Foreign nationals to appear in court for contravention of Immigration Act
About 23 foreign nationals and two South Africans are expected to appear before the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court today for contravention of the Immigration Act and bribery.
This after the South African Police Service arrested them on Saturday in Solomondale near Polokwane.
It is reported that members of the SAPS Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team, in conjunction with two private security companies, SPS High Risk and Tshimollo Security, operationalised information gathered regarding a white Toyota Quantum that was driving along the R81 in Solomondale, from the Beitbridge border.
It is reported that the operational team successfully spotted the said Quantum at a filling station along the R81 road in Sebayeng and upon checking, they discovered that 23 Ethiopian male nationals, aged between 20 and 38 years, were ferried in a 15-seater passenger mini bus by the driver, a 44-year-old male South African citizen.
Preliminary investigations revealed that all the passengers in the Quantum were illegally smuggled into South Africa from Ethiopia through Zimbabwe.
It is reported that while in the process of searching the Quantum and the passengers, a white Toyota Fortuner, being driven by a male foreign national, pulled up at the scene.
It is reported that the driver of the Quantum was found in possession of a licensed firearm and it was confiscated for investigation purposes.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Fortuner reportedly tried to bribe the police with R5 000 to let the Quantum and the passengers go free. The man was charged with bribery.
The two drivers were also arrested and are facing charges of human trafficking, bribery and contravention of Immigration Act.
The Acting Limpopo Commissioner, Major General Jan Scheepers, hailed the involved teams for their commitment and alertness in ridding the province of criminality.
167 scholar drivers held for traffic violations
Hundreds of vehicles have been impounded and scores of drivers arrested as traffic authorities intensified their national crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles transporting learners to school.
These arrests are part of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) back-to-school campaign, which started when schools re-opened this month. The campaign has so far resulted in 37 548 vehicles stopped and check in 484 law enforcement operations in different provinces.
The provinces with the highest number of vehicles stopped and checked are KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
“A total of 167 drivers were arrested for, among others, drunken driving, driving while having no driving licence and operating a public transport vehicle in violation of operating permit regulations.
“The campaign has highlighted that many scholar transport drivers were driving without fastening seatbelts, some do not have professional drivers’ permits, their vehicles were not licensed, while other vehicles had defects such as cracked windscreens, smooth tyres and faulty brakes.
“More than 6 240 were given fines for these vehicles, while 965 vehicles were impounded and 291 were suspended from operating,” the RTMC said on Thursday.
The RTMC has maintained that the safety of children remains priority and law enforcement authorities will remain vigilant throughout the year to deal with non-compliant operators.
However, parents also have a responsibility to ensure that the transport operators they choose are fit for purpose and licensed to transport their children safely to school.
Meanwhile, the RTMC has warned members of the public about a fake traffic officer learnership recruitment circulating on various social media platforms.
“The RTMC is currently not recruiting any traffic officer learners for the 2024 financial year. When positions become available, the corporation will advertise its traffic officer learnership posts through reputable online platforms, which include our website, mainstream media and our social media platforms.
“As a public institution, we do not charge applicants for any employment opportunities within the organisation. Members of the public are warned not to fall prey to any scams doing rounds online.
“We urge the public to verify the legitimacy of any recruitment drive purported to be from the RTMC by contacting our Human Capital Division on 012 999 5200. Alternatively, visit our website: www.rtmc.co.za,” the corporation said.
The RTMC said any scams seeking to take advantage of desperate unemployed youth should be reported to law enforcement agencies immediately.
Suspect to appear in court for possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunitions
A man is due to appear in the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrate’s Court today following his arrest for possession of unlicensed firearms with ammunition, as well as for contravention of the Firearm Control Act of South Africa.
A multi-disciplinary team consisting of members from the Mpumalanga Provincial Organised Crime, Criminal Record Centre, Provincial Designated Firearms Officers, Elukwatini Detectives, VISPOL, as well as officials from the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) played a major role in the breakthrough.
