Category: News

Arrest of third suspect in Kruger Park murder case welcomed

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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has commended the swift arrest of a third suspect in connection with the murder of a Mossel Bay couple in the northern region of the Kruger National Park last month.

The suspect was arrested on Friday, 12 June 2026, in Zimbabwe through cross border cooperation between South African, Mozambican and Zimbabwean law enforcement agencies.

“This arrest demonstrates that our commitment to tracking down and apprehending every individual involved in this tragic crime was unwavering and resolute,” Aucamp said on Saturday.

The Minister also commended the effective and efficient collaborative efforts of the South African Police Service (SAPS), SANParks Rangers, Mozambique's Criminal Investigation Directorate, and the Gonarezhou National Parks Rangers, who effected the arrest of the third suspect and later handed him to the Zimbabwe police.

The arrest follows the apprehension of the first two suspects in Mozambique in early June, while the third suspect initially evaded capture. Through the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, he was subsequently tracked down and arrested in Zimbabwe.

Like his co-accused, the third suspect will now be processed in accordance with the applicable legal procedures, including the applicable extradition proceedings.

The Minister hailed the arrests as a significant step towards justice and highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration in combating crime.

“I’ve said it before: we can achieve so much more if we pool our resources, collaborate and cooperate in fighting cross-border crime,” the Minister said.

Aucamp, together with SANParks management, emphasised that these arrests should serve as a clear warning to anyone contemplating criminal activity within the Kruger National Park that such actions will be met with the full force of the law and that those responsible will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.

He extended his condolences to the Marais family and reaffirmed government's commitment to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.”

Cape Town Marathon earns historic World Major status for Africa

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Africa has secured a historic place on marathon running's biggest stage, with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon officially confirmed as the first Abbott World Marathon Major to be hosted on the continent.

Following the successful staging of the 2026 race on 24 May, the event passed the second and final phase of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) assessment process, earning its place as the eighth member of the elite global series.

Cape Town now joins an exclusive group of host cities that includes Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for African road running, bringing one of the sport's most prestigious accolades to a continent that has long produced many of the world's greatest distance runners.

For decades, African athletes have dominated long-distance running, producing around 80% of the world's top 50 elite marathon runners. Yet despite the continent's unrivalled success in the sport, Africa had never hosted one of the world's premier marathon events.

The achievement follows a five-year journey that began in 2021 when the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was announced as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidate Race.

The formal evaluation process started in 2022, with the race undergoing detailed annual assessments against the organisation's rigorous standards for operations, organisation and athlete experience.

A major breakthrough came in 2024 when the event attracted a record 20 000 marathon entries and produced course records in both the men's and women's races. South African athlete Glenrose Xaba also set a new national marathon record of 2:22:22, helping the race successfully complete the first stage of the candidacy process.

The Major’s bid faced an unexpected challenge in 2025 when the race was cancelled. However, organisers said the decision reinforced the event's commitment to prioritising safety and human life above all else.

Rather than derailing the campaign, the move strengthened confidence in the marathon's governance and integrity, prompting Abbott World Marathon Majors to extend the evaluation period.

Everything hinged on the successful staging of the 2026 race on 24 May.

The event delivered on expectations, attracting global attention with the participation of marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge in his first official marathon on African soil. The race subsequently passed the second and final stage of its assessment, securing its place among the world's most celebrated marathons.

Organisers estimate that the event could contribute about R800 million to the economy, while also creating opportunities for tourism, investment and sports development.

Importantly, the organisers have committed two-thirds of race entries to African participants, ensuring that the continent's runners have greater access to one of the sport's most sought-after events.

The first official Abbott World Marathon Major on African soil is scheduled to take place in Cape Town on 23 May 2027.

For South Africa, home to the Comrades Marathon and now Africa's first World Marathon Major, the achievement represents another landmark moment in the country's rich distance-running history and further cements its reputation as a leading destination for global road running.

SAPS warns against buying or selling goods through online platforms

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned community members to be vigilant when buying or selling goods through online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and other online trading sites.

The warning follows a carjacking and armed robbery incident reported in Motherwell on Wednesday, at approximately 07:00. 

According to reports, a complainant and two friends travelled to Mdundu Street, NU6, Motherwell, after responding to a Facebook Marketplace advertisement for a vehicle.

Upon arriving at the address, the person who had allegedly communicated with the complainant via Facebook informed them that the vehicle was parked inside the yard. 

“As the victims entered the premises to inspect the vehicle, they were confronted by armed suspects who allegedly assaulted them, robbed them of cash and cellular phones and fled with the complainant's white Kia Sportage,” the police said in a statement.

