The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

Court Blocks Suleiman Carrim’s Escape — Must Testify at Madlanga Commission!



“Businessman and ANC member Sulaiman Carrim has lost his bid to avoid testifying before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System — known as the Madlanga Commission.

Carrim had approached the Gauteng High Court, seeking an urgent order to block the commission from subpoenaing him. He argued that he was labelled as an implicated person without notice and claimed that the commission’s actions were unfair and unconstitutional. However, the court dismissed his application, striking it off the roll and ordering him to appear before the commission.

The allegations against Carrim centre on a R360 million South African Police Service tender awarded to businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. Evidence presented to the commission indicates that Matlala paid Carrim R1.5 million, sparking claims that Carrim acted as a middleman attempting to influence government officials, including then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Carrim admits receiving money from Matlala, but he maintains that it was a partial repayment of a R10 million investment he made into Matlala’s business, which ultimately failed. He denies ever being an enabler or using improper influence, noting that the tender was eventually cancelled.
The commission has been examining these allegations in the context of criminal infiltration and corruption within South Africa’s justice and policing systems. Carrim’s testimony is expected to shed light on his connections to key figures in the tender process, as well as his alleged interactions with other businesspeople involved in controversial deals.

Now that the court has rejected his bid to avoid testifying, Carrim is required to appear before the commission and answer questions under oath. The hearings are closely watched, as they touch on broader issues of accountability, governance, and transparency in state tenders.

As proceedings continue, the public will be looking to the commission to determine whether Carrim’s explanations are credible, and what role, if any, he played in influencing major government contracts.

#fyp
#MadlangaCommission
#SulimanCarrim
#Subpoena

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4

2 days ago | [YT] | 5

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

Interpol Red Notice suspect allegedly found working in Cape Town

A Bulgarian national, Stanislav Sevdanilov Stamenov, is listed on an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of Romanian authorities for drug trafficking.

He was reportedly living in Cape Town, where he was working as a personal trainer at a Virgin Active gym in Constantia.
The matter gained attention after his photo and professional profile at the gym were linked to the Interpol listing.

Virgin Active suspended him on 27 January 2026, pending an internal internal process.
Stamenov has also been reported to have previously worked as a bodyguard for Bulgarian national Krasimir Kamenov, who was killed in Cape Town in 2023. No official link between the two cases has been confirmed.

The situation raises questions about international fugitives, vetting processes, and accountability within South Africa.

#StanislavStamenov
#InterpolRedNotice
#InternationalCrime
#fyp

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

1 week ago | [YT] | 4

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

13 Young Lives Lost: The Vanderbijlpark Scholar Transport Tragedy

South Africa is mourning the devastating loss of young lives following a horrific road crash that occurred on the morning of Monday, 19 January 2026, in Vanderbijlpark, Vaal. A private scholar transport minibus taxi, carrying primary and high school pupils, collided head-on with a truck on Fred Droste Road, a narrow and often dangerous stretch of road.

The accident happened just after 6 a.m., as children were being transported to school. Twelve pupils died at the scene, while one more succumbed to injuries in hospital, bringing the death toll to 13 schoolchildren. Several others were left critically injured, including the minibus driver, and were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care.

The pupils were reportedly from three public schools and two private schools, deepening the scale of trauma across multiple communities. Families expecting their children to return home after school were instead met with unimaginable grief.

What Led to the Crash

Preliminary investigations indicate that the minibus driver attempted to overtake other vehicles on the narrow road and collided directly with an oncoming truck. Police have since opened 13 counts of culpable homicide, as the investigation examines driver conduct, possible negligence, and vehicle roadworthiness.
It has also emerged that the driver had reportedly been reprimanded for reckless driving just a week before the crash, raising serious concerns about accountability, enforcement, and whether warning signs were ignored.

Official Response

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited the scene, describing the incident as heartbreaking and avoidable. Premier Lesufi pointed to serious regulatory gaps in private scholar transport, stressing that the system has long been under strain with insufficient oversight.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed profound sadness, calling the incident a national tragedy and emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen scholar transport safety across the country. Government has pledged psychosocial support for affected families, learners, and school communities as they begin the painful process of mourning.

