Category: Crime & Corruption News

State power utility Eskom says it is concerned with violent attacks on its technicians carrying out critical inspections and repairs in public spaces.

At least three separate incidents of violence and robbery against Eskom technicians have been reported over the past week, with one resulting in a stabbing.

“Two technicians were attacked by three armed perpetrators while they were inspecting meter boxes in Mabopane Block E. The perpetrators demanded their wallets and cell phones, and took off in a vehicle without a registration number. In a separate incident in Mabopane, a technician was also robbed of a cell phone and money at a substation.

“On [Wednesday], another technician was stabbed while he and his colleagues were installing meters in Nomzamo, Soweto. The technician, who was stabbed in the face and chest, was treated at a medical facility and is recovering at home,” Eskom said.

Eskom Gauteng Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and Quality Manager, Kith Maitisa, said the attacks on the power supplier’s technicians cause both physical and mental damage.

“We condemn such acts of violence against our employees in Gauteng, where they are often assaulted, intimidated and placed in extreme situations such as being held hostage by some community members.

“This display of aggression and violence by communities often leads to employees suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. It also results in delays in repair work and project completion, further extending the period that residents spend without electricity.

“We have reported all these incidents to the [police] and we will co-operate with the police to assist with the investigations,” Maitisa said.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says the arrest of four people linked to alleged tender fraud in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is a continuation of the corruption busting unit’s efforts to recover money stolen from the public purse.

This after four people – Jan Mathebula, Solomon Mojela, Romeo Malope and Prudence Mohale – were arrested and appeared in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court for allegedly colluding to defraud the department of at least R2.8 million through corrupt tenders.

SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said the arrests follow an investigation which found that employees in the department’s supply chain management office “colluded with businesses, friends and family members to defraud the department through cover quoting”.

“The SIU’s investigation revealed a trend of certain contractors being awarded more contracts than others. This disparate award of contracts was underpinned by a practice that indicated that entities linked to certain individuals or entities appeared to quote in collusion with each other.

“The invitation of suppliers onto the database of suppliers appears to have created an environment where the database is populated with various entities all linked to a single individual, who is the ultimate beneficiary of the contract award,” Kganyago said.

He added at least six other people are expected to be arrested – including the mastermind behind the scheme.

“The analysis of the data from the department revealed that 11 entities linked to one individual submitted quotations to the department, thus misrepresenting to the department that they were obtaining independent quotations. These actions led the department to believe that the markets were dictating the prices being charged, when in fact the prices were being determined by the collusive actions of the 11 entities.

“The effect of this practice was to ensure that the competitiveness and fairness element relating to public procurement was circumvented, allowing the suppliers, rather than a competitive and cost effective process, to dictate the charged prices,” Kganyago said.

Mathebula, Mojela, Malope and Mohale have each been granted R2 000 bail, with the case postponed to 17 June for further investigation.

Police Minister, Bheki Cele, says the fight against crime requires a healthy relationship between the police and the communities they serve.

The Minister dedicated his Budget Vote speech on Tuesday to rebuilding and strengthening community relations in the fight against crime when he appeared before a mini-plenary of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

“We are advocating for progressive change. Communities must be able to say these are our police and the police must equally embrace communities and continue to serve and protect,” he said.

Cele said Community Policing Forums (CPFs), business and the police must establish and maintain a partnership with the community, and promote communication between the police and the community.

“[They] furthermore [must] promote cooperation and ensure that the police fulfil the needs of the community in respect of policing, improve the service of the police to the community, improve transparency and accountability of the SAPS, and promote joint problem identification and problem solving.

“The philosophy of community policing is not new. In fact, it has been proven that the more involved law enforcement is with the residents they are sworn to protect, the more residents can help police achieve their goals of reducing crime.”

To date, there are currently 772 functional CPFs countrywide.

Cele said the death of over 300 people during the week-long lawlessness in July last year will remain one of the darkest times in the country’s democratic history.

He said the unrest called for clear reforms of security services and at the same time, exposed the divide between the police and the communities they serve.

“The police needed the community and the community needed the police. But it was clear community policing was at its weakest and there was little to no trust between the police and the communities.

“The July 2021 unrests that engulfed South Africa posed a serious security threat to the country’s economy and highlighted some security gaps in intelligence-driven collaboration between the private security industry and other government law enforcement agencies.”

The Minister said in responding decisively to the July unrests, a total of 19 instigators of violence were arrested including those who meted out untold brutality to another race group, under the disguise of defending their community and property during the unrest.

