Seven people were killed in southern Malawi in May after rumours spread that strangers could make men’s genitals disappear through touch. Medical examinations later confirmed that none of the alleged victims had lost their organs.  But the violence that swept through villages in Chikwawa and neighbouring Nsanje districts revealed a deeper institutional problem: Malawi is relying on a colonial-era witchcraft law written in 1911. Critics say the legislation leaves authorities poorly equipped to respond to panic-driven mob violence. Between 8 and 11 May, mobs killed seven people after rumours circulated rapidly through communities about so-called genital theft. Five of the victims died in Chikwawa and two in Nsanje, according to the Malawi Police Service. Authorities deployed officers across affected villages, sending vehicles through communities with loudhailers, urging residents to stop the attacks. Police say 45 suspects have since been arrested. A senior police official, who travelled to the region to oversee the response, said 27 suspects faced murder charges while another 16 were detained for spreading false information. The rumours, police said, might have been deliberately spread. “Some of the victims were businesspersons,” the official said, suggesting that personal disputes or economic rivalries could have fuelled the accusations. Traditional leaders echoed that assessment. Senior chief Ngabu of Chikwawa (Noah Dalasi Chasafaili) said the allegations did not reflect known cultural beliefs and appeared in some cases to be linked to personal conflicts. Medical professionals quickly dismissed the claims that triggered the violence. Henry Makowa, the president of the Medical Doctors Union of Malawi, said it was medically impossible for male genitals to disappear through physical contact. “In some cases, cold weather, fear, stress or anxiety may temporarily cause the genital organs to retract slightly due to normal muscle reflexes in the body,” he said. “But this is a normal physiological response and not evidence of witchcraft.” Researchers describe such outbreaks as a form of mass psychogenic illness — episodes in which anxiety spreads rapidly through a community and manifests as physical symptoms. In medical literature the phenomenon is often referred to as koro, or genital retraction syndrome, a culture-bound syndrome first proposed for classification in the DSM-IV in the 1990s. The condition has been documented in epidemic form in both Asian and African settings. People experiencing the condition are not deliberately fabricating symptoms. Social stress and fear can produce physical sensations that reinforce the belief that something supernatural has occurred. A 2005 study published in Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry by researchers Dzokoto and Adams documented similar genital-shrinking panics across six West African countries between January 1997 and October 2003.  The researchers found outbreaks often occurred during periods of economic hardship or heightened social anxiety. A comparable incident occurred in Tanzania just weeks earlier. In April 2026, at least five people were killed after similar rumours spread from the border town of Tunduma in Songwe Region through Mbeya and Dar es Salaam, according to a 4 April statement by Tanzanian police spokesperson David Misime. Police warned citizens against spreading the unverified claims and said all individuals who reported genital disappearance had been medically examined and found to be unharmed. Psychologist Dr Eric Umar of the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences said such rumours could spread quickly in communities facing uncertainty.  “These narratives provide emotionally satisfying explanations during periods of fear and uncertainty,” Umar said. “Once they begin circulating, they can be very difficult to counter.” Malawi’s ability to respond to such crises remains constrained by the country’s Witchcraft Act, legislation that commenced on 12 May 1911 under the British colonial administration. The law does not recognise the existence of witchcraft.  Instead it criminalises accusing someone of practising witchcraft outside formal legal processes and prohibits individuals from presenting themselves as witch-finders. Penalties under the Act vary by offence. Accusing someone of witchcraft carries up to five years in prison. Pretending to practise witchcraft can result in up to 10 years, while the profession of witch-finder is classified as a felony carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The legislation was originally designed to suppress supernatural accusations that could provoke violence. But legal experts say it does little to address modern dynamics such as mass rumours, misinformation or coordinated public health responses to panic-driven episodes. Recognising the gaps, the Malawi Law Commission completed a review of the Act in December 2021, when its special law commission presented findings and recommendations to the public at a briefing in Lilongwe. The recommendations were re-presented publicly this month in the same week the killings in the Shire Valley dominated national headlines. Commission chairperson Justice Robert Chinangwa said the proposed reforms would formally recognise witchcraft as a criminal offence. Under the proposal, practising witchcraft could carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison, with the possibility of capital punishment if a death occurs as a result. The minister of justice Charles Mhango welcomed the recommendations, saying they could “change the way people handle witchcraft cases”. But human rights groups warned the proposal could make matters worse. In a joint statement issued in December 2021, the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and the Centre for the Development of People argued that criminalising witchcraft itself risked legitimising accusations and increasing violence against vulnerable groups. Writing on behalf of both organisations, CHRR executive director Michael Kaiyatsa said they had documented more than 60 killings linked to witchcraft accusations in the preceding two years, with most victims elderly. Violence against older citizens accused of supernatural wrongdoing has become a persistent pattern in Malawi. The Malawi Network of Older Persons Organisations’ (Manepo) recorded nearly 300 killings of elderly people linked to witchcraft accusations between January 2016 and April this year. In 2022, 15 elderly people were killed. The number rose to 22 in 2025. In the first four months of 2026 alone, 12 deaths were recorded. Manepo executive director Andrew Kavala warned earlier this year that Malawi was “sitting on a ticking time bomb”. Although arrests often follow such killings, many cases fail to progress through the justice system. An analysis of police data by Nation Online found that between 60% and 70% of witchcraft-related killings lead to arrests but only a small proportion reach trial. In August 2023, former minister of gender, community development and social welfare Jean Sendeza told parliament that 88 murder cases involving elderly victims remained unresolved in court. Parliament attempted to strengthen legal protections by passing the Older Persons Act on 5 April 2024, with former president Lazarus Chakwera signing the bill into law on 19 May 2024. The law criminalises abuse of elderly citizens and allows courts to issue protection Orders. Civil society groups welcomed the legislation. But rising killings in 2025 and 2026 suggest enforcement remains weak. After the May attacks, the Malawi Human Rights Commission sent investigators to Chikwawa and Nsanje. Chairperson Chikondi Chijozi-Jere said the team interviewed complainants who believed their genitals had disappeared. No medical evidence supported the claims. “It is deeply worrying that lives have been lost,” she said. “We are following the issue to ensure justice prevails for the affected families.” Authorities attributed the violence largely to misinformation. Chikwawa District Commissioner Frank Mkandawire said the council had intensified civic education campaigns after the killings, which he described as being fuelled by “deliberate misinformation and hatred”. The National Initiative for Civic Education also condemned the attacks, calling them “morally indefensible” and a violation of constitutional protections for life and human dignity. But the institutions responding on the ground have limited power to change the laws governing such cases. That responsibility lies with parliament and the ministry of justice. Despite the Law Commission completing its review, no revised Witchcraft Act has yet been introduced in parliament. The broader conditions that researchers say can fuel mass panic remain widespread in Malawi. World Bank data shows about 72% of Malawians live on less than $2.15 (R35) a day. Poverty, social uncertainty and distrust of formal institutions are factors widely identified in academic research as contributing to the spread of rumour-driven violence. Malawi’s southern districts also share porous borders with neighbouring countries, allowing rumours, as well as people and trade, to move easily across communities. For the families of the seven victims buried in the Shire Valley, the national debate over legal reform comes too late. Forty-five suspects remain in custody as the criminal process begins. Whether the cases will reach a complete trial remains uncertain. The central question remains unresolved: how Malawi should respond to violent accusations rooted in fear, belief and misinformation.  More than a century after the Witchcraft Act was written, the law governs how such claims are handled, even as the violence it was meant to prevent continues to claim lives.

