Category: Crime & Corruption News

Two suspects were remanded in custody after appearing before the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Monday on five separate murder cases.

Initially, the accused – Obakeng Segwabe, 19, and Olebogeng Mafora, 21, were arrested for the murder of two people after human skeletal remains were found in plastic in the bushes near Mosweu village.

Subsequent to further investigations, they were also linked to three decomposed bodies that were discovered between December 2023 and January 2024. The deceased were part of a group boys that were at an initiation school.

Three additional charges of murder were added, said the police.

The accused are expected to reappear in court on Tuesday, 23 January 2024, for bail application.

Investigations, including the identification of the bodies through DNA are underway. The deceased’s names will only be confirmed after that process.

The team also arrested Koketso Mmutlane, 19, for defeating the ends of justice. The accused appeared in court on Monday.

According to information, he allegedly influenced Segwabe and Mafora to lie about the legality of the initiation school and its activities including the deaths. He is expected appear before the same court on Friday, 09 February 2024, after being released on warning.

Customs officers of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have seized 23kg of narcotics disguised as moulded artwork with an estimated street value of R37 million at the cargo sheds of the OR Tambo International Airport.

The customs officers were doing their inspection rounds last week when they came across a box headed for New Zealand.

The box contained items of moulded artwork, which looked suspicious. The officers used a narcotics test kit and some of the items tested positive for crystal meth, which weighed 10kg.

A test by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on other items tested positive for fentanyl, which weighed 13kg. The narcotics were handed over the SAPS for further investigation.

In a statement on Saturday, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised the vigilance of the customs officers who detected the narcotics.

“SARS Customs will spare no effort in stopping the export or import of narcotics and any illegal substance which cause so much pain and hardship for families, particularly their youth.

“Drug smugglers must know that our Customs Division is fully committed to this objective, and will act without fear or favour against those criminals involved in the drugs trade. They must know that they will face the full might of the law,” Kieswetter said.

Four more suspects have been arrested for the killing in Soshanguve that claimed the lives of four people, including a teenager on New Year’s Day.

They were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Pretoria and the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS).

“The suspects, three males and one female, were arrested on the night of 06 January 2024 in various areas around Pretoria, which brings the total number of arrested suspects to six. Three firearms, an AK 47 and two pistols were confiscated.

“The suspects will appear in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s court on Tuesday 9 January 2024 on charges of murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Monday.

The two previously arrested suspects, Sipho Kgomo and Tshepo Mosemeni, will appear in court again on 12 January 2024.

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) has cautioned members of the public and stakeholders of a fake TikTok account impersonating Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana.

The TikTok account “Pinky_Kekana3” has been fraudulently using the Deputy Minister’s name and photos while disseminating untrue promises of teaching clients to trade and quickly make amounts ranging from R56 000 to R67 000.

The department said this is false and “intended to swindle and scam innocent citizens”.

“For the record, Deputy Minister Kekana does not have a TikTok account and the Ministry and DPME do not offer any educational trading programmes about making money.

“Therefore, the public and stakeholders are urged to desist from following or communicating with the TikTok account “Pinky_Kekana3” to avoid falling victim to unscrupulous fraudsters,” the department said on Sunday.

The official social media accounts of the Deputy Minister are as follows:

• X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/Pinky_Kekana1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinkyKekana2
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinky_kekana1

The City of Ekurhuleni has warned the public to be aware of job scam messages that are being sent through social media purporting to be from the city.

The city said its job application process is not conducted through social media platforms or social media messaging.

“Our positions are strictly advertised on our website: www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/vacancies where permanent, temporal and fixed-term vacancies are advertised.

“The city strongly advises the public not to respond to unsolicited offers of employment or those who seek information claiming to work for or to be associated with the City of Ekurhuleni,” the city said in a statement.

The public is urged to note the following to avoid being scammed:

• All positions are advertised on the city’s website https://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/residents/careers.html
• The city would never ask you for money in exchange for a job interview.
• The city’s email addresses are formatted as name.surname@ekurhuleni.gov.za
• The city has official office telephone numbers which start with 011 999 xxxx.
• Any communication and adverts of jobs will carry the City of Ekurhuleni logo and not Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
• The city does not request any payment to apply for a position.
• The city only uses approved email and telephonic communications, including face-to-face interviews.

Police have arrested a 27-year-old woman for allegedly murdering her 11-month-old baby girl in the Eastern Cape.

“It is alleged that on Friday, 5 January 2024, a man went into the bushes at the Nonyevu locality in Port St Johns to urinate when he found the baby in a refuse bag. He alerted the members of the community, and the mother was traced,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Sunday.

According to police information, on 29 December 2023 the infant got sick and passed away at about 5am on 1 January 2024.

It is believed that the mother wrapped the child with a towel, put her in a plastic bag and threw her in the bushes at Nonyevu locality where she was living at the time.

“The mother was assaulted by the community and is hospitalised. She faces a charge for murder and will appear in the Port St Johns Magistrate Court. A post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” SAPS said.

The Limpopo South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched a manhunt for unknown suspects following the gruesome discovery of a dismembered body of an unknown man in a shallow grave in Apel.

Community members who were collecting firewood in the bushes near Strydkraal alerted police about the body of a man buried in a shallow grave on Wednesday.

Upon arrival, police were able to retrieve the dismembered body with multiple injuries and some of his body parts which were buried along with him.

“Preliminary investigations indicated that the victim was brought to the scene by suspects driving in an unidentified motor vehicle. An initial investigation conducted at the scene also indicated that the victim was dragged for some metres to where the shallow grave was dug up, as there were trails of bloodstains. The victim suspected to be in his 30s was found wearing only underwear,” SAPS said on Thursday.

Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe described the incident is one of the most disturbing and inhumane incidents in the province.

“I have confidence in our investigating team that they will follow all possible leads to track down the suspects and bring them to book.

“We also appeal to community members to come forward with any information that can assist in identifying the deceased or apprehending the suspects,” Hadebe said.

Community members with information can contact Sergeant Martin Betha on 0636699344 or Lieutenant Colonel John Kubayi on 0825657602 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or the nearest police station or use MySAPS app.

Police have launched a manhunt for two suspects who allegedly raped three women and fatally stabbed one of them on New Year’s Day in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape.

“It is alleged that on Monday evening, 01 January 2024, at about 7pm two unknown men accosted three women who were walking in between the grazing fields. The two were armed with knives and started threatening their victims and demanded cash and cellphones. The women, aged between 18 and 19, were robbed of their cellphones and then raped,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Thursday.

It is further alleged that when one of the victims tried to resist with some of her belongings, she was stabbed on her upper body.

“The two men tied up two of the victims before throwing them into a nearby stream. Moments later, the victims managed to free themselves and went to their relatives to report the incident. The third victim was later found dead at the scene. A case of murder was opened with three additional counts of rape for further investigation,” SAPS said.

Police are urging anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the nearest police station.

The information may also be shared via the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene expressed her deepest condolences to the family of the deceased teenager.

She further expressed her concern on the increase in reported rape cases during this festive period.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) says a decision taken by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) on 24 November 2023 to place inmate Oscar Pistorius on parole remains valid and is to be enforced.

Pistorius’s parole will be effective from 5 January 2024.

“… Pistorius shall be admitted into the system of Community Corrections and will be monitored until the expiry date of his sentence in 2029,” said the department in a statement.

The department said while Pistorius had an elevated public profile, it did not make him different from other inmates or warrant inconsistent treatment.

“Consequently, the details in terms of transportation plans and time of release, shall not be made public. Disclosing such details may result in a security threat for the inmate and other stakeholders involved. Therefore, DCS has to carefully manage that particular risk.”

General parole conditions will apply to Pistorius.

“He will be expected to be home at particular hours of the day. He may not consume alcohol and other prohibited substances. Participation in other programmes that would have been identified by the CSPB will also be compulsory for him. Just like other parolees, Pistorius is restricted from conducting media interviews.”

The department said South Africa has opted for a victim-centred criminal justice system and as a result, inmates and parolees are never paraded.

Therefore, it said, media opting to camp outside any correctional facility may not be prevented from carrying out their work, as per their line of duty, but it would not be possible for them to get shots or moving visuals of Pistorius.

“Newly placed parolees may be vulnerable and do require a support system to adjust to the normal way of living. The caregiver (or family) is responsible for such support, working together with DCS monitoring officials,” the department said.

Over 1 000 people were arrested in one week for various crimes in the Free State as part of Operation Shanela.

Operation Shanela consists of regular stop and searches, roadblocks and vehicle checkpoints; high visibility patrols, including foot patrols; the tracing of wanted suspects, with a focus on murder and rape suspects, and compliance inspections at liquor outlets and second-hand good dealers.

“The period starting 25 – 31 December 2023 saw police arrest 1 073 suspects for different crimes throughout the province. This includes detection and tracking operations.

“Operation Shanela is the SAPS [South African Police Service] crime-combating high density operation incepted in May 2023.

“During patrols [in the] last week of the festive season, seven unlicensed illegal liquor premises were closed.  Ninety-seven illegal firework traders were closed and their stock was confiscated.

“Through stop and searches, 33 knives were confiscated, while 32 people were arrested for possession of dangerous weapons.  Dangerous weapons such as knives and pangas were confiscated,” SAPS said on Tuesday.

Fifty-three motorists were arrested for driving while under the influence of liquor at roadblocks.

The fight against drugs also produced positive results, as 105 suspects were arrested for drug related crimes, which included the possession of drugs such as mandrax, cocaine, crystal meth and methcathinone (CAT).

Progress was also made in the fight against illegal mining.

“The Illicit Mining Task Team is hard on duty in the area of Lejweleputswa and 26 suspects were arrested for illicit mining after others were found in possession of gold dust and illegal mining equipment.  With that operation, 46 suspects were also brought to book after they were found to be contravening the Immigration Act.

“A multidisciplinary roadblock also ensured that 32 people [were] issued or received fines, as per traffic related services offences. This also saw police confiscate three unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and three people were arrested as a result thereof.  Robberies, murder and attempted murder saw 15 suspects being arrested,” SAPS said.

The public is urged to report any suspicious and criminal activities to Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app.