Rustenburg, North West – February 16, 2026 – A cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle was targeted in a robbery on Kremetart Avenue near the cemetery in Rustenburg on Monday afternoon. Video footage circulating on social media shows armed suspects engaging in a shootout, with gunfire audible in the clip.
South African Police Service (SAPS) members arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was reported, where they secured the area and initiated investigations. No immediate details on casualties, the amount of cash involved, or arrests have been released by authorities. Motorists and local residents have been advised to steer clear of the vicinity and to report any suspicious activity to the police.
This event marks another in a series of CIT attacks that have plagued the North West province, a region that has recorded multiple such incidents in recent years. In November 2025, for instance, a failed heist in the Rustenburg central business district on Fatima Bhayat Street ended with one suspect fatally shooting himself after being wounded in the leg during a confrontation with security officers from a Fidelity cash van. Police launched a manhunt for accomplices following that attack.
Earlier, in July 2025, a CIT robbery in Waterfall East, Rustenburg, saw suspects flee the scene after targeting a vehicle, prompting public reports of looting at the crime site as bystanders tampered with the area. Law enforcement urged the community to avoid interfering to allow for proper investigations.
Nationwide, CIT robberies have shown a measurable decline in 2025, according to data from the Cash-in-Transit Association of South Africa (Citasa). A total of 180 incidents were documented from January to December 21, 2025, representing a 13% drop compared to the same period in 2024. Despite this reduction, the tactics employed by criminals have grown more violent, with increased use of explosives to breach armoured vehicles, vehicle ramming to force confrontations, and sustained gunfire that endangers not only security crews but also nearby civilians.
Provincial breakdowns highlight shifting hotspots. In 2025, Gauteng led with the highest number of CIT attacks, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, which accounted for a significant share—up to 34% in early-year figures. The Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and North West have also featured prominently, with North West seeing consistent activity amid broader efforts to combat aggravated robberies.
South African Police Service crime statistics for the first half of 2025 (April to September) further reflect progress in some categories, recording 24 CIT heists compared to 40 in the same period of 2024—a 40% decrease. This aligns with intensified operations like Project Shanela, which have involved multidisciplinary teams, including flying squads and provincial task forces, to disrupt organised crime networks behind these heists.
Industry experts note that while the overall frequency has dipped—attributed to better intelligence sharing between private security firms and SAPS—the financial toll remains substantial, with millions of rands lost annually and a push toward cashless systems accelerating in response. In the North West, collaborative arrests have followed several incidents, such as a November 2024 heist on the R104 road near Kroondal, where a suspect was detained in Tlhabane for possession of hijacked vehicles linked to the crime.
As investigations into Monday’s Rustenburg robbery continue, SAPS has reiterated calls for public vigilance. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in securing cash movements across South Africa’s roads, even as law enforcement reports gains in stemming the tide of these high-risk crimes.
Fourth Suspect Surrenders in Brutal Murder of Bolt Driver Isaac Satlat
Pretoria – The fourth and final suspect in the shocking murder of 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat has handed himself over to police in Atteridgeville, authorities confirmed on Monday afternoon.
The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where he will face charges of murder and car hijacking. He will join three co-accused already in custody: Dikeledi Tears Mphela (24), Goitsione Machidi (25), and McLaren Mushwana (30).
Earlier on Monday, the trio made their first court appearance, where they opted not to apply for bail. The case was postponed to February 23 to allow for further investigations.
Satlat, an engineering student, was strangled to death on February 11 after accepting a trip request through the Bolt app while operating in Pretoria West. The attack unfolded inside his vehicle, with dashcam footage capturing a woman and two men assaulting him – images that quickly went viral and triggered widespread outrage across South Africa.
His body and the hijacked car were later located abandoned in Atteridgeville.
Satlat’s family has launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate his remains to Nigeria. His father was reportedly hospitalised after viewing the body, amid the profound grief felt by relatives back home.
The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns around safety for e-hailing drivers, with supporters and fellow operators gathering outside the court demanding swift justice.
Investigations continue, with police emphasising that all four suspects are now accounted for in connection with the premeditated attack.
Two Suspects Appear in Court After Viral Video of Alleged Assault on Street Children in Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn, Western Cape – A 75-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman have been arrested and charged following the circulation of a viral video showing the alleged assault of three street children in Oudtshoorn.
The incident occurred on Friday, 13 February 2026, at the intersection of Van der Riet Street and Kruid Street. Video footage, which spread rapidly on social media, depicts a woman striking the children with what appears to be a plastic pipe. The children, described as street children, are seen crying during the altercation. Additional allegations indicate that one of the children was shot at with a paintball gun.
Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Oudtshoorn police opened a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm shortly after the video surfaced. The charges were later escalated to attempted murder due to the severity of the allegations, including the use of the paintball gun.
The suspects, identified as Johan Scholtz, 75, and Gerda Tait, 52, were arrested over the weekend. Scholtz was taken into custody on the day of the incident, while Tait was arrested on Sunday, 15 February. Both appeared in the Oudtshoorn Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 16 February 2026.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila stated that the pair faced three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The charge sheet details that the children were allegedly hit with a plastic pipe, with one sustaining a paintball gunshot to the body. The case was postponed to 23 February for a bail application.
The video sparked widespread outrage across South Africa, with many expressing shock at the treatment of the children. Community members and social media users called for swift justice, while some local residents noted prior complaints about the behaviour of street children in the area.
The matter has also been escalated to the South African Human Rights Commission for further investigation, amid concerns over child protection and public violence.
Police have appealed to the public for any additional information that could assist the investigation. Authorities emphasised that the case remains active and that the legal process must be allowed to unfold without interference.
This incident has highlighted broader issues around the safety and welfare of vulnerable children in South African communities, particularly in smaller towns like Oudtshoorn.
The suspects remain in custody pending the next court appearance.
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Police Seek 28-Year-Old in Connection with Philippi East Shebeen Massacre
Cape Town – Western Cape Serious and Violent Crime detectives are appealing for public assistance to locate 28-year-old Lonwabo Steven Dyasi, who is wanted in connection with the murders of nine people and the attempted murder of one more in a shooting at a shebeen in Philippi East.
A warrant for Dyasi’s arrest has been issued following the incident at an unlicensed drinking spot in the Marikana informal settlement.
The attack took place in the early hours of 17 January 2026 when three armed men entered the premises shortly after midnight and opened fire on people inside.
Six victims died at the scene. Three others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital, bringing the death toll to nine. At least one person was seriously wounded but survived.
While Dyasi remains at large, police have arrested a 19-year-old suspect in Worcester. He faces nine counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and has appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court.
Anyone with information that could lead to Dyasi’s arrest is urged to contact Detective Constable Sibusiso Manqindi on 072 980 2764 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
