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Franny Rabkin

Franny Rabkin is the Sunday Times legal correspondent. She has clerked at the Constitutional Court, practiced as an attorney and has been a legal journalist for more than 15 years.

Marius "Vlam" van der Merwe, a Brakpan-based security industry member and former EMPD official, was shot multiple times in full view of his family outside their Brakpan home on December 5 2025.

Madlanga needs to probe Ipid

The inquiry has already heard that as far back as March 2023, Ipid was investigating a torture and murder case in which someone, clearly Witness D, had turned state witness

  • Franny Rabkin
SAPS divisional commissioner of crime intelligence Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo testifying at the Madlanga commission of inquiry at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.

Video and photos at the Madlanga commission ‘show link’ between Sibiya and cartel, says Khumalo

'We are worried about the growing trend we see within SAPS,' witness says

  • Franny Rabkin
The timing has raised questions as to how Phahlane — and the man charged with bribing her, church leader Mike Sandlana — knew she would be given the case.

Judge in bribery scandal: ‘She is my child’

In a fresh twist in the Portia Phahlane saga, an affidavit gives new details of how the alleged bribe unfolded

  • Franny Rabkin
  • Kgaugelo Gumede
Former divisional head Xolani Nciza during the commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system. PHOTO: ANTONIO MUCHAVE

A ‘criminal enterprise’ at the EMPD, Madlanga Commission hears

Senior officer Julius Mkhwanazi and a ‘core group’ of officers are alleged to have committed serious crimes, yet were protected at the highest level.

  • Franny Rabkin
The Constitutional Court has dismissed the MK Party's case challenging the appointment of acting police minister Firoz Cachalia and police minister Senzo Mchunu's special leave. File photo.

ConCourt dismisses MK Party's case on Mchunu, Madlanga commission

Apex court says case should not have come directly to the highest court

  • Franny Rabkin
Sanan Mirzoyev, John Makate, Ben Winks, Emma Sadleir, Rupert Candy, and Rorke Wilson are a team of lawyers who have reached a landmark agreement on a case against Meta in the Johannesburg high court. Picture.

Meta and WhatsApp to hand over information of those behind child porn accounts

"We hope it signals a turning point in how online platforms respond to harm in our jurisdiction," lawyers say.

  • Franny Rabkin
The accounts posted child pornography and identified individuals and schools, said the Digital Law Company’s Emma Sadleir. Stock photo

Court orders Meta, owner of Instagram and WhatsApp, to permanently shut down accounts posting child porn

The accounts posted child pornography and identified individuals and schools, said the Digital Law Company’s Emma Sadleir.

  • Franny Rabkin
DA supporters and MPs, led by chief whip George Michalakis, outside the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday. The DA and EFF were seeking an urgent interdict to block the VAT hike due on May 1.

Court orders Vat hike suspended

The Western Cape High Court has ordered the Vat hike suspended - until Parliament passes legislation making Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to reverse the VAT hike an act of Parliament.

  • Franny Rabkin
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s announcement that he would be reversing the VAT hike was made on Wednesday evening. File photo.

Parliament 'accepts' it must begin afresh with fiscal framework

Parliament has accepted that, in light of recent developments, it must go back to the drawing board on the fiscal framework, it said in a letter to the Western Cape High Court on Friday.

  • Franny Rabkin
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will engage US President Donald Trump regarding statements made about the land expropriation laws

Ramaphosa's pre-election address to nation was lawful, says Electoral Court

‘We disagree with DA that the speech was disguised electioneering,’ says court.

  • Franny Rabkin
MK Party deputy president John Hlophe. File photo.

John Hlophe barred from upcoming JSC interviews

The MK Party’s leader in parliament, John Hlophe, has been interdicted from attending the upcoming Judicial Service Commission interviews, the Western Cape High Court ordered on Friday.

  • Franny Rabkin
Members of the MK Party are sworn in as MPs in June.

MK Party's case to proceed, says Electoral Court

The case by the MK Party to set aside the election must be argued before the Electoral Court — despite an attempt by the party to withdraw it.

  • Franny Rabkin
The IEC's chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo says a registration weekend is likely in June and there is no guarantee of a second chance to register.

What MK party says is evidence is patently not that, says IEC

The commission says the MK party has repeatedly failed to provide evidence yet repeats its unfounded and prejudicial allegations

  • Franny Rabkin
The MK Party's national organiser Nathi Nhleko said had the elections been free and fair, the MKP would 'in all likelihood' have won. File photo.

IEC must answer MK Party’s Electoral Court case by Tuesday, court orders

The Electoral Court has directed the Electoral Commission of South Africa and other respondents to file answering affidavits to the MK Party's application to set aside the recent elections by 6pm on Tuesday.

  • Franny Rabkin
The MK party has failed in its Constitutional Court bid to halt the first sitting of Parliament.

Constitutional Court dismisses MK Party application to halt first sitting of parliament

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed the application by the uMkhonto weSizwe Political Party (MK Party) to interdict the first sitting of parliament scheduled for Friday.

  • Franny Rabkin