The South African Police Service (SAPS) announced the arrest of a 41-year-old convicted Bulgarian drug trafficker, Stanislav Stamenov, in Cape Town on Friday morning. Stamenov, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Romania in 2009 for his role in a large organised criminal network trafficking heroin into the country, fled Romania shortly after his conviction. He had been living in Cape Town for several years, reportedly working as a gym instructor at various well-known fitness clubs. The arrest…

The youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court alongside a 33-year-old co-accused following a shooting at the family’s Hyde Park home in Johannesburg. Bellarmine “Chatunga” Mugabe faces charges of attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice after a 23-year-old employee was shot at the residence on Thursday. The injured man was rushed to hospital, while police launched an immediate investigation. Authorities have confirmed that only two suspects are before…

Police divers are on Friday combing through a murky swimming pool at a luxury Hyde Park residence in northern Johannesburg, as investigations intensified into a shooting that left a young gardener critically wounded. The search forms part of an ongoing probe into an attempted murder case involving Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of the late former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe. Gauteng police confirmed that Mugabe and a second suspect are expected to appear before the Alexandra Magistrates Court on Monday,…

Police in Johannesburg have arrested a son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe following a shooting at a Hyde Park residence that left a worker critically injured. Gauteng police confirmed that a case of attempted murder has been opened after a 23-year-old man was shot on Thursday. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the victim is an employee at the property and was taken to hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds. “The police will be investigating a case of attempted murder…

Gauteng police have launched a murder investigation following a shooting incident in Linden, Windsor East, on Sunday, amid conflicting accounts about the circumstances that led to the death of a man allegedly linked to drug trafficking. According to Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, Public Order Police were dispatched to the area on Sunday, 8 February 2026, to restore calm after tensions escalated following reports of gunfire. “Preliminary investigation showed that there was a production company filming in the area…

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday heard testimony alleging that senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officers used state resources to silence social media commentator Musa Khawula after he published posts implicating alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala in serious criminal activities. Testifying under the pseudonym Witness F, a senior police officer told the commission that in October 2024, he was instructed by suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya to assist in the arrest of Khawula on charges of…

A police officer who single-handedly confronted an armed suspect during a domestic violence incident and saved the lives of a woman, her child and fellow officers has been named the overall winner at the South African Police Service’s 11th National Excellence Awards. Sergeant Masibulele Qinisile (41), a visible policing member based at Cacadu police station in the Chris Hani District in the Eastern Cape, was crowned the Laureate Award winner and also received the National Commissioner’s Award at a ceremony…

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga opened its 2026 public hearings with explosive testimony that laid bare alleged political meddling, abuse of power and deep rot within the criminal justice system — particularly around KwaZulu-Natal’s long history of political killings. From the outset, Monday’s proceedings at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria set a combative tone, with senior police officials and a protected undercover operative painting a disturbing picture of interference at the highest levels…

The acting station commander of the KwaMashu police station in Durban has allegedly directed police officers at the station to stop arresting illegal immigrants as that is straining their resources. Colonel BC Silinga allegedly gave the directive that has irked the likes of the March and March Movement via Whatsapp on Friday morning. According to several sources within the police station, the directive was posted on the Whatsapp group of the visible police division by Silinga. In the message, Silinga…

The death toll from the devastating scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark has risen to 14 after two more learners succumbed to their injuries in hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning. Gauteng police confirmed that the 22-year-old scholar transport driver now faces 14 counts of culpable homicide, as well as charges of reckless and negligent driving, following the latest fatalities. The suspect is expected to appear before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 22 January 2026. The tragic crash…