Mamelodi News

Why Nationals from Lesotho, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe Feel at Home in South Africa - Mamelodi News Nationals from Lesotho, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe often see South Africa as an extension of their homeland, rooted in deep historical, cultural, and economic ties that transcend colonial borders. These connections foster a sense of belonging and shared destiny, underscoring the urgent need for greater unity among SADC nations to harness them for mutual prosperity. Colonial borders arbitrarily divided ethnic groups with shared languages, customs, and histories. The Basotho people span Lesotho and South Africa's Free State, while Swazis connect across Eswatini, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal. Zimbabweans share anti-apartheid struggles and cultural overlaps with northern South African communities. These pre-colonial ties create natural affinities, where migrants feel at home rather than foreign. South Africa's opportunities draw many: Lesotho's enclave status and reliance on mining job...

Cellphone Snatcher Apprehended After Botched Attempt A cellphone snatching incident ended badly for a suspect after a swift response by private security companies working together with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). The suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident, highlighting the growing collaboration between private security and law enforcement to curb street crime in the city. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring public safety and warned criminals that coordinated patrols and rapid response units are increasingly effective. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or nearby security teams. Video: 

Heartbreak in Mamelodi: Parents Mourn Daughter Lost to Abusive Partner, Plea for Death Penalty Revival By Mamelodi News Reporter - December 29, 2025 In the quiet streets of Mamelodi's Skierlik section, a family's home stands as a somber reminder of unimaginable loss. Two years after their 20-year-old daughter, Lethabo, was tragically shot and killed in an abusive relationship, her parents are still grappling with grief that refuses to fade. Speaking exclusively to Mamelodi News, the devastated family opened up about their ongoing pain and their desperate call for the government to reinstate the death penalty as a deterrent to the rising tide of violence plaguing South Africa. Lethabo, born in Limpopo and raised in Mamelodi, was known to her loved ones as a vibrant young woman with dreams of a brighter future. But her life was cut short in 2023 when she visited her Zimbabwean boyfriend in Soshanguve, a neighboring township north of Pretoria. What began as a relationship turned t...

Public questions arrest in DJ Warras murder as doubts grow on social media SOUTH AFRICA - Public dissatisfaction continues to grow following the arrest of a suspect in the murder of DJ Warras, with many social media users questioning whether police have arrested the correct person. Since news of the arrest broke, social media platforms have been flooded with comments comparing the suspect’s appearance to a widely circulated video linked to the case. In the video, the man believed to be involved is seen with dreadlocks. However, the suspect arrested by authorities does not have dreadlocks, and even older photographs of him shared online do not show him ever wearing dreadlocks. This discrepancy has led to heated debate, with some members of the public accusing authorities of acting hastily, while others are calling for clarity from law enforcement. Some social media users have raised questions about whether the real suspect may have deliberately worn dreadlocks to mislead authorities or ...

Public Divided Over Viral Video of Women Dancing at Entertainment Venue SOUTH AFRICA - Social media users are sharply divided following the circulation of a video showing two women dancing at what appears to be an entertainment venue. The clip, which has been widely shared across platforms, shows the women wearing revealing outfits while dancing as onlookers watch in the background. While some online users have defended the women’s right to express themselves freely in a social setting, others have criticised the video, questioning whether the behaviour was appropriate for a public venue and whether it reflects broader concerns around morality, dignity, and social responsibility. The location and date of the video have not been officially confirmed, and it remains unclear whether the venue had rules governing dress code or performance conduct. There has also been no confirmation on whether the women were patrons or performers at the establishment. Supporters argue that adults should be...

Department of Social Development Condemns Viral Video of Children Drinking Alcohol The Department of Social Development (DSD) has strongly condemned a disturbing viral video showing adults allegedly allowing young children to handle and consume alcohol on Christmas Day. The footage, which has circulated widely on social media, appears to show minors holding bottles of Flying Fish alcoholic beverages, with some children seemingly drinking from them. The department described the incident as reckless, dangerous, and a serious violation of children’s rights. DSD warned that exposing children to alcohol places their health, safety, and development at risk, and may constitute child neglect or abuse under South African law. The department has called on parents, guardians, and community members to take responsibility for protecting children from harmful substances. Authorities have indicated that the matter may be referred to law enforcement and child protection services for further investigat...

Unidentified Woman’s Body Found Floating in Tshwane River Near Majaneng Bosplaas Road TSHWANE - The body of an unidentified woman was discovered floating in a small river in the Tshwane area on Sunday morning, near the farms along Majaneng Bosplaas Road, prompting a police investigation and appeals for public assistance. Residents who were passing by the waterway alerted local authorities after noticing the body in the river shortly after first light. Emergency services and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to the scene, where divers and forensic teams later recovered the body and secured the area for investigation. At this stage, police have not released the identity of the woman or any definitive details surrounding the circumstances of her death. No official confirmation has been provided about how long she may have been in the water, and efforts to determine whether foul play was involved are ongoing. The discovery comes amid heightened concerns over wate...

