July, 2026
Suspects also face charges of extortion
Police nab 4 for spaza murder
CRIMNE SCENE: Bonteheuwel: The South African Police Service (SAPS) have arrested four men in connection with extortion and murder.
SAPS said the four men were linked to the murder of a well-known local spaza shop owner, known throughout the community as Umar. He was shot inside his shop in Assegai Avenue, Bonteheuwel. on Monday, 13 July 2026.
According to SAPS an intelligence-driven operation by members of Operation Lockdown 3 and Bishop Lavis police led to the arrest of the four suspects in Bonteheuwel on Friday, 17 July 2026.
“The four, aged between 31 and 43-years, are alleged to have been terrorising spaza shop owners in Bonteheuwel, demanding protection fees and closing down their shops.
“They are also linked to the murder of a 31-year-old spaza shop owner in Assegai Street on Monday, 13 July 2026. Three of them were apprehended at an address in Assegai Avenue, while the fourth suspect was arrested in Jakkalsvlei Avenieue. They are affiliated with one local gang,” said SAPS.
Police operations bring success in Malmesbury
Suspected drug dealer arrested
CRIME SCENE: Malmesbury, Swartland: Ongoing efforts by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat gang-related crime and drug trafficking in Malmesbury yielded positive results when the Anti-Gang Unit arrested a suspect and confiscated drugs, a firearm and cash on Sunday, 19 July 2026.
According to SAPS they noticed suspicious activity at a residence in Fresia Street and searched it.
“Among the items found were Mandrax tablets, Tik, Ecstasy tablets, a pistol with ammunition, a blank firearm and over R47 000 in cash. A 65-year-old man was arrested on charges relating to the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as dealing in drugs,” said SAPS.
The Western Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Luyanda Damoyi, commended the members for their vigilance and determination in disrupting criminal activities. He reiterated that SAPS remains committed to targeting those involved in gang-related crime and the illegal drug trade, which continue to fuel violence in communities.
Verdagtes skiet uit voertuig
Een dood, 3 gewond in Kewtown
MISDAADTONEEL: Athlone, Kaapstad: ‘n 19-jarige man is dood en drie ander gewond in ‘n skietery in Kewtown Vrydagaand, 17 Julie 2026.
Die voorval het op die hoeke van Klapperbos- en Springbok-straat plaasgevind.
Volgens Konstabel Ndakhe Gwala, ‘n skakelbeampte vir die Wes-Kaapse polisie, het mense uit ‘n onbekende voertuig op die slagoffers geskiet.
“Athlone-polisie het ‘n saak van moord en drie aanklagte van poging tot moord geregistreer. Behalwe die persoon wat doodgeskiet is drie mense van 11, 14 en 27-jaar-oud gewond en na ‘n mediese fasiliteit gehaas vir behandeling.
“Die motief vir die skietery moet nog bepaal word en geen arrestasie is in hierdie stadium gemaak nie,” het Gwala gesê.
Commissioner condemns 'senseless acts of violence'
Four killed in mass shooting
CRIME SCENE: Lwandle, Strand: A mass shooting here claimed the lives of four people in the early hours of Saturday, 18 July 2026.
Lwandle police have opened four counts of murder following the fatal shootings that occurred in Nombula Street and Ntanga Street, which are situated less than a kilometre apart.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Major General Luyanda Damoyi, has strongly condemned the “senseless acts of violence that claimed the lives of four people in separate shooting incidents in Asanda Village, Lwandle”.
According to reports, three victims, aged between 29 and 33-years-old, including a woman, were fatally wounded in Nombula Street, while a 36-year-old man was shot and killed in Ntanga Street.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) preliminary information indicates that between three and four armed suspects allegedly opened fire on the victims following brief arguments before fleeing the scenes.
Damoyi described the incidents as a blatant disregard for human life and reiterated the commitment of SAPS to bringing those responsible to justice.
