Biker shot dead in Pretoria

A MAC's Motorcycle Club member was murdered and another wounded in a shooting outside a Pretoria pub late on Saturday, ten October twenty twenty-six.

Argument sparked the shooting

Police say an argument broke out between the two men. The suspected shooter, reportedly affiliated with the Crusaders Motorcycle Club, drew a firearm and shot both men.

Suspect arrested after fleeing

The suspect reportedly left the scene on a motorcycle after the shooting. He was subsequently arrested and is expected in the Hatfield Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Pub bans motorcycle club patches

Little Britain Pub, where the shooting happened, announced that motorcycle club patches will no longer be permitted on its premises, applying equally to all clubs.

“motorcycle club patches will no longer be permitted on our premises”

Two biker groups have clashed before

The MAC's Motorcycle Club and the Crusaders Motorcycle Club have clashed before. The shooting adds to concerns about ongoing friction between some local biking groups.

Police uncover massive drug labs

South African police have uncovered at least five mass illicit drug manufacturing facilities over two years, mainly involving methamphetamine. Suspects from Mexico have been arrested.

Limpopo super lab worth billions

The largest drug facility uncovered was a methamphetamine production facility at a Limpopo farm in July twenty twenty-four, suspected to be worth about two billion rand and linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

Mexican cartels expanding into Africa

In April twenty twenty-six, Mozambique confiscated drug-producing chemicals and arrested three suspects, two from Mexico with alleged Sinaloa cartel links. Police worry about producers moving into South Africa.

Comancheros sourced from Sinaloa

Police in Australia and New Zealand established that local chapters of the Comancheros biker gangs were sourcing drugs from the Sinaloa cartel. Comancheros operated via South Africa.

Bandidos may be setting up in Johannesburg

A website under the international Bandidos name included a post welcoming Bandidos MC Johannesburg Probationary chapter South Africa. Daily Maverick has seen material suggesting Bandidos now have a presence in Johannesburg.

“On behalf of the Bandidos MC Central Region Australia we'd like to welcome Bandidos MC Johannesburg Probationary chapter South Africa to the Red and Gold nation”

Bandidos originated in the US

Bandidos originated in the US decades ago. Ex-Comancheros members established the Australian branch. The gang has bases in countries including Australia.

Satudarah leader murdered in Cape Town

On five January twenty twenty, Timothy Lotter, head of the South African chapter of the Satudarah motorcycle club, was fatally shot while driving in Goodwood, Cape Town.

Lotter's associate also killed

In September twenty twenty, months after Lotter's death, a gunman on a motorbike murdered his associate Stephan Venter outside a restaurant about fifty kilometres from Cape Town's city centre.

Bandidos arrested in Australia

Police in Australia announced that more suspects were arrested as part of an investigation into a group allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The emerging Canberra group was known as the King City chapter.

Bandidos trafficked seventy kilograms of cocaine

Police alleged the Canberra Bandidos group was involved in trafficking more than seventy kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding ten million dollars.

US indicted Bandidos members

The US acted against Bandidos members allegedly involved in crimes ranging from murder and arson to witness intimidation.

“The Bandidos declare war on rivals, and they wage that war on our streets”

Sinaloa cartel fractured after El Mayo arrest

Barely a week after the Limpopo drug lab crackdown in July twenty twenty-four, Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as El Mayo, was arrested in the US.

Cartel factions locked in civil war

The Sinaloa cartel split between two factions, Los Mayos and Los Chapitos.Violence erupted throughout Sinaloa and other Mexican states as groups battled for territory.Los Mayos and Los Chapitos remain deadlocked in a costly civil war.

“Violence between the two factions erupted throughout Sinaloa and other Mexican states as the groups battled for territory and brokered alliances to win influence”

South Africa caught in cartel crossfire

If Sinaloa cartel members are in South Africa, even low down on the gang hierarchy, they could represent battling factions.