Category: Crime & Corruption News

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has warned the public of an email scam targeting individuals and companies that have submitted bids for tenders.

“The department urges the public not to fall for this scam, which instructs bidders to call a specific cell phone number to arrange a meeting.”

The department explained that the tender process is transparent.

“Once a bid is closed, there will be no further correspondence with bidders unless clarification is needed, which will be provided in the form of a written letter on official letterhead.

“Additionally, any response will be delivered in writing, not through meetings in person at random venues. Successful bidders will receive a formal letter before any official meetings are arranged to discuss awarded work,” the department said on Thursday.

Anyone who has received such email correspondence is urged to contact the department’s risk office on e-mail: duduzle.malebo@gauteng.gov.za.

The KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Provincial Head, Major General Lesetja Senona, has welcomed the seizure of 20 cocaine bricks that were destined for the Free State.

This as Hawks members from the Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit seized the cocaine bricks worth R8 million at an industrial park near Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

The officers had received information about a truck that was carrying a chemical crop sprayer tractor from Durban Harbour heading to the Free State province.

“A disruptive operation was swiftly conducted, and members proceeded to the said industrial park.

“The said truck was traced and found stationary. A search was conducted and members found 20 bricks of cocaine hidden inside the chemical sprayer bin. A detailed statement was obtained from the driver and no arrest has been made at this stage. The investigation continues,” said the Hawks in a statement on Thursday.

Major General Senona has congratulated the officers for the good work done.

Operation Shanela has resulted in the arrest of over 1 200 people in the North West.

Police operations, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies and role players aimed at preventing and combatting crime, resulted in the arrest of 1 278 suspects for various offences over the 3 – 9 June period.

“The suspects were, among others, arrested for crimes such as rape, murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), house and business robberies, malicious damage to property, burglary at residential and business premises, possession of drugs, theft out of/from motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Of the 1 278 suspects, 379 were apprehended during raids and 52 suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing by immigration officials.

The arrests were effected during stop and searches, road blocks, patrols, vehicle check points, visiting and inspecting of licensed liquor premises and second-hand goods dealers and tracing of wanted suspects, among others.

During the operations, a variety of drugs, 17 cell phones, six firearms, 18 rounds of ammunition and other items were confiscated.

As part of enforcement of the Liquor Act, 1989, a total of 24 illegal liquor outlets / shebeens were shut down.

North West Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked all role players for their continued efforts to ensure safer communities.

Since inception in May 2023, Operation Shanela consists of regular stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points, high visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects with a focus of murder and rape suspects, compliance inspections at liquor outlets and second hand good dealers.

The corruption case against former South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Head, Richard Mdluli, has been set down for trial in October.

Mdluli will be in the dock in the Pretoria High Court with co-accused, former SAPS Head of Supply Chain Management, Heine Barnard and former SAPS Crime Intelligence Chief Financial Officer, Solomon Lazarus.

According to National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, the court ordered that the “trial will commence on the set date regardless of the pending outcome on an application by Mdluli compelling the SAPS to pay for his legal fees”.

“Mdluli, together with…Barnard and…Lazarus, are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft relating to the police’s secret slush fund from the time they were employed by the SAPS in the Crime Intelligence Services, between 2008 and 2012,” he said.

The three face a raft of charges, including:

• Payment of private trips to China and Singapore.
• Private use of a witness protection house in Boksburg and conversion of this property for his personal use.
• The leasing out of Mdluli’s private townhouse at Gordon Villas in Gordon’s Bay as a safe house to the State and using the monthly rental to pay his bond.
• Payment of Mdluli’s financing costs owing on his private BMW through an intricate scheme to the detriment of the SAPS.
• Coercing a SAPS supplier into giving Mdluli a special deal on the use and purchase price of a Honda Ballade.
• Paying transfer costs to an attorney on the purchase of a house in Cape Town.
• Having family members, without adequate qualifications or experience, appointed in crime intelligence as well as getting them on the payroll and paying their salaries, providing them with motor vehicles and cell phones.

