The Western Cape SAPS has confirmed that a disciplinary investigation is underway against a police officer in Cape Town who was caught sleeping on the job.  

The matter came to light on Wednesday, while DA MP Nicholas Gotsell was in Green Point. He shared footage of how he found a police officer in full uniform, sleeping inside a marked police van outside a retail store in the area. 

Gotsell said the officer’s colleague was inside the store. 

He added that the officer claims he was conducting “visible policing” at the time.  

“His idea of visible policing is to take a nap in a marked SAPS vehicle, parked on a bus-stop in the middle of a busy road, whilst his colleague is shopping in Woolworths,” said Gotsell in a post on social media.  

Gotsell identified the officer as Constable Makhosi, who he said is stationed at the Cape Town Central SAPS.  

He said the incident raised concern over public safety, noting that the officer was armed and that the situation could have had serious consequences. 

He further criticised what he described as poor discipline within an already strained police service, arguing that there was “no place” in SAPS for officers who disregard their duties. 

“If this is Const Makhosi’s idea of visible policing, we are in big trouble. As a justification, he showed me the flu medication which apparently caused his drowsiness, but did seem to think that driving in that condition is cause for concern,” said Gotsell.  

A spokesperson for the Western Cape police, Captain F.C. Van Wyk said the office is aware of the footage and confirmed that it was being formally addressed.  

“Disciplinary investigation has been opened against the member involved. And will be investigated further. This is an internal process and is regarded as a matter between the employer and employee,” said Van Wyk.  

Furthermore, while responding to criticism online, Gotsell said he was unapologetic about calling out the incident, noting that such behaviour undermines the work of officers who “put their lives on the line” daily. 

“This behaviour gives the SAPS a bad name. Officers like Const Makhosi detract from that job – and from a professional, well-disciplined SAPS. A SAPS we all depend on at some stage in our lives,” said Gotsell.  

South Africa is experiencing a “summer of extremes” marked by severe flooding, widespread fires and growing water shortages – a clear sign of the escalating impacts of climate change, according to WWF South Africa.

The organisation says the combination of flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, fires across the Eastern and Western Cape, and water supply challenges along the Garden Route shows that climate change is no longer a future threat but a present reality.

Fresh data released this week by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation indicates that global temperatures have already warmed by about 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, placing the world dangerously close to the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement.

In the Western Cape, hot, dry and windy conditions have fuelled fires that have burned close to 100 000 hectares, hitting the agricultural sector hard and prompting calls for a provincial state of disaster to be declared.

In Limpopo and Mpumalanga, an extended tropical weather system, driven by warm waters in the Mozambique Channel, has caused severe flooding, disrupting schooling and affecting the Kruger National Park and surrounding tourism towns.

Meanwhile, Knysna and other Garden Route towns are facing water supply challenges, with indications that Cape Town could also enter another period of water stress.

Senior Climate Specialist at WWF South Africa, James Reeler, said South Africa and the world were already paying a high price for inaction.

“Our heart goes out to all those affected by recent extreme weather events. In the South African context, these weather events carry very heavy economic and human costs.”

He warned that while much of the debate focuses on the cost of climate action, the cost of doing nothing is far higher.

“We need to start spending money where it counts – on limiting emissions and preparing our people for a changing climate.”

Reeler added that the years 2020 to 2030 were meant to be the critical decade for action, but with 2026 already here, many of the interim targets under the Paris Agreement have not been met.

Copernicus estimates long-term global warming has reached about 1.4°C above the 1850–1900 average, while the WMO puts the 2025 global average temperature at around 1.44°C above pre-industrial levels. The three-year average from 2023 to 2025 has reached 1.48°C, the closest the world has come to the Paris limit.

WWF says these rising temperatures are translating directly into more intense heatwaves, droughts, storms and floods, making the past three years the costliest on record for climate-related disasters.

The organisation is calling for faster cuts to emissions, protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, and scaled-up solutions to help communities adapt to a changing climate.

