May, 2026
Operation Prosper has had some success
No end in sight to Flats violence
CRIME SCENE: Cape Flats: Since the army’s boots hit the Cape Flats ground just over a month ago, Operation Prosper has had some measure of success, but it hasn’t stopped innocent deaths in gang ridden areas.
The bullets kept on flying. Blood kept flowing. There seems no end in sight.
Operation Prosper, a joint deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), South African Police Services (SAPS) and the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police, Traffic Police, and Law Enforcement to combat gang violence, extortion and crime in the Western Cape, rolled into Mitchells Plain on 1 April 2026.
The deployment is planned for a year and includes high-density patrols, roadblocks, stop-and-search operations, vehicle control points (VCP), inspections of liquor-licensed premises, and checks for undocumented persons.
From 1 to 28 April 2026 a total of 23 firearms, one hand grenade and 146 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. The forces also confiscated drugs worth over R4 million and liquor worth R262 426, while making 191 drug related arrests and 31 illegally dealing in alcohol.
But the operation went a bit further than just combatting gang violence, as 29 illegal migrants were arrested and Abalone and Rock Lobster worth over R 45 000 were confiscated.
●The information contained in this report was supplied by Captain Walter Kassaka, the operational communication officer at the Joint Tactical Headquarters, Western Cape.
Fetus tussen vullis gekry
Werker maak gru-vonds
MISDAADTONEEL: Vrygrond, Kaapstad: Skaars ‘n dag na die ontdekking van ‘n pasgebore baba in Lotusrivier, is nog ‘n gru-ontdekking, Maandagoggend 4 Mei 2026 gemaak.
Volgens Kaptein FC van Wyk van die Wes-Kaap-polisie se mediakantoor, is die polisie na Vrygrond, naby Muizenberg, ontbied waar ‘n werker van die Uitgebreide Openbare Werke-program (EPWP) ‘n fetus tussen vullis opgemerk het.
Die werker was besig om ‘n oop stuk veld in Vrygrondlaan met ‘n hark skoon te maak toe sy die fetus opmerk.
Die Stad Kaapstad se raadslid vir die gebied, Mandy Marr, het die voorval as ‘n absolute verwoestende en sinnelose tragedie beskryf.
“My hart gaan uit na die hele gemeenskap terwyl ons almal oor hierdie pynlike verlies treur,” het Marr via ‘n WhatsApp-groep gesê.
‘n Plaaslike gemeenskapsaktivis het die volgende op Facebook geplaas: “Nog ‘n baba gevind tussen die vullis in ons gemeenskap in Vrygrondlaan, Vrygrond. Moeders, ondersteun asseblief julle kinders gedurende hierdie tyd, of volwassenes as julle weet julle is swanger en wil nie meer die baba hê nie, praat met iemand by die kraameenheid of organisasies in julle gemeenskap. Dit kan nie aangaan nie. Babas word weggegooi omdat julle onverantwoordelik is/onbeskermde seks het. Voorbehoedmiddels is gratis vir enigiemand, jonk en oud. Daar is geen verskoning vir hierdie gedrag nie. As julle iets weet, praat uit!! Stilbly help niemand nie.”
Muizenberg-polisie het ‘n geregtelike doodsondersoek geregistreer. Enigiemand met inligting word vriendelik versoek om Crime Stop te kontak by 08600 10111.
●In die Lotusrivier-voorval is die liggaam van ‘n pasgebore babadogtertjie Sondagmiddag 3 Mei 2026 in ‘n stormwaterdrein in gevind. Die baba se 31-jarige ma is Saterdag 2 Mei 2026 gearresteer nadat die baba as vermis aangemeld is.Die omstandighede rondom die voorval word ondersoek.
Worker finds foetus among dirt
Another child tragedy
CRIME SCENE: Vrygrond, Cape Town: Barely a day after the discovery of a newborn baby in Lotus River, another gruesome discovery, this time of a foetus, was made on Monday morning, 4 May 2026.
