During his cross-examination, the first state witness in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case, Sgt Thabo Mosia, made contradictory statements before the high court in Pretoria, including about the possible contamination of the crime scene. Mosia was the first forensics expert on the scene in October 2014.

Police minister Bheki Cele was addressing the media after visiting the family home of Namhla Mtwa, who was shot dead last month as she arrived at her home in Mthatha in Eastern Cape. It is alleged she was murdered by her abusive boyfriend and businessman Major Mfesane Bhekizulu.

According to Cele, Mtwa was failed by many, including “friends, maybe some members of her family and the community”.

Cele’s visit together with police management led by national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola follows concerns about service delivery and comes after Eastern Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Nomthetheleli Mene ordered a manhunt for Mtwa’s murderer.

Audio supplied by Daily Dispatch.

Namhla Mtwa, 35, was shot dead last month as she arrived at her home in Mthatha. It’s alleged that she was in an abusive relationship with Major Mfesane Bhekizulu.

Mtwa’s cousin, Banoyolo Gqoli, talks about the relationship Namhla had with her alleged abuser, the night she was killed and misinformation in the media.

The family dismissed claims made on eNCA by someone claiming to be Namhla’s sister. “Unfortunately this is not our sister and she is not from the Mtwa family,” her other cousin Siviwe Katywa said.

The City of Johannesburg is increasing property rates by 4.85%, electricity by 7.47%, water by 9.75%, sanitation by 9.75% and refuse by 5%.

The increases take effect from July 1.

Investec Chief Economist Anabel Bishop, explains what the increases will mean for residents.

Eskom technicians are increasingly being targeted by criminals — and residents requiring assistance for electricity repairs are set to bear the consequences.

Three attacks on Eskom technicians have taken place in Mabopane and Soweto in as many days, the electricity utility said on Thursday.

The NICD said SA is ready should a monkeypox outbreak occur. This comes as the world faces the largest outbreak of the virus in non-endemic countries. According to the NICD, the South African healthcare system has put measures in place to deal with any cases or outbreaks and that a more classical containment approach would be adhered to rather than mass vaccine rollouts as seen with Covid-19.

Pope Francis on Wednesday, said he was "heartbroken" by the shooting at a school in Texas that killed at least 19 children and two teachers, calling for greater controls on weapons.

Sindisiwe Manqele, who was convicted of murdering hip-hop star Nkululeko “Flabba” Habedi in 2016, was released on parole on Tuesday.

Musicians and friends of the star reacted to her release.

The KwaZulu-Natal education department is probing allegations by parents of pupils at a Durban high school about a gun-toting teacher who often points the weapon at the students and her colleagues.

Spokesperson Sihle Mlotshwa told TimesLIVE on Tuesday morning an investigation into the allegations is under way at the Phambili high school in Rossburgh, outside the city.

School governing body spokesperson Surprise Makhetha, says that parents want the teacher removed permanently.

A Russian diplomat at the country's permanent mission at the UN in Geneva said on Monday he was leaving his post because of his disagreement with Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, a rare political resignation over the war.