Latest news with #SouthAfricanPoliceService
The South African
15 hours ago
- The South African
Tragedy as runner killed by falling tree during Slave Route Challenge
A woman has tragically died after a tree fell on her while competing in the 2025 Slave Route Challenge on Sunday. Event organisers said the incident took place along the race route in the Company's Garden area. 'Emergency services responded swiftly and transported the runner to hospital, where she sadly succumbed to her injuries. On behalf of the Slave Route Challenge Organising Committee, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the runner's family, friends, and loved ones. 'This is a devastating loss, and we are holding her family in our thoughts during this profoundly difficult time,' organisers said. Safety remains top priority Organisers added that the safety and well-being of every participant remains a top priority. 'All safety and security protocols were observed and implemented ahead of the event in close collaboration with the City of Cape Town and emergency services. 'This was a tragic and unforeseeable accident, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding it. Out of respect, we will not be releasing any further details,' event organisers said. Organisers further asked that the runners' family be respected at this time. 'The Slave Route Challenge is an event rooted in history, community, and resilience and today, we carry the memory of one of our own with us. We mourn her loss together as community,' organisers said. Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town also extended its condolences to the runner's family. 'This is a deeply tragic incident. We are working closely with the event organisers and the South African Police Service to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident,' the CoCT said. 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.
The South African
17 hours ago
- The South African
SAPS raises alarm over widespread police scam
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has urged the public to stay alert after a scam targeting residents across several provinces resurfaced, using fake letters and phone calls to impersonate police officers. According to the SAPS, these fraudulent letters often carry the official police logo and appear legitimate, sometimes including the names and contact details of senior officers and real police stations. However, in many cases, scammers also invent names of non-existent stations to strengthen the illusion. 'These fake letters, often distributed via WhatsApp, bear the SAPS logo and contain the names, contact details of senior SAPS officers and the addresses of legitimate SAPS offices,' said the police in an official statement. Furthermore, the scam has evolved in sophistication. The letters' content is often adapted to the recipient's location, with subtle changes to names, addresses, and contact persons, making it harder for victims to detect the fraud. 'Also, these WhatsApp messages are preceded by phone calls from individuals posing as police officials,' SAPS said. '[They] falsely claim that criminal cases have been opened against the victim. These 'police officers' then coerce the victim to pay over a certain amount to make his or her supposed case to 'disappear'.' Moreover, the calls often cause panic and confusion, with scammers using fear tactics to pressure victims into paying money or divulging sensitive personal information. Victims have unknowingly surrendered ID numbers, banking details, and addresses in several instances. Public Urged to Remain Vigilant Additionally, the SAPS has stressed that it does not contact the public via WhatsApp or video calls under any circumstances. Citizens are strongly advised not to respond to suspicious calls or messages. 'Do not provide or confirm any personal information such as ID numbers, addresses, or banking details,' police warned. 'Do not pay these 'scammers' any money.' Anyone who receives such communication or has already engaged with the scammers is encouraged to report the incident and open a case at the nearest police station. 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.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
SA's missing kids and the agony of parents who never stop hoping
Hundreds of South African children go missing every year. Most are found, but many are not. For the families left behind, the pain is excruciating – and endless. Zama Nkabinde is one of thousands of parents living with the pain of a missing child. It has been 15 years since her daughter, Amahle, disappeared without a trace. At the time, four-year-old Amahle was living in a place of safety with her brother, Sizo, and several other children. Nkabinde had moved to Pietermaritzburg to escape family woes in Johannesburg and hoped for a fresh start. 'I was running away from our family's issues, wanting a new life for me and my children, away from everything, only to end up unlucky,' she told Daily Maverick. Tragedy struck when a fire broke out at the place of safety, claiming the lives of 11 people. Amahle was not confirmed to be among the dead. None of the recovered bodies was positively identified as hers. Photos taken by the group of children involved in the fire suggested Amahle was not present at the time, and a pathologist's report supported this. A day before the fire, when Nkabinde phoned the facility, she was told Amahle was out playing far from the premises. 'When they told me Amahle's body had burnt to ashes, I couldn't believe it,' Nkabinde recalled. 'I asked to see my little boy in the hospital, and he didn't have a single burn wound. If Sizo didn't burn, what killed Amahle when she could've escaped, too?' Fifteen years have passed, but Nkabinde has never stopped searching or believing. She's convinced Amahle is still alive – a belief supported by two traditional healers. 'I am confident that one day she will be found,' she said. