Monday, September 28th, 2026
No crime suspected as husband is found dead in car
Man dies hours after wife is killed
CRIME SCENE: Thembisa, Gauteng: The estranged husband of a murdered woman has been found dead inside his vehicle.
The man was suspected of being responsible for the murder of 23-year-old Boitumelo Gift Mashita in Thembisa on Monday, 28 September 2026. He was identified as a person of interest in the case, and the SAPS Tembisa Tracking Team had been tracing him.
The team was subsequently informed by the Midrand Police Station that his vehicle had been found within its policing precinct, with his body inside.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) it is believed that he may have ingested an unknown substance, as no foul play is suspected. A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
SAPS earlier issued a statement that Gauteng police were investigating a case of murder and robbery following the shooting of a 23-year-old woman in Mapungubwe Street, Thembisa, this Monday morning at about 05:45.
The woman was reportedly on her way to work when she was shot and killed during an alleged robbery. Her belongings were taken during the incident.
Geweld teen vroue 'n groot probleem in Ceres, hoor hof
Twee sit lank oor GBV
UIT DIE HOF: Die Ceres-streekshof het twee mans wat hul intieme lewensmaats gewelddadig aangerand het, vir lank tronk toe gepos.
In die eerste saak is Werner Pedro tot ‘n effektiewe 25 jaar direkte tronkstraf gevonnis nadat hy skuldig bevind is aan poging tot moord en aanranding met die doel om ernstig te beseer.
Pedro is skuldig bevind en gevonnis nadat hy ‘n pleit- en vonnis-ooreenkoms met die Staat aangegaan het. Hy het erken dat hy sy vrou, Petronella Pedro, op die aand van 24 Maart 2024 by hul woning op die plaas Welgemeen, Prince Alfred Hamlet, gekonfronteer het oor hy gedink het sy is ontrou.
Toe sy dit ontken, het hy woedend geword, ‘n klip opgetel en haar teen die kop geslaan. Hy het haar daarna verder aangerand deur haar met ‘n klein hout tafel te slaan en haar te skop nadat sy op die grond geval het.
Die egpaar het daarna na die Petronella se tante gegaan, waar die polisie ontbied en Pedro gearresteer is.
Nadat hy op borgtog vrygelaat is, het Pedro vir Petronella op 23 Februarie 2026 weer aangerand nadat sy geweier het om sy klere te was. Hy het erken dat hy kwaad geword, want hy wou skoon klere vir werk die volgende dag hê.
‘n Buurman het ingegryp en Pedro het van die toneel gevlug. Ten tye van die aanranding het die slagoffer ‘n beskermingsbevel teen hom gehad. Hy is op 16 Maart 2026 gearresteer.
In haar impak verslag sê Petronella sy is teleurgesteld oor Pedro se gedrag en die skending van vertroue in hul verhouding. Die hof het ook die ernstige beserings wat sy opgedoen het in ag geneem.
In die tweede saak is Francois Rooi tot ‘n effektiewe 15 jaar tronkstraf gevonnis vir poging tot moord op sy voormalige lewensmaat, Latisha Beukes.
Ingevolge sy pleit- en vonnis-ooreenkoms het Rooi erken dat hy op 7 November 2025 in Vyeboom-straat, Bella Vista, Ceres, vir Beukesa aangerand het. Hy het haar genader, geëis dat sy sê waar sy met hom staan en versoek dat sy ‘n paar tekkies wat hy vir haar gekoop het, teruggee.
Nadat sy die tekkies teruggegee het, het Beukes hom meegedeel dat sy uit die verhouding gaan stap. Dit het Rooi vererg, hy het ‘n knipmes uitgehaal en haar een keer in die rug gesteek voordat hy van die toneel gevlug het. Hy is ongeveer ‘n week later gearresteer.
Die staatsaanklaer, Chantal de Vos, het in albei sake aangevoer dat gesinsgeweld steeds ‘n ernstige en algemene misdryf in die jurisdiksiegebied van die Ceres-landdroshof is, en dat die howe gepaste vonnisse moet oplê om kwesbare slagoffers te beskerm en oortreders af te skrik.
