Ottawa, KZN – A homeowner on Munn Road discovered a brass vase missing from their property following an early morning intrusion by an unknown individual on Tuesday.
The incident prompted the resident to contact Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) for support. Upon arrival, RUSA officers spoke with the homeowner, who detailed the circumstances surrounding the theft.
At around 06:30, the resident was indoors with a family member. Another household member had temporarily departed after taking a child to school, leaving the gate partially ajar to permit entry for the domestic worker.
Security camera recordings captured a male suspect strolling along the road while holding a two-plate electric stove. He was wearing a black short-sleeved T-shirt and black track pants featuring a white stripe down each side.
The footage showed the man initially passing the residence before setting down the stove and turning back to access the yard via the open gate. He subsequently left the premises with a sizable brass vase that had been positioned on the balcony. The vase was fractured into two sections prior to its removal.
The residents remained inside the home during the event and did not realize the theft had taken place until later.
[WATCH] Two hijackers panel-beaten by community members—even law enforcement officers couldn’t save them.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, spanning October to December, South Africa recorded 4,420 carjacking incidents, marking an 8.1% decrease from the 4,807 cases reported in the same period of 2024. This equates to an average of 48 vehicles hijacked daily across the country. Despite the national decline, Gauteng province accounted for 2,544 of these cases, representing more than half of all reported hijackings and maintaining its status as the primary hotspot. Other provinces experienced varying reductions, with the Eastern Cape showing the largest drop at nearly 31%, followed by Mpumalanga at 20.5%, the Western Cape at 16.9%, Limpopo with 18 fewer incidents, and KwaZulu-Natal at 10.7%.
Within Gauteng, specific police precincts reported the highest numbers of hijackings. Mamelodi East in Tshwane saw 82 cases, up from 59 the previous year, making it the national leader in carjackings. Other prominent Gauteng hotspots include Ivory Park, Akasia, Jabulani, Moroka, Olievenhoutbosch, Pretoria West, Sandringham, Vosloorus, and Tembisa. In the Western Cape, key areas encompass Nyanga, Delft, Lingelethu West, Mfuleni, Harare, and Philippi East, with the province recording 694 incidents in the third quarter of the 2024/2025 period. KwaZulu-Natal hotspots consist of Durban Central, Umlazi, Bhekithemba, and Inanda, totaling 599 cases in the same quarter. Emerging high-risk zones include Mpumalanga, particularly eMalahleni (Witbank), and the Eastern Cape, where hijackings have shown rapid growth, with a 4:1 hijacking-to-theft ratio indicating organized crime involvement.
Hijackings frequently occur in everyday settings that require routine civilian presence. Residential driveways, traffic lights, shopping centre parking areas, quiet suburban streets, and petrol stations are common locations for these incidents. Data indicates that most hijackings take place on Fridays between 4pm and 9pm, with a noted shift toward daytime and business-hour attacks in recent years. In urban centres such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town, criminals often target vehicles at or near residences and places of work. For instance, in Gauteng’s Ivory Park, the high population density and traffic congestion along transit corridors between Midrand and Tembisa facilitate hijackings.
The persistence of these hotspots necessitates ongoing vigilance from South African residents in their daily routines. In the first quarter of 2025, national hijackings totaled 4,533, down 15.1% from the previous year, yet still averaging about 50 vehicles per day. Provinces like Gauteng, with 2,605 cases in the first quarter of 2024/2025, highlight the concentrated risk in populated areas. Tracker’s crime data for January to June 2025 shows Mpumalanga as an increasing hotspot for business-owned vehicles, which are 48% more likely to be targeted than personal cars. In the Eastern Cape, an 8:1 hijacking-to-theft ratio underscores the prevalence of violent takeovers in early 2025.
Residents in hotspots like Mamelodi East, where hijackings rose 80% from 36 in 2024 to 65 in 2025, must maintain heightened awareness during commutes and at home. Nationally, around 222,000 households experienced motor vehicle theft in the past five years, with a 2.5% year-on-year increase in hijackings reported in some periods. In Gauteng’s Midrand, Honeydew, and Roodepoort, the highest numbers of hijackings were recorded in early 2025, affecting access to commercial and residential zones. Specific intersections in Pretoria, such as the corners of Kelvin Street and CR Swart, Pretoria Road and CR Swart, and Elgin Road and Pretoria Road, are identified as recurrent sites.
These statistics reflect the ongoing need for civilians to adapt their behaviors in high-risk areas, with Gauteng districts dominating 21 of the top 30 national stations for carjackings.
In the third quarter of 2025, murder, carjacking, and kidnapping rates highlighted Gauteng and the Western Cape as the most affected regions. Overall, four provinces—Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga—bear the highest hijacking pressure, with an average of 50 daily incidents nationwide in recent quarters.
Learners Injured in Dawn Park Minibus Collision Involving Scholar Transport
Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni – A collision between a minibus carrying school learners and another vehicle occurred at a bustling intersection in Dawn Park during the morning commute on Tuesday, resulting in injuries to several children.
Ekurhuleni metropolitan authorities confirmed that their emergency response teams and traffic officers arrived quickly at the scene. Metro police personnel were present at the location prior to the incident, managing traffic signals amid heavy flow.
The minibus, which was en route from Leondale to Katlehong, was involved in the crash that prompted an immediate call for medical assistance. Injured learners received prompt attention from paramedics and were transported to local medical facilities for care. Among those hurt, one child sustained serious injuries, according to initial reports.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department emphasized the importance of road safety, particularly during peak hours, and advised drivers to remain vigilant. An investigation into the factors contributing to the accident is currently underway.
