Three young men were murdered in Gugulethu

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8 October 2025

robbers - A security guard has been shot and killed in Gugulethu — Image: Gugulethu Police Station

Three young men were murdered in Gugulethu. A manhunt has been launched to find the perpetrators. Police say the killings took place on Tuesday evening, 7 October 2025, at around 18:30, in the Lotus informal settlement, in Gugulethu.

Three young men were murdered in Gugulethu

Western Cape Police spokesperson, Andre Traut, says the men who were killed were all in their twenties. Colonel Traut says, according to reports, the victims were attacked by unknown gunmen who opened fire on them. The suspects then fled the scene. He says, at this stage, the motive for the attack has not yet been established.

Another Cape triple murder

Detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit were deployed to investigate. Traut says they are pursuing all leads to trace and apprehend those responsible for the murders. He says Police Management has strongly condemned the senseless act of violence. At the same time, the investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice has been prioritised.

Call for information

A call has been made to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident to contact the authorities. Also, if you have information that could assist in the probe, your cooperation is sought. You can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile application. Traut added that all information received will be treated confidentially.

The City of Cape Town’s electricity price hike has kicked in

By

Smile Staff Reporter

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1 July 2025

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated a 12.80% electricity price hike. The correct average increase is 7% for residential and commercial customers in 2025/26. We regret the error and have corrected the information accordingly.

The City of Cape Town’s electricity price hike has kicked in. It appears fuel and gas are not the only utility cost increases you’re faced with this month, as City of Cape Town residents can expect to fork out more for electricity from this month. The City’s approved electricity price hike for the upcoming financial year is on average 7% for residential and commercial customers.

The City’s electricity price hike has kicked in

The good news is that the actual cost per unit for electricity is going down from 1 July 2025 for residents on the Home User Tariff to compensate for the increased service and wires charge.

Domestic Tariff users will also pay less per unit on Energy Block 2, and relatively the same on Energy Block 1 from 2024/25 to compensate for the introduction of the service and wires charge.

The good news

Lifeline customers using 600 units in a month will still pay relatively the same in 2025/26 as they did three years ago in 2022/23. Noting also that the latter customers need to stay within the 450-unit monthly average over 12 months to remain on the Lifeline tariff.

TOP TIPS TO HELP REDUCE HOUSEHOLD COSTS

1. In winter, households typically use more electricity due to factors such as space heating and water heating through geysers. The increased winter electricity usage, which coincides with the annual tariff increases that come into effect from 1 July, impacts bills. Use less, and pay less.

2. Buying electricity units in bulk might push a customer into a more expensive tariff category. Buy amounts only as you need them, and keep them under 600 units per month where feasible.

3. Don’t stockpile electricity units now at the current price ahead of the increase from 1 July. This might push customers into a higher price category, over 600 units for June.

4. Switch geysers on for only an hour or two per day. Reduce the geyser temperature to 60 degrees Celsius.

5. Taking a short shower uses five times less electricity and 80% less water than taking a bath.

6. Switch to LED bulbs as they use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

7. Kettle boiling: Boil only the water required or store the boiled water in a flask to keep warm.

8. Households can reduce water costs by reducing their usage.

9. Don’t flush the toilet in a rush. Flush only when necessary, and don’t use the toilet bowl as a dustbin.

10. Although tariffs comprise a fixed and usage component, there is room for savings in the usage component of the tariffs.

The cost of electricity to City-supplied residential customers

‘Overall, the cost of electricity to City-supplied residential customers is going up by a maximum of R109,09 (VAT included) for Home User categories, with Domestic at R70,33 (VAT included). The average increase across all user categories (residential and commercial) is 7,2%, considerably less when compared with the more than 11% national Eskom increase.

The per unit cost for electricity is going down from 1 July 2025 for residents on the Home User Tariff to compensate for the increased service and wires charge. Domestic Tariff users will also pay less per unit on Energy Block 2, and relatively the same on Energy Block 1 from 2024/25 to compensate for the introduction of the service and wires charge.

