Category: Crime & Corruption News

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team has launched an investigation into a business burglary, trespassing, malicious damage to property and intimidation case following the arrest of a 27-year-old in the Bloemfontein SABC premises on Sunday morning.

In a statement, the Hawks said it was alleged that at about 4:30am, a security officer at the Bloemfontein SABC building noticed that there was an intruder inside the building and requested backup from his colleagues.

“It is further alleged that the suspect attacked the security officials and one official managed to pull out his official firearm and shot the suspect,” said Hawks spokesperson,Brigadier Thandi Mbambo.

She said the Parkweg SAPS and emergency services were called to the scene and the suspect was taken to the local hospital for treatment where he is currently under police guard.

A separate case of attempted murder will be investigated by Parkweg detectives.

“The suspect will appear in court soon. Investigation continues,” said Mbambo.

The Department of Correctional Services says it is on high alert following the death of a Mthatha Correctional Centre inmate during an attack at the centre on Tuesday.

According to department spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, five inmates attacked officials and four other inmates during an exercise session at the centre in the Eastern Cape.

“Unfortunately, one inmate from the five attackers succumbed to his injuries and passed on during the fracas. One official and another inmate remain in hospital due to the seriousness of the injuries sustained,” he said.

Nxumalo said dual investigations into the incident are being conducted by the department and police.

“This is a disturbing incident, as correctional centres had maintained calm during the festive season.

“An internal investigation has been launched, and the SAPS is also attending to the case. The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) has also been informed and is expected to run its own independent investigation. It is the outcome of the investigation which will share more light on the motive and circumstances that may have triggered this incident,” he said.

The man accused of starting the fire which gutted Parliament buildings, including the National Assembly last week, has been referred for mental observation following his court appearance.

Zandile Mafe, 49, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, where he is facing two counts of arson, possession of an explosive device and housebreaking.

During Mafe’s appearance, a charge of destruction of essential infrastructure was withdrawn and replaced with a charge of the Contravention of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities.

NPA Western Cape regional spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the State argued to have Mafe referred for observation after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia by the district surgeon.

“The referral comes despite protestations by the defence team, who argued that their client told them that there is nothing wrong with him. The State further argued that Mafe has threatened to go on a hunger strike if his bail application did not start [on Tuesday],” he said.

Ntabazalila said the State also argued that the administration of justice “cannot be held to ransom” by the threat of a hunger strike.

“In response, Senior State Advocate, Helene Booysen, dismissed the argument, stating that… the court must refer Mafe for [mental observation], as the State cannot be blackmailed or held to ransom by the accused.

“[Booysen argued that] if there is a bail application and he doesn’t get released, does that mean that he will go on hunger strike until he dies?”

Magistrate Zamekile Mbalo granted the application and Mafe will now be under observation at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital for the next 30 days.

The case has been postponed to 11 February.

Meanwhile, Parliament has announced that the work of the National Assembly will be held in an unaffected part of the Parliamentary precinct until further notice.

Parliament spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said the decision was taken following a meeting between Parliament Presiding Officers and political party chief whips.

“After considering various alternative venues, the meeting took a decision that beyond SONA [State of the Nation Address], the sittings of the National Assembly – including the Budget Speech scheduled for February, must be retained… in the Good Hope Chamber.

“Good Hope Chamber, historically utilised for the sittings of the Cape Legislative Assembly between 1854 and 1885, is one of the oldest meeting rooms of Parliament, has essential technical capabilities and meets basic requirements for sittings of the House.

“It is one of the buildings of Parliament that has not been affected by the fire and has previously been used for National Assembly mini-plenaries. It has a seating capacity of 170 persons and permits 70 persons under COVID-19 social distancing arrangements,” Mothapo said.

As announced last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the State of the Nation Address at Cape Town City Hall.

Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has denounced the attack on Constitutional Court building, which took place on Wednesday morning.

Speaking on behalf of the Judiciary on Thursday, Zondo said he noted with grave concern the attack at the Constitutional Court building, which has been widely reported in the media.

