Latest news with #Soweto-based
The Star
29-07-2025
- The Star
AK-47 used in DJ Sumbody's murder linked to 3 more killings, including DJ Vintos
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that the AK-47 used in the killing of popular musician DJ Sumbody has now been linked to three additional murders, including that of Soweto-based Hector 'DJ Vintos' Buthelezi. Businessman Katiso Molefe, former police officer Michael Pule Tau, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Musa Kekana appeared in the Alexander Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. Three of the four men accused in the assassination of DJ Sumbody, whose real name was Oupa John Sefoka, now also face an additional charge related to the murder of Don Tindleni. All four are charged with DJ Vintos' murder. DJ Vintos was gunned down in March 2022 outside a nightclub in Orlando East, Soweto. Speaking outside the court, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the suspects were traveling in a BMW X3 at the time of the shooting. 'In relation to the Alexandra Magistrate's Court, the SAPS Political Killings Task Team, working closely with the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, has brought two additional cases against the four accused who were previously arrested in connection with the Aman Sefoka (DJ Sumbody) case and the killings of his two bodyguards, Sibusiso Khumalo and Sandile Lemeza,' said Mathe. She said the firearm used, a single AK-47, has now been forensically linked to four murders. The murders included that of DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards in November 2022, DJ Vintos in March 2022, Don Tindleni, killed in a BMW 5 Series on the N1 freeway in March 2023, and the Aman Sefoka case, as part of broader investigations 'What is significant is that one AK-47 has been definitively connected to all four murder scenes,' Mathe said. 'Beyond ballistic links, there is also overwhelming additional evidence that has been pieced together by our investigators.'
IOL News
29-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Spaza shop owners voice frustration over 'unrealistic' government support fund requirements
Local spaza shop owners have complained over the tough and challenging application process to access government's recently established R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund (SSSF). Image: Kamogelo Moichela/IOL Despite reported low numbers of applications, local spaza shop owners are crying foul and finding the going is getting tough with the alleged "unrealistic" requirements imposed by the government on the recently established R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund (SSSF). In April, the Minister of Small Business Stella Ndabeni Abrahams announced the support fund during a press briefing in Soweto, which called on eligible South African spaza shop owners in townships and rural areas who want to improve, expand, and sustain their shops to apply for assistance with the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund (SSSF). Some of the requirements for businesses include registration with the local municipality under the relevant by-laws and business licensing requirements. This is coupled with the optional registration with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) for funding above R80,000 where registration with CIPC will be required within 6 months. However, some spaza shop owners have lamented some of these requirements as exclusionary and cumbersome, with one spaza shop owner from Sebokeng, Cico Mokoena. "I am one of the spaza shop owners facing tough compliance requirements imposed by the government." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Jannie Morotolo, a Soweto-based architect, has shared Mokoena's sentiments, saying after trying to help local spaza shop owners with their papers, he has found the process too complicated for most local business owners. "Having been one of those trying to assist many spaza shop owners with compliance. The biggest deadlock is finance. Not a single one of the spaza shops can afford approximately R5k to get all the necessary compliance, let alone, most of them don't even have registration documents, and most of them operate in rented spaces. One of the requirements dictates that they must acquire a letter of consent from the City of Joburg, which costs about R1,100," she said. In a statement, the leader of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) in Parliament, Vuyo Zungula, following his meeting with the leaders of the South African Spaza and Tuckshop Association (SASTA) over the R500 million fund and recent presentation of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. "We have met with SASTA to discuss the unrealistic requirements to access the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund and the Tobacco Bill that seeks to criminalise informal traders on making a living. We have committed to working closely with SASTA to ensure that their concerns are considered when Parliament finalises the Bill. The ATM will address a letter to deputy president, Paul Mashatile, to raise concerns about the failure of the Department of Health to consult spaza shops in finalising the SEIAS report on the Bill," stated Zungula. However, reacting to the outcry, Benji Seitlhamo, acting director for Economic Development Facilitation Department in City of Johannesburg, denied the accusations, saying the processes have been made easy despite a low application rate due to failure by local business owners to comply with the requirements. "It is not true that the process is complicated. The process is easy, but is being made difficult due to the failure by owners who are not compliant. The city enforcing its bylaws and owners going back to being compliant would seem or be regarded as complex and frustrating. If they had been compliant previously, this would not be the requirements are easy if you have a draft plan from the architecture. We prefer this as it is easy to get compliant. Once this is done, you take this plan to the city's department of development planning for them to approve the plan," he stated. On the number of approved spazashop owners, Seithlamo indicated that the numbers have been low due to the high level of failure to comply with the requirements to access funding. He revealed that the city has been conducting various workshops and engagements with spaza shop communities across the nine regions of the city. "The Department of Small Business and Development and its agencies have given themselves 100 days to return to shop owners who register for funding. Obviously, because the sector is illegal, the numbers are low. It is only 30 percent of the R500 million fund that has been distributed nationally, and that figure is even lower for the city of Johannesburg, as we have just over 100 applications so far. That is why there is no closing date for applications to access the fund," he stated.
