At least 21 people have died in a multi-vehicle collision on the N1 between Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka in the Western Cape.
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The crash occurred at approximately 11:30pm on Sunday, 13 September 2026, on the national route in the Central Karoo (also referred to as the Klein Karoo area), roughly 380 kilometres east of Cape Town. It involved two minibus taxis, identified in official reports as Toyota Quantum vehicles, and a third vehicle described variously as a station wagon, seven-seater, or Suzuki Brezza SUV.
Initial confirmation from the Western Cape Mobility Department reported 18 fatalities and three people with serious injuries. Subsequent updates from authorities, including the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), revised the death toll upward to 21. Reports on the number of seriously injured range from three to four. The identities of those killed and injured have not been released. The precise circumstances and cause of the collision remain under investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and form part of a formal inquiry.
Emergency and traffic response teams have been at the scene since the incident. Agencies involved include Leeu-Gamka and Merweville SAPS, Laingsburg and Beaufort West Provincial Traffic, Fire and Rescue Central Karoo, Metro EMS Central Karoo, multiple ambulances, Forensic Pathology Services, the Accident Response Team, and SAPS Western Cape units. Work at the site has continued into Monday, 14 September 2026.
The N1 is closed in both directions in the affected section (between the Laingsburg and Beaufort West areas, specifically around Leeu-Gamka/Prince Albert). The closure is expected to remain in place for an extended period while recovery, investigation, and clearance operations continue. Significant traffic backlogs have developed.
The only available alternative route is via Prince Albert Road Station, taking the R407 towards the N12 and then continuing on the N12 towards Beaufort West. This diversion adds approximately 200 kilometres to journeys. Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible, plan for substantial delays, exercise extreme caution if already in the vicinity, and follow all instructions from traffic officials and emergency personnel on site. Long-distance travellers, including heavy vehicle operators, have been urged to stop at safe locations rather than approach the closed section and become trapped in queues.
Authorities continue to manage the scene and assess the full extent of the incident. Further official updates are expected as the investigation and recovery efforts progress.
Stillborn twins found dumped in bushy field near Inkonjane Street, Mayibuye
The stillborn bodies of twins were discovered dumped in a bushy field near Inkonjane Street in Mayibuye on Sunday, 13 September 2026.
Community members made the discovery in the open field in the Mayibuye area of Thembisa (also known as Tembisa), in the City of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Residents who came across the remains were shocked by what they found.
Law enforcement agencies were immediately alerted to the scene. Officers responded and attended to the location where the bodies had been left.
Mayibuye is a residential section within Thembisa, a large township north of Kempton Park on the East Rand. Inkonjane Street forms part of the local road network in the area.
At the time of the initial reports, no further details had been released regarding the condition of the remains beyond them being identified as stillborn twins, the precise time of the discovery, or any identification of those responsible. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the dumping of the bodies are expected to follow standard procedures for such cases, which typically fall under inquiries related to concealment of birth or related offences under South African law.
The incident was first reported through local community channels in Thembisa. No official statements from the South African Police Service (SAPS) or other authorities detailing further developments, such as post-mortem findings or arrests, were available in initial coverage.
This report is based solely on the confirmed details of the discovery as shared by those who reported the scene: the location near Inkonjane Street in Mayibuye, the identification of the remains as stillborn twins, the reaction of community members, and the response by law enforcement.
SAPS forms specialised task team and warns women after four bodies found in Kempton Park area over two months
The South African Police Service has intensified investigations and issued a public safety warning to women in and around Kempton Park, Gauteng, particularly the Rhodesfield area, after the bodies of four women were discovered in the same vicinity over a period of approximately two months. The most recent body was found on Saturday evening, 12 September 2026.
Detectives have identified concerning similarities in the circumstances of the deaths. According to police, the bodies were found half-naked with visible bruising, and the discovery sites are located within the same general area. At this stage, SAPS has not confirmed that the deaths are linked or that they are the work of a serial killer. However, the similarities have been judged serious enough to warrant both a public warning and an escalation of the investigation.
Women in the Kempton Park area have been urged not to walk or run alone, especially in isolated or secluded places. Police advise remaining vigilant and, where possible, travelling or exercising in groups. The safety of women has been described as a priority, with authorities stating they will not wait for further incidents before taking decisive action.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has directed the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner to establish a dedicated multidisciplinary task team without delay. The team will investigate the cases and determine whether links exist between the incidents. It will include detectives from specialised units such as the Murder and Robbery Unit and the Investigative Psychology Unit, along with other relevant disciplines and resources needed to advance the probe urgently.
The task team is to be led by Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General Mbuso Khumalo. He has been instructed to pursue all investigative avenues and ensure that no stone is left unturned in identifying those responsible.
SAPS is appealing for information from the public, particularly residents, motorists, security personnel and community members who may have observed suspicious activity in Rhodesfield and surrounding areas. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249. Information can also be provided anonymously via the MySAPS application.
