Category: Crime & Corruption News

An East London-based chartered accountant has been released on R10 000 bail after he was arrested for allegedly swindling the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) of R884 000 in fraudulent COVID Ters payments.

In a statement, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks) said the suspect, Mark Jonathan Vorster, 43, was facing allegations of fraud, theft and money laundering.

“Vorster allegedly made fraudulent UIF claims for his company and five other companies to receive the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) funds whereas the companies were fully operational.

“He received more than R884 000 cash from the scheme and the owners of other companies were not aware of the claim. Such discrepancies were discovered by a bank official who also managed to recover half of the money from the accused’s bank account,” reads the statement.

“The Hawks team in Pretoria was informed and an investigation was conducted. A warrant for his arrest was issued and well executed by the team.

“A laptop and a cellphone were seized from the accused as part of an ongoing investigation,” said the Hawks.

The case was postponed to 29 July 2021 in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

A Mpumalanga man is today expected to appear before the Kanyamazane Magistrates’ Court after he was arrested for being in possession of an undisclosed quantity of building material, which is suspected to be stolen.

The 36-year-old was on Wednesday nabbed in an intelligence-driven operation after members of the Nelspruit Flying Squad acted on information gathered by Crime Intelligence.

It is alleged that the man was in possession of stolen goods in his house.

“The information led the members to Tinkomeni area in Pienaar at the house of the suspect, where he was found in possession of different sorts of building material believed to have been stolen from Hardware PNL in the Pienaar Lehawu area. The value of the stolen items is yet to be calculated by the owner,” SAPS provincial spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said in a statement.

“All the stolen items were found hidden in the suspect’s garage and he could not produce proof of payment, thereof hence he was arrested.

“The suspect was charged for being in possession of suspected stolen property and he is expected to appear today [22 July 2021] at the Kanyamazane Magistrates’ Court.”

Hlathi said police had uncovered that the case was linked to two other cases, where three people were also caught red-handed inside the same hardware store and were arrested.

“They are currently standing accused of cases related to business burglary and have already appeared before the same court, where their matters were remanded to a later date,” he said.

Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has welcomed the arrest.

Police Minister Bheki Cele has expressed his satisfaction at the security measures established at retail centres as they reopen for business following last week’s incidences of violence.

Cele on Monday visited businesses and shopping complexes in Durban and Pietermaritzburg affected by the business lootings and public violence that claimed over 200 lives in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Management teams of Liberty Mall in Pietermaritzburg as well as the Pavilion and Gateway Malls in Durban provided the Minister with the security plans they had put in place in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The three centres were among over the 150 malls that came under attack from looters. However, they were among the least affected owing to the members of the SAPS speedily containing the volatile situation.

“Together with private security, SAPS continues to guard the shopping complexes to prevent further violence and looting,” the Ministry said in a statement.

While all three malls are currently open only for essential shopping, the retail centres will be fully operational within the coming days as per their respective security plans.

While in Durban, Cele joined security forces in the city’s business district as they responded to tip-offs from community members on the whereabouts of suspected stolen property looted during last week’s unrest.

The Minister said the recovery of stolen property would be the order of the day in the two provinces.

All suspected looted goods will be placed at various police evidence storage facilities.

“We are thankful for communities who keep on providing information that can assist police and we also commend people that are voluntary surrendering the stolen goods and must continue to do so, but those who choose to keep these stolen ware in their homes are being warned that the law will not have mercy on you,” Cele said.

The South African Post Office has warned the public of email and text messages meant to convince the receiver to pay money into a fraudulent account.

The Post Office said the latest text message includes the name of person who is receiving the message and either states that the address of the receiver is illegible, or that the parcel can only be released once a clearance fee has been paid.

“The emails and messages differ in format, but they all contain a link. Should the receiver click on the link, a page requesting payment opens where the receiver can make a payment to ‘release’ a fictitious parcel,” Post Office spokesperson Nobuhle Njapha said.

Njapha said the Post Office sends customers a text message or a collection slip when they have a parcel waiting for collection at a post office branch.

“This parcel should be collected as soon as possible to make sure it is not returned to the sender. Post Office branches have separate queues, so if you collect a parcel you will not have to queue with customers collecting a social grant,” Njapha said.

