Here are the top stories from Africa. South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit has uncovered a massive R2 billion healthcare fraud ring linked to Tembisa Hospital.
At the Madlanga Commission, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo’s testimony exposed explosive WhatsApp messages allegedly pointing to deep corruption within the SAPS—though proceedings were postponed to 13 October after Khumalo fell ill.
Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema was found guilty in his firearm case, with sentencing expected in January.
In Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu declared that the country has moved past its harshest economic phase.
And in shocking news from abroad, former South African police minister Nathi Mthethwa has died after what French authorities described as a fall from the 22nd floor of a hotel in Paris.
Check out all the top stories below:
LT-GEN. DUMISANI KHUMALO REVEALS EXPLOSIVE WHATSAPP MESSAGES
The fourth witness to take the stand at the Madlanga Commission this week was Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, who began his testimony on Monday by exposing deep-rooted corruption within the police force.
Khumalo has made serious claims before the commission investigating corruption in South Africa’s justice system.
Below are the key points:
-
Khumalo, head of the Political Killings Task Team, claims his June 2025 arrest was staged to silence him for rejecting corrupt offers.
-
He testified about WhatsApp chats said to be from Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s phone, pointing to alleged political interference and relationships with top SAPS members.
-
Matlala and businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe were named as leaders of the alleged “Big Five” cartel infiltrating SAPS.
-
North West businessman Brown Mogotsi is accused of leaking classified SAPS info and manipulating investigations to protect Matlala.
-
Khumalo claims Mogotsi, tied to Minister Senzo Mchunu, helped Matlala land a R360 million SAPS contract.
-
Other alleged enablers include Major General Senona, crime expert Calvin Rafadi, and EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi, who reportedly registered Matlala’s cars as municipal vehicles.
However, on Wednesday, the Madlanga Commission was adjourned after Khumalo reportedly left the venue shortly after 9 a.m. due to falling ill, a development confirmed by Commissioner Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
SIU UNCOVERS R2 BILLION OF FRAUD AT TEMBISA HOSPITAL
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU )’s ongoing investigation into Tembisa Hospital corruption has revealed a large-scale operation involving over R2 billion in looted healthcare funds.
According to SIU head Andy Mothibi, a “complex web of fraud and corruption” was enabled by Tembisa Hospital and Gauteng Health Department staff. These insiders allegedly manipulated procurement systems, using front companies and fake documentation to benefit certain service providers.
Three coordinated groups have been named: the Maumela syndicate, linked to Hangwani Morgan Maumela; the Mazibuko syndicate, tied to Rudolph Mazibuko; and a still-operating “X” network. The investigation has reviewed 2,200 procurement bundles and found 4,501 irregular orders connected to 207 suppliers.
To date, R122.2 million in illegal payments has been traced to officials. The SIU has submitted 116 disciplinary referrals.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi acknowledged that the scandal “was facilitated by internal staff” and pledged to protect whistleblowers and remove corrupt actors. The SIU is now tracing property and other assets linked to these crimes.
U.S. PUTS SOUTH AFRICA ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING WATCH LIST
The U.S. State Department placed South Africa on a human trafficking watchlist, stating that it does not “fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”
The 2025 report reviews global efforts to tackle forced labor, sex trafficking, and other forms of modern slavery.
South Africa was downgraded to the “Tier 2 Watch List” after failing to show “overall increasing efforts” compared to last year.
While officials launched the country’s first sub-provincial task team and secured some convictions, the report said fewer cases were investigated, prosecuted, and victims identified.
It also flagged gaps in monitoring labor abuse in sectors like mining and agriculture.
Other African countries listed alongside South Africa on the Tier 2 Watch List include Algeria, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Niger, Burkina Faso, Congo (Republic and DRC), Cabo Verde, and Liberia.
Being on the watchlist means countries risk U.S. sanctions unless they ramp up their response—this includes better protection for victims and tougher punishment for traffickers.