“To date, 36 suspects have been arrested for their alleged respective roles in the murder of 35 people and 31 people have been arrested for attempted murder in Phoenix.

“Meanwhile, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority [PSiRA] has conducted an analysis to determine what went wrong and what needs to be improved in terms of the private security industry’s involvement as a force-multiplier in the fight against crime and the protection of the country’s economy.

“PSiRA believes that a concerted effort in building relations between the industry and other law enforcement agencies in terms of information gathering and sharing will go a long way in preventing similar incidents in the future.”

Cele said in line with the many improvements to follow, the collaboration of PSiRA, SAPS and the State Security Agency will see the authority launching a mandatory counter-terrorism awareness campaign in the form of 40 hours of training for the private security industry in the next two quarters of this financial year.

“PSiRA and SAPS will collaborate to ensure a practical working relationship between the private security industry and State Security agencies, in line with the established and existing partnership frameworks.”

Five suspects will on Wednesday appear before the Orkney Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

The sixth suspect is under police guard at a hospital where he was arrested.

Aged between 37 and 45, the six were arrested simultaneously in Johannesburg, Vryburg, Orkney and Klerksdorp on Tuesday for alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering worth approximately R2.5 million.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the probe emanated from the VBS investigation wherein investigators noticed suspicious transactions on the account of Dr Kenneth Kaunda Municipality.

“Further probing allegedly revealed that between 2017 and 2019, money was allegedly continuously deposited from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Municipal accounts into the accounts of three municipality officials,” she said.

Mogale said one of the three officials, who had since left the municipality, would allegedly routinely make payments into the bank accounts of his wife and brother.

“He reportedly also routed more funds into an account belonging a woman in Johannesburg allegedly under the guise of a tender that was awarded. The woman would subsequently send the money back to him,” she said.

National Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya expressed gratitude on a job well done to both the investigation and prosecution in ensuring that these suspects are brought before court.

“No efforts will be spared in ridding the country of corruption and related activities,” General Lebeya said.

Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Chairperson, Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba, has called on law enforcement agencies to act with speed on available evidence to ensure the arrest and successful prosecution of Namhla Mtwa’s killer.

Ncube-Ndaba noted that the availability of evidence, which is trending on social media platforms, could lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the perpetrator who killed Mtwa.

Mtwa, who worked at OR Tambo District Municipality’s Budget and Treasury Office, was recently gunned down on her driveway in Mthatha.

According to the media reports, a hitman allegedly shot her several times, as she arrived home from work.

Ncube-Ndaba called on law enforcement agencies to act with speed on the available evidence to ensure that the perpetrator of this heinous and gruesome killing of Mtwa faces the might of the law.

Ncube-Ndaba also appealed to the people of OR Tambo and whoever has any information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator to come forward.

“We thank those South Africans who have provided the evidence which is on social platforms and which has enough potential to lead to the arrest and prosecution. We are also calling on the people of OR Tambo District and Mthatha to continue with their moral support to the family as the family is still mourning the death of their daughter,” Ncube-Ndaba said.

Government has welcomed the lengthy prison sentences handed to two former City of Ekurhuleni employees, who were involved in a corrupt IT tender.

Nilesh Singh and Andrew Mphusomadi, along with businessman Veloro Davids, were on Thursday sentenced by the Pretoria Commercial Crime Court.

Davids and Singh were each handed 10 years for fraud and 15 years for corruption, respectively. Mphushomadi, former IT senior manager at Ekurhuleni, will serve a 10-year prison sentence, of which four were suspended, for money laundering.

Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said the ruling served as a deterrent to any persons involved in any form of corruption.

“The sentencing is a testament to President Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, which emphasised that government, guided by the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), will take decisive steps to expose and punish corrupt activities, and reform institutions to make them stronger and more transparent.

“Fighting corruption and promoting good governance is a fundamental priority of this administration.”

Gungubele said public servants must be resolute in stamping out corruption, and in creating a culture of service delivery and excellence.

“There is a lot of work being done by government and its partners to fight this scourge, and we are confident that we will see more convictions in corruption related cases. We applaud the Special Investigative Unit and the judicial system for their sterling work,” said the Minister.

Gungubele said government will not be detered in its effort to break the cycle of corruption and build a better tomorrow, as it is one of the greatest impediments to the country’s growth and development.

“Corruption has taken a great toll on our society and on our economy. Therefore, the success of the fight against corruption depends on the involvement of all citizens.

“As a society, we must not allow corruption to take place. It is up to each one of us to act with integrity at all times, and to be responsible and honest. We are making progress in addressing corruption in the country. By working together, we can ensure that those who are corrupt have no place to hide,” Gungubele said.

