Johannesburg, Gauteng – The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Gauteng has expressed approval for the recent arrests of four individuals linked to a fraud case involving R4.9 million in social grants.
The suspects include two active SASSA officials and one former employee. They were detained on February 24, 2026, by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Provincial Investigating Unit after a detailed investigation into the improper handling and authorization of social grants.
SASSA stated that the actions violated Section 21 of the Social Assistance Act and Regulation 10 under the Social Assistance Act (Act 13 of 2004).
Authorities arrested one of the suspects at a workshop located in Heidelberg, while the other three were taken into custody in Soshanguve. The four are scheduled to make their initial court appearance at the Soshanguve Magistrates Court on February 25, 2026.
The operation stemmed from a joint effort between SASSA’s Fraud and Compliance Unit and various law enforcement bodies.
Godfrey Mohlamonyane, the Acting Regional Executive Manager for SASSA in Gauteng, praised the contributions of the SAPS and the agency’s internal investigators. He emphasized SASSA’s firm stance against fraud and corruption.
Mohlamonyane noted that employees who misuse their roles erode confidence in the system and prevent aid from reaching those in need. He affirmed that violations would result in legal action and internal discipline.
He further highlighted that protecting government resources is a key focus, and these arrests are intended to discourage similar misconduct.
SASSA plans to enhance its internal safeguards and oversight mechanisms to maintain the reliability of the social grant program. The agency urges citizens and staff to alert the closest SASSA branch or police about potential fraud, with options for anonymous reporting available.
Tragic Kidnapping in Toekomsrus Leads to Discovery of One Victim’s Body
Randfontein, West Rand – February 25, 2026
Authorities are intensifying efforts following the kidnapping of two young men in Toekomsrus, a area outside Randfontein on the West Rand. The incident occurred on February 15, and has since resulted in the recovery of one victim’s body from an abandoned mine shaft.
The body of 21-year-old Ashley Scheepers was found in the disused shaft, confirming a grim outcome for one of the victims. The other individual, a 17-year-old male, is still unaccounted for, with search operations ongoing to locate him.
Investigators have linked the case to alleged activities by “Zama Zamas,” a term used for illegal miners who frequently operate within abandoned mining sites. These locations in parts of Gauteng are known for their structural instability and have been connected to various criminal incidents over recent years.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is leading the investigation into the kidnapping and related events. Current priorities include advancing the probe, coordinating search and rescue initiatives for the missing teenager, and implementing safety protocols for communities near these hazardous abandoned mines.
Local residents have expressed heightened concerns about the risks posed by such sites, which continue to attract unauthorized mining operations despite their dangers. Officials have not released further details on suspects or motives at this time, as the case remains active.
Shootout at Randvaal Petrol Station Leaves Officer Injured, Two Suspects Dead
Randvaal, Gauteng – A confrontation between South African Police Service (SAPS) officers and armed suspects unfolded at the Engen Blockhouse service station along the R59 highway in Randvaal on the morning of February 25, 2026. The incident resulted in one police officer sustaining gunshot wounds and two suspects being fatally shot during the exchange of fire.
The shootout took place at approximately 6:53 AM SAST, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement. Authorities established a crime scene at the location, blocking off the road leading to the petrol station and deploying multiple police vehicles to secure the area. Motorists traveling northbound on the R59 toward Johannesburg were advised to avoid the vicinity due to the ongoing police activity and resulting delays.
Details of the events leading up to the shootout indicate that the suspects were involved in robbery activities at the time of the encounter with police. The injured SAPS member was promptly attended to, though the extent of the wounds has not been disclosed. The two suspects were pronounced dead at the scene following the gunfire exchange.
The R59 highway, a major route in Gauteng connecting areas south of Johannesburg, has seen similar incidents in the past, but this event stands as a distinct occurrence on February 25, 2026. No additional casualties among civilians or further suspects have been reported in connection with this specific shootout.
Investigations into the identities of the suspects and the precise circumstances surrounding the initiation of the shootout remain ongoing as of 9:57 AM SAST. Authorities have not released further statements regarding potential motives or related arrests at this time.
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Primary School Teacher Killed in Taxi Collision on Botfontein Road While Heading to Kraaifontein School
Annie Newing, a 58-year-old Grade 1 teacher at Watsonia Park Primary School in Kraaifontein, died on Friday morning after a collision with a taxi on Botfonteinweg.
The incident occurred around 05:50 when Newing was driving her red car on her regular route to school. According to eyewitness accounts reported by her family, the taxi overtook on a hill, resulting in the collision.
Newing was still alive when emergency services arrived at the scene. She was transported to Tygerberg Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries later that morning.
Newing followed the same routine every school day. She would first stop at the home of her sister Jeanie Matroos (65), who operates a crèche, before continuing to Watsonia Park Primary. Matroos used Newing’s car to collect children for the crèche.
On Friday morning, Newing did not arrive at her sister’s home at the expected time. Matroos became concerned and was later informed of a major accident involving a taxi and a red car on Botfonteinweg. Family members were already at the scene when Matroos arrived.
Matroos knelt beside her injured sister and told her: “Sis, moenie bekommerd wees nie. Ek is hier.” Newing was described by her sister as broken and vulnerable but still present at that moment.
Newing had been teaching at Watsonia Park Primary for 11 years. She was one of five sisters and was known within the family for arriving at school earlier than others on winter mornings to ensure the classroom was warm for the children before they arrived.
The day before the accident, Newing shared a testimony in church stating she was ready if the Lord should come at any time. Her final WhatsApp status before leaving home on Friday morning was the Bible verse from Acts 20:24.
No further details on the taxi driver, road conditions beyond the overtaking on the hill, or official police statements have been released at this time.
Parolee and Serial Killer Ayanda Dayi Handed Four Life Sentences for Four Murders in Western Cape
CAPE TOWN – The Wynberg Regional Court sentenced 42-year-old Ayanda Dayi to four terms of life imprisonment on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, after convicting him of the murders of four men in separate attacks across the Western Cape in 2024.
Dayi, who was on parole at the time of the offences, was also found guilty of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and multiple counts involving the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. In addition to the life sentences, the court imposed a 15-year term for robbery with aggravating circumstances, three 15-year sentences for the illegal possession of firearms, a four-year sentence for illegal possession of ammunition, and a 10-year sentence for attempted murder. Dayi was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The convictions relate to two separate incidents earlier in 2024. On 16 May 2024, Dayi and an accomplice stopped a Sasko bread delivery truck on Symphony Way in Delft. The two delivery workers were shot and killed while making a routine bread delivery to a spaza shop, even though they offered no resistance. Video footage of the shooting, which was widely shared on social media, drew widespread public condemnation.
Earlier that year, Dayi shot and killed two unarmed men in Dunoon before hijacking their vehicle.
Dayi had prior convictions for rape and robbery and was serving a parole period when he committed the 2024 killings.
Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile welcomed the outcome of the case. He commended the investigative team and the prosecution for their work in securing the convictions and ensuring accountability for the families of the four victims.
The sentencing brings to a close a high-profile case that involved coordinated police work across multiple Western Cape areas and focused attention on violent crime linked to repeat offenders. All four murder victims were men who were going about their daily work or travel when they were attacked.
