Sizok’thola Host Xolani Khumalo Announced as ActionSA’s Mayoral Candidate for Ekurhuleni

Sizok’thola Host Xolani Khumalo Announced as ActionSA’s Mayoral Candidate for Ekurhuleni

By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News

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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 direct, uncompromising approach that made him a household name. ActionSA’s President, Herman Mashaba, praised Khumalo’s courage and integrity, calling him “a leader who represents the voice of ordinary South Africans who are tired of corruption, lawlessness, and failed leadership.”

Ekurhuleni, one of Gauteng’s key metros, has long battled service delivery challenges, unemployment, and allegations of maladministration. Khumalo’s candidacy injects fresh energy and symbolism — a crusader from the streets now stepping into the corridors of power.

Whether Khumalo’s popularity will translate into political success remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his entry has already shifted the conversation about what kind of leadership South Africa needs — leadership that is visible, bold, and rooted in the realities of the people.

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Julius Malema Found Guilty: A Question of Law or Selective Justice?

 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 to hinge not merely on the action itself, but on who performed it, and where. If the law is clear that no firearm should be discharged outside of designated environments, then surely countless other cases of gun salutes, warning shots, and community rituals should have attracted the same legal wrath. Why then does the state appear to be applying a harsher standard to a political figure than to other social or cultural practices?

One could argue that Malema’s act, though reckless, mirrors practices that are normalized in our society. In that case, is the law outdated and in need of reform, or is it being wielded selectively as a political weapon?

South Africa is a constitutional democracy where the principle of equality before the law is sacred. Yet this verdict leaves many wondering whether “equality” is truly the benchmark, or whether our justice system bends to the winds of political expediency.

The judgment may be legally sound in the strictest sense of firearm regulations, but it also exposes a deeper inconsistency: What is celebrated in one context is condemned in another. If Malema’s conviction sets a precedent, then consistency demands that the same standard be applied across the board — from soldiers at funerals to police officers firing warning shots. Otherwise, we risk sliding into a system where justice is not blind, but rather sharply focused on silencing particular voices.

The question remains: Is Malema guilty of breaking the law, or guilty of being Malema?

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#MalemaVerdict #SelectiveJustice #EFF #FreeStateHighCourt #GunSalute #SouthAfricaPolitics #EqualityBeforeTheLaw #JusticeOrPolitics #MalemaTrial #SAJusticeSystem

This Is Not the First Mysterious Death of an ANC Member in France

 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 beyond South Africa’s borders. Yet, decades later, no one has ever been convicted for her murder. The case remains an unresolved scar on both South African and French history, buried beneath political diplomacy and unanswered questions.

The parallels are too striking to ignore.

Dulcie September, a voice of resistance, silenced in Paris.

Nathi Mthethwa, a seasoned politician and diplomat, found lifeless in the same country, under circumstances too bizarre to simply accept as suicide.

Both deaths speak to a haunting truth: that France, for ANC figures, has not always been a safe haven but rather a stage where unresolved shadows of South African politics seem to re-emerge.

The murder of Dulcie September was officially pinned on apartheid operatives, yet the absence of arrests and the lack of conclusive evidence has left historians and activists divided on what really happened. Was she silenced because she knew too much? Was there collusion beyond what the ANC or South Africans were ever told?

Now, with Mthethwa’s sudden and brutal fall, another question rises: could history be repeating itself in plain sight?

If Dulcie’s assassination was never fully solved, how then can South Africans be expected to trust that Mthethwa’s death will be handled with full transparency? Might these two deaths—nearly four decades apart—be connected by more than coincidence? Perhaps the ghost of Dulcie September has returned, not as a memory, but as a warning.

This tragedy should not be brushed aside with a premature conclusion of suicide. It should be the catalyst for a reopening of old wounds and old files, starting with September’s unresolved case, to understand whether there is a pattern of political silencing still haunting ANC members in France.

For now, French police continue their investigations. But South Africa, too, must demand answers—not just for Nathi Mthethwa, but for Dulcie September, whose death still lingers in the fog of mystery.

Because if these are not isolated events, then perhaps the truth has always been far darker than we were led to believe.

Phala Phala: Could the Real Scandal Be Counterfeit Dollars?

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 January 2024 that it had opened a criminal case involving this very buyer, linked to suspicions of false dollar declarations. That in itself suggests investigators were concerned not only about undeclared cash, but possibly about counterfeit currency circulating in the system. If that line of inquiry exists, has it been pursued to its full conclusion? Or has the public been left with a partial story that masks a deeper financial crime syndicate?

The danger here is far bigger than a farm scandal. If counterfeit US currency was smuggled into South Africa, exchanged under the cover of a livestock sale, and then hidden on presidential property, this points to organized networks that operate far beyond our borders. South Africa would then not only be facing questions of political accountability, but also of financial integrity on a global scale.

It is high time that authorities move past the surface of the Phala Phala story. The public deserves to know:

Were the dollars tested for authenticity?

If not, why not?

If yes, where are the forensic reports?

How exactly did an individual bypass international currency controls to carry such a fortune in cash?

Until these questions are answered, the suspicion will remain that the Phala Phala saga may not only be about undeclared foreign currency — it may also be about fake money in the hands of the highest office in the land.

