Author: Ariana Steenkamp

An 11-year-old boy, Waldo Verwey, remains in a critical but stable condition after the Casseldale shooting that took place late Thursday evening. He is currently being treated in the intensive care unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. What Happened on Thursday Night According to Waldo’s mother, Christenette Barnard, the family had taken their dogs outside shortly before 10:00 p.m. She and her younger son returned to the house with some of the dogs, while Waldo stayed outside. As they began closing curtains and windows, she heard a loud bang and wondered who would be setting off fireworks so late…

The Northmead water tower remains out of operation, leaving Benoni residents frustrated as water supply issues continue. Despite being officially opened in June, the R47-million project has yet to provide relief due to contractual and operational setbacks. Water Outages Continue to Affect Residents Over the weekend of September 12, taps once again ran dry in parts of Benoni. The outage was linked to a pump stoppage at Rand Water’s Zwartkoppies pump station, which supplies the Benoni reservoir and ultimately the Northmead water tower. Ward 27 councillor Lornette Joseph confirmed that while the 5.5-megalitre tower in Hospital Road is about 70%…

Tens of thousands of Christians gathered to honour Charlie Kirk at a moving Kirk memorial gathering in Glendale, Arizona, with many joining online to witness the emotional tribute. The late conservative activist, who was tragically shot earlier this month at Utah Valley University, was remembered for his dedication to youth activism, faith, and conservative ideals. A Crowd United in Faith and Grief At State Farm Stadium, the atmosphere was electric with grief, prayer, and solidarity. Christians from across the country filled the venue, many waving banners and holding candles, while countless others tuned in online to participate in the historic…

South Africa is engaging with the United States to negotiate a US trade deal, following the imposition of 30% tariffs on certain South African exports. Government representatives are currently in Washington to participate in formal discussions with US officials. Ongoing Negotiations in the United States President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament that a South African delegation, including representatives from the Presidency and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, is meeting with stakeholders in New York and Washington. These meetings involve US legislators, business leaders, and government officials. Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola are…

A Benoni businessman has been safely rescued in Alexandra following a police operation that ended with a wanted kidnapping kingpin being fatally shot. Businessman Found The businessman, who was kidnapped in July in Benoni, was discovered shortly after midnight. Police found him held in a shack in Alexandra and immediately reunited him with his family. @kemptonexpress A kidnapped Indian businessman has been safely reunited with his family after a dramatic SAPS Anti-Kidnapping Task Team operation that ended with the death of Mozambique’s most wanted kidnapping kingpin. The businessman was rescued shortly after midnight on Thursday, 4 September, when police discovered…

South Africans are in for more financial strain as Eskom electricity prices are set to rise even higher in 2026 and 2027. This comes after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) admitted to calculation mistakes when approving Eskom’s previous tariff increases. Why prices are going up Earlier this year, NERSA approved electricity price increases of 12.74% for 2025/26, 5.36% for 2026/27, and 6.19% for 2027/28. However, Eskom challenged this decision in court, claiming there was a massive shortfall of R107 billion between what it applied for and what was approved. During the review, NERSA discovered it had made…

One of South Africa’s largest telecommunications companies, MTN, is facing a US Department of Justice (DoJ) investigation. The MTN investigation relates to the company’s former operations in Afghanistan and its stake in Iran, raising serious concerns about past business practices. Details of the MTN Investigation MTN revealed the ongoing probe in its 2025 interim financial results. The company confirmed that the DoJ approached it through external US legal counsel to provide information regarding the matter. In its statement, MTN said it is fully cooperating with the inquiry: “MTN is cooperating with the DoJ and voluntarily responding to requests for information.…

South Africa is facing major economic pressure following new US tariffs on its exports, with President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for resilience amid shifting global trade conditions. 30% US Tariffs Add Pressure to Local Economy South Africa is under economic strain after the United States announced a 30% tariff on imports from the country. The new US tariffs—set to take effect on 7 August—have been described by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a “harsh wake-up call.” In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa stated: “The US is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner by country, and these measures will have a considerable impact on industries…

South Africans are being urged to prepare for extreme conditions following a winter weather warning issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) this week. Cold Front Brings Freezing Temperatures and Coastal Storms A double cold front is expected to move across the country, bringing with it freezing temperatures, fire risks, and dangerous coastal storms. The South African Weather Service has forecast isolated showers for the eastern and northeastern regions, with strong winds and large waves along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. In the Northern Cape, particularly the Nama Khoi municipality, extremely high fire danger conditions have also been flagged. Gauteng Braces…

A new foot and mouth disease outbreak has been confirmed in the Free State, pushing the national total to 270 cases across five provinces, according to the Department of Agriculture. Latest Outbreak in Moqhaka Municipality The latest case was detected on a commercial farm in Moqhaka Local Municipality, within the Kroonstad state veterinary region. The department confirmed the outbreak on Monday, 15 July. “Trace-back activities are underway to find the source of infection,” said the department. “Surveillance is ongoing within a 10km radius to assess the potential spread.” Provinces Affected by Foot and Mouth Disease As of July 2025, a…