TrendySA Online

CAPE TOWN - Airlink notes the concerns expressed in various social media and online forums regarding yesterday’s formation flyby over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium. The flight demanded careful planning and rehearsal, as it required navigating at low altitude, at around 150 knots. The South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided valuable guidance, approval and support to ensure a safe flyby. The two aircraft were flown by highly-experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. The flight data recorded by both aircraft confirms that the flights were performed within the SACAA’s approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast.

SEDIBENG  - Following information received from the Crime Intelligence Unit, members of the SAPS Tactical Team, Gauteng Traffic Police Saturation Unit, Gauteng Highway Patrol and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) conducted an intelligence-driven operation in the Sedibeng area. The operation resulted in the arrest of 17 suspects, while four suspects sustained gunshot wounds during an exchange of fire with the operational team. The suspects are linked to reported offences including attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, impersonating police officials, possession of a signal-jamming device, possession of a hijacked vehicle, conspiracy to commit truck hijacking, and possession of police uniform. During the operation, law enforcement recovered: • 1 AK-47 rifle and 3 pistols • 5 suspected getaway vehicles • 1 signal-jamming device • A white Toyota GD-6 fitted with blue lights • Gauteng Traffic Police uniforms and gloves • Multiple false...

KEMPTON PARK - Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has applauded the work of a multidisciplinary team at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) following the seizure of cocaine worth an estimated R200 million. On Tuesday, 25 August 2026, SAPS members attached to ORTIA, working with other law enforcement authorities, including Customs officials, intercepted two separate consignments of cocaine. In the first incident, two large travel suitcases were intercepted at the airport terminal. The suitcases contained blocks of suspected cocaine weighing approximately 84 kilograms. In a separate interception at the cargo section, four boxes containing approximately 250 kilograms of suspected cocaine, packed into 220 blocks, were seized. The combined estimated street value of the seized cocaine is more than R200 million. No arrests have been made at this stage. Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend ...

GAUTENG - The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) wishes to once again confirm that the fourth payment day remains in place for social grant beneficiaries whose grants are under review during the September 2026 payment cycle. The September 2026 payment schedule is as follows: • Wednesday, 02 September 2026: Older Persons Grants • Thursday, 03 September 2026: Disability Grants • Friday, 04 September 2026: Children's Grants • Monday, 07 September 2026: Fourth-day payment for beneficiaries whose grants are under review SASSA emphasises that 07 September 2026 is not an additional general payment day. It is specifically intended for beneficiaries whose grants are undergoing review and who are therefore not paid during the normal three-day payment cycle. Beneficiaries who do not receive their grants on 02, 03 or 04 September 2026 should not panic or rush to SASSA offices. If a beneficiary's grant is under review, payment will be processed on Monday, 07 September ...

RANDBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed the first court appearance of Stuart Scharnick (40) in the Randburg Magistrates' Court on charges relating to alleged contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.  The matter was postponed to 1 September 2026 for a formal bail application, and the accused remains in custody. Scharnick faces charges arising from an investigation conducted by the South African Police Service relating to compliance with firearm storage and registration requirements. It is alleged that police officials sought to conduct an inspection of the accused's firearms and visited his residential address in Douglasdale.  Upon arriving at the address, they were unable to locate him and subsequently discovered that he had relocated to another residence without notifying the Central Firearms Registry of his change of address, as required by law. Police then proceeded to the accused's new residence, which belongs to his partner. During ...

KU GOMPO CITY - Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Princess Faku today visited the family of boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete at their home in Mdantsane. The visit was a gesture of solidarity and comfort to the Tete family following the tragic passing of the beloved champion. Premier Mabuyane and Mayor Faku conveyed their deepest condolences to the family, while reflecting on Tete’s remarkable contribution to boxing and the pride he brought to Mdantsane, Buffalo City and the Eastern Cape. The leaders also reaffirmed government’s commitment to standing with the family and community during this difficult period, as the province mourns the loss of one of its sporting sons.

SOWETO - The South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to intensify its efforts to combat the proliferation and misuse of firearms through targeted operations aimed at removing illegal firearms from circulation and ensuring strict compliance with the Firearms Control Act, 60 of 2000. Following a compliance inspection operation, members deployed under OPERATION BUYISA seized 100 firearms and ammunition from a security company based in Soweto, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 22 August 2026, for contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, 60 of 2000. According to a preliminary report, the security company's Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) accreditation was recently suspended, whereafter the responsible person failed to dispose of the firearms as required. The compliance inspection further revealed that the company's firearm storage facility does not meet the requirements stipulated in the Act. The seized firearms will be subjected to ballistic tes...

