Tag: Western Cape

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.

DA calls for release of overdue Knysna Estuary report

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Knysna Municipality to immediately release its latest report on the Knysna Estuary, saying the document is more than a week overdue.

DA Knysna mayoral candidate Levael Davis said residents deserved transparency about the condition of the estuary, which is an important environmental and economic asset for the town.

The DA has raised concerns about sewage spills, failing pump stations and polluted waterways, warning that continued degradation could affect tourism, local businesses and aquatic ecosystems.

Davis said the party has proposed a plan focused on reducing pollution and improving the municipality’s water and sewage infrastructure.

The proposals include publishing monthly water-quality results, rehabilitating pump stations, conducting an independent assessment of the pipe network and introducing 24-hour monitoring of pump stations.

The DA also says it would publish a five-year pipe replacement and rehabilitation plan and establish a rapid-response system for major infrastructure failures.

21 Killed in Horror Crash on N1 in Western Cape

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
Twenty-one people have died in a horror crash on the N1 between Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka in the Western Cape.

The crash happened early on Monday and involved a Toyota Quantum taxi and a Suzuki Brezza SUV.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation says the death toll could still change as emergency teams continue working at the scene. The cause of the collision has not yet been established and remains under investigation.

Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku is expected to visit the scene, which remains closed due to the severity of the crash.

Motorists have been urged to avoid the N1 between Laingsburg and Beaufort West and use alternative routes where possible.

The Western Cape Health Department says medical teams are also caring for those injured in the collision.

Western Cape Begins 30-Day Countdown to 2026 Matric Exams

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
The Western Cape has begun its 30-day countdown to the 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations, with more than 71,000 full-time matric candidates expected to write their final exams.

The examinations will start on 13 October with Computer Applications Technology, or CAT, and conclude on 25 November.
A total of 71,300 full-time candidates are registered across the province.

The exams will be written at 485 centres, including 477 high schools, seven primary schools and one correctional services facility serving part-time candidates.

The Western Cape will also deploy around 2,600 community invigilators and 3,857 markers, with 123 exam papers scheduled to be written.

The Western Cape Education Department says teachers, tutors and officials have been working to prepare learners for the exams.

More than 31,000 matric learners attended #BackOnTrack winter school classes during the mid-year holiday. Revision classes will also be offered during the upcoming third-term break.

Learners can access past exam papers and memoranda, video tutorials, study guides, subject support, study tips and information on further study funding through the Western Cape Education Department's matric support resources.

The department is also encouraging learners struggling with stress or mental health concerns to seek help. The Safe Schools Hotline is available toll-free on 0800 45 46 47.

Education Minister Jaco Londt has urged parents, guardians and communities to protect learners' study time and support them during the final weeks before the examinations.

He has also encouraged matriculants to remain disciplined and focused, saying their hard work will pay off.

SAWS warns of disruptive rain in Western & Northern Cape

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for disruptive rain over parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape.

The warning is in effect from 6pm on Sunday until 11:59pm on Monday, with heavy rain expected to cause flooding and significant disruption.

A cut-off low-pressure system is expected to bring widespread showers and thundershowers to the two provinces.

Rainfall of between 25 and 50 millimetres is expected in parts of the Eastern Namakwa and Central Karoo, with some areas potentially receiving between 60 and 80 millimetres.

SAWS warns that the rain could flood roads, settlements and low-lying areas, while some bridges, roads and mountain passes may be closed.

Fast-flowing streams could pose a danger to lives, while major traffic disruption is possible.

Essential services, including water, electricity and schools, could also be affected.

Sardine Deaths Linked to Pilchard Herpesvirus Under Investigation

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is continuing to investigate an unusual sardine mortality event stretching from the Western Cape along South Africa’s southern and eastern coasts, to the northern Wild Coast and into Namibia.

Reports of dead sardines began in July, with the affected coastline spanning about 2 600 kilometres between Henties Bay and the northern Wild Coast.

Laboratory tests have confirmed Pilchard Herpesvirus, or PHV, in sardines linked to the deaths, including samples collected in Gqeberha.

The DFFE says this is the first confirmed detection of PHV in South African sardines. However, scientists are still investigating whether the virus is directly responsible for the deaths and whether environmental factors may also be involved.

The department says the full extent and impact of the mortality event remain uncertain. PHV has not been confirmed at every location where dead sardines have been reported, and factors such as ocean currents, fish movement and differences in monitoring must also be considered.

