A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for drug dealing by the Plettenberg Bay Regional Court.
The court handed down the sentence to Victor Sithole yesterday, bringing to a close a case that began more than four years ago. Sithole had been found guilty in February and was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani says the conviction stems from his arrest in January 2022 during a joint law enforcement operation on the N1 near Beaufort West.
The arrest unfolded during a high-intensity, multi-agency operation. Law enforcement officers, working through the night at a vehicle checkpoint, stopped what appeared to be an ordinary white truck.
“Upon searching the vehicle, members discovered five new ATM machines and two brown boxes. The K9 reacted to the boxes, leading to the discovery of drugs concealed inside, Hani added.”
Authorities uncovered 20,000 Mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R1.2 million.
Sithole was arrested on the scene and remained in custody throughout several court appearances leading up to his conviction and sentencing.
The upgraded Cape Town Safe Space will help more people off the streets. This comes as the City of Cape Town has completed a R7.7 million upgrade to its Culemborg Safe Space 1 facility. This significantly improves shelter and support services for people living on the streets in the Cape Town CBD.
The R7,7m upgrade to Safe Space 1 includes:
· Dormitory-style sleeping quarters and ablution facilities
· A designated training area
· Covered dining area with washing facilities
· Dedicated washing line area and enclosed refuse room
The upgraded Cape Town Safe Space will help more people off the streets
The upgraded site, the City’s first Safe Space, launched in 2018, now offers proper dormitory-style accommodation. It replaces basic shelter infrastructure and mobile ablution facilities. The improvements are aimed at restoring dignity, safety, and stability for vulnerable residents seeking to exit street life. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis visited the revamped facility this week, saying the upgrades form part of the City’s broader effort to expand social services and reduce rough sleeping across the metro.
One of the new prefabricated structures at Safe Space 1
Revamped facility
A key new feature is a 16-bed Sober Space pilot operating next door at Safe Space 2. Run in partnership with Streetscapes and the Cape Town Central City Improvement District, the initiative helps safely manage situations where residents return to shelters while intoxicated. This strengthens care while maintaining accountability.
The City’s Safe Space model includes:
• dignified shelter
• comfort and ablutions
• two meals per day
• access to a social worker on-site
• skills training
• help finding a job
• access to EPWP work placement
• personal development planning
• various social services, including ID book and social grant assistance
• family reunification services
• access to substance and alcohol abuse treatment
One of the new prefabricated structures at Safe Space 1
A 16-bed Sober Space pilot operating next door at Safe Space 2
Cape Town remains the only metro in South Africa with a fully funded social services programme dedicated to helping people off the streets. The City plans to expand shelter capacity from 1 400 to more than 2 200 beds over the next three years, across City-run Safe Spaces and NGO-supported night shelters. The City is also expanding support for Haven Night Shelter facilities and runs the Matrix substance abuse treatment programme, which reports an 83% success rate.
The Mayor and Cllr. Higham with officials at the revamped Safe Space 1
A walk-in centre on the Strand Street concourse
In addition, a City walk-in centre on Strand Street in the CBD is being upgraded at a cost of over R400 000 to improve access to social assistance and referrals for people seeking help.
The Community, Arts & Culture Development Department’s walk-in centre
A walk-in centre on the Strand Street concourse in the Cape Town CBD has also opened. This offers a number of services to help people off the streets. The centre is open from 06:30 to 16:00, from Monday to Friday. The Mayor says this walk-in centre is currently undergoing a number of upgrades to the value of just over R400 000 to ensure a welcoming space for social assistance to clients. He says the upgrades include improvements to the boardroom, reception area, client waiting area and guest area.
Gun violence continues to grip several Cape Flats communities, despite the deployment of soldiers under Operation Prosper.
Police have confirmed that two men, aged 25 and 33, were shot and killed in Hanover Park on the morning of 1 April. The victims were inside an informal dwelling on Turfburg Walk when gunmen opened fire. One man died at the scene, while the second succumbed to his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
Community activist Kashiefa Mohammed told Smile FM she believes the attack may be gang-related, although police have not yet established a motive. No arrests have been made.
