Zolani “Last Born” Tete, a former two-weight world boxing champion, was shot and killed outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, on the evening of Friday, 21 August 2026. He was 38.
According to the South African Police Service, the incident occurred at approximately 18:30 at NU17 in Mdantsane. Tete was arriving at his residence, returning from the gym, and waiting in his vehicle for the gate to open when two armed suspects wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle and opened fire. Police said multiple shots were fired at Tete and a 27-year-old female passenger who was with him in the car.
In an attempt to escape the gunfire, Tete drove his vehicle into the yard. He sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene. The female passenger was shot multiple times and rushed to a nearby hospital, where she remained under medical treatment. No arrests had been made as of the latest reports, and the suspects fled the scene. Police opened a case of murder and attempted murder. The motive remains unknown, and investigators have appealed for information from the public.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the details of the preliminary investigation. The South African Police Service in Inyibiba is handling the case.
Tete was born on 8 March 1988 in Mdantsane. He began boxing at the age of eight and trained under former world champion Vuyani Bungu. He turned professional in May 2006 as a flyweight. Over a career spanning 2006 to 2022, he compiled a record of 29 wins (22 by knockout), four losses and one no-contest across 34 professional fights. He fought as a southpaw and competed primarily in the flyweight, junior-bantamweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight divisions.
In 2014, Tete won the vacant IBF junior-bantamweight (super-flyweight) world title by unanimous decision over Teiru Kinoshita in Kobe, Japan. He successfully defended the title, including a stoppage victory over Paul Butler in Liverpool in 2015, before vacating it. In 2017 he captured the WBO interim bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Arthur Villanueva and was later elevated to full champion. He defended the WBO bantamweight title three times, most notably with an 11-second first-round knockout of Siboniso Gonya on 18 November 2017 at the SSE Arena in Belfast. That stoppage set the Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight, surpassing the previous mark of 17 seconds. Other defences included unanimous decisions over Omar Narváez and Mikhail Aloyan. Tete lost the WBO title by third-round technical knockout to John Riel Casimero in Birmingham in November 2019.
Tete’s final ring appearance was on 2 July 2022 against Jason Cunningham at Wembley Arena in London. He stopped Cunningham in the fourth round, but the result was later changed to a no-contest after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. He received a four-year ban from the UK Anti-Doping Agency that ended on 29 July 2026. His manager, Mla (Mlandeli) Tengimfene, confirmed that Tete had resumed training and was preparing for a possible comeback.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, issued a statement describing Tete as one of the finest fighters the country had produced. McKenzie said Tete was killed at his own front gate and called on anyone with information to come forward. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane described the killing as senseless and called for a thorough investigation.
Mdantsane has produced several successful South African boxers. Tete was one of the most prominent to emerge from the township. At the time of his death the suspects remained at large and the investigation continued.
Drunk Driver Arrested After Two-Vehicle Collision on Todd Street Near Grangetown, KwaZulu-Natal
A motorist was arrested on Saturday morning, 22 August 2026, after a collision involving two vehicles on Todd Street near Grangetown in KwaZulu-Natal.
At approximately 08:07, the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Operations Centre received multiple calls for assistance regarding the incident. Reaction Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they found members of the Verulam South African Police Service (SAPS) already in attendance.
According to information from the scene, a grey Kia collided with a blue Toyota Yaris that was travelling in the opposite direction. The driver of the grey Kia was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Police placed the driver under arrest.
No injuries were reported in the collision.
The incident occurred in the Grangetown area of Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal. Verulam SAPS handled the arrest of the suspected driver.
Body of missing 19-year-old man recovered from steep cliff in Glendale area, KwaZulu-Natal
The body of a 19-year-old man who had been reported missing has been recovered from a steep cliff in the Glendale area of KwaZulu-Natal.
The young man was last seen on Saturday night, 15 August 2026, at approximately 22:00. Search operations began in the days that followed and involved multiple agencies and community support.
