Ten people have died following a serious minibus taxi crash on Old Georgedale Road in Cato Ridge, near Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal.
The crash happened on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, when a single taxi travelling from Hammarsdale towards Cato Ridge reportedly lost control and left the roadway before rolling into bushes.
Emergency services responded to the scene, where multiple people were found trapped in the wreckage. Ten people were pronounced dead following the crash.
Five other people sustained serious injuries and required advanced life support medical treatment. The injured patients were transported to hospital for further medical care.
According to emergency services, several of the deceased were trapped beneath the wreckage. Firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment, including the Jaws of Life, to recover those trapped in the vehicle.
The taxi driver and conductor survived the crash.
A large-scale emergency response was launched following the collision, involving the Durban Metro Police Service Search and Rescue Unit, Cato Ridge members, the Road Traffic Inspectorate, the South African Police Service, the Pietermaritzburg Collision Unit, the Fire Department, Forensic Pathology Services and ALS Paramedics.
Mi7 Emergency Medical Services also attended the scene and treated some of the seriously injured patients before transporting two of them to hospital. Another emergency medical service transported the remaining three injured people.
Old Georgedale Road was affected by the crash and subsequent recovery operation. Motorists were advised to avoid the area where possible, use alternative routes and expect delays while emergency personnel worked at the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. Authorities have not yet confirmed what caused the driver to lose control of the taxi.
The Durban Metro Police Service expressed its condolences to the families and loved ones of the people who died in the crash and urged motorists to exercise caution around the affected area while emergency and recovery teams continued their work.
Four Arrested After Suspected Mandrax Laboratory Uncovered Near Hartbeespoort
Four people have been arrested after police uncovered what is believed to be a drug manufacturing laboratory on a property in Skeerpoort, near Hartbeespoort in the North West.
The arrests were made on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, during an intelligence-driven operation involving members of the Hartbeespoortdam SAPS Crime Prevention Unit, Brits Crime Intelligence and the Hartbeespoortdam K9 Unit.
The suspects are a 39-year-old Zimbabwean man and three women aged between 23 and 29. Police have not disclosed the nationalities of the three women.
According to information released following the operation, police had received intelligence concerning suspected illegal activities taking place at the property in Skeerpoort. The information was shared with specialised police units before officers proceeded to the premises to verify the allegations.
Police arrived at the property during the morning and found the four suspects on the premises.
A subsequent search led to the discovery of what appeared to be a drug laboratory. Police found processed drugs, raw materials and a mixture allegedly used in the production of drugs, together with equipment believed to have been used to manufacture the substances.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of four firearms. These included one rifle and three handguns, along with ammunition.
Further information released about the seizure indicates that police recovered approximately 24,000 processed Mandrax tablets believed to have been ready for distribution. Officers also seized a large quantity of raw material used in drug production, as well as a commercial-grade tablet press and different dies used to produce various types of tablets.
The discovery has raised concerns about the scale of the alleged operation. North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams attended the scene and said the setup at the property suggested that the drugs manufactured there may have been distributed more widely.
Police are also investigating how long the alleged drug manufacturing operation had been taking place at the property. Information concerning the lease of the premises has led investigators to suspect that the activities may have been ongoing for an extended period.
The four suspects face charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as dealing in and manufacturing drugs in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act.
They are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court. The specific date of their first court appearance had not yet been announced.
Police are continuing with the investigation and are working to establish the full extent of the alleged drug manufacturing operation. Authorities are also determining the value of the drugs and other materials seized during the raid.
The latest operation comes amid continued police efforts in the North West to identify and dismantle facilities allegedly involved in the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs.
#sapsHQ [HARTBEESPOORTDAM POLICE SEIZE FOUR FIREARMS AND UNCOVER DRUG LABORATORY] Four suspects were arrested and four firearms, including a rifle and three handguns, were seized following an intelligence-driven operation at a plot in Scheerpoort, close to Hartbeespoortdam, on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. Hartbeespoortdam SAPS Crime Prevention members received information regarding suspected illegal activities at the property, and the information was subsequently shared with Brits Crime Intelligence and Hartbeespoortdam K9 for further intelligence gathering and verification. Upon arrival at the identified address this morning, members found three females and one male. A search of the premises uncovered what appeared to be a drug laboratory, with processed drugs, a drug production mixture and equipment allegedly used in the manufacturing of drugs. The four suspects, a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national male and three females aged between 23 and 29, were arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as dealing and manufacturing of drugs in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992 (Act No. 140 of 1992). The suspects are expected to appear before the Brits Magistrates’ Court soon. Police investigations into the matter and to determine the value of the seized drugs are continuing. #fightingcrime #TrioCrimes #DrugsOffTheStreets #GunsOffTheStreets SG https://t.co/J23tGKCskF
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 6, 2026
All four suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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