An unidentified group attacked a restaurant where most of the victims were present. Police stated that the attackers were using a vehicle, which they described as a car that was being driven through the area during the attack.

So far, the names of those killed and injured have not been released. It is also unclear how many of the victims were men or women, the motive behind targeting the restaurant, whether foreigners were among the victims, and other questions being raised by the public.

National crime investigation units are tracking information related to the vehicles used by the still-unidentified attackers who carried out the assault that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.

Authorities are reviewing surveillance cameras installed on roads and in neighborhoods to determine where the vehicles used in the attack came from. In addition, ballistic examinations are being conducted on bullets recovered from some of the victims’ bodies, according to reports.

In recent months, South Africa has seen an increase in targeted killings, attacks against foreigners, robberies of business premises, and ambushes on roads used by vehicles driven by non-citizens traveling between cities.

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This follows a surge in violent crimes against women across the country. The announcement was made on Friday after nationwide protests in which women lay on the ground to honour victims killed daily in South Africa.

The movement was supported by women in other countries, including Kenya and Namibia.

According to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) classified GBV and femicide as a disaster “following a thorough reassessment of previous reports and updated submissions from organs of state as well as civil organisations.”

South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence against women globally, with GBV levels estimated to be among the highest in the world.

The declaration comes after an online petition signed by more than one million South Africans calling for urgent action.

A movement known as Women for Change, which advocates for women’s rights, welcomed the decision.

In a statement posted online, the organisation said, “We have won,” adding that “persistence has been recognised.”

“We have written history together, and we have finally forced the country to confront the truth,” it added.

The categorisation allows government departments to use allocated funds to “take every measure possible to curb the crisis,” according to BBC reports.

A total of 42,569 rape cases were reported between April 2023 and March 2024, according to UN Women.

Overall, more than 35% of women over 18 have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.

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At least one of the men was convicted of murder, others for child rape and assault. According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the individuals were “so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back”. The deportees originate from Cuba, Laos, Jamaica, Vietnam, and Yemen.

This marks the second known transfer of U.S. deportees to Africa this month — following eight men deported to South Sudan earlier in July under a similar scheme.

On June 23, 2025, the Supreme Court permitted expedited deportations to third countries, contingent only on assurances from the State Department that deportees would remain safe—eliminating the need for case‑by‑case judicial review.

Following this ruling, an ICE memo (dated July 9) authorized deportations with as little as six hours’ notice—though ordinarily a 24-hour notification is provided.

Critics warn that such sweeping measures may undermine legal due process and raise human rights concerns, with deportees potentially sent to nations where oversight is limited.

The Kingdom of Eswatini is a small, absolute monarchy of ~1.1–1.2 million people between South Africa and Mozambique, ruled by King Mswati III.

No official statement has come from Eswatini’s government confirming an agreement with the U.S. on absorbing these deportees.

Local civil society groups have voiced alarm over the secrecy surrounding the operation and the nation’s capacity to house convicted criminals.

A representative from pro‑democracy group SWALIMO emphasized that “this opacity makes it difficult for civic society to understand the implications”.

Eswatini—where political parties are effectively banned and freedom of expression often suppressed—has faced recent scrutiny over human rights violations and governmental transparency.

Activists caution that carrying out such deportations could put strains on the nation’s limited resources and oversight mechanisms .

Voices in Eswatini, including social media, describe the move as treating the country like a “dumping ground” and are calling for immediate parliamentary review and clarity on any U.S. partnership.

The U.S. is reportedly negotiating similar agreements with other African nations, including Rwanda, as part of a policy to relocate migrants outside of the Americas.

In West Africa, Nigeria has reportedly rebuffed American pressure to take in deportees, citing domestic constraints .

In Latin America, the U.S. has already transferred migrants to Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador, signaling a trend toward externalizing its border enforcement.

Legal and Ethical Concerns: The truncated deportation process bypasses standard legal frameworks, drawing criticism from human rights groups and UN observers who argue it may conflict with international law .

Domestic Politics: The policy bolsters the administration’s domestic stance on immigration control, but risks backlash at home if deportees face mistreatment abroad .

Diplomatic Fallout: Pressuring poor nations to host criminal deportees may weaken U.S. reputations and relations, especially if civic backlash and protests ensue.

