EKURHULENI FINANCES ON BRINK OF COLLAPSE WITH OVER R7 BILLION OWED TO CREDITORS

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

EKURHULENI FINANCES ON BRINK OF COLLAPSE WITH OVER R7 BILLION OWED TO CREDITORS

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​JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG – Service delivery across the City of Ekurhuleni is hanging by a thread as the municipality struggles with severe financial strain, owing a staggering R7.37 billion to creditors as of 31 May 2026.

​The financial crisis was exposed in a reply to questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) by the MEC for Finance, Nkululeko Dunga. The data reveals that the metro owes hundreds of millions to contractors and bulk service providers, while holding only R2.017 billion in immediately available cash reserves—covering less than a third of its outstanding debt.

​Detailed Breakdown of Debt

​The total liability of R7,373,746,000 owed to state entities, bulk utility suppliers, and private contractors is distributed as follows:

​Eskom: R5.758 Billion

​Contractors: R669.337 Million

​Rand Water: R555 Million

​Gauteng Provincial Government Departments: R293.719 Million

​Suppliers of Goods & Services: R91.346 Million

​Other Municipalities: R4.437 Million

​Other State Entities: R907,000

​With some service providers waiting over 120 days for settlement, delayed payments threaten to trigger load reduction and water throttling by Eskom and Rand Water, directly impacting rate-paying residents.

​DA Demands Action and Emergency Meeting

​Attributing the financial crisis to corruption, mismanagement, and lack of consequence management within the provincial government structure, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng warned that residents are suffering despite paying their rates and taxes diligently.

​

The DA announced that it will write to Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza requesting an urgent meeting within seven days. The engagement aims to establish an immediate intervention plan to stabilize the city's finances, ensure creditors are paid within the standard 30-day window, and prevent a total breakdown of municipal services.

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FOUR SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT EACH FOR PINETOWN SCHOOL ROBBERIES

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

FOUR SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT EACH FOR PINETOWN SCHOOL ROBBERIES

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​DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the effective 35-year direct imprisonment sentences handed down by the Pinetown Regional Court to four men involved in a wave of armed robberies at schools across the greater Pinetown area.

​The convicted individuals—Mthobisi Shozi (21), Brian Tyrone Charles (25), Sbonelo Mkhulisi (24), and Lebohang Magwaza (24)—were sentenced following their conviction on multiple counts of armed robbery, kidnapping, and attempted robbery committed in February 2023.

​Pretext of School Donations Used to Access Premises

​During the trial, the court heard how the gang targeted three schools by gaining access under the false pretense of making charitable donations to the institutions.

​Once inside, the men drew firearms, held up and kidnapped staff members, and robbed teachers, support staff, and in one instance, a learner, of laptops and mobile phones. The group subsequently fled the scenes in a getaway vehicle.

​Police investigations quickly traced the vehicle, leading to the arrest of all four suspects and the recovery of several stolen items.

​Watertight Case and Victim Impact

​State Prosecutor Rowen Bevin Souls presented testimony from complainants and the arresting officer, alongside conclusive evidence from identity parades where the victims positively identified the four accused.

​A Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled by a school principal and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Bonisile Mngoma outlined the severe psychological trauma inflicted on learners and educators, many of whom required extensive post-traumatic counselling.

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Breakdown of Effective Sentences

​While individual sentences across the various counts totaled decades more, the court ordered portions of the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 35 years' direct imprisonment for each perpetrator:

​Mthobisi Shozi: 15 years for each of 14 counts of aggravated robbery, 5 years for each of 5 counts of kidnapping, and 5 years for each of 2 counts of attempted robbery. (Effective: 35 years)

​Brian Tyrone Charles: 15 years for each of 15 counts of aggravated robbery, 5 years for each of 5 counts of kidnapping, and 5 years for each of 2 counts of attempted robbery. (Effective: 35 years)

​Sbonelo Mkhulisi: 15 years for each of 8 counts of aggravated robbery, 5 years for each of 5 counts of kidnapping, and 5 years for each of 2 counts of attempted robbery. (Effective: 35 years)

​Lebohang Magwaza: 15 years for each of 9 counts of aggravated robbery, 5 years for each of 5 counts of kidnapping, and 5 years for 1 count of attempted robbery. (Effective: 35 years)

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The NPA stated that the heavy sentences send a strong deterrent message, emphasizing that schools must remain safe environments for learning, free from criminal intimidation.

