Mental health challenges intensify among South Africa’s homeless population amid rising numbers and limited support
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South Africa’s homeless population has grown significantly over recent decades, with mental health conditions forming a major overlapping burden for many affected individuals. According to Statistics South Africa’s A Profile of Homeless Persons in South Africa based on Census 2022 data, the number of homeless persons rose from 13,135 in 1996 to 55,719 in 2022. This equates to a national prevalence of less than 1% (estimated at 0.09%), though the upward trend reflects ongoing socioeconomic pressures.
Gauteng accounts for the largest share of the homeless population at approximately 46%, followed by the Western Cape. About 70.1% of homeless persons are male, and 70.8% are classified as roofless (living on the streets) rather than in shelters. Youth (15–34 years) and adults (35–59 years) make up the bulk of the group, with black Africans comprising 76.7%. Primary self-reported reasons for homelessness centre on economic factors—unemployment and lack of income cited by roughly 54–66%—followed by substance use (around 11.7%) and family or interpersonal conflict.
High rates of mental health conditions
International meta-analyses of studies involving tens of thousands of people experiencing homelessness show that approximately 67% have a current mental health disorder, with lifetime prevalence around 75–77%. Substance use disorders (including alcohol) commonly exceed 40%, while rates of major depression, psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia), bipolar disorder, anxiety, and antisocial personality disorder are substantially elevated compared with the general population.
South African data align with this pattern of elevated burden. A study of residents in temporary shelters in Tshwane during the COVID-19 lockdown period found moderate-to-severe symptoms in high proportions across domains: substance use (68%), anxiety (53%), personality functioning issues (44%), depression (29%), and psychosis (8%), among others. Homelessness and mental illness frequently interact in both directions—pre-existing conditions can contribute to loss of housing, while street life, trauma, violence, and substance use often worsen or trigger mental health problems.
Broader national mental health figures provide context. Lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder in the general population is approximately 30%, with 12-month prevalence of mental or substance use disorders around 15–16%. Depression symptoms have been reported in more than 27% of adults in some recent surveys. Mental health conditions account for a notable share of the disease burden, yet the treatment gap remains large—exceeding 70% in assessments cited by the World Health Organization and local analyses. Mental health receives roughly 5% of the national health budget in available figures, contributing to shortages of specialists, especially outside major urban centres and in the public sector.
Barriers to care and daily realities
People experiencing homelessness face compounded obstacles to mental health support. Shelters and outreach services often lack dedicated mental health specialists or sufficient capacity for complex needs involving co-occurring substance use, trauma, or severe illness. Access to primary health care clinics exists in principle, with efforts to train nurses in screening and basic treatment under national guidelines, but practical barriers include stigma, lack of identity documents, transport, and prioritisation of acute physical health crises. Substance use frequently complicates engagement with services.
Homelessness itself is linked to poorer physical health outcomes, heightened vulnerability to violence and exploitation, and social isolation. Women, children, and foreign nationals among the homeless population encounter additional specific risks, though men predominate in the overall count.
Responses and ongoing efforts
The Department of Social Development holds primary responsibility for social aspects of homelessness, including shelters, while health services for mental conditions are provided through the public primary health care system and referrals. Non-governmental organisations play a significant role, offering phased programmes that combine emergency shelter, substance recovery support, skills training, therapy, and pathways toward employment and housing. Examples include initiatives emphasising trauma-informed care and addressing root causes rather than short-term relief alone.
Policy work continues. A Green Paper on Homelessness has been under discussion, and the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002 provides the legal framework for assessment, treatment, and protection. National strategies aim to expand community-based mental health services and integrate care, though implementation gaps persist due to resource constraints.
Experts and service providers consistently note that effective responses require coordinated housing, mental health, substance treatment, and social support rather than isolated interventions. Stable housing is recognised internationally and locally as a foundation that can improve engagement with care and longer-term outcomes for people with mental illness experiencing homelessness.
Alleged mentally challenged man runs out of a KFC in Tzaneen naked leaving onlookers stunned pic.twitter.com/LWJAuTmkG9
— PrimeTime News (@PrimeTimeNewsZA) September 13, 2026
The data show a clear intersection between rising homelessness and high mental health needs. Addressing both requires sustained attention to economic drivers, accessible treatment, and integrated support systems. Resources such as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) offer helplines for individuals in distress.
SAPS forms specialised task team and warns women after four bodies found in Kempton Park area over two months
The South African Police Service has intensified investigations and issued a public safety warning to women in and around Kempton Park, Gauteng, particularly the Rhodesfield area, after the bodies of four women were discovered in the same vicinity over a period of approximately two months. The most recent body was found on Saturday evening, 12 September 2026.
Detectives have identified concerning similarities in the circumstances of the deaths. According to police, the bodies were found half-naked with visible bruising, and the discovery sites are located within the same general area. At this stage, SAPS has not confirmed that the deaths are linked or that they are the work of a serial killer. However, the similarities have been judged serious enough to warrant both a public warning and an escalation of the investigation.
Women in the Kempton Park area have been urged not to walk or run alone, especially in isolated or secluded places. Police advise remaining vigilant and, where possible, travelling or exercising in groups. The safety of women has been described as a priority, with authorities stating they will not wait for further incidents before taking decisive action.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has directed the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner to establish a dedicated multidisciplinary task team without delay. The team will investigate the cases and determine whether links exist between the incidents. It will include detectives from specialised units such as the Murder and Robbery Unit and the Investigative Psychology Unit, along with other relevant disciplines and resources needed to advance the probe urgently.
The task team is to be led by Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General Mbuso Khumalo. He has been instructed to pursue all investigative avenues and ensure that no stone is left unturned in identifying those responsible.
SAPS is appealing for information from the public, particularly residents, motorists, security personnel and community members who may have observed suspicious activity in Rhodesfield and surrounding areas. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249. Information can also be provided anonymously via the MySAPS application.
In a related development, police have been searching for 38-year-old Elizabeth Mokolo Moselakgomo, also known as “Tsontso”, who went missing after leaving her Kempton Park home for an afternoon run on Wednesday, 10 September 2026. She left behind her eight-year-old daughter, who contacted family when her mother did not return that evening. Moselakgomo was last reported seen between approximately 17:30 and 18:30 on Mustang Street in Rhodesfield. Police conducted searches and made enquiries at hospitals and mortuaries, with no positive results reported at the time of the intensified appeal for information.
The family of the missing woman has indicated that a body discovered on Saturday evening could not be identified by them due to the extent of facial injuries. Formal identification was expected to take place at the Germiston mortuary on Monday. One report noted that the most recent body found was allegedly wearing sports gear. The identity of that body had not been publicly confirmed at the time of reporting.
SAPS has stated that specialised resources have been mobilised to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to bring those responsible to justice. Investigations remain ongoing.
Eight people, including two minors, killed in head-on collision on N17 between Ermelo and Davel
Eight people died in a head-on collision involving two sedans on the N17 toll road between Ermelo and Davel in Mpumalanga early on Sunday morning, 13 September 2026. The crash occurred near the Ermelo Toll Plaza at approximately 1:30am.
The vehicles involved were a Toyota sedan and a Volkswagen sedan. Seven of the deceased were occupants of the Volkswagen sedan. The eighth victim was the sole occupant and driver of the Toyota sedan. The fatalities comprised six adults and two minors. Both drivers were among those killed. No other injuries were reported.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison is investigating the circumstances of the collision. The cause has not yet been determined. Officials have stated that reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out at this stage.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie extended condolences to the families of the deceased. Macie urged motorists to obey the rules of the road, adjust driving according to prevailing weather and road conditions, and exercise greater vigilance, particularly when visibility is reduced.
Emergency personnel remained at the scene following the incident. Further details, including the identities of the victims, have not been released. The investigation continues.