High-demand winter months

Lifeline customers using 600 units monthly will pay about the same in 2025/26 as they did in 2022/23. They can exceed 450 units during high-demand winter months and still qualify for lifeline rates, provided that their 12-month average stays at or below 450 units.

“Ensuring that we are able to pay for electricity service delivery while at the same time investing in energy security for a future-fit city is vital,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg.

READ MORE: Cape Town’s electricity tariffs

Ryan has jobs for you

By

Rughsaar Bibi Ismail

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20 December 2023

The Pollen Report

By

Rughsaar Bibi Ismail

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1 September 2023

The Pollen Report provides allergy sufferers with a day-to-day guide on pollen levels for Cape Town specifically, as well as for other major cities in South Africa. It gives practical information on the types of pollen in the air and alerts allergy sufferers, particularly asthmatics, when to stay indoors and curtail their activities. Information is presented by Dr Jonny Peters, Head of the Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology at UCT.

This pollen report is brought to you by FEXO, the no sneeze, no snooze, ALLERGY TABLET that provides RELIEF for up to 24 hours.

Celebrate Hope this Mandela Month with FUTURELIFE and the Nelson Mandela Foundation

By

Rughsaar Bibi Ismail

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22 June 2022

“It’s all about the future of our children, and about their chances in life. Children are so honest, uncomplicated, and full of love. If we can bring opportunity to children, we can help them realise their true potential. Children are our future.” – Nelson Mandela

During July, FUTURELIFE will be celebrating Mandela Month with the goal of providing a million meals for vulnerable children. To help deliver on this ambitious plan, FUTURELIFE has partnered with the Nelson Mandela Foundation Early Childhood Development Programme and is inviting all South Africans to join them in this much-needed initiative.

Did you know that…

4.6 million children will go to bed hungry tonight.
27% of all children under the age of 5 years are nutritionally stunted.
76% of children under the age of 4 do not have access to pre-schools.

That’s why FUTURELIFE has partnered with The Nelson Mandela Foundation as part of their mission to distribute over 5 million highly nutritious meals for vulnerable children and to build a pre-school. FUTURELIFE Smart Food has been formulated with Moducare, a daily immune supplement and contain 50% of your daily requirements for all 19 vitamins and minerals.

FUTURELIFE Smart Food is also high in energy, Protein, Omega-3 and fibre. FUTURELIFE has created a unique SMART FOOD Mandela pack that is available at all retailers and online at www.futurelife.com.

To find out how you can contribute, tune in to Smile Breakfast with Bobby and Lindy, look for the special FUTURELIFE Mandela pack in store, or click here.

<a>Podcast stream by Fabrik.fm</a>

Smile 90.4FM proudly supports FUTURELIFE and The Nelson Mandela Foundation this Mandela Month.

We hope you enjoy your ice cream

By

Rughsaar Bibi Ismail

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21 March 2022

Thank you for visiting the Smile Ice Cream Van.

Fill in the form below to win your share of R10 000 worth of data from MTN.

The Smile Ice Cream Van is crafted by Gelato Mania and powered by MTN.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

Le Petit Chef is in Cape Town

By

Rughsaar Bibi Ismail

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9 March 2022

DinnerTimeStoriesSA | Le Petit Chef Southern Africa is a mind blowing, innovative, unique, internationally acclaimed, gastronomic experience full of ‘Never Before Seen In CPT’ tabletop projected fun and surprises.

The unparalleled 3D gastronomic experience is open to Cape Town diners at The Capital 15 on Orange for the first time, from 17 March 2022.

“Here, next to the globe’s most famous tabletop, I assemble a culinary world wonder…” declares Le Petit Chef.

Immerse yourself in a 3D, high definition, projected extravaganza that allows you to travel through the big, exciting and flavourful world of the intrepid explorer Marco Polo! Before your very eyes and nose, Le Petit Chef will manufacture world wonders to share his gourmet adventure, designed from his experiences along the Silk Route of Asia.

Le Petit Chef : In The Footsteps of Marco Polo is accompanied by an awe-inspiring and mouth-watering six course dinner, infused with the essence of each country passed through.

