President Cyril Ramaphosa has recently faced backlash after meeting with Zimbabwean dignitaries, but the Presidency said he was unaware that a man wanted in South Africa was among them. 

The president undertook a working visit to Zimbabwe on Sunday, after being invited by Emmerson Mnangagwa. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the meeting focused on bilateral matters of interest.  

However, among the people who greeted President Cyril Ramaphosa upon his arrival was Wicknell Chivayo.  

According to reports, Chivayo is being investigated by the Hawks for alleged money laundering. His assets in South Africa have reportedly been frozen as a result.  

HE President @CyrilRamaphosa earlier today, undertook a working visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe for an engagement with his Zimbabwean counterpart, HE President Emmerson Mnangangwa, to discuss issues of mutual and bilateral interests.

South Africa and Zimbabwe maintain a… pic.twitter.com/DZID0gEYpK

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 3, 2026

#UPDATE South Africa’s government says an unannounced trip to Zimbabwe by President Cyril Ramaphosa was a “working visit… to discuss issues of mutual and bilateral interests.” Ramaphosa flew in military chopper with Mnangagwa and two tender magnates – Wicknell Chivayo and… pic.twitter.com/pJhxmmL3bU

— ZimLive (@zimlive) May 3, 2026

In a statement on Wednesday, the Presidency noted that President Ramaphosa had no prior knowledge of who would be part of the engagement and was not familiar with Chivayo.  

Magwenya reiterated that the president went to meet with his counterpart in Zimbabwe “and nothing else”.  

He added the visit included a visit to President Mnangagwa’s farm, “where they would engage in a relaxed environment and outside of the constraints of Presidential formality and protocol”. President Ramaphosa apparently wanted to learn more about how Mnangagwa was assisting local farmers. 

Magwenya acknowledged concern and raised concern regarding the matters and said that President Ramaphosa has encouraged local law enforcement agencies to continue their investigation “with no fear or hesitation”.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development has confirmed that the woman who passed away after a tree fell on her car in Knysna this morning, 6 May, amid severe weather, was a staff member.

MEC Jaco Londt has expressed his sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Lauren Fredericks.

Fredericks, who joined the DSD Knysna office as a social auxiliary worker in August 2021, was on her way to conduct assessments of residents who were evacuated in the area due to adverse weather conditions.

Shortly after stopping, a tree fell on the car.

“I am deeply saddened by this loss. Ms Fredericks had a love for community work and was part of the office’s disaster management response team. Our thoughts are with her family – particularly her young son – friends and colleagues during this difficult time.”

Knysna police earlier confirmed that a 37-year-old woman had died after a tree fell onto her vehicle on Main Street.

According to authorities, emergency services were dispatched to the scene shortly before 8 am, where they found the vehicle trapped beneath a fallen tree with the driver inside.

Fredericks’ body was recovered at around 11 am. Police have opened an inquest docket.

Amid the tragedy, Londt has moved to acknowledge all frontline workers, including DSD staff, who continue to support and assist vulnerable residents during the current adverse weather conditions.

The City of Cape Town is encouraging residents to report suspicious activity around electricity infrastructure so damage and theft can be prevented.

This comes as the City’s Energy Directorate repaired and upgraded streetlight infrastructure in Wynberg and surrounding areas as part of its winter readiness interventions ahead of the colder and wet months.

Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, says the City is working daily to fix and improve electricity systems across Cape Town.

“This work extends beyond public lighting and includes cables, electricity kiosks, substations and other critical electricity infrastructure.”

Limberg stressed that vandalism, illegal connections and theft remain a threat that impacts infrastructure.

“We continue to roll out innovative interventions to tackle these criminal acts, and we ask members of the public to continue their support by reporting any illegal acts near our infrastructure.”

Residents are advised to report suspicious behaviour to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700 or at their nearest police stations.