Mabopane Daily News

16/10/2025

COURT DENIES BAIL TO MAN ACCUSED OF BRUTAL FAMILY MURDERS WITH A SPADE
Mabopane Daily News

Temba, Gauteng — The Temba Magistrates’ Court has denied bail to Romeo Moshe Shibambu (37) of Suurman, who stands accused of murdering three family members — including a three-year-old child — in what prosecutors described as a vicious spade attack that shocked the local community.

Shibambu faces three counts of murder, two of attempted murder, and one of malicious property damage following the horrific events that unfolded between 28 and 30 September 2025.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the violence began when Shibambu’s sister visited him at his home. During their conversation, she reportedly noticed a spade nearby and questioned him about it. He allegedly told her that he “felt like fighting” and that if he did, he “would win the fight.” Moments later, he allegedly attacked her with the spade, forcing her to flee for her life.

Two days later, Shibambu allegedly approached a nearby shop to demand R350 from the owner — still carrying the same spade. On his way, he reportedly noticed children playing at a neighbour’s house and viciously attacked three-year-old Kelebogile Neo Gift Baloyi, killing the child instantly.

When the child’s mother, Rose Baloyi (33), saw what was happening and attempted to raise the alarm, she collapsed in shock. The accused allegedly turned on her and beat her to death with the spade. As her husband, Sibusiso Langatshe Baloyi (42), tried to intervene, he too was brutally attacked and killed.

A nearby taxi driver, who witnessed the rampage, tried to stop the accused but was also struck with the spade. Shibambu then allegedly stole the taxi, dragging the injured driver as he drove off before the vehicle came to a stop. Community members quickly mobilised, apprehending the suspect before police arrived to arrest him. The injured taxi driver was rushed to hospital.

In court, Shibambu chose to represent himself and argued for bail, claiming he needed time to prepare for trial. However, Prosecutor Sharon Nkandimeng strongly opposed his application, citing testimony from Constable Phalane of the Serious and Violent Crime Unit. The officer told the court that the accused was a flight risk and a danger to both the community and himself, noting that he had allegedly said he wanted to take his own life because his “job was done.”

The Magistrate agreed with the prosecution, ruling that releasing the accused would not be in the interests of justice. Bail was denied, and the case was postponed to 27 November 2025 for further investigation.

The gruesome killings have left the Suurman community in deep shock, with residents calling for stronger measures to curb violent crimes and ensure justice for the victims.

16/10/2025

FROM FINANCIAL CLIFF TO FRAGILE STABILITY:
Tshwane’s R1.9 Billion Turnaround Under Moya and Modise
Mabopane Daily News

Mabopane — Once teetering on the brink of financial collapse, the City of Tshwane is showing signs of recovery — but officials admit the road to full stability remains steep.

Finance MMC Eugene Modise, under the leadership of Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, says the capital city has made “measurable progress” in rebuilding its finances after inheriting a near-broken municipality in October 2024.

“The City was standing at the edge of a fiscal cliff,” Modise said. “While measurable progress has been made, the journey toward full stability continues. It will require continued fiscal discipline and collective effort through 2025 and 2026.”

According to the latest financial figures, Tshwane’s cash and cash equivalents have surged from R835 million to R1.9 billion — a major leap that has given the City some breathing room. The current ratio, a key measure of short-term solvency, has nearly doubled from 0.42 in 2022/23 to 0.88 by September 2025.

The City also recorded a R1.9 billion surplus in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, a rare feat for a municipality that had previously operated with an unfunded budget for four consecutive years.

“These numbers show the City is finally starting to balance its books,” Modise said, while warning that “the margin remains narrow” and “discipline must continue.”

One of the biggest victories came in the fight against debt. Tshwane reduced its Eskom arrears by R1.1 billion — from R6.66 billion to R5.56 billion — while also settling its R4.63 billion VAT liability in full. The City says its current accounts with Eskom and Rand Water are now fully up to date.

Creditors and residents have responded positively, Modise said, noting that the progress has “restored confidence” in the City’s financial management.

However, the City’s debtors’ book still stands at R27.99 billion, a figure Modise admits remains worrying despite progress made through the Tshwane Ya Tima and Debt Relief Incentive Schemes, which have trimmed the debt from over R35 billion.

Revenue collection has stabilised at 82%, while billing accuracy now exceeds 99%, with 90% of accounts based on actual meter readings. Billing growth sits at 5.5% year-on-year, reflecting gradual strengthening of the City’s revenue base.

Still, arrears recovery remains sluggish. Modise says the City will intensify enforcement and “cleanse the indigent register” to ensure fair targeting of those who can afford to pay.

Tshwane has also made strides in cleaning up its audit record. The City has reduced the number of qualification areas from 13 to 6, with no scope limitations in the latest audit cycle — a sign, Modise says, of “growing accountability and reform.”

“We’ve shown that disciplined financial management delivers results,” he added. “But sustained success will require continued focus, tough decisions, and collective accountability.”

