馃嚳馃嚘South AfricaSouthern Africa
South African government clarifies Freedom Day stage incident involving President Ramaphosa
via The Citizen2 min read
The South African government has addressed misleading claims regarding a "disruption" at the National Freedom Day celebrations in Bloemfontein, Free State. Acting government spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa stated that there was no security threat or attempt to harm President Cyril Ramaphosa or Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie. During the event, an individual briefly approached the President and Minister on stage after the formal program had concluded and a cultural performance was underway. Mnukwa explained that the individual, in a "state of visible excitement," intended to greet them. Security personnel responded swiftly, and it was later confirmed that the individual posed no security threat, with actions driven by enthusiasm. The official program was not disrupted, and President Ramaphosa continued to engage with the public, including the individual involved. The government urged the public and media to rely on verified information and exercise caution with unconfirmed reports.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Citizen.
Gauteng police are investigating two Wierdabrug officers after a video circulated on social media allegedly showing them taking a R2,000 bribe during Operation Shanela on June 4. According to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the officers reportedly stopped a suspect on a bicycle, seized it, and then drove him to Wierdapark where they allegedly took money for his release. The officers have been identified, and a departmental case has been opened, with an inquiry registered to investigate all allegations. Nevhuhulwi urged the public to formally report corruption to build strong cases, stating that while social media raises awareness, it should not be the final step. Experts like Witness Maluleka from the University of Limpopo and Percy Sithuga from the University of Venda's School of Law expressed concern, noting that such incidents undermine public trust and the integrity of the criminal justice system, despite the presence of ethical officers. Sithuga emphasized that public confidence in policing relies on officers upholding the law and being held accountable for violations.
Must ReadNgwathe Municipality disconnected electricity to various government facilities, including clinics, police stations, courts, and libraries, across its five towns due to over R234 million in outstanding electricity debt owed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. The disconnections, which began last week, followed final notices issued on May 25. Electricity was restored to police stations, courts, and correctional services centers after a payment agreement was reached with the national Department of Public Works. Clinics also had their power restored by Monday, with the Free State Department of Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, clarifying that the provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is responsible for these payments. Mvambi assured the public that clinics remained operational and maintained cold-chain requirements for vaccines. However, as of Tuesday, libraries and provincial traffic offices remained without power, and the municipality stated it had not received any payments for the affected institutions, threatening further action if arrangements or payments were not made by the deadline. The Ngwathe Municipal Manager, Dr F.P. Mothamaha, noted that the municipality does not charge interest on overdue government accounts, contributing to its own nearly R3 billion debt to Eskom since 2009. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure spokesperson, Paul Matlanyane, attributed the interruption to theft. The municipality has previously tak
Must ReadA new report by Discovery Health, HealthTrend2026, reveals an 80% increase in mental health conditions among South Africans aged 18 to 30 over the past decade. The report, based on over 60 million life-years of clinical and behavioral data, indicates that by 2025, one in seven young adults claimed a mental health condition, up from one in twelve in 2015. Despite this rise in prevalence, hospital admission rates for mental health conditions declined by 11% over the same period, suggesting that earlier intervention is proving effective. Dr. Ron Whelan, CEO of Discovery Health, noted that more younger adults are seeking help earlier, which is a positive shift. Depression remains the most common diagnosis, accounting for 63% of mental health claims. Dr. Noluthando Nematswerani, chief clinical officer at Discovery Health, highlighted the increased utilization of out-of-hospital benefits. The report also found a strong link between mental health conditions and other chronic diseases, with individuals having both facing healthcare costs 3.8 times higher and hospitalization rates 3.5 times higher than healthy members. Mental illness often emerges as a consequence of managing other long-term health challenges. Factors contributing to the rise in mental health issues among youth include smartphone use, social comparison, financial strain, and substance use. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young South Africans. Women are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with a men