On 19 August 2026, IPSS Search and Rescue, working with Empangeni SAPS K9 Search and Rescue, deployed to the Glendale area to assist Glendale SAPS. Volunteers and community members joined the effort. Search teams examined nearby sugarcane fields and vacant homesteads. Aerial support was provided by a private helicopter from Badul Air Aviation, which conducted searches over steep mountain terrain. A K9 unit, including the dog Zeus, was also utilised. These efforts on that day did not yield positive results, and the investigation continued under Glendale SAPS.
The search continued into 20 August 2026. That Thursday morning, Glendale SAPS reported that the body had been located approximately 15 metres down a steep cliff. IPSS Search and Rescue teams, together with Durban SAPS Search and Rescue, mobilised to the scene. Using a rope system, the teams safely recovered the body and brought it up the cliff face.
The body was handed over to Glendale SAPS, which is continuing the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death and the earlier disappearance.
Agencies and groups that assisted over the course of the multi-day search included Empangeni SAPS K9 Search and Rescue, Durban SAPS Search and Rescue, Badul Air Aviation, Glendale SAPS, IPSS volunteers, and members of the Glendale community.
No further details regarding the cause of death or additional circumstances of the disappearance have been released. The matter remains under investigation by Glendale SAPS.
WATCH: Video captures Orange Farm mob justice that left two thugs badly battered
Orange Farm, a large township south of Johannesburg in Gauteng’s Sedibeng District, along with nearby areas such as Poortjie, Lakeside, Palm Springs and links to Sebokeng and Evaton, has a documented history of collective violence that includes mob justice (also termed vigilantism). Research by the African Centre for Migration & Society (part of the Kagisano programme, with fieldwork in 2022 and a 2024 report) identifies Orange Farm’s longstanding pattern of group violence encompassing political violence, service-delivery protests, xenophobic violence, taxi violence, gang violence and mob justice. Participants in that research attributed resort to mob justice to a general lack of trust in the police, combined with perceptions of police incompetence and corruption. Residents described themselves as united in using mob justice as a crime-fighting response, intervening against suspected criminals before involving formal authorities. The same research notes that mob justice is often directed at individuals wrongly accused of crimes and poses a threat to social cohesion in a diverse community marked by group tensions.
Nationally, the Institute for Security Studies has reported that at least two people die each day from mob violence or vigilante attacks in South Africa. South African Police Service (SAPS) data linked 1,202 of the 21,325 recorded murders in the 2019/2020 financial year to mob justice (widely viewed as an undercount because motives are not established in every case). In 2022, of approximately 27,000 recorded murders, at least 1,894 (roughly 7%) were attributed to mob justice and vigilantism—more than double the figure from five years earlier. In the first nine months of 2023, a further 1,472 mob-justice deaths were registered. In the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, SAPS crime statistics listed vigilantism and mob justice as the fourth-highest cause of murder, after arguments/misunderstandings, robbery and gang-related murders.
Orange Farm itself has consistently ranked among Gauteng’s and, at times, South Africa’s higher-murder police stations. For October–December 2024, the Orange Farm police station recorded 69 murders—an increase of 33 cases (reported as 91.7%) compared with the same period the previous year. For January–March 2025, the station recorded 37 murders and 54 rapes (the latter an increase from 20 in the comparable prior period). Official responses to parliamentary questions have placed the mid-2024 estimated population of Orange Farm including Poortjie at 284,986, served by the Orange Farm Police Station and a Poortjie satellite station. One community-policing forum figure cited approximately 240 officers covering a large area that includes multiple informal settlements, extensions, plots and farms. Crime drivers repeatedly cited in local reporting and research include high unemployment, illegal taverns, drug use and gang activity (notably groups referred to as the 50s, 40s, 925s and Indondo), with some recruitment linked to illegal initiation schools.
