Kriel, Mpumalanga – Two truck drivers have been arrested following a coordinated theft of coal from a mining operation in the Nkangala District.
The incident took place on Thursday, 5 February 2026, at approximately 23:00. Seven armed suspects approached mine employees from different directions and overpowered them. The employees were restrained using cable ties and locked inside a guardroom, where they were ordered to lie on the floor.
During the time the employees were held, 14 trucks entered the mine premises. The trucks were loaded with coal before departing. An employee in a different section of the mine noticed the suspicious activity and alerted the mine owner, who then contacted a private security company.
Security personnel arrived at the scene and managed to intercept four of the trucks. Two truck drivers were arrested on site and handed over to the South African Police Service in Kriel. The remaining 10 trucks left the area with the stolen coal, which has been valued at approximately R480,000.
The arrested drivers are facing charges of business robbery and theft. They are scheduled to appear in the Kriel Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 9 February 2026.
In a follow-up action, investigators from the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit used digital leads from a suspect’s cellphone to detain two additional truck owners. These individuals are currently being held for further questioning.
The four intercepted trucks remain parked at the mine, as there are no suitable storage facilities available at this time. Police have confirmed that investigations are continuing and that further arrests have not been ruled out.
No names of the suspects or the specific mine involved have been released by authorities. The South African Police Service is leading the case with support from the organised crime unit.
Western Cape Police Arrest Four in Separate Drug Possession Cases in Manenberg and Mfuleni
Cape Town – Police in the Western Cape arrested four men on drug-related charges during operations in the Manenberg area and a separate incident in Mfuleni over the weekend of 6 to 7 February 2026.
Officers from the South African Police Service, including Public Order Police and the Manenberg Crime Prevention Unit, carried out high-density operations in known hotspot areas of Manenberg. These operations involved stop-and-search actions, patrols, and increased visibility aimed at addressing violent gang-related activities.
On Friday 6 February 2026, while on patrol in the Surrey Estate section of the Manenberg precinct, officers spotted a silver Toyota Corolla at the intersection of Ruimte and Orion roads. The occupants of the vehicle reacted suspiciously upon seeing the police. Officers stopped the car and searched the two men inside.
The search revealed that the 25-year-old and 33-year-old each had 44 units of tik, along with two packets of uncut tik. The drugs seized in this incident have an estimated street value of R1 million. Police confiscated the substances and booked them in as evidence.
In a separate stop the same day, members of the Manenberg Crime Prevention Unit searched a 41-year-old man in Susan Court, Heideveld. They found one unit of cocaine in his possession.
The three men arrested in Manenberg – aged 25, 33, and 41 – are scheduled to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday 9 February 2026 on charges of possession of drugs.
In an unrelated incident on Saturday 7 February 2026 at approximately 08:20, Public Order Police officers acted on information about drugs at a property in Abbey Street, Mfuleni. They searched both the 57-year-old suspect and the premises.
Officers discovered 181 mandrax tablets hidden inside a black pipe in a kitchen sink cupboard. The man was arrested for possession of mandrax and detained at the Mfuleni police station. He is due to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on Monday 9 February 2026.
These arrests form part of ongoing police efforts to disrupt the illegal drug trade in affected communities in the Western Cape.
Three Suspects Arrested for Possession of Unlicensed Firearms and Ammunition in Bekkersdal
Bekkersdal, Gauteng – 8 February 2026
Gauteng South African Police Service officers from the Provincial Illegal Mining Stabilisation Team arrested three suspects in Bekkersdal, West Rand District, in the early hours of Sunday, 8 February 2026.
The team intercepted a maroon Toyota Corolla sedan around midnight while patrolling the Sporong informal settlement and surrounding Bekkersdal areas. The vehicle had three occupants.
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A search of the car revealed three AK-47 rifles wrapped in blankets in the boot. Officers also found ammunition on one of the suspects.
The three suspects were arrested on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
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Police have stated that the suspects will appear in court soon. Investigations into the matter are continuing.
This incident occurred during routine patrols conducted by the specialised unit in the West Rand area. No further details on the identities or ages of the suspects have been released at this stage.
The recovery of the three rifles and ammunition was confirmed in official police reporting from the scene.
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Manhunt Underway in Bloemfontein After Three Women Fatally Shot in Separate Incidents
Bloemfontein – Authorities in the Free State province are actively searching for suspects after three women were killed in two distinct shooting events over the weekend in the Bloemspruit and Namibia Square neighborhoods.
The most recent case was reported early on Sunday morning, February 8, 2026, at approximately 1:50 a.m. Officers from the Bloemspruit Crime Prevention unit, while conducting standard patrols, came across the bodies of two women near a home in Namibia Square. Both individuals, thought to be in their late 20s, had been shot in the back of the head. Paramedics confirmed their deaths upon arrival at the location.
Descriptions provided by investigators indicate that one victim was clad in light blue jeans paired with a green hoodie, and the other wore a blue denim shirt along with black denim jeans.
This followed a similar discovery on Saturday, February 8, 2026, when the remains of a woman in her mid-30s were located beside Meadows Road in Bloemspruit. She too had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Police have noted that none of the victims carried identification, leaving their names unconfirmed at this time. The reasons behind these shootings are still being examined, with no suspects in custody yet.
“The identities of the three deceased are not yet known since no documents were recovered from the scenes. We are probing the motives, and there have been no apprehensions so far,” stated Police Spokesperson Mahlomola Kareli.
Individuals with details about who the victims might be or leads on those responsible are encouraged to reach out to Detective Sergeant Machalotsa at 073 729 1732.
