Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal – Authorities are investigating after the body of an unidentified male was found in a stream along Stonebridge Drive earlier today. The discovery occurred near a residential property, prompting a response from emergency services.
Concerned homeowners spotted the body floating in the stream below the roadway and alerted passing emergency personnel. Responders from a local emergency service arrived at the scene and assessed the individual, who displayed no signs of life. The man was pronounced dead on site.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) was immediately notified, along with other relevant emergency teams, who all attended the location. SAPS Search and Rescue officials conducted the recovery operation, retrieving the body from the stream. It has since been moved to a nearby mortuary where further examinations will take place to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.
At this time, the identity of the deceased remains unknown, and officials have not released additional details pending the ongoing investigation.
Bulgarian Fugitive Wanted for Drug Trafficking Captured in Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa – A Bulgarian citizen long sought by international authorities for drug-related crimes has been detained in Cape Town following an extended period of evasion.
Stanislav Stamenov, aged 41, was convicted in Romania in 2009 and received a 16-year prison sentence for involvement in heroin trafficking. He escaped Romania soon after the sentencing and remained at large as a fugitive.
The arrest occurred this morning on February 27, carried out by members of the South African Police Service’s National Intervention Unit at Stamenov’s residence in Cape Town, often referred to as the Mother City.
Investigators indicate that Stamenov had resided in Cape Town for multiple years, maintaining a low profile by employment as a personal trainer in various local gyms.
Stamenov was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, which serves as an international request for law enforcement to identify and temporarily detain individuals for potential extradition.
He is scheduled for an appearance at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, at which point proceedings for his extradition are anticipated to commence.
High-Profile Inmate Thulani Gcaleka Escapes from Sevontein Prison in Pietermaritzburg
South African law enforcement agencies have initiated a widespread search operation after Thulani Gcaleka, an inmate convicted of serious crimes and serving a life sentence, escaped from the Sevontein Correctional Services facility in Pietermaritzburg.
Gcaleka, who hails from Bizana, became widely known three years ago when a video emerged online depicting him involved in a sexual act with a prison guard. This incident led to significant public attention and prompted an extensive probe into issues of corruption and lapses in security at the prison.
Now labeled as a dangerous escapee, Gcaleka was most recently sighted in the uMzimkhulu region on Monday. The Department of Correctional Services has emphasized that while his public image stems from the scandalous video, his record includes grave offenses.
Officials from the police have advised the community against any attempts to confront Gcaleka, noting that he is regarded as a high-risk individual who could be carrying weapons or exhibit unpredictable behavior.
The public is encouraged to report any details about his location to the nearest police station or via the Crime Stop hotline without delay.
In response to the breakout, an assessment of security measures at the Sevontein facility is underway to identify the circumstances that allowed the escape.
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Tragic Cash-in-Transit Heist in eMalahleni Leaves One Guard Dead and Two Bystanders Injured
eMalahleni, Mpumalanga – A daring cash-in-transit (CIT) heist unfolded this morning outside the Standard Bank branch in the central business district of eMalahleni, formerly known as Witbank, resulting in the death of a security guard and injuries to two innocent women. The incident, described as a cross-pavement robbery, involved armed assailants targeting security personnel as they transported cash across the pavement to the bank.
Eyewitness footage from the scene shows paramedics and police attending to the victims inside the shopping center housing the Standard Bank branch. The two women, who appear to be bystanders caught in the crossfire, were treated on the floor near the bank’s entrance, with medical personnel providing urgent care amid a chaotic environment. The security guard was fatally shot during the attack, marking a grim escalation in the ongoing issue of CIT robberies in the region.
The heist took place near prominent stores like Capitec and Pep, with video evidence capturing the immediate aftermath: injured individuals lying on the ground, surrounded by emergency responders in reflective vests, and cleaning equipment nearby as authorities secured the area. Crowds of onlookers gathered, some recording the scene on their phones, while police cordoned off sections of the mall to manage the situation.
In a swift development following the robbery, one suspect was apprehended by officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) near the Springs offramp. The man, believed to be involved in the heist, was found in possession of cash and firearms. Footage of the arrest depicts the suspect handcuffed and detained in the back of a police van, with officers in yellow vests inspecting a silver vehicle that had veered off the road into a grassy embankment. Additional vehicles, including white bakkies, were present at the arrest site, indicating a coordinated police response.
The outdoor scene at the bank included multiple police vehicles, some with visible damage such as shattered windows, lined up in the parking area. Traffic cones and tape were used to secure the perimeter, with officers directing bystanders and vehicles away from the vicinity.
Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances of the heist, including the number of suspects involved and whether additional arrests are forthcoming. No further details on the condition of the injured women have been released at this time, but the incident highlights the risks posed to both security personnel and the public during such attacks.
Local police responded to the scene within minutes of the robbery being reported, demonstrating a rapid deployment that led to the quick arrest of the suspect. The event has drawn attention to the persistent challenge of CIT heists in Mpumalanga, with calls for enhanced security measures around banking facilities in high-traffic areas.