Eswatini’s Response: Local watchdogs are demanding government transparency and full disclosure regarding the deal’s terms. An emergency parliamentary session has been suggested .

U.S. Expansion: Washington is reportedly on track to secure more third‑country deportation pacts, inviting scrutiny from legal analysts, NGOs, and foreign diplomats.

By deploying convicted criminals to Eswatini under a third‑country deportation policy approved by the Supreme Court, the U.S. administration has activated a bold new front in immigration enforcement.

The move raises pressing questions about legality, transparency, and national sovereignty—not least in small nations like Eswatini, whose resources and governance are already strained.

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Lt-Gen Khumalo was apprehended on Thursday evening by members of the anti-corruption unit upon his arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, according to local media.

He appeared in court in Pretoria on Friday alongside six other senior police officers. All seven are reportedly linked to an ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of intelligence funds and irregular appointments within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Their legal representative told the court that the group intends to plead not guilty to the charges.

While full details of the case remain unclear, this marks the second major round of arrests within the SAPS Crime Intelligence unit in less than two weeks. Three additional senior officials are already facing charges of corruption and misconduct.

The arrests have intensified scrutiny on the integrity of the Crime Intelligence unit, which is mandated to combat organized crime and internal threats. Critics argue that the wave of scandals is eroding public trust in law enforcement.

The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, welcomed the arrests, describing them as a necessary step towards restoring credibility in a unit “on the brink of collapse.”

“This points to yet another serious breach of trust within a critical state institution,” the party said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters said the arrest of Lt-Gen Khumalo was “not an isolated scandal” but part of a broader pattern of systemic failure, calling for a structural overhaul of the country’s policing system.

Lt-Gen Khumalo was appointed as the head of Crime Intelligence in 2022, following more than 20 years of service in various SAPS departments.

Corruption allegations against senior police officials have long plagued the SAPS, further damaging public confidence in the force.

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This follows another significant development in September, in which Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly secured a $5 billion pledge from Saudi Arabia’s PIF, representing the “first phase” of a larger investment strategy.

As a leading global energy giant, Saudi Arabia has been actively investing in Africa’s energy sector, aiming to expand its energy reserves, advance energy diplomacy and compete with other global superpowers. This strategic push not only strengthens Saudi Arabia’s influence in the region, but also paves the way for deeper economic and political ties with African nations.

To date, the lion’s share of investment in Africa’s energy sector has focused on clean energy advancements. With total project costs reaching $7 billion across the continent, Saudi developer ACWA Power stands as the leading private-sector investor in African renewable energy.

In October 2024, the company announced that its Redstone solar plant in South Africa was set to achieve its full 100 MW capacity, while its Kom Ombo solar PV plant in Egypt successfully reached its full capacity of 200 MW. ACWA Power is also leading Project DAO, South Africa’s largest hybrid renewable power plant, with an $800 million investment.

The project is expected to come online by 2026 and aligns with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 goals.

In addition to renewable energy, Saudi Arabia is diversifying its investments to secure critical minerals for clean energy technologies. In October, Saudi Arabia’s Manara Minerals, a joint venture between Ma’aden and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), entered advanced talks to acquire a minority stake in First Quantum Minerals’ Zambian copper and nickel assets.

The potential investment, valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, underscores Saudi Arabia’s strategy to secure critical minerals that are vital for the global clean energy transition.

Turning to broader regional commitments, Saudi Arabia’s financial support for Africa’s energy infrastructure has grown. In October, the Kingdom announced a major funding initiative, pledging at least $41 billion for sub-Saharan African nations.

This includes $1 billion for development, $5 billion for startups, $10 billion in financing from the Saudi Export-Import Bank and $25 billion in private sector investments over the next decade.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Energy has established the “Empowering Africa” initiative as part of its broader commitment to supporting sustainable development across the continent.

In collaboration with the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology and Health, the initiative aims to deliver clean energy, connectivity, e-health and e-learning solutions to enhance lives and promote long-term growth in Africa.

Building upon the Clean Fuel Solutions for Cooking Program, it focuses on providing cleaner cooking solutions to vulnerable populations, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional biomass fuels and improve health outcomes for millions of households.

