DURBAN – Police in KwaZulu-Natal have fatally shot four suspects during an operation at a suspected hideout in the Bellair area of Durban.
The incident occurred on Monday, 23 March 2026, when officers tracked the group, who were wanted in connection with business robberies, house robberies and kidnapping cases.
According to police details, officers spotted the suspects’ vehicle in the area and attempted to stop it. The suspects fled from the vehicle and took refuge inside a house that authorities identified as their hideout spot.
A shootout broke out during the police operation at the property. Four suspects were shot and killed. Two were fatally wounded inside the house, one was shot behind the house, and the fourth was shot in the bushes at the rear of the property.
One additional suspect managed to escape and remains at large.
Police recovered four firearms from the scene.
The operation formed part of ongoing efforts to apprehend the group linked to the series of robberies and kidnappings in the province. No further injuries to police members or members of the public were reported.
One-Year-Old Girl Fatally Struck by Minibus Taxi in Heideveld
HEIDELVELD – A one-year-old girl died after being run over by a minibus taxi outside her home in Grace Court, Heideveld, on Sunday, 22 March, at approximately 2:30pm.
The child suffered fatal injuries in the collision and was declared dead at the scene. Emergency services responded to the incident, but the toddler could not be revived.
Manenberg police have opened a case of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving following the accident. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that officers from the Manenberg station are actively probing the matter. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the incident to contact Manenberg SAPS on 021 699 9400 or the Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111.
The family of the young victim has not been named publicly, and further details about the driver or the taxi involved have not yet been released as the probe continues.
Labour Law Attorney Chinette Gallichan Shot and Killed Outside CCMA Offices in Johannesburg CBD
Johannesburg – A 35-year-old labour law attorney, Chinette Gallichan, was shot and killed outside the CCMA offices in the Johannesburg CBD on Monday morning while arriving to handle a case.
According to eyewitnesses, a suspect approached Gallichan at close range as she arrived for her matter and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Nothing was stolen from her, leading investigators to treat the killing as a possible targeted hit.
Gallichan was a respected legal professional known for her work in labour law. She was also an active runner who participated in the local athletics community. Her death has left both the legal fraternity and the running community in shock.
Police have launched a full investigation into the incident.
The killing has drawn widespread condemnation from colleagues and fellow athletes, who described Gallichan as a dedicated professional and passionate community member whose sudden loss has reverberated across Johannesburg’s legal and sporting circles.
No further details on suspects or motive have been released by authorities at this stage, but the South African Police Service confirmed they are actively pursuing leads.
Gallichan leaves behind a grieving family, colleagues, and friends in the legal and athletics communities.
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Fatal Collision Between Truck and Bakkie on N3 Near Villiers Claims at Least One Life
A fatal road accident occurred on the N3 highway near Villiers in the Free State province on 23 March 2026.
The collision involved a white semi-truck with fleet number 1456, operated by K.C. Transport Pty Ltd, and a black bakkie. The incident happened at approximately 11:15 a.m.
Photographs from the scene show the black bakkie in the foreground with severe front-end damage. The windshield is fully shattered, the hood is crumpled and folded back, and the engine components are exposed. The white truck with red markings is positioned directly behind the damaged bakkie. The road surface at the crash site is wet.
Emergency services, including paramedics and traffic authorities, responded to the scene. Due to the severity of the crash, the N3 was fully closed in the area, with motorists directed to use alternative routes.
The accident has been confirmed as fatal, with at least one person killed. No further details on the exact number of fatalities or injuries have been released. The identities of those involved have not been made public.
No official information has been provided on the cause of the collision. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
KZN Police Chief Presents Prison Letter to Parliament Claiming Businessman Transported Furniture to Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala Farm
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has handed over a handwritten letter from a former prisoner to Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee. The letter alleges that businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala told his former cellmate he had delivered furniture, including couches, to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
The eight-page letter was written by Jermaine Prim, who shared a cell with Matlala at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility. According to the document, Matlala described himself as very close to the Ramaphosa family and spoke about transporting items to the property.
Phala Phala farm is the site of a 2020 burglary in which a large amount of foreign currency, reportedly hidden inside furniture, was stolen. The break-in triggered investigations into possible money laundering, undeclared cash holdings and claims of interference by law enforcement officials. The case has not been finalised and continues to face court challenges. Independent Police Investigative Directorate reports linked to the matter were declassified only recently.
Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi tabled the letter during his testimony to the parliamentary committee. He told members that the contents amount to unverified hearsay and still require proper investigation. He added that some information in the letter matches details from earlier intelligence gathered by police.
The commissioner also highlighted problems with prison management at the time, saying oversight failures allowed Matlala access to freedoms not normally granted to inmates.
The Presidency has issued no statement on the specific claims contained in the letter.
Opposition parties have demanded immediate steps to verify the information in the document. They have warned that any confirmation of the claims could introduce new elements to the long-running Phala Phala matter that has affected the president since the 2020 incident.
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