Day: September 15, 2026

Western Cape records promising reductions in serious crime

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
The Western Cape recorded declines in several serious and violent crime categories during the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year.

The figures were released by Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Sizakhele Dyantyi, marking his first crime statistics briefing since taking over the provincial SAPS.

Contact crime decreased by 6.3%, while murder fell by 6.7%. Carjacking declined by 14.6%, and house robbery dropped by 15%.

Operation Prosper, which targets high-crime police stations across the province, also delivered positive results. Contact crime at these stations fell by 12.1%, while murder decreased by 16.8%.

Lieutenant-General Dyantyi welcomed the reductions, saying crime statistics are an important tool for measuring police performance, identifying trends and adapting policing strategies.

He credited SAPS members for their hard work and dedication, while also acknowledging his predecessor, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, who led the provincial police during the period under review.

However, Dyantyi warned that significant challenges remain.

Rape increased by 3.8%, while sexual assault rose by 5.7%. He said gender-based violence remains a priority, with SAPS continuing to strengthen its response to crimes against women and children.

The fight against illegal firearms will also remain a key focus, with police targeting the possession and use of illegal firearms and working to remove them from circulation.

Dyantyi said the ultimate goal is to reduce crime, improve policing and create safer communities across the Western Cape.

SAPS Western Cape will continue working with communities and law-enforcement partners in the fight against crime.

Western Cape agriculture sector urged to prepare for El Niño impacts

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has urged the agriculture sector to prepare early for the potential impacts of a strengthening El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), including hotter conditions, increased wildfire risks and pressure on water resources.

Speaking to agriculture sector stakeholders at NAMPO Cape in Bredasdorp, Winde said preparations for summer must begin before extreme conditions arrive.

He stressed that farmers, agricultural organisations, municipalities and government must take steps now to reduce risks and protect livelihoods.

The Premier said recent experience has highlighted the importance of proactive planning as climate change increases weather-related risks.

ENSO is a global climate cycle driven by changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures. It is currently in an El Niño phase and is expected to strengthen in the coming months.

Although El Niño's strongest effects in South Africa are generally felt in summer-rainfall regions, the Western Cape can also face higher temperatures, increased wildfire danger and additional pressure on water resources.

Winde pointed to the province's recent wildfire experience, noting that more than 200 000 hectares were affected during the previous fire season.

He urged residents and landowners in high-risk areas to clear vegetation, maintain firebreaks, manage biomass and remove invasive alien plants to reduce fire risks.

Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Dr Ivan Meyer also called for early action, saying farmers had already shown their ability to adapt during previous climate challenges, including the severe drought between 2014 and 2016.

The provincial Department of Agriculture will work with sector stakeholders on measures to limit the impact of ENSO on agricultural production, food security and the economy.

These include strengthening conservation agriculture, improving water-use efficiency in irrigated areas, supporting dryland production, strengthening risk-management systems and providing support to agricultural workers.

Ramaphosa Orders Priority Probe into Six Ekurhuleni Women’s Murders

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed police to prioritise investigations into the murders of six women in Ekurhuleni.

Police initially reported the discovery of four women’s bodies in the area over about two months. Two more bodies were found in different parts of Ekurhuleni on Monday and Tuesday.

Ramaphosa said law enforcement agencies were working urgently to establish whether the cases were linked, protect communities and bring those responsible to justice.

He said he had been briefed by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and Acting National Police Commissioner on the investigations, and had instructed police to leave no stone unturned.

One of the victims has been identified as 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, whose disappearance over the weekend drew widespread attention. Her family positively identified her body on Monday.

Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, saying the killings had caused fear and uncertainty, particularly among women in the affected communities.

He urged anyone with information about the murders, or anyone looking for a missing relative or friend, to contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249.

Cachalia has also expressed concern over the killings, saying the discovery of multiple murdered women in the Kempton Park area was deeply disturbing.

