Masabata Mkwananzi

Senior Multimedia Journalist at The Star

Tax Justice SA calls for stronger laws after sentencing for illicit cigarette trafficking

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Tax Justice South Africa says South Africa must intensify its crackdown on illicit cigarette syndicates following the sentencing of a trafficker to 13 years behind ...

Brutal murder of tourists highlights safety concerns in Kruger National Park

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

AfriForum has described the murder of two tourists in the Kruger National Park as a matter of national importance amid growing concerns over visitor safety at the ...

ActionSA unveils governance team, pledging to fix Joburg ahead of 2026 elections

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

ActionSA has announced its Mayoral Campaign Governance Team in Soweto, presenting it as a “government-in-waiting” made up of professionals and activists who could ...

SAPS forensic captain arrested over interference in murder investigations

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

A SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory captain has been arrested in Pretoria by the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team on charges of defeating the ends of justice. ...

Action SA candidate accuses SAPS of allowing illegal foreign spaza shop operators to influence policing

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

ActionSA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Cllr Xolani Khumalo has criticised SAPS after allegedly encountering Ethiopian, Somali, and Bangladeshi nationals engaging ...

Major breakthrough in Gauteng as police seize R3.7 million illicit cigarette haul

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Sedibeng police have seized illicit cigarettes valued at approximately R3.7 million and arrested two men, aged 60 and 43, following a tactical intelligence-driven ...

Gauteng faces backlash as parents, educators demand reversal of school budget cuts

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

More than 16,000 Gauteng parents and residents have signed a petition demanding the reversal of controversial school budget cuts, as the Gauteng Department of Education ...

Gauteng faces backlash as parents, educators demand reversal of school budget cuts

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

More than 16,000 Gauteng parents and residents have signed a petition demanding the reversal of controversial school budget cuts, as the Gauteng Department of Education ...

Johannesburg MMC and bodyguard arrested over alleged kidnapping of teenager

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

A Johannesburg MMC and her bodyguard were arrested after a 16-year-old boy opened a case of kidnapping, pointing of a firearm and assault. Although the complainant ...

Police intensify search for suspects in slaying of Mahikeng crime activist Thato Molosankwe

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Police have launched a high-level manhunt after Mahikeng crime activist and traditional healer Thato Molosankwe was gunned down at his home in Lomanyaneng village. ...

Rebel ANC councillors march to Luthuli House amid claims of corruption and governance collapse

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Sixteen ANC councillors from the Vaal region have marched to Luthuli House, accusing the Sedibeng regional leadership of political interference, intimidation and ...

Eskom warns of potential electricity cuts in Johannesburg over R5.2 billion debt

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Johannesburg faces the threat of electricity supply interruptions from July 8 after Eskom accused the City of Johannesburg and City Power of defaulting on a court-backed ...

Bonko Khoza denies sexual assault allegations, insists investigations found no evidence

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Actor Bonko Khoza has denied sexual assault allegations made by actress Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku over an incident that allegedly took place during the filming of Red ...

Emfuleni's R145 million waste management overspend faces scrutiny amid ongoing refuse crisis

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

More than R145 million spent on waste management in Emfuleni has come under scrutiny as illegal dumping, overflowing refuse and deteriorating conditions continue ...

Gauteng sees alarming rise in hypertension cases among young adults

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The Gauteng Department of Health has raised alarm over rising hypertension cases among adults under 45 after more than 26,000 young people were diagnosed in the ...

South Africa faces firearm glorification crisis as police arrest two for unlicensed weapon videos

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Gun Free South Africa has warned of a growing culture of reckless firearm glorification after two men linked to viral videos showing women handling unlicensed guns ...

Gauteng faces a water crisis as municipalities spend millions on outsourced tanker services

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has raised alarm over spiralling municipal spending on outsourced water tanker services, ...

Pressure mounts for SIU probe into Ekurhuleni's R2 billion billing scandal

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The Democratic Alliance has intensified calls for accountability after confirming that the Presidency received its request for an SIU investigation into the R2 billion ...

Gauteng's schools face crisis with R600 million in unpaid municipal debt

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Gauteng schools owe municipalities nearly R600 million, with growing electricity and water disconnections threatening teaching and learning across the province. ...

Limpopo police arrest grandparents of missing two-year-old Omphile Sethole

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Limpopo police have arrested the grandparents of missing two-year-old Omphile Sethole on charges of alleged child negligence as the search for her continues. Omphile ...

Behind the scenes: new campaign shines light on football's unsung heroes

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a new campaign is highlighting the behind-the-scenes workers who help bring football to life from grounds staff to stadium crews, ...

Gauteng health department issues urgent warning on unregulated injectable substances

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The Gauteng Department of Health has issued an urgent warning over unregulated injectable substances used for body enhancement and sexual performance after two people ...

Tributes pour in for pioneering South African artist Maria McCloy

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Artist, DJ and multi-disciplinary creative Maria McCloy has died at the age of 50 after suffering heart failure at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. The Gauteng ...

Parliament’s Ethics Committee finds Minister Dean Macpherson guilty of discriminatory remarks

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Parliament’s Ethics Committee has found Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson guilty of breaching the Code of Ethical Conduct after referring ...

‘We are speaking about corruption’: ANC councillors demand SIU probe in Emfuleni

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A group of ANC councillors in Emfuleni have broken ranks with their party, warning that collapsing infrastructure, sewer spillages, waste backlogs and alleged corruption ...