Daily Archives: April 23, 2026

SA, Mexico to renew rivalry in 2026 World Cup opener

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23 April 2026 – When Bafana Bafana walk onto the pitch for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June, it will mark exactly 16 years since South Africa, as host nation, kicked off the first World Cup on African soil against Mexico in Johannesburg.

Fast forward to 11 June 2026, and history repeats itself — with the same two nations meeting again in the tournament’s opening fixture, this time with South Africa playing away in Mexico.

“The same two countries. The same opening fixture. Exactly 16 years later. That is not a coincidence that football often gives you. When history hands you a gift like that, you do something with it,” the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said on Thursday in Pretoria during a media briefing.

As part of commemorating the historic encounter, the two countries will stage a Legends rematch on 8 June 2026 — three days before the official opener.

The legends of the 2010 Bafana Bafana squad are set to face their Mexican counterparts in Pachuca, Mexico, revisiting the iconic clash from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“The South African Football Association (SAFA) and the South African Masters and Legends Football Association have been working together to identify 20 of the players and team management from the 2010 squad. The playing kit will be secured by SAFA through its sponsor, Adidas,” the Minister said.

The match will be hosted in partnership with Pachuca, home to Club Pachuca, one of Mexico’s most historic football clubs.

“We are deeply grateful to Pachuca for the role they are playing in making this possible. This is not a match happening next to the World Cup. This is a match happening because two football nations, with a shared moment in history, decided to honour that moment properly,” McKenzie said.

Following the match, the South African Legends will remain in Mexico to host coaching clinics on 9 and 10 June, sharing their experience with young Mexican players and South African diaspora footballers. 

They will also attend the opening match on 11 June before returning home the following day.

Ekhaya Centre to showcase SA culture

To promote South Africa’s culture and talent, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, in partnership with Brand South Africa and SA Tourism, will host the Ekhaya Centre at the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mexico City.

“Ekhaya will be a place to watch football. It will be a place to see South African art, to hear South African music, to eat South African food. It will be a media centre for the journalists covering Bafana’s campaign.

“It will be a fan park and a fan engagement space. It will be a venue for business and investment networking – because when our flag is flying, our economy should be working alongside it,” the Minister said.

South Africa will also participate at the Aldea Global centre in Mexico City, alongside exhibitions from the 48 participating nations, with up to 20 South African artists set to perform.

Additional activation centres will be hosted in Atlanta and Monterrey, aligned with Bafana Bafana’s match schedule, to further boost fan engagement and promote South Africa on the global stage.

Cultural ambassadors to travel with the team

The department will also support South African artists to perform at the Ekhaya Centre and other activation hubs.

“We will be supporting South African chefs to cater to our fans, our guests, and curious Mexicans who want to experience South African cuisine. We will also support local podcasters and journalists to cover the tournament and tell our story in our own voices.

“To the South African journalists, podcasters and influencers travelling with us: you are not going to Mexico on holiday. You are going to render a service to your country.

“You will be telling South Africans, in their own voices and on their own platforms, what their players are doing on the world stage. That role is not always adequately recognised in this country, and it should be,” the Minister said.

Details of the selection process will be announced by the department in the coming days. –SAnews.gov.za

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Committee calls for improved maintenance of public facilities in Matlosana

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Picture: The Chairperson of the Committee, Makhi Feni

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

23 April 2026 – The Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries on Thursday voiced concerns over dilapidated sporting facilities in the Matlosana Local Municipality. The committee said it was disappointing to see high-quality infrastructure being allowed to deteriorate.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Makhi Feni said failure to do maintenance would now require millions of rands in repairs, millions that the government does not have in the current fiscal environment. Feni said this is money that could be better spent elsewhere, providing basic services to the people.

“The condition of these facilities is frustrating when communities are lamenting the lack of sporting facilities. It is not fair to communities to allow facilities to fall into ruin and then claim vandalism, when basic maintenance has been neglected.

“We are hopeful that the municipality, not only Matlosana, will be able to review the use of these facilities and draw up comprehensive maintenance plans. The committee is conducting oversight in the province and visited a dilapidated Olympic-size (50x50m) swimming pool, the James Motlatsi Stadium, the Mark Otter Stadium, the Philemon Masinga Sports Complex and a library,” he said.

Feni urged municipal officials to make practical plans for maintenance, rather than being swayed by the rich history of the facilities, given that resources do not allow for full restoration. He further said as leaders, they need to make decisions that sometimes make them unpopular.

“The maintenance plan also needed to address the public-private partnerships and provide clear timeframes. The minor glitches that will not kill the budget need to be prioritised, and the budget should be focused on where it will have the biggest impact for the community.