As of now, the Gauteng Department of Education has not released any official comments on the matter. Officials from Ekurhuleni indicated that further details will be shared once a complete assessment of all involved learners is finalized.
Note: Images related to the incident have been edited to obscure graphic elements, prioritizing ethical coverage of events affecting minors.
Fatal Shootout in Inanda: Police Eliminate Two Dangerous Suspects in KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, March 10, 2026 – In a high-stakes confrontation, law enforcement officers in KwaZulu-Natal engaged in a firefight that resulted in the deaths of two suspects in the Inanda area earlier today. The incident unfolded as police teams closed in on the individuals, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Authorities recovered two firearms from the scene following the shootout. One of the deceased has been identified as a key figure connected to more than ten homicide investigations, with ties to a killing that occurred just this past weekend. The second suspect was his associate, and both are suspected of belonging to a well-known criminal syndicate operating in the region.
The encounter took place in the Mzomusha section of Inanda, where the suspects were cornered by a coordinated police effort. This operation highlighted the dangers faced by officers in combating organized crime in high-risk zones.
The joint action involved multiple specialized units from the South African Police Service (SAPS), including the Provincial Tracing Team, the Inanda SAPS Task Team, the Sydenham SAPS Trio Task Team, and SAPS KZN Crime Intelligence. Support was also provided by private security firm SA Tactical Enforcement, demonstrating a collaborative approach to tackling violent offenders.
This event underscores ongoing efforts by KZN police to address gang-related violence and murder rates in communities like Inanda, where such groups have instilled fear among residents. No officers were reported injured during the operation.
Drunk Pedestrian Injured in Vehicle Collision on Oakford Road
Oakford, KZN – A 36-year-old man was injured after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Oakford Road in Oakford, KwaZulu-Natal.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) personnel arrived at the scene following reports of the incident. Upon assessment, they determined that the pedestrian had been hit by a blue Ford Fiesta.
Allegations indicate that the man was intoxicated with alcohol during the event. He suffered head injuries as a result of the collision.
The injured individual was taken to a hospital via private transport for medical treatment.
No injuries were reported among the people in the Ford Fiesta.
Tragic Death of Young Cancer Survivor in Ekurhuleni Home
Wattville, Ekurhuleni – A 10-year-old boy, Tshepang Lihlabi, was found dead in his family home on Sigcawu Street after suffering a fatal throat wound. The incident occurred on March 5, 2026, when Tshepang returned from school.
Tshepang had overcome cancer two years earlier through surgery and chemotherapy. He was known as an intelligent student who served as a public speaker at his school and played soccer for Millerni United FC in Wattville.
His mother, Puseletso Mochesane, who works as a general assistant at the same school, had spoken with him shortly before he left for soccer practice that day. She was later summoned home due to an emergency and discovered her son’s body in his bedroom, surrounded by blood. Bloodstains were also present on the kitchen fridge door and carpet.
A 32-year-old man, identified as Tshepang’s half-brother, was arrested at the scene while in possession of a bloodstained knife. Police reported that the suspect attempted to seize Tshepang’s sister following the attack, but she managed to escape and alert others by screaming outside.
Tshepang’s father, Thabo Lihlabi, noted that the suspect had been a trusted relative within the family. He observed that the man’s eyes appeared unusually intense after the event.
Authorities from Actonville Police Station opened a murder investigation upon arriving at the home, where they confirmed the visible injury to the boy’s throat. Police spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobobela stated that the suspect is set to appear in court on a murder charge.
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Three Alleged Hitmen Fatally Shot in Mpumalanga Confrontation
In the Piet Retief area of Mpumalanga, three men believed to be hitmen were killed during a shootout with law enforcement. KwaZulu-Natal police officers and private security personnel intercepted the suspects as they traveled in a blue Isuzu bakkie along the Houdkop border road. Reports indicate the men were heading to perform an assassination. The suspects initiated gunfire toward the officers, resulting in their deaths during the ensuing exchange. Two firearms have been seized from the site.
This event underscores the persistent problem of targeted killings in South Africa, where assassinations by hired hitmen have become a notable feature of organized crime. Between 2000 and 2021, 1,965 assassination cases were recorded, with a peak in 2018 linked to taxi violence and organized crime in provinces like Gauteng and Western Cape. In 2022, 141 assassinations occurred, averaging more than two per week, though this figure is likely an undercount due to limited data sources. Taxi-related killings account for 46% of cases since 2000, followed by organized crime at 26% and politically motivated incidents at 21%. KwaZulu-Natal province experiences high rates of such violence, driven by political factionalism and taxi route disputes. Over 1,000 political assassinations have been documented since 2012, with 70% connected to politics and the taxi industry. Hitmen are often recruited from the minibus taxi sector, established criminal gangs, and even state security officials. Firearms used in these crimes frequently include thousands of lost or stolen South African Police Service weapons.
Everyday civilians in South Africa face significant challenges from this violence, which instills widespread fear and silences communities. Targeted killings undermine state credibility, the rule of law, and result in the loss of expertise when professionals are murdered. They disrupt governance, affect service delivery, and threaten democratic processes by allowing criminal networks to influence political outcomes. Low murder solve rates, around 15%, contribute to a sense of impunity among perpetrators. Bystanders are often caught in crossfire, exacerbating community destabilization. In townships, residents live under the control of crime bosses who provide patronage but enforce fear, limiting the ability to speak out or access safe public services.