The Post Office will never ask for import duties or clearance fees in advance. If there are customs fees payable on a parcel from abroad, the client pays the fees when they collect the parcel from the Post Office counter. It will also never requests a bank account number.

Also, it is likely a scam if the tracking number on the message is invalid when entered into the postal tracking website.

The Post Office has urged members of the public who receive the notice to delete it immediately.

Members of the public with any information about postal crimes are also encouraged to contact Post Office toll-free crime buster hotline on 0800 020 070.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has warned that the damage to factories and retail facilities in KwaZulu-Natal will have a significant impact on the economy, jobs and access to goods and services.

“This impact will be felt both in KZN and across the rest of the country,” the department said.

This comes as South Africa’s three largest retail groups, which supply food and other products to South African stores and neighbouring States, reported to have resumed operations.

The retail groups, which own stores throughout the region, were affected following the disruptions in supply chains in Kwa-Zulu Natal last week.

The disruptions were mainly the result of the pressures on the N3 corridor from the Durban port and interruptions in supply from factories in KZN.

In a statement on Monday, the department said the vital N3 national road is back to normal functioning.

“By Sunday morning, the authorities reported that more than 100 trucks per hour were passing key check-points to Durban, with strong traffic from Durban to other South African destinations and neighbouring markets,” the department said.

Four Cabinet Ministers, including Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel; Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane; Small Business Development Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, visited the N3 highway near Heidelberg over the weekend to meet truck drivers and logistics companies to determine the extent of goods being moved and challenges being encountered.

During their visit to the highway, representatives of large food companies and retailers shared the details of steps being taken within their supply chains to ensure that food products reach retail stores.

Patel has issued an exemption from certain provisions of the Competition Act to enable firms to collaborate and ensure availability of basic food and consumer items, emergency products, medical and hygiene supplies, including pharmaceutical products, refined petroleum products and emergency clean-up products.

The department said government is now working to minimise the disruptions to production and output. The immediate focus is to get the supply of food, medicine and basic goods to KZN cities and towns speeded up.

“Key raw materials and components are being prioritised. The response of manufacturers and retailers has been very positive to efforts to rebuild the productive sectors,” the department said.

Government is currently doing an assessment of the extent of loss of production and distribution facilities, and what can be done to secure alternative local supplies of raw materials and other critical goods.

“The priority is to strengthen further the security of supply to KZN, other South African provinces and to neighbouring countries,” the department said.

The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has called for coherence in characterising what led to the violence, wanton looting and destruction of property over the past week, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

During a briefing with Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and top leadership of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on the roll out of Operation Prosper, the committee said it believes that the intelligence community must play a critical role in understanding and characterising the unrest.

Co-Chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Cyril Xaba and Mamagase Nchabeleng, said the characterisation of the violence will assist in planning and counteracting similar future disturbances.

“The reality is that the SANDF is projecting spending about R615 million on this project and it is critical that there is clarity and coherence on what this budget is spent on now and what resources are necessary to prevent any future flare-up,” Xaba said.

Operation Prosper

Despite this, the committee welcomed the information that as of Sunday, 21 525 SANDF members had been deployed as part of Operation Prosper, and the assurances that more units are on standby in other provinces that have not yet experienced protest action. These deployments are proactively positioned for when the need arises.

Operation Prosper is the joint operation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and SANDF. The deployment period is from 12 July to 12 October 2021.

The troop deployment aims for service in cooperation with the SAPS for the prevention and combating of crime and maintenance, and preservation of law and order in the Republic of South Africa.

Nchabeleng said since the deployment of the SANDF, the committee has seen laudable calm and stability, which gives them assurances that “our security is in good hands”.

“We appreciate the augmentation of the deployed soldiers and are reassured that there will be no similar flare-up,” Nchabeleng said.

Regarding the impact to the economy, the committee said there is a need to consider designating the N3 highway and other major arteries as critical infrastructure, to enable better and efficient protection of these roads.

The committee said it is cognisant of the recurring nature of disruptions, especially on the N3, and the impact it has on the economy, especially for the movement of goods from the Durban harbour to inland provinces and the rest of Africa.

“We appreciate the information that there is increased deployment and patrol on the N3 to counter any disturbance. This is critical to the functioning of the economy, especially as the country rebuilds from the devastation caused by COVID-19,” Xaba said.

