Relief for Abaqulusi Municipality as National Treasury Releases “Mistakenly” Withheld July Equitable Share

The Abaqulusi Local Municipality, which is anchored in Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal, is breathing a sigh of relief after the National Treasury on Friday released its July equitable share, which runs into millions.

The mayor of the IFP-led municipality said the share was mistakenly withheld because by the time the money was due, they had already met most of the conditions set out, which included paying Eskom for the bulk electricity supplied.

Mayor Sifiso Mkhwanazi also saidREAD MORE

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Friday arrested Madlanga Commission witness “K”, an Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) inspector, in Alberton as part of its widening investigation into the alleged R15 million precious stones theft.

Witness K previously testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that the 2023 Killarney precious stones heist was a planned robbery disguised as a legitimate police operation. During her testimony, she implicated her former partner, suspended EMPD Deputy PoliceREAD MORE

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed the deaths of two soldiers who fell into an abandoned mine shaft while pursuing suspected illegal miners during Operation Prosper in West Johannesburg on Friday morning.

The incident occurred at about 6am at the abandoned CRD Mine, where SANDF members were conducting an anti illegal mining operation alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS).

According to the Department of Defence, soldiers deployed at the site spotted a groupREAD MORE

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) says it has been vindicated after Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka’s systemic investigation into food safety and hygiene standards in South Africa’s informal business sector found widespread failures by municipalities and government departments to enforce laws designed to protect consumers.

The findings stem from a complaint lodged by ATM Member of Parliament Vuyo Zungula in October 2024 following a series of food poisoning incidents involving children, including the deaths of children in Naledi,READ MORE

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference is about to open in Shanghai under the theme “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future.”

The focus this time is not only about making AI smarter, but also how AI can unlock new opportunities and why collaboration matters just as much.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

African Times has published this article in partnership with Xinhua News Agency

ActionSA has announced that it will approach the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to challenge the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) disciplinary findings that cleared Major General Wally Rhoode and Brigadier Hennie Rekhoto over their conduct during the investigation into the 2020 Phala Phala farm burglary.

In a statement issued on Friday, ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont and Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni said the party had instructed its legal team to institute review proceedings seeking to haveREAD MORE

Mayors and city representatives from various countries visited Sanman, a rural tourism area formed by three Dai villages in Xishuangbanna, southwest China.

By exploring how Sanman is turning local culture and old spaces into new opportunities, they drew inspiration for their own rural development efforts. #GlobalMayorsDialogue

African Times has published this article in partnership with Xinhua News Agency

BISHKEK, July 17 (Xinhua) — Participants at an event promoting the fifth volume of “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” on Monday spoke highly of the book, saying it offers important insights into Chinese modernisation, global governance and provides guidance for enhancing cooperation with China.

About 300 representatives from political parties, media organisations, think tanks and other sectors from China and Kyrgyzstan exchanged views on such topics as Belt and Road cooperation, the building of a community withREAD MORE

Newly appointed Minister of Social Development Dina Pule is expected to outline the government’s plans to improve the country’s social development sector and address the ongoing social grants review process during a media briefing next week.

The briefing, scheduled for Tuesday, 21 July 2026, comes as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) faces mounting criticism over long queues, service delays and frustrations experienced by grant beneficiaries at offices across the country.

According toREAD MORE

SHANGHAI, July 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Shanghai.

Tokayev is in China to attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.

Xi said that the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained strong momentum, demonstrating enormous potential for cooperation and broad prospects for future development.

He called on the two sides to strengthen the alignment of their development strategiesREAD MORE