Category: Crime & Corruption News

The Gauteng Traffic Police in Krugersdorp have arrested three men in two separate incidents, for being in possession of cash that could not be accounted for.

The suspects, who face charges of money laundering, were arrested on Thursday during a random stop and search operation conducted on the R41 road by the members belonging to the Gauteng Traffic Police and various law enforcement agencies.

In the first incident, a man aged 46 who was a passenger in a white Nyathi Taxi was arrested for being in possession of cash amounting to R34 430 in a suspicious manner.

The suspect could not give a clear explanation as to why he was carrying the cash and thus failed to account.

“In another incident, two men aged 48 and 54 were passengers in a Toyota Yaris, which was also used as an Uber, were found carrying cash amounting to R112 000 which they could not account for. The total cash confiscated by the police amounts to R146 430,” the Gauteng Traffic Police said.

The suspects are expected to appear at the Kagiso Magistrates Court in due course to face charges relating to money laundering amongst others.

Various law enforcement agencies under the command of the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, embark on Okae Molao operation every Thursday in all Gauteng corridors with an aim of ridding the communities of criminal elements and ensure that wanted suspects are successfully traced and apprehended.

“The Gauteng Traffic Police is delighted that the suspects allegedly involved in money laundering were swiftly intercepted and stopped in their tracks. These arrests will send a strong warning that Gauteng has a zero-tolerance approach on criminal elements such as money laundering,” Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said.

He said money-laundering poses a significant risk in the growth of the economy and has far-reaching implications since most of these monies are not subjected to tax regulations.

“Anyone found in possession of money that cannot be accounted for will be arrested immediately without fear or favour,” Maremane said.

The City of Ekurhuleni has temporarily halted the process of handing over serviced stands, and the repair of damaged water and sanitation installations at Daveyton Extension 14 due to repeated community disruptions and vandalism.

According to the city, the disruptions have resulted in financially unviable costs to the city, including contractor standing time payments, and recurrent repairs due to vandalism.

Spokesperson for City of Ekurhuleni, Nhlanhla Cebekhulu, said before the disruptions, the city had repaired damaged geysers and bathroom equipment to make the stands ready for allocation.

“To that effect, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements, Lesiba Mpya, has held successive community consultation meetings on 18 October and 29 November 2020 in preparation for a smooth allocation of the stands to the rightful beneficiaries.

“A preliminary allocation to 16 beneficiaries was done before the community disruptions and intimidation of beneficiaries started. The beneficiaries were mainly backyard dwellers of Daveyton,” Cebekhulu said.

Cebekhulu said once all the issues that held back the completion of the project and handover of the serviced stands are resolved, the city will resume its work.

“The contractor will therefore hand over the site to security officials to prevent further vandalism of property, while the city intervenes to prepare for the resumption of the smooth allocation of stands.

“The Daveyton Extension 14 serviced stand project has a yield of 483 units, and 96% of the stands are ready for occupation,” Cebekhulu said.

The project comprised zoned stands with piped water, flushing toilets, water geysers, and sewer and storm water infrastructure.

The stands have title deeds to be handed over to the beneficiaries to secure their right of ownership.

The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has warned Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and Co-operatives against sending proposals and paying administration fees for the preapproval of funds to agencies.

“The DSBD warns SMMEs and Co-operatives against such fraudulent agencies purporting to be entities or representatives of the department,” the department said on Wednesday.

The department said cyber criminals use national crises and emergencies such as the current COVID-19 pandemic to prey on unsuspecting victims.

“Their modus operandi includes identity theft and pretending, through fake emails, to be representatives of government departments and agencies. The department wishes to remind the public that all funding application processes are on its official websites,” the department said.

The department has advised the small business sector not to utilise social media platforms to accept any applications.

Access to services for SMMEs and Co-operatives is free. Any SMME or Co-operative who receives such a request must immediately report the incident to our DSBD Hotline 086 677 7867 or send an e-mail to info@dsbd.gov.za.

Valid information on the sector can be found on www.dsbd.gov.za; www.sefa.org.za; www.seda.org.za; or www.mybindu.org.za.

SMMEs and Co-operatives are encouraged to register their businesses on www.smmesa.gov.za and funding applications can be done at www.eservices.gov.za.

Gauteng police have confirmed the arrest of three managers of popular restaurants in Sandton and Silverton for selling liquor to patrons, in contravention to the Disaster Management Act and COVID-19 level three lockdown regulations.

In a statement, Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said police received information through crime intelligence about a popular restaurant in Sandton, in West Street that was selling alcohol to patrons.

