News you should know tonight: Top 5 stories you may have missed on July 7, 2025
Good evening, IOL News family!
It's Monday, July 7, 2025, and it's time for a wrap of the biggest headlines making waves in South Africa and beyond. Don't forget to join the IOL WhatsApp Channel to stay in tune, informed, and in the know.
Doubts surround potential probe into allegations of police corruption
Questions are mounting over the likelihood and sincerity of any investigation into allegations raised by KZN police head General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, amid concerns about political bias and systemic corruption. To read on, click here.
Murder of Ekurhuleni auditor tied to probe into R2bn electricity billing scandal
The murder of Mpho Mafole, the group divisional head for corporate and forensic audits at the City of Ekurhuleni municipality, has sent shockwaves through the city. To read on, click here.
Ramaphosa urged to make the allegations against Mchunu his top priority upon return from Brazil
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been urged to make the allegations lobbied against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi his top priority when he returns to the country. To read on, click here.
Bottom of the bottle: SAPS vows action after drunk-on-duty allegation goes viral
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that an urgent investigation is under way following the circulation of a widely viewed video on TikTok, which appears to show a uniformed police officer allegedly under the influence of alcohol while on duty.To read on, click here.
Analysts warn of a policing crisis as Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claims of corruption rock SAPS
Analysts warn that South Africa stands at a perilous crossroads as shocking revelations of police sabotage and corruption threaten to unravel the very fabric of the policing system. To read on, click here.
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The Citizen
27 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Mr President, the ball is in your court
It will be interesting to see how President Cyril Ramaphosa handles this scandal when he returns from the Brics summit in Brazil. The damning allegations against Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu being linked with crime syndicates and interfering in high-profile cases are very disturbing. These include political killings, suspected ghost staff being employed in the South African Police Service (Saps) crime intelligence division after seven senior officials were arrested on corruption charges recently and cops linked to gender-based violence and femicide. Sadly, this just another day in South Africa… As explosive as the allegations are, made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Sunday, there's little surprise. Yes, with corruption being rife in Saps, trust in them is low and there is very little confidence in our law enforcement authorities anyway. So will heads roll? It will be interesting to see how President Cyril Ramaphosa handles this scandal when he returns from the Brics summit in Brazil. ALSO READ: 'ANC is on the side of the truth': Party calls for urgent action on police interference allegations Will he appoint yet another committee or panel to look into these allegations? Will he suspend those fingered? Or will he just take time to apply his mind once more, even though he has said this is a matter of 'grave national security concern', and we need to 'uphold the integrity of the country's security services as the ongoing exchange of accusations could erode public trust and disrupt the cohesion of the police'. No kidding. Police portfolio committee chair Ian Cameron hit the nail on the head when he said: 'South Africans deserve clear answers. Silence is not an option.' He added: 'The allegations, if correct, have far-reaching implications on the effectiveness of Saps and require immediate attention. The committee has long highlighted concerns over the rot within the police which impacts its ability to investigate crime.' Mr President, the ball is in your court. If local law enforcement doesn't make you feel safe, who will? NOW READ: Mkhwanazi knows the risk of speaking out, says police committee chair
The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
Integrity commission must investigate rot in SAPS — MP Ian Cameron
'I go as far as saying we need to go through an entire integrity commission to get to the bottom of the rot in the SAPS,' said Cameron. Mkhwanazi alleged on Sunday he had evidence linking police minister Senzo Mchunu and his associate Brown Mogotsi from the North West to businessman Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala. Matlala was awarded a R360m contract from the police in 2024. He is in custody for the attempted murder of socialite Teboho Thobejane and her friend, who was seriously wounded in a shooting. Mkhwanazi said investigations have revealed Matlala is financially supporting Mchunu. Cameron said if the allegations were true it explained the police's ineffectiveness in arresting criminals. 'The allegations are not only damning to a few individuals. It indicates a systematic weakening of the police to enable corruption and to undermine the rule of law.' Urgent action was needed from President Cyril Ramaphosa against police officials implicated in wrongdoing. 