Those who were found to be driving under the influence of Rain Dance and Smirnoff  include the former Mayor of Endumeni Local Municipality.

“Order, Order, Order. Point of Order. You have no licence to operate from Dundee. You should be operating in Newcastle,” the former mayor banged the table as he directed his speech to the stunned RTI.

For a moment, he literally turned the boardroom into a council chamber. The boardroom is an #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation Centre used to process all arrested motorists.

His confidence grew in leaps and bounds as he realized that other arrested motorists looked up to him as he cornered RTI.

“You can arrest me but who is arresting you,” he questioned grudgingly as he frowned

“Sikhathele yinina. I’m talking to you. What informs your Programme of Action,”‘ he augmented his question by repeatedly pointing his finger at the RTI team. You’ d swear that he was in an IDP Roadshow.

Whilst other motorists smelled freedom and believed that the former Mayor had the capacity to liberate them, others looked exhausted, kept on dozing off and finally fell asleep.

RTI had only one question for the former Mayor: “‘#NenzaniLaEzweni”

He looked around as if fellow offenders had become Deputy Mayor, the Speaker and councillors. And that it was their turn to speak.

Surprisingly, those who were cheering him up and punching the air, faked being asleep.

It was at this moment when RTI summed it up neatly: “‘Game Over honourable former Mayor. You will spend the night in the Police cells. You will have the opportunity to call the Prosecutor and Magistrate into Order in court on Monday. Meeting adjourned. “

According to the relative, Jayden had an argument with his partner on Friday night after going out with friends. The following morning, at around 8am, he reportedly called his father and told him he “couldn’t take it anymore.”

His father immediately rushed to where Jayden was staying and was told that he had locked himself in the bathroom. He forced the door open, but sadly, it was already too late.

It is also reported that Jayden had been deeply affected by the deaths of his grandmother and a close friend.
May his soul rest in peace.

Johannesburg, Gauteng — July 20, 2026

A suspected burglar’s attempt to evade capture took an unexpected turn after he was allegedly discovered hiding inside the roof space of a house in Johannesburg.

The incident reportedly unfolded in the early hours of the morning after homeowners heard unusual noises coming from the ceiling shortly after activating their home’s security alarm. Believing someone may have broken into the property, they immediately contacted a private security company and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Upon arriving at the scene, security officers searched the house but initially found no sign of an intruder. As they prepared to leave, they reportedly heard movement above the ceiling.

His escape was reportedly short-lived when he became trapped between wooden beams, forcing officers to carefully assist him down before taking him into custody.

Police searched the property and allegedly recovered several household items that investigators believe the suspect had intended to steal. No injuries to the homeowners or responding officers were reported.

Neighbours gathered outside as news of the unusual discovery spread through the community, with many expressing surprise that someone had managed to conceal himself in the roof space for so long.

Limpopo, South Africa — July 18, 2026

An alleged poaching operation ended in tragedy after a suspected rhino poacher was reportedly fatally attacked by a rhinoceros inside a protected game reserve.

The incident is said to have occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning when a group of suspected poachers allegedly entered a fenced wildlife reserve under the cover of darkness. Reserve rangers later responded after anti-poaching monitoring systems detected unusual movement in a remote section of the bush.

The suspects fled in different directions after encountering wildlife patrols. During the confusion, one of the men allegedly came into close contact with an adult rhinoceros, which charged him.

When rangers eventually reached the area, they reportedly discovered the suspect with fatal injuries. The remaining members of the group had allegedly fled the reserve before authorities arrived.

Conservation officials condemned wildlife crime, noting that rhino poaching continues to threaten South Africa’s endangered rhino populations despite intensified anti-poaching operations and surveillance across many national parks and private reserves.

Officials also reminded the public that rhinoceroses are extremely powerful wild animals and can react aggressively if they perceive a threat, making unauthorized entry into protected wildlife areas exceptionally dangerous.

The investigation into the fictional incident remains ongoing as authorities work to identify the deceased and determine whether additional suspects were involved.

The CIT heist occurred on the N3 near the Sherwood on‑ramp, outside the Durban CBD.

CIT heist

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said they responded to the incident just before 5 ppm on Saturday after receiving multiple emergency calls about an explosion on the N3.

“The suspects blew up a cash vehicle on the N3. Paramedics arrived on scene once, given the go-ahead by Metro Police and Saps to find the money vehicle still engulfed in flames after being detonated by the suspects.

“Paramedics found two security officials who had sustained, fortunately, no injuries, and one police officer who had sustained minor injuries on the scene. Paramedics attended to the police officer before he was transported to a nearby hospital for further care that he required,” Jamieson said.

Traffic affected

The N3 outgoing highway was closed for quite some time to allow investigations, with motorists advised to avoid this area at all costs.

Jamieson said the Durban carriageway was also highly congested, as it formed part of the crime scene, with some of the vehicles caught in the crossfire parked there.

“At this stage, the exact events leading up to this robbery are unclear. However, Saps will be investigating further”

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.

Illegal mining

Meanwhile, Saps’s crackdown on illegal mining and organised crime has intensified, with 1,149 suspects arrested.

Police also confiscated 25 illegal firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition during intelligence-driven operations conducted under Operation Prosper in June.

The nationwide operation, led jointly by the Saps and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), targeted illegal mining syndicates, organised crime and gang-related violence across several provinces.

