South African taxpayers were outraged after it was revealed that Police Minister Bheki Cele’s executive assistant’s trip to the Rugby World Cup in France, costing over half a million Rand, was funded by public funds. The revelation sparked political outrage and a public uproar, prompting the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, to launch a PAIA application to uncover more information about the trip. The controversy has highlighted the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior among public officials in South Africa.
Former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has applied to the Constitutional Court for parole eligibility, with the Steenkamp family’s attorney confirming the receipt of his application. Pistorius was convicted for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp in 2013 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence at Atteridgeville Prison.
The popular TV show “Sizok’thola” has been facing numerous death threats, putting the safety of its host and production crew at risk. However, Moja Love and African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula have taken steps to ensure that necessary protection measures are in place for the team.
The South African penitentiary system has come under intense scrutiny due to concerns over its effectiveness and security. Recent incidents, including the prison break of Thabo Bester a convicted rapist and murderer from Manguang Prison last year and the emergence of live videos on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, have fueled public alarm.
The recent rearrest of Thabo Bester and Dr. Nandipha Magudumana in Tanzania has been a welcome development for the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru). Bester, who had previously escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Center in South Africa, was on the run for several months before being apprehended by South African Crime Intelligence officers.