insight Jozi News

Insight Jozi paparazzi   Insight Jozi News was on the ground as the Gauteng Mass Aerobics Event turned Hillbrow into a stadium of energy, unity, and rhythm. Hosted by SAPS Hillbrow and attended by police stations from across Gauteng, the event was nothing short of phenomenal — a powerful celebration of wellness, discipline, and community partnership. But while the synchronized aerobics routines stole the stage, it was the unexpected celebrity sighting that sent whispers racing through the crowd. Moja Love reality TV star Cookie Kgaphola was spotted enjoying the spectacle alongside the owner of Johannesburg’s popular burger and grill hotspot, PP Soup Grills, and members of their team. The appearance immediately fueled speculation that has been quietly circulating in entertainment circles: has Cookie officially signed a major endorsement deal with the fast-growing franchise? Sources close to the brand suggest the partnership could be worth millions, positioning Cookie as the face...

By Noko Maleka As 2026 unfolds, Johannesburg’s vibrant cultural heartbeat is calling — and Joburg Theatre is at the centre of it all. Situated in the heart of Braamfontein, this iconic stage is ready to light up your year with an exciting slate of performances, shows, and unforgettable artistic experiences. Whether you’re a theatre lover, family planner, or just looking to try something new, there’s a live show waiting for you. 🎭 Must-See Shows in 2026 1. EXPRESSED Dates: 27 January – 1 February 2026 A powerful one‑act production confronting gender-based violence with raw emotion and original music — a performance that doesn’t just entertain, but invites reflection and conversation. 2. The Mandela at Joburg Theatre Concert Series Dates: January – March 2026 Live musical tributes featuring classics from Hotel California – The Eagles Experience to Queen – It’s a Kind of Magic and An Ode to Motown. A vibrant mix of rock, soul, and nostalgic hits that transforms the theatre into a concert...

Hillbrow SAPS to Host Gauteng Mass Aerobics Event to Strengthen Community Relations By Noko Maleka | InsightJoziNews Hillbrow, Johannesburg — In a proactive effort to strengthen the relationship between the community and law enforcement, Hillbrow SAPS, under the Social Crime Prevention Unit, will host the Gauteng Mass Aerobics Event on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 , from 09:00 to 14:00 . The event is part of Hillbrow SAPS’ ongoing commitment to community engagement, aimed at addressing the root causes of crime through meaningful interaction, education, and unity. The mass aerobics session will be open to both community members and SAPS personnel, and is expected to attract around 300 attendees . Sergeant Mthembu, who oversees the Social Crime Prevention Unit, explained that the initiative is designed to foster trust and strengthen the bond between the police and the community they serve. “Through events like these, we hope to build positive relationships and create a safer environ...

TRICKED INTO PORN: 20-YEAR-OLD SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN SAYS FAKE MODEL AUDITION LURED HER INTO ADULT VIDEO By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News A 20-year-old South African woman has come forward with disturbing allegations that she was tricked into appearing in a pornographic video after being lured with what she believed was a legitimate modelling audition. The woman has confirmed that she is the individual seen in a video linked to a platform operating under the name “African Casting”, a channel hosted on a well-known international adult website. The channel presents itself as a casting or audition platform — a format critics say is designed to mislead, manipulate and exploit young women, particularly those facing unemployment and financial hardship. According to her account, what was sold to her as an opportunity to enter the entertainment industry turned into a pornographic recording, without proper explanation, lawful consent or clear contractual agreement. “I Thought It Was a Real M...

Zimbabwe Rising: How Gold Is Turning the Economy Into a Continental Powerhouse By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News Zimbabwe is entering a new era—one defined not by crisis headlines, but by confidence, discipline, and the extraordinary strength of gold. What once symbolized the country’s past has now become the engine of its future, positioning Zimbabwe as one of Africa’s most exciting economic comeback stories. In recent months, the surge in global gold prices and Zimbabwe’s assertive strategy to build its foreign-exchange reserves have given unprecedented support to the nation’s gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) . The currency has strengthened against the U.S. dollar, markets are responding positively, and a renewed sense of economic optimism is spreading through the country. This is more than a financial development—it’s a turning point. Gold: Zimbabwe’s Power Lever to the Future Gold is no longer just a commodity for Zimbabwe; it is the backbone of a nation...