Minister bin Salman Al Saud has emphasized energy as a fundamental human right and is spearheading efforts to improve access to clean cooking technologies across the continent.

Additionally, state-owned petroleum company Saudi Aramco is strengthening its partnerships with African nations to support energy investments and mobilization.

These collaborations are expected to drive infrastructure development, enhance oil and gas production capacity and facilitate knowledge transfer between Saudi and African energy stakeholders, while aligning with broader energy security and sustainability goals.

In the multilateral arena, the African Energy Chamber is working with Saudi Arabia to support South Africa’s G20 energy investments and mobilization. This partnership is set to facilitate greater financing and policy coordination, ensuring Africa’s energy priorities are well-represented in global energy discussions.

The upcoming African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies conference in Cape Town serves as a key platform to facilitate and support these investments, bringing together Saudi stakeholders, African governments and global energy leaders to advance new projects, strengthen partnerships and accelerate the continent’s energy transition. These collaborations are essential in addressing energy challenges, driving economic growth and fostering long-term sustainability. As Saudi investments expand – alongside those of other G20 nations – their impact on Africa’s energy landscape will only deepen.

(Source: African Energy Chamber)

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Two organizations representing white South Africans responded by rejecting Trump’s plan to deport people from the United States and resettle them in South Africa.

This plan was detailed in a presidential decree signed by Trump on Friday, which stopped all the aid and economic assistance that the United States gives to South Africa.

The White House said that this is aimed at punishing what the Trump administration said was a “violation of the rights” of some of its white citizens, which was carried out by the government.

President Trump has accused the South African government, which has been ruled by black South African politicians for more than 30 years, for allowing violent attacks against the white minority farmers.

He also alleged that the government issued a law to confiscate the farms of the whites, without any compensation.

The South African government has denied any concerted attacks on white farmers, saying Trump’s description of the new land law is full of misinformation and misinformation.

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Economists polled by Reuters had forecast annual inflation would accelerate to 3.2%, still well below 4.5% – the level the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) aims for.

In month-on-month terms inflation was at 0.1% in December, versus 0.0% in November.

The central bank cut interest rates at its last two meetings of 2024, and many analysts expect a further cut at its first monetary policy announcement of this year next Thursday.

Reuters.

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Police had encircled the mine since August and cut off food and water supplies to try to force the miners out so they could be arrested, resulting in what the GIWASU labour union called the worst state-sponsored massacre since the end of apartheid.

Since Monday, rescuers have used a cylindrical metal cage to pull up 78 bodies and 246 survivors, some of them emaciated and disorientated, in a court-ordered operation at the mine near the town of Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg.

The survivors, who are mostly from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, have been arrested and charged with illegal immigration, trespass, illegal mining and other offences.

he police have said they were enforcing a government crackdown on illegal mining and that to have allowed food and water down during the siege would have meant “allowing criminality to thrive”.

Mzwandile Mkwayi, 36, was one of two volunteers from the local township of Khuma, where most of the miners lived, who spent three days going up and down in the cage to bring out the corpses and survivors.

“I was scared. Those people were happy to see us, they were very happy. We told them ‘we are here to help you, please don’t die’,” he told Reuters on Thursday near the opening of the mine shaft.

“I put the bodies in the bags with my own hands. It was my first time to see a pile of dead. It will traumatise me for the rest of my life.”

Asked why he had volunteered, Mkwayi said: “Those people are our brothers. We’re living with them.”

On Thursday morning, the cage was sent down one last time, with a camera inside, which police described as a way of verifying information from volunteers who went down on Wednesday evening and said they could see no one left in the mine.

Reuters reporters at the scene saw the cage being lifted out empty and being driven away in a truck.

Mannas Fourie, the CEO of a rescue company involved in the operation, said it was possible some of the dead had been left in the vast network of deep tunnels and would never be found.

“If somebody got lost, you will never know whether somebody got left behind,” he told Reuters.

ABANDONED MINES

Illegal mining cost South Africa over $3 billion last year, according to the mining minister. Typically, undocumented miners move into mines abandoned by commercial miners and seek to extract whatever is left. Some are under the control of violent criminal gangs.

Ministers have consistently described the Stilfontein miners as criminals and one spoke of the need to “smoke them out”.

