Bheki Simelane

Johannesburg

Reporter at Daily Maverick

Daily Maverick reporter since time immemorial.

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Articles

Taxi ranks in contested areas may close for six months amid taxi violence and murders — Gauteng Transport MEC

1 week ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, the Gauteng MEC for transport, is considering closing down taxi ranks for six months in all areas which are plagued by taxi infighting in the province. “We want to close all the taxi ranks in Soweto which are affected by the ongoing violence,” Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said on Thursday, 10 April 2025.
Large crowd at launch of government’s R500m support fund for spaza shops

2 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

The launch event, intended as a grand unveiling, descended into chaos as attendance far exceeded expectations. The R500-million Spaza Shop Support Fund was launched in Soweto on Tuesday by the minister of trade, industry and competition, Parks Tau, and the minister of small business development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.
‘Daylight robbery’ - Soweto residents voice unhappiness with VAT increase

2 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

Soweto residents fear the VAT hike could shatter already fragile budgets and intensify economic hardships. Netshifhefhe Tshitereke, from Chiawelo, Soweto, said he didn’t know much about value-added tax (VAT), “but I understand the increase affects my daily life since there’s no increase in my salary”.
Three taxi association members gunned down in Soweto

2 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

The Wata taxi association voiced its shock over the murder of three of its members in Soweto on Monday morning. The association has been in a brutal war with its rival Nanduwe for nearly a decade. Three members of the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association (Wata) were fatally shot in Soweto on Monday morning. “We have not found anything regarding the suspects. The squad [monitors] were just driving to the office,” said Wata spokesperson Hamilton Miya. Don't want to see this?
The Soweto dad who earns a living by waiting in bank queues

2 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

ODD JOBS For 17 years, Brian Chauke from Chiawelo in Soweto has been unemployed, but instead of falling into despair, the father of two came up with an innovative yet solicitous way of feeding his family. ‘I was starving. I had nothing to feed myself or my family, and I asked myself how long I could sustain a life of begging mall patrons just for a few rands to buy some bread.
Flood fears mount — authorities open fifth sluice gate at Vaal Dam

2 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

Authorities have opened a fifth sluice gate at the Vaal Dam as inflows surge at an alarming rate. The rising water levels have prompted urgent warnings for low-lying communities, with the risk of riverbanks overflowing and posing a threat to homes and livelihoods. In response to a dramatic surge inflow, authorities have activated a fifth sluice gate at the Vaal Dam.
City of Joburg’s proposed tariff hikes ‘a blow to the poor’

3 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

COST OF LIVING Civil society groups and political parties have criticised the City’s proposed tariff hikes, condemning them as unjustifiable and disproportionately harmful to the vulnerable. The City of Johannesburg’s proposed tariff increases for 2025/26 have been criticised as unaffordable for the majority of residents, many of whom are suffering from the cost-of-living crisis.
Soweto pensioner Emily Mohape still dreams of an RDP home

3 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

HOUSING WOES Emily Mohapi, 86, who still lives in a shack after she applied for an RDP house almost 30 years ago, says, ‘I want to die in a house, not in this makeshift.’ At 86 years old, Emily Mohapi is one of many who feel they’ve been forgotten by the government’s housing allocation process. Mohapi, originally from Orlando East, arrived in Protea South, Soweto, in January 1994. “All my neighbours got their houses where they now live,” Mohapi said. Don't want to see this?
South Africa: One Suspect Arrested, 2 Questioned Over Murder of 6 Soshanguve Community Patrollers

3 weeks ago | allafrica.com | Bheki Simelane

The death toll from the attack on a group of community patrollers in Soshanguve's Marry Me informal settlement has risen to six. One suspect has been arrested and two others are being questioned over the murder of six community patrollers in the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, Gauteng, on Saturday 22 March 2025. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu announced the arrest during a visit to Soshanguve on Tuesday when he met the families of the deceased and injured patrollers.
Suspect arrested, 2 questioned

1 month ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Bheki Simelane

COMMUNITY KILLINGS The death toll from the attack on a group of community patrollers in Soshanguve’s Marry Me informal settlement has risen to six. One suspect has been arrested and two others are being questioned over the murder of six community patrollers in the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, Gauteng, on Saturday 22 March 2025.