Chiraag, Author at Joburg ETC

Parliament South Africa committee hearing, Paul O’Sullivan testimony Parliament, Ashley Sauls Patriotic Alliance MP, SAPS KwaZulu-Natal allegations inquiry, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi investigation, Cyril Ramaphosa police reservist training, South African Parliament session, Joburg ETC

Parliament prepares to probe deeper into Paul O’Sullivan testimony

Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has begun hearing testimony from forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan. However, according...

KwaZulu-Natal cattle farmers, Foot-and-Mouth Disease South Africa, KZN livestock vaccination drive, cattle grazing rural KZN, South African agriculture outbreak response, FMD vaccine rollout South Africa, Joburg ETC

News1 month ago

KZN’s Foot-and-Mouth crisis sparks province-wide mass vaccination drive

Across KwaZulu-Natal this week, government officials were not sitting behind desks. They were out on farms, in rural communities, and across district municipalities, delivering a clear...

Pastor Sandlana court appearance, Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana Pretoria, Pretoria High Court building Gauteng, corruption case South Africa 2026, National Prosecuting Authority briefing, International Pentecost Holiness Church leader, commercial crimes court Pretoria, Joburg ETC

Courts & Legal1 month ago

Pastor Sandlana’s R2.4m bribery bail appeal dismissed by High Court

The legal battle surrounding International Pentecost Holiness Church leader Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana has taken another decisive turn. The Pretoria High Court has dismissed his bid for...

Johannesburg hijacked buildings, Dada Morero mayor Johannesburg, Hillbrow Clarendon Heights eviction, Yeoville Rocky Street cleanup, Johannesburg CBD Claim Street renewal, Usindiso building fire commission findings, Gauteng High Court Johannesburg eviction order, inner city regeneration Johannesburg, Joburg ETC

News1 month ago

Morero confronts constitutional limits in Joburg’s hijacked buildings crackdown

Walk through parts of Hillbrow or the inner city, and you can feel the tension between what Johannesburg was and what it is trying to become....

South Africa economy decline, per capita GDP South Africa chart, load shedding impact businesses, Eskom power crisis South Africa, South African households cost of living, Johannesburg skyline economy, BRICS South Africa growth expectations, South Africa infrastructure challenges, Joburg ETC

Business1 month ago

South Africans are poorer today after 20 years of weak economic growth

South Africans are poorer today than two decades ago There was a time in the early 2000s when South Africa felt like a rising star. The...

foreign property South Africa, non resident property owners SA, rental income South African property, SARS tax compliance South Africa, AIT TCS PIN process, SARB exchange control regulations, luxury property investment South Africa, non resident bank account South Africa, property rental income compliance SA, cross border fund transfers South Africa, Joburg ETC

Business1 month ago

Tighter rules hit rental income for foreign property owners in South Africa

South Africa’s property market has long held a certain allure for international buyers. From coastal holiday homes to luxury city apartments, foreign investors have steadily carved...

