Having lived in a developed settlement with access to water, toilets and electricity, residents of the Skiti, Katilumla, Vukani and Nkululekweni residential areas in Lusikisiki and Flagstaff respectively, under the Ngquza Hill Local Municipality, are now homeless. This comes after the municipality demolished their homes, citing efforts to clean up the town and, in some areas, to pave the way for development projects where an investor was expected to create employment opportunities. But since the demolish in Flagstaff in April last year, no sign of development. Only a school and a church spared the demolition. Some of the affected families particularly in Nkululekweni in Flagstaff and others in the Skit residential area, took out loans to build their homes. The court has since halted the demolitions, with a new date set for August 2026 to review the court order. Community leaders affected by the recent demolitions in Lusikisiki say they are in possession of a court order from their legal representatives instructing the municipality to stop the demolitions. However, they allege that the municipality continued with the process regardless, only stopping after the municipal legal unit allegedly issued a letter confirming the court order and directing that the demolitions be discontinued. As a result, some of the displaced residents are sleeping in old vehicles, while others have sought refuge with friends and family members. An elderly woman from Nkululekweni breaks down as she recalls losing the seven-bedroom house she built through years of savings and borrowed funds. She now shares a single rented room with her daughter and four grandchildren, as she cannot afford to rent additional accommodation. The affected residents of Ward 15 in Lusikisiki allege that the municipality's actions were motivated by their political affiliation. The communities recently joined the MK and EFF political parties, citing poor service delivery by the municipality for more than 30 years. Many residents have lived in the area since the 1980s. Some moved there after seeking better employment opportunities in the urban area, while others wanted to be closer to healthcare facilities. The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements has confirmed that it received a request from Ngquza Hill Local Municipality for approximately 500 temporary housing units. The department says it is currently interrogating the request and assessing the appropriate intervention.

Fifty years after June 16, we remember those who died, those who were tortured, those who went into exile, and those who never made it home. Their generation fought for freedom. The question for ours is simple: Have we honoured that sacrifice, or have we forgotten what they fought for?

'Coming Soon' on SABC Plus-Exclusive News June 16: Soweto 1976: 50 Years Later. Watch Full Episode here https://sabc-plus.com/video/29910827/Youth-Month-Fireside-chat-I-June-16-From-Struggle-to-Hope Fireside chat I June 16-Youth Day with Sophie Mokoena

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In the wake of growing anti-foreigner protests and rising tensions in communities across South Africa, Cutting Edge examines the complex realities facing local communities in the face of rising inward immigration, informal trade, economic exclusion, and social cohesion within local communities. This episode investigates the underlying causes driving conflict and distrust between South African citizens and foreign nationals, including unemployment, alleged kidnappings and murder as a result of turf wars and increasing competition within the informal economy. Particular focus is placed on the prominence of foreign-owned spaza shops and the concerns raised by local business owners who feel economically marginalized. The programme picks up on the story of a businessman from Vosloorus who was recently rescued following allegations that his kidnapping was linked to tensions involving businesspeople of foreign origin. During the incident, foreign nationals operating businesses in the area were forced to shut down their shops amid fears of violence and retaliation. And accusations that they were involved. The episode also travels to Ratanda on Gauteng’s East Rand, where the majority of spaza shops are owned and operated by South Africans, although this offers a contrasting perspective on local economic participation and community dynamics it also lays bare the extent to which violence has taken a hold of the spaza shop competition between locals and foreigners. The episode culminates in a studio-based panel discussion aimed at fostering a balanced and constructive national conversation. The discussion is expected to include representatives from the Ethiopian community, members of March and March, as well as an independent analyst or human rights lawyer, bringing together diverse perspectives on one of South Africa’s most pressing and emotionally charged social issues.

In March 2026, a cultural ceremony held by the Igbo community in East London—culminating in the installation of an “Eze Ndigbo” (Igbo King)—ignited widespread controversy and public debate across South Africa. What some view as a celebration of cultural identity, others see as a provocative challenge to local authority, tradition, and social cohesion. Idabi la kuGompo uses this moment as a lens to explore deeper national tensions around migration, identity, and belonging. Through immersive, on-the-ground reporting, the documentary interrogates the fragile relationship between South Africans and Nigerian migrants, shaped by years of mistrust, stereotypes, and periodic violence. As part of its investigation, Cutting Edge examines persistent allegations linking some foreign nationals in East London to illicit drug networks. Through interviews with law enforcement, community members, and the accused, the film probes the evidence behind these claims—while questioning how such narratives are formed, amplified, and, at times, used to justify hostility toward entire communities. The documentary also examines the constitutional rights that protect cultural and associative freedoms for all who live in South Africa—while questioning where these rights intersect, or clash, with public perception and traditional governance systems. At the heart of the story lies a critical dilemma: can cultural expression take the form of leadership without being perceived as a threat? Balanced and investigative in tone, Idabi la ku Gompo goes beyond headlines to reveal a society grappling with who belongs, who leads, and how truth, perception, and power collide in a deeply divided landscape.

Cutting Edge exposes a shocking wave of attacks on Road Accident Fund beneficiaries in KwaNdebele. Kidnapped. Assaulted. Forced to surrender their payouts.

The story investigates inmates who are incarcerated in different prisons in KZN for wrongly identified or and ulterior motives . The Beauty Beyond the Orange Uniform Foundation has intervened to gather compelling evidence to prove their innocence. One of the convicts has already been vindicated.