In a related development, police have been searching for 38-year-old Elizabeth Mokolo Moselakgomo, also known as “Tsontso”, who went missing after leaving her Kempton Park home for an afternoon run on Wednesday, 10 September 2026. She left behind her eight-year-old daughter, who contacted family when her mother did not return that evening. Moselakgomo was last reported seen between approximately 17:30 and 18:30 on Mustang Street in Rhodesfield. Police conducted searches and made enquiries at hospitals and mortuaries, with no positive results reported at the time of the intensified appeal for information.
The family of the missing woman has indicated that a body discovered on Saturday evening could not be identified by them due to the extent of facial injuries. Formal identification was expected to take place at the Germiston mortuary on Monday. One report noted that the most recent body found was allegedly wearing sports gear. The identity of that body had not been publicly confirmed at the time of reporting.
SAPS has stated that specialised resources have been mobilised to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to bring those responsible to justice. Investigations remain ongoing.
Eight people, including two minors, killed in head-on collision on N17 between Ermelo and Davel
Eight people died in a head-on collision involving two sedans on the N17 toll road between Ermelo and Davel in Mpumalanga early on Sunday morning, 13 September 2026. The crash occurred near the Ermelo Toll Plaza at approximately 1:30am.
The vehicles involved were a Toyota sedan and a Volkswagen sedan. Seven of the deceased were occupants of the Volkswagen sedan. The eighth victim was the sole occupant and driver of the Toyota sedan. The fatalities comprised six adults and two minors. Both drivers were among those killed. No other injuries were reported.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison is investigating the circumstances of the collision. The cause has not yet been determined. Officials have stated that reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out at this stage.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie extended condolences to the families of the deceased. Macie urged motorists to obey the rules of the road, adjust driving according to prevailing weather and road conditions, and exercise greater vigilance, particularly when visibility is reduced.
Emergency personnel remained at the scene following the incident. Further details, including the identities of the victims, have not been released. The investigation continues.
E-hailing drivers in Cape Town continue to face armed robberies
E-hailing drivers operating in Cape Town, particularly in areas of the Cape Flats including Mitchells Plain and surrounding suburbs, remain frequent targets of armed robbery. Multiple incidents reported in 2025 and 2026 show a consistent pattern: drivers respond to trip requests, pick up passengers who then produce firearms or knives, and are robbed of cellphones, cash, and other belongings.
One well-documented case occurred on the evening of 25 April 2026 in Pers Road, Parkwood. An e-hailing driver accepted a pick-up request. Two men entered the vehicle. Shortly into the trip, the passenger in the back seat produced a firearm and held it against the driver’s neck while the front passenger took the driver’s cellphone and cash. Dashcam footage of the robbery circulated widely on social media. Grassy Park police opened a case of robbery with a firearm. Two suspects, aged 20 and 28, were later arrested and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court.
In another incident on 28 July 2026 in Klip Road, Lotus River, a Bolt driver stopped to collect a passenger. The passenger and at least one accomplice threatened the driver with a firearm and robbed him of his cellphone and a black hoodie. Grassy Park police confirmed they were investigating a case of robbery with a firearm. Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala stated that the 25-year-old driver had responded to a ride request and was robbed by unknown male suspects on arrival.
Similar robberies have been recorded in other Cape Town areas. On Christmas Eve 2024, an e-hailing driver was robbed in the Rylands area of Athlone by a group of youngsters. Dashcam footage showed the suspects demanding cash and valuables, with one threatening the driver with a knife. Some of the suspects were later arrested in Mitchells Plain. Police and city officials confirmed the arrests and linked some of the individuals to a local gang.
These cases reflect a broader pattern. Drivers are often targeted precisely because they respond to app-based trip requests and arrive at locations without knowing who is waiting. In many incidents the suspects board the vehicle as ordinary passengers before producing weapons. Cellphones are among the most commonly stolen items. In some cases vehicles are also taken.
Police routinely open cases of robbery with a firearm or related charges when these incidents are reported. Arrests have occurred in several cases, particularly when dashcam or cellphone footage is shared publicly and leads to identification of suspects. However, many investigations remain open, and drivers and industry representatives continue to raise concerns about the frequency of attacks.
E-hailing drivers and representatives have publicly described certain areas as high-risk and have advised colleagues to decline trips to locations they consider unsafe. Industry figures have called for stronger coordination between platforms and law enforcement, noting that existing safety measures are often reactive. New national regulations under the National Land Transport Amendment Act have introduced requirements aimed at improving safety for both drivers and passengers, including provisions related to panic buttons, though the impact of these measures is still developing.
E-hailing driver manages to fight firearm off thug who attempted to hijack his vehicle pic.twitter.com/RShafL69aw
— PrimeTime News (@PrimeTimeNewsZA) September 12, 2026
The incidents underscore the ongoing risks faced by people working in the e-hailing sector in Cape Town. While some arrests have been made and cases are under investigation, armed robberies of drivers continue to be reported across multiple suburbs.
