Picture: Police conducting stop and search/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
3 May 2026 – The police in the Bojanala sub-district 2 (Rustenburg) successfully policed three major Workers’ Day (May Day) rallies that took place simultaneously in the Rustenburg/Marikana areas. The police said numerous other events also took place throughout other parts of the North West.
The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo would like to thank the event organisers for their cooperation and compliance with event prescripts, which contributed to safe and successful gatherings. Naidoo also extended his appreciation to all police commanders and personnel for their commitment and dedication, working long hours, to ensure a safe and secure environment throughout the province, but especially in the Rustenburg municipal area.
“All members displayed professionalism, discipline, and unwavering commitment to public safety and their conduct are commendable, because the successful policing of events reflects the strength of the collective effort and continued dedication by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to serve and protect the people of North West.
3 May 2026 – The police from different units led by the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo continued with the unannounced, high-density Operation Shanela 2 from 1 May 2026, into the early hours of Saturday, 2 May 2026, in Rustenburg, within the Bojanala 2 sub-district (Rustenburg). Naidoo said the operation was supported by members from various units, including the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Provincial Crime Intelligence Overt Operations, K9 Unit, Provincial Corporate Communication, Tactical Response Team (TRT), Hostage Negotiators and FLASH.
He further said the operation continued focusing on the Rustenburg Central Business District (CBD) and surrounding areas. Naidoo added that focusing on crimes relating to illegal firearms and ammunition, undocumented foreign nationals, trio crimes, and drug trafficking.
“Stop-and-search operations were conducted in the Rustenburg CBD, Tlhabane, Boitekong, Phokeng, and several nightclubs were visited. During the operation, 10 undocumented foreign nationals were found hiding inside the roof of a hardware premises on Fatima Bhayard Street and four search warrants were executed.
“Operations such as Shanela 2 demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the police to tackle crime and restore public confidence. The police will continue to intensify high-density operations and work collaboratively to ensure that communities across the province feel safe and protected,” he said.
3 May 2026 – The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis said as South Africa marks Workers’ Day, they should be honest about the contradiction at the heart of this occasion. Hill-Lewis said this is a country in which work is still out of reach for millions.
He further said on the latest official figures, 31.4% of South Africans are unemployed. Hill-Lewis added that on the expanded definition, which includes those who have given up looking for work, that figure rises to 42.1%.
“Around 7.8 million South Africans are officially unemployed. Joblessness in South Africa is a national crisis. Workers’ Day should be a day on which a country celebrates the dignity of work and the opportunity that comes with it.
“In South Africa, it increasingly is a reminder of how many people have been denied both. There is little dignity in being locked out of the economy. There is little justice in telling young South Africans to celebrate workers when so many of them have never had the chance to become workers at all,” he said.
Hill-Lewis said there is little credibility in the annual parade of speeches from leaders, whose policies have helped to produce one of the worst unemployment crises in the world. He said the truth is that jobs are not created by slogans.
“They are created when an economy grows, when businesses can invest with confidence, when infrastructure works, when streets are safe, when electricity is reliable, and when the government understands that its role is to open the door to opportunity rather than stand in the doorway blocking it.
“That is why the contrast within South Africa matters. The Western Cape has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, at 18.1%, far below the national rate of 31.4%. The province’s expanded unemployment rate is 23.7%, also dramatically better than the national figure,” said Hill-Lewis
He said in the last quarter of 2025 alone, the Western Cape added 93 000 jobs. Hill-Lewis said over the year, it added 95 000 jobs.
“Cape Town’s official unemployment rate has fallen to 19.8%, and the city added 113,000 jobs year on year. That does not mean the work is done. But it does mean that better government produces better outcomes.
“Where government is cleaner, more capable, and more focused on growth, more people find a pathway into work. And while too many people are still unemployed, the successes achieved where the DA governs does show that South Africa’s jobs crisis is not inevitable,” he said.
Hill-Lewis said it is the result of choices. He said different choices produce different results.
“If we truly want to honour workers, then we must build a country that creates more of them. That means backing economic growth instead of throttling it. It means fixing ports, rail, energy and policing. It means making South Africa investable again.
“On the Workers’ Day, the Democratic Alliance renews the commitment to fight for a South Africa in which more people can work, earn, build, provide and live with dignity. Because the true measure of a pro-worker government is not what it says on 1 May. It is how many workers it helps create on every other day of the year,” said Hill-Lewis.
3 May 2026 – The acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane commends the extraordinary bravery and selflessness displayed by Captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter, whose actions are an example of the highest standards of service and dedication. Dimpane said in a highly dangerous and complex operation along the Komati River, Potgieter was hoisted from a SANPARKS helicopter into a crocodile-infested river, where he courageously secured a crocodile using a rope under extremely dangerous conditions.
She further said the animal which was already euthanized was then safely lifted and relocated, enabling the police and other experts to recover the remains of a suspected missing person. Dimpane added that the discovery of the remains means that the police have now taken the body parts found in the intestines of the crocodile for DNA analysis to confirm the identity of the deceased.
“We praise Potgieter for his bravery. Potgieter’s willingness to place his own life at risk, going far beyond the call of duty, reflects the unwavering commitment of SAPS members to serve and protect, even in the face of danger that could have cost him his life.
“SAPS salutes Potgieter for his heroism, bravery, professionalism and dedication. His actions are a reminder of the courage and sacrifice demonstrated daily by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS),” she said.
The Guardian 