National police force of South Africa; provincial Commissioners oversee 9 provinces
Two Ghanaian nationals have submitted a petition to the International Criminal Court alleging repeated, widespread attacks on African migrants in South Africa between 2015 and 2026 and accusing South African authorities of failing to prevent or prosecute those responsible. The ICC has confirmed receipt; South Africa says the petition does not meet the court's threshold and insists domestic law can respond.
Police crackdowns have led to arrests and seizures in West Africa and at OR Tambo International, with cocaine, cannabis and illicit goods seized and investigated. In Ghana, three suspects face charges after 866 parcels of cocaine were found concealed in gari sacks at a Tema Harbour warehouse.
Former two‑division world boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete has been shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. A 27‑year‑old woman who was with him has been hospitalised. Police have opened a major investigation and the sports minister has urged the public to provide information.
South Africa has arrested a 50-year-old Thai national at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for attempting to smuggle parrot eggs in a homemade incubator bag. Investigations indicate the eggs belong to CITES-listed parrot species. A second Thai national was arrested in July for attempting to smuggle 418 eggs. Authorities say these seizures highlight a coordinated, intelligence-led effort to dismantle wildlife trafficking networks.
South African police have confirmed that six Nigerians linked to the Black Axe network have been extradited to the United States. The Hawks coordinated the handover to FBI and Secret Service officials at Cape Town International Airport, with Interpol South Africa assisting. The group faces wire fraud and money laundering charges for defrauding more than 100 women in the United States of over $6 million through online romance scams.
Police have found a ninth body in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, as investigations intensify into a series of murders of women in the area. Authorities are considering all possibilities, including multiple suspects or separate perpetrators, and have issued a public warning amid rising femicide and violent crime concerns.
A spate of killings of women in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has sparked national alarm over gender-based violence. Nine bodies have been found in two months; authorities are reviewing cases, and no definitive links have been established. Investigations include potential serial-killer links, police actions, and public safety advisories.
Two separate mass shootings in South African townships have killed at least 27 people and wounded scores. One attack at a tavern in Wedela, southwest of Johannesburg, has left 17 dead; a second attack in Lwandle, near Cape Town, has left 10 dead. Police have launched investigations and are searching for multiple suspects.
Violence erupts in Soweto and Durban after a Constitutional Court ruling removes barriers to asylum applications. Refugee offices are overwhelmed as migrants and locals clash amid protests and looting; authorities pledge to expand processing capacity while stressing that asylum eligibility remains individual and not automatic.
Lt. Gen. Shadrack Sibiya has resigned as a disciplinary hearing begins. SAPS says the departure is a dishonourable discharge because the officer was under investigation. He remains in custody on charges including rape, sexual grooming of a minor and human trafficking, with bail pending as a public inquiry probes police corruption and links to criminals.
National Police Commissioner Masemola has returned to work after a six-month suspension tied to a health-services contract case. Prosecutors have dropped the charges, Ramaphosa has welcomed the return, and the Madlanga Commission continues to scrutinize police investigations.
Former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has been denied bail by the Randburg Magistrate's Court, amid charges of rape, human trafficking, and sexual grooming involving a 16-year-old. The court cited lack of exceptional circumstances for release; his case is postponed to 24 November for further investigations. Sibiya has resigned from the SAPS and remains in custody.