Chatsworth, South Africa – Authorities have discovered a significant drug laboratory in the Umhlatuzana area as part of ongoing disruptive operations aimed at combating illegal activities in Chatsworth.
The operation involved a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement units, including the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the South African Police Service (SAPS) Special Task Force (STF), the SAPS Economic Infrastructure Task Team, the SAPS KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Counter Narcotics unit, the SAPS KZN Crime Intelligence (CI), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs Dog Unit, and various divisions of the Metro Police such as the Drug Team, Tactical Support Unit, Economic Infrastructure Task Team (EITT), Trio Crimes unit, Business Forum Task Team, Special Projects unit, K9 unit, and Public Order Policing (POP).
During the raid, several suspects were detained at the scene. Among those taken into custody was the property owner, who had been arrested previously by the Metro Police Tactical Support Unit in the prior year.
Inside the premises, law enforcement officials recovered drugs, firearms, and packaging materials. The exact quantities of the seized items are currently under assessment as the investigation continues.
Preliminary findings indicate that the laboratory served as a primary supplier for drug dealers operating in the surrounding area, highlighting its role in the local narcotics distribution network.
The operation underscores the collaborative approach by various agencies to address drug-related crimes in the region. Further details on the arrests and seizures are expected as the quantities are finalized and the case progresses.
Shootout at Randvaal Petrol Station Leaves Officer Injured, Two Suspects Dead
Randvaal, Gauteng – A confrontation between South African Police Service (SAPS) officers and armed suspects unfolded at the Engen Blockhouse service station along the R59 highway in Randvaal on the morning of February 25, 2026. The incident resulted in one police officer sustaining gunshot wounds and two suspects being fatally shot during the exchange of fire.
The shootout took place at approximately 6:53 AM SAST, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement. Authorities established a crime scene at the location, blocking off the road leading to the petrol station and deploying multiple police vehicles to secure the area. Motorists traveling northbound on the R59 toward Johannesburg were advised to avoid the vicinity due to the ongoing police activity and resulting delays.
Details of the events leading up to the shootout indicate that the suspects were involved in robbery activities at the time of the encounter with police. The injured SAPS member was promptly attended to, though the extent of the wounds has not been disclosed. The two suspects were pronounced dead at the scene following the gunfire exchange.
The R59 highway, a major route in Gauteng connecting areas south of Johannesburg, has seen similar incidents in the past, but this event stands as a distinct occurrence on February 25, 2026. No additional casualties among civilians or further suspects have been reported in connection with this specific shootout.
Investigations into the identities of the suspects and the precise circumstances surrounding the initiation of the shootout remain ongoing as of 9:57 AM SAST. Authorities have not released further statements regarding potential motives or related arrests at this time.
Dramatic Cash-In-Transit Heist and Shootout Unfold in Brindhaven, KZN
On Monday, February 23, 2026, a cash-in-transit robbery turned violent on Old Inanda Road in Brindhaven, near Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal. Around 13:25, suspects in two vehicles—identified as a white Toyota Corolla Cross and a white Toyota Corolla—intercepted an armored cash vehicle, with approximately 10 heavily armed individuals involved. The attackers opened fire on the vehicle and detonated explosives to access its contents, making off with an undisclosed amount of cash and firearms taken from the guards.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received multiple public reports of the robbery and explosions, prompting an immediate dispatch of officers. Upon arrival, RUSA personnel encountered suspects acting as spotters, armed with high-calibre rifles, leading to an exchange of gunfire. One RUSA response vehicle was struck by two bullets during the shootout, but no officers sustained injuries. The suspects fled toward Inanda, firing shots into the air and abandoning several money boxes at the scene.
In response, RUSA deployed a Robinson R44 helicopter around 13:52 to conduct an aerial search, while ground teams swept the area. The helicopter pilot maintained a safe distance due to the suspects’ armament. Following a tip from a female member of the public about suspicious activity near a farm in Inanda, the helicopter crew landed in a mint farm and conducted a ground search, recovering three firearms: one rifle and two 9mm pistols, believed to have been discarded by the fleeing suspects.
KZN VIP Security and Emergency Medical Teams also attended the scene, assessing three occupants from the cash-in-transit vehicle as a precautionary measure, with no injuries reported. All emergency services were present, and Jabu Ngcobo Road—part of Old Inanda Road—was closed between Dawncrest and Mountview to facilitate the South African Police Service (SAPS) investigation. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
No arrests have been made, and it remains unclear if any suspects were injured during the incident. Investigations continue, with no official statement from SAPS available at the time of reporting.
