Monday, 3 August 2026

GAUTENG POLITICAL KILLINGS TASK TEAM ARRESTS SUSPECTS IN MURDERS OF EFF MEMBER AARON MAKOLA AND ANC COUNCILLOR THABANG MASEMOLA

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

GAUTENG POLITICAL KILLINGS TASK TEAM ARRESTS SUSPECTS IN MURDERS OF EFF MEMBER AARON MAKOLA AND ANC COUNCILLOR THABANG MASEMOLA

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PRETORIA, GAUTENG – The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has commended the newly established Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) following key arrests in two high-profile, politically motivated murder cases.

The specialized team tracked down and apprehended suspects linked to the separate assassinations of City of Tshwane ANC Ward Councillor Thabang Masemola and EFF member Aaron Makola.

Case 1: Murder of ANC Councillor Thabang Masemola

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of Thabang Masemola, the ANC Ward 10 Councillor in the City of Tshwane, who was killed on 08 July 2025 in Mamelodi East:

Suspects Detained: The PKTT arrested the alleged hitman, 41-year-old Vusimuzi "Champ" Gebuza, alongside a female co-conspirator believed to have played a role in planning the hit.
Additional Charges: The pair will reappear in the Mamelodi Magistrate's Court, where investigators will formally link Gebuza to two additional cases of murder and attempted murder occurring in Mamelodi during 2023 and 2024.

Case 2: Murder and Kidnapping of EFF Member Aaron Makola

Following the discovery of Aaron Makola's body by the PKTT, investigators tracked down and arrested three suspects aged 40, 42, and 44 over the weekend.

Court Appearance: The three accused are scheduled to appear before the Delmas Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 05 August 2026.
Charges: They face multiple counts, including murder, kidnapping, and robbery.

"These breakthroughs demonstrate SAPS' unwavering commitment to ensuring that those who commit violent crimes are tracked down and brought before the courts... We remain resolute in our fight against violent crime and politically motivated killings." — Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane, Acting National Commissioner of SAPS

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Thursday, 30 July 2026

HIGH COURT DISMISSES OUPA BROWN MOGOTSI’S BAIL APPEAL

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

HIGH COURT DISMISSES OUPA BROWN MOGOTSI’S BAIL APPEAL

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JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has successfully opposed an urgent bail appeal brought by businessman Oupa Brown Mogotsi in the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg.

Mogotsi faces five criminal charges stemming from an incident on 03 November 2025 and will remain in custody pending the finalization of his trial.

The Charges

Mogotsi faces a multi-count indictment including:

Unlawful possession of a firearm
Unlawful possession of ammunition
Unlawful discharge of a firearm in a built-up area or public place
Defeating or obstructing the administration of justice
Perjury

High Court Judgment and Legal Findings

Mogotsi approached the High Court on appeal after the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court refused his initial bail application as well as a subsequent application based on alleged new facts.

Senior State Advocate Thami Mpekana opposed the appeal, arguing that the defense failed to present genuine new facts. In delivering judgment, the High Court concurred with the State and cited two main grounds for dismissing the appeal:

Lack of Genuine New Facts: The court ruled that the evidence presented by Mogotsi’s defense merely sought to re-hash and reinforce arguments that had already been considered and rejected by the magistrate's court.
Unverified Residential Address: The court highlighted that Mogotsi failed to establish a verifiable residential address—a critical factor when determining whether releasing an accused person on bail serves the interests of justice.

Finding no material misdirection in the lower court's original decision, the High Court dismissed the appeal, keeping Mogotsi in custody.

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DA PETITIONS MAGARENG MUNICIPALITY OVER THREE-YEAR WATER CRISIS IN WARRENTON'S CHRIS HANI SETTLEMENT

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

DA PETITIONS MAGARENG MUNICIPALITY OVER THREE-YEAR WATER CRISIS IN WARRENTON'S CHRIS HANI SETTLEMENT

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WARRENTON, NORTHERN CAPE – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Warrenton has launched a community petition calling for the immediate installation of additional Jo-Jo water tanks in the old Slangheuwel area of the Chris Hani settlement, where about 150 households currently depend on only two water tanks for basic domestic needs.

The initiative follows years of unaddressed municipal service failures that have forced residents—including the elderly and disabled—to fetch water under hazardous conditions, including crossing the busy N12 national road.

Systemic Outages and Public Hazards

The water shortages in Chris Hani stem from structural pipe infrastructure failures and a lack of interim planning by the Magareng Local Municipality:

Prolonged Deprivation: Many residents lost access to communal tap water three years ago following pipeline work along the N12, while other sections experienced sudden cutoffs a year ago without explanation.
Safety & Dignity Risks: Pedestrians, including frail individuals, are forced to navigate heavy traffic across the N12 highway to transport water containers back to their homes.
Poor Interim Planning: Community hardship was exacerbated when municipal workers temporarily removed the two existing Jo-Jo tanks for maintenance without providing a backup water supply, leaving the settlement completely without water.

