KEMPTON PARK – The City of Ekurhuleni has issued a fresh call for residents to take part in a public consultation process to rename Kafferboom Crescent in the Birchleigh suburb.
The meeting is set for Saturday, 28 March 2026, starting at 09:00 at Coen Scholtz Hall in Kempton Park. Residents are invited to propose and discuss a new street name that promotes community unity, social cohesion and shared values while avoiding division.
According to the city’s geographical naming and renaming policy, the process is designed to eliminate offensive, discriminatory or derogatory names and to ensure decisions are fair, equitable and based on broad public participation. The current name has been identified as racially offensive and inappropriate in a democratic South Africa, with officials noting it represents division and exclusion and runs counter to efforts at reconciliation.
The renaming forms part of a wider initiative first publicised by the City of Ekurhuleni in February 2024 to address public facilities carrying names linked to past injustices. At that time Kaffirboom Crescent (as it was then referenced) was listed among roads targeted for change through the Department of Sport, Heritage, Recreation, Arts and Culture. Public meetings on the broader renaming programme were held in February and March 2024 at venues including Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre in Birchleigh.
Ward 15 Councillor Amanda Davison has repeatedly highlighted the issue. She submitted a formal renaming request in 2019, followed by resubmissions, and has described the name as a racial slur that undermines dignity and inclusivity. In October 2025 she demanded urgent council action, pointing out that a public participation process planned for 2024 had been postponed indefinitely while residents continued to live with the contentious address. Davison has proposed Koraalboom (Coral Tree) as a replacement to reflect the street’s botanical roots and South Africa’s post-apartheid identity. She has vowed to continue pressing the matter until it is resolved.
The consultation on 28 March represents the latest step in fulfilling the city’s commitment to the process. Residents who cannot attend but wish to submit comments or obtain further information may contact Senior Manager for Heritage and Museum Services Fhatuwani Rambau on 011 999 6833, 084 454 6912 or at Fhatuwani.rambau@ekurhuleni.gov.za.
City officials have emphasised that the outcome must reflect the views of the community and contribute to a more inclusive environment in Kempton Park and across Ekurhuleni. Residents in Birchleigh and surrounding areas are encouraged to attend the session and have their say on the future name of the crescent.
Durban Police Shoot and Kill Four Suspects in Bellair Hideout Operation
DURBAN – Police in KwaZulu-Natal have fatally shot four suspects during an operation at a suspected hideout in the Bellair area of Durban.
The incident occurred on Monday, 23 March 2026, when officers tracked the group, who were wanted in connection with business robberies, house robberies and kidnapping cases.
According to police details, officers spotted the suspects’ vehicle in the area and attempted to stop it. The suspects fled from the vehicle and took refuge inside a house that authorities identified as their hideout spot.
A shootout broke out during the police operation at the property. Four suspects were shot and killed. Two were fatally wounded inside the house, one was shot behind the house, and the fourth was shot in the bushes at the rear of the property.
One additional suspect managed to escape and remains at large.
Police recovered four firearms from the scene.
The operation formed part of ongoing efforts to apprehend the group linked to the series of robberies and kidnappings in the province. No further injuries to police members or members of the public were reported.
One-Year-Old Girl Fatally Struck by Minibus Taxi in Heideveld
HEIDELVELD – A one-year-old girl died after being run over by a minibus taxi outside her home in Grace Court, Heideveld, on Sunday, 22 March, at approximately 2:30pm.
The child suffered fatal injuries in the collision and was declared dead at the scene. Emergency services responded to the incident, but the toddler could not be revived.
Manenberg police have opened a case of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving following the accident. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that officers from the Manenberg station are actively probing the matter. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the incident to contact Manenberg SAPS on 021 699 9400 or the Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111.
The family of the young victim has not been named publicly, and further details about the driver or the taxi involved have not yet been released as the probe continues.
Labour Law Attorney Chinette Gallichan Shot and Killed Outside CCMA Offices in Johannesburg CBD
Johannesburg – A 35-year-old labour law attorney, Chinette Gallichan, was shot and killed outside the CCMA offices in the Johannesburg CBD on Monday morning while arriving to handle a case.
According to eyewitnesses, a suspect approached Gallichan at close range as she arrived for her matter and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Nothing was stolen from her, leading investigators to treat the killing as a possible targeted hit.
Gallichan was a respected legal professional known for her work in labour law. She was also an active runner who participated in the local athletics community. Her death has left both the legal fraternity and the running community in shock.
Police have launched a full investigation into the incident.
The killing has drawn widespread condemnation from colleagues and fellow athletes, who described Gallichan as a dedicated professional and passionate community member whose sudden loss has reverberated across Johannesburg’s legal and sporting circles.
No further details on suspects or motive have been released by authorities at this stage, but the South African Police Service confirmed they are actively pursuing leads.
Gallichan leaves behind a grieving family, colleagues, and friends in the legal and athletics communities.
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KZN Police Chief Presents Prison Letter to Parliament Claiming Businessman Transported Furniture to Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala Farm
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has handed over a handwritten letter from a former prisoner to Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee. The letter alleges that businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala told his former cellmate he had delivered furniture, including couches, to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
The eight-page letter was written by Jermaine Prim, who shared a cell with Matlala at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility. According to the document, Matlala described himself as very close to the Ramaphosa family and spoke about transporting items to the property.
Phala Phala farm is the site of a 2020 burglary in which a large amount of foreign currency, reportedly hidden inside furniture, was stolen. The break-in triggered investigations into possible money laundering, undeclared cash holdings and claims of interference by law enforcement officials. The case has not been finalised and continues to face court challenges. Independent Police Investigative Directorate reports linked to the matter were declassified only recently.
Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi tabled the letter during his testimony to the parliamentary committee. He told members that the contents amount to unverified hearsay and still require proper investigation. He added that some information in the letter matches details from earlier intelligence gathered by police.
The commissioner also highlighted problems with prison management at the time, saying oversight failures allowed Matlala access to freedoms not normally granted to inmates.
The Presidency has issued no statement on the specific claims contained in the letter.
Opposition parties have demanded immediate steps to verify the information in the document. They have warned that any confirmation of the claims could introduce new elements to the long-running Phala Phala matter that has affected the president since the 2020 incident.