SASSA HAS EXTENDED POSTBANK’S CONTRACT BY THREE MONTHS
SASSA has extended its Master Services Agreement with Postbank for three more months, offering temporary relief amid rising uncertainty. The contract was set to expire on 30 September, but “this is to allow the executive authority time and space to deliberate on various issues,” SASSA’s Paseka Letsatsi explained.
SASSA relies on Postbank to distribute social grants to millions of beneficiaries through a Master Service Agreement (MSA).
Tensions started in December 2023 when SASSA gave notice to end the contract, later replaced in March 2024 with an 18-month termination citing a damaged relationship and reputational concerns.
Just weeks before the deadline, Postbank filed an urgent court application, but Judge Colleen Collis dismissed the case, saying the urgency was “self-created.” Postbank now intends to seek relief from the Constitutional Court, claiming SASSA ignored their July 2025 dispute notice.
Talks by the Inter-Ministerial Committee haven’t started. Black Sash warns payment issues may hurt recipients, while Postbank says the extension gives beneficiaries certainty.
If the contract is not renewed, and no alternative is secured, SASSA—despite not being a designated clearing system participant—will be forced to manage and administer grant payments directly.
DR CONGO EX-PRESIDENT KABILA SENTENCED TO DEATH
In a major shift for Congolese politics, a DRC military tribunal sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia for treason. The 54-year-old was convicted of backing the M23 rebel group, which controls areas of eastern DRC with alleged Rwandan support.
The verdict came after a five-hour hearing, with the court handing down the sentence without considering any factors that might lessen Kabila’s guilt.
Kabila wasn’t present and had no legal defense during the trial in Kinshasa.
The court claims he was part of a plan to support M23’s control over the country’s eastern mining regions. While DRC reinstated the death penalty in 2024, executions have not occurred in years.
With Kabila’s location still unknown, the sentence adds new tension to a country already burdened by decades of conflict, fragile institutions, and disputed political legacies.
MADLANGA COMMISSION WILL RESUME 13 OCTOBER
The Madlanga Commission will resume on 13 October 2025 after a short pause.
Hearings were cut short this week after Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo fell ill.
According to spokesperson Jeremy Michaels, “The Commission will be taking a scheduled break from 6 – 10 October 2025 due to the unavailability of Commissioner Sesi Baloyi, who will be attending to her duties as a member of the Judicial Service Commission.”
Michaels added, “This week, the Commission’s public hearings would have continued until Friday, 3 October 2025, but when the hearing resumed… Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga adjourned it due to the inability of [Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence] Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo to proceed with his testimony as a result of sudden illness.”
COLLINS JUMAISI: KENYA OFFERING REWARD FOR ESCAPED SERIAL KILLER
Kenyan police are offering a reward of 1 million shillings (about $7,700) for help in capturing Collins Jumaisi Khalusha.
He is accused of killing more than 40 women whose bodies were discovered in a quarry in Nairobi.
As we last reported: Five Kenyan police officers appeared in court last year, accused of helping Collins Jumaisi escape from a Nairobi cell during a breakout with other 12.
Collins Khalusha escaped from custody in August 2024 with 12 others after cutting through a wire mesh roof at a high-security Nairobi police station near the U.S. embassy.
Activists accuse authorities of failing the victims, with some bodies still missing. Though several officers were arrested for allegedly helping Khalusha flee, they were later released on bail.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations says the case is ongoing.
SOUTH AFRICA BRACES FOR HEAVY RAINS AND SEVERE STORMS THIS SUMMER SEASON
South Africa is set to face heavy rains and severe storms this summer season as a La Niña weather system moves in.
The SA Weather Service says above-normal rainfall and warmer temperatures are expected, raising the risk of flooding.
Areas most likely to be hit include the North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape.
COURT FINDS JULIUS MALEMA GUILTY IN GUN CASE, SENTENCING SET FOR JANUARY
Julius Malema has been found guilty of breaching South Africa’s gun laws for firing a weapon at a political rally in 2018.
