Durban's ICC will receive an R11.9 million upgrade in preparation for President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit.

Over one million cattle in North West have been vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) as part of a mass vaccination campaign launched in March. The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that 1,032,615 cattle had received vaccinations by July 19, 2026, achieving 74% of the province's cattle population.

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, along with his former romantic partner, will be released from custody after being granted bail. Mkhwanazi and a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer, identified as Witness K, returned to the dock before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. The case resumed as part of ongoing bail proceedings, following their detention at Germiston Police Station overnight. The pair were arrested last Friday on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, fraud and robbery with aggravating circumstances. They are the latest individuals to be linked to the case. EMPD officers Adrian MacKenzie and Kersha-Leigh Stols were previously granted bail of R5 000 each, while charges against private security officer Etienne van der Walt have since been withdrawn. Precious stones theft The case centres on an operation conducted at Peter Prinsloo’s apartment in Killarney, Johannesburg on 11 February 2023, during which six boxes of sugilite and manganese stones valued at R14.9 million were seized. Authorities allege that Mkhwanazi, Witness K and an alleged informant planned the operation, while MacKenzie, Stols and Van der Walt executed the seizure. The gemstones were allegedly sold for R110 000, and the money was divided equally, with each person receiving R22 000. EMPD’s Julius Mkhwanazi and Witness K get bail The magistrate set bail at R5 000 for both Mkhwanazi and Witness K, finding no indication that either posed a flight risk. As part of their bail conditions, the two are prohibited from contacting state witnesses and must report to their nearest police stations on a weekly basis. Proceedings have been adjourned until 25 August, when the former couple is expected to appear alongside MacKenzie and Stols. Mkhwanazi claimed in his affidavit on Monday that Witness K had implicated him in the precious stones theft matter during her testimony at the Madlanga commission out of resentment following the end of their relationship. He maintained that the case against him rests on false claims allegedly made by the JMPD officer. According to Mkhwanazi, his former partner had developed deep feelings for him and believed their relationship would culminate in marriage. However, he decided to end the relationship after hearing allegations that she was involved with a member of the Hawks. Witness K had told the commission that the robbery was carried out after she had exhausted her savings and could no longer afford to pay for Mkhwanazi’s personal expenses, such as groceries, legal fees, and his children’s school tuition. ‘It came as a shock’ Speaking to the media on Tuesday, her attorney, Oscar Thovhakale, indicated that his client felt relieved following the court’s bail decision. “We are happy [because] R5 000 is within reach and we are going to pay for [it],” he said. Thovhakale also reacted to the claims made by Mkhwanazi. “It came as a shock, especially considering the fact that it was not even necessary or relevant to the case. But I don’t have any comment in relation to that. “I don’t have any instructions. I don’t know whether she was dating the co-accused. I don’t know what went wrong.” When asked if he would seek to prove Witness K’s innocence, despite her admission of involvement at the Madlanga commission, the attorney indicated that the situation might be the reverse. “It is not our duty to prove my client’s innocence, but the state must prove his case beyond reasonable doubt. “Remember, he who alleges must prove,” Thovhakale remarked. Mkhwanazi legal battles Meanwhile, Mkhwanazi is facing charges in two other cases. One involves allegations related to the unlawful installation of blue lights on vehicles linked to alleged cartel figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, currently before the Germiston Magistrate’s Court. The second case, in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, concerns fraud and corruption tied to a traffic violation matter involving Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla. He remains out on bail of R50 000 and R30 000 in those respective cases.

Actress and media personality Tebogo Thobejane returned to the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, 20 July 2026, to watch the man she has accused of orchestrating an attempt on her life formally enter a plea in the case against him. Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, and co-accused Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama all pleaded not guilty to a combined 25 charges, including multiple counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, money laundering, fraud, defeating the ends of justice and the illegal possession of prohibited firearms. The charges stem from three alleged drive-by shootings between August 2022 and January 2024, allegedly financed by Matlala and targeting taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, music producer Seunkie Mokubung (DJ Vettys), and Thobejane herself, who survived a shooting in October 2023. Actress and media personality Tebogo Thobejane reflects on the attempt on her life in an Instagram story shared on 20 July 2026. Picture: Instagram, @tebogocthobejane Judge Cassim Moosa has set the trial down for 30 court days, running from 20 July to 7 August, before resuming from 31 August to 18 September. The accused, if convicted, face a combined potential sentence of more than 300 years behind bars, with several charges carrying minimum sentences of life imprisonment. ‘I’m feeling good’ Actress and media personality Tebogo Thobejane at the court appearance of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, and co-accused Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama all pleaded not guilty to a combined 25 charges. Picture: X, @Koena_xM Thobejane, a former Muvhango actress, sat in the public gallery as one of the state’s key complainants. Speaking to news media outside court, she said she was “feeling good” as the long-delayed trial finally got underway. She later told reporters at the Gauteng High Court that she was pleased with how proceedings had unfolded on the opening day, though she declined to comment further once the matter was formally before the court. Outfit overshadows opening day While the courtroom drama played out inside, it was Thobejane’s appearance that dominated conversation outside it. Footage of her arrival, shared by an EWN reporter on X, quickly drew thousands of views – but much of the online reaction focused less on the case and more on what she was wearing. 24-hour news channel eNCA broadcast visuals of her as she sat stone-faced in the gallery in a blue lace top under a matching blazer that “stole the spotlight” from the trial itself. Tebogo Thobejane , the prosecutor and the police have done an amazing job pic.twitter.com/OcCoveU5ac— African Vibe Media (@afrricanvm43k) July 20, 2026 Those who debated the look were divided over whether it amounted to a bold fashion statement or an inappropriate choice for a courtroom setting. South African courts don’t operate under a single codified dress code for members of the public in the gallery. Still, convention and court etiquette generally call for conservative, formal attire out of respect for the seriousness of proceedings. This looks like knee-length or longer hemlines, modest necklines, covered shoulders and upper chest areas and closed shoes. The debate around the outfit raged on after online journalists filmed her walking out of the courtroom showing her full outfit with a sheer midsection. Actress and media personality Tebogo Thobejane at the court appearance of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, and co-accused Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama all pleaded not guilty to a combined 25 charges. Picture: Instagram, @tebogocthobejane A case years in the making Monday’s proceedings mark the formal start of a trial that has been anticipated for months amid Matlala’s high public profile as a tenderpreneur, including his links to the R350-million Medicare24 tender scandal. The state’s case is expected to lean heavily on financial records and forensic evidence, including a Russian-model AK-47 assault rifle prosecutors allege was used in one of the shootings. The State was due to call its first witness when the trial resumed on Tuesday, 21 July.

