Johannesburg – Ndzudzeni Ratshilumela, a content creator employed as a locomotive worker at Transnet in Ladysmith, has been dismissed by the state-owned logistics company following the circulation of a video in which he imitated the dance movements of a child with a disability.
The video, which has since been removed, showed Ratshilumela seated on a couch wearing a yellow t-shirt and jeans as he replicated the child’s movements. The clip spread rapidly on social media platforms, drawing criticism for its portrayal of the child’s condition.
Reports indicate that Ratshilumela, who is Venda-born, had previously posted similar content involving individuals with disabilities. This pattern contributed to the intensity of the public response after the latest video surfaced.
In the days following the video’s viral spread, Ratshilumela’s main Facebook account, which had accumulated more than 700,000 followers, was deactivated. His TikTok account was also suspended amid a wave of reports from users.
Transnet confirmed it had received complaints about the posts and launched an internal investigation. The company stated that the conduct conflicted with its organisational values of respect, dignity, inclusion, and care. It emphasised that discrimination and the humiliation of others have no place in the company or the communities it serves. Following the disciplinary process, Transnet terminated Ratshilumela’s employment.
The incident took place while Ratshilumela was off duty. He later issued an apology, describing the video as an honest joke and posting a response that included the phrase “Ndori sorry” on a backup Facebook page he opened after the deactivation of his primary account.
The events have highlighted the rapid consequences that can follow from social media content. Users across platforms expressed strong views on the responsibilities of content creators when depicting vulnerable individuals, particularly children with disabilities. The case has also prompted renewed online conversations about the boundaries of imitation and humour in digital spaces.
Ratshilumela’s dismissal marks the conclusion of Transnet’s response to the matter, with the company reinforcing its position against any form of conduct that undermines respect for others. The full sequence—from the video’s posting to the loss of social media accounts and employment—unfolded over a short period in early February 2026.
Suspects Fatally Shot During Robbery at Viva Petrol Station in Mamelodi
Pretoria, South Africa – February 12, 2026
Armed robbers targeted the Viva Petrol Station at the intersection of K54 and Tsamaya Road in Mamelodi, Pretoria, in the early hours of Thursday morning, leading to a violent confrontation in which some suspects were shot dead and firearms were recovered.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 AM. According to reports from the scene, the perpetrators attempted to gain access to the station’s cash safe by using explosives. Multiple blasts were reported in the area, consistent with the bombing of a drop safe, a tactic sometimes used in business robberies in South Africa. Nearby residents described hearing a series of explosions, with some accounts specifying around three blasts before gunfire erupted.
During the robbery, a shootout took place at the petrol station. Initial reports indicate that several suspects were fatally shot in the exchange. Firearms belonging to the suspects were seized at the scene. Details on the exact number of individuals killed, any possible survivors or arrests, and whether any cash was taken remain limited as the situation is still developing.
Community members and local alerts described the station’s security as responding effectively to the threat. Some accounts from people in the vicinity mentioned the sound of sustained gunfire following the explosions and the possible involvement of aerial support, such as a helicopter, during the response.
The Viva Petrol Station on Tsamaya Road is a well-known fuel stop in the Mamelodi township. Similar robberies involving the bombing of cash safes or ATMs have occurred at other petrol stations in the Mamelodi area in recent years, including incidents in 2024 where explosives damaged drop safes and, in at least one case, resulted in the death of a petrol attendant.
As of the latest available information, no official statement has been released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) detailing the full circumstances, the identities or number of suspects involved, or the outcome for any station staff or bystanders. Investigations into the robbery, the use of explosives, and the fatal shooting are underway.
This event adds to ongoing concerns about armed business robberies and cash-safe bombings in Gauteng townships, where criminals frequently target high-cash businesses during off-peak hours.
Further updates are expected once police confirm details from the scene and forensic investigations. Authorities have not yet commented on any potential links to other recent crimes in the region.
