A high-speed chase that caught the attention of social media this week has ended in the arrest of three people in Strandfontein.  

A SAPS spokesperson, Constable Ndakha Gwala, said officers on Wednesday spotted a vehicle on Main Road in Muizenberg, which had previously been seen at the scene of robberies in Claremont and Wynberg.  

“The grey Honda BRV was involved in a robbery that had just occurred at Claremont and a theft that occurred earlier this month in Wynberg,” said Gwala.  

The chase ensued to Strandfontein, where Gwala said the suspects went off-road and their car’s tyres burst. The trio were then apprehended there. 

“Eventually, the suspects’ vehicle left the road, its tyres burst and the airbag deployed. Inside were two male suspects aged 58 and a 31-year-old female,” said Gwala.  

Gwala added that when police searched the vehicle, two mag wheels that had been stolen from a car in Muizenberg had been found, as well as an elephant tusk.  

The suspects were arrested on charges including theft from a motor vehicle, possession of presumed stolen property, robbery, theft general and contravention of the Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance Act. 

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In a telephone call with SmileFM, Gwala confirmed that the viral video is linked to the incident. 

Strandfontein Community Policing Forum member Sandy Schuter further confirmed this, noting that residents witnessed the dramatic chase.  

“[The suspects] entered Bayview… the video from the dash cam, you can see them racing through Bayview and then turning onto Spine Road,” Schuter added. 

The suspects are expected to appear in the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court once formally charged. 

ALSO READ: More killings in Kalksteenfontein; police probe gang motive – Smile 90.4FM

The City’s Coastal Management branch says the upgrades to the Strand seawall have made significant progress, as the contractor has now moved sewer infrastructure off the beach to a new protected location landward of the new seawall.

This massive operation will now increase the resilience and durability of this critical sewerage infrastructure.

The relocation of the sewer infrastructure has not been without its challenges, but now that it is done, work on the seawall is able to progress again.

Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, visited the project site this week to see the progress for himself.

He has thanked the public for their patience and understanding as they push to finish the seawall by the end of this year.

“Since the work has moved further east of the beachfront, the public has assisted us a great deal by complying with the new temporary arrangements. We therefore want to thank all residents, businesses, and visitors again for your patience and understanding as we push to complete this critical project.”

He says streetlights along Beach Road (on the beach side) are currently off to accommodate the work that is being undertaken, but will be reinstated as part of the project.

While the bulk of the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026, the intention is to open some sections on the western side of the works as the project progresses eastward, if all goes according to plan.

The primary purpose of the Strand seawall is to protect coastal infrastructure, including Beach Road and nearby properties, from erosion, storm surges, and flooding.

Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman has tabled a R93.538 billion provincial budget for the 2026/27 financial year, outlining spending priorities aimed at economic growth, job creation and strengthening social services.

Presenting the budget in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament on Thursday, Baartman described the plan as “a budget that delivers growth with discipline and care.”

The province will spend R285.8 billion over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) from 2026/27 to 2028/29.

The largest share of funding will go toward education, health and social development, while infrastructure, safety and economic growth initiatives are also prioritised.

Economic outlook

Baartman said the provincial economy is expected to grow 1.6 % in 2025, slightly above the national outlook. The Western Cape also recorded unemployment of 18.1 % in the fourth quarter of 2025, significantly lower than the national rate.

However, she warned that global trade tensions, supply chain pressures and domestic infrastructure constraints – particularly electricity, logistics and water – continue to limit stronger growth.

Key spending priorities

Growth and job creation

Economic growth remains the province’s top priority, with R36.651 billion allocated over the medium term for the government’s Growth for Jobs strategy.

Key investments include:

• R396.9 million for Wesgro to promote investment, exports and tourism
• Funding for industrial hubs including Freeport Saldanha and the Atlantis Special Economic Zone
• New export and agriculture support programmes to expand market access
• Skills development funding for business-process outsourcing and technology sectors

The government also plans to support infrastructure and economic growth through R31.1 billion in infrastructure spending over the next three years.

