Here’s your daily news update for Tuesday, 2 September 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
News today includes one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has failed in his attempt to have charges against him withdrawn.
Meanwhile, while the Department of Social Development is tasked with protecting the vulnerable, empowering women and standing against gender-based violence, the department is being torn apart by factionalism.
Furthermore, key data from the August Household Affordability Index’s household food basket shows that food prices decreased on average in August, but that unfortunately does not mean that low-income consumers can now afford to eat more nutritious food.
Weather tomorrow: 3 September 2025
No severe weather warnings have been issued for Wednesday, but extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in places in all provinces except the Western Cape. Warm conditions await residents nationwide, with showers in certain areas. Full weather forecast here.
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Senzo Meyiwa murder accused loses application to have charges thrown out
One of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has failed in his attempt to have charges against him withdrawn.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday dismissed the Section 174 application brought by accused four, Mthokoziseni Maphisa.
Maphisa had asked the court to acquit him of charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition, arguing that the state had not provided sufficient evidence to warrant his prosecution.
CONTINUE READING: Senzo Meyiwa murder accused loses application to have charges thrown out
Ramaphosa’s ‘praise’ of Zim land grabs has coalition partner fuming
The DA has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of praising Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF, for implementing controversial land reform policies.
This comes after Ramaphosa gave a controversial speech during his working visit to Harare over the weekend.
He was a guest speaker at the official opening of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
CONTINUE READING: Ramaphosa’s ‘praise’ of Zim land grabs has coalition partner fuming
Department of Social Development torn apart by factionalism
While the Department of Social Development is tasked with protecting the vulnerable, empowering women and standing against gender-based violence, the department is being torn apart by factionalism.
The department this week suspended its spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, for various work-related matters.
However, Oliphant claimed she was suspended because the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, believed that she had leaked information to the media about a R3 million trip that the department had spent on six delegates who were on a two-week trip to New York.
CONTINUE READING: Department of Social Development torn apart by factionalism
Parents of children at special-needs school fume over alleged ill treatment
Parents and school governing body (SGB) members are outraged by how children with special needs are allegedly being treated by the management of a school in Johannesburg.
A mother and vocal SGB member took the fight to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), but accuses the department of interfering in SGB business.
The GDE explained the situation regarding the school’s policy; however, the angry parents believe they are being pushed out because they are South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant recipients.
CONTINUE READING: Parents of children at special-needs school fume over alleged ill treatment
Household food basket cost a little less on average in August: Here’s what foods went down
Key data from the August Household Affordability Index’s household food basket shows that food prices decreased on average in August, but that unfortunately does not mean that low-income consumers can now afford to eat more nutritious food.
The data for the household food basket, which forms part of the Household Affordability Index, is compiled by low-income consumers at the shops where they shop for their families.
They track the prices of 44 basic food items at 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries in:
- Johannesburg (Soweto, Alexandra, Tembisa and Hillbrow)
- Durban (KwaMashu, Umlazi, Isipingo, Durban CBD, Hammarsdale and Pinetown)
- Cape Town (Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Philippi, Langa, Delft and Dunoon)
- Pietermaritzburg
- Mtubatuba (in Northern KwaZulu-Natal) and
- Springbok (in the Northern Cape).
CONTINUE READING: Household food basket cost a little less on average in August: Here’s what foods went down
Here are five more stories of the day:
- Police Minister Cachalia and Commissioner Masemola bury the hatchet over KZN dockets
- ‘I can’t even spell corruption correctly because I hate it,’ De Lille tells MPs amid SA Tourism board saga
- KZN education slams racial violence after Chatsworth school pupil stabbings
- ‘Andimoyiki uSisisi’: Social development’s Lumka Oliphant hits back after suspension
- New vehicle sales extend 50 000+ record run in August
Yesterday’s News recap
READ HERE: Fuel price drop | Amantle Samane’s mother slams daughter’s killer | Kaya FM fires Sol Phenduka
