From October 13 to 24, the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS), SAPS Police Emergency Services (PES) and Water Police and Diving Services (WPDS) responded to the following incidents:

Benoni Flying Squad

Attempted kidnapping
Four suspects were arrested on October 19 following an attempted kidnapping on the R21, before the N12 off-ramp towards East Rand Mall.

BFS members were conducting routine patrols along the stretch of road when officers noticed vehicles parked next to the highway with suspects attempting to force a person into a white Toyota Yaris that was parked in front of a white Isuzu courier vehicle.

Officers stopped at the scene, resulting in two Volkswagen Polos, on black and the other gold, fleeing from the scene.

Two suspects attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended by an EMPD and a private security officer.

The EMPD officer was assisting at a broken-down vehicle when he noticed the unfolding situation and offered assistance.

Four suspects were arrested.

Upon a search of the Yaris, it was found that the vehicle was fitted with false registration plates.

The original plates were found inside the vehicle, as well as cable ties, commonly used to restrain kidnapping victims.

Suspected stolen copper
During routine stop and search operations, BFS officers arrested the driver of a white Toyota Fortuner when it was found that he was transporting suspected stolen copper cabling with an estimated value of R20 000.

The arrest was made on the N12 east near the Putfontein off-ramp.

Possession of drugs
Four suspects were arrested in Etwatwa on drug-related charges, and heroin was recovered.

Vehicle recovery
On October 24, BFS officers assisted a vehicle tracking company to track and trace a stolen white Hyundai H100.

A 36-year-old man was arrested in Rabie Ridge after the vehicle was reported as stolen in Midrand.

Police Emergency Services (PES)

From October 16 to 22, the PES, including the Flying Squad, K9 Units and Highway Patrol, arrested nine suspects across Gauteng:

• 49 arrests for serious crimes, including assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of suspected stolen property, attempted murder, sexual assault, armed robbery, theft, malicious damage to property, attempted robbery, attempted hijacking, escape from lawful custody or attempt and contravention of the Immigration Act.
• Recovery of four hijacked and stolen vehicles. Nineteen arrests were made on charges of being in possession of these vehicles.
• Two suspects were arrested for being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ten weapons were seized
• 26 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs with the intent to sell. Drugs recovered included heroine, dagga, meth, cocaine and mandrax.

SAPS Gauteng Water Police and Diving Services (GWPDS)

From October 13 to 19 October 2026, divers from the GWPDS attended to seven separate incidents across Gauteng and recoveries included:

• On October 13, Sedibeng Water Policing and Diving Services (SWPDS) were mobilised to an incident at Orange Farm where a 13-year-old boy had allegedly drowned in a water-filled quarry. The child’s body was retrieved from the water body by members of the community.

• Members of the Ekurhuleni Water Policing and Diving Services (EWPDS) responded to a call from Van Dyk Park on October 14 with information alleging that firearms had been thrown into a nearby dam.
According to information provided to police, a witness alleged that a woman had shown him an area of the dam where she had hidden firearms earlier that day.
The witness’ account changed several times, and members were informed that they may be searching for dismantled firearm parts.
The identified area was search but after 30 minutes but the search was called off as no items were found.

• The body of a 12-year-old boy was recovered by members of the Johannesburg WPDS at a dam in Muldersdrift, Krugersdorp, on October 18. It is alleged that the child had gone swimming with a friend when the incident occurred.

• Later on the same day, the club manager of the Florida Lake Canoe Club, Roodepoort, recovered the body of a one-year-old from the lake.

• The body of a newborn girl was recovered by members of the SWPDS on October 19 from a sewage-contaminated stream in Evaton.

• Later on the afternoon of October 19, EWPDS members were deployed to Kempton Park where the body of a man was found hanging from a tree branch overhanging a river. The man’s body was recovered. No visible external injuries were observed, and an inquest docket has been registered.

• The body of a newborn boy, the umbilical cord still attached, was recovered from a small stream in Sunnyside, Pretoria, on October 19. Tshwane Water Policing and Diving Services (TWPDS) attended the incident.

Information supplied by BFS, WPDS and PES spokesperson Warrant Officer Grant Giblin.

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