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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has called an urgent meeting with mayors, municipal managers and law enforcement agencies on Friday, 2 October 2026, following the deaths of 11 women in Ekurhuleni since July. The meeting will review the province’s response to gender based violence and femicide, identify gaps in existing measures and consider further interventions aimed at protecting residents, particularly women and children.

Illegal mining in Gauteng has triggered an intensified security response across the West Rand, with police and soldiers conducting repeated operations in Fochville, Westonaria, Mohlakeng and surrounding communities during 2026. The latest operation saw 121 suspected illegal miners arrested in Mphahla village near Fochville on Tuesday, 29 September, while five firearms, ammunition, gold bearing material and mining equipment were recovered.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced four immediate measures to strengthen South Africa’s response to gender based violence and femicide (GBVF), with new deadlines for police, municipalities and government departments. The measures, announced in an address to the nation on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, follow a series of killings of women in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, and include reviews of unresolved cases, action on forensic backlogs, municipal safety audits and stronger measures targeting alcohol related violence.

A 23 year old woman was shot dead during an alleged robbery in Tembisa on Monday morning, 28 September 2026, as Gauteng police continued investigating a series of women’s deaths in Ekurhuleni and a mass shooting that killed 17 people in Wedela over the weekend. The woman was reportedly on her way to work when she was attacked on Mapungubwe Street at approximately 5:45am. Police have opened a murder and robbery investigation and are searching for those responsible.

South Africa has recorded four additional laboratory confirmed Mpox cases, taking the national total from 18 to 22 as of 22 September 2026. Gauteng has recorded three cases, while 18 are in the Western Cape and one is in KwaZulu Natal.

Gauteng police arrested ten suspects and recovered nine firearms after a shootout in Cleveland, Johannesburg, on Monday, 21 September 2026. The confrontation occurred at approximately 19:36 after officers on patrol attempted to intercept a Hyundai H100 fitted with blue lights and a siren. One suspect was fatally shot, two others fled on foot, and police have opened several criminal cases as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Gauteng Tourism says three major events held across the province over the weekend of 19 and 20 September 2026 attracted an estimated 195,000 attendees, highlighting the role of music, sport and exhibitions in attracting visitors. In a statement issued on Monday, 21 September, the agency identified Scorpion Kings Live at FNB Stadium, Africa Aerospace and Defence 2026 and Mamelodi Sundowns’ match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli as the weekend’s major attractions. It is estimated that the Scorpion Kings concert alone generated R199 million in event revenue and additional local spending, while supporting more than 2,300 jobs.

The South African Police Service has warned Gauteng residents not to circulate unverified suspect photographs linked to the murders of nine women in Ekurhuleni, saying it has not released any official wanted posters or identikits. The warning, issued on Friday, 18 September 2026, comes as investigators examine the deaths and social media users circulate images alleging that certain individuals are involved. By Monday, 21 September, police had also arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Gracious Nkomo in Dawn Park, while a separate discovery of a woman’s body in Soweto remained under investigation.

South Africa has recorded 18 confirmed mpox cases and one probable case as of Thursday, 17 September 2026, prompting the Department of Health to urge residents to watch for symptoms and seek medical care. Fifteen cases have been reported in the Western Cape, three in Gauteng and one in KwaZulu Natal, with most infections concentrated in Cape Town. The department issued its warning on Friday, 18 September, after 13 of the 19 cases were recorded within five weeks, raising concern about recent local transmission.

Police in Ekurhuleni are investigating several fatal incidents following the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in Dawn Park on Thursday, 17 September 2026, the identification of another victim and the deaths of three people in separate incidents in Kempton Park and Kwa Thema. The South African Police Service has assigned a multidisciplinary team to investigate the deaths of nine women whose bodies were discovered across the municipality over the past two months. Authorities have intensified policing operations and appealed for information as residents raise concerns about safety.