Documented incidents in and around Orange Farm illustrate the pattern. On 20 May 2026, Orange Farm police responded at approximately 11:20 to a complaint of mob justice (vigilantism) in Poortjie. They found a 38-year-old man lying in a pool of blood with an open head wound and multiple injuries; he was declared dead at the scene. Police stated that community members had allegedly assaulted him following accusations that he had raped young boys. A rape case docket had previously been opened against the deceased and remained under investigation. A murder docket was registered, leading to the arrest of four suspects who appeared in the Sebokeng/Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court. Acting Station Commander Colonel Thapelo Mofokeng urged community members to stop taking the law into their own hands and to allow the criminal-justice process to take its course. Police spokesperson Sergeant Shaan Motsapi confirmed the details.
On 20 January 2025 in Lakeside Extension 1, Orange Farm police responded to a murder scene and found a man, clad only in boxer shorts and bearing bruises, left for dead in the street. He had been assaulted in what police described as a vigilante act after being accused of stealing items belonging to some of the assailants; he succumbed to his injuries. An investigation led to the arrest of three suspects who were positively linked to the murder and who knew the deceased. They faced murder charges in the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court. Station Commander Brigadier Mashole Manamela noted community assistance in the investigation and stressed partnership policing.
In April 2025, residents of Orange Farm reported taking action against people allegedly involved in local gangs, describing the area as among Gauteng’s higher-murder locations. Eyewitness News reported community claims that several men suspected of gang membership (specifically nine young men from the 925s gang) were killed in acts of mob justice, with videos showing a large mob attacking a motionless man on the ground. Residents cited frustration with under-resourced and ineffective local policing; similar complaints about resources dated back to at least 2021, when then-Police Minister Bheki Cele addressed the station. Gangs had also been linked to stabbings at local schools such as Thetha Secondary and Vulanindlela Secondary in the same period.
In September 2024, three young men from Orange Farm—Jimmy “Boy” Rakobela, Siyabonga Blandile and a third individual—were killed in Sebokeng Zone 12 after being beaten, stabbed and set alight by community members who accused them of involvement in a murder. Families of two of the men denied the accusations, stating the youths had been celebrating a job opportunity. Police confirmed the three were found dead at the scene after being removed from a container where they had been hiding. Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni condemned the vigilantism. A candlelight ceremony was later held in Orange Farm.
A community group known as Amadoda Emizi (“men of the homesteads”), also referred to locally as Abobaba, formed in April 2025. Its chairperson, Sphiwe Hadebe, stated it arose after young men returned from initiation ceremonies and engaged in gang activity involving pangas, knives and guns, producing “blood on the pavement.” Secretary Bob Dlamini cited brazen activity by gangs such as Indondo and the 50s. The group responds to community-reported complaints, locates alleged suspects, holds “disciplinary proceedings,” and imposes punishments that include lashing with sjamboks or verbal warnings. It posts videos of coerced confessions and the return of stolen property on Facebook (approximately 93,000 followers) and TikTok (approximately 14,000 followers). One case resulted in a death; four members face murder charges in the Vereeniging Magistrates’ Court (Hadebe described it as unintended, citing possible thin skulls). Other members have faced assault charges. The group expanded beyond Orange Farm and has drawn both community praise for recovering property and reducing certain local crime and criticism for operating outside the law. SAPS did not respond to media requests for comment on the group. Separate community-patrol initiatives working with the Community Police Forum have also been reported, using donated bicycles and foot patrols, sometimes with police escorts.
Police statements across these incidents consistently call on residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to allow formal investigations and courts to proceed. Lizette Lancaster of the Institute for Security Studies has noted that vigilantism blurs the line between citizen and criminal, dispenses with due-process protections, and risks targeting the innocent, while reflecting eroded trust in formal law enforcement.
