DA to take finance minister to court over Jo’burg
Democratic Alliance mayoral hopeful Helen Zille has said that the party will take Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance to court if he fails to intervene in Johannesburg’s unfunded budget. In a letter to the Minister, the party said that while the budget projected a small operating surplus, this was overwhelmed by creditors’ arrears, the recent commitment to payments to the city’s workers, as well the severe infrastructural backlogs. A letter from the DA’s legal team reminded the Minister that he had already effectively reached this conclusion in a letter dated 23 April 2026, where he took the city to task for unfunded expenditure and threatened to withdraw grant funding.
Top cop fired over Madlanga evidence
Major General Richard Shibiri has become the first high ranking SAPS official to be fired, having been linked to acts of corruption by evidence presented at the Madlanga commission. An expeditious disciplinary process found Shibiri guilty of “serious misconduct,” according to SAPS spokesperson Brigadier General Athelende Mathe, who further noted that the “disciplinary proceedings were conducted in accordance with applicable SAPS prescripts and principles of procedural fairness.” Shibiri previously served as national head of organised crime, after the suspension of deputy national commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
Treasury gives KZN education department emergency R2bn advance
National Treasury has stepped in at the last minute, preventing a funding crisis by granting the KZN department of education a R2 billion emergency advance. Critics argue the funding brings immediate relief, but serves only as a temporary reprieve, given that the department is effectively on “financial life support.” The DA argues the province’s education system has been driven to the edge of collapse by successive financial mismanagement, budget cuts, inadequate controls and a repeated failure to align its budget with its available resources.
Saab’s Gripen faces the ultimate test in Ukraine
Thirty years after first entering service with the Swedish Air Force, the Saab Gripen has been selected by Ukraine to form the backbone of its fighter fleet and will finally be used for its initial intended purpose, to counter the Russian Air Force. Having received a €90 billion European Union loan, Ukraine has earmarked €2.5 billion for the purchase of 20 new Gripen E fighters, and 16 older Gripen C/D fighters. The deal has the potential to grow to a total of 150 aircraft, with the first jets expected in service within the next year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the fighter jet, saying, “we need these jets and for us this is really a new page for Ukraine.”
Xi heads to North Korea
For the first time in seven years, Chinese President Xi Jinping will next travel to North Korea to reinforce ties between the two countries. Previously in September, Xi and Kim met in Beijing in during a Chinese military parade, pledging mutual support and enhanced cooperation. For Xi, the trip is the latest step by China to strengthen its close ties with its nuclear-armed neighbour, while for Kim, it is a crucial move to improve ties with its biggest trading partner and source of much needed aid.
Sources: News24, Daily Maverick, Reuters, AP