The trial is expected to commence on 7 October this year.

A truck driver has been arrested on allegations of stealing coal at the Arnot Power Station in Mpumalanga.

This after a coal loaded truck was spotted by the Eskom Group Security Investigation’s tactical team entering a coal yard in Middelburg.

The coal was due to be delivered to the power station.

“The truck left the coal yard after about an hour and the members followed it as it then drove to Arnot Power Station. On arrival at Arnot Power Station, the truck joined the queue to offload coal.

“The Eskom Group Security Investigations team checked and discovered that the coal due to be offloaded was indeed discarded coal containing stones, which confirmed the suspected coal swapping witnessed earlier at the Middleburg coal yard,” Eskom said in a statement.

According to the power utility, the truck driver was questioned and admitted to selling the coal for some R6 000.

Eskom Acting General Manager for Security, Botse Sikhwitshi, praised the team for its work.

“We commend the Group Security Investigations and the Middelburg Hawks team for working tirelessly together in bringing coal thieves to book. There is tangible evidence to ensure successful prosecution of the suspect.

“The delivery of poor quality coal often leads to unit breakdowns and cannot be tolerated. We hope the perpetrator, once convicted, faces the harshest possible sentence, which shall serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

The public is urged to report any information they may have on illegal electricity sales, fraud, the theft of coal, fuel oil and diesel, and all other electricity related crimes to the Eskom Crime Line on 0800 11 27 22.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it remains relentless in its pursuit to dismantle the trade in counterfeit and illicit goods nationwide.

On Friday, the National Counterfeit Goods Unit led an operation in the Johannesburg CBD which resulted in the arrest of two Chinese nationals and the seizure of counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R5.8 million.

Police also arrested two Ethiopian nationals for contravening the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2002 during the operation.

Almost 7 000 counterfeit items imitating well-known brands were seized, which included sports apparel, clothing, shoes, perfumes, sunglasses, watches and bags.

The team comprised SAPS members from various specialised units, officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Gauteng Traffic’s Saturation Unit, Brand Protectors, Crime Prevention Wardens and private security.

In the past eight months, the National Counterfeit Unit, in collaboration with its various crime fighting partners, seized over R400 million worth of counterfeit and illicit goods during various takedown operations in different parts of the country. The unit was established in November last year.

Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni has commended South African Police Service (SAPS) members involved in dismantling an underground drug laboratory worth millions in Alberton on Friday.

The police also arrested eight suspects.

On 28 May 2024, Johannesburg K9 members received information regarding a suspected drug laboratory operating from certain premises in Alberton. Over the following days, police observed the premises and confirmed there was illegal activity happening within the premises.

The members approached the National Counter Narcotics for assistance and proceeded to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court to apply for a search warrant, which was granted.

On Friday, at about 10:00 in the morning, the team comprising of the Johannesburg K9 and National Counter Narcotics units, executed the search warrant at the premises.

The police found massive quantities of precursor chemicals for manufacturing drugs, drug manufacturing equipment and actual drugs.

The members then withdrew from the house and called in Forensic Crime Scene Management as well as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

The police placed eight suspects found at the premises under arrest. They are facing possible charges of dealing in drugs and contravening Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, Act 140 of 1992.

The Provincial Commissioner thanked the team for their due diligence, patience and execution of the search warrant.

“This discovery and subsequent arrest of these alleged drug dealers and traffickers will have a positive impact on the streets of Gauteng.

“These suspects’ criminal dealings have been disrupted and we have definitely hit them hard in the pockets,” said Mthombeni.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it is mulling its legal options after the Eastern Cape High Court in Bhisho struck the academic fraud case against Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane off the roll.

The case against Mabuyane is related to his entry into the university’s Master’s in Public Administration programme, allegedly without meeting the requirements.

The case was triggered following the unit’s investigation into the university’s affairs.