The committee will on Tuesday and Wednesday visit both KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng to assess the rollout of Operation Prosper and the impact it is having on the ground.

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) has cautioned people against accepting dye-stained notes as legal tender, as the onward use and value of these notes will not be honoured.

The warning comes after violence and looting engulfed parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, where hundreds of ATMs were destroyed, hampering the ability of bank customers to access cash and other financial services.

SABRIC says ATMs are an essential part of the country’s economic infrastructure, providing vital services to communities.

ATMs hold cash in special containers that protect cash with dye-stain technology that is activated when someone tries to break open the container.

Once activated, the cash is stained with a green dye, thus defacing the notes, rendering them unusable as currency. The stained notes are recognised as having no monetary value once they are stained.

SABRIC says people who are in possession of these notes make themselves suspects of a criminal investigation, which will seek to determine if they were involved in the stealing and unauthorised access of these ATM containers.

SABRIC has noticed an increase in the attempted circulation of dye-stained notes in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, following the destruction of multiple ATMs.

“You may also find yourself out of pocket after releasing goods or performing services because you will not be able to utilise the currency you were paid with. In addition, you also run the risk of being investigated, arrested and prosecuted for the destruction of these ATMs,” SABRIC CEO Nischal Mewalall said.

SABRIC urged people not to transact using dye-stained notes and to report any person in possession of these notes to the South African Police Service on 0860 010 111.

South Africa’s statutory health regulatory bodies, together with the National Health Department, have denounced the ongoing looting and violence, especially acts targeting healthcare facilities and the medicines supply chain.

“We appeal to citizens looting and destroying the healthcare infrastructure and disrupting the provision of health care to consider the long-term consequences of their actions on the health of communities.

“In a time of a pandemic of huge proportions, such acts of violence, looting and the disruption of service will simply fuel the fire,” a joint statement issued on Monday said.

The regulatory bodies are concerned about the acts of violence that are taking place at a time when medicines, including vaccines and access to healthcare services, are a necessity.

“Without health care services, the requisite medicines and vaccines, we will have unnecessary deaths and cause further pandemonium, including severe damage to the economy.”

In the statement – issued by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, Health Professions Council of South Africa, Office of Health Standards Compliance, South African Nursing Council and South African Pharmacy Council – the authorities said they are working closely with the National Health Department to restore the provision of healthcare and essential medicines, including chronic medicines and vaccines.

“We appeal to community, religious and political leaders to spread the word that these acts of criminality are not only harming the economy but are senseless and counterproductive.

“Targeting pharmacies, doctors’ practices, clinics and other healthcare institutions in the midst of a pandemic is detrimental, especially to the old, frail and vulnerable people.”

These bodies said the impact of the destruction on public health is already being felt in societies, with members of the community deprived of healthcare and chronic patients unable to access medicines.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccine sites and vaccines themselves are lost to destruction and looting.

“We further fear that the availability of controlled substances and medicines, which have been looted or stolen in the affected communities, may endanger the health of community members, who may consume these without the supervision and guidance of healthcare professionals.”

The statutory health regulatory bodies called on people to not use any medicines that are not accessed through authorised healthcare institutions.

Such illegal activity may be reported to SAHPRA via mokgadi.fafudi@sahpra.org.za or to law enforcement agencies.

“We wish to reiterate that the health and prosperity of our nation, as well as the defeat of the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality, can never be achieved through the destruction of livelihoods, the economy and the much-needed infrastructure.

“Therefore, let us preserve what is left of the gains in health and economic growth and immediately adopt non-violent means to conflict resolution.”

Three suspected instigators of last week’s violent business lootings that claimed the lives of over 200 people are expected to appear in West Rand courts on Monday and Tuesday.

The development was on Sunday confirmed by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) in a statement.

Two of the suspects were arrested on Thursday and Friday by police in the West Rand District in Roodepoort and Westonaria on allegations of creating and circulating inflammatory messages with the potential of inciting violence.

The two are on Monday expected to appear before the Randfontein and Westonaria Magistrate’s Courts, respectively.

“A third suspect, a 21-year old woman, was arrested in Duduza in the Ekurhuleni District on Saturday 17 July 2021 on similar allegations. She is expected to appear before the Nigel Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday,” said the NatJOINTS.