“During O Kae Molao Operations on Saturday police pounced on the restaurant and found the place full to capacity and alcohol served openly on the tables and health protocols not adhered to. Two of the managers were arrested and charged with the contravention of the Disaster Management Act. Police also confiscated liquor to the value of approximately R600 000,” said Masondo.

Meanwhile, in Silverton in Tshwane police were conducting routine patrols on Friday after the 9pm curfew when they noticed cars parked at a popular franchise restaurant.

On enquiring, police found the restaurant operating and about eleven people drinking alcohol onsite. In the storeroom, police discovered alcohol in ice buckets ready to be served. The manager was arrested and charged with contravention of the Disaster Management Act.

Furthermore, police in Gauteng arrested 162 people over the weekend for failure to confine to place of residence during the curfew; and 34 were arrested for failure to wear masks when ordered to do so.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng Major General Tommy Mthombeni led the multi-disciplinary O Kae Molao Operations in Alexandra, Johannesburg, where more than 150 suspects were arrested for various crimes. These suspects were arrested during the roadblocks, tracing of wanted suspects as well as stop-and-search activations.

Over 540 suspects were nabbed in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni by the integrated law enforcement agencies made up of SAPS, Metro Police Departments and Gauteng Traffic Police.

Joint intelligence-driven operations were held in Sedibeng and the West Rand where more 290 suspects were arrested for crime and offences such as contravention of National Disaster Management Act, robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of drugs.

Police management in the province are concerned about people who undermine the lockdown regulations and continue to contravene the National Disaster Management Act.

“Operations to enforce the regulations will be intensified in the province as long as the people fail to adhere” said Major General Mthombeni.

The arrested suspects will appear in various Magistrate Courts from Monday while others are out on warnings and fines.

A 48-year-old man is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate Court soon to face charges of burglary and theft.

It is alleged that yesterday, at the Durban Magistrate Court offices, a court official observed an unknown man removing a computer from one of the offices.

When he was approached and questioned, he stated that he was a technician and was hired to fix the computers.

The staff member’s suspicions were raised and he summoned the police.

The Durban Central police swiftly responded and on further questioning the suspect, it was discovered that the suspect is actually a con artist who steals from government offices under the pretence of being a technician.

On investigation it was discovered that the same suspect was attending court for a housebreaking case that took place a few month ago.

The suspect will also be profiled to ascertain if he is not linked to other burglary business crimes committed in the Durban CBD and its surroundings.

Two men are expected to appear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court after they were caught with drugs with an estimated street value of R6 195, said the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The arrests come as members of Kimberley K9 unit received information from the Provincial Crime Intelligence regarding a silver Golf allegedly transporting drugs in Kimberley, Northern Cape.

“The members spotted the vehicle in Lerato Park in Roodepan and stopped it.  Upon searching the vehicle, the members found two male occupants inside. They discovered 35 mandrax tablets and dagga with a combined estimated street value of R6 195,” said the Office of the Provisional Commissioner of the Northern Cape on Monday.

The men who are due in court soon are aged 40 and 45.

The vehicle was also impounded as it was used in the commission of a crime.

A suspect is expected to apply for bail in the Verulam Magistrates Court on Friday after he was arrested for illegal possession of Ivermectin, an animal drug not confirmed for COVID-19 infection management.

The 43-year-old man was arrested at King Shaka International Airport after he was found with 2 464 tablets in his hand luggage when he arrived at the airport this week.

The tablets are valued at R100 000.

In a statement, Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the suspect had just arrived in the country from Dubai.

“The SAPS can confirm that the said medicine is not registered with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA),” she said.

According to SAHPRA, Ivermectin is not indicated nor approved for use in humans. Furthermore, there is no confirmatory data on Ivermectin available as yet, for its use in the management of COVID-19 infections.

Mathe said the man has already appeared before the Verulam Magistrates Court where he has been charged with being in possession of unregistered medicines and the importation of medicines without a valid permit.

The case has been postponed to Friday for a formal bail application.

On Tuesday, the SAHPRA said Ivermectin is a drug that paralyses and kills parasites including lice and worms in livestock.

“Ivermectin is a widely used drug for the treatment and control of parasites in animals and is used to treat several tropical diseases in humans not commonly seen in South Africa, as well as scabies and head lice. Ivermectin is a synthetic derivative of the antiparasitic class of compounds known as avermectins,” said the SAHPRA in a statement.

The authority said several investigators have reported that when tested in the laboratory, Ivermectin inhibits replication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

“Given the current Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, this has understandably received a lot of media attention.  Thus, several clinical studies have been undertaken to evaluate Ivermectin’s efficacy in treating the COVID-19 infection.”

In December, SAHPRA indicated that in relation to Ivermectin use for COVID-19, that “Ivermectin is not indicated nor approved by SAHPRA for use in humans”.

