TWO ARRESTED IN PRETORIA FOR ILLEGAL FITMENT OF BLUE LIGHTS ON PRIVATE VEHICLE

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

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TWO ARRESTED IN PRETORIA FOR ILLEGAL FITMENT OF BLUE LIGHTS ON PRIVATE VEHICLE

PRETORIA – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has dealt a significant blow to the illicit use of police equipment following the arrest of two suspects in connection with the illegal fitting and possession of blue lights on a private motor vehicle.

The Roadblock that Sparked the Investigation

The breakthrough stems from an operational roadblock conducted in June in the Wierdabrug area of Centurion. Alert police officers intercepted a private vehicle outfitted with blue police lights. Upon questioning the female driver, authorities discovered the vehicle belonged to her husband, sparking a deeper investigation into the origin of the unauthorized equipment.

Following meticulous investigative work, SAPS tracking teams executed two key arrests over the weekend:

• Friday, 03 July 2026: Police arrested the 40-year-old owner of the private vehicle.

• Saturday, 04 July 2026: A 49-year-old Mozambican national, believed to be the technician responsible for illegally sourcing and installing the emergency lights, was taken into custody.

Facing the Full Might of the Law

The suspects are facing serious charges under the National Road Traffic Act. Specifically, they are charged with the contravention of Regulations 176 and 185, which strictly prohibit the unauthorized fitment, possession, and use of blue lights or sirens on any non-emergency, private vehicle.

The duo is scheduled to make their first appearance before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today, Monday, 06 July 2026.

Cracking Down on the "Blue Light Gangs"

SAPS management has issued a stern warning to the public, reiterating that the manufacture, sale, installation, or use of blue lights without explicit lawful authority is a criminal offense.

"These regulations are strictly in place to safeguard the public and preserve the integrity of legitimate law enforcement operations," the SAPS statement read.

The crackdown comes amid a rising national concern over "blue light gangs"—criminal syndicates that use unauthorized police regalia and lighting to impersonate law enforcement officers. These syndicates utilize the disguise to pull over, hijack, rob, and terrorize unsuspecting motorists on major South African freeways.

SAPS has vowed to intensify targeted road operations and clamp down on the supply chains providing these lights to criminals.

Call to Action for Motorists

National police have urged motorists to remain vigilant. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to report any suspicious, unmarked, or private vehicles displaying blue lights.

Reports can be made anonymously via:

• Crime Stop Hotline: 08600 10111

• Digital Reporting: The MySAPS smartphone application

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

GAUTENG MUNICIPAL AUDITS REGRESS AS TREASURY SOUNDS ALARM FROM INFORMAL SETTLEMENT

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MAKAUSE INFORMAL SETTLEMENT — In a deliberate departure from traditional boardroom briefings, Gauteng Finance MEC Dunga has delivered a scathing review of the province's 2024/25 municipal audit outcomes directly from the Makause Informal Settlement. The MEC stated the location was chosen to illustrate the harsh reality that "material irregularities" and "qualified audit opinions" translate directly into failed service delivery for residents on the ground.

The latest report from the Auditor-General reveals an overall regression in financial governance across Gauteng’s 11 municipalities, sparking calls for urgent structural reforms and tougher accountability measures.

Metros Lead Financial Slippage

Gauteng's two largest metropolitan municipalities, the City of Johannesburg and the City of Ekurhuleni, both regressed from unqualified to qualified audit opinions during this cycle.

• City of Johannesburg: Accumulated R6.55 billion in irregular expenditure, R6.81 billion in unauthorized expenditure, and R400 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure over a four-year period. The audit flagged 11 material findings and noted severe going-concern pressures alongside a Moody's credit rating downgrade.

• City of Ekurhuleni: Reached R620 million in irregular expenditure over four years, alongside R400 million in unauthorized expenditure incurred in a single year. The Auditor-General flagged three separate material irregularities involving the pollution of public water sources and exposed price collusion within an ICT service provider panel costing the metro R6.99 million extra. Ekurhuleni has formally admitted to liquidity challenges, taking an average of 175 days to pay suppliers.

• City of Tshwane: Maintained a qualified status but remains the highest accumulator of irregular funds in the province, amassing R12.17 billion in irregular expenditure, R5.22 billion in unauthorized expenditure, and R3.61 billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure over four years.