“The committee concluded its oversight visit to the North West on Thursday,” added Feni.

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‘National Police Commissioner must be interviewed by an independent panel’

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Picture: Newly-appointed acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane

By REGINALD KANYANE

23 April 2026 – Action SA said it has noted the decision by the Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola. Action SA said sadly, today marks another indication of the growing instability obstructing law enforcement from fulfilling its most basic mandate to protect South Africa and her people.

Action SA Member of Parliament (MP), Dereleen James said today adds to a growing pattern of suspensions at the highest levels of law enforcement, including that of Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu. James said while this suspension was widely expected, given the seriousness of the allegations faced by Masemola, South Africans cannot be expected to accept a cycle of acting appointments.

“The continued reliance on “acting” appointments in critical positions such as the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner undermines stability within SAPS. Action SA supports decisive action to protect the integrity of SAPS.

“However, these repeated reactive interventions point to a deeper failure of leadership and oversight. The President has allowed a situation to develop where allegations of criminality and misconduct at the highest levels of government and law enforcement have become commonplace,” she said.

James further said at the same time, other Members of the Executive such as Minister Sisisi Tolashe and Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, are facing serious allegations, further reinforcing the perception of a government losing control over its own integrity. She added that Action SA will closely monitor the appointment of Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane as acting National Police Commissioner.

“This appointment must be to clean up the South African Police Service (SAPS), not to frustrate or delay the work of this critical institution,” said James.

Meanwhile, RISE Mzansi Member of Parliament (MP), Makashule Gana said while the legal process unfolds, they maintain that this development underscores a deeper institutional crisis. Gana said they must be clear, the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) is sacrosanct.

“Any violation of this Act is a serious matter that undermines the integrity of our state institutions and the safety of our citizens. The pattern of National Commissioners failing to complete their terms due to procurement and supply chain scandals must end.

“To ensure a stable and ethical future for the South African Police Service (SAPS), RISE Mzansi reiterates its call for a total reset of police leadership and management. We call for urgent specialised training for vetted officers,” he said.

Gasa said any senior officer who has successfully passed the new round of vetting and lifestyle audits must undergo intensive leadership training. He said this curriculum must prioritize Ethics and PFMA compliance to ensure senior managers are as competent in governance as they are in crime-fighting.

“The current model of sole presidential discretion has failed. We advocate for a merit-based process where the National Commissioner is interviewed by an independent panel and confirmed by the National Assembly, ensuring accountability to the Constitution rather than a single politician.

“Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become the Achilles’ heel of the police. We propose an administrative overhaul to insulate operational policing from procurement processes, preventing senior generals from becoming entangled in commercial disputes and tender irregularities,” he said.

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Ramaphosa suspends National Police Commissioner

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Picture: National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola

By OBAKENG MAJE

23 April 2026 – The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension. This comes after Masemola briefly appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court earlier this week over contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) related to the awarding of a R228 million contract to Medicare 24 – a business linked to alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Ramaphosa held a media briefing together with acting Minister of Police, Prof Firoz Cachalia at the Union Buildings on Thursday afternoon.

“In consideration of the seriousness of these charges and the critical role of the National Police Commissioner in leading the fight against crime, I have agreed with Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case.

“Recalling the commitment made during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) to step up the fight against organised crime, corruption and violence, the decision to suspend Masemola was one rooted in accountability,” he said.

Ramaphosa further said he laid bare the government’s efforts to restore credibility of the police service following years of state capture. He added that they have worked hard over the last few years to rebuild the law enforcement agencies and security services in the wake of state capture, to restore their credibility and integrity.

“We have taken measures to uncover malfeasance and investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the ranks of the police and other institutions.

“These measures have been necessary to ensure accountability and to devise remedial action to prevent the abuse of office and the theft of public resources. In all these efforts, we have promoted respect for the rule of law and upheld the principle that law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies must be able to act without fear, favour, or prejudice,” said Ramaphosa.

He said it is this principle that informs their response to the appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court earlier this week of Masemola on charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PMFA). Ramaphosa acknowledged that Maaemola’s court appearance is “understandably a cause of great concern for all South Africans”.

“However, we should not allow this development to weaken our determination or diminish our ability to fight against crime and corruption. We should not allow anything to destabilise the police service or undermine the morale of those entrusted to protect our people.

“We must hold firm to the values of our Constitution and, in this case as in all cases, allow the law to take its course,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has appointed Major General Puleng Dimpane as the acting National Police Commissioner.

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