Category: Crime & Corruption News

If you are aware of fraud, especially related to the distribution of monies to help workers through the worst effects of lockdown, now is your chance to blow the whistle and help bring fraudsters to book.

This was an invitation sent by Acting Commissioner of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Marsha Bronkhorst, during the launch of fraud hotline platforms for clients and citizens to report all suspicious criminal activity related to the COVID-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (COVID-19 TERS) and any other UIF fraud related matters.

Launched on Tuesday, the platforms are already up and running, and people can report, even anonymously if they like, in line with the Protected Disclosure Act.

Bronkhorst said that since the inception of COVID-19 TERS, the fund has been beset with a plethora of fraud allegations and complaints from clients and companies.

“I am therefore, urging anyone with information regarding any COVID-19 TERS fraud or any other UIF fraud related matter to report this to us without any delay. Whistle-blowers are encouraged to provide as much details as possible, such as the UIF reference number of the company, address, ID numbers concerned and contact details when reporting,” said Bronkhorst.

She added that each case will be treated on its own merits and the turnaround time to finalise the allegation would vary depending on the complexity of the matter.

The reporting platforms are available 24 hours per day, 365 days a year and in all 11 official languages.

Clients can use the following platforms to report COVID-19 TERS related fraud: Toll free number 0800 212 799 or SMS call-back on 30916 or email address to uif@thehotline.co.za (link sends e-mail), or fax to email to 0867 26 1681.

Clients can also use telephone web app www.thehotlineapp.co.za (link is external) or website www.thehotline.co.za (link is external).

For other UIF enquiries, clients can still contact the call centre on 080 003 0007 or visit their nearest labour centre.

An Amanzimtoti police station officer is today expected to appear in court after he allegedly raped a woman who was being held at the station cells, in September.

In a statement, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) said the suspect was arrested on Tuesday following an investigation.

“The suspect is scheduled to appear at Umbumbulu Magistrates Court [today] on charges of rape in police custody. The State will be opposing his bail on this matter,” IPID said.

The suspect is alleged to have raped a 24-year-old woman while she was in police custody at KwaMkhutha police station on 25 September 2020.

Meanwhile, the IPID will today attend the sentencing of Adam Cummings at the South Gauteng High Court. Cummings, an Ekurhuleni Metro police officer convicted of rape, was investigated by the IPID a few years ago.

Cummings, a former Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department senior member, was previously convicted of three counts of rape, and one of human trafficking.

“His co-accused, Tebogo Maregele, was convicted as an accomplice in the rape of a nine-year-old and on two counts of exploitation of children for financial gain,” the IPID said.

The allegation the IPID investigated was that Cummings paid Maregele to lure young girls around Soweto, who were between the ages of 8 and 15 years.

She would then take them to Cummings, who would drive with them to Avalon Cemetery, where he would show them his service firearm and rape them.

The IPID anticipates that this sentence will send a strong message to those who continue to commit similar crimes.

The Germiston Serious Corruption Investigation team has apprehended a 46-year-old suspect for alleged extortion in Kempton Park on Tuesday.

He is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court today.

“The suspect, who introduced himself as Warrant Officer Masemola from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in Germiston, contacted the complainant last week Thursday, demanding that they meet to discuss fraud allegations against him.

“On the same day, the two met at a restaurant in Boksburg and the suspect allegedly demanded R500 000, citing interference and failure to pay would lead to an arrest.

“The matter was reported to the Hawks, who on Tuesday, together with the complainant, cooperated and managed to arrest the suspect after his was given R10 000 in Kempton Park,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.

Gauteng SAPS Provincial Head, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, welcomed and commended the members for apprehending the suspect.

“We urge the public to report any suspicious conduct by individuals purporting to be members of law enforcement agencies, for whatever reason, to the authorities.

“The public must be vigilant and know that at all times, the police are not to be paid by an individual any kind of gratification for doing their job,” Kadwa said.

SAPS said that investigations are still underway.

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, African countries should not lose sight of combatting conflict, which continues in some places on the continent, says International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor.

“As we continue to fight the pandemic, we should not lose sight of the challenges that we continue to face as the continent. The ongoing conflicts in Africa and the difficulties we continue to face in our collective quest to silence the guns by 2020 are a serious cause for concern, and must be addressed with the urgency and vigour they deserve,” said the Minister.

Pandor chaired the 37th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) on Tuesday, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Executive Council of the AU.

