The Ceres community is reeling, following the brutal murder of a resident, whose dismembered remains were discovered over the weekend. 

The incident came to light on Sunday, when municipal law enforcement officers were alerted to a man seen walking around town with what appeared to be human remains. 

In a statement, the Witzenberg Municipality said the victim’s “mutilated body was discovered on 7 December 2025 under a bridge”. It added that local police got involved by arresting a suspect.  

“SAPS attended to the scene, took the suspect into custody, and launched a full investigation. The remainder of the victim’s body was later recovered at a second location identified by the alleged perpetrator,” read the municipality’s statement on the matter.  

The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that a 22-year-old named Zwelinjani Mbola was arrested and appeared in the Ceres Magistrates Court on Tuesday.  

Ntabazalila confirmed that Mbola was formally charged with murder and the violation of a corpse.  

“The State alleges that on 07 December 2025, the accused murdered Peter Joubert by cutting and dismembering his body with a sharp object,” said Ntabazalila.  

The State further alleges that Mbola “physically violated the deceased’s body by cutting off his arms and private parts”. 

 The accused returns to court on 17 December, where he may be referred for a psychiatric evaluation. Bail proceedings are expected to also get underway.  

Meanwhile, the municipality said the act had “left our community reeling”, urging residents to remain calm and support law enforcement as investigations continue. 

“We are absolutely appalled by this level of violence. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victim’s family during this devastating time,” said the municipality.

Exams watchdog Umalusi says ongoing investigations into irregularities in certain National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams will not delay the release of results for the thousands of learners not implicated.

The incident involves 26 learners from seven Pretoria schools, who admitted accessing Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and English Home Language papers before their final exams.

Addressing the media this morning, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced that two departmental officials have been suspended for their suspected involvement.

“We are not only following our own internal processes regarding the suspension of these individuals, but there are also criminal elements involved in possessing stolen state material.”

Umalusi spokesperson Biki Lepota confirmed that a preliminary report has been received.

“We are satisfied with the steps taken so far, including reporting the cases to the South African Police Services (SAPS). Ongoing investigations are aiming to determine the full extent of the irregularities. The DBE is expected to present its findings to the Executive Committee of the Umalusi Council during the approval of the results at a meeting scheduled for 6–8 January 2026.”

The Director-General of Basic Education has also announced that a National Investigative Task Team (NITT) will be established to probe the exams breach. The investigation is set to begin within the next 24 hours.

PRASA says it is ready for the festive season. From 15 December to 11 January, security at stations and on trains across the Western Cape will be stronger than ever, ensuring a safe and stress-free travel experience for commuters and holidaymakers alike.

Full-day train services will also run on Sundays and public holidays, giving passengers more flexibility and reliable transport during the busy season.

Metrorail provincial spokesperson Zino Mihi says modern trains, combined with upgraded security measures, give travellers peace of mind.

“Visible security teams will be present throughout the rail environment, ensuring passengers and visitors to the Western Cape can travel with confidence. The festive season also showcases the successful transition from the old yellow trains to PRASA’s modern People’s Trains.”

PRASA says all modern trains have been upgraded to prioritise safety and provide a memorable travel experience.

“Trains are now fully equipped with on-board CCTV cameras for enhanced security, improved lighting throughout the carriages, open inter-leading coaches for better visibility and passenger flow, advanced braking and operational systems, and greater comfort and reliability.”

Mihi encourages passengers to choose safe and affordable rail travel this festive season.

“Whether you’re heading to the beach, visiting loved ones, or simply enjoying the beauty of the Western Cape, PRASA Western Cape is ready to provide an exceptional travel experience. Passengers must ensure they have valid train tickets when traveling.”

The City has announced that repairs to damaged Kloof Road will commence next year. The Urban Mobility Directorate has set March 2026 as the start date for this work. The first two months of the year will be used to obtain the necessary construction permits and approvals as prescribed by the environmental management plan, given that Kloof Road is located within Table Mountain National Park.

“Kloof Road is an important access route, and we are well aware of the inconvenience and frustration as a result of this closure,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

Repairs to damaged Kloof Road to commence next year

The section between Kloof Nek Road and Round House Road was damaged during a Level-9 storm in September 2023 and has been closed to the public since then. Kloof Road is one of the access routes that links the City Bowl with the Atlantic Seaboard suburbs of Camps Bay, Clifton, Bantry Bay and Sea Point. The road falls within the Table Mountain National Park, and the two failed embankments are located approximately 150 to 200 meters west of the corner of Kloof Road and Camps Bay Drive.

“We are eager for the project to start, and I can confirm that if all goes as planned, the contractor will be on site by March 2026 at the latest,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

Environmental approvals in terms of the National Environmental Management Act have been granted, as well as a Water Use Licence. This allows the City to undertake the rehabilitation in a protected and environmentally sensitive area. MMC Quintas says the first two months will be used to get the construction permits, and the contractor will have to prepare a method statement on what measures they will take to minimise and limit the impact on the sensitive natural environment.

Kloof Road Project details

• The physical repairs will commence by March 2026.
• The project duration is about 11 months.
• Due to the magnitude of the slip failure, the remedial actions will take time.
• The City will only repair what has been damaged and cannot add additional improvements, such as walking and cycle lanes.
• Various services are located along Kloof Road, such as fibre optic, water mains, and so forth. These will have to be relocated or worked around and maintained while the repair work is ongoing.

Quintas added that if residents don’t see spades in the ground in January 2026, they should not be alarmed and think nothing is happening.

• There are large trees in the area where the road collapsed, and these will have to be removed before work can start.
• The terrain is very steep.
• Access to the site is going to be a huge challenge, given that the construction work will have to happen from the bottom of the kloof upward towards the road, and there is no access road to the bottom.
• Given the environmental sensitivity of the area, access cannot just be built with heavy machinery, and getting the required machinery and materials to the bottom is going to pose many logistical challenges.

Kloof Road Closure

The section between Kloof Nek Road and Round House Road has been closed to traffic since the long weekend of 24 September 2023. This was done in the interest of public safety after the embankment supporting Kloof Road was destabilised, making it unsafe to carry a load. Unfortunately, further damage occurred in 2024 when heavy rainfall caused an additional slip failure during the winter season.