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.

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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.

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LIGHT AIRCRAFT CRASHES INTO TUCK SHOP AT HOËRSKOOL ALBERTON

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

LIGHT AIRCRAFT CRASHES INTO TUCK SHOP AT HOËRSKOOL ALBERTON

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) can confirm that a light aircraft reportedly crashed into a tuck shop at Hoërskool Alberton in Ekurhuleni earlier this morning on Sunday, 26 October 2025.

Circumstances around the incident are under investigation by relevant authorities. The pilot and the instructor who were onboard the aircraft reportedly sustained no injuries.

The Department can confirm this incident will not disrupt schooling activities or the ongoing National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

Parents have been advised to ensure that learners bring their own food to school while repairs are being arranged.

The GDE commends the school’s management, emergency services and aviation authorities for their prompt response to this sudden incident.

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Salutes Leaders and Volunteers on MANCOSA Graduation

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

Salutes Leaders and Volunteers on MANCOSA Graduation

The Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade National Executive Committee (IFPYB NEC) extends its heartfelt congratulations to the KZN IFPYB Provincial Chairperson, Comrade Mncendisi Maphisa, MPL, and all dedicated Youth Brigade leaders and volunteers who successfully graduated from MANCOSA in various fields of study.

This remarkable achievement goes beyond personal success — it stands as a powerful testament to the IFP Youth Brigade’s commitment to leadership through learning. It affirms that the movement’s leaders continue to lead by example through their relentless pursuit of education and self-improvement.

The IFPYB firmly believes that effective political leadership must be underpinned by intellectual depth and professional competence. These newly acquired qualifications represent critical tools in advancing the Youth Brigade’s mission of service and empowerment within our communities.

Education remains the cornerstone of sustainable growth, effective governance, and community upliftment. An educated leadership is essential to addressing persistent challenges such as youth unemployment, inequality, and limited access to education—especially among young people in rural areas.

Through their dedication to self-development, these graduates are strengthening the IFP’s capacity to deliver on its vision of comprehensive development and liberation, turning aspiration into tangible reality.

The IFP Youth Brigade salutes their commitment and looks forward to their continued contribution as educated and principled leaders within the Party and across the province.

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Alarming Rise of Suicides SAPS

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

 

Alarming Rise of Suicides SAPS 

Alarming rise of suicides in the South African Police Service tragically reflects the strain facing those in the line of duty.

DA calls on National Police Commissioner to take decisive action in saving lives.

DA in Parliament will also ensure reforms are implemented.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the alarming rise in suicides within the South African Police Service (SAPS). Recent reports reveal that, on average, one police officer takes their own life every week. 

This is not just a statistic; it is a tragic reflection of the immense psychological strain borne by those tasked with protecting our nation.

The DA extends its deepest condolences to the families and colleagues of those who have lost their lives. Every one of these tragedies represents a devastating failure of a system that continues to neglect the mental health and wellbeing of its members.

This crisis cannot be separated from the deep systemic issues within SAPS. Chronic under-resourcing, inadequate training at police colleges, long working hours, and relentless exposure to trauma have all created an environment of burnout and despair. Equally concerning is the lack of regular psychological debriefing and the continued stigma around seeking mental health support within the police service.

The fact that SAPS continues to dominate the headlines for all the wrong reasons, from corruption scandals to mismanagement and political interference, only adds to the psychological burden on officers who are doing their best to serve with integrity. These men and women on the ground feel abandoned and demoralised, forced to work within a system that too often undermines their efforts instead of supporting them.

The DA calls on the National Commissioner and SAPS management to take urgent, decisive action to address this crisis, including:

- The immediate rollout of mandatory and confidential mental health support and debriefing sessions after traumatic incidents;

- The integration of comprehensive mental health training and resilience programmes at all police colleges;

- Improved working conditions and resource allocation to relieve operational pressure; and

- Leadership accountability to ensure that the wellbeing of officers is prioritised alongside operational performance.

Our first responders face unimaginable trauma daily, they should not also have to face it alone. Protecting those who protect us must be a national priority.

The DA will be raising this matter in Parliament and through the Portfolio Committee on Police to ensure that SAPS implements urgent reforms to safeguard the mental health of its members.

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