The Minister said the impact of climate change, drought, extreme levels of poverty and increasing numbers of unemployment continue to hamper development on the continent.

“This requires us to spare no effort or resources to ensure that the continent realises its socio-economic potential and its vision as outlined in Agenda 2063.”

Pandor said the continent’s challenges need an AU that is well resourced and capable of addressing the challenges on the continent, which continue unabated – even during the pandemic.

“The AU must develop its ability to support the continent in establishing functional institutions that can withstand emergencies such as COVID-19.”

The two-day session, which got underway on Tuesday, will also discuss the recommendations of the Permanent Representative Committee regarding the 2021 AU Budget, as well as progress that has been achieved thus far in the AU’s efforts to improve its financial management.

“Although the issue of the budget is a technical matter, it places huge political responsibilities not only on the AU Commission but on its membership. The chairperson of the AU Commission will provide an update on the budget situation of the organisation and its implications for the implementation of the priorities of the African Union,” said Pandor.

The implementation of the Peace Fund, the Minister said, is critical in the maintenance of peace and security on the continent.

“I have no doubt that the report by the High Representative on the Peace Fund will provide us with options and ways of sustaining the Fund going forward.”

Impact of COVID-19

The Minister said the African continent has lost more than 30 000 people due to the COVID-19 pandemic and more than 1.5 million have been infected, as of 12 October 2020.

The pandemic she said, has severely strained “our already weak public health systems to their limits”.

“The pandemic has also caused a devastating impact on our socio-economic landscape, thereby undermining the gains that we have made thus far. It came as no surprise therefore that the economic forecasts predicted that the continent will experience a recession this year due to the pandemic, for the first time in over two decades.

“These effects are felt by our globe and affect all our countries.”

The continent has worked together and developed a response that has “revealed an African resilience in unity that we should use for addressing our continents challenges.”

“The areas in which action is desirable have been starkly revealed by the pandemic and we should seize the opportunities to strengthen our systems and institutions to ensure we build the ability to withstand such emergencies in future,” said the Minister.

The two-day session, which is being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, concludes on Wednesday, 14 October 2020.

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s committee on Roads and Transport has welcomed the arrest of two people found in possession of Transnet infrastructure goods worth R25 million.

“The arrest comes at a time where the backbone of public transport in the province is almost non-functional due to, among other reasons, constant damage of infrastructure due to theft.

“The theft of rail infrastructure should be… treated as treason,” said Dumisani Dakile, the chairperson of the Roads and Transport Portfolio Committee.

The committee has welcomed the multi-disciplinary efforts and the role of intelligence agencies. It is also confident that their pursuit will lead to more arrests soon.

The National Traffic Police (NTP) has shut down a Pretoria company that is allegedly producing fraudulent vehicle licence discs.

This comes after the traffic police’s specialised unit, the Falcons, conducted a raid on the premises of the company in Kameeldrift on Tuesday morning.

This after two trucks were found to have false vehicle licence discs last Friday.

“It was discovered during the raid that, the company had allegedly displayed fake vehicle discs on 10 of its 19 heavy vehicles,” the NTP said in a statement.

According to the NTP, the company has failed to renew vehicle licence discs since 2012 resulting in R5 366 789 in outstanding licence fees.

“Further investigation are being conducted to determine the source of the fake licence documents and a case of fraud has been opened against the company’s operator. The company is not allowed to operate the vehicles on any public road before the conclusion of investigations,” it said.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has welcomed the raid while also urging members of the public to assist in the elimination of fraud and corruption within the road transport sector.

Police Minister General Bheki Cele has welcomed the arrest of the first suspect involved in violent demonstrations by a group of farmers outside the Senekal Magistrates Court in the Free State.

This as chaotic scenes unfolded outside the court building, following a court appearance by two suspects accused of the murder of farm manager, Brandon Horner.

Cele’s spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba said the Minister is encouraged that a 52-year-old man has been arrested for his role in the demonstrations.

The man is said to be a farmer in Marquad but resides in Senekal and will be charged with malicious damage to property and public violence.

However, the Minister would like to see more action taken.

“Cele is calling for more arrests as it is clear the criminality that took place was a collective act that threatened the rule of law,” Themba added.

In Tuesday’s incident, a police van was overturned and set alight.during the protest by farmers, who gathered outside the court, demanding justice for Horner’s murder.

Two suspects had appeared in court for the brutal killing of the DeRots Farm manager.

