Zase Witty

05/03/2026

21/01/2026

A LEARNER STABBED TO DEATH BY A FELLOW LEARNER

In a tragic incident merely a week into the 2026 academic year, an 19-year-old male learner was stabbed to death by a fellow learner during an altercation at LD Moetanalo High School in Mhluzi, Middelburg under the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality this morning, 20 January 2026.

The fatal stabbing reportedly occurred following a physical altercation between two learners, resulting in one learner sustaining fatal injuries.

Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane stated that they are currently investigating a case of murder.

This is a developing story, additional information will be shared as it becomes available…..

18/01/2026

Let’s do better gents

EMALAHLENI WOMEN NEED PROTECTION

This week, Emalahleni did not just bleed.
It cried, quietly and loudly, through the footsteps of women who left home and did not return the same.

In a town already bruised by violence, another truth is becoming impossible to ignore: being a woman here has become dangerously unsafe.

In the space of days, our platform carried story after story of women who vanished into fear.
Young women who did nothing wrong.
Women who went to work.
Women who trusted.
Women who simply wanted to go home.

A 24-year-old nurse knocked off at work at around 19h00.
She never arrived home.
For days, her family lived in torment, imagining every possible nightmare. The community shared, searched, hoped. When she was finally found, it was not the ending anyone prayed for. She was discovered in Kriel, fragile, unable to speak fully about what she endured.
A woman left work and disappeared.
Let that sink in.

A gentle soul from Hlalanikahle Ext 2.
She went missing from Witbank, last seen in Johannesburg.
Panic spread. Rumours grew. Fear tightened its grip.
She later resurfaced, shaken, after being mugged and left without help, bouncing between police stations, alone, traumatised, unheard.
Even when women survive, the system often abandons them.

A college student from Ackerville trusted someone she met online.
A “potential boyfriend”.
Instead, she was kidnapped and held in a room in downtown Emalahleni. She escaped with her life, but the scars remain. The suspect is still at large. She is now receiving counselling.
The danger didn’t come from a dark alley.
It came from a screen, a conversation, a promise.
These are not isolated incidents.
They are symptoms of a deeper crisis.

A crisis where women cannot:

• Walk home after work without fear
• Travel alone without calculating risk
• Trust public spaces
• Trust online connections
• Trust that help will come when they ask

We cannot keep reacting only when someone is missing.
We cannot keep sharing posters and praying after the damage is done.

We need:

• Safer transport systems for working women
• Community patrols that actually protect
• Churches, schools, and organisations speaking openly about female safety
• Parents talking to daughters about real dangers, not fear, but awareness
• Men holding other men accountable
• Police stations that respond with urgency, not indifference

Most importantly, we need to stop treating women’s fear as normal.
Because it is not normal to text “I’m home” like a survival code.
It is not normal to share live locations out of fear.
It is not normal to feel hunted in your own town.

EMALAHLENI, THIS IS A WARNING
If women are not safe, no one is safe.
A community that cannot protect its daughters, sisters, mothers, and partners is a community in crisis.

We have marched before.
We have prayed before.
We have spoken before.
Now we must act, together, loudly, consistently.
If you have ideas, initiatives, patrol groups, counselling services, or safety solutions, reach out to Emalahleni News 24/7.

This is not a women’s issue.
This is a community emergency.
Enough fear. Enough silence. Enough disappearing women. 💜

13/01/2026

Record-Breaking Matric Results Spark Pride in Emalahleni and Beyond

This year’s 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results have set a new benchmark for South African education, with the class of 2025 achieving a **historic 88% overall pass rate — the highest in the country’s history.

The results were officially announced by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube on Monday evening, with learners across the country, including those in eMalahleni, discovering their outcomes.

Nationwide Success and Local Context

Despite the national spotlight, the story of these results is also a local one. For learners in Emalahleni — many of whom have worked tirelessly under challenging conditions — the release of the matric results represents both personal achievement and community pride.

While provincial pass rates varied, Mpumalanga, the province where Emalahleni is located, recorded a pass rate of 86.55%, placing it solidly in the mid-range among the nine provinces.

What the Numbers Mean

The 88% national pass rate reflects the performance of over 900 000 learners who wrote the 2025 NSC examinations at more than 6 000 centres nationwide — making this the largest cohort in history.

Across the country:

KwaZulu-Natal achieved the highest provincial pass rate at 90.6%

Free State and Gauteng also scored above 89%

Mpumalanga achieved 86.55%, showing strong participation and performance despite systemic challenges.

These figures show broad progress in educational outcomes — with all nine provinces securing pass rates above 80%, a sign of wider stability and improvement in the basic education system.

Celebrating Achievement, Planning Ahead

For many learners in Emalahleni, passing matric is more than a statistic — it’s a gateway to new opportunities. Achieving the NSC allows learners to pursue:

Higher education (universities or colleges)

Technical and vocational training

Employment opportunities, or

Second-chance pathways for those who wish to improve results or explore alternative careers.

Even learners who didn’t achieve their first-choice results are encouraged to view this moment not as an end, but the beginning of a fresh chapter.

A Milestone for Education

Education leaders have hailed the results as a marker of resilience and progress. While the celebration is deserved, stakeholders also stress that ongoing support, resources, and targeted interventions remain crucial to ensure every learner — in Emalahleni and across South Africa — has the foundation to succeed.

In Emalahleni, as throughout the country, the 2025 matric results will be remembered not only for the numbers, but for the stories of perseverance, community support, and bright futures unveiled through each certificate that was earned.

