Category: Crime & Corruption News

Five suspects were arrested for drug trafficking, contravention of the Civil Aviation Act and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act in a highly coordinated operation spearheaded by the Hawks yesterday morning at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA).

The arrest comes after a large drug consignment was recently confiscated in Australia and two suspects were arrested, said the police in a statement.

The arrests follow an intelligence-driven operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation following allegations that the suspects are employees of various companies at ORTIA where they are said to be facilitating the thoroughfare of drugs coming into and out of the airport.

Two suspects are employed by ACSA, two are from Menzies Aviation and one is from Swissport.

The suspects will be appearing in the Kempton Park Magistrates court on Friday.

This is the first operation of its kind in relation to transnational drug trafficking perpetrated through ORTIA, where a drug seizure made abroad was positively linked to suspects in South Africa for their complicity.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, applauded the joint investigation team for their concerted effort in ridding the airport of characters tarnishing the name of ORTIA and the country.

“The Hawks is totally committed to countering drug trafficking and would like to send a strong message to corrupt officials in such companies to not get involved in facilitating such illicit activities,” Major General Kadwa said.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) unit has, in collaboration with the USA Department of Homelands Security, arrested three child online sexual predators in Gauteng.

The trio was arrested in a simultaneous takedown operation in the past week, relating to a number of suspects who were identified as South African users who are involved in the possession, distribution, manufacturing, accessing and downloading of child pornography.

Members of the SECI at Head Office and in Gauteng conducted the preliminary investigations on the users, and various provinces were identified where the suspects reside.

After several months of investigation and planning by SECI, perpetrators were identified in Gauteng and a joint Operation was planned.

In Springs, Gauteng police arrested a 63-year-old male British citizen, who was found to be in the country illegally. The suspect faces offences related to bestiality. Other offences are related to child pornography such as possession and distribution of child pornography.

The second suspect, who is a 43-year-old South African male, was arrested in Benoni, Gauteng. The suspect also faces offences relating to child pornography.

The third suspect, a 43-year-old South African male, suspect was arrested in Krugersdorp, Gauteng. He too faces charges relating to child pornography.

As a result of these operations, three South African children, who were used during the commission of the above offences, were identified and a dog was saved.

The operations will continue throughout the country to unravel a network of child sexual predators.

The trio has already appeared before various courts including Springs, Benoni and Krugersdorp Magistrates Court in Gauteng on Monday. Their cases were postponed for further investigation and bail applications.

SECI is a unit within the Detectives divisions under the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Investigations (FCS) unit. The unit members are responsible for investigating, tracing and apprehending serial rapists and electronic crimes relating to online child sexual exploitation.

The arrest of a university student for allegedly stabbing his wife at a private student residence in Belhar, Cape Town, on Saturday, has been commended by Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande.
The 26-year-old woman was a student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), while her alleged attacker, aged 30, is a University of Western Cape (UWC) student.

According to UWC, the suspect and the CPUT student are married.

Nzimande welcomed the swift response of law enforcement agencies in arresting the perpetrator, who according to the video footage in circulation, was merciless and barbaric in committing the crime against his partner.

Nzimande noted that gender-based violence (GBV) is a global pandemic that affected one in three women in their lifetime.

“As many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner, 35% of women worldwide experienced physical and sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence,” Nzimande said.

As part of dealing with gender-based violence in institutions, the Minister launched the Transforming MENtalities initiative, which is a multistakeholder partnership within Post School Education and Training (PSET) with a particular focus on mobilising men to be part of championing a world free of gender biases, stereotypes, violence and discrimination.

Nzimande urged all institutions working with Higher Health, which oversees wellness at higher education institutions, to continue working collectively in implementing programmes towards addressing the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence within the PSET system.

Police have seized 18 firearms and ammunition following a shootout between two alleged security companies in Kagiso.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng said that 13 suspects were also arrested in Wednesday’s incident.

It is reported that, the police members from West Rand District attended to a shooting incident whereby upon arrival they found two groups of what is believed to be security companies affiliated to two different taxi associations shooting at each other.

“When the police approached, the occupants from the armoured vehicle started jumping out and fleeing on foot. Thirteen suspects were cornered and arrested while 13 riffles, four pistols including scores of ammunition and magazines were seized from the scene and one firearm was found hidden at a nearby filling station,” said the SAPS on Thursday.

