A Cape of Good Hope SPCA (SPCA) operation last week saw inspectors recover 120 fish from unhygienic conditions in a swimming pool at a home in Fish Hoek. 

The incident initially came to light weeks prior, when the SPCA received a cruelty complaint of a house where live fish were being kept. The SPCA said it had conducted several inspections of the premises and found the fish in “stagnant, green and heavily contaminated water” in the pool.  

Formal warnings were given to address the situation, but the SPCA said no progress was made. 

“Multiple formal warnings were issued; however, the conditions did not improve, adequate care was not provided, and attempts to secure voluntary compliance were unsuccessful,” read the SPCA statement. 

Inspectors reported that efforts to resolve the matter cooperatively failed, encountering “resistance and a refusal to engage meaningfully”. 

The SPCA then approached the Simon’s Town Magistrates Court for a warrant, authorising it to enter the property and remove the animals. The warrant in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 was granted.  

“Due to ongoing non-compliance and the reasonable belief that the fish were suffering unnecessarily, the SPCA applied to the Simon’s Town Magistrates’ Court for a warrant.” 

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That warrant was executed on 14 January, with the assistance of the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement’s Animal Control Unit. 

Inspectors confirmed that the conditions of the pool were still the same as with previous inspections, with extremely poor water quality that had limited visibility and contained large amounts of waste. 

“Items recovered from the water included plastic bags, plastic materials, skateboards, brooms, dustpans, pots, and other household refuse. The swimming pool was effectively being used as a dumping site while still containing live fish.” 

The SPCA said the operation was strenuous and long, having taken six and half hours to recover all the fish in the pool.  

Of the fish recovered, the SPCA said “two fish were already in a compromised condition, and seven fish died shortly after arrival despite intervention”. The remaining fish are undergoing assessment and receiving treatment.  

“This case serves as a reminder that all animals, including fish, are protected under animal welfare legislation and are entitled to humane treatment and proper care,” said the SPCA.  

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep concern following a deadly learner transport crash in Gauteng this morning, saying the tragedy highlights persistent safety failures within learner transport systems across the country.

At least 13 learners were killed and two others injured when their vehicle collided with a truck near Vanderbijlpark. The devastating incident has left families, schools, and communities in mourning.

The crash occurred on the same day the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a report exposing serious shortcomings in learner transport safety in the North West, drawing renewed attention to systemic failures in scholar transport programmes.

Ramaphosa described the loss of young lives as devastating and stressed the urgent need for decisive action to ensure learner transport services comply with required safety regulations.

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed government’s commitment to addressing weaknesses in oversight and enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.

“Our children are the nation’s most precious assets, and we must do all we can,  from observing the rules of the road to ensuring the quality of service providers appointed to transport scholars to protect learners.”

Meanwhile, the SAHRC revealed deep institutional shortcomings in the North West scholar transport programme following a comprehensive investigation conducted last year. The multi-pronged probe was launched after repeated reports of safety failures raised serious concerns about the wellbeing of learners who depend on scholar transport to access education.

Presenting the findings earlier today, SAHRC Commissioner Nomahlubi Khwinana pointed to weak oversight, poor enforcement of regulations, and widespread governance lapses as key contributors to the crisis. She cited a collective failure by the North West departments of Community Safety and Transport, along with the Department of Education, to fulfil their mandated responsibilities.

“Weak oversight and enforcement mechanisms have resulted in non-compliant service providers operating without consequences. There have also been corruption and procurement irregularities, including misrepresentation by service providers and failures in contract management.”

According to the commission, the lack of effective monitoring and coordination between departments has allowed serious safety risks to persist, placing learners in danger and undermining their constitutional rights to safety and education.

The SAHRC further warned that unroadworthy and unsafe vehicles, described by affected communities as “coffins” continue to be used.

“These vehicles reportedly suffer from severe mechanical defects, expired licence discs, fuel leaks, and a lack of basic safety features. Chronic overloading, far exceeding approved passenger capacity, was also identified as a major contributor to accidents and injuries.”

Following the Gauteng crash, Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited the scene to assess the situation, offer support to affected families, and engage with emergency services.

“It really is a tragic day for us as the department and the province. We extend our deepest condolences to the learners, families, and school communities affected. We call for greater vigilance when it comes to scholar transport, particularly private scholar transport.”

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that an investigation is under way to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

As the Western Cape and City of Cape Town grapples with a series of devastating fires this fire season, many believe arson to be behind at least some of the fires.

At the weekend, the City’s Traffic Services arrested a suspected arsonist, after he was detected via CCTV.

Just after midnight on Saturday, 17 January, the Traffic Communications Centre, in conjunction with the Freeway Management System (FMS) cameras, identified the person setting alight vegetation on the M5 northbound, before Berkeley Road.

Through a coordinated effort between the Traffic Communications dispatcher, the FMS operator, and the Highway Patrol, the suspect was arrested by Highway Patrol officers and detained at Maitland SAPS.

A case of arson has been opened.

Cape Town has seen a worrying rise in fire incidents over the past eight weeks, with increases recorded in both vegetation and residential fires.

According to city statistics, fires across different categories climbed by between 5% and 16% compared to last year.

Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member JP Smith revealed that from 1 December 2025 to 15 January, firefighters responded to 3,492 vegetation fires, alongside hundreds of informal and formal residential blazes.

While dry and windy conditions are thought to be the main cause for the high number of fires, Smith says to have some individuals who deliberately set out to cause more pain and potential harm in this manner is incredibly frustrating.

“We had numerous fires along that M5 stretch in the last week, and hopefully the investigation includes a thorough assessment of all these incidents. This arrest and the manner in which it was made is also a timely reminder of just how useful technology is in the fight against crime, particularly when utilised properly.”

The public is reminded to report emergencies or any suspicious and/or criminal activities to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700, and to provide detailed information such as the time, exact address and a short description.