This, said the authority, was because “there is no confirmatory data on Ivermectin available as yet for its use in the management of COVID-19 infections. In terms of safety and efficacy there is no evidence to support the use of ivermectin and we do not have any clinical trial evidence to justify its use.”

Gauteng Traffic Police have vowed to act against motorists who fail to abide by the rules of the road.

This comes after the arrest of a 38-year-old man for alleged reckless and negligent driving, failure to obey a lawful instruction from a traffic officer and driving under the influence of liquor on Wednesday.

The incident took place at De Deur, Rose Road in the vicinity of Meyerton, Sedibeng district.

“A member of Gauteng Traffic Police stopped the vehicle after noticing that the vehicle had no registration plate in front. It is alleged that the driver intentionally and negligently failed to stop after being instructed to do so and in the process hit the legs of an officer.  The officer sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical attention in a nearby health care facility,” said the Gauteng Traffic Police on Thursday.

The other officers who were on board patrolling in the area pursued the suspect and managed to apprehend the man.

The man was driving under the influence of alcohol and officials found homemade alcohol in his possession.

The detection from the breathalyzer confirmed that the suspect was intoxicated at 0.79 milligrams, which is three times over the prescribed legal limit of 0.24 milligram per 100 milliliters.

“Incidents of this nature will never be allowed to prevail under our watch. Officers of the law are supposed to be respected at all costs since they are there to protect and serve our communities.

“The law enforcement authorities will continue to root out barbaric behaviour from heartless drivers who are hell-bent on abusing and ill-treating our officers,” Gauteng Traffic Police Spokesperson Sello Maremane said.

The man is expected to appear in the Meyerton Magistrate Court on Thursday to face charges relating to driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to obey a lawful instruction from an officer amongst others.

The Gauteng Traffic Police have also wished the injured officer a speedy recovery.

“The Gauteng Traffic Police would like to wish the injured officer who is currently receiving medical attention a speedy recovery,” Maremane said.

Gauteng’s provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has met with representatives of the cash-in-transit (CIT) industry following a spike in the number of CIT incidents in the province.

Mawela, together with his Deputy responsible for Policing, Major General Tommy Mthombeni and the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, led a delegation of senior officers from Crime Intelligence, Visible Policing and Detectives in Wednesday’s urgent engagement with CIT industry partners.

The intention of the engagement was to urgently address the recent upsurge in the number of CIT incidents in the province, and to subsequently strengthen relations and enhance cooperation between the SAPS and the industry.

“If we want to make a positive impact and mitigate this emerging urban terror, we will need to work hard on building a value-driven relationship with operational plans that are more proactive rather than reactive,” said the Lieutenant General.

Comparing the rate of occurrence of incidents this year to last year’s rate, Lieutenant General Mawela confirmed that there is a worrying spike in the rate and frequency of incidents of cash-in-transit robberies in Gauteng.

He added that urgent intervention and attention is required from all stakeholders.

The Commissioner emphasised the importance of reviewing existing plans and strengthening relations whereby both law enforcement and industry partners will with immediate effect, put measures in place and embark on rigorous operations focusing on averting/preventing incidents; response time; arrests; and prosecutorial-led investigations.

Mawela commended industry partners for the establishment of the CITASA (Cash-in-Transit Association of South Africa) and the subsequent roll-out of a state-of-the-art operational command centre where the SAPS will be represented. The SAPS will have access to shared services and technologies that will enhance efforts to flatten the spike in relation to cash-in-transit robberies.

“In addressing CIT robberies, we need to take cognisance of the fact that various secondary crimes emanate from these robberies and this ultimately has a bearing on the total crime picture of the province. One CIT robbery may at the end of the day result in additional crimes being recorded such as: malicious damage to property relating to the armoured vehicle; attempted murder and murder where in some instances security guards, police members and/or suspects have been shot and injured or killed; robbery of the money, hijacking for suspects’ getaway, and other crimes,” said Mawela.

At the meeting, all stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to work together with the SAPS and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) towards eradicating cash-in-transit robberies and related crimes.

Three traffic officers were arrested for alleged corruption and bribery during a joint operation by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and the Hawks in Mpumalanga.

The officers, who are employed by Emalahleni Municipality, were arrested on Monday morning when they reported for work in Witbank.

“It is alleged that the officers – aged 59, 53 and 38 – accepted bribes from motorists instead of charging them for traffic violations. They are expected to appear in court later today,” the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said.

The RTMC said enforcement will be intensified ahead of and during the News Year’s Day long weekend.

“Officers are preparing themselves for increased traffic volumes expected at the end of the festive season holidays,” the RTMC said.