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Progress update on Louis Fourie Road, Mossel Bay

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The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) and its appointed professional team is making good progress on upgrades to Louis Fourie Road in Mossel Bay. This R540 million project is the largest ever Western Cape Government investment in road infrastructure in the Garden Route District. The project is expected to be completed in August 2026.

It entails routine maintenance work on about 6km of existing roadway, the upgrading of just over 3km of road from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway, upgrading intersections, constructing a central median, realigning and upgrading the Langeberg Mall access road, rebuilding the on- and offramp to the N2, constructing a new bridge over the Blinde River, constructing a pedestrian walkway from Waboom Road to Sonskynvallei, a new bi-directional road under rail bridge on Garret Street and building a new road to link Garret Street with Gericke Street.

“Bulk earthworks and road layers are under construction on the land side of Louis Fourie Road, the intersections on the land side are being rebuilt, the Blinde River Bridge is under construction on the land side, and stormwater infrastructure, paving, streetlights and subsoil utility works are underway,” said Jandré Bakker, DOI Director: Operational Support.

“Road users are now using the new entry to the Langeberg Mall which is already bringing great relief to the traffic congestion to and from the mall. We wish to thank road users but especially the businesses located in and management of the Langeberg Mall for their patience during the construction process and the positive spirit in which they have supported the DOI,” Bakker continued.

“While work on the intersections continues, road users are reminded of the current widening of the road embankment on a section of Louis Fourie Road between George Road and Marsh Street. Other works currently underway include the resurfacing of Louis Fourie Road between Voorbaai and Hartenbos up to the offramp towards Kleinbrakrivier. We further remind road users of the temporary closure of Bally Crescent from 6 to 29 October for reconstruction, if all goes according to plan. Alternative access is via Watson Street and Bolton Road,” he added.

“We are pleased to report that the N2 onramp and offramps have been completed, and the pedestrian walkway has been completed,” said Tertuis Simmers, Provincial Minister of Infrastructure. “We have overcome obstacles, namely underground services that had not been accurately mapped, and are replacing ageing infrastructure to avoid building a new road,” said Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure.

“To the last report date, the project had created 41 423 person-days of work against a target of 58 000 person-days and created 282 work opportunities against a target of 250. It spent R64.8 million of its spending on targeted enterprises, and another R6.5 million was spent on procurement from local enterprises. A total of R8.7 million has been spent on emerging contractor development and I look forward to seeing these numbers grow towards the completion of the project which is still on track,” Minister Simmers added.

“We are well aware of the inconvenience of roadworks”, added Minister Simmers.

“We remain confident that the long-term benefit of this road upgrade will outweigh the short-term inconvenience to road users and that the investment in infrastructure will unlock economic opportunities in Mossel Bay and surrounds”, he continued.

BMW Recalls Over 12,000 Vehicles in South Africa Over Fire Risk

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The National Consumer Commission has issued a notice to consumers regarding a product recall by BMW Group South Africa, affecting several popular models due to a potential fire risk linked to the Starter Motor.

The recall applies to the BMW 3 Series (G20), 4 Series (G22), 5 Series (G30), Z4 (G29), X3 (G01) and X4 (G02) models. BMW has confirmed that a total of 12,491 vehicles are affected, all of which were made available in South Africa from 2016.

According to BMW, internal quality checks and customer complaints revealed that water could enter the Starter Motor at certain points, leading to corrosion. This defect may prevent the engine from starting and could, in some cases, cause a short circuit and local overheating of the starter. In the most severe instances, this may result in a vehicle fire, even when the car is parked.

Consumers are advised to avoid driving through deep water that could submerge the Starter Motor, especially for extended periods. BMW warns that in the rare event of overheating, the risk of damage to property or injury is possible.

Owners of the affected vehicles are urged to take their cars to the nearest authorised BMW dealership to have the Starter Motor replaced. The repair will be carried out free of charge.

Drivers can check whether their vehicle is part of the recall by visiting BMW’s service portal or by monitoring in-car communication for updates.

The National Consumer Commission encourages all affected owners to act promptly to ensure their safety and that of others.

Huguenot Tunnel to remain closed for at least another week

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The Huguenot Tunnel will remain closed for at least another week while the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) repairs severe structural damage.

The damage was caused by an incident on Friday night when a bus travelling from Mthatha to Cape Town caught fire inside the tunnel.

Captain FC van Wyk, provincial police spokesperson, said the incident occurred at 23:18 when the bus entered the tunnel on the N1. The bus caught fire and came to a stop inside.

All passengers managed to exit the bus in time, and only one person sustained minor injuries.

The tunnel’s control vehicles and fire department extinguished the blaze, but the bus was completely destroyed.

Western Cape police efforts pay off

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The endeavours of the respective South African Police Service (SAPS) stations and units in the Western Cape to bring stability to crime-ridden areas have proved fruitful with the confiscation of illegal firearms and ammunitions during police operations.

On Thursday evening, the police were observing a memorial service of an extortionist in Hobo Hobo Street, Ilitha Park, Lingelethu-West when they heard gun shots (gun salute). 

They responded and followed a suspect with a firearm running to a white Toyota. The vehicle was searched, and a revolver, two spent cartridges and three .38 rounds of ammunition were found in the car. 
A 22-year-old man was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition where after a gun residue test was done on him. 

The members discovered that the firearm belonged to a deceased person from Mbekweni in Wellington. The suspect is due to appear in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 06 October 2025.

Also last week, the police attached to Anti-Gang unit deployed to combat and prevent the escalating gang violence between rival street gangs in Lotus River, Grassy Park area, received information of a firearm being stored at a premises in Duiker Avenue, Lotus River.

The members operationalised the information and searched the premises and its occupants. A a revolver with five rounds was found on the person of a male at the premises.

The 26-year-old suspect, who had no valid license for the firearm, was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He is expected to appear before the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.     
 
On Friday, members attached to Vanrhynsdorp SAPS in collaboration with Provincial Traffic was setting up a vehicle checkpoint when a Blue Mazda Etude with four occupants was pulled over. 

The vehicle and its occupants were searched, and the members found two big bags containing dagga and confiscated it. The four occupants, aged between 22 and 49, were arrested for dealing and possession of dagga. 
The suspects are due to appear in the Klawer Magistrate’s Court.
On 03 October 2025 at 09:45, SAPS members were doing crime prevention patrols in Main Road, Rondebosch area. Information was received for operational units to be on the lookout for a beige VW Polo that was stolen in the Athlone area. 
The vehicle was spotted in Main Road driving towards Cape Town, where members gave chase. A high-speed chase ensued, and the suspect turned towards Liesbeeck Parkway and collided with a marked Fidelity vehicle. 

The vehicle came to a halt, and two occupants who sat in the front seats were seen fleeing from the scene but were apprehended by SAPS members.

The two other suspects sitting at the back were arrested and the firearm found next to them was confiscated.

All four adult males were taken to Woodstock SAPS for further investigation. Two firearms, 10 rounds of ammunition, two cellphones, and four mandrax tablets were found in their possession and confiscated. 
All suspects were arrested on a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and the possession of drugs. 

On Saturday, Saldanha Crime Prevention Unit members were busy with patrols in Diazville, Saldanha, when they heard a gunshot in Vraagom Street. 

The members stopped the police vehicle and went on foot in the direction from where they heard the gunshot.  Two suspicious looking men came from the front, saw the members and tried to escape but were apprehended. 
One was found to be in possession of a 9mm firearm with its serial number removed, an extended magazine with 27 9mm rounds of ammunition. The 18-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of a prohibited firearm and will appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court.

SA welcomes progress towards Gaza peace agreement

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The South African government has noted the recent developments intended to achieve a ceasefire and peace for Gaza and the region.

In a statement on Saturday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the developments towards peace have the potential to alleviate profound human suffering and build much-needed confidence.

“We welcome the decision by Hamas to release all Israeli hostages and its stated readiness for further engagement. This decision must be met with reciprocal action by the State of Israel. 

