Cape Flats communities bleed while SAPS drags its feet

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

Cape Flats communities bleed while SAPS drags its feet

The past weekend once again exposed the brutal reality faced by communities across the Cape Flats. Our neighborhoods have been turned into war zones, our streets stained with blood, and our people left to live in fear, while the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to fail in protecting the very citizens it is mandated to serve.

In Lotus River, five men came under fire in Nita Street on Sunday morning. A 32-year-old man died on the scene, while four others, aged between 18 and 42, were left wounded. The Grassy Park SAPS, which oversees the area, is currently under strain, with 28 detectives each managing 156 dockets. The station has 113 active SAPS members and is operating with a 27.56% vacancy rate.

In Overcome Heights, the Muizenberg SAPS registered yet another murder following the fatal shooting of a 34-year-old man on Rasta Road. The incident is suspected to be gang-related. The Muizenberg station has 21 detectives, each handling an average of 101 dockets, and 81 active SAPS members, with a 24.30% vacancy rate.

In Mitchells Plain, violence flared once again over the weekend. A 50-year-old man was gunned down in Tafelsig on Friday, while another man was shot and wounded in Platteklip Street. Later in the weekend, a 70-year-old woman in Beacon Valley was shot in the stomach, and in Eastridge, a 32-year-old man was killed while another was wounded — both incidents believed to be linked to gang activity. The Mitchells Plain SAPS currently has 110 detectives managing 82 dockets each, supported by 393 active members, and is functioning with a 15.12% vacancy rate.

These numbers expose a policing system that is chronically under-resourced, over-stretched, and failing our communities. Detectives are drowning under impossible caseloads, stations are crippled by high vacancy rates, and operational capacity is collapsing, yet national SAPS management remains silent and unmoved.

Benedicta van Minnen MPP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety said: “Our communities are bleeding. Mothers are burying their children. Children grow up normalizing gunfire. The Cape Flats has become a battlefield, and the national government’s centralized control of policing is costing lives every single day.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape reiterates our urgent call for the devolution of policing powers to the Western Cape. Provincial and local authorities, who understand the realities on the ground, must be empowered to manage policing resources, appoint leadership, and direct safety strategies that work for our communities.

This is not about politics; it is about saving lives. The time for talk is over.

We cannot continue to mourn while Pretoria drags its feet.

We demand:

• Immediate reinforcement of SAPS resources to all high-crime precincts in the Cape Flats.

• Filling of all critical vacancies within the next quarter.

• Transfer of policing powers to Provincial and local government to ensure accountability, responsiveness, and community-driven safety interventions.

Our message is clear: devolution now, before more lives are lost.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

GOLD REFINERY LINKED TO ZAMA ZAMA SYNDICATES IN BOOYSENS

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

​GOLD REFINERY LINKED TO ZAMA ZAMA SYNDICATES IN BOOYSENS

​The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the Hawks, and two Private Security companies confirm a major breakthrough in the fight against illegal mining, announcing the successful uncovering and dismantling of a clandestine gold refinery in Booysens, Johannesburg.

​The operation was conducted by the JMPD K-9 Unit in collaboration with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and two Private Security companies following intensive intelligence-gathering and surveillance. The raided facility is believed to have been operating as a key processing hub for illegal mining (Zama Zama).

​While the facility holds legal registration to process precious metals, investigations revealed it was illegally processing gold-bearing material for illegal miners, a contravention of its registered mandate.

​Four suspects were arrested on the scene. This includes three individuals, two males and one female, identified as suspected illegal miners (Zama Zamas) and the male manager of the facility. The suspects have been formally charged with the contravention of the Precious Metals Act (possession and dealing in precious metals) and bribery after they attempted to bribe the officials with R20 000 for their release.

Authorities seized gold-bearing material and processed gold with an estimated street value of R1,000,000. The facility has been shut down pending further investigation.

​JMPD Acting Chief of Police, Acting Commissioner Eldred Fortein, stated: "This joint operation sends a clear message, the JMPD, alongside the Hawks, is aggressively targeting the entire value chain of illegal mining. We are not just focusing on the individuals underground, but on the sophisticated, illegitimate infrastructure, like this refinery, that enables illegal miners to operate. We will continue to disrupt these criminal networks that threaten the safety and economic stability of our city."

