Don't call Julius Mkhwanazi a 'facilitator'.
Suspended Acting Ekurhuleni Metro Police (EMPD) Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi says Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala's vehicles were donations to the City. Mkhwanazi appeared at the Madlanga Commissions where he tied himself in knots to not be called a 'facilitator' of Matlala's donations.
READ: Mkhwanazi: I can’t go to jail for something I didn’t do
Mkhwana had previously said he was not friends with Matlala. Yet he told the Commission that they met in 2021. They were introduced by Mike van Wyk, founder of Medicare24 after he was introduced to Van Wyk by members in the Community Liaison unit.
READ: CAT VIP had ‘good intentions’ for EMPD, says Mkhwanazi
Matlala allegedly told Mkhwanazi that he wanted to grow his CAT VIP business into a high-end business and wanted to get rid of his old fleet. Mkhwanazi suggested that he donate the vehicles to the City. The registration of the vehicles was facilitated by Mkhwanazi, with forms and the registration done by Ekurhuleni proxy manager Chris Steyn.
It subsequently came to light that blue lights were installed on the vehicles belonging to Matlala. Mkhwanazi disputed that he facilitated that part of the transaction as it would have to go through the City and the City did not have the money to do so.
READ: Matlala's vehicles were 'donations' to Ekurhuleni - Mkhwanazi
Former Municipal Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi confirmed during her appearance at the Commission that Mkhwanazi's appointment was illegal. She also denied that she failed to act against Mkhwanazi. A video shown at the Commission shows Mkhwanazi committing to take a bullet for Mashazi
The country's persistent rainfall
The South African Weather Services issued a Level 4 warning for inland provinces.
Residents of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and some parts of Limpopo have had to deal with inclement weather, heavy rains and hailstorms. One person was killed in Pretoria, while KZN, an elderly women died, while two others were swept away in the floods.
Municipal disaster teams have been on high alert across the country.
READ: SA Weather Service issues weather warnings for Gauteng and KZN
Two sluice gates have been closed at the Vaal Dam while four remain open.
Water levels at the Bloemhof Dam, however, continue to rise.
Officials appealed to anyone living near rivers to remain vigilant.
SA takes a break from G20
Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister Ronald Lamola has hit back at the US's unfounded allegation of racist policies in South Africa.
His counterpart, Marco Rubio wrote in a substack newsletter that Washington would not tolerate the behaviour of that he calls the 'radical' ANC-led government.
Rubio said the G20 this year was an exercise in spite, division, and radical agendas, and that South Africa ignored the US and other countries’ inputs into negotiations.
READ: Lamola responds to Rubio’s attack on South Africa and G20
He added that “President [Donald] Trump and the United States will not be extending an invitation to the South African government to participate in the G20 during our presidency. There is a place for good faith disagreement, but not dishonesty or sabotage.”
Lamola responded on behalf of the government saying the world was watching.
READ: South Africa prepared to 'take a break' from G20 after US ban
"It is growing weary of double standards. It is tired of lectures on democracy from those who seem to have forgotten that democracy, at its best, must listen as much as it speaks," Lamola wrote.
South Africa says it will 'take a break' from the 2026 G20. It has not encouraged any countries to boycott the US.
Bester watch Lamola's phone records.
Convicted rapist Thabo Bester wants access to International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola’s cellphone records.
He also wants access to documents from the Presidency and Crime Intelligence to prepare for his upcoming prison escape trial.
READ: Thabo Bester to challenge Tanzania extradition
Bester has filed an access to information application in the Pretoria High Court.
He appeared with his co-accused in the Bloemfontein High Court on Friday for pre-trial proceedings linked to his dramatic 2023 escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre.
The matter returns on 18 March 2026 for case management.
Trial dates have been set for 20 July and 18 September 2026.
Joburg ANC has woman on top
The ANC in Greater Johannesburg has elected Loyiso Masuku as its first female regional chair.
She defeated incumbent Dada Morero with 184 votes to 149.
Masuku is now widely expected to become the ANC’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg.
She is the wife of former Gauteng Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku