Category: Crime & Corruption News

The Presidency has moved to assure South Africans that law enforcement agencies are monitoring any threats to the public.

This after the Embassy of the United States of America issued a security alert to its citizens in South Africa that terrorists “may be planning to conduct an attack targeting large gatherings of people” in Sandton.

In a statement, the Presidency said it noted the alert.

“The South African government has noted the terror alert issued by the US Embassy on its website. This is part of the US government’s standard communication to its citizens.

“It is the responsibility of the South African security forces to ensure that all people within our country feel safe,” the statement said.

The Presidency said any threats are “acted upon”.

“Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor for any threats to our citizens, our nation and our sovereignty.

“Threats are assessed continuously and are acted upon to ensure the safety of all. Should the need arise, the South African government will be the first to inform the public about any imminent threat,” the statement said.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says more cases have been enrolled against some service providers of the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, which have allegedly been unlawfully overcharging the department.

This after the Special Tribunal ordered that service provider, Maczola Tours CC, pay back illegal gains from inflated school transport monies paid to it to transport children in a rural part of the province.

SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, explained that the corruption busting unit’s mandate to look into the affairs of the department was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation following allegations of “irregularities concerning the appointment and overpayment of service providers contracted in terms of the tender”.

“The SIU investigated to establish whether there were any irregularities and unlawfulness in the procurement process that led to the appointment of service providers in terms of the tender, lack of departmental oversight in respect of services rendered, the inflation of kilometers travelled by service providers when rendering the services and the resultant overpayment by the second applicant to service providers,” he said.

Kganyago said investigations into Maczola Tours found evidence that the service provider had overstated kilometres travelled for nearly seven years to the financial loss of the department.

“The SIU investigations revealed that Maczola Tours inflated the kilometers travelled when rendering the service…[and] claimed excess payment from the Department when they provided scholar transport between October 2010 and June 2017. The SIU’s evidence suggests that Maczola Tours benefited unlawfully from the Department by an excess amount of R180 793.20,” Kganyago said.

He added that there is still a way to go until the money is back in the department’s coffers.

“The Special Tribunal ordered the SIU to file an affidavit explaining how it determined the figure in question by Friday 28 October 2022. While Maczola Tours also needs to submit an affidavit responding to the costs in line with the SIU’s calculations by 4 November 2022.

“The Special Tribunal will make a final decision on the payable amount after the submission of the affidavits. There are other cases enrolled in the in the Special Tribunal awaiting adjudication and will result in recoveries for the department,” he said.

The South African Post Office (Sapo) has warned customers of fraudulent emails requesting outstanding customs fees for parcels to be paid for online.

“Members of the public receive an email stating that a parcel addressed to them is being retained because customs fees on it are outstanding.  The notice entices them to click on a link that leads them to a website where they can make a payment to release the fictitious parcel,” Sapo said on Monday.

If there are customs fees payable on a parcel posted from abroad, the client pays the fees when they collect the parcel.

“The Post Office gives customers the opportunity to check a parcel before they officially take it into possession, and therefore does not require the payment of any fees before the time of collection.

“The Post Office normally sends a SMS when a parcel is ready for collection and never requests an EFT or online payment before a parcel is collected. Any request for an electronic payment should be viewed as a scam,” Sapo said.

Emails sent from the Post Office are identifiable by “@postoffice.co.za”.  The scam emails are sent from different servers.

The email includes a parcel number starting with the letters ZA, which was not generated by the Post Office.  When tracked on the Post Office website, the parcel number does not give any result.

When members of the public receive the notice, they should delete it immediately.

The Post Office encourages members of the public with any information about postal crimes to contact its toll-free crime hotline on 0800 020 070.

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng Safety and Security MEC, Faith Mazibuko, are expected to visit the family four-year-old Bokgabo Poo from Wattville, Ekurhuleni, who was found murdered in Tamboville last week.

The child was reported missing on Monday last week and according to the provincial government, a “massive search” by both the police and the community was launched.

“On Tuesday… the leg of a child was discovered in a shallow grave in the yard of a house in Tamboville, followed by a mutilated body being discovered a few metres away from the house.

“A multi-disciplinary team comprising the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, forensic experts, Occult Related Crimes Unit and local detectives led to the arrest of a 30-year-old male suspect in Boksburg North on Friday,” the provincial government said.

The man is expected to appear at the Benoni Magistrate’s Court today on charges of kidnapping and murder.

