Category: Crime & Corruption News

Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo has warned Sedibeng taxi operators to stop threatening the lives of commuters.

This follows an incident of violence where a bus was allegedly shot at and set alight in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg.

According to preliminary reports, an Ipelegeng bus driver was allegedly attacked by occupants driving four taxis and two private vehicles in Zone 12, Sebokeng on Tuesday.

Mamabolo has condemned the incident and warned that lawlessness in the public transport sector will not be condoned under any circumstances.

The MEC has also called on the law enforcement agencies to speedily bring those involved to book.

“We are deeply worried that if the perpetrators of this incident are not brought to book, we might see a surge in torching of other public transport modes, something that has the potential to destabilize the province. We call on law enforcement officials to prioritise this matter,” Mamabolo said.

Addressing Sedibeng taxi operators during the launch of taxi ranks support committees on Wednesday, Mamabolo encouraged the taxi leadership in the area to isolate those involved in [criminal activities], and assist law enforcement officials with their investigations.

“Violence and destruction of property will never resolve challenges as they only serve to inconvenience other operators and put the lives of commuters in danger. The torching of the bus and intimidation of bus operators clearly shows a total disregard for the rule of law.

“This should never be tolerated and those involved have clearly crossed the line. We will ensure that rule of law prevails and triumphs over the rule of the barrel of the gun,” Mamabolo said.

The bus company has since ceased operations, affecting over 3 500 commuters in Orange Farm, Evaton, Sebokeng, Meyerton and Bophelong, areas in the Sedibeng District Municipality.

Following his address to the Sedibeng taxi operators, MEC visited Ipelegeng Transport Trust bus depot where he encouraged the company to resume operations on Thursday.

“We will not be intimidated by taxi warlords. Taxi associations and their leadership should renounce the violence and stop intimidating and putting the lives of commuters in danger. If allegations that taxi operators have a hand in this are proven to be true, we will not hesitate to put the associations involved under administration,” Mamabolo said.

The MEC also challenged the leadership to assist law enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of this, and ensure that perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.

He further emphasised that the taxi operators must appreciate competition in the transport sector and cannot, in any way, force commuters to use their services.

“Commuters have an unalienable right to choose any mode of transport and exercise their choice. We call upon the taxi industry to appreciate efforts of building a gun-free industry and refrain from using killing machines, as these end up harming the very same people that initially brought them into the taxi industry,” Mamabolo.

MEC Mamabolo added that the department has always opened its doors to all transport operators to raise issues without resorting to violence,” the MEC added.

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has condemned the brutal murder of a 19-year-old woman allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend.

Akhona Mncube from Sweetwaters in Umsunduzi Local Municipality, Pietermaritzburg, was allegedly assaulted.

She died on Monday evening, after sustaining internal injuries following the assault by her partner with whom she shared a child.

Khoza said the circumstances leading to Akhona’s death was cruel, and maintained that there is no justification for the assault and murder of women and children.

“Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has absolutely no place in our society. We have witnessed a number of cases where women die in the hands of those who are supposed to protect them,” said the MEC.

She called on the police too leave no stone unturned in their investigation and ensure that the suspect does not get bail.

“The investigation should lead to the conviction and a lengthy jail sentence. All those who continue to violate the rights of women and children have no place in our society and therefore must be kept in prison for longer periods,” Khoza said.

The circumstances around Mncube’s death is being investigated by the Plessislaer SAPS.

The MEC has conveyed her condolences to the Mncube family.

“No parent should have to bury their child. We will monitor the case closely. It is more painful that Akhona left her one-year-old child who will now grow without a mother and father,” she said.

Khoza has since dispatched a team of social workers to provide psycho-social support services to the family.

Meanwhile, the MEC has applauded Umzansi Youth in Business (UYB) for its role which led to the arrest of the suspect before he fled the area.

Khoza recently launched uMzansi Youth Development Centre in Sweetwaters. The centre is the brainchild of UYB, which aims to eradicating poverty, inequality and unemployment.

The area of Sweetwaters is faced by a spike of incidents of crime, substance and drug abuse, which are regarded as contributing factors to all social ills affecting the community.