But local community members, civil society groups and labour unions have denounced the Stilfontein crackdown, with GIWASU condemning what it called “the dehumanisation and criminalisation of these poor, desperate miners”.

Thembile Botman, a community leader in Khuma, said local residents had been saying for months that people would die, and the deaths could have been averted had the rescue operation taken place sooner.

“The minister said they were going to smoke them out and they did. Congratulations,” he said, speaking with bitter anger.

Throughout the rescue operation, police and contractors operating the cage have not been going down themselves but rather have relied on local volunteers.

Police have not explained why they were not going down themselves but Fourie said it was better for the volunteers to go because they knew the miners and could gain their trust.

During the siege, police removed a pulley system the miners had previously been using to get in and out and waited outside the opening for them to come out, but community leaders and lawyers have alleged there was no way for them to climb out.

The pulley was later restored and removed several times during months of negotiations and legal action, according to civil society advocates and community members involved in supporting the miners.

The police have denied blocking the miners’ exit and said more than 1,500 miners did get out by their own means between the start of the siege in August and the rescue operation, which began on Monday.

(Reuters)

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Energy woes are synonymous with South Africa right now. Having a conversation with Gugu Mfuphi on her Kaya FM show, reminded me on the necessity of an energy mix and natural gas and making markets work for South Africa.

As the country’s fleet of mostly coal-powered plants struggles to keep up with electricity demand, South Africans are enduring daily power outages that last six to 10 hours a day.

With businesses and institutions struggling to function, and tension mounting among South Africa’s people, the need for solutions is beyond urgent.

I say “solutions” because providing the reliable power that South Africa needs now, and ensuring that the growing country will have what it needs well into the future, will require multiple strategies.

As I’ve written, because of the country’s current reliance on coal to fire its power plants — and coal mines to fuel the economy — increased coal usage must be one of those solutions for the time being.

South Africa also will need to continue building its renewable energy sector, and it has committed to do so in alignment with global goals to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

But perhaps one of the most impactful solutions will be natural gas, which not only can power reliable electricity generation but also is a clean energy source – one that can be monetized and one that supports economic diversification as a feedstock for chemical and fertilizer factories.

It only makes sense for South Africa to harness its massive – and largely untapped – reserves of natural gas. As described in the new African Energy Chamber (AEC) report, “The State of South African Energy,” cumulative output for South Africa’s large-scale Brulpadda and Luiperd natural gas discoveries, when developed, are estimated to be 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) of liquids and 125,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). South Africa must do what it takes to reach that point as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, South Africa should be encouraging ongoing oil and gas exploration through an enabling regulatory environment.

And we cannot forget the importance of natural gas projects in neighboring African countries, including Gigajoule’s $550-million Matola Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project in Mozambique, which will supply South Africa with gas; the 865-kilometer Rompco Gas Pipeline from Mozambique to South Africa; and Renergen’s Virginia liquefied natural gas project in South Africa. These projects need to be fast-tracked.

Natural gas, if directed toward domestic markets and gas-fired electricity plants, can help South Africa find its way out of its current power crisis. Natural gas can also help ensure energy security and economic growth while the country transitions from fossil fuels to renewables for power generation. South Africa must move decisively to accelerate its gas agenda and start realizing these benefits.

Renewables Alone Will Not Save the Day

I’ve heard repeated arguments that South Africa’s energy crisis is proof that now is the time for the country to move, at lightning speed, to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.

As I’ve said more than once, South African can and should embrace solar and wind, but it also must consider the intermittency issues that come with them. They can’t be counted on to provide electricity around the clock.

South Africa does not need more power fluctuations. It needs baseload power sources that can generate dependable power capable of consistently meeting demand. And the only way to get that is from coal and natural gas.

We also have to be realistic about the financial requirements for a complete transition to natural gas. Yes, South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP) is an excellent program, but as of yet, the money generated is a drop in the bucket. South Africa has acknowledged that it will need about $99 billion to pay for a full transition to renewable energy. Currently, it has received commitments for about $8.5 billion.

So, as South Africa pursues renewable energy, the logical approach would be to embrace natural gas as well. It can serve as a reliable energy source for the country’s current and future needs, and as it’s monetized, it can help generate revenue for South Africa’s energy transition.

