{"id":266063,"date":"2025-07-25T09:56:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T07:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/dj-sumbodys-murder-exposes-nexus-between-crime-and-power\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T14:49:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T12:49:52","slug":"dj-sumbodys-murder-exposes-nexus-between-crime-and-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/dj-sumbodys-murder-exposes-nexus-between-crime-and-power\/","title":{"rendered":"DJ Sumbody\u2019s murder exposes nexus between crime and power"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JOHANNESBURG <\/strong>– On a quiet November evening in 2022, DJ Sumbody – a rising star in South Africa’s music scene – was gunned down in a hail of bullets while heading home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then in April 2024, engineer Armand Swart was executed in a similar shooting after his company flagged a suspicious government tender in which prices had been inflated by over 4 500 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But dramatic arrests this week are tying those murders and many more together, exposing a murky underworld where criminals consort with political bigwigs for lucrative state tenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arrests came after explosive allegations by a senior police chief who accused the force and South Africa’s police minister of a cover-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deep-rooted procurement corruption has seeped through every level of government for decades, security researcher David Bruce told AFP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The whole issue of killings of whistleblowers and assassinations generally is massively interlinked with that issue,” said Bruce, a consultant with the Institute for Security Studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those arrested this week are a former Johannesburg police officer at the time of DJ Sumbody’s murder, as well as the prime suspect, a businessman named Katiso Molefe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

British media have reported that a South African man of Molefe’s same name and age was sentenced to four years in prison in the United Kingdom in 2003 for drug trafficking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two other men, already in custody for the 2023 attempted murder of former reality TV star turned influencer Tebogo Thobejane, are also believed to have played a role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn’t end there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the raid on Monday, police found prominent Johannesburg politician, Kenny Kunene, at Molefe’s home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kunene, former Deputy President of the Patriotic Alliance and Johannesburg city council member, has since been suspended by his party leader, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, though police have not formally implicated him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kunene denied any wrongdoing, saying he was merely trying to assist a journalist seeking to interview Molefe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"South
Police minister Senzo Mchunu has been placed on immediate leave after being accused of corruption.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tenderpreneurs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the centre of the widening web is businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, described locally as a “tenderpreneur”, a term referring to individuals who have made fortunes through government contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also the head of a private security firm, Matlala was arrested in May in connection with the 2023 attempt on his ex-partner Thobejane’s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thobejane, famous for her role in the long-running local soap opera Muvhango, earlier this month denied having “snitched” on Matlala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am a victim,” she told local newspaper News24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, Matlala secured a multi-million rand contract with the national police – now cancelled – despite being implicated in a billion rand public hospital embezzlement scandal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tembisa hospital case cost whistleblower Babita Deokaran her life in 2021, when she was shot nine times outside her home. No arrests have been made in Deokaran’s killing, reflecting the impunity that reigns with only 11 percent of murders solved, according to 2024 police statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“All these three cases are linked somehow,” police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe said, referring to DJ Sumbody, Swart and Thobejane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four weapons, including the AK-47 rifle used to kill DJ Sumbody, have been linked through ballistics to at least 10 high-profile cases, she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police minister accused<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The implications run deep. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi last month accused colleagues and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu<\/a> of burying investigations targeting Matlala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a bombshell televised press conference, flanked by armed security forces, Mkhwanazi alleged Mchunu had received payments from a corruption suspect and accused prosecutors of delaying justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We do hope that pretty soon we might find some changes with good dedicated prosecutors and we might see arrests happening,” he said, adding that cases of murdered artists would finally “come to the fore”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Cyril Ramaphosa has since suspended Mchunu and announced a judicial inquiry into the allegations. But there has been no tanglible action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa faces one of the world’s highest murder rates, averaging more than 75 killings a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Politically motivated contract killings have surged 108 percent over the past decade, according to a 2024 report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies show hiring a contract killer can cost as little as $145 in the country all too accustomed to violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s easier to silence someone with a bullet than contend with an investigation,” said Chad Thomas, head of private investigation company IRS Forensic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On a quiet November evening in 2022, DJ Sumbody – a rising star in South Africa’s music scene – was gunned down in a hail of bullets while heading home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":266066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"1","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"Cl\u00e9ment Varanges \/ AFP","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[8763,8764,8765,8766],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-266063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-dj-sumbody","tag-kenny-kunene","tag-mchunu","tag-political-corruption"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJ-Sumbody-1.