According to Captain FC van Wyk of the Western Cape Police Media Office, the police were called out to Capricorn near Muizenberg where an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) worker noticed a foetus between some dirt.
The worker was busy cleaning an open field in Vrygrond Avenue, using a rake when she made the discovery.
The City of Cape Town councillor for the area, Mandy Marr, described the incident as an absolutely devastating and senseless tragedy.
“My heart goes out to the entire community as we all mourn this painful loss,” said Marr via a WhatsApp group.
A local community activist posted the following on Facebook: “Another baby found amongst dirt in our community in Vrygrond Avenue, Vrygrond. Mothers please support your children during this time, or adults if you know you pregnant and no longer wants the baby, speak to someone at the MOU or organizations in your community. This cannot carry on. Babies being dumped due to you being irresponsible/ having unprotected sex. Contraceptives are free for anyone young and old. There is no excuse for this behavior. If you know something speak up!! Being silent dont help anyone.”
Muizenberg police registered an inquest for investigation. Anyone with information is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
In the Lotus River incident, the body of a newborn baby girl was found in a stormwater drain in Lotus River on Sunday afternoon, 3 May 2026. The baby’s 31-year-old mother was arrested on Saturday, 2 May 2026.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
Dood in drein gevind
Baba se tragiese einde
MISDAADTONEEL: Lotusrivier, Kaapstad: Die storie van ‘n vermiste pasgebore babadogtertjie het tot ‘n tragiese einde gekom.
Die polisie het bevestig die baba se liggaampie is Sondagmiddag 3 Mei 2026 omstreeks 14:00 in ‘n stormwaterdrein op die hoek van Tweede-laan en Antelope-straat, Lotusrivier, ontdek.
Volgens berigte het die 31-jarige ma Saterdag 2 Mei 2026 by Retreat daghospitaal se kraameenheid geboorte gegee. Die baba is Saterdag laas gesien terwyl sy saam met die ma in ‘n taxi vanaf Retreat na Lotusrivier gereis het.
Die twee is na bewering saam op die hoek van Buckweg en Vierde-laan, Lotusrivier afgelaai, maar die ma het allleen by die huis opgedaag.
Die ma is Saterdag gearresteer en bly in aanhouding. Die ondersoek duur voort.
Mother remains behind bars
Baby found dead in drain
CRIME SCENE: Lotus River, Cape Town: The police have confirmed that a baby girl that was found deceased in a stormwater drain in Lotus River was that of a 31-year-old woman who was arrested on Saturday, 2 May 2026.
The body of the newborn was discovered on the corner of Second Avenue and Antelope Street, Lotus River, on Sunday afternoon, 3 May 2026 at about 14:00.
According to reports the mother gave birth at the Retreat Day Hospital Maternity Unit on Saturday 2 May 2026. The baby was last seen travelling with the mother from Retreat to Lotus River by taxi on Saturday, stated the reports.
They were allegedly dropped off at the corner of Buck Road and Fourth Avenue, Lotus River, but the mother returned home without the baby.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. The mother of the child remains in custody, according to the police.
Polisie ondersoek omstandighede rondom voorval
Ma vas na baba verdwyn
MISDAADTONEEL: Lotusrivier, Kaapstad: Die Grassy Park polisie het ‘n 31-jarige vrou gearresteer na die verdwyning van ‘n pasgebore babadogtertjie.
Volgens berigte het die ma Saterdag 2 Mei 2026 by Retreat daghospitaal se kraameenheid geboorte gegee. Die baba is Saterdag laas gesien terwyl sy saam met die ma in ‘n taxi vanaf Retreat na Lotusrivier gereis het.
Die twee is na bewering saam op die hoek van Buckweg en Vierde-laan, Lotusrivier afgelaai, maar die ma het allleen by die huis opgedaag.
Volgens die berigte was die baba toegedraai in ‘n pienk receiver en ‘n navy blue fleece kombers.
Lede van die Lotus River-gemeenskap het Saterdagaand 2 Mei 2026 na die baba gesoek, maar die soektog moes gestaak word weens skietery in die gebied, volgens die berigte. Teen Sondagmiddag 3 Mei 2026 was die baba nog nie gevind nie.
