Category: Crime & Corruption News

Police in KwaZulu-Natal have launched a massive manhunt for at least four armed men who are suspected to be behind a mass shooting which left six people dead and one critically injured at Q Section in Umlazi on Friday night.

Information at this stage suggests that the four suspects stormed into a house just before midnight and shot two people who were inside the house. One person was shot inside a backroom, whilst the fourth person was shot next to the outside toilet. He was also found with burn wounds.

The same suspects reportedly proceeded to an informal settlement a few metres away from the first scene and shot three people inside a shack. Two were certified dead at the scene and the other one was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that one of the suspects, who was leading the other three, demanded his identity document from the victims before shooting them.

It is believed that he was implicated and is wanted by police for another murder, in which he allegedly dropped his identity document accidentally. Reports indicate that he believed that one of the deceased was in possession of his identity document.

Three of the suspects have been identified and a 72-hour mobilisation of maximum resources has been activated in search of the suspects.

Police are appealing to anyone who might have information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects to contact the nearest police or call Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or alert the police via the MySAPS App.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the disciplinary action taken against Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital officials based on findings and recommendations made by the SIU.

This comes after the Gauteng Department of Health earlier this week announced that it has suspended six of the nine officials that were sighted in the SIU’s report.

In a statement on Thursday, the SIU noted that while the Deputy Director for Supply Chain has since retired, a Chief Physiotherapist has resigned, and a sessional Medical Officer has since stopped working at the facility.

The disciplinary action comes after the SIU entered into a secondment agreement with the Gauteng Provincial Government to investigate allegations of corruption, fraud and maladministration in matters pertaining to supply chain management processes at Tembisa Hospital under the Gauteng Department of Health.

The SIU handed over a preliminary investigation report to the Premier of Gauteng in December 2022. Based on the findings of the report, the SIU has since motivated for a proclamation to further investigate supply chain management at the Tembisa Hospital.

“Once the proclamation is signed and gazetted, and the SIU investigation findings points to undue benefit, the SIU will pursue officials who resign in the face of an investigation or disciplinary action by freezing their pension benefits and institute civil litigation to recover financial losses suffered by state institutions.

“In addition to investigating corruption, maladministration and malpractice, the SIU also identifies systematic failures, and makes recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses,” the SIU said.

The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name, to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration.

In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

Cabinet has directed the Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, to ensure that any taxi operating in contradiction with the laws of the Republic is removed from the road.

This follows the ongoing impasse between the SA National Taxi Council (SANTACO) Western Cape and the City of Cape Town, which has escalated into a violent strike due to the impounding of taxi vehicles by the City of Cape Town.

While Cabinet noted that there have been no violent incidents in the last 48 hours, Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said Cabinet condemned the violence and anarchy in Cape Town.

Cabinet also called on SANTACO to ensure that its protest action is peaceful and does not interfere with the rights of others.

“Members of the South African Police Service and other law-enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure the violent situation is under control to allow residents safe movement to school, work and their normal daily activities.

“Cabinet was also briefed about the City of Cape Town’s imposing of taxi operating conditions which are at variance with both the National Road Traffic, 1996 (Act 93 of 1996) and the National Land Transport Act, 2009 (Act 5 of 2009), which regulate  traffic offences and the applicable penalties, including the impounding of vehicles,” Ntshavheni said on Thursday.

She was briefing media in Pretoria on the outcomes of a Cabinet meeting that was held on Tuesday.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says integrated police deployments are currently dealing with incidents of public violence which erupted this morning in the Nyanga area as the looming taxi strike is yet to come to an end.

Roads in and around Nyanga and the Cape Town International Airport have been affected and traffic is severely backed up on the N2.

Incidents of busses torched in Borcherds Quarry Road are under investigation, and as yet, no injuries have been reported to SAPS.

“Our members will remain on high alert and deployed in numbers to ensure the safety of the public and to maintain law and order,” police said in a statement.

“We encourage any person who has been affected by an act of criminality to report the matter to SAPS immediately, so that an investigation can be initiated.”