“The High Court order… struck out the SIU’s defence in the matter brought by Premier Oscar Mabuyane. The merits of the case have not been ventilated.

“There was a miscommunication that occurred when there was a change of attorneys on record and the court was not informed on time, which resulted in this order. The SIU will investigate the issue relating to the miscommunication in this regard,” the unit said.

The corruption busting unit said it noted the judgement and will be exploring its options.

“The SIU wishes to assure the public that we will explore all legal options, including amending the Proclamation.

“The investigation into the University of Fort Hare’s affairs is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcomes at the appropriate time,” the SIU concluded.

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, has issued a stern warning to travellers, who are in contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa.

Last night, during a routine intelligence-driven operation, 25 travellers were intercepted and deported by the BMA Immigration officials at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), who were trying to enter South Africa illegally.

Of those,13 Bangladeshis and three Pakistanis were found to be in possession of fake visitors’ visas. One Bangladeshi, a Nigerian, three Pakistanis and four Ghanaians failed to meet the relevant entry requirements on arrival.

These travellers were intercepted on flights from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria, and they were deported back in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations.

The ICAO provides global standards for air transport operations and highlights that a person who has entered a state illegally or denied entry shall be returned to their country of origin by the respective airlines that brought them to South Africa and shall bear the costs of that particular travel.

ORTIA has been a target, with various travellers attempting to enter the country illegally.

This past Sunday, five Bangladeshis and five Ethiopians were intercepted in collaboration with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

Masiapato commended the operations by BMA officials at ORTIA, saying that as the biggest and busiest airport in Africa, detection systems need to continue to be advanced.

“The outstanding efforts of our dedicated BMA immigration officers in successfully intercepting these travellers is commendable. With the BMA just one year in operation, this work exemplifies our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our borders and maintaining the integrity of our immigration laws.

“The diligence and professionalism displayed by our team have prevented potential security threats and upheld the rule of law.

“We will continue to enhance our capabilities and escalate cooperation with ACSA security as well as collaborate with international partners to address and combat such illicit activities effectively,” Masiapato said.

ACSA Regional General Manager Jabulani Khambule has thanked and congratulated the BMA on these latest interceptions of illegal travellers, praising officials for their hard work and dedication to protecting South Africa’s ports of entry.

“These latest successful interceptions of illegal travellers by the BMA demonstrates the importance of our multi-agency safety and security approach throughout our environment to enhance airport and aviation security in general.

“The aviation security model that is vertically and horizontally integrated with various law enforcement authorities is important to root out criminality across our airports,” said Khambule.

As the third law enforcement authority responsible for five key functional areas of immigration, port health, environmental and agricultural biosecurity, including access control and the general law enforcement at the ports of entry and border law enforcement areas, the BMA has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to criminal or unlawful behaviour at all ports of entry.

The BMA will continue to intensify its operations with the deployment of an additional 400 Junior Border Guards, who have resumed duty on the 1st of June 2024 at various ports.

Travellers are warned to avoid attempting to enter South Africa illegally, as they will be caught by BMA officials.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has condemned the brutal killing of two children in Soshanguve, Gauteng.

The two children, aged four and seven, died when the shack they were in was set alight by gunmen, who were allegedly after their father.

The suspects had allegedly already shot six other people at a shebeen in the same area, killing two.

“It is unconscionable that such horrific indent occurs during a period when our country is commemorating Child Protection Week.

“It highlights the urgent need for swift action from law enforcement to bring perpetrators to book. The full might of the law must be demonstrated to ensure justice for the victims and their families,” Lamola said.

Police have subsequently launched a manhunt for the alleged killers.

Lamola also condemned the killing of family members in Glenmore, KwaZulu-Natal, allegedly related to their support of Palestine.

“This senseless act of violence, which resulted in the death of a woman and the attempted murder of her husband and son, is a blatant attack on South Africa’s Constitutionally-guaranteed rights to freedom of association, expression and political choice.

“We call for a thorough investigation and prosecution to ensure that justice is served,” Lamola said.