Eastern Cape SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene, has welcomed the arrest of five suspects connected to the murder of nine people and the injury of another in three separate shooting incidents in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, on Thursday.

In a statement, Mene applauded the multi-disciplinary team for the swift tracing of the suspects.

Eastern Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Col Priscilla Naidu, said: “In the first incident, it is alleged that at about 11:45 [on Thursday], the bodies of four males were found inside a Mazda 323, while another body was found lying behind the vehicle in Mabi Street [in KwaNobuhle].

“The sixth injured male was taken to hospital. All the deceased and the injured victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

In the second incident, at about 12:10 [on Thursday], the bodies of three males were found in Zola Nqini Street. Naidu said two victims were found inside a silver VW Polo, while the third deceased was found lying outside the vehicle.  All had multiple gunshot wounds to their bodies. The vehicle was reported stolen in Humansdorp in May 2022.

“As soon as the murders were reported, Lt Gen Mene instructed the implementation of the 72 hour activation plan. Within this time frame, at about 08:00 on Friday, 14 October 2022, four males who were persons of interest were detained for questioning. The males, aged between 26 and 30 years old were found at a possible hideout in Summerstrand.

“It was further established that on the same day of the murders, another body of a male aged between 18 and 25 years old was found lying on the side of the road in Rooihoogte near KwaNobuhle,” Naidu said.

During the investigation, the team established that a white Toyota Quantum bakkie was suspected to have been involved in the murders.

“Police worked tirelessly around the clock to trace this vehicle. On 14 October 2022, at about 18:10, the vehicle was spotted driving from Langa location in Kariega towards town. The vehicle was stopped in Van Riebeeck Hoogte and a 34-year-old male was apprehended. The Quantum was confiscated.

“The three murder scenes are linked. All five suspects are charged with nine cases of murder and one of attempted murder. They will appear in the KwaNobuhle Magistrate Court on Monday, 17 October 2022,” Naidu said.

Mene commended the team for their outstanding and brilliant investigation.

“The effect of the 72-hour activation plan was felt, as the joint multidisciplinary SAPS team worked around the clock to ensure the speedy apprehension of the suspects. It is extremely disturbing that lives could be lost in such a cruel and violent manner.

“We will be collaborating closely with the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] to make sure that bail is denied, as well as to ensure a successful prosecution,” said Mene.

National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has called for greater cooperation with communities to end police killings.

This comes after two on-duty police officers were on Thursday evening shot dead in Boksburg North, Gauteng.

Masemola urged communities to contribute towards building a safer and secure country by working closely with the police in ending the senseless attacks and killings of police officers.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Athlenda Mathe, said the pair, a 29-year-old constable with three years’ service and a 45-year-old sergeant with 18 years’ service, who were both attached to the Boksburg North Police Station, were responding to a complaint of an unnatural death in the area when they were accosted by three males.

“At the time of the attack, the pair were waiting for a mortuary van when they were disarmed and fatally wounded.

“The suspects, who fled the scene on foot, took off with the deceased’s service pistols and bullet proof vests. All role players have been activated and a manhunt is underway to apprehend those who are behind the attack, as well as the recovery of the two State firearms and two bullet proof vests,” said Mathe.

Masemola said the killing of police officers in the line of duty and for their service pistols undermines the authority of the State and the proper functioning of the criminal justice system.

“While we review our police safety strategy and plan, we are calling for greater cooperation with our citizens to put an end to such incidents collectively. We believe that such incidents can be prevented.

“We will not rest until we find those behind the attack and killing of police officers. My deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the two members,” he said.

Police have urged anyone with information on the incident to call the Crime Stop Hotline number on 0860010111 or download the MySAPS App on any android or smart phone. Information will be treated with confidentiality.

National Hawks Head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has lauded the seizure of a firearms cache and arrest of 20 suspects linked to illegal mining during an operation at a mine shaft in Stilfontein in the North West.

Lebeya on Monday hailed the operation, warning that these measures were “only just the beginning”.

In a continuous fight against illegal mining, the North West Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by members of the Hawks’ Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin, and Harmony Gold mine embarked on an early morning raid at a mine shaft in Stilfontein on Monday.

Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said: “The operation follows weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects resulting in the arrest of 20 suspects and the seizure of 15 AK47s, six hunting rifles, two shotguns and one R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money.”

She said the operation was ongoing and did not rule out the possibility of more arrests and more seizures.

The suspects are expected to make their first appearance before the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday where they will be facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of prohibited firearms, possession of ammunition and contravention of the immigration act.