Next Steps: From Cautious Stability to Sustainability

Looking ahead, the City’s 2025/26 financial priorities are clear:

Build stronger cash reserves to cover at least one month of operating costs.

Intensify arrears recovery and update the indigent register.

Maintain full payment compliance with Eskom and Rand Water.

Push toward a clean audit by 2026.

Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya has identified Financial Stability and Revenue Enhancement as Priority 1 for her administration, calling it “the foundation upon which every other municipal service depends.”

The message from Tshwane’s leadership is clear: the crisis has eased, but the recovery remains fragile.

“Tshwane has moved from crisis to cautious stability,” Modise concluded. “Now we must consolidate these gains and build a stronger, more resilient financial foundation for the years ahead.”

16/10/2025

Mabopane Daily News

MABOPANE, BLOCK E

16/10/2025

Mabopane Daily News
BLOCK A - BOEKENHOUT

16/10/2025

RAMAPHOSA SUSPENDS INTELLIGENCE WATCHDOG IMTIAZ FAZEL AS PARLIAMENT PROBES CONDUCT COMPLAINT

Mabopane Daily News Political Desk

President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI), Mr Imtiaz Fazel, pending the outcome of a parliamentary investigation into his conduct.

The Presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa acted in line with Section 7(5) of the Intelligence Services Act (Act 40 of 1994), which empowers the President to suspend the Inspector-General when they are under investigation by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI).

“If the Inspector-General is the subject of an investigation by the JSCI in terms of subsection (4), he or she may be suspended by the President pending a decision in such investigation,” the Act states.

According to the Presidency, the JSCI informed the President that it had received a complaint regarding Fazel’s conduct and that it would initiate a formal inquiry as prescribed by law.

Imtiaz Fazel was appointed as South Africa’s Inspector-General of Intelligence in November 2022, following parliamentary approval after years of vacancy in the post. His appointment was widely welcomed as a step toward restoring oversight and accountability in the intelligence community — an area deeply affected by state capture-era dysfunction and political interference.

Before his appointment, Fazel held senior roles within the State Security Agency (SSA) and the Department of Public Works, where he was known for his administrative discipline and focus on governance standards.

The Inspector-General of Intelligence serves as South Africa’s civilian watchdog, responsible for monitoring and reviewing the activities of the SSA, Defence Intelligence, and Police Crime Intelligence to ensure that their operations remain within the law and protect citizens’ rights.

Fazel’s sudden suspension comes at a sensitive time for President Ramaphosa, who has increasingly faced public scrutiny for his handling of security and intelligence matters.

In recent months, the President has moved decisively against several top officials, often citing accountability and the need for institutional stability. Analysts say this may signal a pattern of tightening control over oversight structures — though the Presidency insists such actions are guided purely by due process.

The details of the complaint against Fazel remain confidential, and neither the JSCI nor the Presidency has provided a timeline for when the investigation will be concluded.

Civil society groups and opposition MPs are expected to demand transparency around the suspension, especially given the Inspector-General’s central role in holding intelligence agencies accountable.

A Watchdog Under Watch

The development places one of South Africa’s most critical oversight institutions under the microscope — raising questions about internal accountability within the intelligence services and whether the President’s move reflects a broader shake-up in security governance.

For now, Fazel remains suspended pending the outcome of the JSCI’s investigation.

15/10/2025

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15/10/2025

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15/10/2025

15/10/2025

HOW LONG MUST HE DENY?
Ramaphosa’s U-Turn on Maumela Knows, Sparks Fury:
Mabopane Daily News

Cape Town, 15 October 2025 — President Cyril Ramaphosa has found himself in the eye of a storm after admitting in Parliament that he does know Hangwani Morgan Maumela—undoing earlier denials. The revelation has raised serious questions about credibility, oversight, and whether the people meant to protect the public trust have instead misled them.

The Discrepancy: From Denial to Admission

In 2022, during a session in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa denied knowing Maumela. When pressed by DA leader John Steenhuisen about corruption allegations involving Maumela, Ramaphosa’s reply was categorical: “I don’t even know this gentleman.”

Fast forward to walks in 2024.
October 2025. Ramaphosa, in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), confessed that he had met Maumela—though ostensibly by chance—outside Maumela’s house during his regular walks in 2024.

Hangwani Maumela is under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for alleged involvement in the looting of over R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital via inflated tenders, phantom deliveries, and fraudulent company networks.

Authorities have already seized assets valued at hundreds of millions: luxury properties, high-end vehicles (Lamborghinis, etc.), designer furniture and more.

Ramaphosa’s defence rests on several points:

1. “No relationship, except by a long-ended marriage”: He argues that the only connection to Maumela is that Maumela’s aunt was once his spouse.

2. Denial of earlier acquaintance: He says in 2022, he truthfully said he did not know Maumela because he had never encountered him.

3. Chance encounters later: He claims the first time he saw Maumela was when walking past his house, when Maumela greeted him. That is the first time he knew which house it was and who lived there.

