRUCK WATER WARNING

More than R314m has been spent by Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni on outsourced water tanker services over the past three financial years. As Gauteng faces water infrastructure maintenance later this month, in June and July, more water trucking services...

I-WEEKEND ENKULU!

SATURDAY Orlando Pirates' last chance to win the Premiership for the first time in 14 years. The Soweto giants need victory over relegation-threatened Orbit College. Anything less would mean Mamelodi Sundowns are crowned PSL champs again — for the 9th...

TAINTED LEADER ANC RUN FOR WON’T MAYOR

As the ANC opened its public nomination for the selection of mayoral candidates, embattled Tshwane ANC regional chairperson Eugene Modise has recused himself from the race for mayoral chains. Deputy mayor Modise’s withdrawal, though not yet nominated...

DADA SENDS S.O.S. TO MINISTER

Joburg mayor Dada Morero has made a desperate plea to electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to save the city from being plunged into darkness due rising Eskom debt. Morero is set to meet Ramokgopa before the end of the month to come up with a...

ESKOM’S TO UNPLUG THREAT JOZI

Eskom’s renewed threat to plunge Joburg into darkness over R5.2bn debt will have dire consequences on residents and businesses. The power utility has given the city until July 8 to clear its arrears and debt or face disconnections. This means...

Downs one match from Africa champs crown

Mamelodi Sundowns have one hand on the CAF Champions League title after their hard-fought 1-0 win over AS FAR in the first leg here yesterday. Aubrey Modiba scored the only goal in the first half, and Masandawana will take a 1-0 lead to Morocco in the...

SEKUSELE KANCANE

● If Soweto giants win against Durban City tomorrow they’ll grab gold medals ahead of Sundowns who play Champs League final on Sunday

JOE FERRARI’S ‘RULE OF FEAR’

For three years, taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni allegedly extorted protection fees from a mine owner using fear and intimidation. This is the state’s case against the 60-year-old Sibanyoni, who is feared by many in his community. He appeared...

DA READY TO RISK GNU COLLAPS

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has insisted that his party cannot be expected to shield President Cyril Ramaphosa from the Phala Phala controversy. He said the party would not cower to external pressure, even if their refusal meant the collapse of the...

WOUNDED ‘BUFFALO’ FIGHTS ON

● He announces plans to take the battle to court to have the the Section 89 independent panel report set aside

WHY PKTT POUNCED ON TOP COPS

The weekend arrests of Feroz Khan, head of crime counter intelligence, and Gauteng hawks head Maj-Gen Ebrahim Kadwa is linked to their alleged interference with a Durban businessman’s arrest in 2021. According to Sowetan sources, in May 2021 law...

WAGE DADA'S HEADACHE R10BN

● Samwu mulls strike action against City of Joburg after finance minister pulled the plug on hefty pay hike for employees ● Mayor Morero to plead for funds to avert crisis in a hastily arranged meeting with Godongwana today

R24m TOILET RIP—OFF

More than 20 families are forced to share two communal toilets they built themselves, while the state spent R24m on 30 nearby ablution facilities they can’t use. The Gauteng human settlements department confirmed yesterday that it had spent over...

SA ON HIGH ALERT

The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) says it has teams on standby monitoring areas in danger of being flooded because they are experiencing heavy rains and is ready to respond to any eventuality. This comes as the SA Weather Service (SAWS)...

DON’T PANIC

The national department of health and experts have urged the public not to panic over fears of possibly contracting hantavirus as it is not “easily” transmitted from human to human. This comes after two passengers, a husband and wife, died after...

12 SURVIVING IN THE MONTHS DARK

It has been a year since 46 households at Ebony Park Phase 1, in Midrand, last had electricity. Residents said they are suffering financial strain as a result — one resident pays R500 a week for gas, and another paid R40,000 for a solar power...

Bellarmine Mugabe, son of late Zimbabwean president, walks out of the Alexandra magistrate's court after his deportation order was made yesterday.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe has been fined R600,000 and will be deported to his hometown in Zimbabwe after a shooting at the family’s property in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. His cousin, Tobias Matondze, was ordered to serve jail time by the Alexandra...

CORRUPTION EKURHULENI CRACKDOWN

Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla is believed to be the senior official who was arrested yesterday. According to sources who spoke to the Sowetan on condition of anonymity, Lerutla is expected to appear at the Boksburg magistrate’s court today...

JUJU'S FREEDOM FIGHT

662 USED GHOST TO LOOT WORKERS UIF

Only a R74 balance remained in Nikluis Manuel’s bank account five years after he used 662 ghost workers to claim R19.1m for Covid-19 employee relief fund. Manuel allegedly used bogus documents to swindle the Temporary Employee-Employer Relief Scheme...

WILL MALEMA DODGE THE BULLET?

EFF leader Julius Malema has urged his supporters not to panic as he’s willing to fight tooth and nail to avoid going to jail as he awaits his fate. Speaking to eNCA last night in KuGompo (East London), Eastern Cape, where he’s due to appear for...

INSIDE NKOSI'S 'STOLEN' DOCKETS

The state has accused police sergeant Fannie Nkosi of stealing closed dockets that he hid at his home, suggesting he closed the cases to frustrate investigations. Nkosi was arrested after the discovery of six dockets at his home. The dockets were...

NEW ERA FOR DA AS HILL-LEWIS TAKES OVER THE REINS AS PARTY LEADER

Newly elected DA federal chairperson Solly Msimanga and new party leader Geordin Hill-Lewis raise hands at the party federal congress at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand yesterday.

MNISI’S LIFE OF BLING

Gareth Mnisi, the man who is alleged to have manipulated tenders in the City of Tshwane, lived a life of luxury, amassing wealth that a high court has found he has been dishonest about. Yesterday, the Tshwane CFO made a brief appearance at the...

MEASLY 15-YEAR PAYOUTS WAIT FOR

Denis Mutugue, 64, worked for the Aurora Gold Mine for 27 years, earning a salary of R1,718 until the company collapsed in 2011. Since then, he’s been waiting for his R10,993 severance package, which he hopes will significantly change his family’s...

WHY WERE HEIST DOCKETS AT HIS HOME?

When police raided Sgt Fannie Nkosi’s Pretoria home, they found cash-in-transit (CIT) and hijacking dockets that had been closed because there were no leads. According to national police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe, the dockets were illegally in...

EASTER MADNESS

In just three days of the 2026 Easter holidays, traffic officer arrested almost 1,000 drunk drivers on SA roads. According to Simon Zwane from the Road Traffic Management Corporation, the staggering 934 arrests made from Thursaday to Saturday were 263...

EFF TAKES OVER GAUTENG TREASURY

Julius Malema’s EFF has for the first time entered the provincial government - with Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi announcing Nkululeko Dunga as finance MEC. Dunga is the EFF’s first MEC since its inception, a move that could change the political...