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":264791,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/top-officer-accuses-minister-of-police-of-corruption\/","url_meta":{"origin":266063,"position":0},"title":"Top officer accuses Minister of Police of corruption","author":"Novus Media","date":"7 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"JOHANNESBURG - A provincial police chief accused South Africa's Minister of Police and other top brass on Sunday of obstructing investigations into politicians, prompting parties across the board to demand an inquiry. The uproar that followed the claims against police minister Senzo Mchunu forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"South Africa's Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu is being accused of corruption.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c2aa943ef3e54a658eb5456939252bdf.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c2aa943ef3e54a658eb5456939252bdf.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c2aa943ef3e54a658eb5456939252bdf.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c2aa943ef3e54a658eb5456939252bdf.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":265252,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/ramaphosa-suspends-mchunu-after-allegations-of-corruption\/","url_meta":{"origin":266063,"position":1},"title":"Ramaphosa suspends Mchunu after allegations of corruption","author":"Paarl Post","date":"13 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has been placed on leave of absence with immediate effect following damning corruption allegations that have sent shockwaves through South Africa\u2019s law enforcement community. This unprecedented development was announced on Sunday (13 July) evening when President Cyril Ramaphosa finally addressed the explosive allegations made by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"President Cyril Ramaphosa today released the latest Stte Capture progress report.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7c39f0eac16a41649e7960f91de5375b.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7c39f0eac16a41649e7960f91de5375b.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7c39f0eac16a41649e7960f91de5375b.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7c39f0eac16a41649e7960f91de5375b.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":264385,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/political-crisis-looms-as-ramaphosa-fires-das-andrew-whitfield\/","url_meta":{"origin":266063,"position":2},"title":"Political crisis looms as Ramaphosa fires DA\u2019s Andrew Whitfield","author":"Novus Media","date":"27 June 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A major political crisis is threatening South Africa\u2019s Government of National Unity as the Democratic Alliance (DA) issued a 48-hour ultimatum yesterday to President Cyril Ramaphosa following the sudden dismissal of Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield. The move has created significant tension within the coalition government formed after last year\u2019s elections.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A political crisis is looming as Ramaphosa fires DA's Andrew Whitfield.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/andrew-whitfield.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/andrew-whitfield.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/andrew-whitfield.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/andrew-whitfield.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/andrew-whitfield.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":264404,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/senior-saps-crime-intelligence-officials-arrested-on-fraud-and-corruption-charges\/","url_meta":{"origin":266063,"position":3},"title":"Senior SAPS Crime Intelligence officials arrested on fraud and corruption charges","author":"Novus Media","date":"28 June 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Seven high-ranking South African Police Service officials, including a Lieutenant General, appeared in court yesterday (27 June) on corruption charges relating to irregular appointments within the Crime Intelligence division. The seven senior officials from the Crime Intelligence division appeared before the Pretoria Regional Court on charges of fraud and corruption\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the Divisional Commissioner in Crime Intelligence, appeared in court yesterday on corruption charges relating to irregular appointments within the Crime Intelligence division.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Khumalo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Khumalo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Khumalo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Khumalo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":267499,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/i-couldnt-keep-quiet-police-chief-mkhwanazi-after-explosive-police-corruption-allegations\/","url_meta":{"origin":266063,"position":4},"title":"\u2018I couldn\u2019t keep quiet\u2019: Police chief Mkhwanazi after explosive police corruption allegations","author":"Novus Media","date":"18 September 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal police chief, says he was aware that his 6 July press conference exposing alleged criminality and political interference would put him in the crosshairs \u2013 but he felt he \u201ccouldn\u2019t keep quiet.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"KZN Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. (Photo by Phill Magakoe \/ AFP)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lieutenant-General-Nhlanhla-Mkhwanazi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lieutenant-General-Nhlanhla-Mkhwanazi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lieutenant-General-Nhlanhla-Mkhwanazi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lieutenant-General-Nhlanhla-Mkhwanazi.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lieutenant-General-Nhlanhla-Mkhwanazi.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":265805,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/ramaphosa-fires-higher-education-minister\/","url_meta":{"origin":266063,"position":5},"title":"Ramaphosa fires higher education minister","author":"Lise Beyers","date":"21 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"CAPE TOWN - On Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed his embattled higher education minister, weeks after a key party in his unity government filed criminal charges accusing her of lying to parliament. Ramaphosa has faced mounting pressure in recent months as several ministers from his African National Congress\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nkabane.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"NovaNews","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266063\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/266066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=266063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=266063"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=266063"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=266063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}