Featured | "From Rock Bottom to Healing Hands: Tshepiso's Journey Back to Light in Mamelodi" By Mamelodi News - Mamelodi, Tshwane  In the forgotten township of Mamelodi East, where hope sometimes feels as scarce as permanent jobs, Tshepiso Mohlala once stood at the edge of giving up. Matric failure in 2015 wasn't just a failed exam for him, it was a crushing verdict on his future. "I felt like the world had closed its doors," he recalls, voice steady now but eyes still carrying the barden of regrets. "There were nights I stared at the roof thinking, 'What's the point?' Suicide crossed my mind more than once." What followed was not a quick turnaround, but a slow, stubborn climb. Tshepiso rewrote his exams while working odd jobs, loading trucks, fixing neighbors' appliances, to support his family. He enrolled in a bridging course, battled self-doubt, and pushed through medical school on bursaries and sheer will. Today, at 28, Dr. Tsh...

 Mamelodi’s Atlegang Mashele Continues to Shine After China Summit Mamelodi, Pretoria – 15 December 2025 After proudly representing South Africa at a prestigious global summit in China in October 2025, Atlegang Mashele continues to shine and make an impact both internationally and at home. Mashele, who hails from Mamelodi, was selected last year to represent South Africa at a high-level global gathering of leaders, innovators and change-makers. Since returning from China, Mashele has remained committed to working hard, building networks and using the experience gained abroad to uplift communities back home. Despite ongoing social and economic challenges in Mamelodi, where many young people face unemployment and dwindling hope, Mashele’s journey stands as a powerful reminder that success is possible regardless of background. Through continued professional growth and community engagement, Mashele is inspiring young people to believe in education, perseverance and global opportunity. ...

“They Treat Us Like Dogs”: South African Employee Exposes Abuse by Foreign Bosses at Cake Zone Bakery. By Mamelodi News - December 9, 2025 A desperate South African worker at Cake Zone bakery, located in Pretoria West Carl has blown the lid off alleged workplace exploitation, claiming staff are overworked, underpaid, and subjected to racist abuse, sometimes forced to sleep in storerooms just to keep their jobs. In an anonymous post sent to Mamelodi News pleading “Pls hide my name 🙏🏾,” the employee detailed a toxic environment where  workers, are being mistreated by their bosses who are allegedly from Zimbabwe and Mozambique. “Rena le problem as ba bereki go company yengwa e bitswa gore ke Cake Zone,” the worker wrote in a Setswana. “Re bereka go feta tekano, reka fetsha 3 days rele mowe re bereka 😣 and re yeme ka maoto.” Translation: “We have a problem as the workers of CakeZone factory, We are working beyond expectations. We sometimes spend more than 3 days at work, standing...

🔥 SOUTH AFRICAN STAR ON THE RISE: ORAPETSE KHANGALE IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD! 🌍✨ Orapetse Khangale just made history! The South African beauty has been crowned OVERALL WINNER at the prestigious International ARTS Talent Showcase 2025, beating thousands of actors, models & dancers from across the globe! This isn’t just a win… it’s her official passport to the international stage! 🛫 Because of this victory, Orapetse received the golden ticket every model dreams of: ✈️ A personal invitation to Model Source New York. 📅 28 July 2025 – 31 July 2026 (full year of elite training!) She’ll be training, walking, shooting and networking in the fashion capital alongside top agencies, legendary runways and global casting directors. Manhattan, get ready, Mzansi’s queen is coming! 👑 Before the world domination, she’s been: 📺 Killing it in major TV commercials 👠 Owning runways at Montecasino international fashion shows 💼 Signed to the agency that’s taking her straight to the top Casting dir...

Spaza Shops Collapse Under Festive-Season Extortion Surge Khayelitsha, Cape Town - Dozens of spaza shops and small township businesses in Khayelitsha, Harare, Mfuleni and surrounding areas have shut their doors permanently in the past three weeks as extortion gangs dramatically hike their “protection” fees ahead of the Christmas trading season. Traders describe a well-organised racket in which multiple gangs, some linked to local street committees, others to numbered prison gangs, demand monthly payments throughout the year. With December here, these groups have now imposed one-off “Christmas bonuses” ranging from R2,000 to R10,000 per shop, on top of the regular R1,000–R3,000 monthly fees. “I am paying four different groups every month,” said a Site C spaza owner who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. “One takes R1,000, another R1,500, the third R2,000 and the fourth R3,000 from the fourth. Now all four want a ‘festive bonus’ before the 15th of December. I told them I do...

Families Demand Justice for Lerato, Lebo, Tebogo, Mingeni, and Lucky Cullinan, Gauteng - Five ordinary men - Lerato Mabuza, Lebohang Mokoena, Tebogo Mahlangu, Mingeni Nkosi and Lucky Shabangu, were ambushed, beaten, tied up and burnt alive in their taxi on 11 September in Mamelodi East, simply because they were accused of driving on the “wrong” route. Three died inside the burning vehicle. Lerato and Lucky fought for weeks in hospital with 90% burns before they, too, lost their lives. Five days later, the two men accused of orchestrating the killings, Masipa Victor Maepa (38) and Job Matsobane Magongwa (43), walked free from the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court after being granted R2,000 bail each. As the magistrate announced the decision, the victims’ mothers and sisters collapsed, screaming the names of their loved ones. Outside court, families and neighbours held posters with the five men’s faces and shouted: “Our brothers were burnt alive for bread money! No bail for killers!” #mamelod...