Masabata Mkwananzi

Senior Multimedia Journalist at The Star

Rare birth: Limpopo mother delivers conjoined twins who are 'stable and progressing well'

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

A 29-year-old Limpopo woman has given birth to conjoined twins at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital. The twins, joined at the abdomen, are stable in the Neonatal Intensive ...

R200 million and counting: Gauteng's long-delayed Sebokeng DLTC project inches forward

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

After a decade of construction delays and ballooning costs from R63 million to over R200 million, the Sebokeng Smart DLTC project has reached 24% completion. Despite ...

SABC reverses course on Afrikaans programming after two years of controversy

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

After two years of controversial scheduling changes, the SABC has announced the return of Afrikaans news to SABC2 at 18:30 daily from February 9. AfriForum, which ...

Record-breaking year: Home Affairs issues 4 million smart ID cards

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The Department of Home Affairs has achieved a historic milestone by issuing over 4 million Smart ID cards in 2025 - the highest annual total ever recorded. This ...

From protests to flames: Pikitup trucks set ablaze in Diepsloot amid worker fury

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Johannesburg's MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Jack Sekwaila, has condemned the torching of Pikitup trucks in Diepsloot following protests by casual ...

Chaos in Sporong: Police armoured Nyalas roll in to quell disorder

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola visited the area on Wednesday, January ...

Wave of allegations: Hundreds of SAPS officers face rape accusations in the last three years

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

More than 300 rape allegations have been lodged against South African police officers in the past three years, with many incidents occurring while officers were ...

Limpopo grade 12 learner arrested for alleged rape of 15-year-old girl

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

An 18-year-old Grade 12 learner has been arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in Limpopo's Komaneng Village. The crime, which reportedly occurred in ...

South African journalist under attack after challenging Trump on 'white genocide'

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

South African journalist Heidie Giokos has become the target of intense online criticism after challenging US President Donald Trump at Davos about claims of 'white ...

Johannesburg waste crisis: Pikitup services return following labour disputes

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Pikitup has resolved service disruptions at three depots, including Randburg, and resumed waste collection across affected areas. While the DA claims Johannesburg's ...

Crackdown in Johannesburg: Battle against illegal billboards and electricity theft heat up

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Johannesburg authorities disconnect illegal billboards along major routes as part of intensified campaign against unauthorized advertising structures that steal ...

ANC Johannesburg conference marred by vote rigging allegations as first female chair elected

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Police have launched an investigation after ballot boxes from the ANC's Greater Johannesburg regional conference were allegedly discovered at a Pretoria home, casting ...

Gauteng warns scholar transport operators: Comply with licensing or face enforcement

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Following learner fatalities and service disruptions, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has issued a firm warning to scholar transport operators to comply ...

Urgent appeal: How your dog can aid the Eastern Cape K9 Units

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The South African Police Service in Eastern Cape has issued an urgent appeal for dog donations as a shortage threatens to undermine critical K9 operations. Several ...

Investigation launched: How did Joburg ANC conference 'ballots' land in Pretoria?

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Police discover ballot papers allegedly linked to the ANC's Greater Johannesburg regional conference at a private home in Pretoria, raising serious questions about ...

SA's electrical safety crisis: Consumers at risk from non-compliant products

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

South African consumers may be unknowingly purchasing dangerous electrical products due to weak regulations and insufficient market oversight. Safehouse warns that ...

Handcuffed prisoner escapes Tzaneen police station, manhunt launched

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Police in Tzaneen have launched an urgent manhunt for 20-year-old Leonard Letswalo who escaped custody while still wearing handcuffs. The awaiting-trial prisoner, ...

Children must never be treated as cargo, says minister in the presidency

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Three of the 14 learners killed in the crash were honoured in a joint funeral service on Sunday, January 25. The 16-year-old Thato Moetji, 7-year-old Ofentse Jayden ...

Questions arise as Gauteng transport body distances from driver after 14 children killed

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Gauteng Education Transport Services (GATS) has distanced itself from Ayanda Dludla, the 22-year-old driver charged with 14 counts of murder after a scholar transport ...

Vaal mourns 14 learners lost in deadly crash: Heartbreaking memorial brings community together

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The Vaal community gathered at an emotional memorial service on January 23 to honour 14 learners killed in a tragic scholar transport crash. Families, neighbours, ...

The crash that exposed Gauteng’s scholar transport problem

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Gauteng authorities have cracked down on unsafe scholar transport following a deadly Vaal crash that killed 14 children, impounding more than 60 vehicles in Lenasia ...

'Let this be a lesson': Bereaved families speak as accused driver drops bail bid; prayers offered

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Private scholar transport driver Ayanda Dludla abandoned his bail application after a crash that killed 14 schoolchildren in the Vaal. Families demand accountability, ...

Courtroom twist: Vaal tragedy driver revokes bail in surprising move

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The 22-year-old Dludla is facing a string of serious charges stemming from the fatal Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash.

Community mourns: Vaal candlelight vigil honours 12 young lives lost

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Residents stood shoulder to shoulder, lighting candles and consoling one another during the Methodist Church-led service, which turned into a potent moment of shared ...

Ekurhuleni mayor faces scrutiny over alleged links to auditor's murder

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza faces mounting pressure as shocking allegations link him to the murder of City auditor Mpho Mafole and the shooting of DJ ...