Lesilo News Agency, Maseru (2026)

09/01/2026

𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐊𝐀'𝐒 𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐎𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐗𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐌 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍
09/01/2026 Lesilo News Agency 02:00pm

The Correctional Services Department has moved the seven men charged with killing rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane from Westville Prison to Ebongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad.

This was revealed during the third appearance of the two Ndimande brothers, Siyabonga Gezani and Malusi Dave, at the Durban Magistrate's Court on Friday. The brothers were extradited back to South Africa from Eswatini on November 25, 2025.

Their five co-accused — Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande — have already been indicted to the Durban High Court. All seven men are charged with the murders of Forbes and Motsoane, who were killed on February 10, 2023, on Florida Road in Durban.

Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, representing the brothers, informed the court that the defence discovered the transfer to Ebongweni Correctional Centre on January 2, 2025, when they attempted to consult with their clients.

“We are waiting for an email reply from Correctional Services to establish what has happened and see if they can relocate them back to Westville Prison so we can consult. We understand that there is a reply but it has not reached our hands,” he explained.

He also indicated that the State had provided the information they requested on the last occasion regarding the extradition of the Ndimande brothers, however, said there was still outstanding information.

Mlotshwa requested a postponement of the matter to February 20 to allow for all processes to unfold, enabling an informed decision.

09/01/2026

𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 – 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞! 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐨
Three taxi operators learned the hard way that you don’t mess with the police. On Thursday in Musina, Limpopo, they confronted a car they believed was transporting passengers “illegally” only to find out it was an unmarked SAPS vehicle.

The white Toyota Corolla, equipped with strobe lights and local taxi patrol stickers, stopped the officers on the N1 near the Sasol garage. Thinking they were enforcing their own “rules,” the taxi operators pointed a firearm, threatened with a sjambok, and tried to act as law enforcement.

Police immediately identified themselves, reacted tactically, and the suspects’ attempt to flee failed. All three were arrested, ending the tense and dangerous showdown.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞? 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?

09/01/2026

𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐄𝐓𝐒𝐄 𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐀 '𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐎

Mokhatlo o loanelang tlhompho ea toka le molao oa motheo - Advocates for The Supremacy of the Constitution (Section 2) o re o tlo thibela ’muso ho fetisa likhakanyo tsa lichelete le ho abela makala a ’muso chelete haeba likhakanyo li tla fetisoa ho sa nyakureloa tlaleho ea mohlahlobi e moholo oa lichelete tsa ‘muso ea selemo sefetileng ka tšebeliso ea lichelete tsa ’muso.

Khang ea Section 2 ke h**e ho ea ka molao oa motheo, paramente e ke ke ea fetisa likhakanyo tse ncha tsa 2026/2027 pele e ka amohela le ho nyakurela tlaleho ea lichelete e hlahlobuoeng ke mohlahlabi e moholo oa libuka tsa ‘muso ea selemo se fetileng.

Section 2 e re lebili la kabo le tšebeliso ea Lichelete tsa sechaba e tsamaea tjena:
→ Kabo → Tšebeliso → Bohlahlobi → Tlaleho ho paramente → Kabo e ncha
Taba-kholo ea Section 2 ke h**e haeba ’muso o ka tsoela-pele ho fetisa kabo le likhakanyo tsa lichelete paramente e sa hlahloba tlaleho ea tšebeliso ea lichelete ea ngoahola, seo ke ho roba lebili la molao la kabo le tšebeliso ea lichelete tsa ’muso.

“Re batla ho hlokomelisa sechaba h**e re ke ke ra amohela boemo ba h**e paramente e fetise likhakanyo tsa lichelete tsa selemo sa 2026/2027 pele e ka nyakurela h**e na chelete ea sechaba e sebelisitsoe joang ke ‘muso ngoahola.” Section 2 e tšosa joalo.

