South Africa continues to experience high levels of cellphone theft, often carried out through pickpocketing, snatching from hands or bags, and common robberies in crowded public spaces. According to South African Police Service data, an average of 189 cellphones are reported stolen daily. Between April 2017 and March 2023, police recorded 412,998 stolen mobiles. Gauteng accounts for 29 percent of these incidents, followed by the Western Cape at 26 percent and KwaZulu-Natal at 20 percent. Only about 29 percent of reported stolen phones are blacklisted with service providers, allowing many devices to re-enter circulation after being wiped.
These thefts frequently occur in urban areas, public transport, malls, events, and tourist spots. In the first quarter of 2023, authorities recorded 11,404 incidents of common robbery, an increase of 7.9 percent from the previous year. Insurance claims data indicates that women face a disproportionately higher risk, accounting for over 80 percent of cellphone-related claims and nearly five times the likelihood compared to men. Incidents tend to spike on Thursdays and Sundays.
Criminals target phones not only for resale value but also to access stored banking apps, personal data, emails, identification documents, and proof of residence. When devices are taken while unlocked or when passcodes are observed, thieves can initiate unauthorised transactions. Social engineering tactics, such as sending phishing messages to emergency contacts visible on locked screens, are used to obtain one-time PINs. This contributes to broader digital banking fraud. In 2023, digital banking fraud incidents rose significantly, with banking app fraud showing an 89 percent year-on-year increase in some reports and overall digital banking fraud losses reaching hundreds of millions of rand. Losses from digital banking fraud in one reported year totalled approximately R740 million, with further increases noted in subsequent periods.
Impact on Innocent People
Phone theft directly harms innocent victims through the immediate loss of the device and the cost of replacement. Many experience secondary financial losses when thieves access banking details or use SIM swap techniques to intercept communications and drain accounts. Victims often report emotional distress, including feelings of violation, anxiety, and reluctance to move freely in public spaces.
The Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey by Statistics South Africa shows that theft of personal property is the most common crime experienced by individuals. In 2024/25, an estimated 1.3 million incidences of theft of personal property occurred, affecting 1.2 million individuals aged 16 and older — representing 2.6 percent of this population group. Street robbery affected around 1.1 million individuals over a five-year recall period in recent surveys. Under-reporting remains widespread, with only about 31 percent of theft of personal property victims reporting some or all incidents to the police. This means official figures likely understate the true scale.
Vulnerable groups, including women and people in high-density areas such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, are particularly affected. The combination of device loss and follow-on fraud disrupts daily communication, work, and access to essential services like mobile banking. Families and businesses suffer when personal or professional data is compromised, contributing to reduced public confidence and economic ripple effects.
How to Avoid Phone Theft and Pickpocketing
Established security practices can reduce the risk of becoming a victim. Keep phones out of sight and avoid using them while walking in public, especially in crowded or high-risk areas. Do not place devices on tables in restaurants, cafes, or public seating.
Use front pockets, cross-body bags with secure zips, or concealed carriers instead of back pockets or loose handbags. When seated, loop bag straps around an arm, leg, or chair. Enable strong biometric locks, PINs, or passcodes on devices, and activate remote tracking and wipe features. Avoid storing sensitive passwords in plain text and do not leave phones unlocked in view of others.
If a phone is lost or stolen, immediately contact the bank and mobile service provider to block accounts, deactivate access, and blacklist the device. Report the incident to the South African Police Service for an official record. Regularly back up contacts, photos, and data to cloud services to minimise loss. Consider device insurance where appropriate.
Stay aware of surroundings in tourist areas, public transport, malls, and large events. Avoid displaying expensive devices ostentatiously and limit movement in isolated areas at night where possible. For drivers, secure valuables in the boot or under seats rather than leaving them visible to reduce smash-and-grab risks at traffic lights.
These measures are drawn from patterns in crime reports and recommendations by security and insurance bodies. While no approach eliminates risk in high-crime environments, consistent vigilance, secure device settings, and rapid response to loss help limit opportunities for pickpockets and thieves.
Chaos Erupts in KuGompo City as Protest Against Alleged Nigerian ‘King’ Coronation Turns Violent
KuGompo City, Eastern Cape – Monday, 30 March 2026
Violence broke out in KuGompo City (formerly East London) in the Eastern Cape on Monday when a protest against the reported coronation of a Nigerian national as “Igwe Ndigbo Na East London” escalated into unrest.
The demonstration was organised by the March and March movement, along with other civic groups, traditional leaders, and political parties including ActionSA. It followed the circulation of videos and photographs on social media earlier in March 2026 showing the crowning of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as “Igwe Ndigbo” in the area.
The Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) rejected the alleged inauguration, stating that it did not follow constitutional processes or local traditional protocols. The department and the provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders distanced themselves from the event, describing it as irregular and illegitimate. Traditional leaders, including those from the amaRharhabe Kingdom, also condemned the ceremony as disrespectful to established customary authority.
The protest began peacefully but brought traffic to a standstill in parts of KuGompo City. It later turned volatile, with reports of clashes between demonstrators and authorities. Protesters set vehicles alight, including panel vans, bakkies, and trucks. Eastern Cape police confirmed that 12 cars were damaged during the unrest. Other accounts indicated that at least 13 vehicles were set on fire, while some reports mentioned up to 15 vehicles burnt and a higher number damaged.
