Category: Crime & Corruption News

South Africa has made progress in addressing the 20 technical compliance difficulties in its anti-money laundering system.

This is according to the National Treasury following the release of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) technical compliance re-rating follow up report.

“On 27 October 2023, the FATF Plenary formally re-rated 18 of the 20 deficiencies, based on the progress made by the South African authorities in the two-year period following the 2021 mutual evaluation (MER). Of these, fifteen were upgraded to be no longer deficient, as 14 recommendations were now fully or largely compliant, and one recommendation was rated as not being applicable to South Africa.

“Following these re-ratings, South Africa is now deemed to be fully or largely compliant (or not deficient) in 35 of the 40 FATF Recommendations, including in five of the six core FATF Recommendations. This means that South Africa is left with five deficiencies in technical compliance (including three of the 18 which were upgraded from non-compliant to partially compliant), and two which remain as partially compliant since 2021,” the statement read.

National Treasury emphasised that the FATF follow up report does not “address the progress made by South Africa to improve the effectiveness deficiencies” that were identified in the mutually agreed upon Action Plan following South Africa’s grey listing by FATF earlier this year.

“Overcoming the effectiveness deficiencies is essential for South Africa to exit the FATF “grey list”.

This assessment is a distinct process from addressing technical compliance and is conducted under FATF’s International Co-operation Review Group Joint Group (ICRG JG) process.

“South Africa’s progress against its Action Plan is reviewed by the FATF Africa/Middle East Joint Group (FATF AME JG). The Joint Group meets every four months, where South Africa is expected to report on progress in addressing the 22 action items in the Action Plan,” National Treasury said.

The department thrashed out the steps that government has taken to implement the Action Plan.

These steps include the establishment of the Interdepartmental Committee on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing (IDC-AML/CFT) that is chaired by the Director-General of National Treasury.

The IDC-AML/CFT includes government departments and agencies including the:

• South African Police Services’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks)
• National Prosecuting Authority
• Special Investigating Unit
• State Security Agency
• Financial Intelligence Centre
• South African Reserve Bank
• Financial Sector Conduct Authority
• Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
• Companies and Intellectual Property Commission
• South African Revenue Service

“Cabinet has been closely monitoring progress by the IDC-AML/CFT and government departments and agencies, as noted in the Cabinet statement of 18 October 2023.

“Through the IDC-AML/CFT, South Africa has reported on its progress against the Action Plan at two AME Joint Group meetings in May and September 2023, and is currently preparing to engage on a third report to the Joint Group. Completing the implementation of the Action Plan is essential for South Africa to exit the FATF grey list,” Treasury said.

On the action items set out by the FATF following South Africa’s grey listing, Treasury said FATF’s October Plenary statement noted that South Africa has recorded “positive progress”.

“However, addressing the remaining actions within the agreed timelines will require a significant effort from all the relevant South African authorities. In doing so, the South African authorities will also need to demonstrate that the improvements are sustainable, before South Africa will be deemed by FATF to have adequately addressed all the action items,” Treasury concluded.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport says it is appalled at the attack and rape of three female security officers by criminals targeting departmental offices in the eThekwini region.

The incident happened as the country observes the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign.

According to reports, heavily armed criminals entered the Department of Transport offices in Merebank, south of Durban, on Monday at around 02:30am.

While three male security officers, who belong to the private security company contracted to the department were kept hostage, the three female officers, who were held at gunpoint in another room, were sexually assaulted and raped.

“The criminals also stole departmental work tools, which are used for road maintenance and other assets. The female staff have been taken in for medical examination and cases have been opened with the police,” the department said.

The department said an investigating team has also visited the department’s offices to initiate an investigation and are giving this case high priority.

After hearing the incident, Transport Community Safety and Liaison MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, immediately assigned the Head of Department, Siboniso Mbhele, to urgently visit the site and to engage with other staff members, who were still traumatised.

After meeting with the office management and staff, Mbhele said the department will look closely at the issue of improving security in the department’s offices and urged the police to move with speed in arresting the suspects.

Mbhele said the incident will affect staff morale and seriously impact on service delivery.

“The cruelty by these criminals against female security officers is unacceptable. Crime against women must be condemned by all of us, more so during such the critical campaign of no violence against women and children.

“We appeal to the police to activate a high-level investigating team and bring these heartless criminals to book. We are also addressing the security improvement in our premises to protect staff and our equipment,” Mbhele said.

Mbhele also appealed to the community to work with the police in reporting anyone who is selling departmental equipment.

He said the department has arranged for psycho-social services to assist the staff members at the centre to be able to continue with their daily duties.