Your authentic culinary journey begins as you traverse the Asian continent through the desert sands of Arabia, the dripping colours of India, the peaks of the Himalayas, the heavy mists of China, returning to the point of origin in the romantic cobbled streets Marseilles, France.

Cape Town shows include live Arabian belly and fire dancing, with Bollywood and Chinese LED, which will transport you to each Silk Route country sans passport.

Le Petit Chef as an individual, and as an event, understands the power of those things small, so, while the gourmet dining theatre hosts 64 seats per show, the entertainment remains top-notch, and your tastebuds are titillated as ever before, rest assured that your health and safety remains a priority.

Click here to book!

46664 Weekend — brought to you by Food Lover’s Market

By

Mileanne Kabwe

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17 July 2026

This Mandela Day weekend, Smile FM pays tribute to the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela through the universal language of music.

46664 Weekend celebrates the artists and songs that inspired hope, championed unity and brought people together in support of a cause greater than themselves. From unforgettable performances at the iconic 46664 concerts to powerful anthems of freedom, compassion and resilience, these are the voices that honoured Tata Madiba and the values he stood for.

Join us Saturday and Sunday, 18 & 19 July from 9am, as we remember a man whose impact reached far beyond South Africa, and celebrate the music that continues to inspire generations to make a difference.

46664 Weekend is brought to you by Food Lover’s Market — It’s in the Experience.

Only on Smile FM.

68-year-old sentenced for drug dealing and money laundering

By

Danielle Mentoor

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17 July 2026

Two men sentenced to life for Harare mass shooting - elderly woman

A 68-year-old Western Cape drug dealer has been sentenced in the Khayelitsha Priority Court after being convicted of dealing in drugs and multiple counts of money laundering.

Grace Nomazizi Kunjani was sentenced on Thursday after she was found guilty on 23 March 2026. Her arrest followed an investigation by the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) of the Bellville-based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team.

The case dates back to 14 March 2011 when investigators acted on information that mandrax was being stored at a property in Moor Street, Kenilworth. During a search of the premises, officers found Kunjani in possession of 24,719 mandrax tablets valued at more than R1.1 million, concealed in potato bags.

Further information led investigators to a second property in Chartwell Place, where they seized another 262,818 mandrax tablets worth more than R11.8 million and 2.1 kilograms of tik valued at R262,500. Cash amounting to R1.823 million, also concealed in potato bags, was confiscated.

For the drug dealing charges, Kunjani was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years.

“Further, the accused must submit herself and is placed under the following correctional supervision for a period of five (5) years with the following conditions. For the full duration of the correctional supervision, be placed under Twenty-Four (24) hours house arrest during the week,” added Hawks WC spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani

She also has to complete 384 hours of community service over 30 months and participate in a 12-month offender rehabilitation programme.

According to the Hawks, Kunjani also received suspended prison sentences of three years and five years for the money laundering charges.

As part of the sentence, assets worth more than R5.3 million were forfeited to the State. These include a house in the Western Cape, a house in East London, an Audi A5 Cabriolet, a Ford Ranger, a Toyota Quantum, about R380,000 in a bank account and R100,000 in cash.

Rooibos seeds are heading to space

By

Merentia Van Der Vent

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17 July 2026

Rooibos seeds are heading to space. The country’s first Rooibos experiment destined for the International Space Station will see Rooibos seeds being studied as part of a pioneering initiative combining space research, agricultural innovation and STEM education.

Rooibos seeds are heading to space

The director of the SA Rooibos Council, Dawie de Villiers, says by using Rooibos, a unique and indigenous South African plant, the project engages learners in cutting-edge space science while exploring the potential role of plants in future space exploration and off-Earth living systems. He says as part of the programme, Rooibos seeds will be launched to the ISS in October. There it will be exposed to microgravity and space radiation for several weeks before returning to Earth. On their return, they will be planted alongside control seeds in a comparative study examining germination, growth, resilience and yield.

Cutting-edge space science

The launch of the Rooibos in Space programme took place this week at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town. It brought together representatives from government, academia, education, agriculture and the emerging space economy.