A combined total of R45.92 billion in irregular expenditure has been recorded across Gauteng municipalities over the course of the current administration.

Pockets of Excellence and Rebounds

Despite the widespread regressions, the Treasury commended the Midvaal Local Municipality and the West Rand District Municipality for sustaining clean audit opinions for 13 and two consecutive years, respectively.

Mogale City, which maintained an unqualified opinion with findings, was singled out for achieving a zero opening balance on unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure for the financial year. However, MEC Dunga clarified that past misspent funds must still be recovered. Meanwhile, Emfuleni Local Municipality received a critical lifeline with the write-off of its historical Eskom debt, though the Treasury warned this must be viewed as a second chance rather than an operational achievement.

The Human Cost and Treasury Intervention

The media statement drew a direct line between collapsing financial controls and the physical safety of public servants. The Treasury honored the memories of internal whistleblowers and compliance officers—including Ekurhuleni officials Mpho Mafole and Simnikiwe Mapini—who lost their lives fighting corruption, noting that compliance is becoming increasingly hazardous for honest state workers.

"Anger at governance failure must find its expression through accountability, through the ballot, through organized community voice, never through arson," MEC Dunga stated, firmly condemning the recent torching of the Lesedi Local Municipality Mayor's residence.

To address these systemic vulnerabilities, the Gauteng Provincial Treasury has launched an aggressive Programme of Action. Immediate measures include introducing a digital Auditor-General's Findings Tracker to monitor compliance in real time, intensifying the Annual Financial Statements (AFS) Accelerator Programme to catch accounting errors early, and conducting targeted oversight visits to stalled infrastructure developments, such as the vandalized R229.68 million Clayville Extension 45 social housing project.

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MOODY’S REVISES CITY OF JOHANNESBURG OUTLOOK TO POSITIVE AFTER RATING CONFIRMATION

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JOHANNESBURG — Moody’s Ratings has stabilized the City of Johannesburg’s financial position by confirming its credit ratings and revising its outlook from "under review" to "positive." The decision officially closes out a review for a possible downgrade that the rating agency opened in April 2026.

Moody's confirmed the City’s long-term issuer rating at Ba3 and its national-scale rating at A1.za, while affirming its short-term issuer rating at Not Prime.

A Turnaround in Regulatory Compliance

The positive rating action follows a turbulent period for the metro. In May 2026, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) suspended trading of the City's debt instruments due to delays in submitting its financial data. The JSE lifted the suspension after the City finally published its outstanding audited financial statements for the 2024/25 financial year, securing an unqualified audit opinion.

Despite the administrative delays, Moody's noted that the City maintained absolute financial reliability, servicing R159.1 million in principal and R272.2 million in interest in full and on time throughout the suspension period.

Executive Mayor Dada Morero acknowledged the initial delay as a serious governance failure for which the administration took full responsibility. He stated that the corrective actions taken—restoring JSE compliance and finalizing the audits—directly prompted Moody's favorable review.

Economic Strengths Balanced Against Liquidity Risks

The rating agency highlighted the fundamental resilience of Johannesburg’s economy, which generates roughly 15% of South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The City’s financial metrics showed robust operational performance, bolstered by higher electricity revenues resulting from reduced national load-shedding. The metro's operating balance for the 2024/25 financial year stood at approximately 11% of operating revenue, while its overall debt burden remained moderate at around 28% of operating revenue.

However, the report also flagged persistent concerns regarding the City's internal governance controls and cash liquidity. Mayor Morero accepted these criticisms, committing the metro to strengthening financial reporting, refining budget monitoring, and aggressively building up its cash reserves in the coming months.

Infrastructure Impacts for Residents

Mayor Morero emphasized that the credit rating directly impacts the daily lives of residents by dictating the interest rates the City pays to borrow money.

A confirmed rating with a positive outlook ensures that Johannesburg can continue to finance major infrastructure programs—including the construction and maintenance of roads, water networks, and the electricity grid—on reasonable financial terms.

The positive adjustment also reflects broader improvements at the national level, following a similar shift to a positive outlook for South Africa’s sovereign rating. Moody's indicated that further upgrades for Johannesburg will depend on continued governance improvements and national economic stability, while any deterioration in liquidity or a national sovereign downgrade could trigger downward pressure.