Ipalle karolo ea lengolo la Section 2 e buang ka taba ena:

APPROPRIATION WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
“As part of our work this year, SECTION 2 wishes to place the public on clear notice: we will not accept a situation in which Parliament passes the Appropriation Act (budget) for the 2026/2027 Financial Year without first having access to, and properly scrutinising, the Audited Financial Statements of the Government of Lesotho for the 2024/2025 Financial Year. Section 111 of the Constitution vests Parliament with exclusive authority over withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund.

“This authority is not ceremonial. It is a control mechanism. Parliament does not approve spending in the abstract; it authorises withdrawals for specific purposes and within constitutional and legal limits. Section 117 completes this accountability framework by imposing a mandatory annual duty on the Auditor-General to audit public accounts and report to Parliament on whether expenditure complied with the authority previously granted. Taken together, the Constitution establishes a clear and logical sequence: appropriation → expenditure → audit → reporting to Parliament → renewed appropriation. This sequence is not optional. Parliament’s power to appropriate funds presupposes access to audited information about prior expenditure.

“Without such information, Parliament cannot assess compliance, exercise oversight, or make informed decisions about future withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund. To pass a budget in the absence of the latest audited accounts collapses this constitutional cycle and reduces parliamentary oversight to a procedural ritual. That outcome is inconsistent with both the structure and purpose of Sections 111 and 117.

“In constitutional terms, the power to appropriate necessarily implies informed control. To appropriate in ignorance of prior expenditure is to exercise the power in a manner that defeats its very rationale. Should Parliament proceed to pass the budget without access to the required audit reports, such passage would lack a rational basis.

“Section 2 of the Constitution is unambiguous: the Constitution is the supreme law of Lesotho, and any law inconsistent with it is void to the extent of the inconsistency. We therefore begin this year as we always do, politely, firmly, and constitutionally. With hope, yes. But also with resolve.” Karolo ea lengolo la Section e baleha joalo.

*Kananelo Boloetse ke ea fotong le tona-kholo, eena ke e mong oa bathehi ba Section 2

~Hoatiti

09/01/2026

𝐒𝐀 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐀, 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐀, 𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐀 – 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄

Cape Town is hosting the January 9–16 “Will for Peace” naval exercises, featuring warships from China, Iran, and expected participation from Russia. South African officials say the drills focus on maritime security and safe shipping, aiming to strengthen cooperation among BRICS nations.

However, this move may put Pretoria at odds with the United States, which has expressed concerns over close ties between South Africa, Russia, and Iran. The U.S. has previously criticized South Africa for hosting similar exercises in 2023 and for other foreign policy decisions.

The opposition argues that including Russia and Iran in the drills could undermine South Africa’s claim of non-alignment, especially since joint exercises with the U.S. were canceled in the past.

𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬: 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬—𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔.𝐒.? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤? 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

05/01/2026

𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐙𝐀 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Law enforcement officials have arrested an alleged arms dealer and seized a cache of weapons and 800 rounds of ammunition at the Marrianhill Toll Plaza, KZN, police confirmed on Monday.

The interception occurred during a coordinated Operation, conducted by the Road Traffic Inspectorate in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Durban Metro Police.

The joint task team stopped a vehicle at the toll plaza on the N3 highway after intelligence indicated the suspect was transporting illegal fi****ms and ammunition.

According to officials, the vehicle contained multiple weapons and approximately 800 rounds of ammunition when it was stopped and searched.

The primary suspect, described by authorities as an arms dealer, along with a police officer allegedly travelling with him, was taken into custody pending further investigation.

Police said the operation is part of broader efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal fi****ms and ammunition on South African roads. Illegal weapons continue to fuel violent crime across the country, prompting intensified checkpoints and intelligence–led stops on major transport routes.

Both suspects are expected to appear in court on charges related to the illegal possession and trafficking of fi****ms and ammunition as investigations continue.

Further details, including the provenance of the weapons and potential links to wider organised crime networks, have yet to be released by authorities.

