Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – A cash-in-transit vehicle was bombed and robbed by armed suspects near Midway Mall in Newlands West on Friday, 27 March 2026.
The incident occurred along a busy section of road close to the mall during daylight hours. Robbers targeted the van, detonated explosives to breach it, and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and valuables. ALS Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after the attack and advised motorists to avoid the area while emergency teams worked.
Video footage from the scene has emerged showing one of the suspects, believed to be part of the gang responsible for the bombing and robbery, confronting a security guard. In the clip, the suspect instructs the disarmed guard to squat under a vending gazebo. The guard is seen complying as the suspect issues the command.
No official confirmation has been released yet regarding the exact number of suspects involved or whether any injuries occurred during the heist. Paramedics have not reported any casualties at this stage, though the full extent of the situation remains under assessment.
The robbery follows a pattern of similar cash-in-transit attacks in the Durban area, where heavily armed groups have used explosives and firearms to overwhelm security vehicles in public spaces. Authorities are expected to investigate the use of jamming devices, high-calibre weapons, and the coordinated tactics observed.
The wrecked cash van remained at the scene as emergency services secured the area. Local traffic was disrupted in the immediate aftermath, with drivers urged to seek alternative routes.
Police have not yet issued a detailed statement on arrests or recovered items, but the investigation into the bombing, robbery, and related offences is underway. Further updates are anticipated as forensic teams process the site and review available footage.
This latest incident highlights ongoing security challenges for cash-in-transit operations in KwaZulu-Natal, with public spaces near shopping centres once again becoming targets for organised crime.
Three Farmers Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Premeditated Murder of Farm Dweller
Pretoria – The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, has sentenced three farmers to life imprisonment each after convicting them of the premeditated murder of Dumisani Phakathi, a farm dweller.
Jaco Wessels Kemp, 36, Louise Coetzee, 29, and Gert Frederik van der Westhuizen, 38, received the maximum sentence. The court also declared all three unfit to possess firearms and ordered them to surrender every firearm, all ammunition, licences, authorisations and permits to the investigating officer.
The murder took place on 16 September 2023 at a chicken farm in Mamokgalieskraal. At about 16:00 that afternoon the three were holding a braai when they noticed Phakathi walking past the farm gate. He was on his way to collect water from a nearby furrow that community members regularly used as a water source.
The three approached Phakathi and assaulted him. They then dragged him into a storage facility on the farm, where the assault continued until he died from his injuries.
In the early hours of 17 September 2023, at approximately 02:00, police stopped Kemp and Coetzee during a routine stop-and-search operation on the R511 towards Brits. The pair were driving a bakkie loaded with black refuse bags. Officers noticed human legs protruding from under the bags. A search revealed the bloodied body of Phakathi, his head covered in plastic. Kemp and Coetzee were arrested at the scene.
Van der Westhuizen handed himself over to police on 19 September 2023 after investigators linked him to the offence.
All three accused pleaded not guilty and attempted to shift blame onto one another. State Prosecutor Advocate Lawrence More presented evidence from State witnesses that proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
During mitigation of sentence, the accused asked the court to depart from the prescribed minimum sentence. They cited the time already spent in custody since their arrest and the fact that they have children to support. Advocate More argued against any leniency, stating that the three had killed Phakathi for no reason. He described the attack as inhumane and cruel, noting that the perpetrators placed the body in rubbish bags in an attempt to dump it.
Advocate More also read victim impact statements into the record. The sister of the deceased stated that she no longer trusts white people because of the incident.
In delivering sentence, the judge found that the accused showed no remorse. He noted there was no apparent reason for the killing and concluded that it was racially motivated.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the life sentences and repeated its commitment to ensuring accountability for violent crimes, particularly those committed against vulnerable members of society.
High-Speed Chase Ends in Arrests of Car Theft Suspects on R80
In the early hours of 24 March 2026, a coordinated operation involving South African Police Service (SAPS) units and private security companies resulted in the arrest of two suspects following a high-speed chase on the Mabopane Highway, also known as the R80, in Pretoria North.
The incident began when information was shared via the Sinoville Community Police Forum (CPF) group regarding suspects who were attempting to steal from a vehicle at a property in Annlin. The details were rapidly circulated among operational units, triggering an immediate response from law enforcement and security partners.
The suspected vehicle was spotted in the Wonderpark area. Authorities then initiated a pursuit. During the chase, the suspects drove the vehicle recklessly. They attempted to ram pursuing vehicles, including SAPS units, while endangering other road users.
The chase concluded on the R80 when the suspects lost control of their vehicle and crashed into nearby bushes. Two men were apprehended at the scene. No injuries were reported to the suspects or any other parties involved.
Units participating in the operation included SAPS Highway Patrol, SAPS Akasia, the K9 Unit, and multiple private security companies, among them the ProShield Tactical Unit. A blue VW Polo, believed to have been used in the commission of the crimes, was fitted with false registration plates and was seized along with the suspects.
Items recovered from the scene included signal jamming devices and other suspected stolen property. The blue VW Polo was also taken into possession.
SAPS spokesperson Johan van Dyk confirmed the details of the incident and stated that investigations are ongoing. Authorities are examining whether the arrested suspects can be linked to other theft-related cases in the area.
Mark Surgeon of the ProShield Tactical Unit noted that the vehicle was identified and pursued shortly after the initial alert. The operation underscored the role of rapid information sharing and collaboration between police, private security, and community structures in preventing further criminal activity.
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Driver Busted After Offering R10,000 Bribe to National Traffic Police Officer Over Dagga Possession
A National Traffic Police officer has arrested a driver on the spot after the motorist allegedly offered a R10,000 bribe in an attempt to avoid charges for being caught in possession of dagga.
According to details of the incident, the driver was pulled over and found with dagga in his possession. Instead of cooperating with the officer, the suspect reportedly tried to pay his way out of trouble by offering the cash bribe directly to the law enforcement official.
The National Traffic Police officer immediately refused the bribe and placed the driver under arrest without hesitation. The suspect was taken into custody at the scene for both the dagga possession and the attempted bribery.
The government has strongly condemned the incident and used the arrest to send a clear message to the public. In an official warning, authorities stated that anyone who tries to bribe a police officer should expect jail time.
The case highlights the zero-tolerance approach being applied to corruption within traffic enforcement operations. Officials have reiterated that all law enforcement members are expected to uphold the law without exception, regardless of the amount offered or the circumstances involved.
Investigations into the full details of the arrest are continuing, with the driver now facing multiple charges related to the dagga find and the bribery attempt. No further information on the suspect’s identity has been released at this stage.
