The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has now given the City of Cape Town seven days to respond to a list of urgent demands submitted earlier this morning, following a protest that laid bare the deep financial strain many households are under.

Read more: COSATU Takes Cost of Living Fight to Parliament

A group of about 150 residents joined and voiced their support for the march, underscoring the growing anger and exhaustion over the rising cost of living in Cape Town.

COSATU’s Malvern de Bruyn said residents across the City of Cape Town are being pushed to the edge by relentless increases in electricity tariffs, transport fares, and basic food prices. He stressed that immediate intervention is needed to prevent already struggling families from falling further into hardship.

“We are giving them enough time to respond to our demands. We want solutions and we want them soon. If we are not satisfied with the outcome, we will go back to the drawing board, which could see another march in the City.”

Although the demonstration was organised at short notice, de Bruyn said the turnout reflected a deeper reality: many residents are no longer coping with the relentless squeeze on their incomes.

Speaking to SmileFM News, several protesters, who asked to remain anonymous, described the daily struggle of trying to sustain their families despite being permanently employed.

One resident said the burden of rising costs has become unbearable.

“The cost of living has increased enormously in recent years. We cannot keep up. I am paying nearly R50 a day for electricity and I just can’t afford it.”

 

Another protester pointed to the relentless rise in fuel prices and its knock-on effect across the economy.

“We keep seeing the petrol price increasing and then decreasing, but we never see the prices of food decreasing, even though prices are increased as a result of fuel prices. It has reached a point where I am living pay cheque to pay cheque and I can’t afford the things I could before. I am just buying the things we need, yet I am still struggling.”

 

De Bruyn confirmed that COSATU will await the City’s response before deciding on the next steps, including possible further action should the demands not be adequately addressed.

The fight against human trafficking in the Western Cape received a major boost this week after the Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources Unit in Bellville, working alongside the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Information Management System (SSIMS) Unit, arrested two suspected traffickers linked to three separate cases involving vulnerable victims lured to South Africa with false promises of employment.

The arrests, carried out on Thursday, 18 June 2026, have shed light on the devastating reality faced by victims who arrive in a foreign country believing they are pursuing a better future, only to find themselves trapped and exploited.

According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, all three cases followed a disturbing pattern.

“All three cases involved victims lured under false pretences through job offers and stripped of their travel documents upon their arrival. Two suspected recruiters, aged 38 and 42, were separately arrested.”

The two suspects were arrested on warrants of arrest. One suspect was already in custody on an unrelated drug-related matter when he was served with the warrant, while the second was arrested while walking inside a court building.

One of the accused, a 42-year-old man, appeared in court shortly after his arrest on two separate trafficking-related matters.

The cases were postponed to 25 June 2026 for bail information. The second suspect is expected to make his first court appearance on 22 June 2026.

Authorities believe the arrests send a strong message to those involved in human trafficking networks operating in the province.

A man, who allegedly raped, trafficked and threatened to post naked photos of his teenage victim on Facebook, will return to court next week. According to the Western Cape Hawks, Mark John Ross appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on 18 June 2026. He faces charges of trafficking in persons, rape and contravention of the Cybercrimes Act. He will apply for bail on 25 June 2026.

A man, who allegedly raped, trafficked and threatened to post naked photos of his victim on Facebook to return to court

According to the Hawks, the 59-year-old was arrested during a tracing operation on 17 June 2026. He was taken into custody at his residence. Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani says a search was conducted to seize the firearm suspected to have been used in the commission of the offence, as well as other various exhibits.

Man briefly appeared in court

It’s alleged that the teenager was convinced by a friend (recruiter) whom she had met on Facebook to accompany her to a lodge in Milnerton. After arriving at the establishment, the recruiter handed her over to a male person, who took her into one of the rooms. The 19-year-old alleges that the suspect had threatened her with a firearm and forced himself on her. The teen had met the friend (recruiter) between 15 October 2025 and November 2025.

Charges of trafficking in persons, rape and contravention of the Cybercrimes Act

The Hawks say it’s further alleged that the man had taken photos of the youngster naked and he had allegedly raper her. He apparently also told the victim that whenever he instructs her to come, she must find her way to the lodge, or he will post the naked photos on social media. The probe so far revealed that the victim had on two occasions conceded to meet up with the suspect, where she was raped repeatedly. However, on the third occasion, she refused to meet the suspect.

The victim’s brother contacted his sister

Hani added that the suspect threatened to post her naked photos to Facebook if she refused to come to the lodge. The victim’s brother later alerted her that he saw her naked photos on Facebook. Her sibling wanted to know from his sister what had led to this situation. This led to a case of trafficking in persons and rape, which was opened in November 2025.

More arrests are imminent

The Hawks say that, during the investigation, one of the suspects was identified by the complainant. This led to a warrant of arrest being issued. At the same time, the Court also issued a search and seizure warrant. Hani says the case was postponed to next week. The accused, who will remain behind bars until then, will next week apply for bail. Hani says the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are imminent.

The Anti-Gang Unit is leading the investigation into the second fatal mass shooting in Cape Town this week, this time in Lotus River. 

The Grassy Park SAPS confirmed that four men were gunned down on the corner of Nita and Olga Streets on Thursday night. A fifth victim sustained serious injuries in the attack. 

Spokesperson for the Western Cape SAPS, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, advised that the victims were between the ages of 32 and 44. 

“The victims were all sitting in front of a block of flats when a vehicle emerged, and the occupants opened fire on them,” said Potelwa.  

Potelwa said that officers are investigating the possibility that it is a gang-related attack. 

She also noted that police deployments have been reinforced at the Grassy Park police station and other neighbouring stations in response to the incident. There’s been no arrests yet.

“Grassy Park police have opened murder and attempted murder dockets for investigation. Anti Gang Unit detectives are hard at work in search of the perpetrators, with no arrests effected yet,” read the SAPS statement. 

The SAPS took a similar action in Manenberg, having increased police visibility following a mass shooting on Rio Grande Walk on Wednesday night. Six people were wounded, and one person was killed in this incident, which is also believed to be gang-related.  

READ MORE:  Police come under fire during fatal Manenberg mass shooting – Smile 90.4FM

Provincial MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, said these incidents are “stark reminders of the devastating impact that criminal gangs continue to have on communities across the Cape Flats”. 

Marais said the persistent shooting necessitates extraordinary measures, noting that standard practices are no longer enough to deal with “the entrenched gang violence that continues to plague affected areas”.  

“She therefore urged law enforcement authorities to urgently review and strengthen their strategy to disarm criminal gangs and disrupt their operations,” read her department’s statement on the matter.  

While calling on police to use the support of the SANDF to identify and find gang strongholds, and facilitate targeted operations, she urged residents to work with law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators to justice. 

Limpopo police have confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old private tour guide on charges of culpable homicide and the reckless handling of a firearm, following the death of a 69-year-old Canadian tourist in the Kruger National Park on Wednesday, 17 June.

The incident occurred at a concession-operated braai picnic site near Phabeni Gate.

Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo says the tourist approached the guide and asked whether the rifle he was holding was real.

It is alleged that while the guide was demonstrating the firearm, it accidentally discharged, resulting in the tourist’s death. He was struck in the upper body and died on the scene.

Cases of culpable homicide are routinely opened for accidental deaths.

SANParks head of Communications JP Louw earlier confirmed the guest was part of a group booked outside the park and only came in for a bush braai offered by a private concession with a valid permit to operate the facility within the park. The tourist’s wife was part of the group.

SANParks has extended its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the man.