The launch of the Youth Development Centre coincided with the anti-social ills campaign.

Work is also being done to encourage young men to lead from the front in all campaigns against violence directed at vulnerable groups, especially women, children and old people, during the month of July, which is Men’s Month.

The MEC said more young people should take a leaf from UYB in leading campaigns against GBV in their communities.

“We need more young people in our communities to play their part in all programmes to fight GBV. We all have a responsibility and right to equality and dignity. Equally, it’s our duty to stand up to fight GBV,” Khoza said.

She said the department is establishing a number of programmes to create awareness and address the prevalence of GBV in communities.

The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has welcomed the speedy arrest and court appearance of a suspect in the murder case of Gauteng Member of the Provincial Legislature, Mapiti Matsena.

Monoko Francis Thoka, 29, made a brief appearance at the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing a murder charge.

Matsena was the chairperson of the Provincial Safety and Security Committee. He was allegedly attacked and fatally stabbed at his home in Doornpoorton, Tshwane, on the night of 16 July 2020.

“The speedy arrest is testament to the good capabilities of the police and will hopefully bring justice to the Matsena family. The arrest should further strengthen the credibility in the police in resolving acts of crime expeditiously,” Joemat-Pettersson said.

She urged the police to ensure that investigations are completed quickly and qualitatively to ensure that prosecutions deter criminal acts.

She said the committee hopes that the police will work with the prosecution team to ensure an effective prosecution.

“All criminals must be removed from our streets to ensure that safety and security return to our streets. Furthermore, the community must work hand-in-hand with police in the fight against crime, as crime has social and economic impacts on everyone,” the chairperson said.

The committee has extended its heartfelt condolences to the Matsena family for his senseless and brutal murder.

The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla John Sitole, has applauded the Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Johan Ndlovu and his team for their speedy and positive response to the 72-hour Activation Plan.

The police have appealed to anyone, who may have any information on crime, to contact the SAPS via Crime Stop on 086 00 10111. Information may also be provided to the SAPS via MySAPSApp, an application which can be downloaded on any android or iPhone.

“All information will be treated with the strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous,” National Commissioner spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, said.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has warned the public about a number of fake social media accounts purported to be hers.

Didiza said she has been inundated with calls from concerned citizens, verifying whether she is the one they have been engaging with on these social media platforms.

The Minister confirmed that she is not on any social media platform, and distanced herself from the fraudsters who are impersonating her.

She also confirmed that there is no European Union Development Funding programme that she is involved in.

“I urge all of you to be vigilant against anyone who impersonates me. These fraudsters are working day and night to get your hard earned money,” Didiza warned.

The Minister has since reported the matter to both the South African Police Service and Facebook.

She further urged all affected people to continue verifying with her office upon receiving such requests and to open criminal cases with the South African Police Service.

National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has ordered a manhunt into the ghastly murder of Gauteng Legislature Safety and Security Portfolio Committee chairperson, Mapiti Matsena.

This comes after the provincial legislator was fatally stabbed in the chest in his Doornpoort, Pretoria, home on Wednesday evening.

In a statement, Sitole said he had tasked the Gauteng SAPS management to immediately mobilise the 72 Activation Plan to bring to book the perpetrators.

“It has been determined from preliminary investigations that a lone assailant entered the house and stabbed Matsena while he was in his bedroom,” police said in the statement.

“At this stage it does not appear that anything was taken by the suspect.”

General Sitole in the statement assured the Matsena family that the murder was being thoroughly investigated.

“I have tasked the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng to ensure that this case be investigated by the Provincial Investigation Unit and that critical resources, including Crime Intelligence and Forensic Services, be mobilised to identify and arrest those responsible for the murder of Matsena,” said General Sitole.

Police have appealed to anyone who may have any information on this case to contact the SAPS via Crime Stop on 086 00 10111. Information may also be provided via the MySAPSApp, an application which can be downloaded on any android or iPhone.

All information will be treated with strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous.

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has welcomed the Western Cape High Court Judgment against the City of Cape Town on illegal evictions.

The Western Cape High Court declared on Wednesday that the City’s actions and conduct in demolishing and evicting the community of Hangberg in Hout Bay, was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Sisulu said the State will do everything to enforce this court order and ensure that the City of Cape Town officials comply.