E-hailing drivers in Cape Town continue to face armed robberies
E-hailing drivers operating in Cape Town, particularly in areas of the Cape Flats including Mitchells Plain and surrounding suburbs, remain frequent targets of armed robbery. Multiple incidents reported in 2025 and 2026 show a consistent pattern: drivers respond to trip requests, pick up passengers who then produce firearms or knives, and are robbed of cellphones, cash, and other belongings.
One well-documented case occurred on the evening of 25 April 2026 in Pers Road, Parkwood. An e-hailing driver accepted a pick-up request. Two men entered the vehicle. Shortly into the trip, the passenger in the back seat produced a firearm and held it against the driver’s neck while the front passenger took the driver’s cellphone and cash. Dashcam footage of the robbery circulated widely on social media. Grassy Park police opened a case of robbery with a firearm. Two suspects, aged 20 and 28, were later arrested and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court.
In another incident on 28 July 2026 in Klip Road, Lotus River, a Bolt driver stopped to collect a passenger. The passenger and at least one accomplice threatened the driver with a firearm and robbed him of his cellphone and a black hoodie. Grassy Park police confirmed they were investigating a case of robbery with a firearm. Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala stated that the 25-year-old driver had responded to a ride request and was robbed by unknown male suspects on arrival.
Similar robberies have been recorded in other Cape Town areas. On Christmas Eve 2024, an e-hailing driver was robbed in the Rylands area of Athlone by a group of youngsters. Dashcam footage showed the suspects demanding cash and valuables, with one threatening the driver with a knife. Some of the suspects were later arrested in Mitchells Plain. Police and city officials confirmed the arrests and linked some of the individuals to a local gang.
These cases reflect a broader pattern. Drivers are often targeted precisely because they respond to app-based trip requests and arrive at locations without knowing who is waiting. In many incidents the suspects board the vehicle as ordinary passengers before producing weapons. Cellphones are among the most commonly stolen items. In some cases vehicles are also taken.
Police routinely open cases of robbery with a firearm or related charges when these incidents are reported. Arrests have occurred in several cases, particularly when dashcam or cellphone footage is shared publicly and leads to identification of suspects. However, many investigations remain open, and drivers and industry representatives continue to raise concerns about the frequency of attacks.
E-hailing drivers and representatives have publicly described certain areas as high-risk and have advised colleagues to decline trips to locations they consider unsafe. Industry figures have called for stronger coordination between platforms and law enforcement, noting that existing safety measures are often reactive. New national regulations under the National Land Transport Amendment Act have introduced requirements aimed at improving safety for both drivers and passengers, including provisions related to panic buttons, though the impact of these measures is still developing.
E-hailing driver manages to fight firearm off thug who attempted to hijack his vehicle pic.twitter.com/RShafL69aw
— PrimeTime News (@PrimeTimeNewsZA) September 12, 2026
The incidents underscore the ongoing risks faced by people working in the e-hailing sector in Cape Town. While some arrests have been made and cases are under investigation, armed robberies of drivers continue to be reported across multiple suburbs.
Three Killed in Head-On Collision Involving Minibus Taxi and Bakkie on N1 Near Leeu-Gamka
Three people died and six others were injured in a head-on collision on the N1 national road outside Leeu-Gamka in the Western Cape Karoo on Friday morning, 11 September 2026.
The crash occurred at approximately 09:30 on the section of the N1 outside Leeu-Gamka in the direction of Beaufort West. Two vehicles were involved: a minibus taxi travelling towards Beaufort West and a Nissan NP200 bakkie travelling in the opposite direction.
According to police, the bakkie burst into flames following the impact. Emergency services recovered the bodies of two occupants from the burned-out wreckage of the bakkie. A woman who had been travelling in the minibus taxi was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
Six other occupants of the taxi sustained injuries and were transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Christopher Spies confirmed that police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. “Six other victims were transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The cause of the accident is yet to be established, and it forms part of the ongoing police investigation. The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed,” Spies said.
Leeu-Gamka police are handling the investigation. The exact circumstances that led to the collision remain under inquiry, with no further details released on the sequence of events or contributing factors at this stage.