Saps spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi said the latest arrests demonstrate the government’s determination to dismantle criminal networks operating in affected communities.

The incident occurred on Saturday night, 18 July 2026.

Violent

Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said officers were searching for the suspect.

“The report indicates that the suspect became violent and struck the 41‑year‑old police sergeant with a sharp object whilst pushing the 37‑year‑old police constable into a nearby hole, before fleeing the scene.

“Both police officers were taken to a nearby medical facility. Unfortunately, the police sergeant was certified dead on arrival while the constable was admitted for further medical treatment,” Masondo said.

Murder

A case of murder and attempted murder has been opened.

According to police, the incident began when a complainant arrived at Bushbuckridge Police Station at about 9:45pm to report his brother for causing trouble at home. Officers accompanied the complainant to the suspect’s residence.

“It was during this time that the suspect came out of the house where he was interviewed by the police. At the time, he seemed cooperative,” Masondo said.

“However, all of a sudden, he went back into the house only to return armed with a sharp object and attack the two members before fleeing the scene on foot.

Manhunt

Acting Provincial Commissioner of Saps in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, vowed that police would track down the suspect.

“We will not allow anyone to attack our members without consequences, and we will make sure that we do everything possible to find him. An attack on a police official is a direct attack on the state.

“The investigation has been prioritised, and we handed it over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI)/Hawks for further investigation,” Mkhwanazi said.

Condolences

He urged officers to remain vigilant while serving communities and to use issued resources effectively in the defence and protection of the public.

Mkhwanazi conveyed Saps’ condolences to the family of the slain sergeant and wished the injured constable a speedy recovery.

Both crashes occurred within an hour of each other on Saturday, July 18th.

The first accident occurred allong the R555 road between Stoffberg and Rossenkraal in the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality.

The crash involved a Volkswagen polo,a combi and a truck. This resulted in five passengers perishing on the scene. Recklessness cannot be ruled out although investigations are underway

The other accident which involved a polo and tazz occurred on the road D4370 from Phokwane to Mamphogo Makhudu Thamaga Municipality. Preliminary investigation has just revealed that possible over speeding may be the cause.

Four passengers from the polo and five from the Toyota Tazz lost their lives instantly. In both accidents 6 passengers were injured and both taken nearby hospital.

“The dark cloud is hanging over Sekhukhune District and on behalf of the Department and people of Limpopo I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wish the injured one a speedy recovery. ” says MEC Mathye

The Department urges drivers to be always extra careful,avoid reckless driving and take a rest after every two hours. Traffic officers will be deployed to keep monitoring hot spots.

After meeting with the District Municipality and the local municipalities,the public will be duly informed on the latest developments.

The accident occurred along the R612 towards Ixopo, South of KZN around 21h10 last night.

We wish to send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I have assigned my office and a team from the road safety directorate to locate the families of the victims.

There are different categories of accidents—minor, moderate, serious, and very serious.

Based on a preliminary report from our dedicated Road Traffic Inspectorate team, this is a very serious accident, as it has claimed the lives of five people—3 females and 2 males.

Another person was seriously injured when this VW Polo crashed into the roadside barrier.

In view of the fact that this is a serious accident, RTI has handed over this matter to the South African Police Service Accident Unit for an investigation.

A weekend ago, six people died in another horrific accident involving a VW Polo in Newcastle.

Critically, in such accidents, a criminal case of culpable homicide is opened and managed by the on-scene investigating officer and a detective who will see the docket through to prosecution and finalization.

The work to be undertaken will involve reconstructing the accident to determine the cause.

Last week Thursday we announced the reconfiguration of our road safety campaign.

Our plan is to strengthen the implementation of Four Es:-

Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal — July 18, 2026

Motorists travelling on the N3 towards Pietermaritzburg experienced lengthy delays following a dramatic cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery near the Sherwood area.

A cash-in-transit vehicle was ambushed by a group of heavily armed suspects during the early morning hours. Witnesses reported hearing several loud bangs before seeing multiple vehicles block sections of the highway.

The suspects allegedly used explosives to breach the armoured vehicle before fleeing the scene in several high-powered vehicles. Thick smoke and debris reportedly covered parts of the roadway, forcing approaching motorists to stop at a safe distance.

Emergency responders, traffic officials, and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) quickly arrived and established a security perimeter while specialist investigators examined the damaged cash vehicle.

Traffic on the Pietermaritzburg-bound carriageway remained heavily congested for several hours as authorities diverted vehicles and removed debris from the roadway. Commuters were advised to use alternative routes while the scene was processed.

Detectives from the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime unit, together with forensic specialists, launched an investigation into the robbery, collecting CCTV footage, dashcam recordings, and witness statements. Authorities also appealed to motorists who may have captured the incident on dashboard cameras to assist investigators.

Cash-in-transit robberies remain one of the most sophisticated forms of organised crime in South Africa, often involving carefully planned operations, multiple getaway vehicles, and heavily armed suspects. Law enforcement agencies continue to work closely with private security companies to combat these incidents.

The investigation in this report remains ongoing.

On arrival paramedics were faced with a horrific scene. A light motor vehicle travelling on an adjacent road had rolled down an embankment and came to rest on the R612.

Five of the six occupants were ejected from the vehicle and sadly sustained fatal injuries. One occupant, a back seat passenger, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital by EMRS.

The scene was handed over to SAPS for further investigation into the cause of the accident.

Our condolences to the families of the deceased.