A police vehicle came under attack in Elsies River yesterday as officers responded to a shooting on Old Stellenbosch Road, Clarke Estate.

The Acting Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety in the Western Cape, Tertuis Simmers, condemned the attack, calling it a “brazen and reckless act of violence.”

“Fortunately, no officers were inside the vehicle at the time of the attack. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is currently investigating the matter.”

SAPS spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that cases of attempted murder, assault on police, and public violence are under investigation.

“Elsies River Police attended a complaint of a shooting in progress at Old Stellenbosch Road, Clark Estate. Upon arrival, they saw a group of people gathered and then heard gunshots coming from the crowd. A police vehicle was hit by a bullet during the incident.”

Simmers stressed that any assault on police is an attack on the rule of law and threatens the safety and security of our communities.

“These acts of violence seek to undermine the authority of the State and endanger those who work tirelessly to protect our residents. Such behaviour will not be tolerated.”

SAPS is urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111, use the MySAPS App, or call the City of Cape Town tip-off line on 0800 1100 77. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Another illegal liquor manufacturing plant has been discovered, this time in Durbanville.

The discovery comes amid a tip-off from the community to the City of Cape Town’s Public Emergency Call Centre (PECC), which reported suspicious activity around the property in question.

Five Malawian Nationals have been arrested by Metro Police Neighbourhood Safety Officers (NSOs) following the discovery of the illegal liquor plant on Monday, 5 January 2026.

The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security teams also confiscated over 2,000 litres of homemade gin during the search.

On their arrival, officers were granted permission to enter the property. Once inside, they discovered 11 large drums filled with the suspected gin as well as a machine used to distil alcohol.

They also discovered that the suspects had been gathering bottles of two popular alcohol brands and were packaging their homemade liquor in these brand-name bottles.

Officers arrested three males and two females aged between 18 and 39 on charges of illegal manufacturing of alcohol, contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act and possession of presumed stolen property.

The scene was handed over to Durbanville SAPS. The homeowner, a Chinese national, has also subsequently been arrested.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 7 January 2025.

In addition, the suspected counterfeit liquor will be sent for forensic analysis.

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The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, has cautioned residents against buying counterfeit alcohol, which often contains toxic substances which can lead to severe health issues and even death.

“I applaud the NSOs for their swift action in this regard. The scene was handed over to Durbanville SAPS for further investigations.”

In December 2025, an illegal booze factory was busted in Khayelitsha, while police also uncovered similar operations in September and October, in Klapmuts and Stellenbosch, respectively.

Smith has called on the public to report all suspicious activity by calling the PECC on 021 480 7700 or 107 from a landline.

The ANC has strongly condemned what it describes as “imperialist aggression” by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, warning that recent developments pose a serious threat to international law, national sovereignty and global stability.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ANC said the alleged “kidnapping” of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores represents a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and undermines the principles that govern peaceful relations between states.

“The kidnapping of Comrade President Nicolás Maduro and his wife threatens global peace and stability at a time when the world requires cooperation, restraint and dialogue,” the party said.

Call for unconditional release

The ANC has also called on peace-loving people in South Africa, across the African continent and around the world – including within the United States – to demand the immediate and unconditional release of President Nicolás Maduro.

The party said the international community must reject all actions that undermine democracy, international law and human dignity, warning that the devastating humanitarian consequences of war, sanctions and economic coercion should remain central to the global conscience.

Solidarity with the Venezuelan people

The ANC expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who it said continue to face sustained political, economic and diplomatic pressure.

“As a liberation movement forged in struggle against colonialism, apartheid and external domination, the ANC recognises that such aggression is seldom accidental,” the statement read.

“It is often driven by contests over strategic resources, control of markets and resistance to the independent development paths chosen by sovereign nations of the Global South.”

The party reiterated that international law must be respected by all states without exception or selectivity, warning that double standards undermine trust and fuel instability.

“The principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and the peaceful resolution of disputes are the bedrock of a just international order,” the ANC said.

“Their selective application erodes trust, fuels instability and disproportionately harms developing countries and oppressed people across the globe.”

Economic and geopolitical tensions

The ANC further cautioned that the situation in Venezuela must be understood within a broader economic and geopolitical context, arguing that the country is being targeted because of its insistence on sovereignty over its natural resources and independent economic policies.

Drawing parallels with South Africa’s own history, the party said its struggle for economic transformation, equitable access to resources and fair trade relations continues to face resistance from “reactionary forces opposed to fundamental change”.

“This confirms that the real contest is over economic justice and who benefits from global wealth,” the statement said.

Call for dialogue and UN intervention

The ANC called for restraint, de-escalation and a return to dialogue through multilateral institutions.

It also urged the United Nations and the UN Security Council to act “swiftly and decisively” to uphold international law, prevent further escalation, prevent a humanitarian crisis and ensure the protection of civilian lives.

Police have opened an inquest docket after a BASE jumper fell to his death on Table Mountain on Monday, 5 January.

Rescue teams responded to reports that there was a fatal wingsuit BASE jumping incident in Platteklip Gorge on Monday morning.

A substantial search and recovery operation was launched, involving numerous ground teams and aerial resources, including members from Wilderness Search and Rescue, Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS, SANParks – Table Mountain National Park, SAPS Search And Rescue, ER24, Taurus Medical Film and Sports Medics, SANParks Honorary Rangers, local SAPS, Air Mercy Service (AMS) and City of Cape Town Law Enforcement.

Rescuers were deployed to the top of Table Mountain via the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway cable car to search down Platteklip Gorge for the downed pilot, while a small team on board the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter assisted from the air.

The crashed pilot was located shortly before 10h00. Tragically, he was found deceased.

The deceased was flown from the mountain to a nearby landing zone and handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Police are currently gathering information to ascertain his identity, as the injuries on his face are too severe.

Wilderness Search and Rescue has acknowledged the dedication and professionalism of all responding agencies, rescue personnel and volunteers, whose compassion and expertise were evident throughout the operation.

What is BASE Jumping?

B.A.S.E. jumping is an extreme sport in which participants jump from fixed objects such as Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges), or Earth (cliffs), while using a parachute to slow their descent.

Wingsuit BASE jumping adds an additional layer of complexity: a specialised suit with fabric stretched between the arms and legs allows the jumper to glide horizontally and control their descent, like flying before deploying a parachute.

While wingsuits enable longer flight and increased manoeuvrability, they also increase the risks involved.

SANParks states that BASE jumping is an illegal and unregulated activity, strictly prohibited within Table Mountain National Park.