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A 40-year-old Turkish national wanted in Türkiye over alleged r@pe, s@xual assault, kidn@pping and assault has been arrested in Isipingo, KZN.

Police say the allegations date back to 2010 and involve his then-fiancée, who was allegedly kidn@pped, r@ped and assaulted over several days.

The suspect allegedly fled Türkiye after the investigation and was later traced to KwaZulu-Natal following an extradition request.

He appeared in the Umlazi Magistrates’ Court, where Türkiye began extradition proceedings to have him returned to face trial.

The allegations have not been tested in a South African trial.

#Isipingo #INTERPOL #KwaZuluNatal #CrimeNews #CoveraTrend

4 days ago | [YT] | 0

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The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) is set to fine the Democratic Alliance (DA) following a campaign event held on the M1 highway that did not have the required official authorisation.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the department would also remove campaign posters that had been attached to bridge structures, which he said was not permitted under municipal bylaws. JMPD is further engaging the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) regarding possible additional compliance steps.

The event involved DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille highlighting the condition of bridges along the M1. Zille acknowledged that the party had not sought official approval for the event, but defended the action as an effort to warn motorists about what she described as potentially dangerous infrastructure.

Zille cited Johannesburg's own figures indicating that 78% of the city's bridges require urgent maintenance or repair. She also referred to an earlier municipal audit which had warned about deteriorating bridge infrastructure and the consequences of delayed maintenance.

The issue comes amid wider scrutiny of Johannesburg's spending on infrastructure maintenance. According to the reporting, the metro has allocated less than 1% of its property, plant and equipment budget to repairs and maintenance, while National Treasury recommends municipalities allocate at least 8% towards such maintenance.

The enforcement action adds another issue to the political contest ahead of the 4 November local government elections, with the DA saying it intends to continue highlighting service-delivery concerns across Johannesburg. The JMPD, meanwhile, says political parties are required to comply with municipal bylaws governing events and campaign material.

#HelenZille #DA #Johannesburg #JMPD #CoveraTrend

4 days ago | [YT] | 0

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EFF leader Julius Malema says pensioners and other SASSA beneficiaries should not have to pay for basic municipal services such as water and electricity.

Speaking at the EFF’s KwaZulu-Natal manifesto rally at Riverview Sports Field in Kokstad, Malema argued that elderly people who had worked and contributed throughout their lives should receive essential municipal services without payment during their later years.

Malema proposed linking SASSA beneficiary information with municipal records so that qualifying residents could automatically be identified and exempted from paying for water and electricity. He argued that beneficiaries should not repeatedly have to prove that they are financially disadvantaged when government already has information confirming their social-grant status.

The proposal forms part of the EFF's broader 2026 local government election platform, which includes commitments around basic service delivery, unemployment, municipal governance and social support. The party has previously outlined plans to provide free basic services to SASSA beneficiaries and unemployed residents under EFF-led municipalities.

Malema also called for social grants to be increased, arguing that additional money could be made available by tackling corruption and wasteful expenditure. The EFF has separately proposed increasing the old-age grant to R4,500 under an EFF-led government.

The proposal comes ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections. Whether such measures could be implemented would depend on municipal finances, applicable legislation, existing indigent-support systems and the division of responsibilities between municipalities and national government.

#JuliusMalema #EFF #SASSA #MunicipalServices #CoveraTrend

4 days ago | [YT] | 0

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Government has condemned the deaths of 14-year-old twin brothers who were stabbed to death at their home in Mamelodi West, east of Pretoria.

According to the South African Police Service, police were called to the home on Friday, 2 October, where the two boys were found inside a bedroom with multiple stab wounds. Their mother reportedly discovered their bodies after returning home from work.

Police have not yet established the circumstances surrounding the killings. No arrests had been made at the time of the latest reports, while detectives continue to investigate what happened and who may be responsible.

Acting government spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa described the loss of the two children as deeply distressing and said the tragedy highlights the responsibility shared by communities and authorities to protect children from violence.

Government has called on residents of Mamelodi and surrounding communities to provide police with any information that could assist the investigation and lead to those responsible being identified and brought before the law.

Authorities have also urged the public not to circulate unverified information, speculation or distressing images on social media. The investigation remains ongoing, and the full circumstances surrounding the deaths have yet to be established.

#Mamelodi #MamelodiWest #ChildSafety #CrimeNews #CoveraTrend

4 days ago | [YT] | 0

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EFF leader Julius Malema says he cannot imagine a South Africa without white people, describing white South Africans as “neighbours” and “partners” during the party’s Jazz Hour event in Johannesburg.

Malema said the EFF does not hate white people and argued that they should remain in South Africa. He said the party’s position is about creating a country of equals rather than excluding people on the basis of race.

He also called for greater economic inclusion, saying black South Africans should have an equal place “at the table”. Malema used the contrast between Sandton and Alexandra to illustrate what he described as continuing economic inequality in the country.

Malema rejected the characterisation of his politics as anti-white, saying critics deliberately distort his message and create fear around the EFF’s intentions. He also said he opposed a South Africa dominated by any racial group.

His comments have generated debate online, with some social-media users questioning how the remarks should be understood alongside the EFF leader’s previous statements and political positions on land, race and economic transformation. Those reactions represent the views of individual commentators and do not establish Malema’s intentions.

The remarks come as political parties campaign ahead of South Africa’s 4 November 2026 local government elections, with race, inequality, immigration and economic policy among issues featuring prominently in the political debate.