Two people from one of the groups where injured during the shootout and were taken to hospital.

All seized firearms will be subjected to further investigations and ballistic testing to ascertain if they were not used in the commission of other serious and violent crimes.

The suspects are expected to appear before court soon on charges of attempted murder and the discharging of firearms in a municipal area. Police investigations continue.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the employment of 3 300 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for service in cooperation with the South African Police Service to prevent and combat crime and maintain and preserve law and order under Operation Prosper.

“Members of the SANDF will, in cooperation with the South African Police Service, conduct an intensified anti-criminality operation against illegal mining across all provinces, from 28 October 2023 until 28 April 2024,” the Presidency said in a statement on Thursday.

The expenditure expected to be incurred for this deployment amounts to R 492 143 296.

The President set out the employment in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Amos Masondo.

The Special Tribunal has handed down an order interdicting the pension payouts of two former Transnet executives linked to fruitless and wasteful expenditure of about R33.5 million at the state-owned entity.

The two are former executive managers responsible for group business continuity and disaster management Lerato Mary Theresa Makenete and former executive manager for safety, Landela Hawkins Madubane. Their pension funds amount to some R8.9 million.

The application for the order was brought to the court by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the state-owned freight rail and logistics company.

“Transnet initiated and called on the support of the SIU to investigate this matter and requested the support of the SIU to expand and complete the investigations. An investigation by the SIU into the affairs of Transnet has revealed that Makenete and Madubane allegedly colluded with three service providers to abuse Transnet’s emergency procurement process during COVID-19.

“During the emergency procurement…Transnet contracted Ramoyadi Air Conditioning, Ndzalo2 Trading and Eagles Ropes to deliver over a million disposable breathalyser straws. Makenete and Madubane allegedly colluded with suppliers to defraud Transnet by inflating the price of the straws from R0.29 per straw to R29.99 per straw, resulting in a total payment of R33 834 698.40,” the SIU and Transnet said in a joint statement.

The two institutions have initiated proceedings against Makenete and Madubane in an attempt recover the financial losses suffered by Transnet due to the overpayment and brought an application to review and set aside the contracts.

“Following the conclusion of the investigation, the SIU made disciplinary referral to Transnet against Makenete and Madubane. Transnet actioned the referral, however, they both failed to appear for disciplinary hearings, but the proceeding continued in their absence. The duo was found guilty and dismissed.

“[The] SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,” the statement read.

The Pretoria Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been granted an order to freeze properties and cash worth R29 million belonging to a syndicate that allegedly stole from Eskom.

NPA Regional Spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, explained that a former employee of Eskom, Mothelli Theletsane, allegedly stole a Master Vending Unit from the company, which dispenses electricity coupons for consumers.

“Theletsane, who has since passed on, was employed at Eskom on a contract basis and worked in the pre-paid environment, supporting Eskom’s pre-paid vending system. He operated as a supervisor in his role and therefore obtained intimate knowledge of the operations of machines, and he also acquired technical expertise on the ins and outs of the Credit Dispensing Units (CDU).

“[He] also acquired, unknowingly to Eskom, a Master Vending Unit (MVU), that can generate limitless prepaid electricity vouchers and a few CDUs which he concealed after his exit from Eskom. It was discovered that Theletsane was allegedly running a ghost vending operation, whereby he illegally generated electricity vouchers to the value of over R36 million and sold them to the public for his benefit,” Mahanjana said.

She said following Theletsane’s death, the illegal “business” was allegedly taken over by Theletsane’s wife, Thandi Theletsane and her three sons, Papi and Tebello Theletsane and Sibusiso Migal.

“The business became so lucrative that it was expanded throughout all the nine provinces. Through the syndicate, the Theletsane family and the company, Mothelli Theletsane Holdings and Investment (PTY) Ltd, managed to acquire 27 movable and 39 immovable properties worth over R23 million from the proceeds of crime,” Mahanjana said.

The family members are standing trial together with 10 other suspects, namely: Petrus Mohapi, Donald Rammusi, Victor Mdlalose, Joseph Mdlalose, Florence Mdlalose, Daniel Moleko, Xolani Dube, Lebohang Thabanyana, Raymond Mohapi and Sebabatso Mbele.

“This matter does not only highlight the effective cooperation and collaboration between various crime-fighting agencies within the NPA, as well as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), but shows determination and commitment by the NPA to ensure that money stolen from the state is returned,” Mahanjana said.