Die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag (NVG) het gesê die suksesvolle vervolgings onderstreep die NVG se onwrikbare verbintenis tot die bekamping van geslagsgebaseerde geweld en vrouemoord (GBV) en om oortreders aanspreeklik te hou.
Die NVG het gesê hierdie skuldigbevindings en vonnisse bevestig die strafregstelsel se verbintenis om slagoffers te beskerm, terwyl dit ‘n sterk boodskap uitstuur dat oortreders van geweld teen vroue aanspreeklik gehou sal word.
Both men assaulted intimate partners, NPA welcomes sentences
GBV: 2 get long jail terms
FROM THE COURTS: The Ceres Regional has imposed lengthy sentences on two men for violently attacking their intimate partners.
In the first matter, Werner Pedro was sentenced to an effective 25 years’ direct imprisonment following his conviction on charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm committed against his wife, Petronella Pedro.
Pedro was convicted and sentenced after entering into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State. He admitted that on the evening of 24 March 2024, at their residence on Welgemeen Farm, Prince Alfred Hamlet, he confronted his wife over allegations of infidelity.
When she denied the allegations, he became enraged, picked up a stone, and struck her on the head. He then assaulted her further by hitting her with a small wooden table and kicking her after she had fallen to the ground.
The couple subsequently went to the victim’s aunt’s residence, where the police were summoned, leading to Pedro’s arrest.
After being released on bail, Pedro assaulted Petronella again on 23 February 2026 after she refused to wash his clothes. He admitted that he became angry because he wanted clean clothes for work the following day.
A neighbour intervened and Pedro fled the scene. At the time of the assault, the victim had a protection order against him. He was arrested on 16 March 2026.
In her Victim Impact Statement, the complainant described her disappointment at Pedro’s conduct and the betrayal of trust within their relationship. The court also considered the serious injuries she sustained, as reflected in the medical reports.
In the second case Francois Rooi has been sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder of his former partner, Latisha Beukes.
In terms of his plea and sentencing agreement, Rooi admitted that on 7 November 2025, in Vyeboom Street, Bella Vista, Ceres, he encountered Beukes, his former partner. He approached her and demanded to know the status of their relationship and requested the return of a pair of takkies he had purchased for her.
After returning the takkies, Beukes informed him that she no longer wished to continue the relationship and walked away. Angered by her response, Rooi took out a pocket knife and stabbed her once in the back before fleeing the scene. He was arrested approximately one week later.
Regional Court Prosecutor Chantal de Vos argued in both cases that domestic violence remains a serious and prevalent offence within the Ceres Magistrate’s Court district and that the courts must impose appropriate sentences to protect vulnerable victims and deter perpetrators.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the successful prosecutions underscore the NPA’s unwavering commitment to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and holding perpetrators accountable.
The NPA said these convictions and substantial custodial sentences reaffirm the criminal justice system’s commitment to protecting victims, while sending a strong deterrent message that perpetrators of violence against women will be held accountable.
Revelers shot while partying at two venues, 26 wounded
Two mass shootings claim 27 lives
THE South African Police Service (SAPS) have yet to make an arrest in two mass shooting incidents that rocked the country within hours.
Lwandle, Strand: Ten people were shot and killed inside an entertainment venue during the early hours of Sunday morning, 27 September 2026.
Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lt General Sizakhele Dyantyi, has established a multi-disciplinary team led by serious violent crime detectives to find and bring to justice those responsible for the shooting.
Official police reports indicate that gunmen entered the entertainment place that also sells shisanyama (braai meat) at approximately 01:46 and shot at patrons.
“Five people died on the scene and five in hospital, while 11 are receiving medical treatment after being wounded. Lwandle police have opened murder and attempted murder cases,” said SAPS.
Wedela, West Rand: Hours earlier, at about 21:30 on Saturday, 26 September 2026, 17 people were killed and 15 wounded during a shooting at a tavern in Extension 3, Wedela, West Rand District.
According to SAPS, patrons were drinking inside and outside the tavern when eight suspects, reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols, arrived and opened fire on those outside.
“The suspects then entered the tavern and continued shooting at patrons inside. They allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing the scene in two unidentified motor vehicles. Two vehicles were also set alight during the incident.
Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Anyone with information that may assist both investigations is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS-App.