Dullstroom, Mpumalanga — A group attending a bachelor party in the highland town clashed with another gathering on Saturday, triggering a violent brawl that involved a dildo used as a weapon, flying bar furniture, and gunfire that wounded two men.
The confrontation began at a newly opened restaurant in Dullstroom, where members of one bachelor party — visitors from Johannesburg — brought dildos and a blow-up doll. The items caused friction with other patrons, including families present, after the doll was reportedly left exposed. Staff and locals asked the group to leave.
A separate group, celebrating two birthdays, had also been at the venue but left to avoid further issues and moved to another local bar and restaurant. Both groups later converged at the second venue.
There, a member of the bachelor party slapped a patron from the birthday group in the face with a penis-shaped toy. Fists flew immediately, and the fight escalated into a melee with bar stools and other furniture thrown. The brawl spilled outside into the street and parking area.
In the chaos, a man from the bachelor party drew a licensed firearm and fired at least four shots. Two men from the opposing group were hit — one in the stomach and one in the lower back. Both were treated at Life Midmed Hospital and discharged the following day, though one required additional medical follow-up.
The shooter and his associates fled the scene in a bakkie. Pursuers from the other group followed, leading to a separate confrontation at a nearby filling station. There, members of a third unrelated bachelor party — also visiting Dullstroom that weekend — were mistakenly targeted, pushed, and accused of involvement. No firearms were present in that altercation, and police who arrived dispersed the groups.
Farmwatch members used security camera footage to track the shooter to a guest farm near Tondeldoos. He was arrested without resistance on Sunday morning and handed over his weapon. Mpumalanga police initially opened two attempted murder cases, but the charges were dropped after the victims did not immediately provide formal statements. The suspect was released, and his firearm was seized for ballistic testing.
The South African Police Service confirmed the release and stated the investigation remains open. The victims have indicated they will report the matter formally with legal representatives.
Three bachelor parties were in Dullstroom over the weekend. Video footage of the initial brawl at the Coachman restaurant’s Saloon Bar has circulated, showing the furniture-throwing chaos that preceded the shooting.
No further arrests have been reported, and the town’s residents have expressed concern over the disruption to the normally quiet tourist spot.
[WATCH] Private security guard confronts hijackers at gun point saving woman from a terrifying experience.
South Africa’s private security sector has recorded sustained expansion, with 637,675 active and registered security officers as of 31 March 2025. This figure reflects a 10 percent year-on-year increase from 577,444 active officers reported in the previous financial year. The total number of registered security officers across the country stands at 2,921,316, of whom approximately 22 percent remain active in employment.
The number of active private security businesses reached 17,146 by the same date, marking a 13 percent rise from 15,113 the prior year. Overall registered businesses totalled 22,015. These statistics come directly from the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) Annual Report for the 2024/25 financial year.
For context on scale, the South African Police Service (SAPS) reported a total workforce establishment of 187,681 personnel in its 2024/25 Annual Report. Official analyses indicate that one SAPS officer serves roughly 417 citizens, based on the national population and frontline deployment data. Private security officers therefore outnumber SAPS personnel by a substantial margin and exceed the combined strength of the police and military.
Longer-term growth underscores the trend. Active security personnel rose more than 400 percent since 1997, when the figure stood at 115,331. Registered private security businesses increased by 86 percent between 2014 and 2023, climbing from 8,144 to 15,113 before further expansion in the subsequent period. The sector’s active workforce has grown 53 percent since 2015.
PSIRA generated R711 million in revenue during 2024/25, a 17 percent increase from R608 million the year before. This income derives primarily from annual fees (39 percent), course reports (23 percent), and registration fees (18 percent), yielding a surplus of R115 million.
Regulatory oversight remains rigorous. PSIRA conducted 52,708 compliance inspections between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, an 11 percent rise from the previous year. These included 9,080 inspections at security businesses and 43,628 at officers’ deployment sites. The inspections identified instances of non-compliance, leading to withdrawals and suspensions of registrations where officers or businesses failed to meet training or registration standards. A total of 993 instructors were accredited during the year, and 239 training providers received approval, supporting professional standards across the industry.
The sector operates under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act and functions as an “indispensable partner in protecting communities and a force multiplier in the fight against crime through strategic collaboration with law enforcement agencies.” Joint operations with stakeholders, including SAPS, increased to 142 during the review period and resulted in 1,265 arrests (746 foreign nationals and 519 South African citizens). PSIRA’s own law enforcement division recorded 1,837 arrests, more than double the previous year’s total.
Private security providers maintain close working relationships with SAPS through a national consultative forum established in 2016. These partnerships extend to investigations involving unregistered officers, illegal firearms, and immigration matters. Security officers are deployed in guarding services, armed response units, and monitoring roles, enabling rapid intervention at residential estates, commercial premises, and public events where incidents occur.