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), 632 children were reported missing in 2024, down from 742 in 2023. Earlier this year, the police said 8,743 children had been reported missing over the past 10 years. Missing Children South Africa estimates that 77% of missing children are found, and 23% remain missing or are found dead. In May 2025, the SAPS reported that over the past five years, it had reunited 2,963 missing children with their families, 1,919 of whom were female and 967 male. The police said missing persons were found 'through intelligence and meticulous detective work', but thousands of children across the country still remain missing. Like many parents of missing children, Nkabinde has grown despondent over the years – not only from the loss, but from what she sees as a lack of urgency and attention given to her daughter's case. Her frustration is further deepened when she compares her experience to other, more recent cases of missing children – such as that of Joshlin Smith, which drew national attention and swift action, although Joshlin, who was six when she went missing in Saldanha Bay in February 2024, has not been found. 'There were helicopters, sniffer dogs, teams of officers and volunteers – the whole country looking… And don't get me wrong, every missing child deserves that. But so does Amahle. Why wasn't her case treated with the same urgency?' Still, Nkabinde hasn't given up hope – even if it feels like her last chance. Her final hope rests with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who took over Amahle's case in December 2024. His decision to reopen and investigate the case again has given Nkabinde a small sense of hope. 'Happening everywhere' Missing Children South Africa, a nonprofit organisation that works closely with the SAPS on missing persons cases, has observed a rise in the number of children reported missing. According to its national coordinator, criminologist Bianca van Aswegen, children go missing for varying reasons. In some cases, they run away from home, often because of abuse or challenging home environments. Other cases involve kidnapping, which can occur for multiple reasons, including human trafficking, illegal adoptions, forced labour and sexual exploitation. Sadly, there are cases where children disappear for no known reason, because they have not yet been found. 'It can happen to anyone at any time, at any place,' Van Aswegen said. 'So we cannot really pinpoint at this point on gender, age, geography. It really is happening all over South Africa, and really anyone can become a victim. 'There are no particular provinces or regions that are affected. This is affecting the whole of South Africa. We're seeing it from little towns to big cities like Cape Town and [those in] Gauteng. So this is something that is happening everywhere,' she said. One of the main factors contributing to a decrease in the number of children being found is a widespread belief that 24 hours must pass before a person can be reported missing. That used to be the case, but the police now recommend reporting a missing person immediately. 'The quicker the case gets reported, the quicker action can be taken,' Van Aswegen said. Another factor is that cases aren't being reported because parents and caregivers are reluctant to go to the police, making it difficult to assess the true number of missing children. Many families are now using social media and putting out flyers, but they are not contacting the police, which hampers investigations. 'And those cases aren't getting reported. That also has an influence on the statistics because a lot of cases go unreported,' Van Aswegen said. While the country is currently commemorating Child Protection Week, she said: 'Our children's safety is a priority. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a village to keep a child safe. 'So in light of Child Protection Week … we urge people to please be vigilant. Know where your children are at all times.' Jacqui Thomas, director of the Pink Ladies Organisation, which works to reunite missing children with their loved ones, said the reasons children go missing 'obviously differ immensely from case to case'. However, she pointed to common trends, such as families that have a 'lack of resources (poverty, unemployment, lack of provision of adequate mental health services), fractured families and a general decline in moral fibre of adult populations who are tasked with caring for the young and elderly'. The Pink Ladies Organisation has dealt with 291 cases so far in 2025 – 143 children are still missing, 138 have been found and 10 have been found dead. Poverty, violence, neglect Joshlin Smith's mother, her mother's boyfriend and a friend of theirs were convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping, highlighting the issue of trafficking in persons (TIP). In his statement during sentencing in the trial this week, former Hawks member and trafficking expert Dr Marcel van der Watt said: 'While not all missing persons cases are connected to TIP, many TIP incidents involve individuals who are reported or perceived as missing. 'Children and adults go missing for a variety of reasons, often linked to challenging or traumatic circumstances. Some may run away from home to escape issues such as domestic or sexual violence, while others, particularly those with mental health challenges, may become lost. 'Individuals can also fall victim to crimes, including gender-based violence, kidnappings such as opportunistic abductions, parental abductions or kidnappings linked to traditional medicine practices, and TIP. 'In some cases, the missing persons are later discovered in mortuaries as unidentified individuals, while others may disappear due to suicide. 