News

By: Abigail Visagie and Boipelo Mere

While the latest statistics have shown significant progress in crime fighting, with a decrease in most major crime categories recorded in the fourth quarter of the previous financial year, murder and rape cases remain a thorn in many people’s sides.
Despite the slight reduction of murder cases in the Free State, Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane says the men and women in blue continue to battle a high number of rape and contact sexual offense cases.
Motswenyane presented the provincial quarterly crime statistics on Tuesday in Bloemfontein, covering the period from 1 January to 31 March 2025, which reflect both encouraging improvements and areas requiring intensified efforts.He said while the crime statistics came out positively well, there was an increased rate from 716 to 724 of reported rape and contact sexual offense cases in the province.
“These eight reported cases highlighted that more initiatives should be created to combat Gender Based Violence and Femicide, a matter the SAPS and Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport are looking into,” said Motswenyane.
She attributed the reduction in most major crime categories to the police force’s dedication and successful implementation of Operation Shanela, a flagship that was launched to not only combat crime but to also restore safety within different communities in the country.
Meanwhile, Motswenyane’s counterpart in the Northern Cape Province, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola – alongside Premier Zamani Saul – on Tuesday released the shocking statistics reflecting a 23.2% increase in murder cases.
Otola said this has been recorded as the highest increase over the past five years.
“The increase was recorded in ZF Mgcawu District, John Taolo Gaetsewe, and Pixley ka Seme Districts, contributing to the province’s 23.2% increase in murder cases with a total of 21 more cases. ZF Mgcawu District recorded the highest count of 25.0%, followed by John Taolo Gaetsewe with 22.3%, and Pixley ka Seme at 17.9%. Namakwa District recorded 7.1% fewer cases, while the Francis Baard recorded 27.7%, indicating no change,” said Otola.
She said most of the murder incidents happen due to arguments, misunderstandings, road rage, and provocation at public places, recreational centers, and residences of either the victim or the perpetrator.
“At least 54% of the reported murder cases are connected to knife stabbings as a weapon, while four cases were that of a firearm used as a weapon to kill,” he said.
The provinces have recorded only two farm murder incidents reported in Augrabies and Rosendale.

By: Thami Nkuyane

KLERKSDORP - The beleaguered Klerksdorp-based Matlosana Local Municipality in the North West came under heavy scrutiny on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Portfolio Com-mittee on Finance and Public Accounts (SCOPA) meeting over its misuse of public funds.
Matlosana municipality, which continues to face allegations of rampant fraud, corruption, and maladministration, is accused of squandering R1.1 billion that remains unaccounted for. During its appearance before the North West Legislature Committee, it was revealed that this municipality continues to misuse public funds without any consequences. 
SCOPA Chairperson Smuts Matshe condemned the Matlosana municipal council for incur-ring unauthorised expenditure of R1.1 billion during the 2023/24 financial year.
"The censure follows SCOPA's public hearings on audit outcomes in line with the Munici-pal Finance Management Act (MFMA). 
“ Matlosana regressed from an unqualified to a qualified audit opinion due to poor internal controls, over-reliance on consultants, and irregularities in contract management, including the provision of paraffin to communities.
"The municipality is currently under financial recovery intervention but has recorded irreg-ular expenditure of R249 million, as well as fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R105 mil-lion, and R1.1 billion in unauthorised expenditure. The Committee also noted the high level of litigation initiated against the municipality," Matshe added.
He also criticised the municipality's sitting Municipal (MM) Manager and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) , who are alleged to have been arrested and are facing criminal charges relat-ed to corruption claims. 
Matshe further criticised the Matlosana council for failing to exercise oversight and enforce accountability, especially regarding post-audit action plans and Section 71 financial reports. He highlighted Matlosana's failure to investigate duplicate payments.
However, Matlosana Mayor Fikile Mahlope responded to the criticism and sought to give clarity. Mahlope said around R800 million of the unauthorised spending stems from non-cash debt impairments due to poor revenue collection. He said the municipality has since introduced an unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure (UIF&W) reduc-tion strategy to address the issue.
Following the appearance before the committee, SCOPA has directed that written reports be submitted within seven days to cover, among other things, progress in implementing post-audit action plans, funding strategies for unfunded budgets, investigations into material ir-regularities and UIF&W, implementation of consequence management, functionality and effectiveness of oversight and audit committees. 
This is not the first time the troubled municipality has come under scrutiny for fraud, cor-ruption, and maladministration. 
In April 2025, the mayor of the municipality was accused of unauthorised expenditure.
He is said to have spent a large sum of money from municipal coffers without council ap-proval, ignoring supply chain processes and intervening in supply chain processes. 
Mahlope was accused of purchasing furniture valued at R280,000 but priced at R15,000 and incurring R1.2 million in unauthorised debt. 
The municipality has also failed to maintain road and network infrastructure, which has been deteriorating for years. 
Roads and other essential infrastructure have completely eroded across towns in Matlosana, including Khuma near Stilfontein, Kanana near Orkney, Tigane near Hartbeesfontein, and Jouberton near Klerksdorp. 
Residents have called on the municipality to fix the roads, but their pleas seem to have fall-en on deaf ears.
Instead, on Wednesday, June 4, the municipality released a statement saying that due to lim-ited resources and equipment, it is not possible to address all roads at this time.
In March 2023, then Mayor James Tsolela revealed that the municipality owed the power utility Eskom R2.5 billion and the Midvaal Water board R2.5 billion, totalling debt to R5 billion, among other things. 
The municipality has since been put under a finance recovery plan under Section 139(5)(a) and (c) of the Constitution, together with Section 139 of the Municipal Financial Manage-ment Act. 
The Provincial Treasury Department said the section applies when a municipality is in a fi-nancial crisis and consistently and persistently breaches its obligations, rendering it unable to carry out its core functions, provide basic services, and meet its financial responsibilities.