I was pleased to hear South African President Cyril Ramaphosa express that logic. He has made it clear that, while the country does plan to replace coal with lower-carbon alternatives, those alternatives will include both renewables and natural gas.

South Africa has an Integrated Resource Plan in place that calls for gas technology generating 6,000 megawatts (MW) from combined-cycle gas turbines, including 3,000 MW from LNG-to-power, 726 MW from gas-to-power, and 1,500 MW from non-specified gas.

This is doable, and it aligns with the AEC report’s forecast for South African power generation during the next decade and beyond. While coal currently accounts for about 80% of power generation, coal usage likely will decrease to 65% by the end of the decade, our report says. Gas and renewables, meanwhile, will see growth around the same time: Natural gas will account for 5% of power generation in 2031, while onshore wind and solar photovoltaic (PV)-generated power will make up 17% and 7%, respectively. In the long term, natural gas, onshore wind, and solar PV are expected to increase to 15%, 30%, and 20%, respectively, making up 65% of total power generation.

It’s Time for a Regulatory Rehaul

South Africa’s commitment to pursuing these avenues is praiseworthy, but when it comes to harnessing natural gas, more work is needed.

I’m talking about government policies.

South Africa needs a regulatory environment that encourages ongoing investment and exploration by oil and gas companies. Consider the Orange Basin, where Namibia is seeing record-breaking discoveries that will ensure its energy security. But only 20% of the Orange Basin is in Namibia, while 80% of it is in South Africa. Now is the time to capitalize on the opportunity it offers.

Unfortunately, South Africa seems to be stuck: E&P is being hindered by unnecessary government red tape. We need to change that right away. Oil and gas companies already face tremendous pressure not to produce in Africa; this is no time to pile on the challenges. Oil and gas companies can raise all the capital needed to develop projects in South Africa, but if the red tape and regulatory process is too burdensome, then there is no point in doing natural gas projects that can get South Africa out of this existential energy crisis.

It shouldn’t take longer to approve natural gas projects than the time needed to develop it.

The African Energy Chamber strongly urges South Africa to ease regulatory burdens on oil and gas companies. And we call upon South Africa to fast-track permit approvals for more drilling, seismic surveys, pipeline developments, and LNG terminal construction. I personally want to make natural gas and an enabling environment a big issue during African Energy Week in Cape Town from October 16^th to 20^th.

In 2019, Total Energies exploration team successfully made game changing amazing condensate discovery on the Brulpadda prospects, located on Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin, 175 kilometers off the southern coast of South Africa.

South Africa also needs to eliminate red tape that could slow the Brulpadda and Luiperd projects discovered by Total Energies.

These steps will be critical for South Africa to start putting natural gas to work for its people, its businesses, and its communities.

Natural Gas Is a Reasonable Solution

Not surprisingly, if you consider the constant pressure Africa has faced in recent years to leave our fossil fuels in the ground, the prospect of pursuing gas-to-power projects in South Africa is being met with sharp resistance. “Dirty gas” is not the answer, environmentalists and Western voices insist.

I strongly disagree. We must be pragmatic: South Africa must harness every solution at its disposal, natural gas in particular, to address the country’s energy needs.

Fortunately, President Ramaphosa has been pushing back against the anti-gas narrative as well.

“Countries on the African continent need to be able to explore and extract oil and gas in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner,” Ramaphosa said earlier this year during an address at the Investing in African Mining Indaba. “These resources are important for energy security, for social and economic development, and for reducing energy poverty on the continent. And we do not see this trajectory as being mutually exclusive to our focus on moving towards ensuring that we reduce our carbon footprint… In our onward march towards a low-carbon future it is critical that our efforts are both realistic and sustainable.”

Well said!

I would add that many of the environmental groups trying to keep people in the dark in South Africa – and across our continent – don’t have the same struggles with energy security. In fact, in a move that balances environmental stewardship with energy security, the United States just approved an $8 billion drilling program in Alaska. If it’s acceptable for wealthy countries to perform this balancing act, there’s no reason why Africa’s most industrialized nation cannot do the same.

Having clean air doesn’t mean we have to be in the dark.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Kaab TV or its editors.

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