Criminals are increasingly using online marketplaces to target unsuspecting buyers and sellers by advertising non-existent goods or arranging meetings in secluded areas where victims can be robbed. 

The SAPS urges the public to take the following precautions when conducting transactions through online marketplaces:

• Meet in public places with high visibility and pedestrian traffic.
• Avoid travelling to unfamiliar areas or private residences to view or purchase items.
• Never carry large amounts of cash to a transaction.
• Consider meeting at a police station or another secure public venue.
• Do not enter homes, garages, yards or secluded locations to inspect items.
• Inform a family member or friend of your destination and expected return time.
• Verify the identity and contact details of the person you are meeting.
• Be wary of deals that appear significantly cheaper than market value.
• When selling items, avoid inviting strangers to your home and rather arrange meetings in safe public locations.
• Trust your instincts and leave immediately if a situation appears suspicious.

The SAPS appeals to community members to remain alert and report suspicious activity or criminal incidents to their nearest police station or the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. 

“The safety of our communities remains a priority, and members of the public are encouraged to take proactive steps to protect themselves when conducting online transactions,” the police said. 

Heartbreak for Bafana Bafana

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Heartbreak was the order of the day for Bafana Bafana who went down 2-0 to Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match, last night.

The loss took place at the iconic Estadio Azteca, following the 9pm kick off, which saw Captain Ronwen Williams lead his teammates onto the pitch in Mexico City.

Stepping onto the pitch has been a journey of four years of hard work in a game that saw many hold on to the edge of their seat.

While it ended in disappointment for South Africa in the Group A Stage, Thursday’s match marked exactly 16 years since South Africa, as host nation, opened the first World Cup on African soil against Mexico in Johannesburg.

This year’s FIFA World Cup is being hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.

Western Cape Government Cabinet receives preliminary assessment of weather-related disaster costs

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On Thursday, 11 June 2026, Premier Alan Winde chaired a Special Western Cape Government Cabinet meeting to deliberate on the magnitude and cost of impact of the severe weather systems that affected the entire province in May 2026. 

Major consecutive weather events occurred in a short space of time, causing loss of life, severely damaging infrastructure and significantly disrupting the lives of communities across the affected areas. 

“Our province has had to endure many disasters. But the last two weather events were the worst in recent memory. While our government and other stakeholders have been working incredibly hard in responding to this disaster, we have a lot of hard work still ahead of us,” the Premier said in his opening remarks.

Cabinet noted that the damage sustained as a result of the weather incidents was severe and will have a significant impact on the provincial and broader economy. 

Cabinet noted that the overall cost of the damage at this stage is R9 099 211 941. The province’s agriculture sector sustained damages of more than R5.2 billion, while damage to transport infrastructure currently stands at just under R2 billion.

These are preliminary and unverified figures.

While Eskom’s electricity restoration efforts are making progress, with 95% of affected areas reconnected, many residents in the hardest hit regions are still without power.  Cabinet apologised to affected communities for the significant inconvenience caused by the severe weather.

The overall impact on communities has been vast:

-231 029 people were affected in one way or another
-22 890 houses were damaged
-Over 230 roads were affected: many roads and other infrastructure sustained significant damage requiring repairs and reconstruction.
-11 fatalities were reported, with one person still missing

The scale of the damage exceeds provincial departments’ budgets and delivery capacity. Additional funding will have to be sought from national government.

The Premier stated, “Incredibly difficult decisions will have to be made going forward. National government will not be able to provide us with all the necessary funding. The Western Cape Government’s budget will have to be reprioritised to fund damage repairs. What is vitally important is that we must build back stronger, in anticipation of future climate-related disasters and this will cost more. We must, therefore, impress upon national government and other entities the need to budget differently to adequately respond to the impact of such disasters.”

The following process is now being undertaken:

-The Western Cape Department of Local Department is coordinating a consolidated submission to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and National Disaster Management Centre
-The provincial Minister of Local Government is corresponding with his national counterpart
-The Premier will correspond with the President
-Impacted provincial Departments are corresponding with their national counterparts

Well wishes for Bafana Bafana

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With just hours to go to the opening match of the FIFA World Cup, Gauteng MEC of Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile has wished Bafana Bafana well for the tournament.

“Tonight, the hopes and dreams of millions of South Africans will travel across the Atlantic to Mexico City, where our beloved Bafana Bafana will take on the host nation, Mexico, at the iconic Estadio Azteca, with kickoff scheduled for 9pm South African time.
“As Gauteng and the entire country rally behind our national team, we wish Coach Hugo Broos and his squad strength, courage and success as they begin their journey on the world’s biggest football stage,” the MEC said.

