Former Police Minister Bheki Cele says only now has he found out that his comrade Musa Phewa had been abducted and killed by the Apartheid police when he was initially told he was in exile. Bheki Cele was responding to Evidence Leader at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cases Inquiry, Advocate Howard Varny....

The Gauteng Department of Health is warning officials and members of the public against bribery and queue-jumping at public healthcare facilities. The department says it has received complaints that some patients may be paying officials to bypass queues, access patient files or collect medication. It says such conduct amounts to corruption and will not be tolerated. The Department says Patients are urged to report officials demanding bribes to facility CEOs, Quality Assurance Offices, or through the department’s reporting channels. Steve Mabona is the Department's spokesperson 

The pre-trial hearing in the prison escape matter of rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester, is expected to take place in the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein tomorrow (Friday). The court will establish whether all the outstanding legal matters have been concluded and whether the matter is trial-ready. Bester and his co-accused, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, who is charged with aiding him to escape prison, last appeared virtually in June. Bester is currently incarcerated at the eBongweni super-maximum prison in KZN. He escaped from the Mangaung Prison, which was privately managed by security company G4S, in 2022. Kamogelo Seekoei reports...

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities says women’s economic empowerment is critical to reducing gender-based violence and strengthening women’s independence. This was highlighted at a Distinction Dialogue hosted by the National Press Club in Midrand, commemorating 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March under the theme “Empowered Women Empower the Nations.” Luyanda Danca has more....

Gift of the Givers says it is on standby to assist after devastating floods in Nepal, where at least  six South Africans and several international tourists are reportedly missing. The organisation says helicopter surveillance is currently the only means of accessing affected areas, while a possible dam collapse poses further danger. Its eleven urban search and water rescue team members, four SAPS dog handlers and four dogs are ready for deployment.  The organisation says  is liaising with Nepalese authorities, the embassy, airlines and DIRCO as preparations continue.

The EFF's motion to remove National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, has been defeated. The motion related to Didiza's decision not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa's urgent interdict application in the Western Cape High Court to halt the Parliamentary impeachment process against him. During the debate in the House, EFF leader, Julius Malema, argued that Didiza has not shown impartiality and chose to prioritise her political party. The ANC chief whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, countered Malema, saying there is a record to show Didiza acted speedily to implement the ruling of the Concourt in May, that an Impeachment committee should be established. Zalene Merrington reports...

The Department of Home Affairs is urging couples married under customary law to register their marriages before the 31 August deadline.The department says the special registration period allows couples whose marriages were not registered on time to regularise their marital status.This includes customary marriages concluded before November 2000, as well as those concluded after the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act came into effect but were not registered within the required period. Ndileka Cola speaks for the department of Home Affairs 

Alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala says a contract involving him and General Sonona was never concluded. Matlala told the Madlanga Commission that there was no written proposal or agreement. He also confirmed that Sonona's son, Thato, was involved in a project to buy an apartment for rental. Matlala said the apartment was in Menlyn and he believed it cost less than three million rand. He also said General Sonona did not receive any payment from the project.

Alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has told the Madlanga Commission that he had several meetings with General Sonona from late 2024 until his arrest. Matlala said the meetings continued regularly when Sonona was in Pretoria and also took place in Durban. He was questioned about WhatsApp messages in which he referred to a "project". 

Alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he learned the Political Killings Task Team or PKTT, had raided his home and business after speaking to former Police Minister Cele. Matlala says businessman Brown Mogotsi had already told him this, but he did not believe him at the time.He says Cele later confirmed what Mogotsi had told him.Matlala also says General Sonona sent him a letter confirming the PKTT had been disbanded. He says he may have discussed the letter with Sonona, but cannot remember the details