Orange Farm mob justice leaves two thugs battered. pic.twitter.com/L2x7YFb0LF
— PrimeTime News (@PrimeTimeNewsZA) August 21, 2026
These records—drawn from SAPS statements, court appearances, official crime statistics, contemporaneous news reports from outlets including the Citizen/Sedibeng Ster, Daily Maverick, Eyewitness News, IOL and GroundUp, and academic research—establish the occurrence, scale and stated community motivations for mob justice in Orange Farm and surrounding areas without unverified claims or speculation.
Three suspects shot dead in Alrode after high-speed chase and shootout linked to armed robbery
Three suspects were shot dead on Thursday, 20 August 2026, in Alrode, Alberton, following a high-speed chase and shootout involving Gauteng SAPS members and private security personnel.
The suspects had allegedly committed an armed robbery shortly before the pursuit began. Law enforcement and private security units engaged the suspects during the chase in the Alrode area. A shootout ensued, resulting in the deaths of the three individuals.
Firearms were recovered at the scene. Multiple firearms were confirmed recovered by authorities.
The incident occurred in Alrode, within the Alberton area of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. One report indicated the suspects may have been involved in a crime in Boksburg prior to being cornered in Alrode, with the Tactical Response Team (TRT) among the units involved, though this remains unconfirmed by official statements at the time of initial reports.
The scene remained active for a period as police continued their investigation and secured the area. Motorists and members of the public were advised to avoid the vicinity and exercise caution while operations were underway.
No official confirmation has been released regarding injuries to police officers, private security personnel, or bystanders. Identities of the deceased suspects have not been publicly released. Further details on the specific location of the preceding armed robbery, the exact sequence of the chase, the number and type of firearms recovered, or any additional suspects remain under investigation.
Gauteng SAPS and supporting private security units responded to the incident as part of ongoing efforts to address armed robberies in the East Rand. Investigations continue, with the matter treated as a priority crime scene involving the recovery of evidence and formal procedures following the use of lethal force.
This account is based solely on initial reports available on the day of the incident. Official statements from SAPS or other authorities may provide additional verified information as the investigation progresses.
Suspect in Soweto stabbing murder arrested in Klerksdorp hours after police public appeal
A 27-year-old man accused of murdering his live-in girlfriend in Orlando East, Soweto, was arrested in Joubertina, Klerksdorp, on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, within four hours of the South African Police Service releasing his photograph and details to the public.
Simiso Silomo Phakathi is charged in connection with the death of 37-year-old Jabulisile Josephina Tshabalala. Tshabalala was last seen alive on 7 August 2026. Her body was discovered on 13 August 2026 inside the backroom the pair had shared in Orlando East, Soweto. Police state she had been stabbed to death. The body was found covered with blankets and clothes.
A warrant of arrest for murder had been issued against Phakathi. Prior to the arrest, police had publicly urged him to hand himself over at the nearest police station without delay, describing him as dangerous and stating there was nowhere to hide. They indicated they would continue pursuing every lead until he was brought before a court of law. The public was asked to contact Warrant Officer Zwane on 082 455 8572 or report information to the nearest police station if they saw Phakathi or had information about his whereabouts. People were also warned not to harbour or assist him.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the photograph and details of Phakathi were circulated widely across television, radio, social media and online platforms. Within four hours of the release, members of the Joubertina community in Klerksdorp recognised him from the image and provided critical information to police that led to his arrest.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane thanked communities, particularly those in Joubertina, Klerksdorp, as well as media houses that amplified the appeal and helped ensure the image reached a wide audience. Dimpane stated that the rapid response demonstrated the power of a united society working alongside the police. Mathe also thanked the public who came forward after recognising the suspect.
Phakathi has been arrested and will be transported back to Johannesburg, where he is expected to face a murder charge and stand trial.
The case is being treated as an alleged intimate-partner killing. No further details on a possible motive have been released by police.
Armed standoff near Robertson ends with death of 40-year-old man after police operation
A prolonged armed confrontation on a farm in the De Hoop area near Robertson in the Western Cape ended on the evening of Monday, 17 August 2026, when a 40-year-old man identified as Cornelius van Dalen was shot and killed by members of the South African Police Service Special Task Force.
