Latest news with #SAPS
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Westville cops caution elderly about fraud on Nelson Mandela Day
ON Friday, Nelson Mandela Day, members of the Westville SAPS dedicated 67 minutes to visiting the elderly at a retirement home in Dawncliffe, where residents were given tips on some topics, including fraud. The station's communications officer, Captain Elizabeth Squires, said the elderly are an 'important vulnerable' group, who on the day were advised not to give out their personal information, such as bank details, email addresses, and physical addresses. 'Daily, we open cases of fraud. Scammers are very convincing, so people should be cautious when buying anything on marketplace. They must verify everything before making an EFT because if it is too good to be true, then it is possibly a scam,' advised Squires. Also read: Watch: Pinetown SAPS makes sandwiches for Mandela Day The station's Nelson Mandela Day outreach programme was also attended by Vispol Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Adele Roos, along with Westville SAPS members Constable Rose Mshengu, Sergeant Zwelethu Khathi and Sergeant Thabani Dlamini, who also advised about general safety at the retirement home; how to safeguard personal belongings when out shopping; what to look out for to report to the police; and tips on how to prevent being a victim of a fraud scam. 'Emergency numbers were shared. The residents appreciated and welcomed the SAPS visit,' said Squires. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Three arrested over ATM card scam in Mpumalanga
Police in Standerton, Mpumalanga, arrested three suspects aged between 33 and 47 on Friday, 18 July 2025, in connection with an ATM card scam. The arrests followed a chase on the R39 road between Morgenzon and Standerton. At around 12:30, a security company responded to a complaint about a card scam at an ATM at a local filling station. CCTV footage captured the suspects and their vehicle, prompting police to patrol the area. The suspects attempted to flee when spotted, but officers intercepted them swiftly. Police found several bank cards in possession of the suspects from Daveyton. Police confiscated the vehicle believed to have been used in the crime. The Standerton District Court will hear the case of the three men on Monday, 21 July 2025. Police are investigating whether the suspects are linked to other similar crimes. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, applauded both the police officers and the security company for their swift action and collaboration in apprehending the suspects. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
20 hours ago
- IOL News
Over a million apply to join SAPS: Women lead surge in 2025 police recruitment drive
SAPS attracts record number of applicants for Basic Police Development Learning Programme Image: SAPS The South African Police Service (SAPS) has reported a groundbreaking influx of applications for its Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP) for the 2025/2026 cycle, with a staggering 1,049,998 individuals applying before the midnight deadline on 18 July 2025. This remarkable statistic underscores the growing interest in joining the police force, particularly among young South Africans aspiring to serve their communities. The gender breakdown of the applications reveals an encouraging trend towards inclusivity, with 595,049 applications submitted by female candidates, compared to 454,949 from male candidates. This positive shift indicates an increasing recognition of the importance of diverse representation within law enforcement roles. Geographically, Gauteng emerged as the province yielding the highest number of applications, with 267,031 hopefuls eager to join the ranks of the SAPS. KwaZulu-Natal followed closely with 205,802 applications. The interest is distributed variably across other provinces, with Limpopo at 115,877, Eastern Cape at 108,709, and Mpumalanga at 100,516. The Western Cape also secured significant interest, drawing in 86,496 applications, while the Free State accounted for 73,214. North West submitted 66,167, and the Northern Cape brought up the rear with a modest 26,186 applicants. In a noteworthy indication of academic preparedness among applicants, 334,765 individuals possess qualifications at a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 6 (Diploma) or higher, which suggests a highly educated pool of candidates ready to tackle the challenges of policing. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading As the application phase officially closes, the SAPS has informed applicants that they will no longer accept submissions through their website. Candidates whose profiles meet the specified requirements can anticipate being contacted within three months regarding the next steps of their application process. However, the police service has indicated that, due to the overwhelming number of applications received, those who do not meet the necessary criteria will not be notified. This massive response to the BPDLP serves as a clear testament to the dedication and commitment of South African youth to uphold justice and contribute positively to society. As the SAPS prepares to review the applications, all eyes will be on the next generation of police officers who will soon emerge, driven by their passion to protect and serve. IOL
The Citizen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Public trust in SAPS falls to lowest levels in 27 years, survey shows
Public trust in SAPS falls to lowest levels in 27 years, survey shows The allegations levelled against senior national police executives by KZN provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi have caused the SAPS' public trust to dip. Zululand Observer reports that research released last Friday by the Human Sciences Research Council's South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) shows trust levels have remained relatively low – and not once in 27 years have more than half the adult public trusted the police. This suggests the issue of police legitimacy is by no means new. From 1998 to 2010, the average level of trust in the police was relatively static, ranging between 39% and 42%. This was followed by a sharp decline between 2011 and 2013, after the Marikana massacre in August 2012. Confidence had almost returned to the 2011 level by the 2015 survey. The 2016–2020 period was characterised by modest fluctuations between 31% and 35%. The hard lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, which included instances of police brutality in enforcing lockdown regulations, appears to have further dented confidence, based on the 2020 survey results. In 2021, public trust in the police dipped to an all-time low of 27%, reportedly linked to the July 2021 social unrest in KZN when many criticised SAPS' poor performance. This was followed by a further 5% drop to 22% in 2022, with 2023 and 2024–25 confidence levels almost unchanged, possibly reflecting rising rates for certain crimes. The 2022, 2023 and 2024–25 figures are the lowest recorded in 27 years. The full report and figures can be accessed here. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
21 hours ago
- The Citizen
Fatal hit-and-run leaves man dead in Linden
A case of culpable homicide will be opened at the Linden SAPS following a fatal hit-and-run in Linden on the evening of July 17 at the corner of 1st Avenue and 8th Street. When JMPD officers arrived at the scene, they found an unknown pedestrian who had sustained fatal injuries. 'The body was subsequently removed and transported to the Hillbrow Mortuary,' said JMPD superintendent Xolani Fihla. Read more: Alleged Metro cops killer tells court he was assaulted by Metro police officers He explained that, based on the preliminary investigation, JMPD can attest that this was a hit-and-run incident. 'An unknown vehicle, travelling from south to north along 1st Avenue, drove over the pedestrian, and failed to stop at the scene.' The victim, a male, was carrying no form of identification with him. Fihla said that, at this time, it is unknown if the victim was a displaced person. 'This will likely be determined as part of the ongoing investigation and identification process.' Hit-and-run incidents present several significant challenges for JMPD. Fihla highlighted them as being: Without the vehicle or driver present, identifying the perpetrator becomes much more difficult. Witnesses may not have seen critical details, or there may be no witnesses at all. Evidence left at the scene, such as vehicle debris or tire marks, can be minimal or degraded. This often requires extensive investigation by the police, including reviewing CCTV footage, public appeals, and following up on anonymous tips. Determining if the driver was aware they had struck someone can be complex. Due to the victim not having any identification, their family has not yet been notified. This is an ongoing investigation, and more information will be provided as it becomes available. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