Additional contributions include participation in community safety forums and research-supported initiatives examining the deterrent effect of security vehicles and lighting on crime. Studies referenced in regulatory reporting highlight the sector’s proximity to incidents and rapid response capabilities as factors supplementing police efforts, particularly in cases involving gender-based violence.
Private sector expenditure on security services, encompassing estates, businesses, and individuals, reached R60 billion in 2024. This investment supports a range of services including electronic monitoring, fleet tracking, and physical guarding, all delivered by regulated and trained personnel.
PSIRA continues to process high volumes of training documentation—892,189 course reports were handled in the period—and has implemented online systems to improve registration turnaround times and data integrity. Counter-terrorism training modules are being prepared for officers assigned to critical infrastructure sites, addressing evolving threats alongside traditional crime.
While overall national crime statistics remain a matter for SAPS reporting, the documented growth in active private security personnel, business registrations, compliance activity, and collaborative arrests demonstrates the sector’s measurable presence and operational integration within South Africa’s safety framework. The industry’s regulated structure, training accreditation processes, and partnership outcomes provide a factual basis for its established role in supplementing public policing resources.
North West Father Remanded in Custody Following Alleged Murder of Two Young Sons Near Groot Marico
Groot Marico – Police in the North West province are investigating the deaths of two toddler brothers whose bodies were discovered in bushes next to a river at Skuinsdrift-Tshwaro Farms outside Groot Marico.
On Saturday afternoon, 7 March 2026, officers responded to the scene after receiving reports of the lifeless bodies. The victims were identified as one-year-old Reabetswe Masiangwa and his three-year-old brother Lesedi. Both children had sustained multiple injuries. Emergency and medical rescue services attended the scene and declared the boys dead on arrival.
According to North West police spokesperson Sergeant Kelebogile Morake, preliminary information indicates that the 35-year-old father of the boys, Afentseng Motlhanke, had collected the children from their grandmother earlier that day while their mother was attending church. Reports further state that an argument had taken place between the parents prior to the incident, during which Motlhanke allegedly threatened to kill the children.
With assistance from local community members, police traced and arrested Motlhanke on Sunday, 8 March 2026.
Motlhanke made his first court appearance in the Groot Marico Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 10 March 2026, facing two counts of murder. The case was postponed to 17 March 2026 for a formal bail application, and the accused was remanded in custody.
Acting provincial commissioner of the North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, welcomed the arrest and noted the swift collaboration between police and the community that led to the suspect being traced and detained.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths continues.
Tragic School Stabbing in Khutsong Leaves Grade 9 Learner Dead
KHUTSONG – A 16-year-old Grade 9 learner has been fatally stabbed at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, prompting the Gauteng Department of Education to immediately deploy psychosocial support services to the affected school community.
The incident took place on Thursday morning when a fight erupted between two learners on the school premises. A 17-year-old Grade 10 learner allegedly stabbed the younger pupil during the altercation, leaving the victim critically injured.
The wounded Grade 9 learner was rushed to a nearby clinic for emergency treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed that the department has dispatched a dedicated psychosocial support unit to Badirile Secondary School. Counselling sessions for learners and educators impacted by the tragedy are scheduled to begin on Friday.
Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of the stabbing. In the meantime, the school has initiated its own internal disciplinary procedures.
The Gauteng Department of Education has appealed to parents to partner with schools in efforts to prevent violence among learners, emphasising that such incidents carry devastating and far-reaching consequences.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the 17-year-old suspect has been arrested.
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Armed Robbery Suspects Captured in Phoenix Operation
Phoenix, South Africa – Authorities have broken up a group linked to several armed robberies in the Phoenix region after a joint effort by KZN VIP and SAPS Phoenix officers on Wednesday morning.
Over recent months, KZN VIP and SAPS Phoenix gathered intelligence and followed leads from community reports of armed robberies happening in the mornings throughout Phoenix.
Using this information and tracking methods, teams identified the suspects’ vehicle, which directed them to a scrapyard in Trenance Manor.
Officers moved in quickly, arresting two suspects, though a third escaped and is still being pursued.
The captured individuals were recognized by robbery victims and had stolen items from those incidents in their possession.
A toy gun was discovered in the vehicle, reportedly used to scare victims during the crimes.
Investigators noted that the vehicle’s license plates had been taken off, possibly to evade identification during the offenses.
This action demonstrates the continued partnership between KZN VIP and SAPS Phoenix in addressing crime and safeguarding residents.
KZN VIP continues its efforts to fight crime and partner with police for community protection.
For emergencies, contact KZN VIP Emergency Control Centre at 031 502 3456 or 067 712 7976 (WhatsApp emergencies only).
