Here’s your daily news update for Wednesday, 10 September 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
News today includes seven Chinese nationals have been handed lengthy prison sentences for running a human trafficking and child labour operation.
Meanwhile, a 16-hour hostage situation has ended in tragedy after an off-duty South African Police Service (Saps) constable allegedly killed his nephew before turning the gun on himself in Pretoria East, Tshwane.
Furthermore, cricket fans are a little bewildered by South Africa’s white-ball cricketers in recent times. One day they’re world-beaters, the next they’re a bit of an embarrassment.
Weather tomorrow: 11 September 2025
Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected to persist in parts of the Northern Cape, Free State, North West and KwaZulu-Natal, while isolated showers are forecast over the coastal provinces. Full weather forecast here.
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‘Malawians are everywhere’: Uproar in court as Chinese nationals sentenced to 20 years for human trafficking
The judicial commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system has confirmed it intends to call KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as its first witness.
Mkhwanazi’s damning allegations about political interference in the police ministry led to President Cyril Ramaphosa establishing the commission of inquiry – also known as the Madlanga Commission – to look into his claims.
This followed their conviction on 160 charges including human trafficking, kidnapping, contraventions of immigration laws and the exploitation of workers in February.
CONTINUE READING: ‘Malawians are everywhere’: Uproar in court as Chinese nationals sentenced to 20 years for human trafficking
‘Sometimes I admire my lies’: Usindiso arson suspect changes his story about burning building
In a twist of events, the man accused of setting fire to the hijacked Usindiso building in Johannesburg has changed his story. He now claims he had nothing to do with the blaze that killed more than 70 people.
Sthembiso Lawrence Mdlalose returned to the stand on Wednesday at the Gauteng High Court, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, to continue his testimony.
He faces multiple counts of murder, attempted murder and arson in connection with the fire that gutted the building owned by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) in Marshalltown, which killed 77 people in August 2023.
CONTINUE READING: ‘Sometimes I admire my lies’: Usindiso arson suspect changes his story about burning building
Police standoff with constable holding family hostage in Mamelodi ends in tragedy
A 16-hour hostage situation has ended in tragedy after an off-duty South African Police Service (Saps) constable allegedly killed his nephew before turning the gun on himself in Pretoria East, Tshwane.
Police from Mamelodi East responded to the hostage situation since 8am on Tuesday in what was believed to have been a family dispute, according to witnesses.
The constable allegedly held his 69-year-old mother and 18-year-old nephew hostage in the house.
CONTINUE READING: Police standoff with constable holding family hostage in Mamelodi ends in tragedy
Dead but still receiving social grants: Millions paid out in three years
As taxpayers shell out around R250 billion a year for social grants, tens of thousands of beneficiaries have been receiving money from beyond the grave.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) revealed on Wednesday in its audit action plan presentation to parliament’s portfolio committee on social development that grants continued to be paid to deceased beneficiaries in the past three financial years.
According to the report, 32 917 grants were paid to deceased recipients in 2021–22.
CONTINUE READING: Dead but still receiving social grants: Millions paid out in three years
Which Proteas team will turn up for the T20s against England?
Cricket fans are a little bewildered by South Africa’s white-ball cricketers in recent times. One day they’re world-beaters, the next they’re a bit of an embarrassment.
The Proteas did win the just-concluded ODI away series against England, with excellent performances in matches at Leeds and at Lord’s. But it is the battering they got in Southampton in the third encounter at the weekend that is freshest in the memory as bettors contemplate their plays for the T20 series that starts on Wednesday.
How does an outfit so dominant with bat and ball collapse so dramatically in less than a week?
The good news for South Africans is that some cavalry has arrived for the T20s – in the experienced and hugely talented shape of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. Unfortunately David Miller has had to withdraw from the series because of a hamstring strain.
CONTINUE READING: Which Proteas team will turn up for the T20s against England?
Here are five more stories of the day:
- Nersa admits R54 billion error first identified in January but never rectified
- Corruption in the EFF: Shivambu’s former allies hang him out to dry over VBS allegations
- City of Johannesburg unaware of R89 million civil lawsuit over billing practices
- Who will be SA’s ambassador to US? ‘Washington is no place for cadre deployment’
- Can SA-US ties be fixed?
Yesterday’s News recap
READ HERE: SABC on the brink of collapse | Shadrack Sibiya loses court case | Walmart is coming to SA