He said investigators would need to establish whether the cases were connected, while warning that the possibility of women being deliberately targeted required urgent attention.

The South African Police Service has vowed to apprehend those responsible.

Madlanga Commission hearings to resume

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht


The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is expected to resume public hearings today after going into recess on 3 September.

The Commission will now focus on the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, or JMPD.

Spokesperson Jeremy Michaels says Tuesday’s hearing will examine allegations that criminal networks have infiltrated the JMPD, as well as alleged collusion between officers and criminal syndicates.

The Commission was established following allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July 2025 concerning criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system.

The Commission is expected to submit its final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 16 November 2026, after its deadline was extended.

Two interim reports have already been submitted.

DStv set for major package shake-up from this week

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
DStv is making its biggest overhaul of its package structure in around 15 years, with a new line-up of options set to launch in South Africa on Thursday, 17 September 2026.

The changes are designed to give customers more choice over what they pay for, with sport and entertainment being separated into more clearly defined packages.

Here's how it will work:

The current Access, Family and Compact packages will make way for Starter, Select and Sports, while a new Movies & Series package will sit below Premium.

Starter – R150 on satellite, R99 on DStv Stream

Starter replaces Access and is aimed at viewers looking for a more affordable entry point to DStv.

The package adds channels including Wethu+, kykNET & Kie and SuperSport KICKOFF, while retaining a selection of entertainment and sports content.

Wethu+ will combine local movies, music, stories and selected football content.

Select – R339 on satellite, R299 on DStv Stream

Select replaces Family and brings more popular entertainment and sport to the lower end of the DStv line-up.

It includes Mzansi Magic, every PSL match and DStv's children's channels, making it particularly attractive to households looking for local entertainment and football without paying for a higher package.

Sports – R479 on satellite, R399 on DStv Stream

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of DStv Sports.

The package is based on the current Compact offering but significantly increases access to live sport.

Subscribers will get every Premier League and UEFA Champions League match, all cricket, local rugby, one URC match per week, UFC and other sporting content.

Sports subscribers will also receive the entertainment included in Select, meaning it is not a sports-only package.

However, some of the most premium sporting rights will remain exclusive to Premium. These include Springbok and other international rugby, Formula 1, MotoGP, major golf and tennis.

Movies & Series – R500

DStv is also introducing a completely new entertainment-focused package.

Movies & Series will include M-Net, kykNET, M-Net Movies+ and other entertainment channels, as well as Discovery Channel and BBC Earth.

It also includes a selection of sports channels.

Importantly, this marks the first time since DStv launched in 1995 that M-Net will be available below the Premium tier. Premium remains at the top

DStv Premium is staying largely unchanged.

It will continue to provide the most comprehensive combination of entertainment and sport, including the premium sporting rights that are being kept out of the new Sports package.

The streaming price remains R799 per month, while satellite Premium remains R979.

Customers who commit to a 24-month Premium contract can also access Premium for R799 a month on satellite.

What happens to existing subscribers?

DStv says existing Access, Family and Compact subscribers will automatically move to the corresponding new packages during September.

That means:
Access → Starter
Family → Select
Compact → Sports

Compact Plus is being treated differently. Its subscribers will be moved to Premium and protected at their existing price for 12 months before they will have to decide whether to remain on Premium or select another package.

Premium subscribers will remain on Premium.

More channels are also coming

Two new channels will join the DStv platform from 17 September.

These are France 24, the international news channel, and Church TV, a faith-based channel.

The package overhaul comes as DStv faces increasing competition from streaming services and changing viewing habits, with households becoming more selective about the content they are prepared to pay for.

For DStv, the strategy is straightforward: rather than forcing customers into an expensive package to access one particular type of content, the company is giving viewers more specialised options.

The big question now is whether customers will see the new structure as better value - and whether it can help DStv attract and retain subscribers in an increasingly competitive streaming market.

The new packages officially take effect this week on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
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