Major infrastructure allocations include:

• R11.1 billion for roads construction and maintenance
• R6.4 billion for education infrastructure
• R5.6 billion for human settlements
• R5.2 billion for health facilities and technology

Energy and water resilience

Responding to infrastructure pressures and climate risks, the province has set aside funds for resilience projects, including:

• R452.5 million for energy resilience, including solar installations at schools, clinics and emergency services
• R177.9 million for water security, drought response and groundwater development

The province also plans to support green energy opportunities such as green hydrogen development.

Safety and crime prevention

A total of R8.595 billion has been earmarked for safety initiatives over the medium term.

Key allocations include:

• R1.14 billion for the Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) to maintain more than 1 000 officers in high-crime areas
• Funding for neighbourhood watches and community policing forums
• R47.1 million for gender-based violence prevention and survivor support
• R396 million for substance-abuse prevention and treatment services

Education, health and social services

The largest share of the budget supports the province’s Educated, Healthy and Caring Society priority, which receives R208.6 billion over the MTEF.

Education spending will increase to R35.1 billion in 2026/27, including funding for:

• 701 new educator posts
• R330 million for school infrastructure upgrades
• R1.77 billion for the school nutrition programme

The Department of Health and Wellness will receive an additional R2.305 billion, largely to stabilise staffing and operational costs.

Social Development will also receive additional funding to support vulnerable groups, including:

• Child protection services and child-care centres
• Expanded support for people leaving alternative care
• Additional funding for services for older persons and people with disabilities
• Disaster and resilience funding

The province has set aside R949.8 million to respond to disasters and emergencies, including:

• R139.7 million to combat foot-and-mouth disease
• R67 million to repair fire damage at Paarl Hospital
• R65.5 million for wildfire management and aerial firefighting

Baartman said the province is also establishing a new Alternative and Blended Financing Reserve, with R518.8 million set aside to help leverage private investment for infrastructure projects.

Funding sources

About 95% of the provincial budget comes from national transfers, mainly through the Provincial Equitable Share and conditional grants.

The remaining 5% is raised through provincial revenue, including motor vehicle licence fees, gambling taxes and liquor licence fees.

Baartman said the Western Cape’s share of national provincial funding has increased slightly due to updated population and economic data.

Another fatal shooting in Kalksteenfontein, in Bishop Lavis, has claimed the lives of three people.

Four other people were injured in the incident on Soetkop Street on Thursday night, shortly after 20:00.  

Police say the victims were sitting outside, “drinking”, when a vehicle approached, and its occupants opened fire on them.

“Three armed men alighted and started shooting randomly at the group. The gunmen later fled in the vehicle. As a consequence, three men [died] aged 40, 64 and 66 died on the scene while four others were injured and taken to a medical facility for treatment,” said Potelwa.  

The Anti-Gang Unit is investigating the case, as it‘s suspected to be related to gang violence. 

“Bishop Lavis police registered three counts of murder and four attempted murders. No arrests have been effected yet but investigations into the incident continue.” 

On Tuesday, two men were gunned down in another suspected gang-related incident on the nearby Hanekam Street.  

READ MORE: Bishop Lavis CPF raises alarm over daily killings on the Cape Flats – Smile 90.4FM

Potelwa noted that police have intensified deployments to the area “in an effort to ensure that no further incidents occur”. 

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Bishop Lavis Crime Prevention Forum, Graham Lindhorst, said these incidents follow daily shootings in the area, which have reportedly been linked to clashes over drug turf. 

He said more “disruptive” policing strategies are needed to prevent further crime in the area.  

“They need to look at disruptive patrols. They need to make sure that even if it needs to, they need to go into that area, house-to-house, to smoke out the guns and the drugs and whatever is happening there. We’ve come to that stage,” said Lindhorst. 

At the same time, while welcoming the deployment of the military in areas like Bishop Lavis, Lindhorst believes that there are social challenges in the area that must be addressed. 

“[The army] cannot help to permanently deal with issues within our areas. Our problems within our areas is of a social nature. That is the intervention we need, and we call for that intervention to be brought into our communities, where the whole of government comes… and we look at what is our social ills and deal with those problems.” 

*This article has been updated to include additional information.