Emergency services, including police, paramedics and other response units, attended the scene. The identities of the three deceased persons have not been released pending formal identification and notification of next of kin.
The incident took place on a stretch of the N1 that runs through the Karoo region between Leeu-Gamka and Beaufort West. Officials have not indicated any prolonged road closures beyond the initial response and clearance operations.
Police continue to investigate the cause of the collision. No arrests have been reported.
Three suspects, including Grade 11 learner, arrested after tuckshop owner’s body found near Fouriesburg
Three men aged 18, 23 and 26 have been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of a foreign national who operated a tuckshop in Mashaeng township near Fouriesburg in the Free State. The youngest suspect is a Grade 11 learner. All three are from Mashaeng.
Police from the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Operational Crime Combatting Unit made the arrests within approximately 12 hours of the discovery of the victim’s body. The 18-year-old was arrested at his school in Mashaeng. That arrest led investigators to the two older suspects, also from the same township. During the arrests, officers recovered 27 rounds of live ammunition from one of the men.
The suspects face charges of kidnapping, murder and theft of a motor vehicle. One faces an additional charge of unlawful possession of ammunition. They were expected to appear in the Fouriesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 11 September 2026.
The body was discovered at about 09:00 on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, by a community member near Uitkyk Farm, roughly five kilometres outside Fouriesburg along the R26 road towards Ficksburg. Officers found the deceased covered with a large white recycling bag and hidden among trees in a fenced camp beside the road. The man was wearing blood-stained clothing. His sibling, who lives in Fouriesburg, later identified the body.
According to police, the victim lived alone in a rented property and ran a tuckshop in Mashaeng. His brother last saw him on Sunday, 6 September 2026, after the two attended a church service in Bethlehem. On Tuesday, 8 September, the brother became concerned when he found the man was not at home and that his white Toyota Hilux bakkie, which carried Free State registration plates, was missing. He reported the disappearance to the local police station.
Further investigation established that the stolen bakkie had allegedly been sold in Gauteng.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thabang Lesia praised the investigators for their swift and excellent work. He urged officers to continue enforcing the law and ensuring that those responsible for crimes are brought to justice. The investigation into the circumstances of the alleged kidnapping, murder and vehicle theft remains ongoing.
The case is being handled by Free State police. No further details on the exact cause of death or motive have been released publicly at this stage.
Taxi crashes near African Bank in Stanger (KwaDukuza), KwaZulu-Natal
A minibus taxi was involved in a crash near an African Bank branch in Stanger (also known as KwaDukuza), KwaZulu-Natal, on the morning of 11 September 2026. Taurus Medical and Security Services responded to the scene.
Reports and images from the scene show a white Toyota Quantum minibus taxi that came to rest in a tilted/overturned position against a railing adjacent to a set of stairs in a commercial area with shops and businesses. Debris is visible around the vehicle. Members of the public gathered at the location.
Arrive Alive reported the incident under the heading “Taxi crash by African Bank,” noting that Taurus Medical and Security Services were on scene. Separate traffic and media accounts confirmed the location as by African Bank in Stanger and the presence of Taurus EMS.
At the time of the initial reports (early morning of 11 September 2026), no official confirmation of the number of occupants, injuries, fatalities, exact cause, or sequence of events had been widely released. Emergency services were attending the scene. Further details from authorities, including the South African Police Service or provincial traffic officials, were not immediately available in public updates.
Stanger/KwaDukuza is a town on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The crash occurred in a built-up commercial zone featuring shops and medical practices. The vehicle involved is a standard minibus taxi of the type commonly used for public transport in South Africa.
As with all such incidents, investigations into the circumstances typically follow standard procedures involving emergency medical response, scene clearance, and subsequent inquiries by relevant authorities. Motorists and the public in the area were advised through traffic channels of the active scene.
This account is based solely on contemporaneous reports from Arrive Alive, on-scene responder mentions, and visual documentation shared in connection with the incident. Additional official updates on casualties, vehicle condition, or contributing factors may be released as the response and investigation progress.