'We cannot ignore the stories of victims like Joshlin Smith, who is still missing. Her case is a stark reminder of the countless other Joshlins out there, children whose names we may never know, who have been taken and never found,' Van der Watt told the court. He referred to Robyn Wolfson Vorster's four-part series on missing children in Daily Maverick in 2021. Wolfson Vorster said children were often vulnerable to going missing because of 'poverty, violence, neglect, unsafe environments, dysfunctional families, institutional care, harmful cultural practices, undocumented status, inadequate policing and government policy'. Children are protected by various rights under the Constitution, but Wolfson Vorster said the government's 'policies and practices preventing children going missing or being exploited are inadequate'. She cited Patricia Martin, from the South African National Child Rights Coalition, who said the lack of programmes is a 'systematic implementation breakdown'. Wolfson Vorster said a shortage of police resources, including DNA backlogs, the inconsistent application of policing protocols and failures in developing the necessary policies to protect children had exacerbated the problem. Searching without funding Veronique Williams, the founder of Faith Hope Missing Persons in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, is a former police officer. She was a manager for the Pink Ladies Organisation before she started Faith Hope five years ago and now helps families find their children. 'My heart was always there for children. I've always said that when I grow up and have a lot of money, I'd like to build a shelter where I can pick up children from the streets, care for them and provide them with the education they need to realise their dreams,' Williams said. But her nonprofit organisation, which covers the Western Cape, struggles with money, often asking companies for help. 'When we receive a report about a missing child, we post a flyer on social media and travel to the location as quickly as feasible to conduct a search. Sometimes trips are delayed because we need to wait for petrol money,' Williams said. Her plea to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is to establish a fully equipped missing persons unit that includes dogs, drones, helicopters and cellphone tracking devices. She said search teams are thrilled when they find a child, but it's devastating when, after days, weeks and months of searching, a child remains missing. 'But we don't give up.' Mother's pain still palpable Interviews with mothers whose children have been missing for years revealed that their pain is palpable, as if their children had disappeared yesterday. They recounted their heartbreaking memories, sleepless nights and depression linked to their missing children. Anthea Michaels (38) is the mother of Shaskia Michaels, who went missing at the age of four on 5 September 2013 while playing outside her home in Bayern Munich Road, Tafelsig, Cape Town. When Daily Maverick met Michaels and her parents Roslyn Faroa (59) and Gert (57) on 14 May, they were relaxing in the sun with neighbours outside their home. The day Shaskia went missing, the child was living with her parents. Michaels said: 'It has been nearly 12 years since my child vanished. I can't explain how I feel.' She still clings to the hope that her child is alive. 'I'm still very hurt. Every day when I watch the children play in the street, I think about how she would have been today. She turned 16 this year.' Roslyn Faroa said: 'The Joshlin case has opened old wounds… The wait eats away at one's soul. 'The most painful moment is on her birthday on 2 April. On that day, we buy chips and sweets for the children in the road and although she is not here, the children will sing 'Happy birthday, Shaskia'.' 'No mother should have to go through this' Lameez Bobbs is the mother of Kauther, who disappeared at the age of five on 12 October 2012. She was last seen playing with her friends at a park in Cedarburg Road in Tafelsig. She lived two doors down from Michaels in the same street. A year separated the disappearances of Kauther and Shaskia. Bobbs recalled the dreadful day, saying she was washing clothes while Kauther and a friend were playing in the yard. 'When I came out to look for her, she was gone. I heard they were playing in the park. That is where she apparently went missing. 'What I don't understand is why the police made such a big fuss about the Joshlin disappearance and nothing about our children. It's almost like our children aren't important but Joshlin is,' Bobbs said. 'If there was such a big fuss about Kauther and other missing children, they would have been found. 'You cannot describe how you feel… If I'm sleeping and I hear a child scream, I'm completely awake. I do not want anyone's mother to go through what I am going through.' 'I don't want to die not knowing what happened' Ursula Keet (72) said her child had been missing for 30 years. Baden disappeared aged 12 on 14 January 1995. At the time of his disappearance, Keet was working a night shift, and she was oblivious of the turmoil surrounding her child's disappearance. At 10pm that night, she received a chilling call. On the phone was a pastor and close friend: 'The pastor told me Baden wasn't home yet.' He has never been found. 'My agony has lasted from the day of his disappearance until today. I went through a bitter pain, but I was supported by family and friends during this tough time.' After 30 years, she still hopes that Baden will be found, despite many people telling her to move on. 'How can a mother forget things, and you don't have your child? I didn't find closure with my child. Sometimes I cannot sleep. I am now under a doctor's care for depression. 'My prayer is that before I close my eyes one day, I will see my child and leave with a calm heart.' Speaking to Daily Maverick, Keet struggled to find words, and tears rolled down her cheeks. 'My late husband … died with that memory, unaware of where his son was,' she said. 'I don't want to die like my late husband, who did not know what happened to our child, where he is or if he is still alive.' DM
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Suspect cleared in kidnapping case