Alleged suspect in 19 year old missing teen, Kamogelo Baukudi’s case, Nzima Philemon Adoons, appeared for the second time at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s court today (13 June). Adoons’ bail application has been postponed to 24 June and will remain in custody up until the given date.

It was once again requested that no identification of the alleged suspect should be given to members of the public due to fear of disturbance within the case “but mostly because the matter is still an ongoing investigation that could hinder the safe return of Kamogelo Baukudi,” said Brigadier Sam Makhele.

Brigadier Makhele further mentioned that their core mandate is to retrieve Baukudi safely and will ensure that nothing hinders that process. “That is why we have requested that the identity of the suspect should not be revealed because immediately you show his face, you jeopardise a part of our investigation to result in a successful outcome,” concluded Baukudi.

The case of the grade eleven (11) pupil will commence on 24 June 2025 at the Bloemfontein’s Magistrate Court.

Abigail Visagie

DStv-owner Multichoice is significantly cutting costs in South Africa, even if its stated R3.7 billion in savings raises eyebrows.

The group declared a profit of R1.8 billion in the financial year ended 31 March 2025, which marked a massive improvement from the losses of R2.9 billion and R4 billion in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Several elements returned the broadcaster and streamer to a favourable position, including billions of rands in cost savings and a stabilisation in currencies from the rand’s appreciation against the dollar.

The group also got a boost from selling 60% of its shareholding in its insurance business (NMSIS) to Sanlam, which helped push it into profit.

A standout in the results was Multichoice achieving cost savings of R3.7 billion over the financial year, well ahead of its initial target of R2 billion.

However, when BusinessTech analysed the income statement, only a much lower figure of around R1.5 billion in cost savings could be tallied.

This included savings of R300 million in the cost of providing services and the sale of goods, as well as a R1.2 billion decrease in selling, general and administrative costs.

This left questions over where the other R2.5 billion in stated cost savings were found.

Multichoice CFO Tim Jacobs explained that the group looks at two types of costs in its base: realised costs and unavoidable costs.

Unavoidable costs are those that the business simply cannot cut in the normal scope of operations, such as essential reinvestment into the business

Realised costs and associated savings are those within the company’s control, which could include renogiations with stakeholders and what content it purchases from distributors.

Jacobs said that Multichoice essentially refers to cost savings of R3.7 billion as realised savings, and not an absolute saving on costs as derived from its income statement.