The East London Magistrate’s Court handed down the verdict on Wednesday, with sentencing scheduled for 23 January.
An additional hearing will be held on 23 January before sentencing
The case was built around a video clip from an EFF rally in Mdantsane that went viral, showing Malema allegedly firing an automatic rifle into the air. In court, his defense insisted the gun was a replica loaded with blanks—but the magistrate rejected the claim.
His co-accused and former bodyguard was not found guilty.
Addressing supporters outside the courthouse, Malema dismissed the ruling as “nonsense,” insisting the judgment was biased and racially charged.
He announced plans to appeal.
As debate grows around the ruling, Malema’s legal battle is expected to remain a political flashpoint leading into next year’s sentencing.
MALAWI NEW PRESIDENT PETER MUTHARIKA TO BE SWORN IN ON OCTOBER 4
Malawi’s President-elect Peter Mutharika will be sworn into office on October 4, alongside Vice President-elect Jane Ansah.
The ceremony will take place at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Mutharika, who previously served as president from 2014 to 2020, won the September 16 election with 56.8% of the vote—around 3 million votes—defeating incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, who secured nearly 1.8 million votes.
Mutharika, now 85, returns to office with Ansah, 69, in a comeback widely seen as a major political shift for Malawi.
TINUBU SAYS NIGERIA HAS MOVED PAST ITS TOUGHEST ECONOMIC PERIOD
President Bola Tinubu used his Independence Day message to assure Nigerians that the country has moved past its hardest economic period. Backing this claim, he highlighted improvements across key sectors, including the economy, public services, infrastructure, and national security.
Economic growth has picked up, with GDP rising faster than expected. Inflation is finally dropping, and foreign reserves are growing again. Tinubu pointed to these figures as signs that recovery is taking hold.
He said the government’s decision to scrap fuel subsidies and streamline currency exchange is freeing up billions for real investment. Public income from taxes and non-oil sectors has exceeded expectations, and debt repayments are no longer swallowing nearly all government income as they once did.
In the energy sector, oil production has increased, and the country has resumed local fuel refining. New infrastructure, like highways and rail lines, is also progressing steadily.
The president emphasized that vulnerable citizens are getting help through cash transfers and education loans. Over 500,000 students have already received financial support, and thousands of households have benefited from new social investment schemes.
He also touched on security, saying that government forces are winning ground back from armed groups and restoring peace in troubled regions. He praised young Nigerians and pledged to continue backing their ambitions with policies and funding.
Ending on a hopeful note, Tinubu urged unity, pride in local efforts, and shared responsibility in nation-building. He said the road has been rough, but better days are already beginning to show.
MOROCCO PROTESTS: 400 PEOPLE ARRESTED AND NEARLY 300 INJURED
Morocco has seen days of protests across several cities, sparked by demands for better healthcare, education, and government reforms. A youth-led group known as GenZ 212 reportedly played a key role in mobilizing the demonstrations online.
So far, over 400 people have been arrested and nearly 300 injured.
On Wednesday night near Agadir, tensions escalated when a group tried to break into a police station in Lqliaa. Authorities claimed the attackers were armed and attempted to seize weapons. Officers responded with live ammunition, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. A judicial inquiry is now underway.
According to AFP, rallies were held in cities like Casablanca, Tangier, and Tetouan. Though some were peaceful, others turned violent. In Sale, protesters set police cars and a bank on fire. Local reports also mentioned vandalism in areas not marked for protests by GenZ 212.
The unrest continues as citizens call for dignity, justice, and an end to corruption.
source: AFP
GAMBIA WINS JOLLOF RICE CROWN OVER NIGERIA AND GHANA
The Gambia has officially claimed the crown in West Africa’s fierce jollof rice rivalry, outshining Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone at this year’s WAFFEST in Accra.
Held from September 22 to 27, the annual West African Food Festival brought together chefs from across the region for a celebration of cooking, creativity, and culture. The main event? A heated battle for jollof rice supremacy.