‘n Saak is Saterdag 2 Mei 2026 aanhangig gemaak, en die omstandighede rondom die verdwyning van die kind word ondersoek, volgens die polisie.
Die polisie doen ‘n beroep op enigiemand met inligting oor die saak om Crime Stop by 08600 10111 te kontak of die MySAPS-mobiele App anoniem te gebruik.
Police investigate circumstances of disappearance
Mom arrested for missing baby
CRIME SCENE: Lotus River, Cape Town: Grassy Park police have arrested a 31-year-old woman following the disappearance of a newborn baby girl.
According to reports the mother gave birth at the Retreat Day Hospital Maternity Unit on Saturday 2 May 2026. The baby was last seen travelling with the mother from Retreat to Lotus River by taxi on Saturday.
They were allegedly dropped off at the corner of Buck Road and Fourth Avenue, Lotus River, but the mother returned home without the baby.
According to the reports the baby was wrapped in a pink receiver blanket and navy blue fleece blanket.
Members of the Lotus River Community searched for the baby on Saturday evening, 2 May 2026, but the search had to be called off because of shootings in the area, according to the reports. By Sunday afternoon 3 May 2026, the baby had not been found.
A child abandonment case was opened on Saturday, 2 May 2026, and investigations are ongoing, according to the police.
The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the child are under investigation. The police urged anyone with information or knowledge of the baby’s whereabouts to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile App anonymously.
Drie mans ook vas vir dwelms en vuurwapen
Vrou vas vir ‘aanval’ op polisie
MISDAADTONEEL: Mitchells Plain, Kaapstad: ‘n Vrou van Mitchells Plain, wat na bewering met dwelms betrap en die polisie aangeval het, is gearresteer.
Die Mitchells Plain-polisie het vroeër inligting ontvang oor dwelms by ‘n perseel in Guavastraat, Tafelsig. Hulle het die inligting opgevolg en die vrou gearresteer toe hulle ‘n besending dagga en ‘n kontant by die perseel ontdek het.
Die 29-jarige vrou is in hegtenis geneem vir ‘n aanval op die polisie en handel in dagga en daggaprodukte.
MISDAADTONEEL: Steenberg: ‘n Geïntegreerde operasie tussen die polisie en die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag (SANW) in Steenberg het gelei tot die ontdekking van ‘n 9 mm-pistool met 17 rondtes ammunisie.
Volgens die polisie in die Wes-Kaap se media kantoor is twee mans van 19-en 34-jaar-oud vir die besit van ‘n verbode vuurwapen en ammunisie gearresteer.
Volgens die polisie het die lede toe ‘n 34-jarige man in ‘n ander straat gearresteer vir die besit van dwelms, nadat hy met twee halwe Mandrax-tablette, drie hele Mandrax-tablette en vier sakkies Tik in sy besit gevind is.
Three men also apprehended for drugs, firearm
Plain woman arrested for ‘attacking’ cops
CRIME SCENE: Mitchells Plain, Cape Town: A Mitchells Plain woman, who was allegedly found with drugs and attacked the police, has been arrested
The Mitchells Plain police had earlier received information about drugs at a premises in Guava Street, Tafelsig. They quickly followed up on this intelligence leading to the arrest of the woman when they discovered a consignment of dagga and an undisclosed amount of cash at the premises, according to a statement by the Western Cape police media office.
The 29-year-old woman was arrested for attack on police and dealing in dagga and dagga products.
CRIME SCENE: Steenberg: On Wednesday, 29 April at around 06:40, an integrated operation between the police and the South African National Defence Force in Steenberg led to the discovery of a 9mm pistol with 17 rounds of ammunition. Two men aged 19 and 34-years were arrested for possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
According to the Western Cape police media office, the members then arrested a 34-year-old male in another street for possession of drugs after he was found with two half Mandrax tablets, three full Mandrax tablets and four sachets of Tik in his possession.