“As the court said, such evictions are in violation of Section 36 (1) of Alert Level 3 regulations made in terms of section 27 (2) of the Disaster Management Act of 2002,” Sisulu said.

The department also welcomed the court’s instructions that the City must rebuild the same size and dimensions of the structures they demolished, within 48 hours of the court granting the order.

“The South African legislation prohibits evictions of residents, and the State is obliged to ensure that such violations of residents’ human rights has consequences and is stopped immediately,” the Minister emphasised.

Section 26(3) of the Constitution states that “no one may be evicted from their home, or have their home demolished, without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances”.

The Constitution further prohibits any intimidation, cutting off of services, or any other measure that makes residents living conditions unbearable in order to evict them.

“The State will intervene to enforce the Constitution and the Disaster Management Act, which gives effect to alert level 3 regulations. The State has a duty to protect the rights of all residents,” Sisulu said.

The Competition Tribunal has confirmed three consent agreements relating to COVID-19 excessive pricing complaints.

The Commission concluded the consent agreements with the firms after receiving and investigating complaints from the public.

The level of cooperation by the firm in question with the competition authorities as well as how timely a firm settles a complaint against it are some of the factors considered by the Tribunal in consent agreements.

“In these three matters there was such cooperation as well as timely conclusion of the consent agreements by all three firms,” said the Tribunal in a statement on Thursday.

The first of the three cases involves Green Hygiene, a company that distributes and supplies washroom dispensers and associated consumables to the away-from-home market.

The company supplies shopping centres, airports and restaurants, among others.

The agreement was reached after the Competition Commission received a complaint on 30 March 2020 relating to the company’s inflation on the price of 700 ml Betasan auto spray sanitiser dispensers.

“Following an investigation, the Commission found that Green Hygiene’s  mark-up on Betasan auto spray hand sanitiser dispensers during March 2020 contravened section 8(1)(a) of the Competition Act (the Act) read with Regulation 4 of Consumer Protection Regulations (the Regulations),” said the Tribunal.

In terms of the consent agreement, Green Hygiene has agreed to contribute R8 079.00 to the Solidarity Fund.

The company has also undertaken to, among others, immediately cease excessive pricing conduct as described in the agreement; reduce its gross profit margin on facemasks to an agreed maximum percentage for the duration of the state of national disaster; and implement a competition law compliance programme.

Meanwhile, the Commission investigated Eldopark Pharmacy, a community pharmacy in Centurion, for alleged excessive pricing of three types of facemasks.

These are 3-ply loop surgical masks; 3 ply KN90 grade surgical masks and FFP1 masks, during the state of national disaster and found that its mark-ups on these products were unreasonably high.

The pharmacy admitted that its mark-ups for all three types of masks during March and April 2020 contravened section 8(1)(a) of the Act read with Regulation 4 of the Regulations.

In terms of the agreement, Eldopark Pharmacy has also agreed to, among others: donate R5 500 to the Solidarity Fund; immediately stop the pricing conduct as described in the agreement; immediately reduce its gross profit margin on facemasks to an agreed maximum percentage; and implement a competition law compliance programme.

On 2 April 2020, the Commission received a complaint against Mica Barberton, a hardware retail store in Mpumalanga, for the alleged inflated pricing of facemasks (FFP2 NR masks) in March 2020.

The Commission, after investigation, found that Mica Barberton’s price increases in March 2020 contravened section 8(1)(a) of the Act read with Regulation 4 of the Regulations.

“In terms of the consent agreement, Mica agrees to donate R10 000 to the Solidarity Fund. It also agrees to immediately desist from the pricing conduct as described in the agreement; immediately reduce its gross profit margin on face masks to an agreed maximum percentage for the duration of the state of national disaster; and implement a competition law compliance programme,” said the Tribunal.

The Department of Correctional Services has warned its suppliers and potential suppliers about scammers pretending to be representatives of the department and issuing fraudulent Request for Quotations (RFQs).

According to the department, the scammers issues RFQs for purchase orders for the supply and delivery of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the department.