DURBAN -  The eThekwini Municipality's Recreation and Parks Directorate, working together with the City's Emergency Services, are attending to multiple incidents across the city following strong winds that swept through eThekwini this afternoon and early evening, uprooting trees and disrupting traffic in several communities. No injuries have been reported at this stage. Since last night, 23 fallen trees had been reported across the city. Recreation and Parks teams are cutting and removing fallen trees and clearing debris at the following locations, among others: • Masabalala Yengwa Avenue (four trees) • Currie Road (five trees) • Prospect Road • Balmoral Road • Kenneth Kaunda Road • Ridge Road, uMhlanga • Mazisi Kunene Road • John Zikhali Road • Patrick Duncan Road, Kloof • Margaret Maytom Avenue • Hilltop Road, uMkomaas • Marian Road, Amanzimtoti • O'Flaherty Road and Quarry Road • Penzance Road • Hatton Avenue, Sherwood The Durban Metro Police Service is manag...

KU GOMPO CITY - Two persons of interest have been apprehended in connection with the murder of well-known boxer Zolani Tete, who was fatally shot at NU 17, Mdantsane, on 21 August 2026. The individuals aged 30 and 22 were apprehended in Ku Gompo on Saturday, 22 August 2026, following a swift and intelligence-driven operation involving multiple law enforcement units. They are currently in custody and are being questioned in relation to the murder and attempted murder relating to the 27-year-old female passenger who was wounded in the attack. Due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, the SAPS is unable to disclose further details regarding the motive or the circumstances surrounding the arrests at this time. Investigators are following up on several leads, and more arrests are imminent. We caution the public and the media against speculation or the dissemination of unverified information, as this may compromise the investigation and the integrity of the upcomi...

MUSINA - A suspected multimillion-rand crystal methamphetamine manufacturing operation has suffered a major setback following a high-impact, intelligence-driven operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African Narcotics Bureau Head Office, Crime Intelligence Head Office, Hawks Limpopo, Special Task Force, Drug Enforcement Agency and Homeland Security. The operation uncovered a suspected clandestine drug laboratory on a farm in Musina, Vhembe District, during the late hours of Thursday, 20 August 2026. Five suspects were arrested, while drugs and laboratory equipment with an estimated street value of R600 million, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash, were seized. This is the third clandestine drug laboratory to be shut down in Limpopo. The breakthrough follows a two-month intensive investigation into suspected drug manufacturing activities at the farm. The discovery has ex...

  DURBAN -  The Department of Health has noted with serious concern a video circulating on social media depicting a nurse physically assaulting a patient at King Dinuzulu Hospital. In a statement, the Department says it unequivocally condemns this behavior in the strongest possible terms.  The conduct displayed in the video is completely unacceptable, violates the core values of our healthcare system, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Following the emergence of the video, the Department has acted decisively. The nurse in question will be placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect, pending a full and thorough internal investigation into the matter. The video appears to show the nurse striking the patient on the face while making inappropriate remarks. 

FREE STATE - A 50-year-old suspect, who is the husband of the victim, will appear in Zastron magistrate court soon on a charge of rape. This is after the incident that happened at their home in Refeng-kgotso in Zastron.   The 54-year-old victim alleges that on Friday, 14 August 2026, at 02:00, she was at home busy with her clients as she is a Sangoma. Her husband came to her and demanded to be intimate with her. The victim refused as she was busy working. The suspect grabbed her and forcefully took her to the room. He undressed both of them and violated her without consent. After he finished, he got into bed and went to sleep. During the morning of Friday, 18 August 2026, at 07:00, the victim decided to report the incident. A case of rape was opened and is being investigated by the Smitfield Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit.

DURBAN - One person has been killed following a possible targeted assassination in the Furnham area of Phoenix on Monday afternoon. KZN VIP Emergency Medical and Security teams were dispatched to the scene after residents reported hearing multiple gunshots echoing through the area. According to information received on scene, two African male suspects were allegedly seen fleeing from the vehicle in the direction of Workingham shortly after the shooting. Upon arrival, emergency teams were met with a significant crime scene, with multiple spent cartridges scattered across approximately 150 to 200 metres of the roadway. KZN VIP medics located the driver seated inside the vehicle. Unfortunately, the victim showed no signs of life and was declared deceased on scene. The motive for the shooting remains unknown at this stage, and the circumstances surrounding the incident will form part of a SAPS investigation. Members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or have infor...