Gambian chefs Haddy Nyang and Momodou Alpha Jallow stole the spotlight, impressing judges with their flavorful one-pot rice dish made with tomatoes, onions, spices, and a protein twist.
Their culinary triumph earned them gold medals, securing The Gambia’s bragging rights in the ongoing “jollof wars.”
The national team, led by Chef Musa Darboe and backed by the Gambia Tourism Board, also scooped wins in other categories.
EX-SA POLICE MINISTER NATHI MTHETHWA DIES AFTER ‘FALL FROM 22ND FLOOR’ AT PARIS HOTEL, AUTHORITIES SAY
Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s ambassador to France, was found dead in the courtyard of a Paris hotel after reportedly jumping from the building’s 22nd floor. on Tuesday, 30 September 2025–according to AA.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed Mthethwa’s death in a statement .
The circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities.
French prosecutors say his wife had reported him missing the night before after receiving a message where he “apologized to her and expressed his intention to end his life.”
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, “initial investigations suggest that this could have been a deliberate act, without the intervention of a third party.”
Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the Hyatt hotel, where investigators found the safety lock of a window forced open using scissors.
No drugs or signs of violence were discovered.
He was appointed ambassador to France in December 2023 at age 58.
ALGERIA JAILS EX-LABOUR MINISTER FOR $45M CORRUPTION
An Algerian court has sentenced former Labor Minister Tijani Hassan Haddam to seven years in prison for embezzling over $45 million while heading the National Social Security Fund between 2015 and 2019, local media in the area reports.
He ran Algeria’s social security fund for four years (2015 and 2019) and later served as labour minister up to 2020.
He also received a fine of 1 million dinars and must pay additional compensation to the public treasury.
The charges stem from a shady real estate purchase in Algiers that Haddam claimed was for the social security fund. The developer in the deal was handed the same seven-year sentence, while two ex-mayors involved got four years each.
Haddam, who briefly served as minister from April 2019 to January 2020, had been under judicial supervision since July 2023. Prosecutors initially pushed for a 10-year sentence for abuse of office and misuse of public funds. Haddam and others must now jointly repay 100 million dinars in damages.
AT LEAST 36 KILLED IN ETHIOPIA CHURCH SCAFFOLDING COLLAPSE
In Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, at least 36 people died and over 200 others were hurt after a scaffolding structure collapsed during a church event in Arerti on Wednesday morning.
The wooden platform had been erected for church construction work and failed around 7:45 a.m. while hundreds gathered to celebrate.
The collapse happened during the annual religious gathering, causing panic and trapping many worshippers under heavy debris. Rescue teams arrived quickly, but efforts were slowed due to the scale of the collapse.
Emergency services continued working late into the evening to reach those still stuck beneath the rubble. Health officials say the wounded, some critically injured, are receiving treatment at local clinics and hospitals. Authorities fear the death toll could climb higher.
The cause of the structural failure is not yet confirmed, and investigations are underway.
NEW RULES MAY REQUIRE ALL DRONES IN SA TO BE REGISTERED
South Africa’s transport department has introduced a draft airfreight strategy suggesting that all drones sold or distributed in the country must be registered.
The proposal appears in the Draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa 2025, which highlights growing concern over unregulated drone activity and public confusion about drone laws.
The department recommends creating “an electronic register for all RPAS distributed or sold in South Africa” to track drone distribution.
It also advises that “all RPAS of determined minimum specifications must be installed with a device to monitor and track it.”
Officials say the current disorderly use of drones poses risks to civil airspace.
The draft strategy forms part of South Africa’s larger effort to reform and strengthen its airfreight regulations.
Share your thoughts on this article and join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.
The post Top Stories in AFRICA this week: Tembisa Hospital R2 billion scandal, Madlanga Commission, Dumisani Khumalo, Malema found guilty, Nigeria’s economy appeared first on YOMZANSI. Documenting THE CULTURE.