The incident began on the evening of Sunday, 16 August 2026, when Robertson police received a complaint that a man had fired shots at a neighbour’s vehicle. Officers from Robertson Police Station responded to the farm. Upon arrival, they came under fire from the individual and requested backup.
The Tactical Response Team was deployed as the situation developed. Members of the TRT were also fired upon, resulting in one police official sustaining a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The injured officer was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The operation was further escalated on Monday afternoon with the deployment of the Special Task Force. A heavy exchange of gunfire followed. The man fired at STF members and damaged a police armoured vehicle, a Nyala. During the operation, STF members rescued two women who were inside a neighbouring house. Officers then tactically entered the structure where the 40-year-old man was located. He was shot during the shootout and died at the scene.
Police seized an assault rifle, a shotgun, two pistols, magazines, various types of ammunition, flags and notebooks containing inscriptions from the property. An inquest docket has been opened. Officials from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate were summoned to the scene. Police maintained a strong presence on the farm as further investigations continued.
Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, commended the response by members involved. She specifically noted the actions of Robertson Police Station members who first attended the scene and came under fire, the Tactical Response Team members who provided reinforcement, and the Special Task Force for bringing the situation to an end while protecting civilian lives. Dimpane stated that members demonstrated courage, discipline and tactical restraint in confronting an armed individual who posed a direct threat to police officers and members of the community. She emphasised that operational responses must be proportionate to the threat, coordinated and decisive, while prioritising the protection of innocent lives. She also wished the injured police official a speedy recovery.
According to reports from farm owner Karl Smith, the man had resided alone on Top View farm for approximately nine months. Neighbours had experienced ongoing difficulties during that period, including incidents of vehicle damage such as cut tyres and a screwdriver inserted into a radiator. The man had allegedly accused others of intending to harm him and had been observed wearing a bulletproof vest and using a bulletproof vehicle.
Western Cape police are investigating the seized materials, including a handwritten journal titled “The Enemies of the Boer” (also referred to in connection with “enemies of the Boerevolk”). Provincial Deputy Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Bongani Maqhashalala, stated that the journal contains a list of names of prominent South Africans described as enemies of the white race or individuals who needed to be dealt with. The names have not been publicly released to avoid causing unnecessary alarm, as they involve people from different provinces. Investigators are examining whether the individual was acting alone or had connections to a wider extremist network, and counterintelligence involvement is planned as part of the follow-up.
Police have confirmed that the deceased has been identified as Cornelius van Dalen, aged 40. Efforts to locate family members formed part of the early investigative process. No further details on any potential associates or additional charges have been publicly confirmed beyond the ongoing probe into the weapons, the journal and possible links.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate continues its examination of the police shooting as part of standard procedure. Investigations into the full circumstances of the standoff remain active.
Gunman Killed in Shootout Ending Two-Day Farm Standoff in De Hoop, Robertson
A two-day armed standoff between South African Police Service members and a 40-year-old man on a farm in De Hoop, Robertson, in the Western Cape, ended on Monday evening, 17 August 2026, when the gunman was shot and killed during an exchange of fire with the Special Task Force.
The incident began on Sunday evening, 16 August 2026, after Robertson police received a complaint that a man had allegedly fired shots at a neighbour’s vehicle. Officers from Robertson SAPS who responded to the scene came under fire from the gunman and requested backup.
The Tactical Response Team was deployed to address the developing situation. Members of the TRT also came under fire. One police official sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was hospitalised, where he continues to receive medical attention.
As the standoff continued into Monday, the operational response was escalated. The Special Task Force was deployed during the afternoon of 17 August. A heavy exchange of gunfire followed. The gunman fired at STF members, damaging a police Nyala armoured vehicle.
During the operation, STF members rescued two women who were inside a neighbouring house. Officers then tactically gained entry to the house where the 40-year-old gunman was located. He was shot during the shootout and died at the scene.