The department within eThekwini has been the target of a criminal syndicate that attacks staff members at gunpoint, steal brush cutters and other equipment.

In another incident, a departmental grader was recovered in Camperdown.

As the country marks the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has highlighted the work of its men and women in blue who work tirelessly to put behind bars those involved in the abuse of women, children and vulnerable groups.

One such example is Warrant Officer Alistair Rezant who is attached to the Western Cape SAPS’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) unit.

With an overwhelming success rate, W/O Rezant has managed to secure a total of 1 105 years imprisonment sentence for rapists.

This year, the investigator secured a lengthy conviction for Riegard David Myburgh who was found guilty for numerous counts of rape and sexual assault charges. Myburgh is a paedophile who targeted young boys between 8 and 11 years of age between 2014 and 2019.

Because of Warrant Officer Rezant’s meticulous investigation, Myburgh’s name has been entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) which records the names of persons who have been convicted of charges of sexual offences committed against a child or a mentally disabled person.

The member was also instrumental in securing the conviction of Mark Labuschagne who was a handyman at a retirement village in the Western Cape.

Labuschagne was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for sexually assaulting an elderly women at the retirement village and for performing acts of self-masturbation in front of the elderly. His victims were aged between 70 and 96 years of age.

Labuschagne’s name was also recorded in both the Sexual Offences Register and the Abuse of Elderly Persons Register. In addition, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm and also unfit to work with children

The member has vowed to put more of such offenders behind bars.

“Cases related to GBV and sexual offences remains a priority for me. I always oppose bail applications for GBV perpetrators and ensure that all cases relating to rape and abuse are watertight so that they are not withdrawn at the court of law,” said W/O Rezant.

“These hefty sentences meted against sexual offenders should serve as a deterrent to would be offenders,” he said.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has condemned the scuffle between its officials and accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial which occurred in court on Monday.

The scuffle occurred during an adjournment.

“The National Commissioner…Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, has condemned in the strongest possible terms a scuffle inside court, where the co-accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial attacked a correctional official.

“Such utter disrespect will not be tolerated and the department is looking into the incident. Correctional officials rendering escort and guarding responsibilities do so on behalf of the State. Hence, any form of unbecoming behaviour warrants a security review so as to ensure safety of those in closer proximity to the inmates,” the DCS said.

The department pleaded with those who have challenges while being escorted by officials to refer those to the department.

“If those escorted to court have complaints and issues to raise, they must follow and adhere to established processes and channels within DCS and not resort to undermining security at the court which will not be tolerated in any way whatsoever.

“Failure by the accused persons to behave themselves calls for the Department of Correctional Services to act and it will do so without any form of hesitation,” said the department.

The Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) has warned the business community of a fake tender invitation for the supply and delivery of 27 paper shredders.

“DESTEA has learned with concern about an opportunistic scammer purporting to be an official representative issuing a fraudulent invitation to an open tender for the appointment of a service provider to supply and deliver 27 paper shredders.

“The alleged scammer sends out fake tender/bid documents with DESTEA’s official logo and normal standard procedure to service providers, pretending to be an official representative of the department.

“Service providers are warned not to fall into the trap of fraudulent tender invitations, which are not from DESTEA,” the department said in a statement on Monday.

The department has urged business community members to report any suspected criminal acts to the South African Police Service and verify any request for tender with the DESTEA supply chain office as soon as they receive any correspondence alleged to be from the department on the following emails:
customercare@destea.gov.za(link sends e-mail)
mooketsio@destea.gov.za(link sends e-mail)
masemeb@destea.gov.za(link sends e-mail).

The business community is further urged to contact the DESTEA customer care on WhatsApp, 0829475394, for authentication.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has commended Sandton’s team of detectives which managed to crack the murder case of Kirsten Kluyts.

Her alleged murderer was arrested on Sunday in Parkmore.

This follows a thorough investigation by detectives and the cooperation by 24/7 Security Management.

The suspect, a 21-year-old student at a Sandton tertiary institution, was arrested at about 16:00 at the students’ residence.

Kirsten was murdered on 29 October 2023 while she was jogging at George Lea Park in Parkmore.

The suspect will appear before court soon.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate (ID) says it is confident that the Eskom Kusile R2.2 billion tender matter related to former Eskom interim CEO Matšhela Koko will be re-enrolled as soon as outstanding aspects of the investigation are completed.

The case against Koko and some 18 other accused was struck off the roll in the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court because the court deemed there to be an undue delay in the completion of investigations.