Woman from Somerset West Assaulted and Robbed on Cape Town Airport Access Road
A woman from Somerset West was driving on the Airport access road in Cape Town on Saturday evening when she became the victim of a robbery involving a firearm. The incident occurred at approximately 7pm.
According to eyewitness accounts, the driver encountered a series of rocks that had been positioned on the roadway. Her vehicle struck the rocks and stalled as a result. A man then approached the driver’s window while brandishing a firearm. He threatened to shoot her if she did not comply with his demands.
The suspect struck the woman on the chest with the firearm before taking her handbag and mobile phone. After the theft, he crossed the road, climbed over a barricade, and fled into nearby informal settlements.
The victim was left shaken by the assault. No further details about her injuries have been released beyond the strike to the chest.
This event involved a single armed suspect who used the strategically placed rocks to stop the vehicle and carry out the robbery. Eyewitnesses described the sequence, noting how the obstacles forced the car to halt before the man approached.
The robbery follows a similar incident reported last month on New Year’s evening. An elderly deaf couple was travelling on the N1 highway near Century City when their vehicle broke down. Men who appeared to offer assistance instead ambushed them, assaulted the couple with weapons, and stole their wallets, phones, and the male victim’s hearing aid.
Attempts to obtain comment from the Western Cape South African Police Service about the Airport access road robbery have not been successful so far.
In connection with ongoing attacks on motorists, particularly along the N2, Freedom Front Plus councillor Emre Uygun issued a statement advising members of the public on how to report such crimes. He said there are many incidents involving motorists on the N2, but some victims avoid opening cases because they do not feel safe visiting the Nyanga police station. Uygun recommended that people go to their local police station—in areas such as Brackenfell, Mitchells Plain, or Bellville—to open a case and then request that it be transferred to the relevant authority.
The facts of the Saturday evening incident remain as reported by eyewitnesses: rocks placed on the Airport access road, a stalled vehicle, an armed approach, threats, a physical strike with the firearm to the chest, theft of a handbag and phone, and the suspect’s escape into nearby shacks after crossing a barricade. No arrests have been announced in connection with this specific case.
- Transnet Dismisses Employee After Video Imitating Child with Disability Sparks Outrage
- Police Arrest Driver After White Avanza Runs Over Woman Twice in Ramogodi
- Suspects Fatally Shot During Robbery at Viva Petrol Station in Mamelodi
- Seven Injured in Multi-Vehicle Collision on R56 Near Pietermaritzburg
- Woman from Somerset West Assaulted and Robbed on Cape Town Airport Access Road
Gauteng Traffic Police Recover Multiple Hijacked and Stolen Vehicles in Johannesburg Operations
Johannesburg – Authorities in Gauteng have recovered several hijacked and stolen vehicles during coordinated intelligence-driven operations conducted across Johannesburg Central and surrounding areas.
The operations involved members of the Gauteng Traffic Police and Gauteng Traffic Wardens STT (Central Corridor), working in collaboration with JMPD K9, Car Track, Tracker SA, and Rentrak.
Among the vehicles recovered were:
- An Isuzu KB250 bakkie that had been taken during a house robbery in Rosettenville. It was located in the Johannesburg CBD on Rissik Street.
- A hijacked Hino truck, found inside a yard in Ennerdale.
- A stolen Toyota Hilux, recovered in Lenasia.
- A hijacked FAW truck, recovered in Devland.
- A Chevrolet that was hijacked in Orlando, discovered abandoned at a complex in Ennerdale Extension 3.
- A hijacked Mahindra pick-up bakkie, recovered in the Meriting informal settlement in Finetown.
- A hijacked Toyota Quantum that was taken in Potchefstroom, recovered at a yard in Protea Glen. One suspect was arrested in connection with this vehicle.
- A second hijacked Mahindra pick-up bakkie, recovered in Finetown on Phillip Street.
The recoveries form part of ongoing efforts focused on vehicle theft and hijacking in the region. All vehicles have been secured by the relevant authorities for further investigation and return to their owners where possible.