The criminal case is expected back in court on 15 November.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) apprehended 617 suspects during Operation Shanela, which was conducted in the North West from 2 – 6 November.

The suspects were arrested for rape, murder, assault GBH [grievous bodily harm], malicious damage to property, burglary in residential and business premises, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle, theft out of/from motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, among others.

Of the 617 arrested suspects, 181 were wanted for contact crimes like murder, attempted murder, rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault common, house robbery and business robbery.

Moreover, 65 undocumented persons were taken in for processing.

The arrests were effected through the execution of several actions, which included stop and searches, road blocks, vehicle check points, visiting and inspecting of licensed/unlicensed liquor premises, second-hand goods dealers, tracing of wanted suspects and many others.

The operation also resulted in the confiscation of mandrax tablets, four dangerous weapons, three handguns, one rifle, 29 rounds of ammunition, 20 cellphones, liquor and copper cables.

In Mahikeng on Thursday, a 25-year-old man was arrested for being in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle.

During this joint intelligence-led operation, police followed up on a tip-off about suspects in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle.

They immediately went to his home and a search was conducted. Subsequently, a white Nissan NP 200, which was reported hijacked in Mmabatho in October 2023 was seized, as well as an empty 9mm magazine, nine rounds of rifle ammunition and shotgun ammunition were recovered.

The 25-year-old suspect and others, who were arrested during Operation Shanela, are expected to appear in different courts around the province today, while others appeared in courts Monday.

The provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the police for the arrests, and thanked the members for working hard to keep suspects behind bars in the province.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has praised police officers for their determination and bravery after four suspects, who were believed to have been terrorising the community of Inanda, were fatally wounded in a shootout with police this week.

A team comprising various police disciplines, private security, the National Intervention Unit and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) conducted an operation after intelligence led them to a house near Dube Village Mall in Inanda.

As the police officers approached the house, they were met with gunfire. A member of the National Intervention Unit was shot in the leg and was transported to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

Following a heated gun battle, four suspects were fatally wounded. Police found four pistols in their possession. A manhunt continues for more suspects. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has been summoned for further investigations.

Mkhwanazi commended the police officers for remaining composed during the gun battle, which lasted for about half an hour.

“We will continue to hunt down these ruthless criminals, who are terrorising innocent civilians in Inanda. It is quite obvious that they are hell bent on taking down police officers and will not submit themselves to face the might of the law,” he said.

The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) released a statement on Tuesday noting and accepting the ruling delivered by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

This comes after the CMS approached the high court seeking general guidance on unregistered healthcare products currently conducting the business of medical schemes without due registration.

In 2020, both Discovery Health and a division of the private hospital group Netcare separately launched a convenient way to access private, day-to-day healthcare by selling prepaid doctor consultation vouchers to South Africans who cannot afford medical aid.

However, the medical scheme regulator tried to prevent Netcare and Discovery Health from selling prepaid vouchers aimed at South Africans without traditional medical scheme cover.

The high court rejected its bid to end healthcare vouchers in a judgment delivered on 13 October 2023 with the judge ruling that the matter must proceed before an internal appeal.

“Section 20 (1) of the Medical Schemes Act (MSA) makes it abundantly clear that no person shall carry on the business of medical schemes unless that person is registered as a medical scheme.

“CMS sought a declaratory order against the conduct of these entities that are currently providing vouchers intended to fund medical expenses in contravention of section 20 (1) of the MSA,” the regulator said.

They also cited Section 6 of the Financial Institutions Act 28 of 2001 which allows the registrar to approach the high court to discharge any duty or responsibility imposed on him in terms of any law, compel any institution to comply with any law or to cease contravening a law or to comply with a lawful directive, and to obtain a declaratory order relating to any law or business of an institution.

“However, in this regard, the North Gauteng High Court was of the view that the internal Appeals Committee of CMS should first deal with the matter, and the Appeals Board should it be necessary before the matter can be brought before it.

“The CMS holds the view that the issue of vouchers used to fund medical expenses goes beyond the current cited parties in the dispute and therefore it would have been properly addressed by a decision of the high court which sets a precedence than by a decision of the Appeals Committee which does not,” the regulator explained.

CMS has since elected to abide by the judgement and is looking forward to the hearing before the Appeals Committee.