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MODDERFONTEIN - Following a course inspection this morning at Modderfontein Golf Club, the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Sunshine Ladies Tour (SLT) have confirmed that the 2025 Joburg Ladies Open will be reduced to 54 holes due to ongoing inclement weather and course flooding. Heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has severely affected course conditions, leading to waterlogging and the suspension of play yesterday. Despite the challenges, the golf course’s staff and greenskeepers are working tirelessly to mitigate the impact and prepare the course for play. Play remains suspended as of this morning. A further inspection has confirmed that the course has not yet sufficiently recovered to resume safely. However, resumption of Round Two is scheduled for 10:00 today, pending final assessments and prevailing weather conditions. All players are expected to be in position by 10:00. Due to the limited availability of carts, transportation will be provided only to the furthest area...

EASTERN CAPE - The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team has made another major breakthrough in the University of Fort Hare fraud case involving multi-million-rand fraud, money laundering and corruption on 03 April 2025.  The team arrested the fourth suspect 46-year-old Craig Retief, intensifying the pressure on those implicated in the high-profile case. Retief appeared at the Alice Magistrate’s Court on 04 April 2025, joining his co-accused the former Acting Chief Financial Officer Simbongile Geqeza (41), former Head of Investigation and Vetting Isaac Plaartjies (57) and family friend Claudine Davids (44). Their arrests follow a meticulously coordinated Hawks operation spanning multiple provinces. During their initial court appearance on 02 April 2025, Geqeza, Plaartjies and Davids were each granted bail of R10 000-00. Retief, who was arrested a day later was also granted bail of R10 000-00 during his court appearance. The case has been transferred to the East L...

LIMPOPO - A maroon Volkswagen Golf was caught speeding at 182km/h in a 120km/h zone. The driver was arrested and granted R1000 bail, according to the Limpopo Departmet of Transport. The Department said the arrest serves as a stern warning to all drivers: speed limits are in place to protect YOU and others. Reckless driving won't be tolerated!

GERMISTON - Illegal dumping is now a punishable criminal offence in the City of Ekurhuleni, with a hefty fine or jail time. This comes after the Chief Magistrate at the Johannesburg Magistrate Court determined and approved the implementation of the admission of guilt fines (in terms of Section 57(5) of Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977, in respect of offences in terms of contraventions of City of Ekurhuleni Integrated Waste Management By-Law with effect from 03 March 2025. In terms of Section 53 of the Integrated Waste Management Bylaw, 2021, illegal dumping of any waste is prohibited within the city. Any natural or juristic person found illegally dumping waste may be charged as follows: A spot fine (Administrative) of R10 000; or May upon conviction depending on the magnitude of the offense, be liable to a fine not exceeding R100 000 (One Hundred Thousand Rand) or to imprisonment for a period of three (3) years. “Ours as a city is to now implement these punitive measu...

CAPE TOWN - A new vertical lift truck has been added to the City of Cape Town department’s towing fleet, to clear illegally parked vehicles more efficiently, and in a manner that conventional tow trucks can’t. The vertical lift truck is not an entirely new concept – years ago, the City’s Traffic Services had access to a contracted vehicle. When that contract ceased, work started to finalise specifications and other requirements to acquire a vertical lift vehicle for the City – that goal was finally achieved in the current financial year. Its acquisition takes the Traffic Services’ towing fleet to seven vehicles, and three more on the way. The vertical lift truck removed six vehicles during the last week of March. "This vertical lift truck makes it so much easier to remove vehicles, particularly ones that are parked in and can’t be moved using the conventional tow trucks. Its forklift mechanism makes the work a breeze. It’s early days yet, and our staff are familiarisin...

SANDTON - Economic Development MEC, Lebogang Maile , says the province is aiming to secure at least R300 billion in investment pledges at the Gauteng Investment Conference (GIC), to be held in Johannesburg. The MEC was speaking during a media briefing on the state of readiness of the province to host the conference, to be held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, in Sandton, on 3 April 2025. “Leaders across all tiers of government, including Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, Premier of Gauteng Premier Lesufi, and Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, will provide inputs at the conference. The keynote address will be delivered by the Deputy President, who also serves as the Leader of Government Business in South Africa, His Excellency, Paul Mashatile.   “Of equal significance is the large contingent of leaders across the business and government sectors on the African continent, the African diaspora and the globe. With over 50 companies represented, t...

SOWETO -  José Riveiro has announced his decision to step down as Head Coach at the end of the season. Goodbyes are never easy. They tug at the heart, reminding us of the moments we wish could last forever. But in football, as in life, they are sometimes necessary. When Coach José arrived in 2022, he didn’t just take charge of a team, he mended broken spirits, reignited lost hope. Coming out of the 2021/22 season the Buccaneers had finished 6th in the league with only 10 wins from the 30 matches; a first-round exit in the MTN8 to Swallows as well as a defeat to Marumo Gallants in the Round of 16 of the Nedbank Cup. Football has a propensity to judge people too quickly and naturally an unknown José would be scrutinised before even setting foot on South African soil. However, the 47-year-old has since made believers out of doubters. He has given the Pirates supporters more than just victories; he gave them a reason to dream again. And now, as the end of the season draws ...

PRETORIA - Mamelodi Sundowns says it is deeply saddened by the unruly behaviour that was displayed on April at its CAF Champions League quarterfinal match against Espérance de Tunis at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Videos circulating on social media depict malicious damage to the stadium and the Mamelodi Sundowns supporters retreating from violent conduct that was initiated against them, including flares and pepper spray when the incident started.  Sundowns awaits a full report from the Match Commissioner and is committed to cooperating with CAF to finalize its investigation ahead of the return leg. "We are confident that the investigation will identify the circumstances that gave rise to the unruly behaviour.  "However, in accordance with our African culture of compassion and empathy (our African culture of Ubuntu) we are required to apologize to Espérance de Tunis and its supporters as the unruly behaviour took place at our home stadium, despite the videos and facts ...

PRETORIA - The Presidency has noted with concern the newly imposed tariffs on South African exports to the United States of America (USA).  Whilst South Africa remains committed to a mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States, unilaterally imposed and punitive tariffs are a concern and serve as a barrier to trade and shared prosperity.  The tariffs affirm the urgency to negotiate a new bilateral and mutually beneficial trade agreement with the US, as an essential step to secure long-term trade certainty. Source: PresidencyZA 

POLOKWANE - A 28-year-old male suspect, who is an Intern at the Department of Transport in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, is set to appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 03 April 2025, facing charges of corruption following his arrest on 02 April 2025. On Tuesday, 01 April 2025, the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit in Limpopo received a complaint about an individual allegedly soliciting money from victims by falsely promising them employment as Traffic Officers. The suspect was reportedly demanding gratification of R6 500.00 per person in exchange for securing them a job. The case was reported to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit for further investigation, and an enquiry docket was registered on the same day. A sting operation was activated in the Thohoyandou policing area. During the operation, the suspect arrived at the designated location where he met with the victims and demanded payment. Upon receiving the money, the police team immediately approa...