Category: Crime & Corruption News

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the heavy sentencing of a rhino poacher by the Skukuza Regional Court, to a total of 52 years in prison for rhino poaching and related offences.

Sipho Titus Khoza was sentenced on Friday and he will effectively serve 34 years as some of the sentences will run concurrently.

Khoza was arrested in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in September and again in December 2016 in the Stolznek Section.

In September 2016, rangers followed a spoor which led them to two people who were found in possession of a heavy calibre hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment.

They were identified as Sipho Titus Khoza and Simon Khoza. The two were charged and appeared in court to apply for bail which was granted. When they were supposed to go to trial, Simon Khoza absconded and is still at large.

In December 2016, rangers in Stolznek heard shots while on patrol and made a follow up. They then spotted three individuals whom they apprehended after giving chase.

It was later established that the three had killed two rhinos for their horns. The suspects were identified as Sipho Titus Khoza, Francisco Mlambo and Sam Lejane.

During their bail application, Mlambo and Lejane were granted bail and absconded, leaving Khoza to face the music.

The Acting Managing Executive of KNP, Dr Danny Govender, commended the court, for imposing such a lengthy jail term.

“This is a huge triumph for the work of our dedicated rangers, who work tirelessly to ensure criminals responsible for poaching our wildlife are brought to book.  They are the first ring in the chain of justice being served.

“It is satisfying when the court hears the compelling evidence presented by the prosecution and meters out sentences commensurate with the heinous nature of the crime committed.

“We are grateful to all who presented credible evidence before the court and are happy that our courts are sending such a strong message to would-be criminals. We are hopeful that all his accomplices will be also be arrested and face the full might of the law,” Govender said.

The court was informed that the third accused, Sam Lejane was recently arrested in Barberton on an unrelated matter and will soon be on trial.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed the seven-year prison sentence handed down to one of its employees by the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court – after being found guilty of corruption.

This stems from an incident in which the accused Malatse Kolokoto assisted a traveller to leave the country with goods without proper declaration.

Unbeknown to the officer, the CCTV Footage caught him accepting a bribe to assist the traveller to circumvent the declaration process, which is contrary to the provisions of Section 15 and Rule 15 of the Customs Act.

The traveller was apprehended by a customs official as he was about to leave on an international flight.

He was requested to declare all goods at his disposal whereupon he produced six Rolex wrist watches from his backpack without any declaration form.

He was arrested, which later led to the arrest of the accused.

SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, commended the honest and courageous customs officer for not only his vigilance but for also facilitating the arrest of Kolokoto.

“True to SARS values of honesty, integrity and acting without fear, favour or prejudice, the SARS Customs Officer resisted to collaborate with criminality or look the other way when one of his fellow officers acted contrary to these values.

“SARS is placed in a position of trust to ensure that the laws we administer are laws scrupulously and diligently implemented, and anyone who abuses this position of trust, deserves the heaviest sentence,” he said.

Cabinet has commended the recent arrests and freezing of assets of individuals allegedly linked to state capture.

“These developments are a testament that the work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State, is now bearing fruit,” Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said on Thursday.

Briefing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, Gungubele reiterated government’s commitment to dealing harshly with all acts of corruption, without fear, favour or prejudice.

“Corrupt people and those who steal the future of our children have no place in our society,” Gungubele said.

Cabinet urged citizens to report all acts of corruption to law-enforcement agencies or call the National Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 701 701. “Callers may choose to remain anonymous,” the Minister said.

Launch of 4IR micro-laboratory welcomed

Cabinet has also welcomed the official launch of a 4IR micro-laboratory at the Goldfields Technical and Vocational Education and Training College in Welkom, Free State.

Gungubele said the launch of the micro-laboratory on 10 November 2022, contributes towards skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship, as the country can “provide new, better and faster solutions to our challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment”.

A 21-year-old grade 11 learner has been arrested on charges of murder, following the death of a fellow learner.

According to police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the deceased learner was fatally stabbed during a fight in Vlakfontein, Johannesburg.

