Masabata Mkwananzi

Senior Multimedia Journalist at The Star

Unisa wins High Court ruling against former registrar Professor Steward Mothata

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

In a groundbreaking victory for Unisa, the High Court effectively curbs further attacks from its former registrar, signalling a critical moment in institutional ...

Embattled Emfuleni spends R700 million on employee overtime as service delivery fails

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The Emfuleni Local Municipality has spent nearly R700 million on employee overtime over six years, including about R200 million during the Covid-19 lockdown, despite ...

771 vacancies leave Gauteng’s most vulnerable without critical support

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Gauteng’s Department of Social Development has 771 critical positions unfilled, including social workers and psychologists. Just 45 social workers cover 130 police ...

Hawks arrest duo in R800 000 funding fraud scandal

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A company director (58) and a financial advisor (49) were arrested in Phalaborwa for allegedly defrauding the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDA) ...

Political battle erupts in Tshwane over R777 million water tanker spending

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A political showdown has erupted in Tshwane over R777 million in water tanker spending, with ActionSA blaming the DA’s past leadership and the DA accusing the current ...

NSFAS denies viral R630,000 student payout video, cites entertainment prank

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Viral social media claims of a massive NSFAS student payment are false and misleading. The scheme says the image is manipulated, urges the public to trust only official ...

Parents and schools urged to act after pupils seen 'puffing' on a fire extinguisher

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Parents and schools are being urged to intervene after pupils were seen inhaling fumes from a fire extinguisher, a dangerous stunt raising serious safety concerns. ...

Viral video of schoolchildren inhaling fire extinguisher contents sparks health warnings

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Johannesburg EMS has issued a warning after a viral video showed schoolchildren “smoking” fire extinguisher contents, cautioning that the act can cause respiratory ...

Army deployed to crime hotspots as shootings continue to terrorise communities

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Over 2,000 soldiers have been deployed nationwide to support police in tackling violent crime and organised criminal networks, with National Police Commissioner ...

Ekurhuleni education at risk as municipal service cuts loom for 138 schools

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

At least 138 schools in Ekurhuleni face possible water and electricity disconnections after racking up more than R81 million in municipal debt. Gauteng Education ...

Clicks issues immediate recall on kids' snacks amid Listeria fears

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The National Consumer Commission has recalled MADE 4 TOTS Chicken Corn Puffs sold by Clicks after a batch tested positive for non-pathogenic Listeria contamination. ...

South Africa's food system under scrutiny as hunger claims scores of children daily

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

With nearly 30 children dying every day from malnutrition, the South African Human Rights Commission has launched a national investigative hearing into the country’s ...

Gauteng foot-and-mouth Scare: R63 million falls short, warns DA

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Gauteng’s livestock sector is reeling as the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak affects over 261,000 animals, threatening jobs, food security, and the agricultural ...

Police arrest alleged gunman in the murder of Marius van der Merwe or Witness B

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Police have made a major breakthrough in the murder of Marius van der Merwe (Witness D) with the arrest of a suspect believed to be the gunman. The arrest follows ...

Army on our streets: Who approved the SANDF deployment?

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The DA has given Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola 24 hours to explain the legal basis and command structure behind the SANDF deployment in Eldorado Park, Westbury, ...

ICYMI: Viral video shows girl forcibly removed from minibus in Roodepoort's disturbing incident

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A Roodepoort scholar transport driver at the centre of a disturbing viral video has broken his silence, claiming he acted responsibly as chaos unfolded when a learner ...

How were City properties secretly transferred to private hands?

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The City of Johannesburg Property Company has opened 18 criminal cases after discovering that several City-owned properties were fraudulently transferred to private ...

Lesufi steps away from controversial payout saga involving former Gauteng health official

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Panyaza Lesufi has denied any role in the controversial settlement paid to former Gauteng health department CFO Lerato Madyo, saying his office was not involved ...

ODI District Hospital faces financial crisis as R32 million in debts threaten services

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

ODI District Hospital is facing scrutiny over R32 million in outstanding accruals, with the DA warning unpaid suppliers could disrupt services, while the Gauteng ...

New Gauteng unit to tackle millions in licence debt

Masabata Mkwananzi and Siyabonga Sithole|Updated

Gauteng launches a new debt collection unit to track motorists with outstanding vehicle licence fees, a critical source of provincial revenue. MEC Lebogang Maile ...

South Africans can now skip queues at Home Affairs with new digital ID application service

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

South Africans can now apply for Smart IDs at selected bank branches following the launch of a new digital partnership between the Department of Home Affairs and ...

R10 million Limpopo insurance scam: Cops crack down

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A massive police crackdown is underway in Limpopo targeting a R10 million insurance murder syndicate allegedly linked to former SAPS sergeant Rachel Kutumela, 34. ...

Swept away: Deadly river in Limpopo claims four lives

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Limpopo police and emergency teams have recovered four bodies after a vehicle was swept away at an overflowing bridge over the Makotopong River between Madiga and ...

New police units ignite hope in Gauteng’s fight against crime

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Gauteng is confronting a spike in violent crime, with 10 police officers murdered in just three months, highlighting the growing threat to public safety and the ...

Innovative Soweto entrepreneur tackles water crisis with foldable storage solution

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

A Soweto entrepreneur has developed a foldable water storage system aimed at helping households cope with Gauteng’s ongoing water crisis. Hlumelo Nyaluza, founder ...