🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
Six arrested for manufacturing counterfeit liquor in Eastern Cape, R500,000 in illicit alcohol seized
via The Citizen2 min read
The South African Police Service SAPS arrested six suspects in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, on Wednesday night, April 22, 2026, for allegedly manufacturing and distributing counterfeit alcoholic beverages. Police received a tip-off about suspicious activities involving a white Nissan panel van. A vehicle checkpoint on the N6 led to the interception of the van, which contained empty bottles. Further investigation led officers to a house in Entilini, Lower Khologha, where five additional suspects were found producing and packaging various brands of counterfeit alcoholic spirits. Police confiscated illicit liquor valued at over R500,000 and R6,570 in cash. The site is believed to have operated as a manufacturing factory since 2025. The six suspects, aged between 22 and 36, face charges under the Counterfeit Goods Act 31 of 1997 and the Liquor Act. Acting Amathole District Commissioner, Brigadier Zinikele Freddie, commended the arrests and urged communities to report unlawful factories due to the health hazards posed by illicit alcohol. Separately, the Durban High Court granted a forfeiture order worth approximately R15 million against a commercial property in Newlands East, Durban, which had been used as a clandestine drug laboratory. This KwaZulu-Natal property, valued at about R32 million, was forfeited to the state on Wednesday. In March 2024, police discovered drug manufacturing equipment and chemicals at the premises, leading to the arrest of a foreign national for being in t
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The Democratic Alliance DA has filed criminal charges against Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe for allegedly failing to declare two BAIC X55 SUVs she received from Chinese officials. The vehicles, valued at R400,000 to R500,000 each, were reportedly intended as donations for the ANC Women’s League ANCWL but were registered in Tolashe’s children’s names, with one allegedly sold. The ANCWL denies knowledge of the cars. This action by the DA follows similar charges laid by ActionSA last week. DA spokesperson Jan de Villiers stated that the situation presents two possibilities: either Tolashe personally received the vehicles and failed to disclose them to Parliament, or she fraudulently registered ANCWL-intended donations in her children's names to protect assets from ANC creditors. The Sunday Times reported that Tolashe met with the ANC’s integrity commission but did not provide a plausible explanation for the registration. The DA's charges include lying to Parliament and fraudulent registration of vehicles. The DA has also filed an Ethics Committee complaint and a Public Protector complaint against Tolashe regarding other matters, and has written to the president seeking clarification on the car donations. De Villiers emphasized the need for a full and independent investigation into the matter.
Must ReadMzwanele Manyi of the uMkhonto weSizwe MK Party has defended his party's proposal to repeal Section 235 of the South African constitution, which deals with self-determination. Manyi argues that the section is a "qualified clause, not a right" and that self-determination cannot justify racial or cultural exclusion. He believes the repeal aligns with South Africa’s transformation agenda and land reform commitments, while ensuring cultural rights remain protected. Manyi stated that the repeal is a "lawful, necessary and constitutionally sound step to eliminate constitutional ambiguity, prevent misuse and fragmentation; and consolidate a unitary, non-racial, democratic state." He also addressed comparisons between the Ingonyama Trust and Orania, stating that the Ingonyama Trust is a statutory mechanism for communal land administration and does not create sovereign territory or political independence. Joost Strydom of Orania, however, highlighted similarities in the communal factor and the recognition of unique cultural groups, arguing that it is inconsistent to recognize one group's right to territory and self-determination while denying it to another. Wynand Boshoff of the Freedom Front Plus criticized Manyi's interpretation of Section 235, arguing it is not provisional and that self-determination is an internationally accepted provision for multicultural nations.
Solly Mapaila, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party SACP, has refuted allegations that the party is receiving foreign funding from Russia or China. Mapaila described such claims as "insulting" and emphasized the SACP's financial struggles, citing the postponement of their People’s Red Caravan in the Free State due to lack of funds. He stated that the SACP operates "from hand to mouth," relying on donations primarily from its members and the trade union movement, which he noted are not substantial. Mapaila also addressed the SACP's decision to contest elections independently of the ANC, clarifying that this was a tactical decision made by the congress in 2022, not a personal one. He mentioned that despite this, the SACP campaigned for the ANC in 2024 to allow space for alliance reconfiguration discussions. Regarding the ANC's directive for dual members to declare their allegiance, Mapaila advised SACP members not to leave the ANC, viewing it as an instrument for South Africa's oppressed people, and affirmed the SACP's commitment to maintaining dual membership under the country's conditions while preserving its independence. He added that the SACP would not respond hostilely to the ANC's ultimatum but would instead intensify local campaigning efforts.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has initiated a nationwide consultation on South Africa's draft national rail master plan, aiming to establish rail as the core of the country's logistics system. The plan, approved by the Cabinet for public consultation on April 1, 2026, seeks to address underperforming rail networks that are currently costing the economy jobs and exports. Creecy highlighted a significant shortfall in rail freight capacity, with only 165 million tons moved annually against a market demand of 280 million tons. This deficit leads to lost foreign exchange earnings and job losses, particularly when mining and agricultural products cannot be exported efficiently. The minister also noted that an over-reliance on road transport exacerbates congestion, damages roads, increases safety risks, and inflates logistics costs. Commuters, especially those in low-income households, are also negatively impacted by high transport costs and long commutes. Creecy stated that an effective commuter rail system could reduce household expenses, save time, decrease accidents, and improve access to income and services for these communities. The draft master plan envisions a long-term investment of nearly two trillion rand over 30 years, combining public and private funding, with an estimated return of R4.3 million in GDP for every one million rand invested. The plan adopts a "brownfield" approach to optimize existing infrastructure while pursuing targeted "greenfield" expansions. A di