An inquest docket has been opened to investigate the circumstances of the shooting. Officials from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate attended the scene. Police have maintained a strong presence on the farm while further investigations continue.
Items seized at the scene include an assault rifle, a shotgun, two pistols, magazines, various types of ammunition, flags, and notebooks containing inscriptions.
Western Cape police are examining whether the deceased man was acting alone or had links to a wider network. Among the recovered items were an old South African flag and a handwritten journal titled “The Enemies of the Boer.” According to Provincial Deputy Police Commissioner for Crime Detection Bongani Maqhashalala, the journal contains a list of names of prominent South Africans described as self-appointed enemies of the white race and individuals who needed to be dealt with. Authorities are withholding the specific names, which include people from different provinces, to avoid causing unnecessary alarm. Maqhashalala stated that investigators will engage counterintelligence resources and that it has not yet been established whether the man acted alone or as part of a group. Police have indicated the deceased has not yet been formally identified as efforts continue to locate his family.
Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, commented on the police response. She stated that members demonstrated courage, discipline and tactical restraint in confronting an armed individual who posed a direct and serious threat to police officers and members of the community. Dimpane specifically commended the Robertson Police Station members who first responded and came under fire, the Tactical Response Team members who reinforced them, and the Special Task Force for bringing the situation to an end while protecting civilian lives. She noted that police officers must not be expected to face heavily armed individuals without appropriate tactical support and that operational responses must be proportionate, coordinated and decisive, with the protection of innocent lives central to the approach. Dimpane wished the injured officer a speedy recovery and affirmed the SAPS commitment to protecting its members and the communities they serve.
Investigations remain ongoing.
KZN nurse suspended after viral video of alleged patient assault at Durban hospital
A nurse at King Dinuzulu Hospital in Durban has been placed on precautionary suspension after a video showing her allegedly physically assaulting a male patient went viral on social media on Wednesday.
In the footage, the nurse, who is wearing a mask, stands beside the patient’s bed in a ward. She points at him and repeatedly pokes or shoves her finger toward his face near his eyes. The patient raises his hand to protect himself. The pair exchange words before the nurse moves to another nearby patient while continuing to engage with the first man.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health said in a statement that it had noted the video with serious concern. “The Department unequivocally condemns this behaviour 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.”
The department added that the video appears to show the nurse striking the patient on the face while making inappropriate remarks. The nurse has been placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect pending a full internal investigation.
Patients in South African public health facilities have experienced documented harm, neglect, abuse, and substandard care, according to official statistics, Health Ombud investigations, surveys, and complaint reports.
In Gauteng public hospitals, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, 7,386 serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded. This was an increase from 7,117 the previous year. Earlier figures showed 6,910 in 2021, 4,701 in 2020, and 4,170 in 2019. SAEs included patient accidents, pressure ulcers acquired during admission, self-inflicted injuries, and healthcare-associated infections. These led to avoidable injury, permanent disability, or death in some cases.
Hospitals with the highest numbers of SAEs in that period included Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (1,257), Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (600), Steve Biko Academic Hospital (592), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (498), Helen Joseph Hospital (434), Weskoppies Hospital (426), Leratong Hospital (414), and Tembisa Hospital (384). Smaller facilities such as Bheki Mlangeni Hospital recorded 109. The Gauteng Department of Health reported 55 disciplinary actions during the period.
The Office of the Health Ombud recorded high volumes of complaints. In the 2024/25 financial year, 3,938 new complaints were received (up from 2,616 in 2023/24), representing a 59.5% increase. Of these, 3,734 were classified as low risk, with smaller numbers medium, high, or extremely high risk. Gauteng accounted for the majority (around 61%). In 2023/24, 2,416 complaints were recorded, with 1,431 from public establishments. Cumulative figures from 2019/20 onward showed Gauteng contributing over half of total complaints received by the Ombud, with facilities such as Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Tembisa Tertiary Hospital, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital among those with the highest numbers.