A System Under Scrutiny

This tragedy comes as the South African Human Rights Commission released findings highlighting persistent safety concerns in the scholar transport sector. While vehicle roadworthiness inspections exist, authorities continue to warn that driver error remains one of the leading causes of fatal crashes involving children.

Statistics show that in 2024, children aged 5–14 accounted for more than 5% of all road fatalities in South Africa, underscoring the scale of risk faced by young passengers daily.

What Happens Next

The investigation will focus on:
The driver’s actions, history, and fitness to transport children
Whether the minibus was legally compliant and roadworthy

Adherence to scholar transport regulations and oversight mechanisms
The findings are expected to influence potential policy reforms, stricter enforcement, and renewed calls for accountability within the private scholar transport sector.

As South Africa buries its children, the tragedy has reignited a painful but necessary conversation: How many lives must be lost before scholar transport safety becomes a non-negotiable priority?

#VanderbijlparkCrash
#ScholarTransport
#fyp
#incaseyoumissedit
#tiktoknews

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 4

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala Transferred to South Africa’s Super-Maximum Security Prison


On 21 December 2025, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was transferred to eBongweni Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal — South Africa’s only super-maximum security prison.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has described the move as a standard operational security procedure, carried out in line with risk assessments, inmate safety, and prison management protocols. Officials have declined to disclose the specific security reasons behind the transfer.

⚖️ So how did Matlala get here?

📍 Detention History
After his arrest in 2025, Matlala was initially remanded in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria, including its high-security C-Max section.

His placement there followed concerns raised by correctional authorities around security risks and inmate management, including a prior incident where contraband was reportedly discovered during a prison search.

As his case escalated and multiple investigations continued, authorities reassessed his custody classification — ultimately resulting in his transfer to eBongweni, a facility reserved for inmates considered extremely high-risk.

🔍 Why the move now?

The transfer comes just weeks before his upcoming High Court appearance, leading to growing public speculation about:
the seriousness of the charges he faces,
potential security threats,
and the wider corruption and organised crime investigations linked to his name.

⚖️ Charges He Faces

Matlala is currently denied bail and remains in custody on charges including:

Attempted murder
Conspiracy to commit murder
Money laundering

The charges stem from the October 2023 Sandton shooting, where his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, was injured after her vehicle was shot at.

💰 Wider Investigations

Beyond the criminal case, Matlala has been implicated in:
alleged SAPS tender fraud involving a R360 million health services contract,
claims linked to the Tembisa Hospital procurement scandal, and
testimony before the Madlanga Commission, where he was named as part of an alleged organised crime network.

📅 Next Court Date Matlala is due to appear at the Johannesburg High Court on 29 January 2026.

#VusimuziCatMatlala
#incaseyoumissedit
#eBongweniCorrectionalCentre
#tiktoknews
#CourtroomChronicles

Skip the Carousel

1 2

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

Deon, Christel, Marthella — taken too soon.


On April 6, 2012, the Steenkamp family of Griekwastad — Deon (44), Christel (43), and Marthella (14) — were brutally murdered on their farm. The horror didn’t stop there: their own 15-year-old son and brother, Don Steenkamp, was behind the attack.
After a long trial, he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. But in December 2025, after a second parole hearing, he was granted parole.

The community remains in shock and outrage. For many, justice feels incomplete, and the grief of that Good Friday massacre is still deeply felt.

#SteenkampFamily
#TrueCrimeSA
#fyp
#incaseyoumissedit
#Don]

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

🚨 DOUBLE MURDER SHOCKS KAMAGUGU, NELSPRUIT 🚨

Police in Nelspruit are hunting for suspects following the brutal murder of two women discovered inside a locked house in Kamagugu, just outside Mbombela.
On 16 December 2025, neighbours raised the alarm after noticing a strong smell, many flies, and no response from the occupants. When police entered the house, they found the bodies of Eunice Mahlodi (64) and Eugenia Dineo Masuku (20).
The house showed no signs of forced entry, but it had been ransacked, and items such as cellphones are believed to be missing.
Ms Masuku was found in her bedroom with her hands tied with cables and a cable around her neck, raising strong suspicions of strangulation. Bloodstains were found at the scene. Both victims were partially undressed, and their bodies were in an early stage of decomposition.