The arrested suspects are expected to appear in court soon. The JMPD and our stakeholders remain resolute in targeting the criminal enterprises supporting illegal mining activities within the Johannesburg Metropolitan area.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

INTEGRATE THE GAUTENG CRIME PREVENTION WARDENS

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

INTEGRATE THE GAUTENG CRIME PREVENTION WARDENS 

The uMkhonto weSizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV) applauds the decision to integrate the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens (GCPW) into the law enforcement mainstream. We wish to commend and magnify the proposed 30 day plan tofinalize the appointment and retention of the CPWs as trafficwardens and welcome the collaboration between variousgovernment departments to ensure a smooth implementation. 

MKLWV views the initiative as a non partisan effort to enhanmce public safety, contrary to the narrative and claims that this move was inspired by a partosan agenda to gain the votes. The CPW’s have been a success story, despite facing opposition and challenges. Their efforts have brought a sense of order and safety to communities, earning the admiration of peace loving South Africans. 

We extend our gratitude to Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the collective leadership of Gauteng for their support of this initiative. Their pointed leadeship in carrying the hopes of over 8000 CPW’s and prioritising the safety and well being of Gauteng residents is not taken for granted.

Those who have consistently celebrated Gauteng government setbacks, seemingly are motivated by their opposition to transformative policies like BELA, NHI, BEE and other progressive public policies. We must remain committed to these principles of freedom and democracy enshrined in the Freedom Charter.

There was never a doubt from the MKLWV that this initiative was not informed by a partisan perspective as propagated by those opposing this initiative. 

All the peace loving South Africans will continue to salute the efforts of these young men and women who brought a sense of order and safety to areas once dominated by fear.

This courage and commitment has made the CPW a success story in-spite the doomsayers who continued to throw dirt in any meaningful path pointing at the transformative direction. 

They have taken our government to court figjting every public policy aimed transforming our country. We must never concede to these dirty and cheap battles that we have won as early as 1994. We extend our gratitude to the collective leadership of Gauteng led by Premier Panyaza Lesufi. Throughout this ordeal, this leadership has continued to vicariously walk in the shoes of the of these over 8000 CPW until the findings by the Public Protector. 

There is a sense of awe and veneration when you mention the name of the Premier to these crime fighters. They never doubted his collective leadership in resolving the stalemate. The MKLWV supports the transformative agenda driven by the Premier’s’ office, which aligns with the African National Congress’s (ANC) position. We will not condone any attempts to reverse this moral imperative and economic neccessity. 

Those celebrating this detour are perpetrating a false narrative that the Premier’s actions were partisan. Protecting vulnerable persons is a moral obligation not a partisan issue. Abandoning the CPW’s initiative would invite social upheavals, instability and anarchy. The SAPS requires reinforcement in crime infested areas, and the CPW has been a neccesary support. The Public Protector’s findings are a welcome relief and we hope they will pave the way for the continued success of the CPW.

There is no country in the world that can reconcile or give into no go zone area phenomena as it was the case in some of our townships at certain times. This was the neccesary reinforcement to the SAPS as they are unable to be in all these crime infested streets at the same time. 

The people of Gauteng will be happy to note that the Public Protector in her findings did not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Despite facing opposition from those who seek to undermine progress, the very people who opposed other progressive policies, go to the townships of Gauteng you will be told of many tales that demonstrates success story of the CPW. We extend our gratitude to Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the collective leadership of Gauteng for their unwavering support of the CPW’s. The Premier’s track record of fighting for the rights of the vulnerable and marginalized is well-known, and his leadership inspires hope in Gauteng. 

During his tenure as the MEC for the Basic Education in Gauteng, he went to court defending the Culture of Learning and Training when the Gauteng learners were prevented access to some of the public schools because they could not speak Afrikaans and these public schools were Afrikaans medium institutions.

The MKLWV supports the transformative agenda driven by the Premier’s office and will not concede to any attempts to reverse this security and Safety imperative. Abandoning this initiative would invite social upheaval, instability, and anarchy. 

Fortunately, the Public Protector has recognised the value of this initiative and has decided not throw the baby out with the bathwater. 

To falter is to betray, to stand firm is to honour! 

 MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

CCM NATIONAL ELECTIONS

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

CCM NATIONAL ELECTIONS 

The African National Congress (ANC) extends its fraternal good wishes to our sister movement, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), as the people of the United Republic of Tanzania head to the polls tomorrow. 

The ANC joins millions of Africans in saluting the enduring legacy of the CCM as a liberation movement that has remained steadfast in advancing the principles of Pan-African unity, self-determination, and peoplecentred development. Under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the CCM continues to build upon the visionary foundation laid by Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere; promoting social progress, peace, and inclusive growth in Tanzania and across the continent. 

We are confident that the people of Tanzania will once again demonstrate their commitment to democracy, stability, and the ideals of the African liberation project. 

The ANC stands in solidarity with the CCM as it renews its mandate to serve the people and strengthen the bonds of friendship between South Africa and Tanzania. 

As liberation movements bound by a shared history of struggle, we reaffirm our commitment to deepening cooperation through the Former Liberation Movements Forum and other multilateral platforms that continue to drive Africa’s transformation and unity. 

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

The Fight against the Gambling Crisis needs more Voices and Action

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

The Fight against the Gambling Crisis needs more Voices and Action

RISE Mzansi positively notes the comments of Pick n Pay CEO, Mr Sean Summers, who has labelled the gambling crisis as “out of control” and “horrendous”, as reported by News24.

The recent annual report of the National Gambling Board raises the alarm, stating that gambling operators have increased their gross gambling revenue from R59-billion in 2023/4 to R75-billion in 2024/25, an annual growth of 26%. Moreover, South Africans spent R1,5-trillion during the 2024/25 financial year on gambling activities, this is an increase from the R1,1-trillion wasted in the previous financial year.

Gambling addiction, known as “problem gambling”, is fast being recognised as a public health crisis, where money is lost, but in the extreme, it claims lives through depression and suicide. Those in power, whether in business, academia, health, sports, and politics, can no longer ignore this crisis.

Look left, look right; look up, and look down, you see gambling advertising, which entices all of society – the youth and the elderly; urban and rural communities; the poor and the rich – while leaving a trail of deadly destruction.

RISE Mzansi calls upon more leaders to raise their voices and agitate for action.

RISE Mzansi has sponsored a National Assembly subject for discussion, which will take place this Friday. Time will tell where political parties and their leaders stand on the matter.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

BEE Made ANC Rich and South Africa Poor

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

BEE Made ANC Rich and South Africa Poor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) today unveiled a new billboard that lays bare a truth South Africans already know: The ANC’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy has failed. It has made a handful of politically connected individuals wealthy, while the rest of the country has been left behind.

For three decades, this policy has been sold as empowerment, but it has delivered the opposite. Millions remain locked out of the economy, with 12 million South Africans unable to find work and 44 million struggling just to afford their next meal.

While a few benefit from inflated contracts and state tenders, the majority continue to pay the price for corruption and greed.

The DA’s message is simple: if South Africa is to grow, create jobs, and reduce poverty, we must replace the ANC’s race-based system with one that truly includes everyone.

That is why the DA has introduced the Economic Inclusion for All Bill that rewards job creation, skills development, and real community investment instead of political connections.

This billboard captures the choice that now faces South Africa: continue down the same failed path that made ANC elites rich and left South Africa poor, or choose real opportunities for all by voting DA.

Unlike the ANC’s system that encourages fronting and patronage, the DA’s approach focuses on need, fairness, and tangible empowerment. It supports small businesses, removes red tape, and builds local economies where opportunity is earned, not given to the well-connected.

The DA calls on all South Africans, businesses, and civil society to support the Economic Inclusion for All Bill and sign the petition at endpoverty@da.org.za.

Together, we can replace corruption disguised as empowerment with a system that gives every South African the chance to work, grow, and thrive.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

ARREST IN THE MAMELODI DOUBLE MURDER CASE

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

ARREST IN THE MAMELODI DOUBLE MURDER CASE 

The Ministry in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities welcomes the swift arrest of a suspect linked to the brutal killing of two young women in Mamelodi East, Gauteng. Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this senseless act of violence that has once again robbed families, communities, and our nation of young lives filled with promise. “We commend the South African Police Service for its rapid response and urge the criminal justice system to ensure that justice is served without delay. 