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GOVERNMENT CONGRATULATES NEWLY ELECTED SANEF LEADERSHIP

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PRETORIA — The South African Government has formally extended its congratulations to veteran media executive Katy Katopodis following her election as Chairperson of the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF).

The message of support also extends to the newly elected Management Committee, subcommittee chairpersons, and regional conveners who took office alongside her.

A Critical Pillar of Democracy

In a public address welcoming the new leadership team, government officials highlighted the essential role SANEF plays within South Africa's constitutional democracy and media landscape.

The organization continues to serve as the country's leading voice for press freedom, ethical journalism, and editorial independence. Officials emphasized that SANEF's mandate remains indispensable to safeguarding an informed society by defending access to information and championing the safety and rights of journalists working on the ground.

Continuity and Future Collaboration

The incoming leadership inherits a proud institutional legacy. Government representatives expressed optimism about collaborating with the new committee to advance professional media standards across the sector.

The state welcomed the new executive and offered its full support to Katopodis and her team as they step into their roles to drive the forum's vital advocacy work forward.

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DA ESCALATES CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST FORMER EKURHULENI CITY MANAGER OVER R60M MANSION REVELATIONS

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EKURHULENI — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced it will submit new evidence to the South African Police Service (SAPS) to bolster its ongoing criminal case against former Ekurhuleni City Manager, Imogen Mashazi.

The move follows an investigative report by News24 revealing that Mashazi resided in a R60 million mansion located in Midrand's luxury Waterfall Equestrian Estate—a property previously owned by corruption-accused businessman Edwin Sodi.

Unresolved Financial Discrepancies

The property reportedly commands an estimated monthly rental of R200,000. Public records indicate this amount stands in stark contrast to Mashazi’s official salary of approximately R3.1 million per annum during her tenure as City Manager.

In addition to the luxury estate residency, the DA disclosed that it has received separate whistleblower information linking Mashazi to multiple other multi-million-rand properties across Gauteng.

Potential Legal Breaches

The opposition party contends that these findings raise serious questions regarding the source of funding, potential conflicts of interest, and whether these benefits were legally disclosed.

Under the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, senior municipal officials are legally mandated to declare all financial interests and benefits to ensure transparency and prevent corruption. The DA will formally request that SAPS investigate these matters as potential contraventions of municipal legislation.

Call for Fast-Tracked Investigation

The DA has called on law enforcement to expedite the investigation to ensure full accountability if any criminal wrongdoing or undisclosed relationships with state contractors are established.

With municipal governance under intense scrutiny, the party also used the announcement to pivot toward its campaign ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for 4 November 2026.

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ANC MOURNS THE PASSING OF FORMER KWAZULU-NATAL TREASURER DR NTUTHUKO MAHLABA

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DURBAN — The African National Congress (ANC) is mourning the death of prominent KwaZulu-Natal political figure Comrade Dr. Ntuthuko Mahlaba.

Mahlaba, a respected medical doctor and seasoned public servant, passed away leaving a significant void within both the ruling party and the provincial government structures. He served as a member of the ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Task Team (PTT) and was the former Provincial Treasurer of the party.

A Legacy of Public Service

Dr. Mahlaba’s career spanned critical leadership roles across the legislative and executive arms of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government. Most notably, he served as a Member of the KZN Legislature and as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Human Settlements and Public Works.

During his tenure as MEC, Mahlaba was widely recognized for driving key infrastructure projects aimed at restoring dignity to marginalized communities. His portfolio focused heavily on:

• Housing Expansion: Accelerating the delivery of sustainable human settlements.

• Socio-Economic Infrastructure: Overseeing the construction and deployment of critical public facilities, including schools, clinics, and community libraries.

"A Significant Loss"

In a statement released by the ANC, the party described Mahlaba as a dedicated cadre who executed both his organizational and governance responsibilities with humility, discipline, and unwavering commitment.

"The passing of Comrade Mahlaba is a significant loss to the African National Congress and the broader democratic movement. We honour his contribution as a dedicated cadre, organisational leader and public servant who remained faithful to the ideals of the movement throughout his life," the statement read.

The ANC has extended its heartfelt condolences to the Mahlaba family, his colleagues, friends, and the broader community of KwaZulu-Natal, stating that his legacy of selfless service will continue to serve as an inspiration for future generations of public servants.

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