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PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON VIRTUAL ASSETS TO HARMONISE DIGITAL ECONOMY REGULATION

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON VIRTUAL ASSETS TO HARMONISE DIGITAL ECONOMY REGULATION

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​ABUJA, NIGERIA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Presidential Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination, 2026, establishing a new regulatory architecture to harmonize the oversight of digital and virtual assets across Nigeria.  

​The Executive Order, which takes effect immediately, was signed pursuant to Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It responds to a fragmented regulatory environment where virtual assets increasingly blur traditional boundaries between currencies, commodities, and securities.  

​Addressing Institutional Silos and Security Risks

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The Presidency noted that relevant agencies operating in isolation have created overlaps and enforcement gaps. Unregistered and fraudulent operators have exploited these loopholes to prey on unsuspecting citizens, exposing the nation to significant risks, including:  

​Money laundering and terrorism financing.  

​Cybersecurity breaches and data privacy threats.  

​Consumer fraud and substantial revenue losses for the state.  

​The Executive Order closes these regulatory gaps through enhanced supervisory coordination without introducing new layers of bureaucracy or overriding the statutory mandates of existing institutions.  

​Establishment of the Virtual Asset Council & Office

​To lead policy direction and alignment, the Order establishes two core administrative structures:

​Virtual Asset Council: Chaired by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serving as vice-chairs. 

The council also includes the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).  

​Virtual Asset Office: Operating as the Council’s operational body with its secretariat domiciled at the CBN. It will manage day-to-day information sharing, process applications, and handle reporting via an integrated supervisory technology platform.  

​Existing statutory mandates remain intact: virtual assets classified as securities will continue under SEC oversight, while payments, settlement, custody, and non-security virtual assets fall under the CBN. Jurisdictional disputes will be resolved directly by the Council.  

​Regulatory Sandbox, Tax Policy, and White Paper

​The government is introducing three supporting initiatives to bolster responsible innovation:

​CBN Regulatory Sandbox: Eligible operators will test virtual asset products and blockchain-based solutions under close supervision to evaluate impacts on monetary sovereignty, financial stability, and consumer protection before entering the wider market.  

​NRS Virtual Asset Tax Policy: A dedicated tax policy will operationalize existing tax laws for digital assets, strengthening voluntary compliance and ensuring the growing sector contributes fairly to national revenue.  

​Virtual Assets White Paper: A comprehensive roadmap setting out long-term national policy directions and implementation priorities for stakeholders.  

​The Virtual Asset Council has been directed to deliver a Harmonised Implementation Framework within 30 days to ensure the rapid, structured rollout of the Executive Order across all participating agencies.  

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PREMIER LESUFI CONDOLENCES FOLLOWING TRAGIC LOSS OF TWO SANDF SOLDIERS DURING OPERATION PROSPER

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

PREMIER LESUFI CONDOLENCES FOLLOWING TRAGIC LOSS OF TWO SANDF SOLDIERS DURING OPERATION PROSPER

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​JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has extended his deepest condolences to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the families of two soldiers who lost their lives during an anti-illegal mining operation in the West Rand.

​The two soldiers, aged 32 and 33, tragically fell down an abandoned vertical mine shaft at the CRD Mine in Florida, west of Johannesburg, on Friday morning while pursuing suspected illegal miners (zama zamas). Emergency response units, including Mine Rescue Services and disaster management teams, retrieved their bodies later that afternoon.  