He added that the quality and resilience of the squad is a testament to the strength of South African football. Thursday’s game marks exactly 16 years since South Africa, as host nation, opened the first World Cup on African soil against Mexico in Johannesburg.

The MEC paid tribute to the Premier Soccer League, whose professionalism and competitiveness continue to produce world-class talent as well as the  countless township football coaches, volunteers and community football structures that identified, trained, nurtured and inspired many of the players who now proudly wear the green and gold of the nation.

“As they step onto the famous turf of Estadio Azteca, our players must remember that they carry more than a football badge on their chests - they carry the history, hopes and aspirations of a nation. They follow in the footsteps of the heroes of 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, whose triumph helped unite South Africans in the early years of our democracy and demonstrated the power of sport to bring our people together.”

He added that the tournament comes in the month that South Africa marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising where the country unites to honour the courageous generation which changed the course of history. 

“The youth of 1976 ignited a new consciousness in the struggle for freedom and justice. Bafana Bafana has an opportunity to honour their legacy by displaying the same determination, bravery and patriotism that defined that historic generation. 

“I have every confidence that our national team possesses the talent, discipline and fighting spirit required to overcome any challenge. Let them play with pride, belief and the knowledge that an entire nation stands firmly behind them.

“Go out there, make South Africa proud, and begin this World Cup with a victory worthy of our history and our future,” he said.

Government has called on the nation to rally behind the senior men’s team as they chase World Cup glory. In addition, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), Peace Mabe, in partnership with Honor, will join fans and attend the first world cup watch party event at the Mall of Africa tonight.

Rare occurrence documented of a Hybrid Wattled X Blue crane in South Africa

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A collaborative project led by the  Endangered Wildlife Trust / International Crane Foundation partnership is being formed to understand the  Wattled Crane decline in Mpumalanga.
 
Once numbering around 45 breeding pairs, the population has plummeted to just four pairs today. In addition, citizen science data suggests that Blue Crane numbers in the province have also been declining since the 1980s, raising further concern about the health of these iconic species and their habitats.  This project is being run by the Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology.
 
The aim of the project will be to determine how key crane habitats in the province can be improved to ensure the return of these iconic species.  
 
In the last couple of years, the EWT/ICF African Crane Conservation Unit has been receiving reports of a lone Wattled Crane hanging around with a flock of Blue Cranes in Mpumalanga.
 
In early February 2026, the EWT/ICF team received a report from a farmer, accompanied by photo evidence, of the pair walking with a chick.
 
There are not many known cases of hybridisation such as this and even less of it being documented.  The EWT/ICF team travelled to the province to monitor, photograph and document the interaction between the adult Wattled and Blue Cranes and their chick, as well as their general behaviour.  The chick was then believed to be around six weeks old, resembling a Wattled Crane chick in looks and size.
 
In the normal life cycle of a Wattled Crane, chicks fledge at approximately five months and, at approximately 10 months of age the parents take them to a floater flock – a group of cranes that are not yet of breeding age or have yet to pair up – and leave them there to grow up, find a mate and begin a whole new circle of life. 
 
The team decided to ring the chick so that it could be monitored further after leaving the nest. Crane chicks leave the nest to join the floater flock making individual identification more difficult. The purpose of this would be to see if it eventually paired up with another crane and bred.  Genetic samples have also been taken to determine the genetic makeup of the hybrid crane and the sex of the bird. This was done when the chick was approximately 13 - 14 weeks old, and looking more like a Blue Crane with a smaller bill and head and Blue Crane colouring.  
 
The chick has since fledged. This has meant less sightings and more difficult monitoring as the chick and his parents move around. He was last seen in early May 2026 and, interestingly, now looks more like a Wattled Crane – lighter neck colouring, grey back and is almost as big as the Wattled crane. But, he is as fast as a Blue Crane when he runs.
 
In the animal kingdom, hybridised species are generally infertile, but it has been confirmed by the International Crane Foundation’s (ICF) founder, George Archibald, that hybrisation between Brolga and Sarus Cranes in Australia not only occurs, but results in fertile chicks, and is actually more common than one realises.  These majestic birds are now known as Sarolga.   
 
There is no evidence to prove this in Wattled / Blue Crane hybrids as very little has ever been documented.
 
One of the reasons these types of hybridisations happen could be the result of habitat loss, which in turn has as a consequence the decline of cranes in certain areas.  When crane numbers drop – in this case Wattled and Blue Crane numbers declined dramatically – the remaining few cranes start mingling with other crane species and eventually pair up.
 