“The loss of life under these circumstances is deeply concerning. We will utilise all available resources to ensure that those responsible are identified, apprehended and brought before court,” said Damoyi.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is requested to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or make use of the MySAPS-App. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Three also injured as shots fired from car
Man (19) dies in drive-by shooting
CRIME SCENE: Athlone, Cape Town: A 19-year-old man was killed and three others wounded in drive-by shooting in Kewtown on Friday night, 17 July 2026.
The incident happened on the corners of Klapperbos and Springbok Streets.
According to Constable Ndakhe Gwala, a media liaison officer for the Western Cape police, an unknown vehicle drove by and the occupants fired randomly at the victims.
“Athlone police registered a case of murder and three counts of attempted murder. A 19-year-old male sustained fatal wounds while three victims aged 11, 14 and 27- years were rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
“The motive for the shooting is yet to be determined and no arrest has been made at this stage,” said Gwala.
Polisie slaan toe op bergingsfasiliteit in Stellenbosch
R12-m se onwettige drank gevind
MISDAADTONEEL: Stellenbosch: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) het onwettige drank ter waarde van R12 miljoen by ‘n bergingsfasiliteit gekonfiskeer.
Volgens die SAPD het ‘n gesamentlike operasie tussen die polisie, die Wes-Kaapse Drankowerheid en die Suid Afrikaanse Inkomstediens (SAID) gelei tot die beslaglegging van die onwettige drank in Plankenburg, Stellenbosch.
Die polisie het inligting van die Wes-Kaapse Drankowerheid oor die fasiliteit in Stellenbosch ontvang. Die plek is vir ‘n tyd dop gehou en op Donderdag 16 Julie 2026 het lede toegeslaan, wat gelei het tot die konfiskering van ‘n groot hoeveelheid drank.
Die SAID se doeane-eenheid het die drank gekonfiskeer, en die polisie het ‘n saak vir verdere ondersoek geopen. Geen arrestasies is in hierdie stadium gemaak nie.
Stellenbosch facility under surveillance
Police find R12 m illegal liquor
CRIME SCENE: Stellenbosch: The South African Police Service (SAPS) have confiscated illicit liquor worth R12 million at a storage facility.
According to SAPS a coordinated crackdown by the police, the Western Cape Liquor Authority and SARS led to the seizure of the illicit liquor in Plankenburg, Stellenbosch.
Police received information from the Western Cape Liquor Authority about the facility in Stellenbosch. It was placed under surveillance, and on Thursday, 16 July 2026, members moved in, resulting in the recovery of a large quantity of liquor.
The SARS Customs Unit confiscated the liquor, and police opened a case docket for further investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage.
Volgehoue aksie teen bendes bring sukses
Polisie arresteer 3 vir massa-skietery
MISDAADTONEEL: Wesbank, Malmesbury: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) het ‘n groot deurbraak gemaak ná ‘n massa-skietvoorval op 24 Junie 2026.
Volgens die SAPD gaan sy lede onverpoos voort om verdagtes wat betrokke is by bendeverwante geweld op te spoor en het dit positiewe resultate opgelewer met die arrestasie van drie verdagtes in verband met ‘n dubbele moord en veelvuldige pogings tot moord in Wesbank.
“Die arrestasies volg op ‘n intensiewe ondersoek deur speurders verbonde aan die Wes-Kaapse Anti-Bende-eenheid ná die skietvoorval waarin Ralph Andrew Philander (57) en Riaan Henrico Goliath (41) noodlottig gewond is. Drie ander slagoffers het skietwonde tydens die aanval opgedoen en is in die hospitaal opgeneem vir mediese behandeling,” het die SAPD gesê.
Die verdagtes, onderskeidelik 25, 26 en 31-jaar-oud, is gearresteer op aanklagte van moord en poging tot moord en sal Maandag, 20 Julie 2026 in die Malmesbury-landdroshof verskyn.
Voorlopige ondersoeke dui daarop dat die voorval bendeverwant was.
In ‘n aparte operasie teen bendeverwante misdaad in Wesbank, het die Anti-Bende-eenheid en Misdaadintelligensie ‘n perseel in Tintinkie-straat, Malmesbury, deursoek.