A 2023 Freedom Front Plus report compiled 273 complaints from patients at approximately 93 public hospitals (and three private). Nearly a quarter of the complaints related to Gauteng facilities. Documented allegations included sexual abuse, insufficient anaesthetic during surgery, patients left for hours in blood- and urine-soaked linen, a stillborn infant placed in a medical waste bag and thrown in a bin in front of the mother, filthy wards and operating theatres, long waits for pain relief, and hostile or humiliating treatment by staff. Shortages of ambulances, medicines, equipment, and personnel were also reported in the complaints.
The 2025 Embrace Birthing Survey, covering experiences over the previous decade in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, found that 60% of surveyed individuals who gave birth experienced some form of obstetric violence. This extrapolated to an estimated 1.79 million people (approximately 864,297 in Gauteng and 923,130 in KwaZulu-Natal). Prevalence was 63% in KwaZulu-Natal and 58% in Gauteng. Nurses and midwives were implicated in 92% of reported cases; doctors in 14%. Verbal abuse (shouting, insults, or disrespectful speech) was reported by 57%. Procedures without consent (including caesarean sections, episiotomies, or sterilisation) were reported by 25%. Lack of privacy during childbirth was reported by 40%. Healthcare workers did not adequately explain procedures or provide enough information in 60% of cases. Only 25% were allowed their preferred birth companion. Physical mistreatment (slapping, pinching, scolding, or hitting) was higher in KwaZulu-Natal (17%) than Gauteng (10%). Denial of pain medication occurred in 21% of KwaZulu-Natal cases and 17% in Gauteng. Rough examinations without consent were reported at similar rates (around 33–34%). Infant mistreatment or injury was reported by about 10–11%. Most reported abuse occurred in public hospitals (94% in KwaZulu-Natal; 87% in Gauteng).
KZN nurse suspended after viral video of alleged patient assault at Durban hospital pic.twitter.com/MIYPqcUCZa
— PrimeTime News (@PrimeTimeNewsZA) August 19, 2026
A Health Ombud investigation into care at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley (covering July–August 2024) described care as unsupervised, unstructured, non-standardised, unsafe, and altogether substandard. Two patients died and one was left with permanent brain damage. Patients were exposed to extreme cold due to electricity supply failures. Blankets were thin, of poor quality, and insufficient. Patients lacked shoes, proper clothing, or pyjamas. Wards remained cold even during the day. One patient, Tshepo Mdimbaza, was found unresponsive with cold skin; resuscitation was delayed because equipment was non-functional. Exposure contributed to deaths from hypothermia or lobar pneumonia. Emergency power supply was non-existent and resuscitation equipment did not work. Staff shortages left junior healthcare workers in charge of high-acuity units. Other findings included poor governance, crumbling infrastructure, poor medicine management, non-compliance with record-keeping, and poor laundry services.
Another Health Ombud investigation into the death of mental healthcare user Lerato Mohlamme at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in June 2024 found she was starved, deprived of medicine, and confined to a seclusion room in freezing winter conditions while clad only in underwear. She died in a fire that began in her room. Admission did not meet legal requirements (no independent assessment by two medical practitioners). Staff subjected her to punitive treatment, including withholding medication and food, excessive mechanical restraint, and failure to act on her sexual assault allegations. The seclusion room was far from the nurses’ station without adequate monitoring. Emergency exits were locked, keys were misplaced or hidden, and there were critical delays in accessing the room during the fire. Non-fire-retardant materials were present.
The Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) inspected 3,093 public health facilities between 2019 and 2023 (about 83% of the total). In 2022 (latest detailed year available at the time of reporting), only four out of ten public facilities achieved compliance. No province scored higher than the equivalent of three stars when compliance rates were converted to a star rating. Gauteng had the highest proportion meeting requirements (roughly three out of five facilities). In the Northern Cape and Limpopo, very few inspected facilities passed. Non-negotiable measures related to medical emergencies, lifesaving medical gas supply, and proper consent were met in at least seven out of ten clinics/community health centres and half of district hospitals in only Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Additional documented cases include:
- At Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Helen Joseph Hospital, patients reported soiled underwear in toilet paper dispensers, toilets without handles or locks, no taps, patients tied to beds with bandages, TB patients sharing wards with psychiatric patients, nurses ignoring cries for help at night, and rude or disrespectful treatment.