The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has granted the state’s request to postpone the R360 million Medicare24 corruption case involving senior police officials to 26 June for further investigation. On Wednesday, state prosecutor Santhos Manilal said the state was verifying information obtained during consultations with accused number one, controversial businessperson Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The state is also awaiting financial statements linked to suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, who has been added as accused number 17. “Regarding the consultation with accused number one, the state confirms that those consultations [did occur],” Manilal told the court. “However, as a result of new information emanating from those consultations, it necessitates verification and further investigation.”  Masemola has been added as one of Matlala’s alleged collaborators and is accused of contravening the Public Finance Management Act in his capacity as the chief accounting officer at the South African Police Service (SAPS). Masemola appeared alongside Matlala, 12 police officials and three company directors in the fraud and corruption case linked to the R360m contract awarded to Medicare24. Masemola was subsequently suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who appointed SAPS chief financial officer Puleng Dimpane as national commissioner.  Manilal said investigations into Masemola’s finances were at an “advanced stage”, with the state waiting for several bank statements before concluding its financial investigation. “The state does envisage that the financial investigation related to the verification of a new witness will be concluded within six weeks,” he said. Manilal added that the state would make the updated docket and additional charges available to the accused on 26 June. “With regard to the addition of accused number 17, the state intends to recommend ratification of the preamble to reflect accused number 17’s involvement,” he said. He said the process would be finalised at the next court appearance. Matlala’s defence requested that he be transferred from Pollsmoor Prison to a detention facility closer to Pretoria. The magistrate granted the postponement and ordered that Matlala be held at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. “Accused number one remains in custody and I am endorsing the charge sheet. I will also ensure that the warrant for detention is endorsed so that he be kept at Kgosi Mampuru prison. It seems it is in the interest of this matter, the defence and the state that he be detained at Kgosi Mampuru prison,” the magistrate said.