A crowd stormed into the court building demanding the accused be handed over to them.

The farmers also vandalised the court property.

In a tweet, Themba announced that she has been receiving threatening calls since the incident.

“It is worrying that I continue to receive abusive and insulting and racist phone calls from anon[anonymous] people and some identify themselves as farmers from Senekal. These calls are being taken seriously and are being looked into by [the police],” Themba tweeted.

The suspects, Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba, 32 and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa, 44, remain in custody.

A South African Revenue Service (SARS) employee is to appear in court today after allegedly soliciting a bribe from a taxpayer.

The official was arrested in a Hawks sting operation on Monday.

The employee allegedly offered to write off a taxpayer’s tax debt in return for the payment of R20 000.

In a statement on Tuesday, the revenue service said it would cooperate fully with the Hawks in the investigation.

Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said that while SARS will not pre-empt the ongoing investigation, the organisation would not tolerate any of its officials engaging in any collusion with taxpayers neither any act of criminal malfeasance.

“Employees of SARS hold positions of privilege and trust, and are expected to display the highest levels of professionalism, act with utmost honesty and integrity, and apply the tax and customs laws competently, without any fear, favour and prejudice. We cannot stand by a fallow the hard work of many honest SARS employees to be undermined and compromised,” he said.

He said employees should keep their conduct beyond reproach in the service of the country and its people.

“Any actions that distracts from achieving this vision has no place in SARS,” said the Commissioner.

Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, has instructed the taxi associations operating at Bosman taxi rank to abide by the law and stop the intimidation that has resulted in some operators being barred from the rank.

This follows tensions which have been simmering between three minibus taxi associations, including Pretoria Mabopane Pietersburg Taxi Association (PMTA), the Pretoria Long Distance Taxi Association (PLDTA) and the Great North Taxi Association (GRENTA) – all operating the route from the capital city to Polokwane.

This prompted Mamabolo to bring all organisations into negotiations as part of efforts to keep the tension at Bosman rank from exploding into violence.

Mamabolo said he has met the associations and made it very clear that violence has no place in the taxi industry.

“As the provincial government, we will spare no effort in ensuring that violence becomes a thing of the past in Gauteng,” Mamabolo said.

The MEC has also instructed the associations to implement the findings of the 2009 arbitration process, which instructed all parties to “operate the Bosman to and from Polokwane route on an equal basis”.

This is while the office of the Gauteng Transport Registrar consults with the associations to find a workable solution.

“I have asked GRENTA, PLDTA and PMPTA to allow the department three months to re-evaluate the matter and come with a new proposal that will resolve their issues once and for all,” Mamabolo said.

The North Gauteng High Court recently ratified an agreement between Gauteng’s major taxi structures, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO-Gauteng), giving the MEC powers to dissolve taxi associations involved in acts of violence.

Five suspects arrested in connection with the alleged human trafficking are expected to appear in the Rustenburg and Kuruman Magistrate Courts today.

The five men were arrested on Sunday following a Hawks Northern Cape and North West Serious Organised Crime Investigation with the assistance of Crime Intelligence, K9, TRT, Crime Scene Investigation and the Department of Home Affairs.

The investigation saw law enforcement raid three brothels in Kuruman and Rustenburg, ultimately arresting the five.

According to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, 11 victims of alleged human trafficking were also recued.

Search warrants were served at two guesthouses namely Birdsong B&B and Noble Guest House at Kerk Street, Rustenburg, which were used as brothels.

The two premises have since been closed.

“Another simultaneous operation also led to a closure of a house in Kuruman. Seven victims, a Zambian, Zimbabwean, three from Lesotho and two South Africans were rescued in Rustenburg,” he said.

Additionally, four South African women were rescued in Kuruman.

He said the arrest of the five suspects aged between 28 and 46, is part of a yearlong proactive investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation in the two towns.

The women aged between 20 and 39 years, were used as prostitutes on the premises after they were allegedly lured by the suspects with a promise of employment.

In addition, an undisclosed amount of money was seized at all premises. Receipt books and three vehicles that were used in the commission of crimes were also confiscated.

The five men are believed to be part of an alleged criminal group.

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation ( DPCI) Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya welcomed the arrests and commended the role played by all units.

Lebeya also appreciated the role that was played by community members who reported the matter to the Hawks.

“I want to encourage all South Africans to continuously work hand in glove with the law enforcement agencies to combat the ongoing threat posed by organised criminal groups.”