According to a report, information was received by law enforcement agencies regarding a firearms cache stored by an old man inside a house at Elukwatini.
Further information indicated that the man, 67, was in some way part of a certain security company but was suspected to be non-compliant.
The team coordinated their resources to establish if he was compliant to the PSIRA regulations. As a result, the team paid him a visit at Elukwatini on Thursday afternoon.
A search warrant was obtained and upon arrival at the premises as per information provided, the law enforcement agencies conducted a search.
The members discovered a total of about 106 firearms as well as 1704 various assorted live rounds of ammunition.
Among the weapons found in the house are 14 rifles, eight shot guns, 84 pistols with ammunition, 718 9mm pistols, about 921 live rounds of ammunition for a rifle and 65 live rounds of ammunition for a shotgun.
It is further reported that the firearms were not kept inside a safe but rather stored underneath a bed while some were kept inside the wardrobe.
The members discovered that licences for some of the firearms, owned by a certain security company had already expired. The male suspect could not account for about 20 firearms.
In addition, the members established that he did not have licences for four pistols, which had ammunition hence he was arrested and charged accordingly. Part of the probe is to determine how he got hold of the firearms. Police investigations are continuing.
The firearms as well as the ammunition were confiscated for further investigation.
As a norm in the police, the confiscated firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine any linkages to crimes committed in the country.
At this stage, police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against the suspect as the investigation continues, in relation to contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has welcomed the arrest of the suspect as well as the recovery of the firearms with ammunition.
“Indeed the proliferation of firearms remains a thorn in the flesh in our endeavour to win the battle against crime.
“Therefore when we succeed in recovering these firearms as well as arresting suspects, it gives us courage that we are really moving towards the right direction whilst removing firearms from the wrong hands. We commend the whistle blowers and members for the job well done,” said the General.
Traffic official arrested for alleged R15 000 bribe
The Hawks’ Bellville-based serious corruption investigation team have arrested Renay Claudine Ruiters for acts corruption.
Ruiters, 47, is a traffic official who allegedly extorted R15 000 from a person whom she arrested for driving under the influence of liquor in September 2023.
The matter was brought to the attention of the Hawks and the arrest was effected on Wednesday.
Ruiters is out on R1000 bail after she briefly appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court. The matter is postponed to 05 April 2024 for further investigation.
Head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, Major General Mathipa Makgato, appreciated the arrest as law enforcement officials are mandated to uphold and enforce the law.
He said this would hopefully send a strong message to other law breakers.
Alleged fraudster appears in court
Nhlanhla Sizani (24) has appeared briefly before the Pretoria Magistrates Court on charges of fraud, alternative forgery and uttering after he was issued with a summons on 12 December 2023.
It is reported that during the 2021 Local Government Elections (LGE), Sizani submitted a fraudulent letter with the United Nations (UN) insignia, requesting South African Police Service (SAPS) escort to polling stations for the duration of the elections.
Sizani is said to have misrepresented himself as a United Nations (UN) Ambassador/Diplomat and thus was escorted by SAPS Diplomatic Police Unit to various polling stations as an observer.
Through an investigation by the Hawks’ Crime against the State within Serious Organised Crime Investigation, the UN confirmed that Sizani was not an Ambassador/Diplomat (observer) and the request for escort was not requested by them.
SAPS suffered financial loss as a result of the misrepresentation.
The case was postponed to 23 January 2024 for the accused to obtain legal representation.
Two men remanded in custody for the murder of five people
Two suspects were remanded in custody after appearing before the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Monday on five separate murder cases.
Initially, the accused – Obakeng Segwabe, 19, and Olebogeng Mafora, 21, were arrested for the murder of two people after human skeletal remains were found in plastic in the bushes near Mosweu village.
Subsequent to further investigations, they were also linked to three decomposed bodies that were discovered between December 2023 and January 2024. The deceased were part of a group boys that were at an initiation school.
Three additional charges of murder were added, said the police.
The accused are expected to reappear in court on Tuesday, 23 January 2024, for bail application.
Investigations, including the identification of the bodies through DNA are underway. The deceased’s names will only be confirmed after that process.
The team also arrested Koketso Mmutlane, 19, for defeating the ends of justice. The accused appeared in court on Monday.
According to information, he allegedly influenced Segwabe and Mafora to lie about the legality of the initiation school and its activities including the deaths. He is expected appear before the same court on Friday, 09 February 2024, after being released on warning.
Drugs seized at OR Tambo airport
Customs officers of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have seized 23kg of narcotics disguised as moulded artwork with an estimated street value of R37 million at the cargo sheds of the OR Tambo International Airport.
The customs officers were doing their inspection rounds last week when they came across a box headed for New Zealand.
The box contained items of moulded artwork, which looked suspicious. The officers used a narcotics test kit and some of the items tested positive for crystal meth, which weighed 10kg.
A test by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on other items tested positive for fentanyl, which weighed 13kg. The narcotics were handed over the SAPS for further investigation.
In a statement on Saturday, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised the vigilance of the customs officers who detected the narcotics.
“SARS Customs will spare no effort in stopping the export or import of narcotics and any illegal substance which cause so much pain and hardship for families, particularly their youth.
“Drug smugglers must know that our Customs Division is fully committed to this objective, and will act without fear or favour against those criminals involved in the drugs trade. They must know that they will face the full might of the law,” Kieswetter said.
Four more suspects arrested for New Year’s killings in Soshanguve
Four more suspects have been arrested for the killing in Soshanguve that claimed the lives of four people, including a teenager on New Year’s Day.
They were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Pretoria and the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS).
“The suspects, three males and one female, were arrested on the night of 06 January 2024 in various areas around Pretoria, which brings the total number of arrested suspects to six. Three firearms, an AK 47 and two pistols were confiscated.
“The suspects will appear in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s court on Tuesday 9 January 2024 on charges of murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Monday.
The two previously arrested suspects, Sipho Kgomo and Tshepo Mosemeni, will appear in court again on 12 January 2024.
Fake TikTok account impersonating Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana
The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) has cautioned members of the public and stakeholders of a fake TikTok account impersonating Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana.
The TikTok account “Pinky_Kekana3” has been fraudulently using the Deputy Minister’s name and photos while disseminating untrue promises of teaching clients to trade and quickly make amounts ranging from R56 000 to R67 000.
The department said this is false and “intended to swindle and scam innocent citizens”.
“For the record, Deputy Minister Kekana does not have a TikTok account and the Ministry and DPME do not offer any educational trading programmes about making money.
“Therefore, the public and stakeholders are urged to desist from following or communicating with the TikTok account “Pinky_Kekana3” to avoid falling victim to unscrupulous fraudsters,” the department said on Sunday.
The official social media accounts of the Deputy Minister are as follows:
- X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/Pinky_Kekana1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinkyKekana2
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinky_kekana1
City of Ekurhuleni warns public of jobs scam
The City of Ekurhuleni has warned the public to be aware of job scam messages that are being sent through social media purporting to be from the city.
The city said its job application process is not conducted through social media platforms or social media messaging.
“Our positions are strictly advertised on our website: www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/vacancies where permanent, temporal and fixed-term vacancies are advertised.
“The city strongly advises the public not to respond to unsolicited offers of employment or those who seek information claiming to work for or to be associated with the City of Ekurhuleni,” the city said in a statement.
The public is urged to note the following to avoid being scammed:
- All positions are advertised on the city’s website https://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/residents/careers.html
- The city would never ask you for money in exchange for a job interview.
- The city’s email addresses are formatted as name.surname@ekurhuleni.gov.za
- The city has official office telephone numbers which start with 011 999 xxxx.
- Any communication and adverts of jobs will carry the City of Ekurhuleni logo and not Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
- The city does not request any payment to apply for a position.
- The city only uses approved email and telephonic communications, including face-to-face interviews.