There is a rare piece of good news in South Africa’s long and painful battle against rhino poaching. The country has recorded a notable decline in killings during 2025. Yet behind that encouraging headline sits a more troubling reality, one that has conservationists watching Kruger National Park with growing unease. A national decline that offers cautious hope According to figures released by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, 352 rhinos were poached across South Africa between January and December 2025. That is down from 420 the year before, marking a 16% decrease. Officials say the improvement did not happen by chance. It followed tighter coordination between government agencies, conservation groups and private sector partners. State properties still carried the heaviest burden, with 266 rhinos lost, while 86 were killed on privately owned reserves and farms. For many South Africans, the drop feels like a small but meaningful win in a fight that has stretched over more than a decade. Social media reaction has reflected a mix of relief and guarded optimism, with conservation voices praising collaboration while warning that the numbers remain far too high. Kruger’s worst year on record While the national picture improved, the situation inside Kruger National Park moved sharply in the opposite direction. The park recorded 175 poached rhinos in 2025, almost double the 88 reported in 2024. The increase continues a worrying three year trend, with 78 animals lost in 2023. Mpumalanga emerged as the hardest hit province overall, losing 178 rhinos compared with 92 the previous year. Most of those losses occurred inside Kruger, which has long been a frontline in the battle against organised wildlife crime. Investigations have linked the spike to internal integrity issues. Polygraph testing revealed connections between failed tests and periods of increased poaching during late 2024 and into 2025. Seven Ranger Services employees were dismissed after disciplinary processes. In response, the park is expanding its field ranger presence, deploying 12 operational K9 units with newly trained handlers, and investing heavily in surveillance and anti poaching technology. KwaZulu Natal shows what is possible In stark contrast, Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu Natal reported a dramatic drop in poaching. Incidents fell from 198 in 2024 to just 63 in 2025. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife credits the turnaround to a combination of strategies rather than a single solution. The strategic dehorning programme introduced in 2024 helped stabilise pressure, but it was reinforced by advanced camera systems, sensor based detection, and closer cooperation with private rhino owners through the Integrated Wildlife Zones Programme. An integrity plan that included polygraph testing of all park law enforcement personnel also formed part of the response. Conservation partners such as WWF, Save the Rhino International, Wildlife ACT and the Peace Parks Foundation provided ongoing support. The contrast between KwaZulu Natal and Kruger highlights a broader lesson emerging across the sector. Technology, transparency and partnerships appear to be as important as boots on the ground. Courts and crackdowns send a stronger message Law enforcement efforts have also produced significant convictions. The National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking has secured lengthy prison sentences in several major cases. One of the most prominent involved ZM Muiambo, also known as Thomas Chauke, who received a 20 year sentence in April 2025 after being found guilty on 19 charges linked to illegal rhino hunting and related crimes across four provinces. Other rulings included a 35 year sentence for poachers responsible for killing three white rhinos at Pilanesberg National Park, and a 22 year sentence tied to illegal killing and conspiracy charges connected to Kruger. These outcomes reflect closer coordination between prosecutors, specialised police units and environmental investigators, an approach authorities believe is beginning to disrupt organised syndicates. Global cooperation steps up South Africa has also intensified its international partnerships to tackle trafficking networks that stretch beyond its borders. A joint operation with Singapore authorities in December 2025 led to the seizure of 17 rhino horns at a storage facility in Kempton Park, along with lion and tiger bones and other wildlife products. Two suspects appeared in court on charges under environmental legislation. The country’s enforcement work received international recognition through the Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence Award, acknowledging efforts to combat cross border environmental crime. During Operation Thunder 2025, coordinated by Interpol and the World Customs Organisation, South African teams contributed to pangolin rescues, arrests linked to succulent trafficking, and firearm seizures connected to poaching syndicates. The fight is far from over Officials stress that the downward national trend will only hold if collaboration continues and strategies keep evolving. The shift in hotspots is a reminder that poaching networks adapt quickly. For everyday South Africans, the message is simple but powerful. Protecting wildlife is not only a conservation issue but also part of safeguarding tourism, rural livelihoods and national heritage. Authorities continue to urge the public to report suspicious wildlife activity through the environmental crime hotline or SAPS. In a country where rhinos have become both a symbol of pride and vulnerability, every tip off still matters.

News1 month ago

South Africa’s rhino poaching falls but Kruger’s crisis deepens

There is a rare piece of good news in South Africa’s long and painful battle against rhino poaching. The country has recorded a notable decline in...

Huguenot Tunnel South Africa, Du Toitskloof Mountains tunnel, N1 highway tunnel Western Cape, Sanral tunnel upgrade project, longest road tunnel Africa, Paarl to Worcester route, South African road infrastructure, tunnel ventilation system, Hugo’s River Viaduct wind barriers, Paarl Africa Underground Laboratory, Joburg ETC

Business1 month ago

South Africa’s longest tunnel gets major R4 billion upgrade

South Africa’s longest road tunnel set for major modern upgrade Tucked through the rugged Du Toitskloof Mountains, the Huguenot Tunnel has quietly carried millions of travellers...

South Africa property market 2026, housing market recovery South Africa, first time home buyers South Africa, repo rate South Africa housing, interest rate cuts South Africa, property demand South Africa, affordable housing South Africa, real estate trends South Africa, Johannesburg housing market outlook, sustainable property growth South Africa, Joburg ETC

Business1 month ago

South Africa’s housing market enters a new phase in 2026

After several tough years of rising borrowing costs and cautious spending, South Africa’s property scene is beginning to shift. What once felt like a waiting game...

Chelsea Sloan DJ South Africa, Chelsea Sloan Tyla birthday party LA, Hanover Park Cape Flats DJ, South African female DJ amapiano, Chelsea Sloan and Tyla Grammy week, Cape Flats talent global stage, Chelsea Sloan performing live, South African music culture export, Joburg ETC

Culture Craze1 month ago

From Cape Flats to Grammy week: Chelsea Sloan DJs at Tyla’s birthday party

From Cape Flats roots to a global spotlight When South African DJ Chelsea Sloan stepped behind the decks at Tyla’s “After Dark” birthday party during Grammy...