The South African police said another woman's body has been found near Johannesburg, bringing the number of victims to 10 in a series of killings under investigation. Police began investigating after the bodies of three women were found in July and August within about 4.3 miles of one another in the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg. The discovery of six bodies in Ekurhuleni over 10 days earlier this month raised fears that a serial killer or killers were responsible. Two women were arrested and charged last week with murder in relation to the ninth body, discovered on Sept. 17. The victim had been stabbed and had her throat cut, police said. Police did not link the two women charged to any of the other killings. Provincial police commissioner Lt. Gen. Tommy Mthombeni told state broadcaster SABC on Saturday that investigators believed the ninth killing was an isolated case but could not rule out the possibility that some of the other cases were linked. Polic...

Messages from the phone of taxi boss, Oupa 'Bafana' Sindane, have revealed apparent legal funding for alleged hitmen. Sindane’s WhatsApp chats are being probed at the Madlanga Commission.  Sindane is not present following several failed attempts to evade testimony. The commission is yet to rule on his absence. His messages with taxi industry leader Joe Sibanyoni reveal that attorney Hartley Ngoato made multiple requests for outstanding payments to defend two suspected hitmen in separate court matters.  In other news: Madlanga Commission considering application to hold parts of Feroz Khan's hearing in-camera Ngoato also acted at one stage for suspended police sergeant Fannie Nkosi. Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson revealed Ngoato was owed at least R250,000. "Mr Sibanyoni and Mr Sindani were involved in paying the legal expenses of Mr Gwabo Mahlangu, who was convicted of a taxi-related murder, and Mr Tshegofatso Richmond Makofane, who was also convict...

South Africa could face an exceptionally hot and dry summer as a very strong El Niño event develops in the Pacific Ocean, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warning that the event could become the strongest El Niño in living memory. The SAWS said the latest weekly sea-surface temperature anomalies in the eastern-central tropical Pacific were above the threshold used to define a very strong El Niño. Forecasts indicate that the anomaly could exceed 3°C this spring. A strong El Niño is defined as sea-surface temperatures at least 1.5°C above normal, while a very strong event exceeds 2°C. Most El Niño events are associated with below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across southern Africa and the latest SAWS seasonal forecast points towards a continuation of the pattern. For October to December 2026, below-normal rainfall is the most likely outcome over most of South Africa, while above-normal temperatures are forecast across much of the country. The SAW...

The Municipal Manager of the Maquassi Hills Local Municipality, Thuli Mbonani, has denied any knowledge of criminal allegations against her Responding formally to a media enquiry from City Report on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, Mbonani characterised the claims as entirely baseless and highly defamatory The allegations reportedly tie the municipal administrative head to a substantial R10 million fuel irregularity scheme, alongside separate compliance concerns within the local government structure This comes after criminal charges were laid against Mbonani on Thursday, 20 August 2026 over widespread financial misconduct and a blatant failure to protect public funds The criminal cases were officially opened at the Wolmaransstad police station by Percy Mokgabi, the municipality’s erstwhile Director for Community Services Mokgabi’s affidavits cite severe violations of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), material dereliction of duty, and perjury aga...

Tswelelang - Calm has been restored in Tswelelang township after residents protested over water closures which they say lasted for weeks Frustrated community members took to the streets on Monday morning (21 September 2026) to voice their concerns over continuous closure of water in the area which lasts for weeks. They used empty and dry buckets to highlight their plight They called for the Maquassi Hills Mayor, Mzwandile Feliti and relevant officials to come and address them, however, non of the municipal officials were avaliable Officials sent a message that water will be available in the evening of Monday between 7 and 8pm, but it was never restored   Calm was restored for the evening of that day and the main N12 road passing through Tswelelang was reopened for traffic. Residents then made a promise that if water was not released on Monday evening (21 September 2026) they will head back and shut the streets down a...

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams, has expressed concern following an incident in which two people lost their lives in Leeudoringstad Police in Leeudoringstad are investigating a murder and inquest following a fatal stabbing incident at Kgakala township, Extension 3, near Leeudoringstad reported on the 13th of September 2026 A 33-year-old female teacher at a School for the Deaf in Leeudoringstad was allegedly attacked inside her residence by a 33-year-old man, who is her former boyfriend. The incident is believed to be domestic violence-related Preliminary information indicates that the suspect allegedly gained entry into the residence by breaking a window while armed with a knife. He allegedly attacked and fatally stabbed the victim before apparently inflicting a fatal stab wound to himself Both individuals were declared dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Rescue Services personnel The circumstances surroundi...

The North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has reported that several households and schools have been damaged by heavy weather conditions in recent weeks in Maquassi Hills  The report came on early September 2026, the department said atleast 4 houses have been impacted in Tswelelang township, the report also highlighted that some schools within the same area were damaged as the weather conditions turned severe. Some areas in the municipality faced electrical outages. The department said the schools which were affected by the heavy weather conditions included Maitemogelo Comprehensive and Gatelapele Secondary   The North West Department of Education separately reported that strong and destructive winds damaged roofs and destroyed mobile classrooms at more than 20 schools across the province. The department said the damage had placed additional pressure on its already strained infrastructure, following recent fires...