It is alleged that at the height of state capture, Swiss company Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) was allegedly irregularly awarded a control and instrumentation contract at Eskom’s Kusile Power Station in 2015 after allegedly colluding with Eskom officials in exchange for kickbacks.

NPA ID spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka highlighted that the court’s decision “is not tantamount to an acquittal or withdrawal of the charges”.

“The ID will continue investigating the case in line with the original case strategy that it developed for this complex matter. The issues raised by the court have been noted.

“The delays were not anticipated at the time of the arrest of the accused; due to the complex nature of the case, the extent and the sheer volume, and the digital nature, of the evidence seized, in particular subsequent to the arrest and enrolment. Work on the compilation of the outstanding reports is ongoing.  The ID will re-apply for the matter to be re-enrolled within a reasonable period of time, and as soon as the outstanding aspects of the investigation have been completed,” she said.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, in collaboration with a special illegal mining unit in the South African Police Service, has obtained a provisional preservation of property order for the seizure of assets to the estimated value of more than R1.5 billion.

The frozen assets include a farm in Carolina, coal, cars and heavy duty machinery used at an alleged illegal mine in Mpumalanga.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said an estimated 270 000 tons of coal was allegedly mined illegally at on two portions of the farm over a two year period by a company named GNJ Mining.

“At a minimum estimated market value price of R980 per ton, the estimated 270 000 tons that were illegally mined amounted to about R264 million worth of coal, that was illegally mined at the farm during the 2 years.

“GNJ Mining never had lawful authorisation/permit from the DMRE [Department of Mineral Resources] and/or the DARDLEA [Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs] to mine coal at the farm. The illicit coal that was mined at the farm was taken to Droogvalley Barrel Plant (Droogvalley) in the Carolina area, where the coal was processed and “washed” to prepare it for sale to GNJ Mining’s coal-using clients,” she said.

Nyuswa explained that the seizure comes after a man was arrested following a raid on a farm.

“Following credible information, the SAPS held an operation at the farm on Tuesday 19 September 2023, where they saw the magnitude of the illegal coal mining operation at the farm and Droogvalley. On the day, the SAPS arrested the illegal Mine Manager Paul Boshoff (Boshoff) and seized most of the mentioned assets at the farm and Droogvalley.

“Boshoff was arrested on 19 September 2023 and appeared in court the following day,” she said.

The criminal case is expected to be heard on 16 February 2024 in the Carolina Magistrates’ Court.

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr Michael Masiapato, has issued a stern warning to criminals engaging in unlawful activities and attempting to cross borders with illicit and stolen goods.

This follows various arrests at various ports of entry.

On Wednesday a Mozambican national was arrested at Kosi Bay after being found in possession of stolen goods. A BMA led operation which followed intelligence information, recovered four stolen solar panels and 11 tower batteries.

On investigation, it was discovered that the batteries and panels were part of items stolen in the Empangeni area during a business burglary where a total of 84 tower batteries and solar panels belonging to Eskom were stolen.

The investigating team from Eskom was informed and the suspect was taken to Manguzi police station.

Another BMA operation led to the arrest of two males at the Qachas Nek vulnerable segment in the Eastern Cape land border.

On Tuesday, an intelligence driven operation was conducted with Avondale police, BMA members and Border police members on two homesteads along the borderline.

Two males were found in possession of unlicensed firearms where a rifle, a revolver and 48 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. The two men are being held at the Avondale police station.

“The Border Management Authority is committed to maintaining border law enforcement with strict control measures in place to detect and prevent illegal activities. The BMA border guards have been deployed to intercept criminal activities and we are committed to maintaining law and order at our ports on entry,” Dr Masiapato said.

The Border Management Authority is the third armed service in South Africa after the South African National Defence Force and the South African Police Service. It is mandated to perform border management functions within ports of entry and at law enforcement areas.

Gauteng police are offering a cash reward of R50 000 for information that could lead to the arrest and successful conviction of a man linked to 42 cases of rape.

The suspect is operating mostly in Orlando and Diepkloof, Soweto, where he accosts his victims, demands money and cellphones before committing sexual assault.

The armed suspect targets his victims on the streets, in their homes, shops and entertainment areas, where he coerces them to secluded places.

The victims consist of females ranging from 14 to 53 years of age.

Police have mobilised maximum resources to search for the suspect, including offering a R50 000 cash reward to anyone who can urgently assist with information that could lead to the apprehension and prosecution of the alleged serial rapist, believed to be in his late 30s.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Ramathavhana, on 079 890 7696 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Alternatively, use the My SAPS App to submit information.