** The EWT would like to thank its sponsors – the International Crane Foundation’s Conservation Impact Fund – for their ongoing support for our crane conservation projects.

Table grape export agreement strengthens SA-Italy ties

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South Africa and Italy have strengthened their agricultural and trade relations following the final approval of a technical agreement that will pave the way for the export of Italian table grapes to the South African market.

The agreement was confirmed during a bilateral meeting between Italy's Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, and South Africa's Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, on the sidelines of the inaugural South Africa–Italy Agribusiness Forum, currently underway in Cape Town in the Western Cape.

The forum is being held under the theme: "South Africa and Italy Building Resilient, Value-Added Agri-Business Partnerships: From the Soil to the Shelf."

The two Ministers welcomed the conclusion of negotiations that resulted in the formal acceptance of the work plan governing the export of Italian table grapes, a development regarded as a significant milestone for the agricultural sectors of both countries and a catalyst for deeper economic cooperation.
Lollobrigida described the agreement as a major breakthrough for Italy's fruit and vegetable industry.

"The opening of the South African market to Italian table grapes recognises the excellence and quality of our products and confirms the effectiveness of our diplomatic and commercial efforts," Lollobrigida said.
He added that the agreement aligns with Italy's broader strategy of strengthening economic partnerships with Africa and expressed optimism that similar arrangements could be extended to other products, including apples, in future.

The agreement is expected to expand market opportunities for Italian producers, while enhancing agricultural trade between the two countries through complementary production seasons and increased commercial collaboration.

Fostering trade and innovation 
Addressing delegates at a gala dinner hosted by Lollobrigida and the Italian delegation at Idiom Wine Estate in the Cape Winelands on Tuesday, Steenhuisen highlighted the growing partnership between South Africa and Italy. He described the forum as an important platform for fostering trade, investment and innovation in agriculture.

Steenhuisen said the day's engagements had revealed significant untapped opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

"What stood out to me was not simply the opportunities that were identified, but the enthusiasm with which people engaged with one another. Throughout the day, I saw business leaders exchanging ideas, researchers making new connections, and people from two different countries discovering how much they have in common," Steenhuisen said.

The Minister emphasised that the long-term success of bilateral cooperation is rarely built through official agreements alone, but also on shared experiences and through the confidence that comes from understanding one another's perspectives and ambitions.

"Agriculture is ultimately a people business. It may involve technology, machinery, science and innovation, but at its heart, it is still about people, farmers who rise before the sun, families who have worked the same land for generations, entrepreneurs willing to take risks, researchers searching for solutions, and businesses looking for new opportunities,” the Minister said.

He noted that South Africa and Italy share strong agricultural traditions, a commitment to innovation and a deep appreciation for food, agriculture, family, tradition and the importance of preserving what they inherit, while continually innovating for the future.

“Agriculture is about far more than production alone. It is about communities, culture, heritage and the people whose livelihoods depend on the success of the sector. Across both South Africa and Italy, agriculture has helped shape landscapes, sustain rural economies and create traditions that are passed from one generation to the next. Those shared values provide a strong foundation for the partnership we are building,” Steenhuisen said. 

Police launch manhunt following mass shooting that claimed 12 lives in Cleveland

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Police have launched a manhunt for suspects following a mass shooting that claimed the lives of 12 people and left several others injured at Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland on Tuesday evening, 09 June 2026.

It is reported that at approximately 23:10, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to a complaint of a shooting in progress at the informal settlement. Upon arrival, police found numerous victims who had sustained gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services were immediately summoned to the scene to assist the injured.

Preliminary investigations reveal that 12 people died as a result of the attack. Eight adult males and three adult females were declared dead at the scene, while one additional male victim later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. At least nine other victims were transported to various medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.

It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland. The suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through both entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.

Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilised to investigate the incident and track down the suspects.

The motive for the attack is currently unknown and forms part of the ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage.

Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation may  contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application.

Counterfeit goods worth millions confiscated in Bellville

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On Tuesday, 09 June 2026, members of the South African Police Service and Brand Protectors embarked on a search and seizure operation in the Bellville CBD, where they conducted inspections at shops believed to sell counterfeit goods.

During this operation the members confiscated a wide range of counterfeit clothing and illicit goods which includes branded clothing, running shoes and sneakers with an estimated value of R98 000 000.00.

These operations are aimed at combating the counterfeit and illicit goods trade in the Western Cape and to protect consumers and legitimate businesses who are affected by the trade.

The circumstances surrounding this case are under investigation and those responsible for the illicit trade are pursued and some are questioned.

The seizure is regarded a significant blow to the illegal trade of counterfeit goods.
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