The Constitutional Court's ruling on Phala Phala marks a pivotal moment in South African politics, exposing the ANC's manipulation of parliamentary power and challenging Ramaphosa's leadership, writes EFF leader Julius Malema. This judgment raises critical questions about accountability and the future of democracy in South Africa.

Sibanyoni appeared alongside co-accused Mvimbi Daniel Masilela and Philemon Msiza on charges of extortion and two counts of money laundering.

National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has approved an extension for the ad hoc committee probing allegations made by KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, giving it until next month to conclude its work. The committee will now have to compile and complete its report by 12 June 2026. This marks the fifth extension. The original deadline had been set for the end of October 2025, before being extended multiple times. The date was initially moved to 28 November, but was again extended to 20 February. Another extension was approved until 31 March and then to the end of April. Several MPs have previously expressed concern, highlighting that repeated requests for extensions could become an embarrassment. Some also argued that prolonged delays would affect other parliamentary committees. Ad hoc committee granted extension In a statement issued on Wednesday, 13 May, Didiza confirmed that she is authorised to grant such extensions under the National Assembly’s rules. “The ad hoc committee proceeded with its work but could not complete it by the extended date of 30 April 2026,” the statement reads. “Therefore, I have decided in terms of assembly rule 253(6)(c) to revive the ad hoc committee, the committee to (a) maintain the same mandate and membership as agreed by the assembly on 23 July 2025; (b) incorporate in its work the proceedings and all the work done up to and including 30 April 2026; and (c) report to the assembly by no later than 12 June 2026.” The committee concluded its public hearings in mid-March and is now tasked with compiling a final report. Mkhwanazi was the last witness to testify. Members of the committee last convened a meeting on 28 April, when they raised concerns about delays in finalising the evidence leaders’ report, citing limited resources, outstanding transcripts and the sheer volume of evidence that still needs to be consolidated into thematic areas in line with its terms of reference. The committee is expected to resume its work later this month as it moves toward finalising its findings. Witness testimonies Since commencing public hearings on 7 October, the committee heard testimony from a number of high-profile figures. These include tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, former national director of public prosecutions Shamila Batohi, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, police minister Senzo Mchunu, former police minister Bheki Cele, and suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Additional witnesses who gave evidence include suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, alleged political fixer Oupa Brown Mogotsi, Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.

Britain’s Princess Catherine started a two-day visit to Italy on Wednesday focused on early childhood development, in her first official foreign trip since her 2024 cancer diagnosis. The Princess of Wales, whose husband Prince William is the heir to the British throne, was welcomed in the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia. She met the city’s mayor Marco Massari as dozens of cheering onlookers waved British flags and held up signs reading “Ciao Kate” and “We love you, Kate!” Early education is a subject close to her heart as a mother of three children — George, 12, Charlotte, 11, and Louis, eight. The 44-year-old’s trip will focus on her work in early years child development, said a Kensington palace statement. It will be “a high-level fact-finding mission to explore leading international approaches to supporting young children and those who care for them”, the palace added. Kate, as she is widely known, is looking forward to “seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together”. She announced in January 2025 that she was in remission from cancer, and has been gradually returning to public royal duties. Her last official trip abroad was in December 2022 when she travelled to Boston in the United States with William for the awarding of environmental Earthshot prize. She announced in March 2024 that she had been diganosed with cancer, without revealing which type and that she had begun chemotherapy. Early years In past years, Catherine has addressed themes of forging connections, the healing power of nature and acts of kindness, as well as her work with children and families. The Reggio Emilia philosophy was developed by Italian educator Loris Malaguzzi after World War II, drawing on his years of experience working in early childhood education as well as psychology. The project’s roots can be traced to his experience helping a group of women establish a school in a war-torn village in 1945. He later went on to work with children with learning difficulties, which shaped his education philosophy about prioritising individual differences. “The idea is that children are competent from the very first months of life and we need to construct educational contexts that are able to bring out their potential,” Nando Rinaldi, director of schools and nurseries for the Reggio Emilia municipality, told AFP. A key tenet of the philosophy is “The 100 Languages of Children” — the idea that children express themselves in myriad ways including movement, art and speech. Kate set up the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021, working to highlight the importance of a child’s early years. Through her work she has seen that “experiences in early childhood are often the root cause of today’s hardest social challenges, such as addiction, family breakdown, poor mental health, suicide and homelessness,” the foundation says. “Malaguzzi’s great intuition — which was a bit of a revolution — has finally been recognised today,” said Rinaldi. Kate’s visit “is a great recognition for us. It is also a source of pride”.