GAUTENG - The Gauteng Department of Community Safety has warned the public of fake social media posts regarding the Crime Prevention Wardens also known as 'Amapanyaza' job openings.  There are currently NO official vacancies advertised for the Crime Prevention Wardens/ Gauteng Traffic Wardens programme, the Department warned, pleading to job seekers in Gauteng to stay vigilant and verify information via official channels before engaging with any posts or individuals claiming to offer job opportunities within the Department.

BEDFORDVIEW - A woman was killed on Friday morning after a large rock was allegedly thrown from the Concord Road Bridge onto the R24 freeway near Bedfordview, east of Johannesburg. The rock smashed through the windscreen of her vehicle on the eastbound carriageway, shortly before the Gillooly’s Interchange, at approximately 07:38. The impact caused fatal head injuries. The driver subsequently lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into the roadside barriers. She was declared dead at the scene. Ekurhuleni Metro Police confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened at Bedfordview SAPS. Authorities are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or may have information that could assist the investigation to come forward.

JOHANNESBURG – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentencing of 26-year-old Victor Mokoena, who was sentenced by the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg to four terms of life imprisonment for raping four young women whom he lured through social media under the pretext of modelling, promotional and photoshoot opportunities. Mokoena was convicted of four counts of rape, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and pointing of an object resembling a firearm. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the four rape counts, 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, two years for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and one year for pointing an object resembling a firearm.  The sentences imposed on the remaining counts will run concurrently with the life sentences. Mokoena operated in and around Johannesburg between March 2021 and October ...

NYANGA - A suspected smash-and-grab suspect was killed after being struck by a vehicle while allegedly fleeing across the N2 near the Nyanga off-ramp in Cape Town. According to reports, the suspect allegedly smashed a vehicle's window in slow-moving traffic, stole items from inside, and ran into oncoming traffic while attempting to escape. He was struck by a passing vehicle during the incident. Paramedics responded to the scene and declared the suspect deceased. Source: Yusuf Abramjee

GAUTENG - A 23-year-old alleged gangster will appear in the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court today, 12 August 2026 on two counts of murder and possession of unlicensed firearms. He was arrested following a multi-disciplinary tracing operation that led to the recovery of two R5 rifles at KwaDukathole Informal Settlement in Germiston over the past weekend. The operation was led by the DPCI’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation, supported by Gauteng Crime Intelligence Tactical and Special Operations, the Provincial Tracking Team, Tactical Response Team, Anti-Gang Unit and PRASA. The coordinated effort resulted in the identification and arrest of the suspect who allegedly took part in the killing of two Gauteng #SAPS #AntiGang Unit members, Constables Tlomatsana and Sibeko, as well as two civilian women. The suspect, a known gangster, was out on bail at the time of his arrest. He has several pending cases, including two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and possessi...

IMPENDLE - Mildlands EMS Howick crews were dispatched to the Impendle area after receiving a call regarding a patient who had sustained serious leg injuries following a fall in the snow. The ambulance crew faced challenging conditions while responding to the incident, with roads in the area becoming slippery and sections of the route covered in snow. Despite the difficult driving conditions, the crew continued their response and made their way safely into the area to locate the patient. On arrival, the patient was found and assessed by the EMS crew. The patient's injuries were treated and the patient was stabilized on scene before being carefully loaded into the ambulance for transport. The patient was subsequently transported to a Level 1 trauma hospital for further assessment, treatment and management of their injuries. According to Midlands EMS, incidents in snow-covered and icy conditions can present significant challenges for emergency crews, not only due to the in...

ELLIOT - The Eastern Cape Department of Transport has cautioned motorists about road closures in parts of the province due to snowfall. Snow has blanketed most parts of the province posing an immediate threat to motorists and snow chasers. The following areas are no-go zone: 1. R405 Kwabacha to Mandileni closed. 2. R415 Matatiele to Qachasnek Border post closed 3. R61 between Nxuba and Graaff Reinette re-opened, but slippery. Exercise extreme caution. 4. N9 Lootsberg pass between Middleburg and Graaff Reinet still closed.  5. N6 Penhoek pass between Komani and Aliwal North closed. 6. R58 Barkly Pass between Elliot and Aliwal North closed.  7. R415 Matatiele to Qachasnek is snowing and the Port of Entry is closed. 8. R56 Matatiele to Xaxazana is snowing but drivable. 9. R56 Matatiele to New Amalfe, is snowing but drivable.  10. N2 KwaBhaca is raining. 11. R405 KwaBhaca to Mandileni is snowing and the road closed.  12. Brooksnek pass along the N2 towards e...