Lurnay Tshabalala-Mavuso | Senior Reporter | 06 September 2025
A HUB OF CRIME AND SCANDALS - A Local township which used to be known for its unique culture and vibe has today turned into a hub-spot of crime and scandals that keep on dropping jaws. Tsakane, a local township in Brakpan, in Ekurhuleni, East Rand of Johannesburg. A Township where many creatives, academics, struggle icons and bright minds are born. Even with that record, Tsakane has not ceased in taking the cup with its numerous crimes and scandals lately.
Learners Commit Suicide
When 2025 begun, we had lost a learner from Tsakane Secondary School who committed suicide through high consumption of Xanax pills (a medication that treats anxiety). The young boy is said to have been apprehended by Amapanyaza (Crime Prevention Force) officers, carrying a bottle of pills in his possession during school hours and for him this meant trouble. Sources revealed that he took nearly half the bottle trying to avoid any trouble, little did he know that he was going to die. Months later, a young girl commits suicide following an alleged bullying by a teacher and some peers. A young girl's life cut short due to an action by a teacher and peers. Once again another family has lost a child and guess what..? It does not end there, just after the suicidal passing of this young girl, another young girl takes her life. Two female matric learners gone through suicide in such a short space of time, this definitely calls for concern.
High Is The Crime, Low Is The Prevention
Even with having the Crime Prevention Unit/Force, known as Amapanyaza. Crime in Tsakane continues to grow to a large scale. Just last year (2024) we had three cash heists at local ATMs, some even had to shutdown due to banks fearing that they will end up running bankrupt due to the high increase in cash heists and ATM bombings. Lately we have the attempted CIT (Cash-In Transit) heist, which happened on thursday, 04 September 2025. This incident is reported to have happened near the Shell petrol station on Geluksdal Road. Reports state that two CIT (Cash-In Transit) vehicles were under-attack until law enforcement prevented the crime from happening. Investigations are being conducted by authorities pertaining this matter.
Looking at last year's ATM bombing at Shell Petrol Station on Geluksdal Road. The incident had a huge blow-out where a car driver who was passing-by had suffered during the incident. The driver had his vehicle damaged as bullets hit his engine and front lights. This act of crime was seen as having support from the law enforcement as the driver shared his story with Tsakane Informer fearing for his life. We truly have a long way to go with regards to preventing and ending crime in not just Tsakane but South Africa as a whole.
Drugs are not just the only issue we are facing as a country, but we are facing other forms of crime too. Particularly Cash-In Transit heists that have been hitting the storms in the country of lately. Question is are we safe? What will happen next? When and How will it happen?
TSAKANE INFORMER