In case you missed it: Five NC miners trapped underground | Over 200 prison escapees at large | SA murder rate decreases

In the news today, five mineworkers remain trapped nearly 890 metres underground following a mud rush incident at a Northern Cape mine. Meanwhile, parliament heard that out of 284 prisoners who escaped between 1 April and 31 December 2025, more than 200 remain at large. Furthermore, the latest crime statistics indicate that the murder rate in South Africa continued decreased in the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

The South African Weather Service has warned of severe storms, flooding and hail in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State and North West.Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date withThe Citizen– More News, Your Way. Grave concerns are mounting for five mineworkers who remain trapped nearly 890 metres underground following a mud rush incident at the Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape.

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe, visited the diamond mine on Friday as rescue operations continued several days after the workers became trapped on Tuesday. Addressing members of the media during his visit, Mantashe confirmed that an investigation into the incident is currently underway. “Any accident that takes more than four lives is described as a disaster.

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In this case, where five people have disappeared and have not been found, it is therefore considered a potential disaster.” The Select Committee on Security and Justice met with South African Police Service (Saps) management on Wednesday to scrutinise a growing crisis in custody management. Committee Chairperson Jane Seboletswe Mananiso noted that the meeting was called because of “several recent escapes from custody across the country, which continue to pose a serious challenge to the criminal justice system.”

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