Masabata Mkwananzi

Senior Multimedia Journalist at The Star

Gauteng faces backlash as parents, educators demand reversal of school budget cuts

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

More than 16,000 Gauteng parents and residents have signed a petition demanding the reversal of controversial school budget cuts, as the Gauteng Department of Education ...

Johannesburg MMC and bodyguard arrested over alleged kidnapping of teenager

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

A Johannesburg MMC and her bodyguard were arrested after a 16-year-old boy opened a case of kidnapping, pointing of a firearm and assault. Although the complainant ...

Police intensify search for suspects in slaying of Mahikeng crime activist Thato Molosankwe

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Police have launched a high-level manhunt after Mahikeng crime activist and traditional healer Thato Molosankwe was gunned down at his home in Lomanyaneng village. ...

Rebel ANC councillors march to Luthuli House amid claims of corruption and governance collapse

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Sixteen ANC councillors from the Vaal region have marched to Luthuli House, accusing the Sedibeng regional leadership of political interference, intimidation and ...

Eskom warns of potential electricity cuts in Johannesburg over R5.2 billion debt

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Johannesburg faces the threat of electricity supply interruptions from July 8 after Eskom accused the City of Johannesburg and City Power of defaulting on a court-backed ...

Bonko Khoza denies sexual assault allegations, insists investigations found no evidence

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Actor Bonko Khoza has denied sexual assault allegations made by actress Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku over an incident that allegedly took place during the filming of Red ...

Emfuleni's R145 million waste management overspend faces scrutiny amid ongoing refuse crisis

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

More than R145 million spent on waste management in Emfuleni has come under scrutiny as illegal dumping, overflowing refuse and deteriorating conditions continue ...

Gauteng sees alarming rise in hypertension cases among young adults

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The Gauteng Department of Health has raised alarm over rising hypertension cases among adults under 45 after more than 26,000 young people were diagnosed in the ...

South Africa faces firearm glorification crisis as police arrest two for unlicensed weapon videos

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Gun Free South Africa has warned of a growing culture of reckless firearm glorification after two men linked to viral videos showing women handling unlicensed guns ...

Gauteng faces a water crisis as municipalities spend millions on outsourced tanker services

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has raised alarm over spiralling municipal spending on outsourced water tanker services, ...

Pressure mounts for SIU probe into Ekurhuleni's R2 billion billing scandal

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The Democratic Alliance has intensified calls for accountability after confirming that the Presidency received its request for an SIU investigation into the R2 billion ...

Gauteng's schools face crisis with R600 million in unpaid municipal debt

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Gauteng schools owe municipalities nearly R600 million, with growing electricity and water disconnections threatening teaching and learning across the province. ...

Limpopo police arrest grandparents of missing two-year-old Omphile Sethole

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

Limpopo police have arrested the grandparents of missing two-year-old Omphile Sethole on charges of alleged child negligence as the search for her continues. Omphile ...

Behind the scenes: new campaign shines light on football's unsung heroes

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a new campaign is highlighting the behind-the-scenes workers who help bring football to life from grounds staff to stadium crews, ...

Gauteng health department issues urgent warning on unregulated injectable substances

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The Gauteng Department of Health has issued an urgent warning over unregulated injectable substances used for body enhancement and sexual performance after two people ...

Tributes pour in for pioneering South African artist Maria McCloy

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Artist, DJ and multi-disciplinary creative Maria McCloy has died at the age of 50 after suffering heart failure at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. The Gauteng ...

Parliament’s Ethics Committee finds Minister Dean Macpherson guilty of discriminatory remarks

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Parliament’s Ethics Committee has found Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson guilty of breaching the Code of Ethical Conduct after referring ...

‘We are speaking about corruption’: ANC councillors demand SIU probe in Emfuleni

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A group of ANC councillors in Emfuleni have broken ranks with their party, warning that collapsing infrastructure, sewer spillages, waste backlogs and alleged corruption ...

Suspected vehicle smuggling route disrupted as two men sentenced to 25 years in jail

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Limpopo courts sentenced two men to lengthy prison terms after they were caught transporting stolen vehicles allegedly destined for smuggling through the Beitbridge ...

Gauteng government and DA clash over local governance challenges

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

The Gauteng government and the DA have traded sharp accusations over the collapse of municipalities and worsening service delivery, with Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s ...

Tragedy strikes as Health Minister's vehicle involved in fatal collision

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A woman and her baby died after being struck by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s official vehicle on the N1 near Bela-Bela, following an earlier accident in ...

Public Protector warns: attacking Chapter 9 institution could lead to criminal charges

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

The Public Protector South Africa has issued a stern warning that insulting the institution or its office bearers is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up ...

Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe 'Ferrari' Sibanyoni arrested in extortion probe

Masabata Mkwananzi|Updated

A prominent Mpumalanga taxi boss, Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, has been arrested alongside two others in connection with an extortion case involving alleged repeated ...

10-year-old girl escapes kidnapper after aunt is tied up and allegedly raped

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Police in Limpopo have arrested a 39-year-old suspect in Hoopdal after a 10-year-old girl escaped and raised the alarm when she and her aunt were allegedly tied ...

South Africa's youth suicide crisis deepens as minister highlights mental health emergency

Masabata Mkwananzi|Published

Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has called for urgent national action to address what she describes as a “silent national emergency” affecting men and boys struggling ...