The biggest stories in South Africa on Wednesday 23 September 2026 — short and to the point.
The Big 5
- Durban mass shooting: 11 people killed in KwaMakhutha, manhunt under way. Same province: 2 pupils shot dead on their way to school, 3 others hurt — KZN education MEC Sipho Hlomuka wants urgent action.
- Sibiya in the dock: suspended SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya (59) appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on 22 September — sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl and the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel. He was arrested by the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team. Parliament has been jolted; the bail hearing looms.
- Masemola cleared, IDAC under review: NPA head Andy Mothibi is reviewing every IDAC case, including Medicare24, and the SIU will run lifestyle audits on 29 NPA management and executive members plus prosecutors. Fannie Masemola’s tender charges are officially withdrawn and he says he is ready to return to work. Tsakane Matlala got R20 000 bail; her husband Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala stays in custody.
- ANC vs IEC: after the Electoral Court dismissed its appeal, the ANC is taking the IEC to the Constitutional Court on 7 October over 181 councillor candidates rejected for missing the 28 August deadline. The FF Plus was drawn top of the 4 November ballot and the IEC signed the electoral code of conduct in Centurion.
- Cost of living and metros: inflation ticked up to 4.4% and the SARB announces its repo rate decision this afternoon; October petrol prices are set to bite. Municipal debt to Eskom could hit R358bn (Ramokgopa) while Ratings Afrika flags financial alarm bells in 7 of SA’s 8 metros.
Madlanga / Justice
- The Commission sat today: taxi boss Oupa ‘Bafana’ Sindane was absent due to ill health. Advocate Thabani Masuku wants a postponement and insists Sindane’s spiritual-seclusion claim stands and was never withdrawn — chair retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga heard the argument.
- Running in parallel: the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into TRC cases, and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption trial.
- AfriForum won its bid to have Fikile Mbalula charged with crimen injuria — the NPA must now decide.
- Also in court: the Robert Wolk murder case heard an alleged plot to kill four people; the Labour Court upheld a Cape Town metro cop’s dismissal for attending a party while on sick leave.
Also worth knowing
- Garden Route: Knysna Council failed to elect a mayor — only 9 of 17 members pitched, two short of a quorum, after the ANC stripped Thando Matika of his seat for standing as an SACP candidate.
- Heritage Day celebrations were moved at the last minute from KZN to the Western Cape; WC MEC Ricardo Mackenzie says the day must not become a political football.
- US–SA ties: envoy Bozell denies asking Thabo Mbeki to mediate, and the visa-ban list stays secret — both sides digging in.
- Health and students: Mpox cases in SA climb to 22; NSFAS slammed as a “bad movie” by students after 51 000 applications landed in four days.
- Conservation: SA’s rhino population rose nearly 5% in 2025, but 230 rhinos were poached this year.
Why it matters
- The courtroom is now South Africa’s most consequential news desk: Sibiya was arrested by the Madlanga Commission’s own task team, and the NPA’s IDAC review will decide whether the state’s anti-corruption unit survives with its credibility intact. At the same time the 4 November election is being fought in court — ANC v IEC in the ConCourt on 7 October — before a single vote is cast.