De Villiers says the initiative was conceptualised by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and is delivered in collaboration with MaxIQ Space, with support from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). It connects Rooibos to a growing international focus on plant biology in space and the development of sustainable agricultural systems beyond Earth.

Rooibos is a unique and indigenous South African plant

He added that learners will carry out the experiment from seven schools in the Cederberg region. This region is the birthplace of Rooibos. De Villier says that, working with local Rooibos farms, learners will collect and analyse data as part of a structured scientific investigation. A parallel experiment at Parklands College will provide additional comparative data.

Second Abalone Bust in Less Than a Week

By

Loushe Jordaan-Gilbert

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17 July 2026

Four suspects were arrested on Friday, 17 July 2026, on charges of possessing abalone without a permit and the illegal transportation of abalone.

The City’s metro police made the arrests after acting on a tip-off that two vehicles were allegedly transporting abalone in the Simon’s Town area.

Spokesperson Ruth Solomons said officers traced the vehicles and intercepted them while they were travelling along Clovelly Road in Fish Hoek.

“Officers conducted a stop and search operation that revealed 179 unshucked and 200 shucked abalone, weighing nearly 90 kilograms, with an estimated street value of just under R80 000.”

Solomons confirmed that both vehicles were impounded and taken to the Bellville South Vehicle Impound, while the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment was activated to take custody of the confiscated marine resources.

The latest bust comes just days after three suspects were arrested in a similar operation along Victoria Road in Camps Bay, highlighting the City’s ongoing crackdown on the illegal abalone trade.

No cause for public concern, after Koeberg radiation incidents, says NNR

By

Caitlin Maledo

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17 July 2026

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) says there was no danger to people or the environment as it investigates three radioactive contamination incidents at Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

The regulator confirmed that the “elevated airborne radioactive contamination” incidents occurred on 30 June, 2 and 7 July, inside Koeberg’s Unit 2 reactor building. This, it said, was due to a loss of power to portable ventilation units during maintenance work.

The NNR stressed that the incidents were contained within the reactor building.

“It is important to note that the contamination was confined to controlled areas within the reactor building and did not constitute a release of radioactive material to the environment,” the regulator said.

The NNR also dismissed concerns that members of the public had been exposed to radiation.

“No unplanned release of radioactive material to the environment occurred and no members of the public were exposed as a result of these events,” it said.

The regulator further noted that workers who may have been affected were assessed and the results showed “very low levels of internal contamination”.

“This dose [of approximately 1 microsievert (μSv)] is significantly below the occupational dose limits prescribed in South African regulatory requirements and is also substantially lower than the average annual natural background radiation exposure received by members of the public.”

The NNR maintained that the incidents did not meet the criteria to be classified as an emergency and “did not result in any off-site radiological consequences”.

It added that Eskom’s reports are being reviewed and that it is looking into the loss of power to the ventilation units, as it investigates the “events”.

“At present, based on the information available to the NNR, there is no indication of any radiological impact on the public or the environment arising from these events. The NNR will continue to maintain oversight of Koeberg’s operations and will take all necessary regulatory measures to ensure the continued protection of workers, the public, property and the environment.”

Three young men were murdered in Gugulethu

Another Cape triple murder

Call for information

The City’s electricity price hike has kicked in

The good news

TOP TIPS TO HELP REDUCE HOUSEHOLD COSTS

The cost of electricity to City-supplied residential customers

High-demand winter months

Rooibos seeds are heading to space

Cutting-edge space science

Rooibos is a unique and indigenous South African plant

“Officers conducted a stop and search operation that revealed 179 unshucked and 200 shucked abalone, weighing nearly 90 kilograms, with an estimated street value of just under R80 000.”

“It is important to note that the contamination was confined to controlled areas within the reactor building and did not constitute a release of radioactive material to the environment,” the regulator said.

“No unplanned release of radioactive material to the environment occurred and no members of the public were exposed as a result of these events,” it said.

“This dose [of approximately 1 microsievert (μSv)] is significantly below the occupational dose limits prescribed in South African regulatory requirements and is also substantially lower than the average annual natural background radiation exposure received by members of the public.”

Click here for T&cs