08/01/2026

Alert!!!🚨

07/01/2026

𝑩𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺 𝑼𝑷𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬 💔

Victim: Mr Willie Visser, a 25-year-old resident of eMalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga.

Arrested Suspect: Melissa Vice, 29, the victim’s sister-in-law and wife of his brother.

Incident Details: Willie Visser’s body was discovered on 16 December 2025 by a member of the public in dense bushes near the Seekoeiwater plots. The deceased showed visible injuries, including bruising to his face, arms, and abdomen. Initial police findings indicate that Visser was allegedly attacked with a blunt object, leading to his death, after which his body was abandoned at the location.

Legal Proceedings: Melissa Vice was taken into police custody on 24 December 2025. She made her first court appearance at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on 29 December 2025 on a charge of murder. The accused remains in custody, with the matter postponed to 14 January 2026 for a formal bail hearing.

Clarification: Claims suggesting that it was “good luck” for a passer-by to discover the body are not part of the official investigation or court record. The discovery of the body enabled authorities to initiate a thorough investigation, ultimately leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

Further updates will be provided as the case progresses.

07/01/2026

🙌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓

Emalahleni Local Municipality Rolls Out Community Outreach on Subsidies and Rebates

Emalahleni Local Municipality successfully conducted a community awareness and registration initiative on Tuesday, 06 January 2026, at Dingane Mndawe Street in the Sincobile area. The initiative was designed to inform residents about the various municipal subsidy and rebate programmes available to qualifying households.

During the outreach, community members were guided on eligibility criteria, registration requirements, and the advantages of being enrolled in these support programmes. Residents received hands-on assistance to verify their qualification status, complete registrations where applicable, and better understand how these initiatives help reduce the cost of accessing essential municipal services.

Complementing the main programme, the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality, Cllr VJ Nhlapho, conducted door-to-door visits in the area. This effort aimed to reach residents who may be unable to attend public engagements, ensuring that critical information and registration support extended to homebound and vulnerable individuals.

The Executive Mayor also urged councillors to play an active role within their respective wards by educating communities and assisting eligible residents with the registration process. This collaborative approach enhances awareness and improves participation in municipal assistance programmes.

Emalahleni Local Municipality encourages residents requiring further information or support regarding subsidies, rebates, or other municipal services to visit their nearest municipal offices. The Municipality remains dedicated to inclusive, people-focused service delivery and sustained community engagement.

Issued by:
Communications Unit
Emalahleni Local Municipality

07/01/2026

🚨EMALAHLENI FAMILY SEEKS ACCOUNTABILITY AFTER PIT BULL MAULS TEEN IN PHOLA

A family in Emalahleni is calling for swift action following a violent dog attack that left their 16-year-old son seriously injured and hospitalized in Phola on Sunday.

The teenager, Tumelo Mnguni, is currently receiving medical treatment after being attacked on Xaba Street. A relative, Ayanda Bheluza, recounted that Tumelo was spending time with friends when a neighbor’s child appeared with a Pit Bull. Without provocation, the dog allegedly lunged at him.

“The dog clamped onto him and dragged him along the ground, leaving him badly hurt,” Bheluza said, describing the ordeal as horrifying and deeply upsetting for the family.

Phola SAPS has confirmed that an official case has been registered and that investigations are underway. Police also revealed that the suspected owner of the dog has since been detained for questioning and to submit a statement.

The Middelburg SPCA has acknowledged awareness of the incident, stating that they are awaiting authorization from the court before taking any action involving the animal.

The attack has ignited concern among local residents and intensified demands for justice. Speaking on the family’s behalf, Bheluza emphasized their position.

“We cannot allow a dangerous dog to remain in our community,” he said. “We want accountability — whether that means the owners face arrest, the dog is removed immediately, or all medical costs are paid. Steps must be taken to prevent another child from being harmed.”

This matter remains under investigation.

Further updates will be shared as information from SAPS and court proceedings becomes available.

08/12/2025

🚨Umgita who was allegedly beaten by security guards at the SOGA event returns to the venue to confront them face-to-face. He demands answers for the assault and questions why the situation escalated without cause. The video captures the tense exchange, the security team’s response, and his call for accountability.

08/12/2025

🚨SEVEN LIVES LOST IN DEVASTATING N12 CRASH NEAR OGIES

A tragic head-on collision on the N12 between Ogies and Emalahleni claimed seven lives on Monday morning, marking one of Mpumalanga’s most devastating road incidents this year.

The accident took place in the early hours of 08 December 2025, when a sedan and a light delivery vehicle (LDV) collided. Early indications from the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison suggest that one of the vehicles lost control, left its lane, crossed the centre divide, and slammed into oncoming traffic.

The section of the N12 where the impact occurred features a wide median, raising concerns that excessive speed may have contributed to the vehicle’s ability to breach the separation between the two carriageways.

According to officials, five people in the sedan — three men and two women — died at the scene. The LDV’s two male occupants also did not survive. Emergency responders confirmed that there were no survivors in either vehicle.

A comprehensive probe into the circumstances leading up to the collision is now underway. The investigation is being handled jointly by SAPS, the Road Traffic Management Corporation, and the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison.

While the inquiry continues, authorities say they cannot yet dismiss the possibility of reckless or negligent driving.

In response to the fatal crash, Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, urged motorists to exercise caution, particularly with festive season traffic increasing on major routes.

“We must prioritise safety and remain vigilant to prevent avoidable tragedies on our roads,” MEC Macie said, reiterating the province’s concern over rising road deaths.

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05/12/2025

🚕⚠️ Commuter Alert: ULDTS has introduced revised taxi fares. Check the updated prices to avoid surprises on your next ride.