He added that the second half of the financial year was also better for the group on this metric, where it saved R2.4 billion from the overall R3.7 billion figure.

The group’s results showed that a large amount of its realised savings came from content, accounting for 42% of the total savings.

Other saving areas came from its contract renegotiation, sales and marketing, subsidies, as well as technology and transmission.

Although some may prefer to use the income statement to see the group’s cost management, savings of either R1.5 billion or R3.7 billion still highlight a company that is tightening the tap on spending.

No longer technically insolvent

The return to profit also saw a return to positive equity, with the company no longer technically insolvent.

A company is technically insolvent when its liabilities outweigh its assets, which means that it cannot cover its debts if liquidated.

While technical insolvency does not mean a company is bankrupt, it does show an increased likelihood that it will head in that direction, if left uncheked.

As reported by MyBroadband, Multichoice returned to a positive equity position over the past year, Although its assets decreased over the period, its liabilities decreased more.

Importantly, the group saw improvements in its lease liabilities, long-term loans, and tax liabilities over the financial year.

Regarding long-term loans, the group made an early repayment of R927 million on the R12 billion syndicated term loan concluded in the 2023 financial year.

The R1.2 billion in after-tax upfront proceeds from the NMSIS sale allowed for the reduction in the loan.

The group reported a 10.5% decrease in assets, mainly due to a 17.6% drop in its current assets.

The most significant contributors were decreased programme and film rights, which could be seen in the drop in content costs, and a reduction in cash and cash equivalents.

Regarding liquidity, it holds R5.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, and retains access to R3.0 billion in undrawn general borrowing facilities.

*This article was first published by BusinessTech

South Africa’s state-owned ports and freight-rail company reached a pay deal with its two recognized labor unions, averting a strike that threatened to disrupt mineral and agricultural exports.

The agreement, which followed an arbitration process led by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, provides for 6% annual increases for three years, including the current financial year, Transnet SOC Ltd. said in an emailed statement.

The United National Transport Union, which represents more than half of of Transnet’s 46,000 employees, had previously rejected a wage increase offer of 6% annually in the first two years starting April 1 and 5.5% in the third year.

“The finalization of the three-year wage agreement provides labour stability and will enable the company to focus on its immediate strategic priorities of improving operational and financial performance,” Transnet said in the statement.

The deal includes increases to basic salary, pension fund contributions, medical aid subsidies and housing allowances, the company said.

Both unions — UNTU and the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union — have accepted the offer, it said.

The above-inflation pay increase will put further strain on Transnet’s finances. Moody’s Ratings has placed the company assessment on review, warning that it will run out of money for operations and debt-servicing within three months unless it gets a government bailout.

South Africa’s government said this week it will give Transnet additional guarantees to settle all its debt that falls due and execute its capital-investment program.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced the approval of a R51 billion guarantee facility for Transnet last month and the process of giving it additional support will be finalized by July 25, according to the Department of Transport.

The company’s five-year corporate plan shows it needs to repay R99.6 billion. 

*This article was first published by BusinessTech

The Volkswagen Group South Africa has recalled over 100 of its vehicles due to safety concerns. 

The National Consumer Commissioner (NCC) confirmed the recall of 142 Volkswagen Polos and eight Volkswagen Taigo vehicles by the manufacturer. 

The recall is due to a faulty part in the gas generators of the front passenger airbag module. 

What does this mean?

In the event of an accident, the deployment of the front airbag may reduce the protective effect of the front passenger airbag, increasing the risk of injury to the passenger. 

“Furthermore, the gas generator housing may burst, or components of the gas generator housing may come loose and cause serious or deadly injuries to vehicle occupants,” the NCC said. 

According to the supplier, 141 Polo vehicles were made available for sale nationally from December 20, 2022, while one Polo and eight Taigo vehicles were made available for sale from  January 29, 2024.

Affected consumers are advised to take the following steps:

Deactivate the front passenger airbag.

Refrain from using the front passenger seat.

Submit their vehicle to any Volkswagen Group South Africa-approved dealer for a check and, if necessary, replacement of the affected components.

*This article was first published by IOL News