VANDERBIJLPARK – A 39-year-old female employee of the Emfuleni Local Municipality was shot and killed in broad daylight on Monday, 30 March 2026, in what authorities have described as a targeted attack.
Mani Rantsofu, who worked in the municipality’s finance department, was waiting for her white Volkswagen Polo to be serviced at Fiti Exhaust, a tyre fitment centre on Frikkie Meyer Boulevard. The incident occurred at approximately 16:00, barely a block from the Vanderbijlpark Police Station in a busy area.
According to reports, an unknown man approached Rantsofu directly and, without warning, shot her five times in the head. Nothing was stolen from the scene. The shooter then ran to a waiting blue Volkswagen Polo and sped away with accomplices. It is not clear whether the getaway vehicle had a separate driver. Security cameras in the area captured blurred footage of the incident and the vehicle involved. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots.
Rantsofu had been a valued member of the Emfuleni Local Municipality staff for more than 10 years. She was well known in the finance department and worked directly with members of the public, assisting residents with the municipality’s debt write-off project on a daily basis. She was single and had no children.
Hassan Mako, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, confirmed the victim’s identity and role. He stated: “This is a tragic loss. She was a beautiful young woman, both inside and out. She was a valued employee at the ELM for more than 10 years. We are devastated.” Mako added that the killing appeared to be a calculated attack, noting uncertainty over whether it was work-related or personal. He expressed confidence that the South African Police Service would investigate thoroughly.
Gauteng police have opened a murder case. Officers described the victim as a 40-year-old woman who was shot and killed, with the suspects fleeing the scene. No arrests have been made. Police are appealing to members of the public, neighbouring businesses, and security firms for any information or additional footage that could identify the shooter or the blue Volkswagen Polo getaway vehicle. Investigations are continuing.
The municipality and police have not released further details on a possible motive at this stage.
Multi-Vehicle Crash on N4 in Malelane Triggered by Bakkie Turning into Oncoming Traffic
A violent multi-vehicle collision occurred on the N4 highway in Malelane, Mpumalanga, near the Astron Energy fuel station on Friday morning.
CCTV footage of the incident shows a bakkie approaching an intersection and slowing down as if yielding to oncoming traffic. The bakkie then turned right directly into the path of a side tipper truck travelling in the opposite direction.
The side tipper truck struck the side of the bakkie, causing the bakkie to spin off the roadway. The impact forced the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, which then veered across the road into oncoming traffic.
The out-of-control side tipper truck collided with a second side tipper truck that was travelling in the opposite direction. The first truck crashed directly into the trailer of the second truck.
Both side tipper trucks sustained extensive damage in the crash. The driver of the first side tipper truck was injured but survived. The condition of the bakkie driver has not been confirmed.
No fatalities were reported from the incident. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the crash further.
Traffic Officials in South Africa Enforce Strict No-Nonsense Policy Against Violent Criminals
South African traffic officials, including members of the Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing and Highway Patrol as well as various metro police departments, maintain a firm approach to law enforcement. They actively participate in operations targeting violent criminals while carrying out their primary road safety responsibilities. This zero-tolerance stance is evident in multiple documented incidents involving armed robberies, hijackings, and other serious offences.
On 25 March 2026, an intelligence-driven operation in Yeoville, Johannesburg, led to four suspected armed robbers being fatally wounded and one injured suspect arrested. The joint operation included the South African Police Service Counter Intelligence, SAPS Gauteng Tactical Response Team, Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing, CAP Specialised Operations, and Tracker Connect. The group was linked to a series of armed robberies targeting travellers from OR Tambo International Airport. The suspects were travelling in a Suzuki Swift fitted with false registration plates. When authorities attempted to intercept the vehicle, a high-speed chase followed, ending in a shootout. Three unlicensed firearms and ammunition were recovered at the scene. The injured suspect was placed under police guard.
In a separate incident earlier in 2025, four suspects were fatally wounded and two others arrested after a shootout in the Soweto area. The operation involved the Hawks’ Tactical Operation Management Section, Badboyz Security, and the Gauteng Highway Patrol. Intelligence identified the group planning an armed robbery at a business in Kwezi, Mofolo. Police located vehicles matching the description near the targeted premises, resulting in a high-speed chase and exchange of fire. The arrested suspects face charges including business robbery, attempted murder, and possession of illegal firearms.
Gauteng Traffic Police officers have also conducted direct arrests during routine patrols. In Tembisa, Gauteng Traffic Police members, together with Gauteng Traffic Wardens, arrested two suspects linked to serious and violent crimes. During the search, the suspects became aggressive, resisted arrest, intimidated officers, and interfered with police duties. The officers successfully apprehended them despite the resistance.
Metro police departments across South Africa have publicly reinforced a zero-tolerance approach to lawlessness and crime. The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police Commissioner issued a firm call for residents to respect the law and cooperate with enforcement operations, stating zero tolerance for lawlessness after incidents involving attacks on metro police vehicles.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department has vowed zero tolerance against crime during festive seasons, warning criminals of decisive action in operations addressing violence and organised crime.
In Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department has reaffirmed its commitment to zero tolerance on drug-related crime while participating in broader public safety initiatives that intersect with violent crime prevention.
These actions are in line with the mandate of traffic law enforcement authorities under South African legislation. Officers are equipped with powers to conduct arrests, searches, and use necessary force when encountering criminal activity during traffic stops, roadblocks, or patrols. In one case in Cape Town, traffic officers arrested a gangster in possession of a stolen vehicle during a routine vehicle stop.
Operations involving traffic officials have led to the recovery of illegal firearms, the disruption of robbery syndicates, and the arrest of individuals wanted for serious and violent crimes. In another documented case, traffic officers pulled over a vehicle and, using tactical training, promptly apprehended a suspect linked to gang activity.
South African traffic officials continue to support multi-agency efforts against violent crime. Through these operations and official statements, they demonstrate a consistent no-nonsense policy when dealing with armed or aggressive criminals on the country’s roads and in urban areas. These interventions occur alongside their core duties of enforcing road traffic laws and promoting road safety.
- Overstrand Municipality Baboon Monitors Use Non-Lethal Deterrents on Pringle Bay Troop During Foraging Operations
- Emfuleni Municipality Finance Employee Shot Dead in Targeted Attack in Vanderbijlpark
- Multi-Vehicle Crash on N4 in Malelane Triggered by Bakkie Turning into Oncoming Traffic
- Traffic Officials in South Africa Enforce Strict No-Nonsense Policy Against Violent Criminals
- Tragic Fatal Collision Claims Life of Polo Vivo Driver After Alleged Illegal U-Turn by Truck on Hill Road
Tragic Fatal Collision Claims Life of Polo Vivo Driver After Alleged Illegal U-Turn by Truck on Hill Road
According to initial reports, a male national from Botswana was driving a truck when he allegedly performed a U-turn on a hill road marked with clear barrier lines. The manoeuvre took place in an area where such a turn is prohibited by the visible road markings.
The truck crossed into the path of oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision with a Polo Vivo travelling in the opposite direction. The impact occurred directly as a result of the truck’s positioning across the barrier lines.
Emergency services responded to the scene, where the driver of the Polo Vivo was certified dead on arrival. No further details regarding the identity of the deceased or the condition of the truck driver have been released in the initial reports.
The incident highlights the immediate and severe consequences of the manoeuvre in this specific set of circumstances on the hill road. Initial investigations are focusing on the circumstances leading to the U-turn and the collision that followed.
Road authorities have noted the event as part of ongoing monitoring of similar incidents where prohibited turns contribute to fatal outcomes. Further updates on the investigation are expected as more information becomes available from the scene.