'We cannot continue one day [more] with criminals masquerading as police. 'The president has the responsibility to implement an intensive investigation into the corruption allegations at [the] SAPS to protect and promote the credibility of [the] SAPS,' he said. On Sunday, Ramaphosa, who is in Brazil for the Brics summit, described the allegations against Mchunu as a matter of grave national security. 'It is vital that the integrity of the country's security services is safeguarded and the rule of law is affirmed,' Ramaphosa said, calling on the affected parties to exercise discipline and restraint. 'The trading of accusations and counteraccusations threatens to undermine public confidence and sow confusion.' SowetanLIVE
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
'It's like a group of people that has hijacked this country': Mike Bolhuis on organised crime
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhhlanhla Mkhwanazi and national commissioner of police, General Fannie Masemola. Image: Supplied Seasoned specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis has praised the courage displayed by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi who singled out Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, deputy national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya in the rot crippling policing in South Africa. 'Crime can only flourish when there is police involvement. Over the years, It has been proven that crime pays, and that is why everyone gets onto the bandwagon. If you look away and don't do anything about it (crime), which I understand those in the police do not do anything about because they could be killed, they could not be promoted and they could be dealt with severely and in other ways. 'We see this now coming to this, a level where any unit that is just in the slightest is a threat to those who are committing the organised crime, it is like a mafioso setup. It is like a group of people that has hijacked this country … taken power and control," Bolhuis spoke to SABC News. 'Anybody that is in their way could be dealt with, either by being killed or in connection with Mkhwanazi now, if they cannot find anything on him, if he is not beyond reproach, they are going to badmouth him, put him out there and that will become the narrative. They are unfortunately so strong, so well-oiled this machine, that it is going to be very difficult. The nation has to rise up, the public needs to study that (Mkhwanazi) video carefully,' he said. Bolhuis said all the sections of South African society earnestly fighting crime need to stand together and push back. On Monday, IOL reported that renowned criminologist, Prof Kholofelo Rakubu who is the head of Department at Tshwane University of Technology's merged Department of Law, Safety and Security Management, has saluted Mkhwanazi after he made damning allegations against Mchunu, and Sibiya. In an interview with IOL, Rakubu said Mkhwanazi has shown an unprecedented degree of courage in taking South Africans into his confidence over the shenanigans bedeviling SAPS, affecting service delivery at the grassroots level. 'President Cyril Ramaphosa will be coming back (from the BRICS Summit in Brazil), he should make sure that he protects South Africans, and he cuts all these lines. Should he not, the African National Congress is going to suffer dismally. It is going to suffer tremendously. Their backs are against the wall now,' said the academic. 'What Mkhwanazi has done is commendable. Should the chain of command and the chain of communication be broken to this extent, by political infiltration, one has no option but to use platforms like what Mkhwanazi did.' Renowned criminologist, Prof Kholofelo Rakubu, who is Head of Department at Tshwane University of Technology's recently merged Department of Law, Safety and Security Management. Image: File She said after Mkhwanazi's press briefing, which stirred the hornet's nest, South Africans should expect much more propaganda targeted at the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police boss. 'As an example, an issue is being made about the uniform he was wearing. He has previously worn that uniform before, tackling crime. There were no questions raised at that time. Now what is happening now is just politicking. We can expect more propaganda against Mkhwanazi because that is how the crux of politics in South Africa operates. There are going to be scandals and scandals to shake South Africans. We should anticipate that at this stage,' said Rakubu. She added that the ructions at the top echelons of the SAPS affect service delivery in the whole chain of policing, up to the police station in a community. She pointed out that morale is remarkably low among police officers, and the recent revelations might further dampen the mood. 'I am sure there are certain officers who do not even bother with arrests, chasing criminals or doing investigations because they understand all these dynamics and political infiltration within SAPS, and the magnitude of corruption. They will not even waste their resources,' said Rakubu. IOL News