An unemployed woman in the Western Cape says she has “nothing left” by month’s end, despite relying entirely on her SASSA Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to feed her household. The recipient who lives in a shared family home with one or two dependants has received the SASSA SRD grant for less than a year. Every cent goes toward food and groceries, she said, but it’s rarely enough. “It helps but it is not enough,” she told The South African. Asked what’s left by the time the next payment arrives, her answer was blunt: nothing. Declined applications and travel costs deepen the struggle Her path with SASSA hasn’t been smooth. She experienced a declined or lapsed application in the past, and when she sought additional support from other programmes, she was either turned down or gave up trying. Living between five and twenty kilometres from her nearest SASSA office adds another cost most recipients don’t think about: the transport money she can’t easily spare, especially when trying to job-hunt in areas further from home. Still, she rated her overall experience with SASSA as very good, crediting the direct bank deposit system for saving her the cost and hassle of collecting payment in person. Unemployment remains her biggest fear She’s not alone. South Africa’s unemployment rate sits above 32%, and the Western Cape is among the provinces with the highest concentration of grant recipients, alongside Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. She has admin and office experience but says opportunities are scarce, particularly for jobseekers without connections or funds to travel for interviews. Unemployment, she said, remains her single biggest concern. Her message to SASSA was simple: increase the grant amount. At R370 a month, she says the SRD grant falls far short of covering even basic expenses and for families like hers, any increase could be the difference between going hungry and getting by. Win R2 000 in the South African SASSA grant survey If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you. Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R2 000. Your responses help us tell the stories that matter.

Feel like you’ve seen it all? Not wanting to do the usual popular destinations this time around? Well, here are some suggestions for destinations that offer raw wilderness, and an escape from commercial hotspots and bustling urban centres. Hogsback Head down to the Eastern Cape. Often overlooked for more well-known holiday towns like Port Alfred, St Francis Bay and Kenton-on-Sea, explore Hogsback. This little jewel is situated 140km north of KuGompo City, which is home to the closest major airport. A mystical mountain village, Hogsback is in the Amatola Mountains. This little enclave nestled in the mist amidst ancient indigenous yellowwood trees and elusive waterfalls, offers tranquility, spectacular hikes and no commercial attractions. Morgan Bay Slightly further south you will find Morgan Bay, recently renamed Gxarha. Located 85km north-east of KuGompo City, this is a peaceful seaside village on South Africa’s Eastern Cape Wild Coast. Famed for its mile-long stretch of white, unspoiled beach and tranquil Inchara Lagoon, the warm Indian Ocean waters make for excellent swimming, fishing, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding conditions. On the outskirts of this little gem you will find high sand dunes offering a popular sandboarding hotspot. Explore the Double Mouth Nature Reserve, and who knows, you may even be the lucky one to find the illusive bead treasure from a Portuguese shipwreck dating back to the 16th century. The start of the rugged Wild Coast is marked by dramatic sea cliffs, and the area is bordered by the Cape Morgan Nature Reserve. Natures Valley When you’re done having fun on the dunes, head down to Natures Valley which is found almost on the border of the Eastern and Western Cape in the Garden Route National Park. Natures Valley is situated at the mouth of the Groot River at the bottom of the Groot River pass and forms part of the Tsitsikamma National Park. On the drive down from the main road to the village, you are flanked by the Indian Ocean on one side and a magnificent escarpment on the other. This well-kept secret is home to less than 100 off-season residents, but increases dramatically to more than 2 000 during peak season. A lovely lagoon and long open beach invites for fun in the sun. Cedarberg Wilderness Area Further south and inland, the Cederberg Wilderness Area, in the Western Cape, (approximately 270km north of Cape Town) is well worth a visit. This massive conservation area is widely celebrated for its dramatic burnt-orange sandstone rock formations – the Wolfberg Arch, rugged mountains and ancient San rock art. A complete lack of light pollution makes for pristine night skies, causing it to be one of the best stargazing destinations in South Africa. Yzerfontein Unspoilt and picturesque Yzerfontein. Image: Sabine Warren Approximately 90km up the West Coast from Cape Town, lies the little treasure called Yzerfontein, offering a blend of authentic West Coast charm and unspoiled beach beauty. This charming village began as a farm in the 1930s, was, and still is, a popular fishing destination, and offers visitors the simpler pleasures of coastal life. Endless walks on the magnificent, famous Sixteen Mile Beach, stretching alongside the West Coast National Park, Yzerfontein is where travellers discover the true character of South Africa’s western shoreline. Enjoy exploring!

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