The DFFE says current assessments do not indicate that the deaths represent a large proportion of the overall sardine stock. However, the estimates remain uncertain, and the event may not yet have run its course.

An October and November hydroacoustic survey is expected to provide the first reliable, independent estimate of sardine numbers and distribution following the mortality event.

The DFFE is working with scientific institutions, provincial authorities, municipalities, the fishing industry and Namibian counterparts as part of a coordinated investigation.

On public health, the department says PHV is not known to infect humans. Commercially produced canned sardines processed under approved conditions remain safe to eat.

However, the public is strongly advised not to collect, eat or feed dead or dying sardines to pets. Decomposing fish may contain harmful bacteria or other microorganisms that can cause illness.

The department also advises against using dead or visibly unhealthy sardines as bait while investigations into the virus continue.

R5.85 million worth of drugs seized on N1 near Beaufort West

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
Swift action following intelligence about a consignment of illicit drugs has resulted in the seizure of drugs worth an estimated R5.85 million on the N1 near Beaufort West.

On Thursday, 10 September 2026, at about 10:40pm, members of the Western Cape Organised Crime Investigations, Crime Intelligence and Beaufort West police conducted an intelligence-driven operation on the N1.

Police intercepted and searched a vehicle, where they discovered 57,000 Mandrax tablets and five kilograms of cocaine.

The 46-year-old driver was arrested and charged with dealing in drugs. He remains in police custody and is expected to appear in the Beaufort West Magistrates' Court on Monday, 14 September.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sizakhele Dyantyi praised the police teams for their efforts to prevent illicit drugs from reaching vulnerable communities in the province.

Western Cape mobilises emergency response to Beaufort West water crisis

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
The Western Cape Government has launched a coordinated emergency response after severe flooding damaged critical water infrastructure in Beaufort West, disrupting water services to the town.

Local Government MEC Anton Bredell says the priority is to restore water supply as quickly as possible while ensuring residents receive emergency water.

Government agencies, the Beaufort West Municipality, Central Karoo District Municipality, disaster management teams and private and humanitarian partners have been mobilised since the incident was identified on 4 September.

Emergency measures include deploying water tankers, distributing water to affected communities, assessing damaged infrastructure and providing engineering support. The province has also made R1 million available for urgent repairs.

Bredell says calls for a formal disaster declaration have not delayed the response, stressing that government can provide emergency assistance without such a declaration.

Access to the damaged 600-millimetre pipeline was initially difficult because of high river levels and flooding. Technical teams have since continued working on the infrastructure, while parts of the municipal water system have been restored and reservoir levels replenished.

Emergency water supplies remain in place, with vulnerable communities and critical public facilities receiving particular attention.

Bredell says all available resources will continue to be directed towards maintaining emergency water supplies and restoring normal services as quickly and safely as possible.

Temporary measures agreed to protect Diaz Beach as erosion worsens

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
The Western Cape Government and Mossel Bay Municipality have reached an agreement on urgent temporary measures to address the ongoing coastal erosion threat at Diaz Beach.

The provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said it recognised the serious risks posed by the erosion and the need to protect people, nearby properties and public infrastructure.

As an immediate intervention, Mossel Bay Municipality has proposed installing geotextile sandbags to stabilise the affected dune and reduce the risk of further collapse.

The temporary measure is aimed at preventing properties and infrastructure from collapsing onto the beach, while also helping to reduce the danger to members of the public entering an area that remains unsafe.

The provincial government said both authorities agreed that a permanent solution to the coastal erosion problem is needed. A Basic Assessment process currently underway will help determine the most appropriate long-term intervention.

Department spokesperson Rudolf van Jaarsveldt stressed that the proposed sandbags should not be viewed as a permanent solution.

He warned that coastal protection structures can interfere with the natural movement of sand between the dune, beach and nearshore areas. If poorly designed or managed, such measures could contribute to further erosion, beach narrowing and the eventual loss of the beach as a public amenity.

Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell has decided to comply with a court order permitting the sandbags to be installed as an urgent temporary measure.

The final long-term approach will be determined through the Basic Assessment process in the coming months. This could potentially result in the removal of the sandbags, while options such as sand replenishment may also be considered.

The Western Cape Government and Mossel Bay Municipality said they would continue working together to manage the immediate risks at Diaz Beach while developing longer-term measures to improve coastal management in the area.

Diaz Beach remains closed to the public due to unstable dune slopes and severe weather erosion.
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