PP Soup Grill: Hillbrow’s New Home of Flavor, Family & Freshness By Noko Maleka Hillbrow has a brand-new culinary gem, and it’s already turning heads, filling stomachs, and winning hearts. PP Soup Grill, located at 16 Pretoria Street, Metro Building, has officially opened its doors — and if early reviews are anything to go by, this is set to become one of Johannesburg’s most loved family restaurants. A Clean, Warm, Family-Friendly Space Walking into PP Soup Grill feels like stepping into a space designed with pure care. The restaurant is spotless, beautifully arranged, and radiates a sense of warmth that immediately makes you feel at home. Families, students, workers, and neighbours all gather here because the atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and refreshing — a rare find in the ever-busy heart of Hillbrow. Food That Speaks for Itself If there’s one thing PP Soup Grill prides itself on, it is taste — and they deliver it generously. The menu is packed with mouthwatering dishes prepa...

Students Forced onto the Streets After NSFAS Payment Error Leaves Them Homeless By Noko Maleka Dozens of TVET students were evicted from student accommodation near Gandhi Square after accommodation payments intended for providers were deposited into students' bank accounts. Some have been left sleeping in streets and under bridges. Dozens of students from Central Johannesburg TVET College and Ekurhuleni TVET College have been left stranded and homeless after a sudden eviction from Urban Einstein Student Accommodation in Marshalltown, near Gandhi Square. According to the affected students, they were given just seven days’ notice to vacate the premises after the accommodation provider claimed that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) had failed to pay their rent. The students say they had followed all procedures required by NSFAS and their institutions. “They told us to leave within seven days becaus...

POPCRU Members Under Attack at Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News | Pretoria, South Africa — October 29, 2025 A tense standoff has unfolded at the Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre in Pretoria, where members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) are protesting what they describe as a campaign of intimidation and repression by senior officials within the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) . The demonstration, taking place along Cullinan Road, follows weeks of rising discontent among correctional officers. POPCRU members say they have endured unlawful suspensions, harassment of shop stewards , and the unilateral imposition of a controversial shift system — a matter that remains before the labour dispute council. According to POPCRU, instead of engaging with workers to resolve their concerns, Area Commissioner Khoza — who oversees ...

Freedom Is Indivisible — Mandela Foundation Fires Back for Palestine Freedom Is Indivisible — Mandela Foundation Fires Back for Palestine By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News Johannesburg — 26 October 2025 | Event: Sandton Convention Centre (25 October 2025) The 23rd Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at the Sandton Convention Centre became more than a ceremony — it became a confrontation with power. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, delivered a bold call for justice that linked the Palestinian struggle to South Africa’s own fight against apartheid. “Justice is indivisible,” Albanese declared. “Solidarity in struggles for justice is the political expression of love.” Her words struck deep — naming the global financial and political forces that fuel oppression from Gaza to the Congo. But as the Nelson Mandela Foundation prepared for post-event engagements, the message was disrupted: members of Ch...

 Jacob Zuma Ordered to Repay R28.9 Million — A Harsh Yet Better Outcome Than Losing His Pension By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News The Gauteng High Court has ordered former president Jacob Zuma to repay R28.9 million in legal fees that were unlawfully funded by the state during his corruption battles. Should he fail to pay within 60 days, the State Attorney may attach his assets — and, if necessary, even his presidential pension. The judgment has sparked mixed reactions. On one hand, it’s seen as a necessary step toward accountability after years of taxpayer-funded litigation. On the other, it feels ridiculous in its ambition — punishing a man for benefiting from a system the state itself authorised. It’s difficult not to question the timing and tone of the ruling. For years, government departments freely approved Zuma’s legal bills, only to now demand the money back when politically convenient. Still, as unfair as the decision may seem, it’s far better than the Presidency’s earlie...