These heinous acts of violence against women cannot and will not be tolerated. Communities must continue to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to ensure that no perpetrator of gender-based violence and femicide escapes accountability.” — said Minister Chikunga. The arrest represents a crucial step towards justice for the victims and their loved ones and serves as a reminder that accountability is non-negotiable in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). The Ministry reiterates that eradicating GBVF requires a whole-of-society approach — Uniting Families, Communities, Faith Leaders, Civil Society, and the Private Sector in daily action to protect Women and Children.  

As South Africa approaches the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, the Ministry calls on all citizens to reaffirm their commitment to building safe, just, and dignified communities for all. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Moramaga family and friends during this time of unbearable grief. The lives of two young women have been cut short. Justice must be served — and our nation must never grow numb to such cruelty,” — Minister Chikunga concluded. 

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

SAPS must undergo urgent forensic overhaul and integrity clean-up

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

SAPS must undergo urgent Forensic overhaul and Integrity clean-up

The DA calls for a full SAPS forensic overhaul with independent oversight.

Ballistic reports are error-riddled and may be manipulated.

Senior SAPS officials must face integrity and lifestyle audits.

The DA will immediately push for a complete forensic overhaul of SAPS, backed by independent oversight and accountability measures to restore professionalism, transparency, and public trust in policing.

This action is urgent given the shocking evidence before the Madlanga Commission yesterday, which exposed a national crisis in SAPS’s forensic and ballistic systems.

Testimony revealed that the guns used in the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart were later linked to at least twenty other murders, including those of high-profile figures such as DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos, and businessman Don Tindleni.

Yet the first SAPS ballistic report on these same weapons contained multiple factual errors, missing analyses, and even the wrong case numbers.

The national head of ballistics, Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela, admitted the original report was “error-riddled” and had to be rewritten several times by the same analyst, Captain Itumeleng Makgotloe, whose mistakes were defended as “typos.”

Pages were replaced, affidavits resubmitted, and at least three versions of the same report were filed — all before critical evidence was verified.

Even more disturbing, evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC highlighted that Makgotloe appeared to have known of the guns’ links to other murders months before the case was registered on the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), raising concerns that organised crime networks within or connected to SAPS may have accessed or influenced forensic information.

Such conduct reflects more than incompetence — it signals systemic corruption and manipulation of evidence at the heart of SAPS’s crime intelligence and forensic functions.

The DA calls for:

• An independent forensic and ballistics audit of all major SAPS casework from the past five years.
• Comprehensive skills development in the Forensic Science Laboratory to restore technical standards and eliminate political interference.
• Immediate integrity testing and lifestyle audits of the top 100 SAPS generals and senior managers, starting with those in the Detective Service, Forensics, and Supply Chain.

If integrity testing is not enforced, nothing else will change. South Africans cannot expect justice from a system where ballistic evidence can be altered, delayed, or leaked to criminals.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA

Tragic Death of Seven-Year-Old in Durban Lift Shaft

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

IFP Women’s Brigade Calls for Justice Following Tragic Death of Seven-Year-Old in Durban Lift Shaft

The Inkatha Freedom Party Women’s Brigade (IFPWB) is calling for justice for seven-year-old Aphelele Dlamini, who tragically lost his life after falling into a lift shaft at the HOMii building in Durban.

The IFPWB extends heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of Aphelele’s twin sister, Aphile, who is currently receiving medical care in hospital after also falling into the shaft.

The Women’s Brigade is calling on law enforcement authorities to leave no stone unturned in investigating the circumstances that led to this heartbreaking incident. The Brigade also urges the City of Durban to conduct urgent safety inspections of all residential buildings to ensure they meet the required standards for safe and humane living conditions.

“This tragedy is both shocking and unacceptable. No parent should have to bury their child because of negligence. If it is found that this building was unsafe, the owners must be held fully accountable. We cannot allow a situation where lives—especially those of children—are lost due to preventable causes,”

— Hon. Ntombifuthi Ntshayintshayi, KZN IFP Women’s Brigade Chairperson

The IFP Women’s Brigade is deeply disturbed to learn that this is not the first fatal incident at the same building. The Brigade demands urgent intervention from authorities to prevent further loss of life and ensure that all residential properties are properly maintained and regulated.

The IFP Women’s Brigade conveys its deepest condolences and sympathies to the Dlamini family and all those affected by this tragedy.

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA