Top stories — Monday, 21 September 2026
- Ekurhuleni serial killings: nine women found dead, three people of interest now being questioned. Police say the ninth victim may be linked to a love triangle; Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi welcomed a breakthrough in the Dawn Park probe, and SAPS warned the public to stop circulating fake suspect photos. President Ramaphosa has ordered the cases treated as top priority.
- Madlanga Commission, Day 177: taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni back in the hot seat, resuming testimony after corrections — and crying foul over “procedural unfairness”. Ramaphosa has extended the commission’s final report deadline.
- US–SA standoff: Ronald Lamola is in Washington scrambling to stave off US sanctions, while Ramaphosa says SA is prepared to engage Washington to resolve the bilateral rift.
- SAA loses an R85 million deal: the tribunal set aside SAA’s dry-lease agreement with Flyfofa, days after the lease extension collapsed.
- Eskom turns the corner: energy availability factor at a six-year high and diesel spend slashed by R4.8 billion.
Justice & accountability
- SIU to investigate six Buffalo City metro projects for maladministration and corruption.
- IDAC imposter: someone used acting IDAC head Ntuthuzelo Vanara’s name to solicit sensitive information on the Mapisa-Nqakula case.
- Durban serial rapist arrested after a 16-year manhunt — DNA links him to 14 attacks.
- Missing SA journalist Micah Reddy confirmed in Djibouti custody by the ICIJ.
- Cadre deployment crackdown paves the way for a civil service overhaul.
Also worth knowing
- Mpox spike puts SA on high alert.
- GBV: Ramaphosa says men must do more, as Ian Cameron asks what actually changed since GBV was declared a national disaster.
- Local elections 2026: IFP launches its manifesto in KwaMashu with a clean-governance pledge; the new UDF party launched in Mitchells Plain.
- NSFAS restores funding for 357 NMU students after a qualification-code error; 2027 application deadline reminder issued.
- Fish shortage hits Lucky Star — SA’s best-known canned brand cannot meet demand.
- Sandton restaurant threats against women: SAPS says it “cannot investigate through social media”; Letsike wants Home Affairs to act.
- Diesel refunds set to exit the VAT system.
Why it matters
The state’s own accountability machinery is in the spotlight on two fronts at once — fractured testimony at the Madlanga Commission and the SIU’s Buffalo City probe — while the Ekurhuleni murders push GBVF to the top of the agenda in election season. And watch Eskom’s diesel savings: cheaper generation is the single biggest lever on SA inflation and the rand.