The public is urged to be vigilant and to apply safety measures to avoid being caught off-guard during the taxi strike.

The Western Cape taxi strike continues after talks failed to reach an agreement.

The meeting was between Santaco taxi industry leaders, the Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town.

Centre to the taxi industry’s unhappiness is the ongoing seizure of minibuses.

The Special Investigating Unit will probe allegations of maladministration in the Office of the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal related to the appointment of a consultant to support the province’s six priority programmes.

The unit was authorised to investigate the office by a proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The investigation will also look to see if there was any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the Office of the Premier in KZN, or losses suffered by the Provincial Office or the State.

“Furthermore, the SIU will seek to establish whether there was any irregular, improper or unlawful conduct by the contractors, employees, or officials of the Office of the Premier and the suppliers, service providers, or any other person or entity,” the unit said.

The SIU said the investigation will cover the period between April 2007 and 29 July 2023.

“In addition to investigating maladministration and malpractice, the SIU will also identify failures, and will also make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses.

“The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name, to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration. In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,” the SIU said.

Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, has assured the community of Riverlea that police are mobilising all their resources and specialised units to restore law and order in the area.

On Monday, Cele led a high level delegation of senior police officers to the area to assess the local police’s responses to illegal mining in the area and other crime challenges raised by the community.

Cele engaged with community leaders and locals in the area and assured them that police are constantly devising strategies and operational plans to combat illegal mining operations in various provinces.

Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, 1 199 illegal miners were arrested, including 100 South Africans, 1 24 Zimbabweans, 232 Basotho nationals from Lesotho and 79 Mozambicans.

A total of R1.8 million, 9 991 rounds of ammunition and various vehicles and machinery used in mining were seized, amongst other items.

Cele said specialised units will be deployed to the area.

“These specialised units are being brought in to ensure we apprehend these illegal miners and put a stop to these illegal operations.

“Our focus is to ensure law and order is restored in this area. We cannot have a situation where communities live in fear. We are going to deal decisively with these criminals,” said Cele.

Since May 2022, the South African Police Service (SAPS) ensured the establishment of the Economic Infrastructure Task Teams (EITT). Twenty teams have been set up in hotspot areas to combat illegal mining, prevent damage to critical and essential infrastructure, as well as extortion on construction sites.

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety says it will be writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to consider the deployment of soldiers in the province to “to end the scourge of illegal mining in the province once and for all”.

This after the discovery of five bodies – suspected to be illegal miners – were found shot in Riverlea over the weekend, following reports of a gun battle between illegal miners.

Furthermore, last month a gas leak led to the deaths of 17 people in the Boksburg area.

In a statement, the committee said illegal mining is causing “escalating lawlessness and mayhem” in the province.

“The Committee views illegal mining as a form of economic sabotage beyond just tax evasion, but also illicit financial flows with a devastating negative effect on the already struggling South African economy. It is also critical to establish the alleged involvement of Mining companies in illegal mining and their contribution to bringing an end to this.

“The Committee further calls upon the Department of Mineral Resources to assist in holding Mining companies that previously owned these mines legally obligated and accountable in taking full responsibility of rehabilitating them,” the statement read.

According to the committee, it will also be calling leaders in the province before it to explain what measures are being explored to curb the illegal scourge.

“The Committee has therefore resolved to call on the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, together with the Provincial Police Commissioner, to appear before it and give an account on what measures are being put in place to end illegal mining in the province.

“These measures must have clear action plans and timelines, as the people of Gauteng can no longer afford to live in fear due to the so called Zama Zamas who are in their majority illegal foreign nationals. The safety of citizens should be a priority and we cannot allow lawlessness to continue unabated,” the statement read.

South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has welcomed an order issued to Tiar Construction for its sole member to cooperate with the liquidators in the administration of the company’s estate.

The application was instituted by the co-liquidators of Tiar Construction as a last resort to secure the cooperation of the sole member, Mr L Marimuthu, of the insolvent entity.

“This was to compel Marimuthu to cooperate with the co-liquidators in the execution of, and to secure compliance with, legal obligations in the winding up of the estate.