​Premier Lesufi’s Tribute

​Premier Lesufi praised the selflessness and bravery of security forces working under dangerous conditions to protect South African communities:

​“Our law enforcement officers serve the people of South Africa with unwavering courage, discipline, and selflessness, often placing themselves in harm's way to protect our communities. Their sacrifice in the pursuit of law and order will never be forgotten. We honour their service, salute their bravery, and remain forever grateful for their commitment to our country.” — Premier Panyaza Lesufi

​Intensified Crackdown Under Operation Prosper

​The tragedy occurred amid an intensified provincial effort to dismantle illegal mining and organized crime syndicates. Authorized by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Operation Prosper pairs the SANDF with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to support law enforcement in hotspots across Gauteng.  

​During the specific operation in Florida, police arrested 20 suspects—19 of whom are undocumented foreign nationals—and confiscated illegal mining equipment alongside gold-bearing material. Over the broader first quarter of the year, joint SAPS and SANDF operations across Gauteng have yielded nearly 800 arrests and led to the seizure of close to 1,000 kilograms of gold-bearing material.  

​A Vow to Restore Law and Order

​Reaffirming the Gauteng Provincial Government’s full support for the security forces, Premier Lesufi emphasized that the tragedy will not stall law enforcement efforts.

​“We owe it to the memory of these brave soldiers to remain steadfast in our resolve. Their deaths must not be in vain. Their sacrifice strengthens our determination to rid our province of illegal mining and organised crime. 

We will not relent in our efforts to restore law and order, protect the people of Gauteng, and ensure that those responsible for these criminal activities are brought to justice.” — Premier Panyaza Lesufi

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HIGH-PROFILE CONTRACT KILLING TRIAL BEGINS AS ALLEGED MASTERMIND 'CAT' MATLALA AND CO-ACCUSED APPEAR IN COURT

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

HIGH-PROFILE CONTRACT KILLING TRIAL BEGINS AS ALLEGED MASTERMIND 'CAT' MATLALA AND CO-ACCUSED APPEAR IN COURT

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​PRETORIA, GAUTENG – Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has commended members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and Gauteng Counter-Intelligence Operations (GCI-OPS) as three high-profile attempted murder cases officially reach the trial stage.

​On Monday, 20 July 2026, alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala and four co-accused—including his wife Tsakane Matlala—appeared before the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. They face 25 counts, including 11 counts of attempted murder linked to a series of targeted contract hits between 2022 and 2024.

​The Three Target Shooting Incidents

​The state alleges that Matlala orchestrated three separate drive-by shootings and attempted hits:

1. ​Tebogo Thobejane & Three Others: A botched assassination attempt on media personality and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, Matlala's former girlfriend.

1. ​Joe Sibanyoni & Five Others: The targeted attack on taxi boss and businessman Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni.

1. ​DJ Vettys & Two Others: An ambush on popular musician and producer DJ Vettys (Seun Mokubung).

​Meticulous Investigation and Evidence

​Investigations into the three distinct shootings began in December 2024. Through intelligence-driven operations, detectives successfully linked the same group of suspects across all three incidents.

​Key elements supporting the state's case include:

• ​Recovered Firearms: Two illegal firearms recovered during arrests have been ballistically linked to the shootings of Joe Sibanyoni and DJ Vettys.

• ​Forensic & Ballistic Links: Extensive physical evidence mapping out the roles of both the alleged mastermind and the hitmen.

​SAPS Leadership Commends Task Teams

​Lieutenant General Dimpane highlighted that the commencement of the trial follows months of relentless, unyielding investigative work:

​"The commencement of this trial is the result of months of meticulous investigations, intelligence-driven operations and evidence gathering by members who refused to give up until those responsible were brought before the courts... Our investigators have collected overwhelming evidence that exposes the role played by each accused." — Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane, Acting National Police Commissioner

​Issuing a stern warning to syndicates executing hit jobs, Dimpane emphasized that SAPS will utilize every intelligence and investigative capability to dismantle organized crime rings, remove hitmen from streets, and deliver justice to victims and their families.

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