The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, says extensive damage has been recorded in the Kruger National Park following recent floods, describing the impact as devastating and warning that recovery will take time and significant funding.

Speaking on Thursday, 22 January 2026, Aucamp said the floods have affected not only the Kruger National Park but also large parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, resulting in the loss of lives, homes and critical infrastructure.

“The decision to classify a National Disaster was unequivocally the right one,” Aucamp said, adding that the scale of destruction warranted urgent national intervention.

According to SANParks, damage to infrastructure in the Kruger National Park alone is estimated to run into hundreds of millions of rand. Roads, bridges, water and electrical systems have been severely affected, while staff villages and tourist accommodation have also suffered destruction.

Despite the damage, no lives were lost in the park.

“The most important highlight is that no lives were lost. SANParks’ early warning systems and the swift, coordinated response of park management and emergency services ensured that all guests and staff were safely evacuated.”

Several camps are still closed, some of them completely inaccessible due to washed-away roads and bridges. Tourism operations have been suspended in a number of areas, with temporary gate closures limiting both overnight and day visits.

Between 9 and 19 January 2026, the park recorded just over 24,000 guest entries, a 41% decline compared to the same period last year, raising concerns about revenue losses. SANParks generates close to 80% of its operating budget from tourism.

“The destruction of our tourism flagship puts the sustainability of the entire network of parks at risk.”

In response, Aucamp announced the establishment of the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund, aimed at supporting long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

“The Kruger National Park cannot rebuild without help. A well-coordinated, rapid response founded on our collective responsibility is imperative.”

The fund will be administered with independent oversight through three audit firms to ensure transparency and donor confidence. Aucamp said the fund has already received widespread support from individuals, organisations and international partners.

He confirmed that the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund and the Honorary Rangers’ Kruger Flood 2026 Fund are the only authorised channels for donations, warning the public to be alert to fraudulent fundraising schemes.

Two suspects have made a court appearance in connection with the recent murder at a cemetery in Stellenbosch.

This follows the death of a victim, identified by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as  77-year-old Johannes de Koker, at a graveyard in Distillery Road in Onder Papegaaiberg on 17 January. He is believed to have been stabbed to death while visiting his son’s grave.

A Western Cape police spokesperson, Captain F.C. Van Wyk, said a security officer led the police to the gravesite where the victim was found.  

“They found an unidentified male in his late 70’s laying on his left side next to a gravesite and notice that the upper body of the person was full of blood. Ambulance services was contacted and they notice that the person had an open wound on the right side of his chest area,” said Van Wyk.  

The man was declared dead on the scene, and a murder case was opened for investigation.

NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, noted that 38-year-old Darren Stephanus and 20-year-old Ryan Munnik were charged with the murder and appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrates Court on Friday.

“Their case has been postponed until 02 February 2026 for bail information. The State will oppose their bail application. Both accused remain in custody and more charges are likely to be added at the next court appearance. They have chosen the Legal Aid to legally represent them,” said Ntabazalila.

Their arrest comes after the Stellenbosch Community Policing Forum (CPF) sought counsel from the local and provincial government to address safety at cemeteries. CPF chairperson, Andre Pelser, said the incident is deeply concerning. 

“It was a horrible, tragic murder. The brutality was shocking. This father has been going to his son’s grave – who died tragically years ago in a drowning – every year and cleaned the grave. It’s a sad ending to his life and his homage to his son,” said Pelser. 

He warned that cemeteries have become “danger zones”, not only in Stellenbosch but other parts of the province. 

In December 2025, Grassy Park police registered a murder case after the body of a 23-year-old woman was found in a shallow grave at Klip Road cemetery. She had been reported missing days earlier, and a 42-year-old suspect was arrested. 

More recently, in January 2026, a suspected “gang-related” shooting at the Maitland cemetery left two men dead and two others wounded.  

Pelser said he had already approached authorities to address safety concerns.  

“We have taken steps to speak to the premier… the mayor and the ward councillor and we are busy addressing the situation urgently. I hope we can improve it so that people can visit their loved ones in peace.” 

Authorities continue to urge anyone with information on the Stellenbosch killing to come forward anonymously. 

The City will pilot extended weekday operating hours at its 31 outdoor community swimming pools following requests from residents to keep pools open after schools have reopened.

From Wednesday, 28 January 2026 until 6 April 2026, community swimming pools will operate from Wednesday to Sunday as part of a pilot aimed at assessing public demand and long-term feasibility.

In previous years, pools reverted to weekend-only operations once schools reopened, due to lower attendance and the need to manage operational costs. However, the City says it has received ongoing feedback from communities calling for continued midweek access to public pools.

“These requests from residents are the reason we are testing this approach,” the City said, noting that the pilot will help determine whether extended weekday operations can be sustained in future summer seasons.

From 28 January to 22 March, pools will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for essential maintenance and staff wellbeing, and open from Wednesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00. During the school holiday period, from 23 March to 6 April, pools will return to daily operations before closing for the season on 7 April.

The City said the pilot is possible due to extensive repairs and upgrades carried out at public swimming pools in recent years, allowing more facilities to remain operational for longer periods.

Six pools, namely Manenberg, Langa, Lentegeur, Goodwood, Bellville South and Delft, will temporarily close from early February 2026 to undergo major infrastructure repairs ahead of the 2026/27 summer season. Residents are advised that repairs at Retreat Swimming Pool have been completed, and the facility reopened on 23 January.

Daily access remains available at the City’s indoor pools in Retreat, Blue Downs, Long Street and Strand, as well as the Sea Point swimming pool.

Over the past three financial years, the City has invested approximately R113.5 million in swimming pool upgrades and maintenance. As a result, 36 of the City’s 37 pools are open this summer, compared to 26 during the 2022/23 season.