 FIFA Investigates South Africa: Bafana Bafana Face Possible Two-Year Suspension Over Dudula Allegations By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News Johannesburg — South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, could face a devastating two-year suspension from international football following shocking allegations involving the controversial Dudula Movement and its leader, Zandile Dabula. According to reports, FIFA has launched an investigation after allegations surfaced that members of the Dudula Operation planned to demand identity documents from fans attending the upcoming South Africa vs Zimbabwe World Cup qualifier match. The alleged intention was to verify the nationality of supporters entering the stadium — a move that FIFA has condemned as discriminatory and politically motivated. FIFA maintains a strict policy that prohibits political interference in football. The world football governing body’s code is clear: no political, racial, or national discrimination shall be tolerat...

Sizok’thola Host Xolani Khumalo Announced as ActionSA’s Mayoral Candidate for Ekurhuleni By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News insightjozinews.blogspot.com In a move that has stunned both political circles and television audiences, Sizok’thola presenter Xolani Khumalo has officially been announced as ActionSA’s candidate for Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni. The announcement was made earlier today by the party’s president, Herman Mashaba, signaling what could be one of the most intriguing political shake-ups in recent local government history. Khumalo, best known for his fearless work on the Moja Love reality show Sizok’thola, where he exposes drug dealers and confronts crime in communities, has built a strong public image as a man of action — unafraid to tackle corruption and social decay head-on. His transition from television to politics seems to align naturally with his passion for community justice and accountability. In his new political role, Khumalo is expected to bring the same di...

 Julius Malema Found Guilty: A Question of Law or Selective Justice? Noko Maleka|insight jozi news  The East London Magistrate Court yesterday delivered a striking verdict against EFF leader Julius Malema, finding him guilty on all charges related to firing a firearm into the sky at a political rally in 2018. But this judgment raises serious questions: Is shooting a firearm into the air inherently criminal in South Africa, or is it a matter of selective enforcement? We have all witnessed occasions, especially at funerals of military personnel, police officers, or prominent figures, where ceremonial gun salutes are performed. This involves discharging firearms into the sky as a mark of respect. Similarly, in rural areas and even urban townships, people fire warning shots into the air to disperse crowds or protect their families. Are all these acts to be considered unlawful too, or does the law apply differently depending on who pulls the trigger? The case against Malema seems t...

 This Is Not the First Mysterious Death of an ANC Member in France By Noko Maleka|insight jozi news History has a way of repeating itself, often in the most chilling of fashions. South Africans woke up yesterday to the shocking news that Nathi Mthethwa, former cabinet minister and now South Africa’s ambassador to France, was found dead—his body plummeted from the 22nd floor of a Paris building. While French police have not yet ruled out suicide, to many observers, the incident bears the eerie marks of something far more sinister: an assassination masked as self-inflicted death. But this is not the first time an ANC member has met a mysterious end on French soil. In March 1988, anti-apartheid activist Dulcie September, the ANC’s Chief Representative in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, was gunned down in broad daylight outside the ANC office in Paris. Five bullets ended her life. At the time, many fingers pointed to the apartheid government, whose long arm of terror reached far beyon...

By Noko Maleka – Insight Jozi News When the Phala Phala scandal first broke, it was painted simply as a burglary gone wrong — millions of dollars allegedly stuffed in furniture, stolen, and then covered up. But as South Africans, have we asked ourselves whether the bigger crime may have been overlooked? The more one examines the details, the more troubling questions emerge. Take, for example, the so-called “buffalo buyer,” Hazim Mustafa, who told the world he arrived with large sums of US dollars to purchase game from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm. Even the most seasoned businesspeople will tell you: withdrawing such vast amounts of cash, in hard foreign currency, in one go, is nearly impossible under normal banking rules. Banks monitor large transactions, regulators flag suspicious withdrawals, and even billionaires move money electronically. So how then did one individual walk around with bags of dollars — unless those dollars were manufactured elsewhere? SARS itself confirmed in ...