- At Witbank General Hospital (eMalahleni), reports included unattended patients, blood-stained sheets, delayed emergency surgery (one patient told to wait nine days for a ruptured appendix while another had waited seven days), and staff instructing patients not to eat then later allowing food.
- At Rob Ferreira Hospital (Mpumalanga), an SAHRC oversight visit found no hot water for more than four years, chronic bed shortages (patients using stretchers, wheelchairs, or mattresses on floors), linen shortages requiring families to bring blankets and sheets, broken toilets without doors, and frequent water outages.
- Three nurses at Hewu Hospital (Eastern Cape) were suspended after allegedly recording and circulating a video of a naked patient who died the same day. Community reports indicated delayed assistance linked to fees charged for walk-in patients without referral letters.
- A viral video from King Dinuzulu Hospital (KwaZulu-Natal) showed a nurse physically assaulting a patient; the nurse was placed on precautionary suspension pending investigation.
- Historical reference includes the Life Esidimeni tragedy, in which 144 psychiatric patients died after transfer from private facilities to unlicensed NGOs.
The National Health Act and Patients’ Rights Charter establish rights including emergency treatment, informed consent, privacy, dignity, and the right to complain and have complaints investigated. Norms and standards regulations require health establishments to protect users from abuse (including sexual, physical, or psychological ill-treatment) and to treat them with respect and dignity.
These figures and cases are drawn from provincial legislative replies, Health Ombud investigation reports, OHSC inspection data, the Freedom Front Plus complaint compilation, and the 2025 Embrace Birthing Survey findings.
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JMPD Tactical Response Unit arrests man in Lenasia South on firearm charges
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit officers arrested a high-profile male suspect in Lenasia South on Tuesday afternoon, 18 August 2026. The arrest followed information received while officers were conducting high-visibility patrols. The suspect was found in possession of an illegal revolver with its serial number filed off. During preliminary questioning he directed officers to a second location in the same street, where a Tommy Gun (submachine gun) and live ammunition were recovered.
The man was detained at Lenasia South SAPS and faces charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms and prohibited weapons.
JMPD initially stated that the information linked the suspect to recent gang-related violence, specifically a shooting in the Westbury area over the preceding weekend that resulted in four fatalities. On 19 August 2026 the department issued a formal correction. Further verification and preliminary investigative work established that the individual is not linked to the fatal gang shootings in Westbury. The initial connection was based on preliminary information later confirmed as a case of mistaken identity regarding that specific incident. The arrest itself remains valid in relation to the firearm offences. The suspect remains in custody at Lenasia South SAPS. JMPD stated that it regrets the initial misattribution and remains committed to pursuing those responsible for the violence in Westbury.
The weekend incident referred to in the original information occurred on Saturday evening, 15 August 2026, in Newclare, adjacent to Westbury. Police responded to a report of a shooting at a flat. Three victims aged between 18 and 20 were found deceased at the scene. Two further victims, aged 18 and 23, had sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital. One of those wounded later died, bringing the death toll to four. Police are investigating four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The motive has not been established and the suspects remain unknown. The area has experienced ongoing incidents of gun violence associated with gang activity.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla confirmed the details of the Lenasia South operation and the recovery of the illegal revolver, Tommy Gun and ammunition. The department noted assistance received from Tracksecure Security Company during the operation. JMPD has stated that it will continue efforts to remove illegal firearms from the streets and address organised crime. Investigations into the firearm offences continue, as do separate inquiries into the Newclare/Westbury shootings.
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