The initial blanket denial is contradicted by later acknowledgments of having seen Maumela in 2023-2024. If one passes by someone’s house frequently, or sees them emerge from a building, is that “never encountered”? The semantics of “encounter” are being stretched.

The timing of the denials and admissions matters. A denial when asked in Parliament has weight; retracting or clarifying years later after a picture or video circulates implies reactive rather than proactive truth.

The public has reason to question “coincidence” when multiple elements line up: the proximity of residences, the public profile of Maumela, luxurious assets seized, and the viral videos/photographs. The optics are damning.

Opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA), African Transformation Movement (ATM), and uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) are demanding investigations into Ramaphosa. They insist that if there was prior contact or awareness, it could represent a conflict of interest, especially in a case involving corruption, tenders, and state funds.

The DA is pressing for the SIU probe to be expanded to include Maumela’s syndicate’s dealings, including alleged attempts to secure further public tenders.

Maumela is under credible investigation, with substantial evidence of wrongdoing.

Ramaphosa initially denied knowing Maumela, even in the distant familial sense, or encountering him, and stated that he had no ties.

Later, he conceded that he had seen Maumela, had at least one direct encounter (greeting), knew of Maumela’s house, and realized the familial link via a former marriage.

What Remains Unclear

Was Ramaphosa aware, at any earlier point, of Maumela's reputation, his alleged corruption or syndicate activities, before the SIU reports became public?

Did any family or associates of Ramaphosa benefit from Maumela’s work or contracts? Ramaphosa has said “no,” but verifying that via audit or oversight is essential.

Are there records of communication, financial or otherwise, between Ramaphosa (or his immediate family) and Maumela’s companies or tenders?

How did statements made by his spokesperson (denials) reconcile with what Ramaphosa later admitted? Was there intentional obfuscation?

15/10/2025

Mabopane Daily News

Nasiphi Moya, Tshwane Mayor, said an internal investigation looking into possible conflict of interest and misconduct by Deputy Mayor, Eugene Modise, has bee...

15/10/2025

https://youtu.be/B_ApFVscsO8?si=ABn4Fh0lQO4uaI22

Nasiphi Moya, Tshwane Mayor, said an internal investigation looking into possible conflict of interest and misconduct by Deputy Mayor, Eugene Modise, has bee...

15/10/2025

MODISE DEFIES DA ATTACKS, VOWS PROPER COUNCIL PROCESS:
Mayor Moya Urges Speaker to Act on Forensic Report Amid R170m Irregular Expenditure Controversy
Mabopane Daily News | October 15, 2025

Tshwane’s political arena erupted into open confrontation yesterday as Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise publicly dismissed a DA motion of no confidence and defended his conduct over allegations linked to Triotic Protection Services, a security company tied to irregular contracts worth R170 million.

Speaking to journalists during the City’s one-year anniversary celebration, Modise insisted that he had fully cooperated with the forensic investigation and that all matters regarding his previous directorship in Triotic had been addressed.

“We cannot be tried and convicted on social media. The proper process will unfold in Council,” Modise declared.

He accused the DA of politicising the matter and said their outrage was motivated more by political expediency than governance concerns.

“Their motion of no confidence is an attempt to destabilise Tshwane’s leadership,” he said.

Modise reiterated that the security contract in question was awarded before he became a councillor or deputy mayor and claimed that he had divested from the company through a sale-by-instalment agreement, although critics question whether the arrangement fully severed his financial interest.

Mayor Nasiphi Moya, speaking at the same event, confirmed that the forensic report had been handed to the Speaker’s office and that the city had made it clear that it did not wish to delay the matter further.

"There's nothing to hide",
“The report has been finalised and is with the Speaker, who has sought legal advice on the next steps. We are committed to following the proper process,” Moya said.

The mayor also highlighted the achievements of her executive over the past year, including financial stabilization, reduction of debt to Eskom, and the tabling of a fully funded budget — efforts she insists demonstrate her administration’s commitment to accountability and good governance.

Media reports indicate the internal investigation suggests that Modise may have continued to benefit financially from Triotic even after resigning as director in 2023, potentially breaching the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

The report also flagged approximately R170 million in irregular expenditure linked to the contract, which was extended month-by-month without Council approval — a procedural violation that has prompted calls for remedial action.

The Speaker’s legal team is reviewing the findings before formally tabling the report in Council, a process expected to spark intense debate and potentially disciplinary proceedings.

While Moya’s administration celebrates a year of governance milestones, opposition parties have intensified pressure on the executive. The DA insists that Modise should be suspended immediately, arguing that the forensic findings demonstrate sufficient cause for action.

Analysts warn that how this issue is handled could define the remainder of Moya’s term.

“This is more than a controversy over a security contract. It’s a test of leadership, accountability, and the strength of Tshwane’s coalition government,” said one political observer.

For now, Modise maintains his innocence, the DA is calling for decisive action, and Mayor Moya is navigating the delicate line between loyalty to her deputy and the city’s demand for transparency.

Tshwane residents and political watchers alike will be watching closely as the Speaker prepares to table the report and Council prepares for what could become a historic showdown.