The City said usage data from the pilot will guide future decisions on whether public swimming pools can operate seven days a week throughout the summer in response to community demand.

Visitors are advised to contact the individual pool to confirm operating hours. 

Police in the Cape Winelands are trying to establish what led to an eight-year-old boy’s death in Klapmuts following an incident at his school.

The incident was reported on Friday morning, 23 January, at which time the victim, identified as a grade three learner, Matthew Baartman, was at Klapmuts Primary School.

The circumstances of his death are a mystery, but police have confirmed that a post-mortem is being conducted to establish the cause.

“Klapmuts police registered an inquest for investigation following an incident at a primary in Klapmuts involving an eight year old boy on Friday, 23 January 2026, at about 07:45. The victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment where he was declared deceased,” said Western Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg.

A spokesperson from the Western Cape Education Department, Kerry Mauchline, conveyed condolences to the family, noting that the department’s district team would assist the school community and confirmed that law enforcement and Safe Schools had been notified.

Mauchline further urged the public to avoid speculation surrounding the incident.

“We have noted social media speculation that an electricity connection was involved, however this has not been confirmed and the cause of death has not yet been determined. The school dismissed learners from school after the incident, and is investigating the claims about electricity to ensure that the school property is safe,” said Mauchline.

The principal of Klapmuts Primary School, Mr Hoffman, in a note on social media, said the school community was “deeply affected by the tragic death”.

He said safety protocols were implemented immediately after the incident, and that assessments of the school premises determined that it was safe for learners and staff.

“Necessary precautions have been put in place, especially in the affected area, to ensure the safety of everyone on site,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman said the school is cooperating fully with authorities as investigations continue into the child’s death.

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party’s Marius Van Stade says questions have been raised by the community on whether sufficient measures are being taken to protect the learners.

“The GOOD Party views this matter with the utmost seriousness. We will formally engage the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, as well as the Minister of the Western Cape Education Department, David Maynier, to demand an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the learner’s death earlier this morning. Accountability, transparency, and urgency are non-negotiable in a matter of this nature,” said Van Stade.

*This article has been updated to include additional information from the mentioned sources. 

A 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse was shot and killed by US Border Patrol agents, operating under ICE, in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, 24 January, sparking widespread outrage, competing official accounts, and an urgent court battle over access to evidence.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, died after an encounter with federal agents on a city street.

It comes two and a half weeks after an ICE agent shot another US citizen, Renee Good, in the face, as she was trying to drive away.

Videos circulating on social media show Pretti directing traffic away from an area where agents were operating and attempting to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground, witnesses said.

Footage reviewed by multiple journalists appears to show agents surrounding Pretti, deploying pepper spray, pulling him to the ground from behind and striking him.

During the struggle, one agent appears to remove a firearm from Pretti’s waistband and leave the immediate area with it. Moments later, a single shot is heard, after which Pretti stops moving. Several more shots follow.

Bystanders later attempted to cordon off the area with trash bins, saying agents walked away without preserving the scene.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that Pretti “approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun” and “violently resisted” as officers tried to disarm him, adding that “an agent fired defensive shots.” DHS further claimed Pretti had “no ID” and suggested he intended to harm law enforcement.

However, journalists reported that verified videos contradict that account. “Footage from the scene shows the man was holding a phone in his hand, not a gun, when federal agents took him to the ground and shot him,” wrote New York Times reporter Devon Lum.

🚨 NEW: Visual analysis of the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis

1. At 0:57 and 1:05 in this video, a federal agent sprayed Alex Pretti with a chemical irritant — twice.

2. At 2:01 in this video, at least four agents were holding Pretti down when an… https://t.co/PEXEyTEQXk

— Meghnad Bose (@MeghnadBose93) January 25, 2026

State and local officials said federal authorities blocked them from the scene. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told reporters his agency obtained a search warrant, but federal officials still denied access.

On Saturday evening, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other federal officials, seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction of evidence. The filing described an “astonishing” departure from normal investigative procedures.

A federal judge granted the order, barring the administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to the shooting.

Federal officials have also declined to release the names of the agents involved, according to reporting by Ernesto Londoño of The New York Times.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said local law enforcement would continue its own work. “Our demand today is for those federal agencies that are operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity, and integrity that effective law enforcement in this country demands,” O’Hara said. “We urge everyone to remain peaceful.”

Today, we lost another Minneapolis neighbor after multiple ICE agents pummeled him and shot him to death.

How many more people need to die or get shot before this ends?

President Trump, I am calling on you to put the American people and this American city first & get ICE out. pic.twitter.com/iGkziVRPUI

— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) January 24, 2026

DHS said it would conduct its own investigation rather than hand the matter to the FBI, a decision that drew criticism from journalists and civil rights advocates because the department had already issued a public account of the incident.

Political fallout followed quickly. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller accused critics of siding with “terrorists,” while Democratic lawmakers condemned the shooting.

Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts called the killing “another outright murder by federal officials,” adding, “If a Marine… did that in Iraq in the middle of a war zone, he would be court martialed because it is murder.”

Just hours after Pretti’s death, witnesses reported another tense encounter nearby in which federal agents pinned US citizen Matthew James Allen to the street as he pleaded, “I have done nothing wrong,” while his wife begged officers to stop.

Late Saturday, Pretti’s parents, Susan and Michael Pretti, released a statement calling the official claims about their son “reprehensible and disgusting.”

“Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse,” they said. “I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman.”

They added: “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”

“Please get the truth out about our son.” pic.twitter.com/0TNW7H5qum

— Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) January 25, 2026