Janet Jackson was on hand to receive the plaque when her hit album Rhythm Nation 1814 was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. After the plaque was handed over by music producer James Samuel “Jimmy Jam” Harris III, Jackson proceeded to make a heartfelt speech to mark the occasion. “I’m so grateful and honoured that Rhythm Nation is being recognised tonight in this wonderful, wonderful way. It’s beautiful to relive the memories attached to this project that’s so, so precious to me, though I don’t see Rhythm Nation as a phenomenon that lives in the past, I believe it’s alive and well in 2026,” began Jackson. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Janet Jackson (@janetjackson) “Rhythm Nation still resonates on a deep and profound level. It’s an ongoing force that fights bigotry and promotes understanding. It cannot be stopped. It’s simply too strong and too positive.” Rhythm Nation is a movement of people of all ages and backgrounds seeking to give and receive love free of judgment. As we celebrate tonight, let’s remember that it transcends all borders, nationalities and faiths.”“When you hear the music of Rhythm Nation, I hope you hear my heart’s desire when we first created this suit of songs. More than ever, my hope is that we might live in a world free of fear and despair. The prayer driving this Rhythm Nation remains the same, exactly the same, that peace prevail. Peace the world over, peace among nations, peace in our neighbourhoods, peace in our homes.”“May the music of Rhythm Nation continue to bring us together in peace, and may that peace allow us to celebrate this precious gift of life that God has given us all praise due to God. I just want to thank the Grammy organisation for this wonderful honour. Thank you guys so much,” concluded Jackson.  

ActionSA has laid criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Bela-Bela Police Station in Limpopo on Wednesday. The party said it had filed charges against the president for alleged violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act. This comes after media reports revealed that more money was allegedly stolen from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in 2020 than the president had originally disclosed. ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont alleges that at least R15 million was stolen from the farm, a figure far exceeding the earlier reported amount of approximately R8.75 million. 🚨 ActionSA Lays Criminal Charges Against President Cyril Ramaphosa 🚨ActionSA has laid criminal charges against President @CyrilRamaphosa at the Bella Bella Police Station for allegedly misleading the country about the true amount of money stolen at Phala Phala.Documents… pic.twitter.com/ZMYoLAOyTN— ActionSA (@Action4SA) May 13, 2026 “Information coming from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has revealed that the amount of money stolen is actually exceeding 15 million rand despite only 8 million rand being reported.” “This is a serious criminal offence and we are here to see accountability in this police station and beyond for the information that has been deliberately kept from the South African people,” said Beaumont. These allegations relate to a theft incident that took place at Ramaphosa’s farm in February in 2020. ActionSA also filed charges of perjury and fraud against the president. PHALA PHALA SCANDAL The Constitutional Court ruled on 8 May 2026, that a public impeachment hearing into Ramaphosa’s conduct in the Phala Phala scandal may be pursued. President @CyrilRamaphosa addresses the nation on the judgment of the Constitutional Court.The President confirms his decision to take the independent panel's report on review, on the advice of his legal team, on grounds including misconception of mandate, grave errors of law… pic.twitter.com/uZM0ppUsd0— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 11, 2026 The court ruled that the National Assembly’s 2022 vote to reject referring the Section 89 independent panel report on the Phala Phala scandal to an impeachment committee was unconstitutional and invalid. Meanwhile, the president has maintained that he has never misused public funds or committed any offence.  “Since a criminal complaint was laid against me in June 2022, I have consistently maintained that I have not stolen public money, committed any crime nor violated my oath of office,” he said. Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday, 11 May 2026 following the recent court judgement. The president said the complaints against him are based on hearsay and emphasised that no credible or sufficient evidence has been presented to prove that he committed any violation. RAMAPHOSA REJECTS PRESSURE TO STEP DOWN Opposing political parties including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have called on Ramaphosa to resign, stating that the president must face full accountability through the revived impeachment process.  However, the president has rejected pressure to step down as president. “I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign.  To do so would be to pre-empt a process defined by the Constitution.” “To do so would be to give credence to a panel report that unfortunately has grave flaws,” he said. ActionSA says the country cannot move forward without answers and without accountability on the Phala Phala matter and the citizens deserve nothing less than full accountability on this matter.

Icasa has told minister Solly Malatsi that full alignment with the ICT sector code requires changes to legislation.

Government must lean more on the private sector in a fiscally constrained environment, communications minister Solly Malatsi has said.