Here's your daily news update for Saturday, 31 May 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. As police continue their search for a suspect wanted in connection with the kidnapping of women, another man was cleared of any wrongdoing on Saturday. The South African Police Service (Saps) confirmed that Fezile Ngubane, who was previously identified as a suspect in a syndicate targeting young women, has been cleared of any wrongdoing and released from police custody. In other news, the City of Tshwane has warned its residents that the city's water woes could worsen if they continue to consume water at the current rate. While Rand Water conducts its 107-hour planned major maintenance, which will affect parts of the City of Tshwane, the municipality has urged residents to conserve water to avoid further outages. Weather tomorrow: 01 June 2025 The weather service predicts fine and cool to warm conditions; however, it will be partly cloudy over the northeastern parts of South Africa as well as along the southwest coast, with possible damaging waves along the south coast. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps Ngubane was handed over to police by his father on Friday at the KwaMashu police station after reports emerged linking him to the ongoing Olorato murder case. Fezile Ngubane. Picture: Supplied/ Saps According to Saps, Ngubane earns a living washing cars and resides in the same neighbourhood as the deceased suspect Philangenkosi Makhanya. CONTINUE READING: Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench has died The media industry is mourning the death of veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench. Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench. Picture: Facebook Trench, who worked for several major publications both in South Africa and abroad, died on Friday evening surrounded by family. He had been battling oesophageal cancer. CONTINUE READING: Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench has died Tshwane's water warning to residents City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba on Friday urged residents of Region 6 and some parts of regions 2 and 3 to urgently reduce their water consumption after levels at the city's reservoirs dropped significantly. Picture: Stock Bokaba said the continuation of high consumption was likely to put consumers in these regions at risk of having no water until the work is completed. CONTINUE READING: Tshwane's water warning to residents PODCAST: What closure of Nissan Rosslyn plant means for Mzansi The Nissan plant in Rosslyn outside Pretoria faces closure in the Japanese carmaker's desperate attempt to cut its global losses. Nissan will close seven of its current 17 factories by 2027, one reportedly being the Rosslyn Plant outside Pretoria. Photo by MATTHIAS BALK / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP The local factory is one of seven global assembly facilities on the chopping block as Nissan plans to reduce its plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. CONTINUE READING: PODCAST: What closure of Nissan Rosslyn plant means for Mzansi Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN The Road Traffic Inspectorate, working with the South African Police Service (Saps), have arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 Freeway. Picture: Supplied According to Duma, another driver was caught driving a truck and blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is twenty times more than the legal limit of 0.10mg /1000ml. CONTINUE READING: Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN Here are five more news stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Trump's pastor: No white genocide | Spar bleeds billions| Mongale murder suspect shot dead
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN
He will make his first court appearance in August. The Road Traffic Inspectorate, working with the South African Police Service (Saps), have arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 Freeway. The driver is currently detained in Ladysmith. According to the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, the driver allegedly blew 0.32 mg/1000ml, which is three times more than the legal limit of 0.10 mg/1000 for professional drivers. ALSO READ: Tow truck driver arrested after KZN crash kills 8 Another truck driver, who was also caught driving intoxicated, will make his first appearance in court on 18 August 2025. According to Duma, the second driver was caught driving a truck and blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is twenty times more than the legal limit of 0.10mg /1000ml. KZN truck accidents KZN has been battling the scourge of truck accidents in recent months, due to several factors. On 16 May, two trucks collided along the N3 Southbound just after the Peter Brown off-ramp, after one of the trucks allegedly experienced brake failure. A week before, a collision between a truck and a light delivery vehicle transporting passengers claimed multiple lives on the N2 highway near Empangeni. ALSO READ: Lifeless body of a driver recovered in KZN after a two-day search Eight victims lost their lives in the accident. Duma says the province has adopted a zero-tolerance attitude to drunk drivers due to the high number of accidents. 'Weeks ago, we laid to rest nine victims of a horrific accident involving a truck in Empangeni along the N2,' said Duma. 'Families lost their loved ones and breadwinners, with children becoming orphans as a result of one reckless truck driver. 'During my meeting with senior management last Monday, I instructed our RTI team to intensify their 'no-nonsense, zero-tolerance' and Alufakwa campaign on our roads. ALSO READ: Truck accident forces closure of N3 toll road as festive season ends 'We undertake to clamp down on bad behaviour in all corners of our province. 'In particular, we are paying more attention to trucks because, more than any vehicle, trucks can damage more vehicles at once, and their accidents can lead to serious injuries because of the impact.' The department said the country's roads would no longer be 'playgrounds' for irresponsible drivers. 'We must remove all these elements that are costing our country a fortune. 'We have been informed that road accidents cost the South African economy over R164 billion annually, an equivalent of 3.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).' READ NEXT: Police arrest six truckers for theft of minerals in Pongola, KZN