For a nation struggling with trust in its institutions, nothing could be more dangerous than leaving such a possibility unexplored.

Insight Jozi News will continue to investigate

The Mysterious Death of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa

 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 decades of influence in South African politics. He served as Minister of Police, later as Minister of Arts and Culture, and eventually as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.

But his legacy is not without controversy. The 2012 Marikana massacre, in which 34 mineworkers were killed by police, remains a lasting stain from his years of leadership. More recently, his name surfaced at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where explosive testimony by Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi implicated Mthethwa in political interference within the criminal justice system.

It was alleged that he pressured intelligence chiefs to withdraw cases and shield powerful allies — including the withdrawal of charges against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli. Mthethwa had been expected to respond to or face these allegations as the Commission progressed.

Between Paris and Pretoria

The optics of a senior diplomat falling from a 22nd-floor hotel window, just as testimony linked him to corruption, are stark and chilling. French authorities are investigating with caution, but in South Africa, his death is already stirring deeper questions:

Was this a tragic suicide, driven by political and personal pressure?

Was it foul play, designed to silence him before he could testify

Or was it an accident, wrapped now in speculation and suspicion

DIRCO (South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation) has confirmed the ambassador’s death, expressing deep regret and pledging full cooperation with French investigators.

This moment calls for more than mourning — it calls for transparency. South Africans deserve the full truth about the death of a man once entrusted with national security.

A public autopsy and forensic report must be released.

The message to his wife — potentially a key clue — should be disclosed in the interest of justice.

The Madlanga Commission must not falter; testimony about political interference cannot be buried with Mthethwa.

Nathi Mthethwa was a complex figure — powerful, controversial, at times divisive. But his death, under such suspicious circumstances, has forced the nation to confront the fragility of its institutions.

South Africans deserve clarity. They deserve justice. They deserve to know whether this was a tragedy of despair, a crime of silencing, or something else altogether.

History must not record his death as just a fall from the 22nd floor. It must be remembered as a test of whether truth can still rise above the shadows.

 by Noko Maleka for Insight jozi news

nathi-mthethwa-death-paris-madlanga-commission

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 role. They look to you for guidance, correction, direction, and even validation—sometimes more than for love itself.

Support vs. Performance

Older women tend to see your potential and want to nurture it. They don’t just want you to succeed for their benefit—they want you to succeed for you. They will hold your hand in your worst times and remind you of your worth when you forget. Younger women, on the other hand, are more attracted to your image, your success, and your glow when things are going well. Many will stand beside you while you shine, but vanish when you fall.

Experience vs. Experimentation

An older woman has lived, loved, lost, and healed. She approaches love with maturity and a sense of calm. She doesn’t panic at small arguments, nor does she want to test boundaries just to see how far you’ll go. Younger women, by contrast, are often still experimenting—with their identities, their independence, their dreams, and even with love itself. Their approach to relationships can be fiery, fun, but also unstable.

Stability vs. Excitement

Older women offer stability. They have already gone through the chaos of self-discovery and know what they want. They won’t waste your time with games, mixed signals, or immaturity. Younger women, however, bring excitement. They’re adventurous, impulsive, curious, and full of life. They may not always know where they’re going, but they’ll drag you along on the ride—and sometimes that energy is irresistible.

Communication vs. Assumption

Older women know the value of clear communication. They’d rather talk it out than keep you guessing. Younger women sometimes lean on assumptions, silent treatments, or social media cues to send messages. One leaves you growing in wisdom, the other leaves you decoding emotions like a puzzle.

Legacy vs. Fantasy

Older women often think about legacy—building something lasting, meaningful, even beyond romance. Younger women often think about fantasy—romantic ideals shaped by movies, music, and social media. Both can be beautiful, but one is grounded, the other often fleeting.

Conclusion

Dating older women teaches you about depth, patience, and love that heals. Dating younger women teaches you about passion, spontaneity, and the dangers of superficial attraction. Neither is better or worse—it all depends on what stage of life you are in and what kind of love you’re seeking.

But from my experience, there’s one undeniable truth: older women will walk with you even in your shadow, while younger women prefer to only meet you in the spotlight.

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Botswana to Take Over Majority Ownership of De Beers Mines

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 industry. This move is about sovereignty, empowerment, and securing generational wealth for the people of Botswana,” President Boko said.

De Beers, historically dominated by Anglo American Plc, has long controlled the global diamond trade. By taking majority ownership, Botswana aims to secure more direct influence over pricing, marketing, and beneficiation policies. Analysts say the move could also help increase local value-addition, ensuring that more diamonds are cut and polished within Botswana rather than being exported raw (Mining.com).

While details of the financing structure remain confidential, President Boko confirmed that talks with Oman’s sovereign wealth fund are progressing positively, with additional private and state investors being considered.

Economists suggest the deal could run into billions of dollars, but Botswana is betting on the enduring value of diamonds and the stability of its mining sector to secure funding (Financial Times).

This development comes just months after President Boko championed regional integration policies, including easing travel restrictions between Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. His latest push for majority control of De Beers is being hailed by some as a decolonial step, ensuring that Africa benefits more from its natural resources.

If finalized, Botswana’s acquisition would represent one of the most significant shifts in the global diamond industry in decades (Mining-Technology).

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