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old man was shot and killed in Coniston Park in the early hours of Thursday morning, 2 April. Officers responding to the scene shortly after 03:30 found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head on Lucerne Crescent.
The suspects fled, and the motive remains unclear. Muizenberg is among the areas earmarked for military deployment.
Residents across the Cape Flats reported further incidents of suspected gang violence overnight. Verified reports point to shootings in areas including Manenberg, Tafelsig, Lentegeur, Heideveld, Ottery, Delft South, and Wallacedene.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been deployed to 17 identified hotspots across Cape Town as part of Operation Prosper. However, only a portion of the 547 soldiers earmarked for the operation are currently on the ground, with additional deployments expected after the Easter long weekend.
According to reports, areas including Nyanga, Philippi, Gugulethu, Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Harare, Manenberg, Elsies River, Ravensmead, Muizenberg and Steenberg are set to receive around 28 soldiers each.
Meanwhile, Mitchells Plain, Mfuleni, Bishop Lavis and Delft are expected to have a stronger presence of about 40 soldiers per area.
The SANDF have been deployed across 17 areas on the Cape Flats. Photo: Ian CameronPhoto: Ian Cameron
Community leaders have welcomed the intervention but remain cautious. Activist Imraahn Mukkadam has called for more decisive action from deployed forces, while Yaseen Johaar warned that lasting change will depend on addressing deeper socio-economic challenges.
Johaar said issues such as unemployment, high school dropout rates and poverty must be tackled urgently, arguing that increased security alone will not curb the cycle of violence.
Concerns have also been raised about the psychological impact on residents, especially children, who must live under a heightened military presence in their neighbourhoods.
A smash-and-grab incident along Jakes Gerwel Drive is believed to have led to a fatal outcome on Wednesday.
According to Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie, a vehicle was attacked, after whicha suspected smash-and-grabber was shot.
Police confirmed the death of a 26-year-old man on the corners of Jakes Gerwel Drive and JakkalsvleiAvenue, in Bonteheuwel, but noted that they are still looking into the circumstances of the incident.
“Police members attended to a complaint of a shooting and upon arrival on the scene they found the victim who sustained gunshot wounds to his body. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel,” said Western Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg.
McKenzie said there is limited information available on the circumstance at this stage but noted that that stretch of road is notorious for smash-and-grab incidents.
“This stretch of road, linking areas such as Dunoon, Langa, and Samora Machel, has unfortunately become a hotspot for smash-and-grab syndicates targeting vulnerable motorists at traffic lights,” said Mckenzie.
He added that there were “serious consequences” for continued criminal activity and hoped that those involved in smash-and-grab syndicates would understand this.
“Serious consequences… come with terrorising innocent drivers on our roads.”
He further appealed to motorists using that road to remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, police are investigating a case of murder and have noted that no arrests have been made yet.
“Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.”
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has officially launched its Easter festive season operational plan, aimed at ensuring the efficient, secure and seamless movement of people and goods across South Africa’s 71 ports of entry.
The plan, which came into effect on Tuesday and will run until Thursday, 9 April, is expected to manage a sharp increase in travel volumes over the holiday period.
According to BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato, passenger numbers are expected to peak in the coming days, with departures reaching their highest levels on Thursday and arrivals surging on Easter Monday.
Masiapato warned that traveller volumes could exceed 25,000 people per day at the busiest ports of entry during peak periods.
According to the BMA, the operational strategy is structured into four phases, which include planning, execution, demobilisation and sustenance.
The planning phase began earlier this year, following the festive season, and focused on strengthening partnerships to address resource constraints. This included support from provincial governments, with approximately 50 officials deployed to assist as immigration officers at Cape Town International Airport and 80 officers assigned to OR Tambo International Airport.
On immigration, Masiapatho says the BMA will intensify the detection and proper processing of undocumented travellers, strengthen access control and enforce strict compliance with immigration requirements.
“All travellers must present valid machine-readable passports with at least two blank pages and comply with visa conditions. Parents travelling with minors must present required documentation.”
Special priority measures will also be in place for vulnerable groups, including elderly travellers, persons with disabilities and adults travelling with children, to ensure smoother transit during the busy Easter period.
