Cape Town – An incident involving the robbery of children occurred at a tuckshop in the Portlands area of Mitchells Plain on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
The incident took place at approximately 15:09. According to available reports, suspects robbed children at the shop before fleeing the scene.
No details regarding the number of suspects, the exact items taken, or any injuries sustained during the robbery have been officially released at this stage.
Community safety groups and local residents have shared information about the incident on social media, urging anyone with further details to come forward and assist authorities.
Police have not yet issued a formal statement confirming the robbery or providing additional information on the investigation.
Residents in the area have been advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
This latest incident adds to ongoing concerns about crime in parts of Mitchells Plain, where tuckshops and small businesses are frequently targeted.
Investigations into the matter are expected to continue as authorities gather more information from witnesses and the community.
Banyana Banyana prepare for postponed 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria friendlies
Durban – Banyana Banyana, South Africa’s senior women’s national football team, have assembled in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, for two international friendly matches against Algeria as part of their preparations for the rescheduled 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The friendlies are scheduled for 14 April 2026 at Princes Magogo Stadium and 17 April 2026 at King Zwelithini Stadium. Coach Desiree Ellis has named a 24-player squad for the series.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially postponed the 2026 WAFCON from its original dates of 17 March to 3 April 2026 to the new window of 25 July to 16 August 2026. The tournament remains hosted by Morocco and continues to serve as a qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Ellis has described the postponement as a blessing in disguise, providing additional time for squad development and match practice ahead of the continental showpiece.
In March 2026, Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s senior men’s national team, played two international friendlies against Panama as part of their build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they have been drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and either Denmark or the Czech Republic.
The first friendly on 27 March 2026 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban ended in a 1-1 draw, with Oswin Appollis scoring for South Africa. The second match on 31 March 2026 in Cape Town resulted in a 2-1 defeat for Bafana Bafana, marking their first home loss under coach Hugo Broos.
Bafana Bafana are scheduled to open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Mexico on 11 June 2026 at Stadio Azteca in Mexico City.
In other domestic sports developments, Athletics South Africa postponed the 2026 National High/LSEN Schools Athletics Championships, which have now been rescheduled for 29 April to 2 May 2026 outside Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has stated that heads will roll over the initial postponement due to organisational issues.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa held its debut event in Pretoria on 11 April 2026 at SunBet Arena, featuring a full card of mixed martial arts bouts.
These activities reflect ongoing preparations across South African national teams and domestic sporting bodies in April 2026.
- Robbery reported at tuckshop in Portlands, Mitchells Plain
- Two suspects arrested in connection with Kliprivier ATM bombing
- One suspect was killed and four others were arrested following a police shooting in Athlone, Cape Town, on Monday.
- Suspected Poachers Confronted by Member of the Public at Schoenmakerskop
- Three Suspects Shot Dead Following Armed Robbery at Jewellery Store in Highveld Mall, eMalahleni
South Africa secures record investment pledges at 2026 conference despite implementation challenges
Johannesburg – South Africa has attracted record investment commitments totalling 889.8 billion rand at the sixth South Africa Investment Conference held in Johannesburg in late March 2026, as part of a five-year drive aiming for 3 trillion rand in investments by 2030.
The pledges involve 81 confirmed investments, according to details released following the event. The conference highlighted efforts to position the country as a preferred investment destination, with emphasis on execution, local content, and mobilisation of domestic capital.
However, official data indicate that less than half of previous investment pledges have materialised into actual economic activity. This delivery gap persists despite the strong commitments secured at successive conferences.
The event also featured discussions on Africa’s broader investment potential, including an estimated 4.4 trillion US dollars in investable domestic capital across pension funds, insurance assets, banks, and sovereign wealth funds that could support infrastructure and industrialisation.
In a related development, the South African Revenue Service collected a record net revenue of just over 2 trillion rand in the period leading up to the conference, marking the fastest growth since the service first reached the 1 trillion rand milestone.
The National Treasury has welcomed these outcomes, noting that the investment conference and strong revenue performance support ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts. Government debt is projected to peak at 78.9% of GDP in the fiscal year ending March 2026 before declining to 77.3% in 2026/27.
The 2026 national budget, presented in February, projected real GDP growth of 1.6% for 2026, up from 1.4% in 2025, with growth expected to reach 2% by 2028. Inflation averaged 3.2% in 2025 and is forecast around 3.3% over the medium term.
The South African Reserve Bank maintained its repo rate at 6.75% in its March 2026 monetary policy decision, citing upside risks to inflation from higher energy prices linked to global developments, while keeping the decision unanimous.
The rand has shown relative stability in April 2026, trading around 16.36 against the US dollar in mid-month trade, supported by a weaker dollar and softer oil prices.
These developments form part of broader efforts to stabilise public finances, reduce the main budget deficit from 4.5% of GDP in 2025/26, and promote structural reforms in energy, transport, and other sectors to boost private investment and job creation.
Investigators and policymakers continue to monitor implementation of pledged projects and revenue performance as key indicators for sustained economic recovery in the country.
