Durban – A man believed to be in his twenties was shot dead on Botanic Gardens Road in the Berea area after he allegedly attempted to rob a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Emergency medical personnel responded to the shooting incident on the road just after 7:30am this morning. On arrival, they found SAPS members and multiple security personnel already at the scene.
The medical team was shown to the male victim, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Paramedics carried out an immediate assessment and determined that the injuries were fatal. The man was declared deceased on the scene.
Initial information indicates that the deceased had attacked an SAPS official during the alleged robbery attempt, after which the officer retaliated. The scene on Botanic Gardens Road remains active.
All necessary authorities are present at the location and will continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Main Suspects in the Murray Killings and the Killing of Witness D
In March 2023, Cloete Murray and his son Thomas were shot dead on the N1 highway near New Road in Johannesburg. Police say it was a planned killing. Cloete Murray closed down companies and sold their assets for a living. He had worked on big fraud cases linked to the Singh family. Thomas died at the scene. Cloete died the next day in hospital.
Police named Burnett Hermanus (also called Mr B) as the man who shot the Murrays. He was 45 years old and lived in Alberton. In October 2025, he was shot dead while sitting in his car outside Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. It was another planned attack.
Ryan Barwell is also a suspect in the Murray killings. Video from cameras at Melrose Arch shows him driving a white Ford Ranger truck that followed the Murrays on the day they died. Police have not spoken to him, even after more than two years. His case is still being checked, and some people say he needs witness protection.
Marius van der Merwe was called Witness D in a special government investigation known as the Madlanga Commission. He gave evidence about the 2022 torture and illegal killing of a man named Emmanuel Mbense. His evidence pointed to police officers and private security guards. Soon after he spoke, he was shot and killed.
On 14 March 2026, police arrested Matipandile Sotheni. He is 41 years old and used to be in the South African Police Special Task Force. He left the police in 2019 and started working in private security. He is charged with the murder of Witness D. Police say he was the shooter. He appeared in court in Brakpan. Officers are still looking for the AK47 gun they believe he used. He is also linked to the Murray killings.
Wiandre Pretorius was a 41-year-old police reservist who also worked as an informant for the police. He is connected to the Witness D murder. Police say he drove the getaway car. He had given evidence at the Madlanga Commission and was named in Witness D’s statements. In February 2026, he killed himself at an Astron Energy petrol station in Brakpan. A few days earlier, someone had tried to kill him by firing many bullets into his car outside his home in Boksburg.
As of March 2026, these four men are the main people accused or suspected in the two cases. Police have started the Murray investigation again from the beginning. They are checking new phone records and looking at the video evidence again. In the Witness D case, there has been one arrest and one suicide among the people being investigated. Police are still searching for more proof, including the gun used to kill Witness D.
Two Men Arrested in Kempton Park for Impersonating a Doctor and Related Offences
KEMPTON PARK – Officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Intervention Unit and High-Speed Unit have arrested two male suspects, aged 42 and 51, in the Kempton Park area.
The arrests stemmed from information received about a man who was allegedly posing as a medical doctor. According to the details, the suspect was reported to be performing illegal abortions, issuing fraudulent prescriptions and selling sick notes.
Acting on the tip-off, the officers proceeded to a building situated at the corner of Central Avenue and West Street. There they located the suspect operating from an office.
When the officers introduced themselves and requested proof of professional qualifications, the suspect admitted that he had been falsely presenting himself as both a medical doctor and a herbalist. He confirmed using a medical certificate that did not belong to him.
During the search of the premises, a second man arrived and identified himself as the assistant of the first suspect.
Both men then attempted to bribe the officers in order to avoid arrest. The officers rejected the bribe, seized the money offered, and also confiscated termination tablets, a doctor’s stamp, fraudulent medical certificates, a sick note book and cell phones found at the scene.
The two suspects were placed under arrest and charged with fraud, bribery, contravention of the Health Professions Act and contravention of the Immigration Act.
They are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.