“Such reciprocal measures will be a confidence building measure for de-escalation and the restoration of trust. They represent a critical opportunity to uphold universal human dignity and build a foundation for a just and durable peace.

“We therefore emphasise that the release of Palestinian political prisoners, including children, and the abductees seized from the humanitarian flotilla must be urgently addressed,” DIRCO said.

South Africa has asserted that a lasting peace cannot be built upon the suppression of a people's fundamental human rights. 

“We urge all parties to transcend this cycle of confrontation and address the root causes of the conflict.
This necessitates an immediate and permanent ceasefire, alongside a definitive political process that realizes the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self- determination and statehood. This is in line with relevant United Nations resolutions.

“Guided by a commitment to a rules-based international order founded on international law, South Africa stands ready to support all genuine inclusive efforts aimed at achieving this definitive and peaceful resolution,” DIRCO said.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Protect yourself online

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With Cybersecurity Awareness Month being observed in October, Digify Africa Head of Client Services Omphile Kgwathe-Nkiwane has outlined practical guidelines that can keep South Africans safe online.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a global initiative that raises awareness about online safety and empowers individuals and businesses to protect themselves from cybercrime. 

To promote online safety, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) hosted a webinar on Thursday to mark the month under the 2025 theme: “Secure Our World”.

The webinar was aimed at empowering the public with practical tools that will enable them to use online platforms responsibly and to protect themselves against any possible dangers that may arise while using the platforms.

As part of an initiative to educate parents and guardians about cyber safety, Digify Africa has created a WhatsApp Learning Bot called Kitso.

“It offers tools and techniques to help you and your loved ones stay safe online. The WhatsApp learning chat bot is an educator. We give these chat bots personalities; it’s like you are talking to someone.
“The content is aimed at educators, parents and guardians. In the past, the boogeyman was on the streets but now he is on the internet,” she said.

Kitso can be added to one’s contacts on WhatsApp by typing in the number 076 593 7181 and saving the contact as Kitso. 

“With so much information online, some people find it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is not and that is why we created the WhatsApp learning bots. We wanted to make the content easy for anyone to read the content and use it in a practical way,” Kgwathe-Nkiwane said.

The public can keep safe online by following these guidelines:
•    Use strong and unique passwords: Make sure to use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t use your name and your children’s name. Make it difficult for people to hack your accounts.
•    Two-factor authentication: Use a two-factor authentication security method that requires two distinct forms of verification to access an account or system.
•    Recognise phishing attempts: Make sure that you do not click on suspicious links and ensure that the email that you have received is authentic. Look out for requests that are out of character. Look out for sms’s informing you that you have a parcel to pick up when you did not place an order. Do not follow instructions from individuals requesting an OTP for banking or asking for a pin code to a bank account or from people claiming that your bank account has been compromised and they can help. Look out for individuals who call you and rush you to make a decision about your bank account.
•    Safety on social media: Make sure that you don’t arrange meetings to meet a person that you have met online.
•    Use secure connections: Very often malls and airports offer free access to the internet that does not need a password. While there is nothing wrong with the internet connection, if there is no password, you could be exposed to hackers who can hack into your bank account. Do not use open Wi-Fi to access sensitive information on your phone or laptop.
•    Use critical thinking, if it is too good to be true, it probably is. If it does not feel right, it’s probably not right.

Congratulations to our Birthday Competition winners!

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*R5000 Takealot Voucher: Ed Mashaba
*R5555 cash: Veronica Slabbert
*R500 Pick n Pay Voucher: Princess Mokoena
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*R500 Prepaid Electricity Voucher: Annette Coetzee


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Western Cape hosts Disaster Resilience Summit

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Enhancing capacity to mitigate the effects of climate-related disasters and other systemic challenges is at the fore of the Western Cape provincial government’s two-day summit.

Held at the Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers in Century City, the Disaster Resilience Summit unites leaders from government, academia, municipalities, and the private sector to collaboratively develop practical, locally relevant solutions for building resilient communities.