Three Killed in Head-On Collision Involving Minibus Taxi and Bakkie on N1 Near Leeu-Gamka
Three people died and six others were injured in a head-on collision on the N1 national road outside Leeu-Gamka in the Western Cape Karoo on Friday morning, 11 September 2026.
The crash occurred at approximately 09:30 on the section of the N1 outside Leeu-Gamka in the direction of Beaufort West. Two vehicles were involved: a minibus taxi travelling towards Beaufort West and a Nissan NP200 bakkie travelling in the opposite direction.
According to police, the bakkie burst into flames following the impact. Emergency services recovered the bodies of two occupants from the burned-out wreckage of the bakkie. A woman who had been travelling in the minibus taxi was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
Six other occupants of the taxi sustained injuries and were transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Christopher Spies confirmed that police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. “Six other victims were transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The cause of the accident is yet to be established, and it forms part of the ongoing police investigation. The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed,” Spies said.
Leeu-Gamka police are handling the investigation. The exact circumstances that led to the collision remain under inquiry, with no further details released on the sequence of events or contributing factors at this stage.
Emergency services, including police, paramedics and other response units, attended the scene. The identities of the three deceased persons have not been released pending formal identification and notification of next of kin.
The incident took place on a stretch of the N1 that runs through the Karoo region between Leeu-Gamka and Beaufort West. Officials have not indicated any prolonged road closures beyond the initial response and clearance operations.
Police continue to investigate the cause of the collision. No arrests have been reported.
Three suspects, including Grade 11 learner, arrested after tuckshop owner’s body found near Fouriesburg
Three men aged 18, 23 and 26 have been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of a foreign national who operated a tuckshop in Mashaeng township near Fouriesburg in the Free State. The youngest suspect is a Grade 11 learner. All three are from Mashaeng.
Police from the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Operational Crime Combatting Unit made the arrests within approximately 12 hours of the discovery of the victim’s body. The 18-year-old was arrested at his school in Mashaeng. That arrest led investigators to the two older suspects, also from the same township. During the arrests, officers recovered 27 rounds of live ammunition from one of the men.
The suspects face charges of kidnapping, murder and theft of a motor vehicle. One faces an additional charge of unlawful possession of ammunition. They were expected to appear in the Fouriesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 11 September 2026.
The body was discovered at about 09:00 on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, by a community member near Uitkyk Farm, roughly five kilometres outside Fouriesburg along the R26 road towards Ficksburg. Officers found the deceased covered with a large white recycling bag and hidden among trees in a fenced camp beside the road. The man was wearing blood-stained clothing. His sibling, who lives in Fouriesburg, later identified the body.
According to police, the victim lived alone in a rented property and ran a tuckshop in Mashaeng. His brother last saw him on Sunday, 6 September 2026, after the two attended a church service in Bethlehem. On Tuesday, 8 September, the brother became concerned when he found the man was not at home and that his white Toyota Hilux bakkie, which carried Free State registration plates, was missing. He reported the disappearance to the local police station.
Further investigation established that the stolen bakkie had allegedly been sold in Gauteng.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thabang Lesia praised the investigators for their swift and excellent work. He urged officers to continue enforcing the law and ensuring that those responsible for crimes are brought to justice. The investigation into the circumstances of the alleged kidnapping, murder and vehicle theft remains ongoing.
The case is being handled by Free State police. No further details on the exact cause of death or motive have been released publicly at this stage.
Taxi crashes near African Bank in Stanger (KwaDukuza), KwaZulu-Natal
A minibus taxi was involved in a crash near an African Bank branch in Stanger (also known as KwaDukuza), KwaZulu-Natal, on the morning of 11 September 2026. Taurus Medical and Security Services responded to the scene.
Reports and images from the scene show a white Toyota Quantum minibus taxi that came to rest in a tilted/overturned position against a railing adjacent to a set of stairs in a commercial area with shops and businesses. Debris is visible around the vehicle. Members of the public gathered at the location.
Arrive Alive reported the incident under the heading “Taxi crash by African Bank,” noting that Taurus Medical and Security Services were on scene. Separate traffic and media accounts confirmed the location as by African Bank in Stanger and the presence of Taurus EMS.
At the time of the initial reports (early morning of 11 September 2026), no official confirmation of the number of occupants, injuries, fatalities, exact cause, or sequence of events had been widely released. Emergency services were attending the scene. Further details from authorities, including the South African Police Service or provincial traffic officials, were not immediately available in public updates.
Stanger/KwaDukuza is a town on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The crash occurred in a built-up commercial zone featuring shops and medical practices. The vehicle involved is a standard minibus taxi of the type commonly used for public transport in South Africa.
As with all such incidents, investigations into the circumstances typically follow standard procedures involving emergency medical response, scene clearance, and subsequent inquiries by relevant authorities. Motorists and the public in the area were advised through traffic channels of the active scene.
This account is based solely on contemporaneous reports from Arrive Alive, on-scene responder mentions, and visual documentation shared in connection with the incident. Additional official updates on casualties, vehicle condition, or contributing factors may be released as the response and investigation progress.