Demands of the DA Petition

The petition mobilizes local signatures to demand immediate operational interventions from the Magareng Municipality:

Immediate Tank Expansion: Install a minimum of two additional Jo-Jo tanks in the old Slangheuwel area to alleviate severe supply bottlenecks.
Infrastructure Repair: Investigate and resolve the underlying engineering faults along the N12 pipeline to restore permanent communal tap access.
Reliable Service Delivery: Establish structured, dependable water tanker refill schedules to ensure uninterrupted basic water access.

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SASSA ANNOUNCES AUGUST 2026 PAYMENT DATES: GRANTS UNDER REVIEW PAID ON FOURTH PAYMENT DAY

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

SASSA ANNOUNCES AUGUST 2026 PAYMENT DATES: GRANTS UNDER REVIEW PAID ON FOURTH PAYMENT DAY

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PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has reminded social grant beneficiaries that grants flagged for administrative review will not be paid during the standard three-day payment cycle. Instead, review-linked disbursements will take place on the fourth payment day.

Beneficiaries who do not receive funds during the initial three-day window are urged not to panic or crowd local offices, as payment for flagged grants will automatically process on Friday, 07 August 2026.

August 2026 Grant Payment Schedule

Older Persons Grant: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Disability Grant: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Children’s Grants: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Grants Under Review: Friday, 07 August 2026

The Grant Review Process & Legal Requirements

Grant reviews are a statutory requirement under the Social Assistance Act to verify ongoing eligibility, update beneficiary records, and prevent fraud. SASSA issues review requests via SMS notifications to the cellphone numbers registered on its database.

After receiving payment on 07 August, affected beneficiaries must visit their nearest SASSA office during August to complete the review. Failure to respond may result in grant suspension or termination.

Required Documentation for Review

When reporting to a SASSA office for a grant review, beneficiaries must present original documents alongside certified copies:

Identification: Valid South African 13-digit barcoded ID or Smart ID card (and spouse’s ID where applicable).
Proof of Income: Recent payslips, pension statements, 3 months' bank statements for all active accounts, or an affidavit if unemployed.
Proof of Residence: Utility bill, municipal account, or letter from a ward councillor/traditional authority.
Marital Status Documents: Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or spouse’s death certificate (where applicable).
Grant-Specific Documents: Birth certificates for Child Support Grants, school attendance proof, or specific documents cited in the SASSA SMS.

Digital Services & Bedridden Beneficiaries

To avoid long queues, beneficiaries can utilize SASSA’s online digital services. Free Wi-Fi is accessible at SASSA branch offices for clients using smartphones to navigate the portal.

Beneficiaries who are bedridden or medically unable to travel to an office should contact SASSA to arrange a home visit or appoint an authorized representative (procurator) to manage the review process on their behalf.

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NATIONAL TREASURY RELEASES WITHHELD EQUITABLE SHARE ALLOCATIONS TO PROTECT BASIC MUNICIPAL SERVICES

NATIONAL TREASURY RELEASES WITHHELD EQUITABLE SHARE ALLOCATIONS TO PROTECT BASIC MUNICIPAL SERVICES

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PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has announced that National Treasury will release the remaining withheld July 2026 Local Government Equitable Share allocations starting 31 July 2026.

The decision comes as National Treasury approaches the 30-day statutory limit under Section 216(2) of the Constitution and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), prioritizing the protection of poor households from immediate service delivery disruptions.

Conditional Release: Compliance Still Lacking

The Minister emphasized that the unfreezing of funds does not signify compliance or exonerate affected municipalities from legislative governance standards:

Identified Weaknesses: Treasury assessments revealed systemic failures in handling Unauthorised, Irregular, Fruitless, and Wasteful Expenditure (UIFWE), weak financial misconduct investigations, and a lack of consequence management across Municipal Councils, accounting officers, and Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPACs).
Unrealistic Budgets: The immediate financial strain felt by councils during the withholding period exposed severe gaps between municipal budget assumptions and actual cash resources, collection rates, and bulk service obligations.

Breakdown of Municipal Allocation Status

Out of the councils subject to enforcement under Section 216(2):

Category	Number of Municipalities
Full Allocation Received	20 Municipalities
Partial Allocation Received to Date	21 Municipalities
Non-Compliant (Zero Received to Date)	28 Municipalities
Releasing Remaining Tranches on 31 July 2026	49 Municipalities

Roadmap to December 2026 Tranche & Compliance Deadlines

To prevent a recurrence of funds being withheld ahead of the December 2026 and March 2027 equitable share cycles, National Treasury is instituting a structured compliance monitoring program:

30 September 2026 — Quarterly Reporting Submission: Affected municipalities must submit quarterly financial reports along with supporting evidence demonstrating measurable progress in processing and reducing UIFWE balances.
31 October 2026 — Legal Processing Verification: Municipalities must prove that all outstanding financial misconduct matters logged as of 30 June 2026 have been formally submitted to required legal and disciplinary channels.
30 November 2026 — Consequence Management Conclusion: Councils must demonstrate a clear, documented increase in finalized cases—including disciplinary proceedings, financial recoveries, and criminal referrals—prior to the December allocation review.

"National Treasury must balance its constitutional responsibility to enforce financial management requirements with the need to avoid communities carrying the immediate consequences of failures by municipal institutions and officials." — Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance

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Monday, 3 August 2026