This incident comes shortly after other important State facilities have experienced unprecedented attacks, including recent threats having been made to cause damage to some Superior Courts.

“These attacks and threats seek to cause the destruction of these important facilities that the public rely on for the protection of their constitutional rights,” Zondo said.

The Acting Chief Justice said he was satisfied with the report that security officials and the police were able to act swiftly to apprehend the suspect and prevent further damage to the building.

However, he said the incident must be viewed in a very serious light and urged all law enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to put proactive measures in place to avert similar attacks going forward.

Furthermore, the Judiciary appealed to all relevant organs of the State and functionaries responsible for State facilities and security services to ensure a threat and risk-based assessment of arrangements around critical court facilities and its important assets.

“It is necessary to mention that this incident does not in any way hamper the Justices and court staff members from performing their functions. However, due to such incident, the security of the Judiciary, the supporting staff and the general court users, remains compromised and requires urgent attention,” Zondo said in a statement.

Despite the damage to the court facility, no one was injured and the work to have the damage repaired has already commenced.

The Acting Chief Justice said he trusts that the investigation by law enforcement agencies will reveal the motive behind this incident.

The mortal remains of Corporal Tebogo Edwin Radebe, who died after an attack by insurgents in Mozambique, will be handed over to his family on Thursday at the Air Base Force Waterkloof, Pretoria.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was deployed in Cabo Delgado province as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), also known as Operation Vikela.

Radebe was part of Operation Vikela when the soldiers came under attack from the insurgents during an ambush east of Chai Village on Monday. Radebe succumbed to his injuries.

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, will form part of the Department of Defence Office officials who will formally hand over the remains to the family at the military procession ceremony.

According to a statement, Radebe, from Paul Roux in the Free State, was born on 6 June 1990 and served as a member of SANDF in Limpopo.

He is survived by his aunt, three siblings and two daughters. He was unmarried.

The Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government approved the deployment of SAMIM on 15 July 2021 as a regional response to support Mozambique to combat terrorism and acts of violent extremism.

The country has been plagued by continued acts of terrorism perpetrated on innocent civilians, women and children in some districts of Cabo Delgado.

SAMIM comprises troops deployed from eight personnel contributing countries from SADC, namely Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia, working in collaboration with the Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique (FADM) and other troops deployed to Cabo Delgado to combat acts of terrorism and violent extremism.

Modise and her office have once again extended their condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the deceased.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, the SANDF said.

A man depicted driving recklessly in a video that went viral on social media has been arrested.

Investigators from the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s national anti-corruption unit identified the driver as businessman from Marble Hall in Limpopo.

The man was arrested on Wednesday and taken to the Kameeldrift police station in Gauteng where he was charged with reckless driving.

“A video of the reckless driver emerged on social media on 17 December and it showed a man protruding from the driver’s window of a moving vehicle along R573 Moloto Road. The man is expected to appear in court soon,” the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said.

The man had been driving a red Range Rover.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

The RTMC has called members to the public to report reckless and negligent drivers on 0861 400 800 or to send WhatsApp messages to 083 293 7989.

“Law enforcement officers are working hard to clamp down on lawlessness on the roads this festive season. A total of 2 639 drivers have been arrested since the start of the festive season on December 1 for various offences.

“Members of the public are urged to work with the police to ensure that identify reckless drivers, speedsters and drunk drivers and face the full might of the law,” the RTMC said.

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has called on the National Prosecuting Authority to take swift action against any perpetrators of statutory rape.

This as the Basic Education Department introduced a policy that will compel schools to report the impregnation of learners, younger than 16 years, by older men to the police.

The policy will come into effect in January 2022.

“The Commission has repeatedly called for the law to be applied to curb the growing scourge of statutory rape in South Africa, which has seen thousands of underage girls, some as young as 10 years, drop out of school due to early pregnancy.

“The Commission has confidence that the police and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will play their part to ensure that every case of statutory rape is thoroughly investigated and successfully prosecuted,” it said in a statement.

The CGE called on community members to report any inappropriate relationships between children and adults.