05/01/2026

𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐀, 𝐌𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐂𝐎 𝐀𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐒
05/01/2026 Lesilo News Agency 05:00am

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could carry out another military strike on Venezuela if remaining members of President Nicolás Maduro’s government refuse to cooperate with Washington’s plans to “fix” the country.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump suggested that U.S. military action in Latin America was not off the table, naming Colombia and Mexico as possible targets if they fail to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. He also claimed that Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela, appeared close to collapse without direct U.S. intervention.

Maduro is currently being held in a New York detention facility and is expected to appear in court on Monday on drug-related charges. His capture has plunged Venezuela into uncertainty, particularly over who truly holds power in the oil-rich nation.

Trump said the U.S. would attempt to work with remaining figures in Maduro’s administration to combat drug trafficking and restructure Venezuela’s oil industry, rather than rushing into new elections. Venezuelan officials, however, have rejected this narrative, calling the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, an illegal kidnapping.

Do you believe this was about justice or control of Venezuela’s oil?
Should the U.S. have the power to arrest a sitting foreign president?

05/01/2026

𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐙𝐔𝐄𝐋𝐀

The relationship between the United States and Venezuela has been hostile for decades, shaped by oil, sanctions, accusations of drug trafficking, and open political confrontation. From the Hugo Chávez era to Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has consistently positioned itself in opposition to U.S. influence, and the U.S. has responded with pressure, isolation, and repeated threats of action.
For South Africans, it’s important to be clear: there is no immediate danger to South Africa. The country has historically enjoyed a stable relationship with the U.S., although that relationship became more unpredictable during Trump’s presidency. What’s unfolding in Venezuela is rooted in years of direct confrontation between Washington and Caracas, not a sudden disagreement.

Here is a brief history of the tension:

1 - Early 20th Century – Oil and Influence
Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world.
The U.S. has had economic and strategic interests in Venezuela for over a century, often seeking influence over its oil production and trade.
During this period, the U.S. supported governments that protected American business interests and sometimes intervened politically or militarily.

2 - Cold War Era
Venezuela remained largely aligned with the U.S., especially as a non-communist state in Latin America.
Relations were relatively stable, although the U.S. maintained influence through trade, investment, and diplomacy.

3 - Late 20th Century – Tensions Begin
In the 1980s and 1990s, U.S. influence continued, but political instability in Venezuela (coups, economic crises) sometimes strained relations.

4 - Hugo Chávez Era (1999–2013) – A Turning Point
Chávez openly opposed U.S. influence in Latin America, labeling the U.S. “imperialist.”
Venezuela pursued alliances with other countries opposed to U.S. policy, like Cuba, Russia, and Iran.
Chávez nationalized key industries, particularly oil, which angered U.S. investors.
Relations deteriorated further after Chávez accused the U.S. of backing a failed coup in 2002.

5 - Nicolás Maduro Era (2013–Present)
Maduro inherited Chávez’s adversarial stance toward the U.S.
Relations became extremely tense due to sanctions, accusations of human rights abuses, and alleged drug trafficking.
The U.S. has repeatedly sanctioned Venezuelan officials, froze assets, and issued arrest warrants against Maduro and associates.
Venezuela’s 2018–2024 elections were widely considered neither free nor fair by the U.S., which refused to recognize Maduro as legitimate.
This tension has included naval seizures, military threats, and large reward offers (up to $50 million) for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.

6 - Key Patterns
Venezuela sees the U.S. as an external threat aiming to control its oil wealth and political system.
The U.S. views Maduro’s government as illegitimate, corrupt, and linked to drug trafficking and organized crime.

This is a classic example of decades-long geopolitical tension, combining economics, ideology, and security concerns.

The bottom line is that South Africans should feel safe, despite recent tensions we have a stable relationship with the U.S.
Venezuela has a long history of conflict with the U.S., so this capture/strike is consistent with decades of U.S.–Venezuela tension, not a sudden escalation.

Is this the result of years of tension finally boiling over, or a step too far by the U.S.?
Should smaller countries worry about what happens when they challenge powerful nations?