The trial of seven Chinese nationals arrested for alleged human trafficking and child labour was postponed in the South Gauteng High Court on Monday to Friday next week as the court tries to secure a Mandarin interpreter.

“It emerged in court today that the previous interpreter spoke Cantonese and the accused were battling to follow proceedings as they did not understand the language. Cantonese is one of the dialects of the Chinese language,” the Department of Employment and Labour said on Monday.

The seven Chinese accused are Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian.

According to the department, the suspects are facing an array of charges, including trafficking in persons, contravention of the Immigration Act, kidnapping and pointing a firearm.

They face debt bondage, benefitting from the services of a victim of trafficking, conduct that facilitates trafficking, illegally assisting persons to remain in South Africa and failure to comply with the duties of an employer.

“In another development accused number two, Chen Hui also tried to flee South Africa using the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia border post,” the department said, adding that he was arrested in September and is now in custody.

Hui, who is accused number seven, now joins Zhilian who is also in custody after she violated her bail conditions by trying to flee the country and was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on 24 February 2021.

The department said the rest of the accused are out on bail.

“In October 2021, the accused in a written statement read by their attorney Jannie Kruger made an admission of guilt for violation of several South Africa’s labour laws. However, the other charges still stand and they will continue to face trial on those.”

Kruger, according to the court, told the court the suspects did not understand English. In the interest of justice the State has a responsibility to get an interpreter who speaks Mandarin, he had said.

The accused were arrested in 2019 for allegedly running an illegal enterprise called Beautiful City Pty Ltd located at Village Deep in Johannesburg.

The operation was led by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) together with the South African Police Services (SAPS) Hawk Unit and the Department of Home Affairs.

“The Chinese factory was allegedly processing the inner cotton of blankets using recycled clothing.”

They have pleaded not guilty to the other charges and are expected back in court on 21 October 2022.

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has called on law enforcement agencies to work together to stop the brutality and violation of the rights and dignity of minor children.

The call follows reports of 150 girls between the ages of 10 – 14 having given birth in Free State hospitals in the past five months.

The commission said these statistics call upon society to be on high alert over the growing rape culture of underage children in South Africa.

“The CGE is concerned about the escalating number of girls who lose their future by dropping out of school while those who impregnated them continue with their normal lives. The impregnation of children in the age bracket 10-14 constitutes statutory rape, as they have not reached the legal age of consent.

“The commission calls on the South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and like-minded institutions to work together to stop the brutality and violation of the rights and dignity of minor children,” the commission said.

It also warned the families of affected children not to take these pregnancies lightly or be misled into protecting the perpetrators “even if they are close relatives, family bread winners or other known persons”.

Establishment of 80 sexual offences courts welcomed

The commission added that it is cautiously optimistic after learning that the establishment of 80 sexual offences courts across the country, as part of the fight against gender-based violence is at an advanced stage.

“The commission welcomes this confirmation by Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, and is confident that this will enable the criminal justice system to speedily prosecute rape cases,” it said.

Parliament’s Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements, has expressed disappointment at the torching of the house belonging to Port St Johns’ Local Municipality Mayor.

Committee Chairperson, China Dodovu, in a statement called on the police to heighten security around Mayor Nomvuzo Mlombile-Cingo and “intensify investigations leading to the arrest and prosecution of the cowardly perpetrators of this heinous act”.

He said it was concerning that the burning of the house, which happened last week, follows the threats allegedly directed at the mayor and some fellow councillors.

“What is even more concerning is the allegations that the basis of these threats and the burning of the mayor’s house were used as a ploy to influence recruitment of senior managers within the municipality. This is unacceptable and points to the criminal element that would want unfettered access to the resources of the municipality,” Dodovu said.

The Committee in a statement said, in various interactions with municipalities, the committee had highlighted the importance of a credible and capable administration to improve municipal governance.

“Furthermore, the blueprint for South Africa’s development, the National Development Plan, advocates for the state to be capacitated with the skills necessary to drive development. It is in this context that the efforts of nefarious elements to attempt to control recruitment should be stamped out.

“Furthermore, a country experiencing high levels of gender-based violence cannot idly accept such acts, as they undermine women’s leadership. The police and society at large must jointly stand against such acts, as they threaten the running of the municipality,” it said.

Dodovu called on the Eastern Cape Provincial Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs departments to work hand-in-hand with the South African Police Service to find, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this act.