Saturday, 17 October 2026

An early morning fire destroyed over 200 structures at the Masinanga informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, displacing dozens of families. One person was treated for smoke inhalation, and the cause is under investigation.

The Special Investigating Unit has secured a preservation order on a 3.5-hectare farm in Pietermaritzburg, believed bought with unlawfully obtained Unemployment Insurance Fund money. The order bars its alleged owner from selling or leasing it.

Legal Aid South Africa says continuous budget cuts, the latest exceeding R700 million, are hurting its services. It has imposed cost containment measures and restricted recruitment of critical posts, limiting access to justice.

Activists at Sea Point say marine outfalls at Green Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay discharge sewage into the Atlantic. Government figures put it at about 38 million litres daily, while the city says 98% of samples meet standards.