04/01/2026

𝐎 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐀 𝐊𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐅𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐔
04/01/2026 Lesilo News Agency 08:00am

Tlaleho e supa ha emong oa bats’oaruoa Chankaneng ea Maseru a lahlahetsoe ke bophelo ka la pele khoeli ena 2026 (01/01/2026), mme pelaelo ke h**e o fuoe chefo le hoja LCS PRO Pheko Ntobane a bonts'itse ha lipatlisiso ntse li tsoelapele. Mofu ke oa Nazareth.

03/01/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 | South Africa has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, condemning what it describes as a “manifest violation” of international law following U.S. military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

03/01/2026

𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐘 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐄𝐌𝐅𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐈𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄, 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃

The incident happened in the Ferreira area, where emergency services rushed to the scene after the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted. Paramedics later confirmed that the 45-year-old pilot had suffered severe injuries and was declared at the scene.

Little is known at this stage about the moments leading up to the crash, and the pilot’s family has not yet been identified as authorities work to piece together what happened.

Only later did police confirm that they had received the report at around 10:15 and responded to the scene. SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Teboho Jacobs said initial assessments indicated that the pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft.

Police have opened an inquest docket and will work with aviation investigators to determine what may have caused the aircraft to come down. A culpable homicide case has also been registered as part of standard procedure while investigations continue.

What safety checks are required before private flights take off?
Do you think light aircrafts are too unsafe?

03/01/2026

𝐃𝐎𝐙𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑-𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 – 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 – 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬...
What should have been a day of celebration ended in heartbreak along South Africa’s coastline. Exceptionally dangerous sea conditions claimed at least four lives, with several people still missing.

At Pennington Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, young swimmers were pulled into rough surf. Three people were dead. Others remain unaccounted for. In Langebaan, a 26-year-old man was found unresponsive in the water. At St Lucia’s Jabula Beach, a 15-year-old boy disappeared beneath the waves.

Additional disappearances were reported at Durban South Beach and in the Hibberdene/Mfazazane area. Families are still waiting for answers.

• January 1 – Polokwane, Limpopo
A 36-year-old female SANDF member was travelling with two others when their vehicle became trapped beneath a bridge during heavy water flow. The two passengers survived. She was swept away and later found about 2.5 kilometres downstream. An inquest is underway.

• 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 – 𝐌𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬
Three people have lost their lives and one person remains missing following flood-related incidents in Louisville, Lilly Mine Road in Middelburg, and Ekulindeni. Search operations continue as swollen rivers and streams remain dangerous.

• 𝐌𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲
Two SANDF members lost their lives after their vehicle was swept away while attempting to cross a flooded section of the Komati River. One was found shortly after the incident. The second was recovered days later near the South Africa–Mozambique border.

• Siblings Galaletsang and Gontse were found in the Hennops River after their vehicle was recovered from the water. Their passing has left their family and community in mourning, adding to the growing number of lives lost to dangerous water conditions in recent weeks.
15 million

Across provinces, the common thread is clear: water levels are high, conditions are unpredictable, and the risks are being underestimated. Behind every headline is a family changed forever.

Why do these tragedies keep repeating every festive season?
Are enough warnings reaching communities in time?
What would make you stop and turn back when water levels look dangerous?

03/01/2026

Many South Africans are asking a simple question, with a very complicated answer: what happens next to the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, when his contract expires?

His contract is due to end in March this year, roughly 90 days from now, and the debate is heating up. Some believe Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya should step aside to make way for Mkhwanazi, especially in light of the allegations that have been levelled against Sibiya. Others argue that the situation is far more complex.

𝐈𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬:
1 - Mkhwanazi’s contract could be renewed, allowing him to remain as KZN Police Commissioner.
2 - He could be moved to a national role, possibly as a Deputy National Commissioner.
3 - Or his contract could simply end, meaning he exits the SAPS altogether.

Each option carries serious implications, not just for policing in KwaZulu-Natal, but for South Africa as a whole.
So let me ask you: which option do you think would serve the country best, and why? Also is there any other alternative you would prefer?

Lesilo News Agency

09/01/2026

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