The fraudulent RFQs and purchase orders are used to obtain delivery of PPEs by the fraudsters who then disappear with the goods after which companies approach the department for payment, only to find out that they were defrauded.

“All suppliers and potential suppliers are cautioned to be vigilant and take precautions and ensure that RFQs and purchase orders presented are valid before they deliver any goods,” said the department.

It said suppliers and potential suppliers may call the National Procurement Office on ‪012 305 8621 to confirm the validity of RFQs and purchase orders.

“DCS will not be responsible for compensation of any losses suffered due to such fraudulent activities,” the department said.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has welcomed the arrest of a 17-year-old minor for allegedly raping a Grade 7 learner in Bulwer, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said police indicated that the 12-year-old learner was reportedly raped after having left school to go home to fetch her face mask, which she had forgotten.

“We commend the swift action by Donnybrook SAPS [South African Police Service] in apprehending the 17-year-old suspect and the seriousness with which they are handling the case. The department will continue to ensure that the leaner, who is a minor, receives the necessary psycho-social support from the District Auxiliary Support Services and her identity is protected as she comes to terms with this painful ordeal.

“Rape is a crime, whose perpetrators deserve the stiffest punishment. The rape of this learner once again shines the light on the scourge of gender-based violence ripping our communities apart. We reiterate our profound sadness and anguish over this painful and shameful event. GBV is a profound human rights violation, with major social and developmental impacts for survivors of violence, as well as their families, communities and society more broadly,” said Motshekga.

On an individual level, said the department, GBV leads to psychological trauma, and can have psychological, behavioural and physical consequences for survivors.

“Many survivors of GBV, and rape in this particular incident, are unable to access the help they need. Families and loved ones of survivors can also experience indirect trauma, and many do not know how to provide effective support,” the department said.

The Competition Tribunal has slapped pharmacy group, Dis-Chem, with a R1.2 million fine for excessively overpricing surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after the company was found guilty following complaints registered by the public.

In its order and reasons, the Tribunal found that Dis-Chem contravened the Competition Act for charging excessive prices for three types of surgical face masks to the detriment of consumers during March 2020.

The Tribunal considered the background to the COVID-19 pandemic as the economic context in which Dis-Chem had increased its prices on three occasions. This included, among others, the fact that the virus was spreading globally and at an alarming rate.

According to the Tribunal, the Competition Commission (the Commission) has established that Dis-Chem exerted market power in its pricing of the face masks by increasing its prices to significant levels in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. One such increase took place on the very day that South Africa’s first COVID-19 case was announced.

“We find that in the context of a global health crisis, with excess demand of surgical masks considered to be essential in the fight against COVID-19, Dis-Chem has demonstrated that it enjoyed and exerted market power by materially increasing its prices, without a significant increase in costs, and significant increase in margins. But for the economic conditions brought about by the outbreak of COVID-19, it would not have been able to implement such material price increases in surgical masks,” said the Tribunal.

The Commission, said the Tribunal, has shown a prima facie case of excessive pricing in relation to the three types of face masks.

The Tribunal has found that Dis-chem failed to show that its price increases were reasonable.

“In our view, Dis-Chem’s massive price increases of surgical masks during the complaint period, which constitute an essential component of life saving first-line protection in a pandemic of seismic proportions, without any significant increases in costs, are utterly unreasonable and reprehensible.

“Accordingly, we find that Dis-Chem has failed to show that its price increases for SFM50 and SFM5 and Folio50 were reasonable in the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Detriment to consumers 

The Tribunal has concluded that the Commission has shown that Dis-Chem has engaged in excessive pricing to the detriment of consumers.

Material price increases of the magnitude of 47%-261%, without corresponding increases in costs, of any goods in a country such as South Africa, with a long history of economic exclusion and deep inequality, would seriously affect the public interest adversely.

“Material price increases of surgical masks, without corresponding costs justifications, in the context of COVID-19, for which there is no discernible cure and where health services are skewed towards the wealthy, would seriously impact vulnerable and poorer consumers even more. Poorer customers would have been excluded from accessing the masks by such exorbitant increases, other customers would have spent more on these items as a percentage of their disposable income,” reads the statement.