The unwavering dedication of police members to fight drug trafficking has delivered a major victory for the Blue Downs community.

Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that members of Operation Shanela II seized 25 000 mandrax tablets, with an estimated street value of R1,25 million, hidden at a house on Jason Pedro Street, Belladonna Estate yesterday.

“A 33-year-old Nigerian national has been arrested in connection with the drugs and is set to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court once charged.”

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has praised the operation, calling it a clear demonstration of the force’s relentless commitment to protecting communities, removing illegal drugs from the streets, and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.

“These operations demonstrate the relentless efforts of our law enforcement agencies to disrupt criminal networks and remove dangerous weapons and drugs from our communities.”

Also read: R3.3 million in drugs, on-route to Cape Town, confiscated in Beaufort West

Some South Africans living in the Middle East have shared their experiences amid escalating military hostilities across the region. 

ALSO READ: Emergency Contact Numbers for South African Nationals in the Middle East – Smile 90.4FM

This is as President Cyril Ramaphosa issued an urgent plea for de-escalation, insisting that history has shown “there is no military solution to political problems”. 

The President’s warning comes as Israel reportedly extends its military operations into Lebanon. 

In a statement, President Ramaphosa expressed “deep concern” regarding the rising tensions, noting that the situation poses a threat to international security.  

“We urge the international community, including multilateral institutions and regional partners, to redouble efforts aimed at promoting mediation and peaceful resolution. As a nation that has emerged from conflict through dialogue and reconciliation, South Africa remains steadfast in its belief that peace is not only possible, but imperative for the shared future of the Middle East and the world,” said President Ramaphosa.  

Despite this, and the multiple deaths that have been reported, some South Africans living in the region report a more nuanced reality. Riaan Swart, a Johannesburg native currently teaching in Baghdad, Iraq, told SmileFM that the recent escalation “hasn’t really affected us in any way, shape or form”.  

“This recent escalation of terror and threat and violence and war, if you want, in the Middle East hasn’t really affected Iraq as such, because Iraq is not really involved in any of this, unlike before,” said Swart. 

Similarly, Francois Stevens, a teacher from Bloemfontein living in Kuwait, told SmileFM that the atmosphere was reminiscent of the lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said his work, as a teacher, has shifted online and from home. 

Despite an Iranian drone attack on a US military facility in Kuwait, Stevens remains calm, noting that the Kuwait government has everything under control.  

“We feel that the authorities have been very proactive in handling the situation. We’ve been prepared, I think, already a month or two in advance with them putting on the sirens in the cities, checking if everything’s working and letting us know what they will sound like when things do happen. And in fact, when it did happen, it played out exactly as they anticipated. So we are forewarned, we know where to go to if it really escalates, which it hasn’t so far,” said Stevens. 

However, humanitarian groups are less optimistic. Yusuf Mohamed, CEO of Islamic Relief South Africa, warned that the conflict risks “mass civilian displacement and further strain on already fragile humanitarian systems”.  

He stressed that the cost of these attacks “will not be borne by governments, but by ordinary families who are already living on the margins of survival”.  

Meanwhile, the conflict in the Middle East has resulted in a rise in global oil prices. According to Reuters, Brent Crude oil jumped about 10% on Sunday, as analysts suspect oil prices could climb as high as $100 a barrel.

This is as South Africans await news from the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Department on fuel price adjustments for March.

A luxury Rovos Rail train travelling from Windhoek towards South Africa was involved in a fatal accident in southern Namibia early on Sunday morning.

In a statement issued on 1 March 2026, Rovos Rail confirmed the incident occurred at around 04:45 near Naute, approximately 285 kilometres from Ariamsvlei and the South African border.

According to the company, the accident was caused by a washaway of the final span of a railway bridge. The damage resulted in the loss of two locomotives and two utility coaches.

Rovos Rail said the train’s automatic braking system activated immediately, preventing further damage and protecting passengers on board.

However, the company confirmed that two crew members, the Rovos Rail driver and a TransNamib pilot, died in the incident.

“We extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues,” the company said.

No passengers or other Rovos Rail staff members were injured.

Transport arrangements have been made for guests to continue their journey, with buses taking passengers to Upington in the Northern Cape. From there, travellers will be flown to Cape Town, where they will be personally received by Rovos Rail management.

The company said the safety and well-being of guests and staff remain its highest priority and expressed regret over the incident.

Rovos Rail added that its communications team remains available to assist with enquiries as investigations into the accident continue.

Ten taxi drivers are behind bars after they were arrested in the space of 24 hours earlier this week. The City says the 10 had outstanding warrants against their names, which totalled just over R632 000. The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith says the 10 were taken into custody. This is a fate that has befallen more than 20 000 other motorists in the City, over a seven months period.

Ten taxi drivers behind bars

Alderman Smith says 4 of the arrests were made on the N2 Highway during peak hour patrols and operations. Officers, on Thursday, 26 February, also detained a driver with 22 warrants. These warrants have a value of R90 350.

Smith added that a second driver was detained in connection with a hit-and-run incident. He allegedly had also stolen the other driver’s keys and drove off. He says that when the suspect was pulled over, officers checked and discovered he had 20 outstanding warrants totalling R68 900.

A taxi driver was also arrested for a hit-and-run incident

Smith says on Friday, 27 February, officers arrested two more taxi drivers. One had 18 warrants valued at R56 200, and the other had 29 warrants totalling R114 700. He says during an integrated operation in Sea Point and surrounds on Friday morning, Traffic Officers arrested six drivers. The six drivers had 123 warrants between them, totalling R301 900.

Smith says, “During the seven months under review, Traffic Officers have recorded more than 2,2 million offences, made 1 411 general arrests and impounded 5 632 public transport vehicles.”

Failing to appear in court for unpaid traffic fines

According to a media statement, city-wide, between July 2025 and January 2026, Traffic Officers have executed 52,938 warrants on motorists who have failed to appear in court for unpaid traffic fines. It also reads that while some were released on a warning, 20,724 (39%) were taken into custody until their court appearances. This is compared to just 11% of all warrant executions during the same period the previous year.

Smith concluded, “To those who might be seeking a reprieve, we are FINALIZING logistics for another traffic fine roadshow in March.”