A 30-year-old man is under police guard in hospital after allegedly attempting to abduct a five-year-old child in Athlone on Saturday morning.

According to South African Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson FC Van Wyk, the incident took place at around 10:30am at a shopping mall, when the child was walking with her mother.

“The mother was holding her daughter’s hand when an unidentified man suddenly tried to pull the child away. A tug of war ensued, and the child’s father intervened, preventing the abduction.”

Police have not confirmed the cause of his injuries or whether they occurred during the attempted abduction.

Bianca Van Aswegan from Missing Children South Africa (MCSA) urged parents to be vigilant, especially during the festive season.

“It is a very busy time of the year, and children are vulnerable to different types of crimes. When taking your children to public spaces, keep an extra eye on them and make sure they know what to do or where to go if anything happens.”

Van Aswegan also stressed that missing person reports should be made immediately.

The child and her parents were taken to the Athlone Victim Support Centre, where they received counselling following the traumatic incident.

A case of attempted kidnapping has been officially opened, and police say the investigation is ongoing.

The City of Cape Town is rolling out the Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing (CLLT) system across its 18 Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs).

The new system replaces the old manual booklet test, allowing applicants to complete their learner’s licence digitally using digital screens.

Installation has been completed at four centres, Brackenfell, Elsies River, Joe Gqabi, and Lingelethu West. The system went live at Brackenfell and Elsies River this morning, with other centres following by mid-February 2026.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the system will speed up testing and results, reduce waiting times, and improve inclusivity with 11 language options and support for hearing-impaired applicants.

“We are really excited about the change, and hopefully it’ll unlock further positive digital developments, like the online booking system, which is only available in a few provinces currently. The licensing process remains far too onerous, causing great frustration for clients, but also our DLTC staff who are at the mercy of a centralised national system that fails far too often.”

Cape Town Traffic Services spokesperson, Chief Inspector Kevin Jacobs, says examiners will guide applicants through the new digital tests, and demonstration functions will help candidates get familiar with the process.

“We understand that this can be somewhat overwhelming, but examiners are still required to provide instructions as is currently the case with the written test. The digital system will also have a demonstration function to help candidates familiarise themselves with what’s expected, before the test gets under way. This is a massive change, and while we hope for a seamless transition, we also ask the public for their cooperation and patience during this time.”

More than 30 Western Cape towns ill have to use their water sparingly this summer. This follows the decision by the Provincial Government to implement proactive water restrictions. There are various levels of restrictions with Six being the highest and One, the lowest.

He said, “We urge residents and visitors to familiarize themselves with restrictions that apply locally and to please adhere to them.”

More than 30 towns in the Western Cape will have to use their water sparingly this summer

The Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell says the implementation of the restrictions is done to address the anticipated hot and dry summer months ahead, as predicted by the South African Weather Services. He says they cannot control the weather, but they can control how to manage available water resources.

“The various levels of water restrictions are not uniform as each municipality follows its own guidelines in this regard,” Bredell added.

 

Western Cape Municipalities implement proactive water restrictions

He says it’s the responsibility of all municipalities to manage their water supply and to ensure that their water infrastructure is maintained to ensure sufficient storage capacity, safe quality water, and to avoid leaks throughout the distribution system. Bredell says to fund this, municipalities need to ensure all water supplied to residents are correctly billed and paid for.

Water restrictions to ensure water security throughout summer months

Level 6 restrictions are in place for the following towns: Dysselsdorp and De Rust

Level 4 restrictions are currently in place for the following towns:

Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Kurland Village, Natures Valley, Witsand, Calitzdorp, Van Wyksdorp, Ladismith and Zoar.

Level 3 restrictions are in place for:

Swellendam, Beaufort West, Albertinia, Heidelberg, Slangrivier and Jongensfontein.

Level 2 restrictions are in place for:

George, Gouritsmond, Stilbaai, Melkhoutfontein and Riversdale.

Level 1 restrictions are in place for:

Lamberts Bay, Citrusdal, Robertson, Aston, Montague, Bonnievale, McGregor, Worcester, Rawsonville, Touwsriver and De Doorns

“If we all save water there will be enough for everyone,” Minister Bredell said.

Monitoring the water status across the province

At the same time, the Provincial Department of Local Government is monitoring the water status across the province closely. According to the department, the following towns currently pose the highest risk in terms of water security: Knysna, Calitzdorp, Van Wyksdorp, Ladismith, Zoar Witsand, Dysselsdorp and De Rust. Bredell has stressed that the water restrictions will help to ensure water security throughout the summer months.