The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has sent out a stern warning to the public to refrain from spreading misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic.

Earlier this morning, parents and learners gathered outside Manenberg Primary School, demanding to be addressed by a school representative as concerns were sparked by a WhatsApp message claiming that the school will close down.

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond reassured the public that the school is not closing and urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information.

“Someone allegedly sent out a message on a WhatsApp group falsely indicating that the school was going to close. The WCED can confirm that this is incorrect. The school is NOT closing. The school has informed us that they have engaged with the parents to confirm this fact. The matter is thus resolved. We do, however, appeal to the public to refrain from spreading false rumours which unnecessarily cause panic and stress for no reason.”

Police are seeking a mass murder wanted suspect in Cape Town. The young man is being sought in connection with the murders of nine people, on 17 January 2026, at a shebeen in the Marikana informal settlement, in Philippi East.

Police are seeking a mass murder wanted suspect in Cape Town

Sergeant Wesley Twigg says they are looking for a 28-year-old man, who has been identified as Lonwabo Steven Dyasi. Detectives attached to the Serious and Violent Crime Unit have asked members of the public to assist in finding this person who is wanted for murder.

A warrant of arrest was issued following the mass murder

He says Lonwabo is a suspect for the murders of nine people and the attempt to kill another one, on 17 January 2026. Twigg says the court has issued a warrant for his arrest. Meanwhile, a 19-year-old suspect who was also arrested in connection with the crime has already appeared in the Athlone Magistrates’ court on the same murder charges.

If you have information call the Police

Twigg has called on anyone with information, who can assist with the investigation to contact the Police. Also, if you know the whereabouts of Lonwabo, you are requested to make contact with the officers probing the case. The investigating officer is Detective Constable Sibusiso Manqindi.

You can contact him on 072 980 2764. A person can also phone the Police’s Crime Stop Number and that number is 08600 10111

Kindly note that the video embedded below, sourced from Facebook, contains profanities and depicts scenes of alleged assault. Viewer discretion is advised. 

A 75-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman appeared in the Oudtshoorn Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning, following the circulation of a video showing children allegedly being assaulted in Oudtshoorn. 

The video appears to show a woman striking children with a long stick-like object, while the children cry out in pain. 

The incident allegedly took place on Friday, 13 February 2026, at the corners of Van der Riet and Kruid Streets. 

Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that the man was arrested on the day of the incident and that the woman was taken into custody on Sunday.  

The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eric Ntabazalila, confirmed that the suspects, Johan Scholtz and Gerda Tait, made their first court appearance on 16 January.

Their charge sheet notes that they appeared on three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, for allegedly hitting three children with a “plastic pipe”. One of three was allegedly shot “with a paintball [gun] on the body”, the charge sheet read.  

The case was postponed to 23 February for a bail application.  

Prior to their court appearance, Twigg noted that the case of grievous assault was initially registered but was later “changed to attempted murder”. The Oudtshoorn Community Policing Forum (CPF) added that this change followed allegations that the children were shot with a paintball gun.  

“All allegations will be fully investigated. Child abuse and any form of assault is not tolerated in a law-abiding society. The community is requested to remain calm while the investigation continues,” said the CPF in a statement.  

At this stage, it is unclear whether the change announced by the police will be adopted by the NPA.

A local community leader, Chad Louw, also addressed the matter publicly, noting that an official complaint had been lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission. He added that the matter has received national attention, with the “National Youth Chairperson of SAPS Crime Prevention Mr. Rataza Redemption”. 

“Regardless of what the children involved may or may not have done, under no circumstances should violence be used. If there was wrongdoing, there are legal and proper processes in place to address it,” said Louw.  

Police investigations are ongoing.