18 FEBRUARY 2026 

KIMBERLEY MENTAL HOSPITAL CASE TRANSFERRED TO THE HIGH COURT 

Kimberley, Northern Cape – The Kimberley Mental Hospital matter has been transferred from the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court to the Northern Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for 23 April 2026. The accused, including former MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works, John Fikile Block, appeared in the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court where the transfer was affected. 

17 February 2026 

NPA SUCCESSFULLY OPPOSES BAIL FOR MAKHANDA CORRECTIONAL OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has successfully opposed the bail application of Viwe Stemela (47), a correctional services official based in Makhanda, who is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder involving managers at the correctional facility where he works. Stemela appeared before the Makhanda Magistrate’s Court, which ruled that it was not in the interests of justice to grant him bail. 

17 February 2026 

NPA SUCCESSFULLY OPPOSES BAIL IN GQEBERHA CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND RAPE CASE 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has successfully opposed the bail application of 38-year-old Ryno Du Toit in the Gqeberha Magistrates' Court. The accused faces serious Schedule 6 charges, including the rape of a minor as well as multiple offences relating to the possession, creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material. 

17 FEBRUARY 2026 

LIFE AND THREE YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDERERS 

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced Bheki Gabriel Dube (28) and Sibonelo Bhongo Sibiya (27) to life imprisonment and three years’ imprisonment each following their conviction on charges of murder and malicious injury to property. In December 2024, the two men murdered Busani Khomo (58) in the Mpumalanga area of Hammarsdale. Khomo, a resident of Hammarsdale, was the acting principal at a local high school. 

16 February 2026

LESOTHO NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE  

16 FEBRUARY 2026 

TRADITIONAL HEALER PLEADS GUILTY TO THE MURDER OF DR MEHLAPE 

16 February 2026 

ASSET FORFEITURE UNIT SECURES RESTRAINING ORDER OF OVER R26 MILLION IN COVID-19 TERS FRAUD MATTER 

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in Mpumalanga has successfully obtained a restraint order exceeding R26 million against assets belonging to suspects allegedly implicated in fraud related to the COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS). The order was granted in terms of Section 26 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court. 

16 FEBRUARY 2026 

LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPIST