Author: Ariana Steenkamp

A tragic incident in Gauteng involving a 12-year-old driver who fatally struck a 14-year-old pedestrian has raised serious legal questions and public concern. This article explores the legal consequences and the processes that follow when a child of such a young age faces criminal charges for a fatal crash The Incident and Immediate Legal Response In Brakpan, a 12-year-old boy allegedly drove his parents’ Mazda and struck a 14-year-old pedestrian, resulting in the teenager’s death. South African authorities are now investigating how the 12-year-old gained access to the vehicle and what legal steps will follow as the child faces criminal…

Gauteng number plates are getting a redesign as part of a new system introduced by the provincial government. The updated plates were officially presented during a recent media briefing—but the public rollout is still some time away. The Gauteng Provincial Government is rolling out out a pilot launch of a new number plate system in the province. @NkosinathiShazi The new plates which will be used by provincial gov for the next 6 months has a barcode that cannot be removed. -With Gauteng accounting for most… pic.twitter.com/ShiDsG564O — POWER987News (@POWER987News) June 5, 2025 New Features Focus on Security According to officials,…

Snow forecast warnings are in effect for most of South Africa this weekend, as a powerful cold front is set to sweep across the country, bringing widespread winter weather and possible snow in eight out of nine provinces. The strong cold front will arrive in the Cape early on Saturday Morning. Photo: VoxWeather Major Cold Front to Hit the Cape Early Saturday (7 June) According to Vox Weather forecaster Michelle du Plessis, a strong cold front will make landfall in the Western Cape early on Saturday, 7 June. The system is expected to bring: Heavy rain to the western parts…

Beef prices in South Africa may face fluctuations following the confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Karan Beef’s Heidelberg feedlot. Feedlot Closure and Its Broader Implications Karan Beef, South Africa’s largest cattle feedlot operator, confirmed the detection of FMD on 30 May 2025. Despite strict biosecurity and quarantine protocols, the highly contagious virus found its way into the Heidelberg facility, forcing the company to halt all cattle intake. In response, around 188,000 animals have been placed under quarantine, and the company has scaled down its daily slaughtering capacity from 2,000 to just 550 animals. This drastic operational change may extend…

Fuel prices in South Africa are expected to dip slightly this week, offering motorists brief relief despite looming tax increases. Minor Fuel Price Drop Expected This June The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will announce the next fuel price adjustment on Wednesday, June 4, and according to unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), both petrol and diesel are likely to see modest price reductions. However, these savings will be partially offset by new fuel levy hikes set to take effect on the same day. Petrol and Diesel Forecasts Petrol was initially projected to drop by approximately 20…

Trial Continues with Emotional Witness Accounts On the second day of the Dirkler murder trial, the Gqeberha High Court heard deeply emotional testimonies from individuals who encountered young Krisley Dirkler just days before her death. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the disturbing nature of the allegations. Mother and Stepfather on Trial for Child’s Death Kristen and Robin Clarke, the mother and stepfather of the 19-month-old Krisley, are facing murder charges. The child died at Livingstone Hospital on 17 October 2013, a week after being admitted in a comatose state. The State accuses the couple of long-term abuse…

In a move welcomed by many South Africans, the National Treasury has confirmed a VAT freeze, officially shelving the planned increase in Value-Added Tax. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to introduce legislation that will keep the VAT rate at 15% from 1 May 2025, reversing the previously proposed 0.5% increase that was previously announced in the February budget. The Rates Bill to Maintain VAT at 15% In a statement issued by National Treasury on 24 April, it was revealed that the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, commonly known as the Rates Bill, will soon…

Faster, More Reliable Identity Verification The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is celebrating a major milestone following the successful overhaul of its identity verification system. This long-awaited improvement aims to enhance efficiency and reliability, benefiting both government institutions and the private sector. The verification system plays a crucial role for entities like the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), National Treasury, and financial institutions, allowing them to authenticate client identities against the National Population Register. Overcoming System Failures Previously, the system suffered from a staggering 50% failure rate, with verification requests taking up to 24 hours to process and often…

Introduction to Kleuterzone’s Financial Trouble The liquidation process of the controversial Kleuterzone group has begun, with an appointed liquidator tasked to recover at least R130 million of investors’ money. This follows the High Court’s decision in Pretoria to place Kleuterzone Operations (Pty) Ltd. under provisional liquidation on Tuesday. Additional Creditors Join the Case On the same day, two additional creditors, Mishka Naidoo and Sesheni Nadesan Howes, successfully applied to be included as applicants in the case. They, along with another investor, Anita Susanna du Plessis (55) from Koster in North West, filed an urgent application to have the company placed…

Technical Issues Cause Flight Check-in Delays for FlySafair and LIFT Passengers flying with FlySafair and LIFT Airlines are experiencing flight check-in delays due to ongoing technical issues affecting airport systems. The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has confirmed that the problem is impacting check-in processes, leading to long queues and extended processing times. Technical Issues Disrupting Check-in Systems ACSA has attributed the flight check-in delays to a global systems issue that has affected the airlines’ ability to process passengers efficiently. “Technicians from the airlines and their service providers are actively working to resolve the matter. However, there is currently no…