“Preliminary information suggests that a group of boys were fighting outside the school premises on Thursday, 17 November 2022, when a 20-year-old learner was stabbed with a sharp object on the upper body. The learner was taken to the nearest medical care centre, where he was certified dead.

“Police went searching for the suspects and arrested a fellow learner, who has since been charged with murder. The motive for the fight cannot be confirmed at this stage. An investigation is underway,” Masondo said.

The 21-year-old is expected to appear in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on a date yet to be announced.

Two Older Persons Grant recipients are facing charges of perjury, fraud, theft and contravention of the Social Assistance Act for allegedly fraudulently receiving grants when they did not qualify.

Sarathamoney Sigamoney (66) and Salamina Khoza (68) were arraigned at the Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for allegedly defrauding the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) of a combined R275 000.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (NPA ID) spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, the two did not qualify, as they had received at least R140 million in SA Police Service tenders.

“On 13 April 2017, Sigamoney applied to SASSA, stating that she has never worked for a period of 20 years. The application was approved, and she is alleged to have received money from SASSA.

“Although she is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty and Matthew Pillay (her son), KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the State as early as 2012, preceding her application to SASSA. Furthermore, the company is estimated to have cashed in over R80 million from the… contract,” Seboka said.

In the case brought against Khoza, it is alleged the elderly woman applied for the grant in September 2014, which was approved at least a week later on the basis that she was only eking out a living by selling perishable goods.

“At the time… she was already the sole director of three companies registered on the central supplier database (CSD) of the National Treasury. [The] three companies are recipients of various amounts of money that were paid to them by the SAPS because they had tendered with the police services. Between 01 September 2014 and 31 August 2022, she is accused of having received R152 125 from SASSA, while allegedly receiving over R60 million from her three companies.

“Khoza did not have any authority to transact on the accounts held by her companies. Mr Kishene Chetty was the sole signatory on the accounts. Khoza was fronting for Kishene Chetty, who was the beneficial owner of the three companies,” Seboka said.

Sigamoney was granted R5 000 bail and is expected back in court on 10 February, while Khoza’s case is expected back in court on March 23 for pre-trial.

Police have arrested a 43-year-old suspect believed to be linked to detained suspected kidnapping kingpin, Faizal Charloos, following an integrated intelligence-driven operation, led by the National Counter Crime Intelligence unit.

The unit, working together with Gauteng Provincial Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Organised Crime Investigation unit, Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit in Gauteng, Tracker Connect and private security received information that Charloos had a cell phone smuggled into his cell, and that he was using it to communicate with his alleged accomplices on the outside.

Charloos, who is behind bars, was arrested in March 2022, for his alleged involvement in a string of kidnapping cases and for terrorising businessmen in Gauteng.

Police national spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said at the time of Charloos’s arrest, millions of rands, believed to be ransom payments from the families of kidnap victims; stolen and hijacked vehicles – some of them fitted with blue lights, police bullet proof vests and automatic rifles were some of the items seized from his residence.

“Intelligence information pointed the police to a residence in Lenasia where Charloos’s alleged accomplice was arrested on Tuesday, 15 November 2022.

“He was found in possession of a cell phone, which preliminary investigations revealed that he was using to send money to Charloos via e-wallet and also made other payments as ordered by Charloos,” Netshiunda said.

He said the suspect was also found in possession of a white Toyota Hilux affixed with false registration plates and further investigations confirmed that the vehicle was hijacked in Lyttelton in July 2016.

“Police are following several leads and more arrests cannot be ruled out. The 43-year-old suspect will appear in court soon,” he said.

The combined efforts of Interpol South Africa and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have led to the arrest of an Israeli gang leader, who has been on Interpol’s Red Notice from 2015.

The 46-year-old Israeli gang leader – attached to a criminal organisation in Israel called the ‘Abergil Organisation’ – was arrested, together with seven others at a house in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

“The Israeli gang leader has been on Interpol’s Red Notice from 2015. He is a wanted suspect in Israel for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder,” said the SAPS in a statement.

