Latest news with #EWNJOHANNESBURG
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Climate
- Eyewitness News
Deadly Eastern Cape floods declared a national disaster
Mongezi Koko 26 June 2025 | 10:53 Eastern Cape EMS team members recovered another body on 24 June 2025, following flooding in the province earlier in June. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN JOHANNESBURG - Government has now officially declared the deadly floods in the Eastern Cape a national disaster, opening the door for greater support and funding from Treasury. The announcement was made by Eastern Cape COGTA MEC Zolile Williams during a briefing in Mthatha on Thursday, confirming that what was previously classified as a disaster has now been formally gazetted under the Disaster Management Act. The move follows a comprehensive damage assessment, with infrastructure losses estimated at around R5 billion, with more than 4,700 people homeless. ALSO READ: • Search and rescue teams in Mthatha anticipate difficult conditions as cold front moves in • As govt works on emergency relief measures for EC, Godongwana warns against inflating of prices • EC flooding rescuers alarmed by govt's delayed reporting on discovery of bodies • Call for improved measures to deal with disasters So far, the death toll is 101 and is expected rise as search and recovery operations continue. The declaration paves the way for national government intervention, including additional funding, technical support and emergency resources for the hardest-hit communities. MEC Williams said that it would help the province fast-track recovery but warned that the impact of the floods would be felt for months to come. "The declaration made in terms of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 comes amid heavy rainfall, flooding, strong winds and snowfall that have battered parts of the country, with the Eastern Cape being the hardest hit."
Eyewitness News
20-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
Child pornography accused couple due in court
Jabulile Mbatha 20 June 2025 | 6:31 Darryn Wilken Child pornography Randburg Magistrates Court Darren Wilken and his girlfriend, Tiona Megan Moodley, who are accused of running a child pornography distribution ring, appeared at the Randburg Magistrate's Court. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN JOHANNESBURG - A couple accused of operating a global child pornography network will be back in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Friday. Darryn Wilken and his girlfriend Megan Moodley were arrested in January this year after being tracked down by the FBI in a global investigation. Police discovered that the operation was taking place at Wilken's apartment in Midrand, Johannesburg. At their previous court appearance, the matter was postponed to allow police to go through several hundred hours of pornographic footage discovered at Wilken's property. Police also found a luxury vehicle, R600,000 in cash and high-end electronic equipment Wilken's accomplice, Moodley, has been charged with manufacturing and distributing child pornography and money laundering. Since their arrest, the couple has been in police custody after being denied bail. The court previously heard how the pair made millions through their distribution of child pornography worldwide.
Eyewitness News
18-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
Thabo Bester escape case: Charges against former G4S employee withdrawn
Jabulile Mbatha 17 June 2025 | 17:35 Picture: EWN JOHANNESBURG - Charges against a former G4S member in the Thabo Bester escape case have been withdrawn by the Bloemfontein High Court. Motanyane Masukela was accused of aiding convicted rapist and murderer Bester with his escape. He appeared alongside Bester, his partner Nandipha Magudumana, her father and six other accused in the Bloemfontein High Court on Tuesday for a pre-trial hearing. The court provided no reason for the decision to drop charges against Masukela. He is the fourth former G4S employee to have charges against him withdrawn in this case. Three others were released in October 2023. The judge presiding over the matter, Lani Opperman, sent Masukela home. 'Accused number five, Mr Motanyane John Masukela, the matter is withdrawn against you in terms of section six of the Constitution of the Criminal Procedure Act, you may stand down,' said Opperman.
Eyewitness News
04-06-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
Wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane makes it to the Roland Garros quarter-finals
Palesa Manaleng 4 June 2025 | 13:50 Kgothatso Montjane French Open wheelchair tennis Wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane arrived to a hero's welcome at the OR Tambo International Airport on 15 July 2024 after winning the Wimbledon Women's Wheelchair doubles final with her partner, Yui Kamiji. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN JOHANNESBURG – Wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane is through to the quarter-finals of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Tuesday. The three-time semi-finalist on the red clay beat Macarena Cabrillana of Chile 6-3 6-3 to set up a contest against No4 seed Ziying Wang of China in the quarters. The five-time Paralympian was last at Roland Garros at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games, where she had to withdraw due to personal issues. She reached the semi-final at the French Open in 2013, 2021 and 2022. READ MORE: Roland Garros: Kgothatso Montjane grabs doubles Grand Slam US Open: Kgothatso Montjane claims second grand slam of the year Montjane secures a spot in French Riviera Open quarter-finals In doubles, Montjane will partner with Yui Kamiji, the 2023 Roland Garros champions, as they begin their campaign on Wednesday. Montjane was the first African wheelchair tennis player to compete at Wimbledon when she was handed a wild card for the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament in London in 2018. In 2012, she made Wimbledon history by being the first black South African woman to reach the final at Wimbledon while reaching the doubles final as well. Montjane competed at her first Paralympics in Beijing (2008), then in London and Rio de Janeiro. In 2018, she became the first African wheelchair tennis player to compete in the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same calendar year. Meanwhile, in the quads event, Donald Ramphadi kicks off his campaign today against Dutch second seed Sam Schroder.
Eyewitness News
05-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Mbenenge and Mengo exchanged more than 800 messages, tribunal hears
Zoleka Qodashe 5 May 2025 | 14:02 Selby Mbenenge Andiswa Mengo Judicial Conduct Tribunal Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge (back row) at the Judicial Conduct Tribunal in Sandton, Johannesburg on 5 May 2025. The tribunal is investigating sexual harassment allegations against him. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN JOHANNESBURG - Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge and high court secretary, Andiswa Mengo, exchanged more than 800 September last year, digital forensic investigator and data analyst, Francois Moller, was handed the smartphones of both parties to investigate, among others, the contents of the messages exchanged between the parties. Mengo accuses the Eastern Cape's top judge of making unwanted sexual advances towards her and sending her explicit content on social media platform, WhatsApp, between 2021 and 2022. ALSO READ: Mbenenge tribunal: First expert witness reveals Mengo and judge deleted messages from their phones Moller is the expert tasked with combing through evidence found on the phones of Mbenenge and Mengo. The digital forensic investigator confirmed some of the evidence previously presented by Mengo, including the message that read: "Are you quick to melt?"Moller corroborated that the message was sent by Mbenenge."Again, incoming message and the WhatsApp ID 5902, screen name Mfanelu, and it was sent to 5395, Ms Independent. So again, the same incoming messages to the device for Ms Mengo but it shows there the chat message, 'What if we melt? Which is not impossible,' and the date and time June 20, 2021, 22:38. And again, it indicates it's an incoming message."Despite this, a technical challenge for the tribunal will be determining that Mbenenge indeed sent the messages. While indeed originating from his device, the panel noted that it could, however, have been sent by another party.