Opening the event on Tuesday in partnership with Santam, Anton Bredell, the Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning, emphasised the need for urgent action.

“We must shift decisively from reactive disaster management to proactive risk reduction. That is our task, and that is our responsibility.

“Resilience planning allows us to anticipate risks rather than merely respond to them after the fact,” said Bredell. 

The MEC also pointed to compelling international evidence underscoring the economic and social value of resilience investments.

According to the World Bank, every US$1 invested in making infrastructure disaster-resilient in developing countries saves an estimated US$4 in avoided economic losses. 

In addition, the Global Commission on Adaptation has found that strengthening early warning systems can reduce hazard-related damage by up to 30%. 

“When we invest in anticipatory action and stronger social safety nets, communities recover faster and emerge stronger,” Bredell added.

The MEC believes that the summit is an important milestone in the province’s efforts to promote a comprehensive disaster risk reduction agenda. 

This agenda aims to ensure that the Western Cape is better equipped to handle climate risks, protect livelihoods, and safeguard vulnerable communities. 

This initiative is aligned with this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on 13 October, which carries the global theme: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”

The summit’s programme focuses on five key areas, including climate risk and infrastructure resilience, integrated disaster risk management and early warning systems, community-based adaptation and social resilience, governance, financing and institutional readiness, as well as data, innovation, and digital resilience tools.

These will be explored through high-level panels, technical workshops, and a marketplace of municipal innovations showcasing practical solutions.

Head of Department for Local Government, Graham Paulse, highlighted the province’s collaborative approach. 

This summit is not just a conversation – it’s a commitment to action. We are here to identify implementable projects that will make our municipalities safer, smarter, and more responsive.”

Head of Strategy and Investor Relations at Santam, Thabiso Rulashe, reaffirmed the role of partnerships and said building resilience is a shared responsibility that requires an all-of-society approach. 

“As South Africa’s leading general insurer, we are committed to working alongside government and municipalities to close existing gaps, strengthen local capacity, and support practical initiatives such as our Partnership for Risk and Resilience programme, which has already reached more than 29 million people since 2012,” Rulashe added. 

The summit is expected to deliver a practical set of outputs, including case studies, policy recommendations, and investment pathways, that will inform future planning, budgeting, and programme design at provincial and municipal levels. 

Operation Shanela nets over 5 000 suspects during the month of September

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During the month of September 2025, Operation Shanela netted 5 527 suspects for various crimes and 105 unlicensed firearms were recovered including eight rifles. These arrests and recoveries are a culmination of relentless operations conducted by various police units in specified policing precincts.

One of the key objectives of Operation Shanela is to tackle areas which have shown an increase in crime volumes.

Of the 5 527 suspects arrested during the month of September 2025, 1464 were arrested for contact crimes of which 730 of them were arrested for assault with an intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A total of 85 were arrested for murder and 93 suspects were arrested for attempted murder cases.

During these operations, those who deal in narcotics did not escape the police radar as a total of 921 suspects were arrested drugs were recovered in the process. Police also arrested 51 suspects for being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The arrested suspects have appeared in various courts in the province, however the work of the police teams in Operation Shanela II does not end with the arrests of the suspects and recovery of exhibits.

Frantic work is on-going behind the scenes in trying to establish possible links of the arrested suspects with other crimes. The firearms recovered will also be subjected to ballistics tests to determine if they have not been used in the commission of other crimes.

Malema to appeal firearm conviction

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EFF leader Julius Malema says he will appeal his firearms conviction all the way to the Constitutional Court and plans to strengthen his legal team for the process.

He addressed his supporters outside the East London Regional Court on Wednesday afternoon (1 October 2025) shortly after being found guilty of violating the Firearms Control Act.

Malema and Adriaan Snyman, a security company manager, were charged after Malema fired shots during an EFF rally in Mdantsane in 2018.

He ended his speech by singing “Kill the Boer.”

His bail has been extended until January 23, when he returns to court for pre-sentencing proceedings.

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