British American Tobacco has announced that it will close its Heidelberg, Gauteng, factory by the end of 2026, marking the end of cigarette manufacturing in South Africa after 70 years. BAT said the decision was driven by the rapid growth of the illicit cigarette trade, which now makes up about three-quarters of the local market.

Johnny Moloto, head of corporate and regulatory affairs at BAT Sub-Saharan Africa, said it was not an easy decision to make:

“We have tried everything to ensure we don’t have to close this facility, which has been a part of the Heidelberg community since 1975, including implementing various efficiency initiatives over the years.”

 

“But when three-quarters of your market is illicit, there’s a limit to what any company can do. We’ve reached that limit.”

 

“This is an incredibly difficult day for BATSA and for the approximately 230 employees and families who may be affected. These are skilled, dedicated people who have given years of service, who, unfortunately, are affected by an illicit market that operates outside of the regulatory net.”

Thousands of tobacco farmers in South Africa also face an uncertain future, as BAT will sell its products locally through imported cigarettes in the future. The broader Lesedi community, including suppliers, logistics providers, and contractors, all depend on the facility.

Tax Justice SA (TJSA) has reacted to the news, arguing that the closure of British American Tobacco South Africa’s manufacturing plant is damning proof that authorities’ failure to curb the illicit cigarette trade is destroying jobs, draining public revenue and eroding the rule of law.

TJSA’s founder, Yusuf Abramjee, says the decision is the predictable outcome of allowing organised criminal networks to operate openly while enforcement agencies fail to act decisively.

“This shows what happens when you fail to tackle illicit trade: legitimate businesses are compromised, honest jobs are destroyed and vital tax revenue is lost.”

“When criminals are allowed to operate openly and at scale, investment leaves, jobs disappear and the rule of law begins to collapse.”

Abramjee argues the lucrative illicit cigarette trade, which blossomed during the years of State Capture, was turbo-charged by the five-month tobacco ban imposed during the Covid-19 epidemic.

He says tax-evading cigarettes now account for an estimated 75% of all sales, depriving the fiscus of almost R30 billion in excise annually – vital revenue that should be spent on education, housing and security.

“Every year of inaction strengthens organised crime and weakens the state’s authority. Without decisive action against illicit trade, South Africa will continue to lose revenue, credibility and control.

“A country where criminal networks outcompete law-abiding businesses is sliding towards a gangster state. This downward spiral cannot be tolerated for a single day longer.”

Moloto confirmed BAT will re-invest in local production in South Africa, should there be a substantial and sustained trend change in the local illicit trade environment.

The public spat between the former Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, and DA Leader John Steenhuisen has now led to George resigning from the party and as MP, citing an “intolerable” situation and alleging he was pushed out of the party.

In an exclusive interview with eNCA earlier today, George accused DA leader John Steenhuisen of abusing his position, being financially compromised, and allowing the party to be “captured” by the ANC and criminal interests.

George was removed as Minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2025, following a request from Steenhuisen, with the official reason citing underperformance and a need to strengthen the DA’s role in the GNU.

But George claims Steenhuisen acted under the influence of illicit networks, and that a smear campaign was used to justify his removal from Cabinet.

He also alleges serious financial irregularities involving Steenhuisen’s DA credit card, calling for an independent forensic investigation. The DA earlier this week cleared Steenhuisen on the credit card claims. 

George says she was targeted for refusing to be co-opted, for challenging ANC leaders on corruption, mining and emissions, and for taking a hard line against illicit wildlife trafficking and the captive lion industry.

In a statement, DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille says it’s unfortunate that George has stepped down before facing a pending disciplinary process.

Zille says the Federal Legal Commission was set to hear allegations relating to staff appointments in his ministerial office, the use of departmental information for internal party matters, and bringing the party into disrepute.

She says it would have been preferable for George to go through the process to test the claims, adding that the rest of the disciplinary process, which Steenhuisen is also facing, will continue.