The public can report fraud and corruption activities to the SIU on the hotline: 0800 037 774 or email siu@hotline.co.za.

The Hawks have welcomed the additional apprehension of a 49-year-old man charged with fraud and contravening of the Tax Administration Act, by the Johannesburg based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team on Tuesday.

In a statement, Hawks in Gauteng spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said Meshack Mpapadima Makofane handed himself in at the Hawks’ office accompanied by his legal representative and was initially charged.

“It is reported that between November 2017 and January 2018, Makofane and his co-accused, Elias Oman Magheje (51), through their Cape Town based construction company, Machembe Construction and Projects CC, submitted fraudulent value added tax claim invoices to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) via e-filing,” she said.

Following SARS’ internal analysis before approximately R9.9 million was transferred to the company’s bank account, authorities noticed that the submitted documents were fraudulent, said Mulamu.

The matter was reported to the Hawks for investigation, which resulted in a warrant of arrest issued against the alleged perpetrators.

Magheje was arrested in February this year and later released on a R30 000 bail by the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

Mokofane appeared in the same court yesterday where he was granted a R15 000-00 bail.

Both accused are expected back in court on 29 June 2022 for docket disclosure.

Cabinet has welcomed the swift response by law enforcement officers in arresting suspects in connection with the murder of Hillary Gardee of Kwamagugu in Mpumalanga recently.

Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said Cabinet in its meeting this week continued to condemn the senseless killing of women.

The 28-year-old’s lifeless body was found abandoned outside Nelspruit after she went missing on 29 April.

During a post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Thusday, Gungubele said Cabinet further condemned the killing of six people in Khayelitsha in Cape Town at the weekend.

“These senseless murders are a reminder that we must do more as a society to end violence and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Cabinet, he said, also urged all people in the country to work with the government in the fight against GBVF.

“Together we can ensure that our communities and spreads are safer for all,” he said.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the killing of Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, allegedly by the Israeli Defence Force on Wednesday.

Akleh was shot in the head while on assignment in Jenin, covering Israeli raids on Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Another Al Jazeera journalist, Ali Samoudi, was also wounded after being shot in the back.

The Director-General of DIRCO, Zane Dangor, said the targeting of journalists in the occupied territories, and in conflict zones like Ukraine and Afghanistan, appears to be part of a pattern of silencing the free press, and is an outright contravention of international law.

“In a situation of occupation, protest action is one of the few ways in which Palestinians can make their voices heard. International human rights law obligates the occupying power to allow for the freedom of expression and protests.

“In other conflict zones, civilians and other non-combatants must be protected in keeping with the Principle of Distinction and other protective measures of the Geneva Conventions,” Dangor said.

The Director-General said the ability of journalists to cover events as they take place is essential, and efforts to intimidate and assassinate members of the media cannot be allowed to continue with impunity.

A Pakistani national, who fraudulently obtained SA enabling documents and tried to leave the country, was on Thursday arrested by the Home Affairs Counter Corruption Unit and the police in the Western Cape.

The suspect fraudulently acquired a South African ID in Gauteng and a passport in KwaZulu-Natal. He is scheduled to appear at the Bellville Magistrate Court.

The arrest comes within a week after another Pakistani national was arrested in Pretoria for fraud and corruption.

The suspect had been on the radar of the Counter Corruption Branch for his involvement in suspected fraudulent activities in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

The Counter Corruption Unit received a tip-off that he was planning to leave the country.

On Wednesday, he booked a flight to leave from Cape Town. He then cancelled this ticket before the flight took off. On Thursday, he booked another ticket to leave on the same day.

When he tried to check in, immigration officers blocked his attempt and immediately called the Counter Corruption Unit and the police, who moved swiftly to make the arrest.

Immigration officers had details of his fraudulent South African passport and his Pakistani passport.

“The net is closing in on all the corrupt Home Affairs officials and their associates who are undermining the country’s laws.

“This failed bid to evade justice in South Africa is linked to the take down of a syndicate that was operating out of the Krugersdorp Home Affairs office last week,” Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said.

The Minister has instructed the department to speedily finalise the investigation of the Home Affairs officials who were working with the suspect so that appropriate action can be taken.

“We don’t tolerate fraud and corruption, and it is clear that there are members of society who share our resolve and provide reliable tip-offs. We thank them for coming forward,” Motsoaledi said.

The Minister said a multi-disciplinary law enforcement team is keeping a close eye on a number of corrupt Home Affairs officials and syndicates, and more arrests are imminent.