 The Mysterious Death of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa By Noko Maleka – Insight Jozi News South Africa has been plunged into shock and uncertainty after the sudden and mysterious death of Ambassador Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa, former cabinet minister and most recently South Africa’s envoy to France. Mthethwa was found dead outside the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, having fallen from its 22nd floor, a room he had reserved just hours earlier. French investigators confirmed that the hotel window, normally secure, had been forced open. His wife had reported him missing the previous night after receiving a “worrying message”, and his phone was last traced near the Bois de Boulogne, west of Paris. Authorities in France have opened a full investigation into whether his death was suicide, accident, or foul play. The Paris judicial police’s Brigade for the Suppression of Crimes Against Persons is handling the case, with a duty magistrate already dispatched to the scene. Mthethwa’s career spanned...

The Difference Between Being in a Relationship With an Older Woman and a Younger Woman By Noko Maleka – Insight Jozi News As a man, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing both ends of the spectrum: dating older women and dating younger women. One thing about me is that I’ve never been in a relationship for convenience or just to kill time. I am, by nature, a true lover. When I give my heart, it’s genuine, and when I commit, it’s because I see something worth building. But through my journey, I’ve realized a significant polarization between relationships with older women and younger women. Both experiences come with lessons, joys, and scars, but the differences are profound. Love vs. Parenting With older women, love feels like a partnership. They need your affection, your honesty, your vulnerability, and your companionship. They don’t need you to play father figure, because they already know who they are. On the other hand, younger women often unconsciously place you in a parental...

Botswana to Take Over Majority Ownership of De Beers Mines By Noko Maleka – Insight Jozi News | 23 September 2025 Botswana is moving decisively to take control of one of the world’s most powerful diamond companies, De Beers, with plans to secure a controlling stake by next month. President Duma Boko confirmed that the government is in advanced talks with a sovereign wealth fund in Oman, alongside other potential financiers, to raise the necessary capital for the acquisition, according to Bloomberg. Currently, Botswana owns a 15% stake in De Beers, but the new deal would increase the nation’s holding to above 50%, making it the majority shareholder (Business Insider Africa). This would mark a bold shift in global mining dynamics, positioning Botswana not only as the world’s top diamond producer by value but also as a powerful decision-maker in the industry.  “ We are engaging partners who believe in our vision of national ownership and long-term sustainability for our diamond indust...

South Africans Don’t Need Jobs By Noko Maleka – Insight Jozi News | [22/09/2024] For decades, South Africans have been fed the same political promise: “We will create jobs.” Election after election, this promise resurfaces like a broken record, and yet unemployment remains one of the highest in the world. Currently, South Africa’s unemployment rate hovers above 32% , with youth unemployment surpassing 45% . These statistics prove one simple truth: South Africans do not need jobs — they need ownership. The tragedy of our democracy is how easily citizens have become gullible to politicians and the media. Whenever a president or political party announces a plan to “create jobs,” many celebrate without asking the most important question: Where will these jobs come from? The reality is this: no president, no matter how charismatic, can directly manufacture employment on a scale that will fix unemployment. Governments simply don’t have the mechanisms to employ tens of millions of peopl...

 Bricks Released from Prison After 10 Years – DJ Cleo Celebrates, Public Divided By Noko Maleka – Insight Jozi News  kwaito star Bricks, best known for his smash hit Tjovitjo, has been released from prison after serving 10 years behind bars. His longtime friend and music producer, DJ Cleo, took to social media on Thursday to share what he called “good news,” confirming Bricks’ release. But the announcement has divided public opinion. While some in the music industry welcome the return of the once-popular artist, others have questioned whether celebrating the release of a convicted rapist is appropriate. Bricks was arrested and sentenced a decade ago after being found guilty of raping his 16-year-old niece, who was a minor at the time. The case shocked the nation, and many fans abandoned the artist whose career had once been on a promising trajectory. On social media, reactions were mixed. One user asked, “Is it good news that a rapist is released from prison?” Another added, “...