Die SAPD sê hulle het ‘n gas-geweer en ‘n nagemaakte rewolwer hier konfiskeer. By verdere inspeksie het die polisie ‘n .22 kaliber patroon in die loop van die nagemaakte vuurwapen ontdek. Geen arrestasies is in hierdie stadium in verband met die ontdekking gemaak nie.
Die waarnemende provinsiale kommissaris van die Wes-Kaap, generaal-majoor Luyanda Damoyi, het die lede geprys vir hulle ondersoekwerk en arrestasies.
Damoyi het ook sy waardering uitgespreek teenoor die gemeenskap wat met inligting vorendag gekom en die polisie bygestaan het in hul pogings om bendegeweld uit te roei en veiliger woonbuurte te skep.
Lees ook: Nóg ‘n massaskietery ruk Kaap – Crime Scene Report
Police intensify efforts against gang violence
Arrests in Wesbank mass shooting
CRIME SCENE: Wesbank, Malmesbury: The South African Police Service (SAPS) have made a major breakthrough following a mass shooting incident pm 24 June 2026.
According to SAPS the relentless pursuit of suspects involved in gang-related violence has yielded positive results with the arrest of three suspects in connection with a double murder and multiple attempted murders in Wesbank.
“The arrests follow an intensive investigation by detectives attached to the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit into a shooting incident in which Ralph Andrew Philander (57) and Riaan Henrico Goliath (41) were fatally wounded. Three other victims sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and were admitted to hospital for medical treatment,” said SAPS
The suspects, aged 25, 26 and 31-years were arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder and will appear in the Malmesbury Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 July 2026.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was gang-related and forms part of an ongoing conflict between rival gangs operating in the area.
In a separate crime prevention operation aimed at disrupting gang-related criminality in Wesbank, the Anti-Gang Unit and Crime Intelligence conducted a search at a premises in Tintinkie Street, Malmesbury.
SAPS said they confiscated a gas gun and a revolver-style imitation firearm. Upon further inspection, police discovered a live .22 calibre round concealed in the chamber of the imitation firearm. No arrests have been made in connection with the seizure at this stage. The items were booked into the SAPS 13 register for further investigation, and an enquiry has been registered.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Major General Luyanda Damoyi, commended the members involved in the investigation and subsequent arrests for their dedication and perseverance.
Damoyi also expressed his appreciation to community members who came forward with information and assisted police in their efforts to root out gangsterism and create safer neighbourhoods.
Also read: Two killed in another mass shooting – Crime Scene Report
Operasie Prosper maak 20 arrestasies in Hillview
Aanvalsgewere by 2 huise gevind
MISDAADTONEEL: Hillview, Kaapstad: Die polisie het Donderdag 16 Julie 2026 drie verdagtes gearresteer nadat hulle ‘n aanvalsgeweer en twee pistole in Hillview, naby Lavender Hill ontdek het.
Volgens die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) het lede van Operasie Prosper ‘n kordon- en deursoek-operasie in Village Heights, Hillview uitgevoer.
“By een adres het hulle drie vuurwapens, waarvan een ‘n aanvalsgeweer, gevind. Een van die wapens het geen reeksnommer gehad nie. Hulle het twee mans, 21 en 22-jaar-oud, en ‘n 42-jarige vrou gearresteer vir die besit van ongelisensieerde vuurwapens en die besit van ‘n verbode vuurwapen.
“Daarbenewens is 17 onwettige immigrante tydens die operasie in die gebied aangekeer,” die SAPD gesê.
Die verdagtes sal hul eerste verskyning in die Muizenberg-landdroshof maak sodra hulle aangekla is.
Rocklands: Lede van Operasie Lockdown 3 het Donderdag 16 Julie 2026 in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, toegeslaan. Hulle het ‘n huis in Gladiator-straat deursoek waar hulle ‘n aanvalsgeweer gevind het.
‘n 35-jarige man is gearresteer vir die besit van ‘n ongelisensieerde vuurwapen en sal in die Mitchells Plain-landdroshof verskyn sodra hy aangekla is.