The structure reiterated its call for people to refrain from inciting violence by creating and circulating inflammatory messages that seek to do nothing but elevate the levels of tension, confusion and fear among communities.

“These messages instil fear in our communities and undermine the authority of the State,” NatJOINTS said.

The structure, through its Intelligence Coordinating Community (ICC), said it was also aware of more messages cropping up and circulating on various social media platforms, threatening to attack police stations and disarm law enforcement officers; attack courts of law and key infrastructure such as fuel pipelines and refineries; and more looting.

“The JOINTS has subsequently mobilised maximum resources to address these threats and heighten visibility. Measures have also been put in place to ensure stability, and the protection and safety of those who are not involved in the unrest and wish to go on with their daily routine,” the structure said.

To avoid arrest, looters of businesses during last week’s violent unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have been urged to surrender the goods.

NatJOINTS welcomed the many calls and tip-offs received via the MySAPS app from various communities in the two provinces.

These have resulted in the integrated security forces recovering volumes of suspected stolen property whose value is yet to be determined.

“By this morning a total of 3 407 suspects had been arrested on various charges since the violence erupted over a week ago, with only one suspect granted bail, 1 122 expected to appear in different courts in the two most affected provinces, and the remaining dockets under investigation,” reads the statement.

“In the concerted response by the NatJOINTS to the recent acts of unrest and opportunistic criminality, where tensions now appear to be simmering down, security forces embarked on recovery operations with the collaboration of citizens who have gone out of their way giving tip-offs to the police, and some cleaning up their streets and business premises that were affected by the looting in the past week.”

The NatJOINTS warned that those who were not part of the looting spree but were buying stolen property would also be arrested for being in possession of stolen property.

In Gauteng, during integrated operations at a number of hostels in mostly Tembisa, Johannesburg, Alexandra and Moroka over the weekend, 14 suspects were arrested for being in possession of suspected looted property.

Among the goods recovered were bed mattresses, television sets, couches, fridges, sound systems, computer screens and laptops, steel frames, groceries and clothing items.

In KwaZulu-Natal, 92 suspects were arrested over the weekend for the same crime.

Members of the public are urged to continue to report criminality to the police, which may be done anonymously by calling the crime stop number 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS app that can be downloaded onto any smartphone.

Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says the President will only declare a State of Emergency when the need arises.

While the Minister strongly condemned the current looting and damage to infrastructure, she did not believe the situation warrants a State of Emergency.

“For now, I don’t think there is an indication that there should be a State of Emergency,” she said on Tuesday.

Mapisa-Nqakula was speaking during a briefing by Ministers in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster amid public violence flare-ups in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

“If the time comes, informed by intelligence gathered and coordinated by the three entities [SAPS, Defence and State Security], the President will be advised and [only] then would he declare a State of Emergency, if the need arises, based on that assessment report.”

The Minister acknowledged that the situation is grave, and the nation is duly panicked.

“… We’re all concerned about what is happening… A… State of Emergency [however means that]… you take all the liberties from the citizens and the military takes over the country. For now, we don’t think we’ve reached that point,” she explained.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the South African Defence Force (SANDF), the President has deployed the army in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in support of the operations of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Mapisa-Nqakula said the number of soldiers mobilised is far less than those who were deployed during the COVID-19 hard lockdown.

She said an ongoing assessment is taking place behind closed doors to make decisions about the number of soldiers who will be deployed on the ground.

“When we talk numbers, we also have to talk possible expenditure incurred for the deployment of those people… We’re informed by intelligence, and then [we will] decide about what kind of strength we need for deployment, and then we will make an announcement.”

The deployment of soldiers

Major General Siphiwe Lucky Sangweni said the SANDF conducts deployment operations inside the country in support of the SAPS and to assist other State departments.

“SAPS and other law enforcement agencies will conduct their work and when there is a situation that requires or warrants that the military assists and supports as the security cluster, then the call will be made then,” he explained.

According to Sangweni, this involves conducting assessments and then the decision is sanctioned by the President.

“It’s the President that will authorise the deployment of military internal operations.

“It will not be correct that the military is at the forefront in terms of law enforcement and dealing with criminality in the country,” he said.