The US administration is facing mounting criticism after Vice President J.D. Vance shared a video of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, in what critics say was an attempt to control the national narrative around the incident.

The video, filmed by the shooter himself, ICE agent Jonathan Ross, shows Good sitting in her car as Ross approaches. In the footage, Good appears calm, smiling and repeatedly telling Ross, “That’s fine, dude. I’m not mad at you.” Moments later, an officer orders her out of the car. As the vehicle begins to move away, shots are fired.

The administration has insisted Ross acted in self-defence, claiming Good attempted to ram officers with her vehicle. However, many viewers and legal analysts say the footage does not support that version of events.

Vance reposted the video on social media, accusing the press of “lying about this innocent law enforcement officer”, a post later amplified by the Department of Homeland Security. The move has drawn sharp criticism online, with users pointing out that Good’s final words were calm and non-threatening, while Ross can be heard swearing immediately after the shooting.

Legal commentators, including senior editor at Lawfare Media Eric Columbus, questioned the administration’s judgment in releasing the footage, asking whether officials believed the public would not watch and judge the video for themselves.

The shooting has sparked nationwide protests, with thousands taking to the streets in Minneapolis and other cities to demand accountability and an end to what activists describe as aggressive and militarised immigration enforcement. At least 29 people were arrested during protests in Minneapolis on Friday night, and one police officer was injured.

The backlash comes amid an expanded federal immigration crackdown. More than 2,000 federal agents have reportedly been deployed to Minnesota, with additional Customs and Border Patrol officers sent from other states. Civil rights groups have raised concerns about the scale and intensity of the operation, particularly in communities of colour.

The administration has also moved to restrict congressional oversight of ICE facilities. Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were recently denied entry to a detention centre, prompting further legal challenges.

Polling data suggests public opinion is turning sharply against ICE. According to recent figures, overall approval of the agency has dropped significantly in the past year, with a growing number of Americans expressing strong opposition to its tactics.

President Donald Trump has continued to defend the operation and criticised Minnesota’s leadership, repeating claims of widespread corruption and voter fraud in the state. Those claims have been rejected by state officials and contradicted by election results, which show Trump lost Minnesota in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections.

As investigations into Good’s death continue, civil liberties organisations are calling for independent oversight. At the same time, protesters say the case has become a symbol of broader concerns about federal power, policing and the treatment of civilians during immigration operations.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued a public warning over supplements containing zinc picolinate and selenium that are being marketed for use in children.

In a statement released on 8 January, SAHPRA said both ingredients are not permitted in health supplements for children under the age of 18, and that products currently on the market containing these substances pose potential safety risks.

According to the regulator, zinc picolinate can cause side effects including indigestion, diarrhoea, headaches, nausea and vomiting. SAHPRA added that the bioavailability of zinc from zinc picolinate is variable and unpredictable, increasing the risk of adverse reactions in children.

Selenium supplementation in children also raises safety concerns, particularly due to the risk of overdose and differences in daily dietary intake among population groups.

SAHPRA noted that many of the affected products are marketed as “immune boosters” for children (like Zinplex) and are promoted for conditions such as colds, flu, diarrhoea and skin problems.

The authority said this classifies them as medicines requiring formal registration, rather than complementary health products.

As a result, any product containing zinc picolinate or selenium intended for use in children will now be required to be registered as a Category A medicine in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Act. Products currently sold as Category D complementary medicines must be withdrawn from the market within six months.

Health professionals and distributors have been instructed to stop selling, dispensing and distributing these products and to remove them from shelves and storage facilities. Members of the public are urged to return any such products to their pharmacy, supplier or distributor.

SAHPRA has also encouraged parents and healthcare professionals to report any side effects linked to these products using the Med Safety App.

The registration of residents affected by the fire that tore through Site 5 in Dunoon is currently underway, as authorities work to determine the full impact of the incident.

According to the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson, Charlotte Powell, the scale of the fire means it will take time to establish the exact number of structures destroyed and people displaced.

Operations on site are being coordinated through a mobile Joint Operations Centre, while Gift of the Givers continues to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to affected families.

Efforts to clear the fire site have also begun, although some residents have already started rebuilding their structures. A City building inspector is on site to assess the integrity of the perimeter wall and nearby formal dwellings in the affected area.

Once all affected residents have been registered and the impact assessment is complete, the lists will be submitted to SASSA, the Provincial Department of Social Development and the National Department of Human Settlements for additional relief and support.

How to Help

Members of the public who wish to assist can drop off donations at the following fire stations, which are open 24 hours a day:

Goodwood, Roeland Street, Lakeside, Constantia, Hout Bay, Strand, Wynberg and Milnerton.

Donations of non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products (such as soap, toothpaste, face cloths and sanitary towels), nappies, baby formula, as well as blankets and bedding are especially needed.

Firefighters were battling to extinguish a devastating fire in the Dunoon informal settlement on Friday afternoon, amid attacks from some members of the community, which necessitated Public Order Police being called in to quell tensions.

The City’s Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 10:25 to structures alight in Site 5 of the township. Numerous resources responded, with operations being coordinated by an Incident Management Team Type 4, which indicates a local, smaller-scale emergency response unit.

Helicopters were also brought in to waterbomb the flames, fanned by strong southeasterly winds.

During the course of the afternoon, public order policing resources were called in to assist as firefighters were being assaulted by members of the community.

One firefighter was also taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment for heat exhaustion.

Fire and Rescue services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse says the extent of the fire, as well as further injuries, will be determined and confirmed once a formal assessment has been completed.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has established an on-site Joint Operations Centre to lead recovery efforts.

Spokesperson Charlotte Powell says staff are waiting for the all clear from the Fire and Rescue Service, so that a formal assessment can get underway.

Other City services are on standby to assist, as well as SASSA, the Provincial Department of Social Development and the National Department of Human Settlements.

Donation drop-off points have been set up at the following fire stations: Goodwood, Roeland Street, Lakeside, Constantia, Hout Bay, Strand, Wynberg and Milnerton.

Contributions of non-perishable foodstuffs, personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, face cloths, sanitary towels), nappies and baby formula, as well as blankets/bedding are welcome.

Gift of the Givers teams, currently stretched across the Western Cape, with deployments in the Overstrand Municipality, Mossel Bay, and Kouga in the Eastern Cape, will render assistance in Dunoon as soon as the site is declared safe.