Welkom, Free State – Authorities are investigating a child abduction that occurred on February 28, 2026, in Welkom, where surveillance footage captured a man forcibly taking a child from a local store.
The incident unfolded in a shopping area, with CCTV recordings showing a white sedan arriving at the location around 6:35 AM local time. A man, wearing a cap and blue jacket, exited the vehicle and entered the store. Inside, the footage depicts the individual approaching the child, who was accompanied by an adult, before grabbing and removing the child despite visible distress. The child appeared frightened during the ordeal, which lasted under a minute before the suspect departed with the victim.
No official details have been released by the South African Police Service regarding the child’s age, gender, or identity, nor has there been confirmation on whether the child has been located. The event was first highlighted through social media alerts, prompting community warnings to remain vigilant.
This case adds to ongoing concerns about child safety in the region, though specific connections to prior incidents remain unconfirmed.
Residents are urged to report any relevant information to local authorities or organizations like Missing Children South Africa.
Five Suspects Arrested, Hijacking Victim Rescued in Midrand Incident
Midrand, South Africa – Authorities arrested five suspects and rescued a male hijacking victim following a shooting incident in Midrand on Friday, February 27, 2026.
The events unfolded around 18:50 when a female community member observed a man being forced into a Kia vehicle and alerted police to the direction of travel. Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Gauteng Highway Patrol, conducting routine patrols in a marked vehicle, pursued the suspects after locating the Kia.
A high-speed chase ensued, culminating in the interception of the vehicle. Upon inspection, officers discovered the five suspects and the victim inside. The victim had been hijacked earlier while on his delivery motorbike.
All five suspects were taken into custody. The rescued victim is currently receiving medical treatment. One suspect was transported to a hospital under police guard due to a medical condition.
Police recovered two firearms from the vehicle, which will undergo ballistic testing as part of the investigation. The case remains under investigation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Confirmed Dead Following US-Israeli Strikes
Tehran, Iran – March 1, 2026 – Iranian state media has officially confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel. The announcement marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Khamenei, aged 86, had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, overseeing the Islamic Republic’s policies and governance for nearly four decades. State-run television channels, including IRIB, broadcast the news early Sunday, displaying archive footage of Khamenei accompanied by a black mourning banner. The statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council described Khamenei as having been “martyred” in a “joint attack by the criminal United States and the Zionist regime.”
The strikes, which began on Saturday morning local time, targeted key sites in Tehran and across Iran, including Khamenei’s compound. Reports indicate that the operation involved airstrikes on governmental and military installations, resulting in explosions and damage in multiple cities. Iranian officials reported that the attacks caused significant casualties, including among high-level figures.
In addition to Khamenei, state media confirmed that multiple relatives of the Supreme Leader were killed in the strikes, including his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. These losses were highlighted in official reports as part of the broader impact on Iran’s leadership.
Following the confirmation, Iran declared a 40-day period of national mourning, along with seven public holidays to honor Khamenei. Gatherings of mourners have been observed at significant sites, such as the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, where followers paid tribute to the late leader.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death prior to Iran’s official confirmation, posting on Truth Social that “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.” Trump described the event as “justice for the people of Iran” and reiterated calls for regime change in the country. The U.S. military stated that the strikes inflicted minimal damage on American installations in the region, with no reported U.S. casualties.
The operation, referred to in some reports as “Operation Epic Fury” and “Roaring Lion,” was a coordinated effort between U.S. and Israeli forces aimed at Iranian strategic sites. Israeli officials confirmed that the airstrike on Khamenei’s Tehran office was part of the assault.
In response, Iran has launched fresh strikes targeting U.S. bases in the region and conducted attacks on Israel and certain Arab states. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reported additional civilian casualties from the strikes, including over 50 deaths at a school in Tehran. The Israeli military is investigating these claims but has not provided further updates.
This development follows weeks of heightened tensions, with lobbying from Israel and Saudi Arabia influencing the U.S. decision to launch the operation. The strikes represent a major military action intended to disrupt Iran’s leadership and infrastructure, amid broader goals of achieving peace in the Middle East, as stated by Trump.
Reactions within Iran include expressions of grief among Khamenei’s supporters, while some Iranians have shown joy at the news, reflecting deep divisions in the country. Internationally, the event has prompted discussions about potential regime change and the future of Iran’s governance, with figures like Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince, being mentioned in relation to possible returns.
The U.S. has indicated that the attacks will continue as necessary to meet objectives. As the situation evolves, global attention remains focused on the implications for regional stability and international relations.
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Tragic Cash-in-Transit Heist in eMalahleni Leaves One Guard Dead and Two Bystanders Injured
eMalahleni, Mpumalanga – A daring cash-in-transit (CIT) heist unfolded this morning outside the Standard Bank branch in the central business district of eMalahleni, formerly known as Witbank, resulting in the death of a security guard and injuries to two innocent women. The incident, described as a cross-pavement robbery, involved armed assailants targeting security personnel as they transported cash across the pavement to the bank.
Eyewitness footage from the scene shows paramedics and police attending to the victims inside the shopping center housing the Standard Bank branch. The two women, who appear to be bystanders caught in the crossfire, were treated on the floor near the bank’s entrance, with medical personnel providing urgent care amid a chaotic environment. The security guard was fatally shot during the attack, marking a grim escalation in the ongoing issue of CIT robberies in the region.
The heist took place near prominent stores like Capitec and Pep, with video evidence capturing the immediate aftermath: injured individuals lying on the ground, surrounded by emergency responders in reflective vests, and cleaning equipment nearby as authorities secured the area. Crowds of onlookers gathered, some recording the scene on their phones, while police cordoned off sections of the mall to manage the situation.
In a swift development following the robbery, one suspect was apprehended by officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) near the Springs offramp. The man, believed to be involved in the heist, was found in possession of cash and firearms. Footage of the arrest depicts the suspect handcuffed and detained in the back of a police van, with officers in yellow vests inspecting a silver vehicle that had veered off the road into a grassy embankment. Additional vehicles, including white bakkies, were present at the arrest site, indicating a coordinated police response.
The outdoor scene at the bank included multiple police vehicles, some with visible damage such as shattered windows, lined up in the parking area. Traffic cones and tape were used to secure the perimeter, with officers directing bystanders and vehicles away from the vicinity.
Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances of the heist, including the number of suspects involved and whether additional arrests are forthcoming. No further details on the condition of the injured women have been released at this time, but the incident highlights the risks posed to both security personnel and the public during such attacks.
Local police responded to the scene within minutes of the robbery being reported, demonstrating a rapid deployment that led to the quick arrest of the suspect. The event has drawn attention to the persistent challenge of CIT heists in Mpumalanga, with calls for enhanced security measures around banking facilities in high-traffic areas.