“The issues before the court included the failure of Mr Marimuthu, to disclose the existence of all Tiar Construction’s assets, providing the co-liquidators with all documents and assets relating to the entity, and handing over all documents and assets of the entity,” SARS said on Monday.

During last week’s hearing, legal representatives for Mr Marimuthu applied for the postponement of the matter.

This application for the postponement was refused by the court because it was not satisfied that the application was in good faith and that the litigants could not be allowed to evade processes of court.

“The main application was, however, heard and an order handed down by the court ordering the sole member to deliver a statement of affairs of Tiar Construction as well as to hand over all documents and assets in his possession relating to Tiar Construction and/or confirm the whereabouts of those not in his possession,” the revenue service said.

SARS has acknowledged that in trying economic times the frequency of taxpayers’ facing insolvency rises.

In this regard, the liquidators play a pivotal role during the process of winding up the business of companies and in the recovery all assets, as well as protecting the rights of creditors in the estate – including SARS.

“SARS will resist any efforts by any taxpayer to wilfully engage in a strategy to evade compliance with their obligations in liquidation proceedings and frustrate court processes.

“This is done to the detriment of creditors in the insolvent estate. In many instances, the fiscus is the main victim. SARS will continue to act without hesitation against non-compliant taxpayers and calls on those who act obstructively to stymie the pursuit of liquidation and sequestration to desist,” Kieswetter said.

The Commissioner reiterated that SARS would not tolerate it when taxpayers act maliciously through the abuse of court processes and employ dilatory tactics to deprive SARS what is due and payable to the fiscus.

“I urge all insolvency practitioners to continue to execute their duties fearlessly and determinedly.  These efforts are fundamental to creditors’ abilities to recover debts due to them,” he said.

SARS said it will always work in the manner that supports the growth of the economy, creating jobs, while fighting poverty and inequality.

“Where, for whatever reason businesses do not perform optimally and they are not viable, every role player in the process is duty bound to act ethically and professionally, without fear, favour or prejudice,” SARS said.

Concerted efforts by the provincial multi-disciplinary anti-kidnapping task team to curb incidents of kidnapping in the Western Cape and bring the perpetrators to book yielded positive results with the rescue of a kidnapping victim and arrest of 11 suspects over the weekend.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate Court today.

On 26 July 2023, a business robbery was perpetrated at a supermarket in Kuilsrivier, where the suspects took cigarettes, smoking equipment, substantial amount of cash and kidnapped a 34-year-old businessman.

Upon reporting of the crime, the multi-disciplinary team sprang into action and an investigation commenced.

All available leads were followed up which led to the arrest of ten suspects.

Further investigation into the matter led the multi-disciplinary team to an address in Tamrisk Street, Delft, where they found the hostage, rescued him and a suspect was subsequently arrested.

The efforts of the team comprising the Hawks investigators, Special Task Force members, Provincial Organised Crime detectives, hostage negotiators, Crime Intelligence and the City of Cape Town commended the management of SAPS in the Western Cape as the team’s efforts are gaining momentum in dealing with kidnappings.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has welcomed the conviction of a Gauteng couple, Gerald and Elisha van der Westhuizen, for their role in the smuggling of reptiles from South Africa.

“The conviction and sentencing demonstrate the important work being undertaken in implementing the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking with a focus on disrupting transnational organised crime, and targeting the value chain and financial crimes linked to the illegal wildlife trade,” the Minister said on Thursday.

The Gauteng couple was linked to two German nationals, who were earlier convicted of smuggling lizards and other reptiles from South Africa, through an analysis by the Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre.

An analysis of WhatsApp messages found that Gerald van der Westhuizen had on three occasions illegally sent Sungazer lizards to Germany and Mexico.

The couple was sentenced in the Kempton Park Regional Court on Monday. Gerald was sentenced to a fine of R1 million, half of which was suspended for five years, on condition that he is not convicted of a similar offence; while Elisha was sentenced to five years direct imprisonment.

The sentence has been wholly suspended for five years on condition that she is not convicted of Contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).