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Viral Video Highlights Escalating School Bullying Crisis in South Africa
A video showing a young girl being beaten in front of a crowd of onlookers, including other children who stood by and in some cases recorded the incident, has been circulating widely on social media platforms. The footage, marked as not suitable for sensitive viewers, depicts the assault occurring in what appears to be a school-related setting, with bystanders failing to intervene.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
This incident comes amid growing evidence of bullying as a persistent and widespread problem in South African schools. According to data from the Department of Basic Education and UNICEF from 2023, approximately 3.2 million learners experience bullying each year, roughly double the global average. A 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study further revealed that 74% of South African Grade 5 students reported exposure to one or more forms of bullying almost monthly.
More recent figures underscore the scale of the issue. Provincial Education Departments reported a total of 11,194 incidents of bullying in public ordinary schools between October 2024 and September 2025. In the first weeks of the 2025 academic year alone, 548 cases were documented nationwide, with Limpopo province recording the highest number at 305. Earlier studies, including one from 2013 involving 12,000 Grade 9 pupils, showed that 36% of learners were involved in bullying as victims, perpetrators or both, with 19% identifying primarily as victims.
Additional statistics paint a concerning picture of under-reporting and impact. Research indicates that around two-thirds of victims never report their experiences, often due to fear of ridicule, disbelief or inaction. One in ten high school learners skips school to avoid bullying, contributing to absenteeism and disrupted education. Data also shows that 90% of bullying incidents are learner-on-learner, taking forms including physical, verbal and psychological abuse. Boys and older students have been identified in some studies as more likely to be victims.
The effects extend beyond immediate harm. Bullying has been linked to anxiety, depression, declining academic performance and, in severe cases, suicide. A 2021 study across primary schools found 33% of children aged 10-12 had been hit by peers, while 30% reported being called unkind names. The 2019 TIMSS data further noted that 64% of Grade 9 learners experienced bullying on at least a monthly basis.
The Department of Basic Education maintains the National School Safety Framework and has developed an Anti-Bullying Strategy that promotes a zero-tolerance approach, including early intervention, school-based support teams and codes of conduct. The department also observes Anti-Bullying Week annually in November to raise awareness. Provincial policies, such as the Western Cape’s “Abuse No More” guidelines, set timelines for acknowledging reports within 24-48 hours and completing investigations within 10 school days.
Despite these measures, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has raised concerns that bullying remains poorly addressed in provinces including the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Presentations to the committee highlighted inconsistencies in school-level data, under-reporting and a lack of uniform action. In the Eastern Cape alone, over 3,400 learners were affected by bullying incidents in one year, with varying quarterly figures pointing to gaps in documentation. The committee noted that responses often remain reactive rather than preventive.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has publicly urged school leaders to act swiftly on bullying allegations and has referenced interdepartmental mechanisms, including collaboration with the South African Police Service, to strengthen responses. Parliamentary records show the department receives aggregated provincial data to identify trends and guide national policy.
These statistics and ongoing reports confirm that school bullying continues to affect millions of South African learners, with documented incidents rising and systemic challenges in addressing the root causes persisting across provinces.
Johannesburg Authorities Issue Urgent Warning Over ‘Chuff’ Trend as Teens Inhale Fire Extinguisher Contents
A video showing school learners inhaling the contents of a fire extinguisher is spreading on social media, prompting concern from officials in Johannesburg.
The activity, referred to as the ‘Chuff’ challenge, has triggered alerts from parents, teachers and emergency responders across the city.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services has highlighted the serious health dangers linked to breathing in fire extinguisher substances. These risks include pneumonia, seizures and death.
Officials stated that fire extinguishers are made only to extinguish fires and are not intended for inhalation or any form of smoking.
To address safety awareness, the city operates Besafe Centres located in all seven regions. These centres provide educational programmes on life and fire safety, which cover the correct use of fire extinguishers.
Schools and members of the public are encouraged to visit the Besafe Centres or arrange for Public Education Officers to deliver these training sessions at their locations.
Parents have been called upon to speak directly with their children about the hazards of participating in the ‘Chuff’ trend.
Anyone who believes a person may be at risk from this activity is advised to contact the Emergency Management Services Command and Control Centre immediately on 011 375 5911.
The Emergency Management Services is appealing to the community to share accurate information about the dangers so that further harm can be avoided.