Video footage from the scene showed vehicles burning and crowds confronting police. Police deployed stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators. Several buildings, some allegedly belonging to foreign nationals, were also torched or vandalised. Shops in the area reportedly closed as tensions rose.
One person was stabbed and hospitalised during the events. Confrontations involving different groups, including reports of attacks on protesters by individuals in a vehicle, were also noted.
The March and March movement, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, participated in the KuGompo protest as part of its ongoing campaigns on immigration and citizen prioritisation. The group has held similar demonstrations in other provinces, including a recent large gathering in Durban.
Authorities worked to restore order in the affected areas. Protesters later regrouped at City Hall, where they were expected to submit a memorandum.
As of Monday evening, full details on the exact number of arrests, total injuries, or comprehensive damage assessments had not been released by police. Investigations into the incidents were ongoing.
The unrest occurred on the same day as separate marches in the Eastern Cape linked to Human Rights Day observances by the ANC and allies, though those events were not connected to the KuGompo protest.
This report is compiled from official statements, police confirmations, and multiple eyewitness and media accounts of the events on 30 March 2026. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
Three Farmers Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Premeditated Murder of Farm Dweller
Pretoria – The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, has sentenced three farmers to life imprisonment each after convicting them of the premeditated murder of Dumisani Phakathi, a farm dweller.
Jaco Wessels Kemp, 36, Louise Coetzee, 29, and Gert Frederik van der Westhuizen, 38, received the maximum sentence. The court also declared all three unfit to possess firearms and ordered them to surrender every firearm, all ammunition, licences, authorisations and permits to the investigating officer.
The murder took place on 16 September 2023 at a chicken farm in Mamokgalieskraal. At about 16:00 that afternoon the three were holding a braai when they noticed Phakathi walking past the farm gate. He was on his way to collect water from a nearby furrow that community members regularly used as a water source.
The three approached Phakathi and assaulted him. They then dragged him into a storage facility on the farm, where the assault continued until he died from his injuries.
In the early hours of 17 September 2023, at approximately 02:00, police stopped Kemp and Coetzee during a routine stop-and-search operation on the R511 towards Brits. The pair were driving a bakkie loaded with black refuse bags. Officers noticed human legs protruding from under the bags. A search revealed the bloodied body of Phakathi, his head covered in plastic. Kemp and Coetzee were arrested at the scene.
Van der Westhuizen handed himself over to police on 19 September 2023 after investigators linked him to the offence.
All three accused pleaded not guilty and attempted to shift blame onto one another. State Prosecutor Advocate Lawrence More presented evidence from State witnesses that proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
During mitigation of sentence, the accused asked the court to depart from the prescribed minimum sentence. They cited the time already spent in custody since their arrest and the fact that they have children to support. Advocate More argued against any leniency, stating that the three had killed Phakathi for no reason. He described the attack as inhumane and cruel, noting that the perpetrators placed the body in rubbish bags in an attempt to dump it.
Advocate More also read victim impact statements into the record. The sister of the deceased stated that she no longer trusts white people because of the incident.
In delivering sentence, the judge found that the accused showed no remorse. He noted there was no apparent reason for the killing and concluded that it was racially motivated.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the life sentences and repeated its commitment to ensuring accountability for violent crimes, particularly those committed against vulnerable members of society.
- Former Brits Teacher Receives Life Sentence for Murdering Wife Whose Body Was Found Next to Railway Line
- Foreign National Avoids Drunk Driving Charge at Durban Roadblock Despite Admitting to Drinking and Attempting to Bribe Metro Officer
- Phone Theft and Pickpocketing Remain a Major Challenge in South Africa
- Chaos Erupts in KuGompo City as Protest Against Alleged Nigerian ‘King’ Coronation Turns Violent
- Fatal Crash on M7 Durban-Bound Before Bellville Offramp Leaves One Dead
Tembisa Taxi Driver Arrested After Fatal Crash on Brian Mazibuko Drive
Tembisa South SAPS has arrested a taxi driver who was operating a white Toyota Quantum without a driver’s licence following a fatal accident that claimed the life of a female passenger.
The incident occurred on Wednesday around 12:30 on Brian Mazibuko Drive near the Welamlambo Section in Tembisa. According to police, the vehicle was travelling in reverse at high speed when it came from the Jiyane Section, showing clear signs of losing control and having no brakes.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing people screaming as passengers jumped from the moving taxi in an attempt to escape. The vehicle came to a stop after the driver lost control, leaving one female passenger lying on the ground. Paramedics who arrived at the scene declared her deceased on the spot.
Four other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby clinic for medical attention. The body of the deceased woman was transported to the Germiston Mortuary.
The driver has been charged with culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving, and driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s licence. He was arrested at the scene and is expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.
Sergeant Kate Selepe, Crime Prevention and Communications Officer at Tembisa South Police Station, issued a statement on behalf of Station Commander Colonel Pero confirming the details of the arrest and investigation.
“According to the eyewitness, she saw a white Toyota Quantum coming from Jiyane Section. The taxi was coming in reverse at a high speed showing signs of losing control and not having brakes,” Selepe said. “People were screaming and jumping out of the moving vehicle.”
Police have not released the names of the driver or the deceased at this stage. The investigation remains ongoing.