#JuliusMalema #EFF #SouthAfrica #PoliticalNews #CoveraTrend

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

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A young boy, Kutlwano, who was reported missing on 30 September 2026, has been found safe at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng.

According to a report published by Briefly News, police recovered the boy on 1 October, reportedly finding him in the company of an unidentified woman who told officers that she was his aunt. Police questioned the woman while working to establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s presence at the airport.

However, several important details remain unclear. Authorities have not publicly confirmed how Kutlwano travelled to the airport, whether any flight had been booked, whether he was due to travel domestically or internationally, or what documentation the woman may have had.

The discovery has prompted concerns and speculation online about possible human trafficking. At this stage, however, there is no official confirmation that Kutlwano was being trafficked or that the woman was attempting to take him out of South Africa. Those circumstances would need to be established through the police investigation.

The identity of the woman and her exact relationship to Kutlwano have also not been publicly confirmed. Briefly News reported that SAPS had not released an official statement detailing whether anyone had been arrested or charged in connection with the circumstances surrounding his recovery.

Kutlwano’s recovery will come as a major relief to his family and everyone who participated in the search. The case also highlights the importance of quickly reporting missing children and sharing verified information with law enforcement rather than relying on unconfirmed social-media claims.

#MissingChild #Kutlwano #ORTambo #Gauteng #CoveraTrend

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

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The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has opened a criminal case against Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg Acting Judge Samuel Makamu over allegations that he solicited a R5,000 payment in connection with an application for leave to appeal.

The case was reportedly opened at Boksburg North Police Station on Wednesday, 30 September.

The allegations originate from a complaint lodged by businessman and attorney Bouwe Wiersma following an eviction matter. The Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) of the Judicial Service Commission previously referred the complaint for further investigation, saying that, if proven, the allegations could amount to gross misconduct.

According to the complaint, Wiersma alleged that he received a telephone call from a person identifying himself as Makamu after an eviction judgment. The caller allegedly encouraged him to pursue an appeal, with further allegations concerning assistance with the appeal and a payment of R5,000.

The MK Party said evidence associated with the complaint reportedly includes WhatsApp communications and banking records.

However, the allegations remain allegations. Judge Makamu disputes them, and the opening of a criminal case does not establish that a crime was committed or that the judge is guilty of corruption or misconduct.

MK Party calls for investigation

MK Party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said the purpose of opening the criminal case was to place the allegations before law-enforcement authorities for investigation.

The party has also called on Makamu to step aside while the investigation is underway and urged authorities to conduct what it described as a thorough and impartial inquiry.

The JCC's referral of the complaint for a formal inquiry is also not a finding that Makamu committed misconduct.

The MK Party said the matter should be dealt with through the appropriate legal and judicial processes and that accountability should follow if criminal conduct is ultimately established.

The case places renewed attention on allegations involving judicial officers, while the outcome of any criminal and judicial-conduct investigations remains pending.

#CoveraTrend #MKParty #SouthAfricaNews #Justice #BreakingNews

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

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Gauteng authorities are preparing to announce further measures to confront gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) after the discovery of 11 women’s bodies in and around Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi, mayors, municipal managers and police officials are expected to assess existing safety interventions and outline the province’s response.

The developments come amid wider public concern over threats and violence against women. Businessman Lawrence Mudzingyama was granted R15,000 bail by the Randburg Magistrates Court in a separate case involving 10 charges linked to alleged intimidation of women at a Sandton restaurant. He allegedly told a woman, “I will put a bullet in you.” He is due back in court on 15 October.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has given municipalities 60 days to identify and address safety hazards, including broken streetlights, abandoned buildings and dangerous transport routes.

Police investigations into the Kempton Park deaths are continuing.

South Africans are now watching closely for concrete action to improve women’s safety.

#CoveraTrend #GBVF #GenderBasedViolence #Femicide #Gauteng

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

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FROM CHURCH TO BOTTLE STORE — NAMIBIA BUILDING SPARKS ONLINE DEBATE

A historic-looking stone church building in Namibia has gone viral after being transformed into a TOPS at SPAR liquor store.

A video posted on TikTok on 30 September shows the old building still featuring its arched windows and classic stone architecture, but now covered in bright pink TOPS branding.

The unusual transformation has divided social media users. Some say turning a former place of worship into a liquor store is disrespectful, while others point to the building being given a new purpose and creating employment.

The internet is asking one question: Would you buy your drinks from a former church? 👀🍾

#CoveraTrend #Namibia #TOPSatSPAR #ViralVideo #trendingvideo

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

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The Migrant Workers Association of Lesotho (MWA-L) has issued an emotional plea for an end to violence after 18 people were killed and 15 others wounded in a mass shooting at a tavern in Wedela, near Carletonville.

Police are searching for eight unidentified armed suspects who allegedly opened fire on patrons inside and outside the tavern before fleeing.

MWA-L says the violence is devastating Basotho families on both sides of the border and has urged rival groups to put down their weapons and resolve disputes peacefully.

The organisation also called on leaders to use their influence to prevent revenge attacks and further bloodshed.

“We are bleeding as a nation.” 💔

The motive remains under investigation, while claims linking the shooting to rival illegal mining and Famo-linked groups have not been independently verified.

#CoveraTrend #Carletonville #BreakingNews #SouthAfrica #Lesotho #MassShooting #CrimeSA #Basotho #StopTheViolence #Gauteng

6 days ago | [YT] | 0