A 26-year-old man was shot and killed on Wednesday following an alleged smash-and-grab attack on a motorist along Jakes Gerwel Drive in Bonteheuwel, Cape Town.
According to police, officers responded to a complaint of a shooting at the corner of Jakes Gerwel Drive and Jakkalsvlei Avenue. On arrival, they found the man with gunshot wounds to his body. Medical personnel declared him dead at the scene. Police have opened a murder investigation and are still establishing the full circumstances of the incident. No arrests have been made.
Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie confirmed that a vehicle was attacked during the incident, after which the suspected smash-and-grab perpetrator was shot. Eyewitness accounts describe the man running into an open field near the road when the motorist opened fire.
Local observations reported that the man’s body remained in the open field after the shooting. Community members at the scene were heard responding with the phrase “Is reg so”. Children in the area continued playing around the body. Law enforcement personnel present indicated that such incidents occur daily on this stretch of Jakes Gerwel Drive.
Jakes Gerwel Drive, particularly the section between Bonteheuwel and Langa, has been repeatedly identified as a high-risk area for smash-and-grab robberies targeting motorists, often at traffic lights or slow-moving traffic. Ongoing concerns have been raised about violence linked to these crimes, including risks to residents from stray bullets and repeated attacks in the corridor.
EVATON WEST TAXI ASSOCIATION MEMBER SHOT DEAD AT EVATON MALL HOURS BEFORE ATTENDING CHAIRMAN’S MEMORIAL
EVATON – Mr Mkhize, a member of the Evaton West Taxi Association, was shot and killed at the Evaton Mall this morning.
He was declared dead at the scene.
The shooting occurred just hours before Mr Mkhize was due to attend the memorial service of the association’s Chairman, Mr Mphuthi.
Mr Mphuthi was killed on 27 March 2026. His memorial service is scheduled to take place at 1 pm today.
This is the second killing linked to the Evaton West Taxi Association in recent days.
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- EVATON WEST TAXI ASSOCIATION MEMBER SHOT DEAD AT EVATON MALL HOURS BEFORE ATTENDING CHAIRMAN’S MEMORIAL
- Five Killed in Devastating Head-On Collision Involving Three Vehicles on N1 Near Mookgophong
Five Killed in Devastating Head-On Collision Involving Three Vehicles on N1 Near Mookgophong
MOKOPANE – Five people died and two others were seriously injured when three vehicles collided head-on on the N1-25 next to Boekenhout in the Waterberg District near Mookgophong, Limpopo, on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, at approximately 07:45.
The crash involved a Renault light motor vehicle that made a U-turn on the freeway, a Ford light delivery vehicle, and a Toyota light delivery vehicle. The high-impact collision caused extensive frontal damage to all three vehicles.
Two male drivers and three occupants from one of the vehicles were declared dead at the scene. Two additional passengers sustained serious injuries and were transported by emergency services to the FH Odendaal Hospital for further treatment.
Emergency personnel responded immediately and attended to the scene. Preliminary investigations indicate that reckless driving may have contributed to the collision, with the possibility that a driver was under the influence of alcohol.
The accident caused major traffic disruption on the N1, affecting both directions of the busy highway during the morning peak period.
The Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and called on all road users to exercise greater responsibility when driving.
Investigations into the exact circumstances of the crash are continuing. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Suspected Hitman Fatally Shot in Pinetown Police Operation
Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal – A 41-year-old man wanted in connection with more than ten murder cases has been killed during a shootout with police in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The suspect, described by authorities as a hitman, was primarily linked to murders on the KZN South Coast. Police intelligence indicated that he was preparing to carry out a contract killing on officials from the Umdoni Local Municipality later the same day.
Officers from a joint task team located the suspect at a hideout in Pinetown. The operation involved the SAPS eThekwini District Trio Crimes Unit, SAPS KZN Crime Intelligence, the Durban Metro Police Trio Crimes Unit, and the Durban Metro Police K9 Unit.
According to reports from the operation, the suspect opened fire on police as they moved in to effect his arrest. Officers returned fire, and the man was fatally wounded at the scene. No injuries to law enforcement personnel have been reported.
Firearms were recovered from the location and have been seized as evidence. They will be subjected to further forensic analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident highlights continued efforts by police to target individuals suspected of involvement in contract killings and organised violence in the province. Investigations into the suspect’s alleged links to the multiple murder cases on the South Coast are expected to continue, with authorities examining any potential accomplices or broader networks.
No further details on the identity of the deceased or the specific circumstances of the previous cases have been released at this stage.