IOL News
29-07-2025
- IOL News
AK-47 used in DJ Sumbody's murder linked to 3 more killings, including DJ Vintos
Police have linked the same AK-47 used in the high-profile murder of South African musician DJ Sumbody to more additional killings. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that the AK-47 used in the killing of popular musician DJ Sumbody has now been linked to three additional murders, including that of Soweto-based Hector 'DJ Vintos' Buthelezi. Businessman Katiso Molefe, former police officer Michael Pule Tau, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Musa Kekana appeared in the Alexander Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. Three of the four men accused in the assassination of DJ Sumbody, whose real name was Oupa John Sefoka, now also face an additional charge related to the murder of Don Tindleni. All four are charged with DJ Vintos' murder. DJ Vintos was gunned down in March 2022 outside a nightclub in Orlando East, Soweto. Speaking outside the court, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the suspects were traveling in a BMW X3 at the time of the shooting.
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates pull off another major coup with the signing of Oswin Appollis
Once and always Orlando Pirates have won the race to sign Oswin Appollis from Polokwane City. Photo: BackpagePix Orlando Pirates continue to flex their muscles in the transfer market after securing the heavyweight signing of Oswin Appollis. The midfielder joins the Buccaneers from Polokwane City following constant speculation over several seasons linking him to the Soweto-based outfit. The 23-year-old joins an already impressive list of new arrivals at Pirates, which includes former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sipho Mbule, Chippa United's Sinoxolo Kwayiba, and AmaZulu winger Tshepang Moremi. Pirates have been the busiest team during the off-season, and after finishing second to Sundowns last season — with a 13-point gap — the lack of squad depth was widely seen as the key factor that separated them from the champions. Now, with their aggressive movement in the transfer window, the Buccaneers have significantly bolstered their depth while also planning for the future. Appollis becomes the latest young talent to join the club, reflecting a shift towards building a squad that can compete next season and for years to come.
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
New look Orlando Pirates face uphill battle to dethrone well-oiled Sundowns
New Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, left, shaking his predecessor Jose Riveiro's hand earlier this year. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BACKPAGEPIX Orlando Pirates are gearing up to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns and the rest of the Betway Premiership next season, but if the previous campaign is anything to go by, toppling the would-be champions will require far more than just ambition and new signings. By all accounts, the Buccaneers enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent years, collecting an impressive 61 points from a shortened 28-match season — impacted by Royal AM's mid-season disqualification. Despite this strong showing, they still finished 13 points behind Sundowns, who extended their domestic dominance in what was yet another seamless season for the Chloorkop-based outfit. That same 13-point gap also separated Pirates from third-placed Stellenbosch, underlining how far ahead the top two clubs were from the rest of the pack. However, while the Sea Robbers showed signs of real progress, the major challenge remains: how to close the gulf between themselves and Sundowns. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The Soweto-based outfit has not been shy about their intentions. The club has moved swiftly in the transfer market, securing a number of key signings aimed at strengthening the squad for the upcoming campaign. These reinforcements are meant to not only keep the team competitive domestically but also bolster their CAF ambitions after finishing in the last four with a 3-2 loss to champions Pyramids. However, the excitement around the fresh talent comes with potential challenges. The biggest curveball for the Soweto giants is the unexpected departure of Spanish coach Jose Riveiro. After laying down a solid foundation over the past three years, his exit threatens to disrupt the momentum that had been carefully built. In his place comes Moroccan tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou, who faces the immediate task of adjusting to a top-tier team while instilling his own identity and style. With a new coach at the helm, there's every chance that the team's playing philosophy may shift. Ouaddou may have different tactical preferences and could opt for new combinations or players not heavily relied upon last season. This period of adjustment could slow down the team's momentum, especially early in the campaign. Adding to the complexity is the influx of new players — potentially close to 10 or more — into the squad. While this offers depth and competition and a lot of excitement, it also means several players will need time to settle in, build chemistry, and adapt to the demands of the new coach and system. Such transitions rarely yield immediate success.
