Bonteheuwel, Cape Flats – Three children, all under the age of 15, were wounded in a drive-by shooting in the A-Block area of Bonteheuwel on Thursday.
According to initial reports, an unknown vehicle drove through the residential area and opened fire near the home of a known gangster. The shooting is believed to be a retaliatory attack linked to the killing of a suspected gang member earlier this week in the same community.
The children were not the intended targets. They were struck by gunfire while in the vicinity and sustained gunshot wounds. Emergency services rushed the three victims to a nearby medical facility, where they are reported to be in stable condition.
Police have confirmed that the incident is under active investigation as a gang-related matter. The suspects fled the scene in the vehicle immediately after the shooting. Law enforcement authorities have launched a manhunt and are appealing to members of the public for any information that could lead to the identification and arrest of those responsible.
No further details about the ages or identities of the children have been released at this stage to protect the victims and the ongoing investigation. Police have not yet disclosed the exact time of the shooting or the make and model of the vehicle involved, citing operational reasons.
This marks the latest reported incident of gun violence in the Cape Flats, where community members continue to express concern over the spillover effects of gang conflicts into residential areas.
Robbery at Tuckshop in Portlands, Mitchells Plain
Cape Town – Suspects robbed children at a tuckshop in the Portlands area of Mitchells Plain on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
The incident occurred at approximately 15:09. Reports indicate that the suspects targeted children at the shop and then fled the scene.
No official information has been released on the number of suspects involved, the items stolen, or whether any injuries occurred.
Community members and local safety groups have shared details of the incident on social media and called for anyone with additional information to assist the authorities.
Police have not yet issued a statement on the matter or provided updates on any investigation.
Residents have been encouraged to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
This event forms part of broader concerns regarding crime affecting tuckshops and small businesses in parts of Mitchells Plain.
Investigations are ongoing.
One suspect was killed and four others were arrested after a police shooting in Athlone, Cape Town, on Monday.
Members of the South African Police Service Flying Squad spotted a grey Toyota Avanza travelling without number plates in the Athlone area. The vehicle was occupied by five suspects who were allegedly linked to a business robbery in Lansdowne.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle. According to reports, the driver tried to ram the police vehicle and then fled. Police then opened fire, and the Avanza was eventually brought to a stop.
One suspect was declared dead at the scene. A second suspect sustained injuries and was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital for treatment. The remaining three suspects were arrested on the scene.
The group had reportedly been involved in a string of robberies using the same grey Toyota Avanza without registration plates.
An inquest docket has been opened into the incident. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the use of force by the officers.
Police confirmed that IPID has taken over the investigation. Flying Squad members tried to pull the vehicle over, after which the driver allegedly attempted to ram into the officers.
No identities or ages of the suspects have been released. Police have not provided details on the exact nature or value of items taken during the Lansdowne business robbery.
The incident is part of broader law enforcement operations addressing armed robberies in the Cape Town area. Investigations into the full extent of the suspects’ alleged criminal activities are continuing.
Motorist shoots and kills suspected hijacker, three others arrested after attempted carjacking on R29 near Leandra
LEANDRA, Mpumalanga – A 37-year-old motorist foiled an attempted hijacking on the R29 road near Leandra on Friday morning, 10 April 2026, when he opened fire on four suspects who had forced their way into his vehicle, resulting in the death of one attacker and the arrest of the remaining three.
The incident occurred at the entrance to Leandra on the R29 coming from Kinross, approximately 2 km from the town in Mpumalanga. The driver of a Ford Ranger bakkie was approached from behind by a Mercedes-Benz SUV whose occupants activated flashing lights and hazard lights in an apparent attempt to pull him over.
Instead of stopping immediately, the motorist continued driving until he reached a location he considered safer, about 2 km from Leandra, where he pulled over. According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, one suspect then approached the Ford Ranger from the driver’s side, while two other suspects, both armed with firearms, entered the passenger seat and the rear seat of the bakkie.
The motorist responded by opening fire on the hijackers. The suspects fled on foot into nearby bushes, returning fire as they ran. Police later traced the group’s movements and discovered the body of one man who had been shot. He was confirmed to be one of the hijacking suspects and was declared dead at the scene.
Officers continued the search and arrested three other suspects, aged 36, 40, and 50, in a residential area of Leandra. The men have been charged with attempted car hijacking and attempted murder.
The three arrested suspects appeared in the Leandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 13 April 2026. The case was postponed to Friday, 24 April 2026, to allow for further investigations. Police are examining possible links between the suspects and other car hijackings in the area.
Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that the investigation remains active. No further details regarding the identity of the deceased suspect, any weapons recovered, or the condition of the motorist have been released by police.
The R29 route in the Leandra-Kinross area has seen reports of similar hijacking attempts in the past, raising ongoing concerns about road safety for motorists in the region. Authorities have not disclosed whether the motorist sustained any injuries during the exchange of fire.
- Three SAPS officers arrested for alleged drug possession at Boksburg correctional facility
- Man in critical condition after brutal assault in Hanover Park
- Police disperse EFF protesters blocking N4 in Mpumalanga after Malema sentencing
- Malema sentenced to five years in prison in firearm discharge case, released pending appeal
- Tissue Mishap Briefly Interrupts Proceedings at Madlanga Commission
Armed Robbery at Highveld Mall Jewellery Store Ends in Fatal Shootout in eMalahleni
eMalahleni, Mpumalanga – Three suspects were fatally shot on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, following an armed robbery at a jewellery store inside Highveld Mall in eMalahleni, formerly known as Witbank.
According to reports from the South African Police Service (SAPS), approximately eight armed suspects entered the jewellery store at around 10:00. The group held a security guard and an employee at gunpoint before robbing them of an undisclosed amount of jewellery.10
An armed response unit intervened during the incident, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Two of the suspects were shot and killed inside the mall premises, while the third was fatally wounded outside the building. The remaining suspects fled the scene and are still at large. SAPS has initiated a manhunt to locate and apprehend them.
At the crime scene, police recovered three pistols, a rifle, and ammunition believed to have been used by the suspects. The affected area around the jewellery store was cordoned off and declared a crime scene as investigations continued. Videos from the scene showed suspects fleeing on foot and at least one body on the ground.
Shoppers inside the mall were instructed to take cover and hide in nearby stores while the situation unfolded. Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded swiftly to the scene. No injuries or fatalities were reported among mall staff, security personnel, or members of the public.
Highveld Mall management confirmed that the centre remained fully operational throughout the day. The mall was declared safe for shoppers, with access control measures in place, and normal business activities resumed despite the strong police presence.
The identity of the specific jewellery store has not been publicly released. Details regarding the exact value or type of jewellery taken also remain undisclosed at this stage.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo provided confirmation of the incident details. The case is being investigated as a business robbery, while the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting of the suspects.
Warrant Officer Joseph Malebana is the investigating officer. Members of the public with information that could assist the investigation have been urged to contact him on 072 492 9635.
This incident occurred in broad daylight at one of eMalahleni’s prominent shopping centres and underscores ongoing concerns regarding armed robberies targeting businesses in the area. SAPS has not yet released further updates on the manhunt or additional recoveries as investigations proceed.