🚔 Police have opened two counts of murder and activated a 72-hour plan, led by Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, to track down those responsible.

📞 If you have any information, please contact:
Detective Sgt Debra Matukane: 076 354 9612
Crime Stop: 08600 10111
MySAPS App

🕊️ Two lives lost. Two families grieving. Justice must follow.

#Kamagugu
#Nelspruit
#fyp
#EuniceMahlodi
#EugeniaDineoMasuku

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

Life Sentence for Boyfriend Who Drowned and Strangled Nicolene Morgan

The Mpumalanga High Court has sentenced 38-year-old Mikah Shalamuka Willy Sithole to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Nicolene Morgan. What began as a night out with family in the Bushbuckridge district turned into a violent and fatal ordeal that ended in femicide.

The court heard that on 21 December 2024, Nicolene and her sister were attending a party when Sithole arrived and demanded that she leave with him. When she refused, an argument broke out, escalating into physical violence. Sithole forcibly dragged Nicolene away, assaulted her along the way, and diverted from the route to her home, taking her instead to his own residence.

In the early hours of the following morning, Sithole drowned Nicolene in a nearby dam. Despite realising that she was still alive after bringing her back to his home, he failed to seek immediate medical help. While his brother-in-law was sent away under the pretence of getting assistance, Sithole strangled Nicolene to death and fled the scene.

The accused pleaded not guilty, but the court rejected his version of events. Strong circumstantial evidence, eyewitness testimony detailing a pattern of abuse, and medical evidence presented by the state confirmed that Nicolene died from asphyxia caused by external pressure to the neck. The court found the state witnesses credible and ruled that the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to Sithole’s guilt.

During sentencing, the prosecution highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence and femicide in South Africa, noting the accused’s complete lack of remorse. Victim impact statements from Nicolene’s family described the deep and lasting trauma caused by her death. Finding no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify leniency, the court imposed the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment and declared Sithole unfit to possess a firearm.

#fyp
#incaseyoumissedit
#GBV
CourtroomChronicles

1 month ago | [YT] | 4

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

"Bafana Mahungela, accused of murdering Kirsten Kluyts, a teacher from Delta Park High School, was back in court on September 25, 2025, seeking bail. However, the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court dismissed his application, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction since the case had been transferred to the Johannesburg High Court.

Mahungela's defense argued that new facts warranted reconsideration, but the State opposed, citing the court's lack of authority over the matter.

Key Challenges in the Case:

DNA Evidence: Foreign female DNA found under Kluyts' fingernails suggests a struggle with another woman around the time of her death. The defense claims this evidence was not disclosed in a timely manner.

CCTV Footage: Mahungela was allegedly seen wearing Kluyts' blue T-shirt on the morning of her death and later disposing of her clothes.

Cause of Death: The post-mortem report indicates that Kluyts died from blunt-force trauma and strangulation.


The trial is scheduled to begin on October 13, 2025, in the Johannesburg High Court, and Mahungela will remain in custody until then.

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

4 months ago | [YT] | 6

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

Justice for Baby Nikita | Farewell Little Angel

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

5 months ago | [YT] | 9

The Courtroom Chronicles :Trials of South Africa

📣 Tonight at 7PM — TikTok LIVE
Join me and @carriannbloom as we unpack the case of Jayden Lee Meek.
Follow both accounts to stay updated:

🎥 Live will be hosted on: www.tiktok.com/@carribloom?_t=ZM-8yfE6XvPgYi&_r=1

🧠 My personal page: www.tiktok.com/@booceemohapi?_t=ZM-8yfE9X8NltF&_r=…

OR
Courtroom
www.tiktok.com/@courtchronicles162?_t=ZM-8yfEHgjxE…

#JusticeForJayden #TikTokLive #CourtroomChronicles #CarriAnnBloom #TrueCrimeZA

6 months ago | [YT] | 2