Man Dies After Tree Falls on Street Vendors Near Springs TVET College

Nomfundo Khumalo Published 15 hours ago

4 min read

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A man has died and two women have been injured after a tree fell on three street vendors selling food near the Ekurhuleni East TVET College campus in Springs, Ekurhuleni, on Thursday, 29 October 2026.

According to the information available, the incident occurred while the vendors were selling food in the area. Emergency Management Services (EMS) responded to the scene, where a man believed to be in his 30s was found trapped beneath the fallen tree.

The man was declared dead at the scene. Emergency personnel were unable to save his life, and his death was confirmed at the location.

Two women who were also affected by the incident received medical treatment at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital by Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Their conditions have not been confirmed in the information available.

The incident left one person dead and two others requiring medical attention.

The area where the tree fell was subsequently handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation. Police are expected to handle the formal investigation and the opening of an inquest docket into the man’s death.

An inquest is conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding a death and determine whether there are any matters requiring further investigation.

As of Thursday, the circumstances that led to the tree falling had not been established in the information available. It has also not been confirmed whether weather conditions, the condition of the tree or any other factor contributed to the incident.

No further details regarding the identities of the deceased man or the injured women have been confirmed.

The investigation will seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident near the Springs campus.

OTHER NEWS

Cash-In-Transit Robbery Reported on R34 Near Kroonstad as Fidelity Armoured Vehicle Found Badly Damaged

A cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery was reported on the R34 near Kroonstad in the Free State on Thursday, 29 October 2026, with motorists warned of road disruptions in the vicinity of Lechwe Lodge, along the route towards Welkom.

Information circulating on social media indicated that the incident had left the scene active, with road closures and traffic disruptions reported in the area. Motorists travelling along the R34 were advised to avoid the affected section and use alternative routes where possible.

Images shared from the scene show a Fidelity Services Group armoured cash vehicle with extensive damage to its upper and rear sections. Debris can also be seen scattered across the road near the damaged vehicle.

Damaged Fidelity Services Group Vehicle

The vehicle involved appears to be a white Fidelity Services Group armoured cash van with the company’s green and yellow branding. The vehicle number appears to be 47452, although this identification has not been independently confirmed.

Photographs show substantial structural damage to the roof and rear of the armoured vehicle. The damage is consistent with reports of a cash-in-transit robbery, although the precise method used during the incident has not been officially established.

Other vehicles and at least one person can be seen in photographs taken from a distance. However, the available images do not establish whether anyone was injured or provide further verified details about the people present at the scene.

Road Disruptions Near Lechwe Lodge

The reported incident occurred on the R34 near Kroonstad, in the direction of Welkom, close to Lechwe Lodge.

Traffic restrictions and possible road closures were reported as emergency and other response personnel were understood to be dealing with the scene. Motorists were advised to avoid the affected area and consider alternative routes until the situation was resolved.

Drivers approaching the area were urged to exercise caution and follow instructions from officials on the road.

The extent of the disruption and the duration of any closure could not be independently established from the information available at the time of publication.

Investigation and Outstanding Details

Several important details surrounding the reported robbery remain unconfirmed.

These include the exact time the incident occurred, the number of suspects involved, whether firearms were used, whether explosives were deployed, and whether any cash was successfully taken from the vehicle.

There was also no independently verified information available confirming injuries, fatalities, arrests or the amount of money that may have been stolen.

An official South African Police Service statement confirming the circumstances of the incident could not be established from the available information at the time of publication.

The circumstances surrounding the damage to the Fidelity Services Group vehicle, as well as the events leading up to the reported robbery and the suspects’ whereabouts, remain unclear.

Prime Time News will update this report if further verified information becomes available.

Note: The report is based on information circulating on social media and images from the scene. The full circumstances of the incident have not yet been independently verified.