A foreign national, identified as female in circulating video footage, was stopped during a routine vehicle check point operation conducted by the Durban Metropolitan Police Service in KwaZulu-Natal.
At the roadblock, the woman admitted to having consumed alcohol. She then offered cash to a metro police officer in an apparent attempt to avoid further consequences related to the stop.
The officer immediately rejected the bribe offer and called out the attempt, following standard procedure by reporting it. A senior officer or police boss was involved in the interaction and took time to explain upcoming new laws to the woman.
According to accounts from the video and social media posts, the foreign national was not arrested and escaped a drunk driving charge. She was also not charged for the attempted bribery.
Under South African law, offering a bribe to a public official constitutes a criminal offence in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act. Both offering and accepting a bribe are treated as serious offences, with officers required to document such attempts and proceed with formal charges where applicable.
No official statement from the Durban Metro Police Service has been released confirming details of the incident, including the exact date, the precise amount of cash offered, the woman’s nationality or identity, any breathalyser or blood alcohol test results, or reasons why no arrest or charges were pursued for either suspected drunk driving or bribery.
Circulating video footage of the interaction has been shared widely on social media platforms, often with disclaimers noting that the images and video are not owned by the accounts posting them and are used for educational and awareness purposes only.
The incident occurred amid broader roadblock operations in the Durban area and KwaZulu-Natal, where metro police, Road Traffic Inspectorate, and other agencies conduct enforcement actions targeting drunk driving and other traffic offences. In this specific case, the woman was allowed to proceed without arrest or charges following the rejected bribe attempt and the explanatory discussion.
No further confirmed details on any subsequent investigation, court proceedings, or official follow-up were available in public sources at the time of reporting.
Chaos Erupts in KuGompo City as Protest Against Alleged Nigerian ‘King’ Coronation Turns Violent
KuGompo City, Eastern Cape – Monday, 30 March 2026
Violence broke out in KuGompo City (formerly East London) in the Eastern Cape on Monday when a protest against the reported coronation of a Nigerian national as “Igwe Ndigbo Na East London” escalated into unrest.
The demonstration was organised by the March and March movement, along with other civic groups, traditional leaders, and political parties including ActionSA. It followed the circulation of videos and photographs on social media earlier in March 2026 showing the crowning of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as “Igwe Ndigbo” in the area.
The Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) rejected the alleged inauguration, stating that it did not follow constitutional processes or local traditional protocols. The department and the provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders distanced themselves from the event, describing it as irregular and illegitimate. Traditional leaders, including those from the amaRharhabe Kingdom, also condemned the ceremony as disrespectful to established customary authority.
The protest began peacefully but brought traffic to a standstill in parts of KuGompo City. It later turned volatile, with reports of clashes between demonstrators and authorities. Protesters set vehicles alight, including panel vans, bakkies, and trucks. Eastern Cape police confirmed that 12 cars were damaged during the unrest. Other accounts indicated that at least 13 vehicles were set on fire, while some reports mentioned up to 15 vehicles burnt and a higher number damaged.
Video footage from the scene showed vehicles burning and crowds confronting police. Police deployed stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators. Several buildings, some allegedly belonging to foreign nationals, were also torched or vandalised. Shops in the area reportedly closed as tensions rose.
One person was stabbed and hospitalised during the events. Confrontations involving different groups, including reports of attacks on protesters by individuals in a vehicle, were also noted.
The March and March movement, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, participated in the KuGompo protest as part of its ongoing campaigns on immigration and citizen prioritisation. The group has held similar demonstrations in other provinces, including a recent large gathering in Durban.
Authorities worked to restore order in the affected areas. Protesters later regrouped at City Hall, where they were expected to submit a memorandum.
As of Monday evening, full details on the exact number of arrests, total injuries, or comprehensive damage assessments had not been released by police. Investigations into the incidents were ongoing.
The unrest occurred on the same day as separate marches in the Eastern Cape linked to Human Rights Day observances by the ANC and allies, though those events were not connected to the KuGompo protest.
This report is compiled from official statements, police confirmations, and multiple eyewitness and media accounts of the events on 30 March 2026. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
- Former Brits Teacher Receives Life Sentence for Murdering Wife Whose Body Was Found Next to Railway Line
- Foreign National Avoids Drunk Driving Charge at Durban Roadblock Despite Admitting to Drinking and Attempting to Bribe Metro Officer
- Phone Theft and Pickpocketing Remain a Major Challenge in South Africa
- Chaos Erupts in KuGompo City as Protest Against Alleged Nigerian ‘King’ Coronation Turns Violent
- Fatal Crash on M7 Durban-Bound Before Bellville Offramp Leaves One Dead
Fatal Crash on M7 Durban-Bound Before Bellville Offramp Leaves One Dead
Durban – One person has been killed and at least one other injured in a crash on the M7 highway in the Durban-bound direction before the Bellville offramp on Monday, 30 March 2026.
The incident, which occurred in the Malvern area west of Durban, involved two trucks. Emergency services, including private EMS and ALS Paramedics, responded to the scene where one individual was declared deceased on arrival. Paramedics are attending to additional patients who sustained injuries.
Authorities have closed the Durban-bound lanes of the M7 to allow emergency teams to work safely and clear the roadway. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes, as significant delays and traffic disruptions are expected in the vicinity.
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson confirmed the fatality and ongoing medical response, urging drivers to steer clear of the affected section of the highway.
No further details regarding the exact cause of the collision or the identities of those involved have been released at this stage. Investigations by traffic authorities are underway.
Motorists travelling in the greater Durban and Bellville areas are encouraged to plan their routes in advance, remain patient during the disruption, and stay updated through official traffic channels. Safety on the roads remains a priority as recovery operations continue.
This is a developing story, and more information may become available as the situation unfolds.
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.