“The Commission is also aware that the issue of teenage pregnancy is multi-sectoral and calls all role players and citizenry to be vigilant and report any relationship between an adult and a minor as part of the child protection initiative.”

The commission said with the holiday season upon the country, more vigilance is needed to curb any form of abuse.

“As citizens celebrate the festive holiday season, more women and young girls may fall victim to sexual and gender-based violence. The Commission calls for families and communities to report any incidents of abuse to the nearest police station.”

Three Isimangaliso Wetland Park officials will spend Christmas in prison after they were arrested for R100 million tender fraud and corruption in the KwaZulu-Natal government entity.

National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has welcomed the arrest of the three suspects in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, in a statement said investigations revealed that some of the suspects were allegedly demanding money from various service providers that were contracted to do work for the Wetland Park in Mtubatuba.

“It was further established that money was paid into accounts linked to at least three suspects,” he said.

As part of first phase of this investigation, the Cold Case Unit worked closely with the Directorate for Public Prosecution in KZN, and embarked on an undercover sting operation which resulted in the arrest of the three suspects on 17 December.

The suspects are Nokuthula Lafuleni-Zungu, who worked as the building capacity manager; Caiphus Khumalo, a director, and Nkosinathi Victor Ntshangase, who is a friend of Lafuleni-Zugu and a game ranger at the Park.

Naidoo said the trio on Monday appeared in the Empangeni Magistrates Court and were all remanded in custody for a formal bail application to be heard at the same court on 29 December 2021.

“Further arrests are imminent as investigations are continuing,” he said.

National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi says security measures must be tightened around judicial officials following the murder of KwaZulu-Natal regional prosecutor Lonwabo Booi.

Booi was shot multiple times and killed outside the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning where he was due to represent the state in a part heard matter.

“The increase in attacks on those fighting for justice in our country should concern all of us. We need to significantly improve the protection of criminal justice officials, whistleblowers and witnesses in South Africa. The rule of law depends on it. The future of our country depends on it…and we owe [it] to these brave men and women. This will require a multi-stakeholder effort driven by government and time is not on our side,” Batohi said.

The NPA further assured prosecutors that “their safety remains utmost priority for the NPA”.

“Additional security measures will be implemented on a case by case basis as the need arises. The NDPP trusts that the case will be prioritised and that those responsible for this horrendous crime will be brought to justice,” the authority said in a statement.

KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Elaine Zungu, described Booi’s murder as a tragic event and an attack of South Africa’s rule of law.

“We convey our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Booi and he will be dearly missed. May his soul rest in peace,” she said.

Former SABC Chief Operations Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been ordered to pay back at least R11.5 million “success fee” paid to him by the broadcaster’s Governance and Nominations Committee in 2016.

The decision to pay Motsoeneng the fee was reviewed and set aside by the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court sitting in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

In the judgement, the court found that Motsoeneng had accepted the fee knowing that no South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) policies allowed for such.

“Motsoeneng was not an innocent bystander in all of this, he set out to obtain a benefit that he was not entitled to, knowing full well that his employment contract did not allow for bonuses. The only reasonable inference to be drawn is that he received payment of the success fee in circumstances he knew, or ought to have known, that he was not entitled to, this was unlawful,” the judgement read.

Motsoeneng has also been ordered to pay back the money within the next seven days.

The order was granted to the SABC and the Special Investigating Unit following an investigation by the corruption-busting unit into allegations of corruption, maladministration, malpractice and payments made by the SABC together with the conducts of its employees.

SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi said the decision is a step in ensuring that monies unlawfully gained from public coffers is returned.

“This is a continuation of implementation of the SIU investigations outcomes and consequence management to recover monies lost by the SABC. There are other cases enrolled in the High Court and in the Special Tribunal awaiting adjudication and will result in further recoveries for the SABC,” Mothibi said.

The broadcaster’s Group Chief Executive Officer Madoda Mxakwe also welcomed the judgement.

“‘This judgment bears testimony to the SABC’s commitment to addressing corporate governance failures of the past, whilst ensuring monies due to the Corporation are recovered. We are confident that this judgment demonstrates progress in the SABC’s turnaround journey.”