According to Israeli authorities, the suspect is part of a notorious gang dealing in drug trafficking, extortion and other criminal activities.

In 2003 and 2004, the wanted suspect allegedly placed an explosive bomb underneath a vehicle of a man in Israel in two separate incidents. As a result of the first explosion, five people sustained serious injuries but all miraculously survived.

In the second incident, the suspect also attempted to do the same with the same victim, where he placed a bomb on top of a vehicle. In this incident, three people also sustained serious injuries.

In the early morning raid, the team pounced on an identified address in Bryanston and found the suspect and seven others. Police seized five assault rifles, seven pistols, an amount of $40 000  and three suspected stolen motorcycles.

The Department of Employment and Labour in the Free State is cautioning existing and potential suppliers against scammers issuing fraudulent purchase orders.

This comes after the department noted with concern the reports of scammers who are contacting suppliers posing as officials, requesting quotations on various items and later issuing fake purchase orders of the said items to unsuspecting suppliers.

“Regrettably, some suppliers have fallen victim to this scam and unknowingly delivered the items to scammers without payment.

“While the department continues to investigate this fraudulent activity, suppliers are urged to guard against indicators of fraud in order to avoid falling victim to such scams,” the department said.

The following may indicate fraud:

• Incorrect domain name used to send emails and purchase orders. A valid departmental email address always ends in @labour.gov.za
• Poorly written email with grammatical errors
• Contact numbers not associated with the Department of Employment and Labour
• Large product quantities are requested.
• Hovering over the email address may reveal the originator’s email address if different from that displayed.

To authenticate the validity of a request for quotation and purchase order suppliers are urged to email Nthabiseng.tjawane@labour.gov.za or call 051 505 6239.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has recovered at least R33 million from a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college that was meant for students on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

According to SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, the college – Northlink College – informed the unit about the money after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the corruption busting unit to investigate the affairs of NSFAS.

“[The] college informed the SIU that it received over R33 million from NSFAS that was not allocated to students between 2017 and 2021 and had invested it without authorisation.

“The TVET college stated to the SIU that it is fully aware that the funds should have been returned to the NSFAS, but Northlink College failed to do so and instead decided to invest the funds and would return the funds on request from NSFAS,” he said.

Kganyago said the SIU is calculating interest “earned from the investment from the commencement date”. When calculated, the interest is expected to be paid into the SIU Trust account.

NSFAS Investigation

Kganyago explained that the proclamation signed by President Ramaphosa allows the unit to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at NSFAS and to “recover any financial losses suffered by the State through corruption and negligence”.

“The SIU investigation focuses on maladministration at NSFAS regarding two functions of the organisation. The first part will look into the management of NSFAS’s finances. The second part will investigate the allocation of loans, bursaries, and any other funding payable to students in terms of the provisions of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Act.

“Furthermore, the SIU is also investigating related unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the NSFAS or the State, including the causes of maladministration. The SIU is also probing any unlawful or improper conduct by employees or officials of the NSFAS or the service providers in question, their employees or any other person or entity,” he said.

Kganyago explained that the proclamation covers a period of some six years from 2016 to August this year and will also look into allegations of “unlawful and improper conduct that took place” at the financial aid scheme.

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has warned members of the public of a scam doing the rounds in various parts of the country, where unscrupulous people are circulating fraudulent tenders under the bank’s name.

In a statement issued by SARB, the email address and the tender documents attached to the email — calling on prospective suppliers to bid for 300 units of MRTX flashlights — is fake.

“All SARB email addresses end with ‘resbank.co.za’. Suppliers are advised to scrutinise all bids that they receive, including the email addresses of the SARB buyers, as well as other details of the SARB.

“It should also be noted that all procurement at the SARB is centralised within its Procurement Division. If a potential supplier is unsure about a tender purporting to be from the SARB, they are encouraged to contact the SARB’s procurement support desk at supplier@resbank.co.za,” SARB said.