Category: News

 A 43-year-old police sergeant was amongst six suspects who were arrested on Monday for possession of a suspected stolen vehicle and two hijacked truck trailers in Clewer, Emalahleni.

The South African Police Service (SAPS said Middleburg Flying Squad members received information about the truck, which was hijacked in Elsburg, Gauteng, in January.

Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said police officers followed the tracking signal, which led them to a certain plot in Clewer.

“Upon arrival, members noticed a White Toyota Dakar next to two trailers. Upon seeing the police, six people started running in different directions. Police managed to apprehend them and out of the six people, there was a police sergeant stationed at Vosman SAPS, as well as two Zimbabwean nationals.

“Police further discovered that the trailers were still loaded with cooking oil estimated at about R1.3 million and they were positively identified as the ones belonging to the reportedly hijacked truck. It was also established that the Toyota Dakar was reported stolen in Garsfontein (in Gauteng province) in September 2017,” said Mohlala.

He said the truck was also found abandoned a few kilometres from the plot. Police are currently continuing with the investigation to establish if the suspects are not involved in other similar criminal activities.

“Police will further engage the Department of Home Affairs to establish the status of the two foreign nationals in the country,” he said.

The suspects are today expected to appear at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on charges of hijacking and possession of suspected stolen properties.

Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, strongly condemned the involvement of SAPS members in criminal activities and commended dedicated members, as well as other stakeholders, for the bust.

The General said an internal investigation will also be conducted against the member who tarnished the image of the organisation.

Member of Parliament, Sibusiso Kula, has been denied bail in the Orkney Magistrates’ Court for the alleged murder of his wife.

This after Kula’s wife, Jennifer, was found with a stab wound to the back at her Kanana Township home in November.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame said Kula was arrested following “thorough investigations” by police.

“Police reports reveal that Kula’s wife was found murdered…in what seemed like a robbery. She was found with a stab wound on her back but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered.

“The matter was reported by the medical facility where she was allegedly transported by the accused to receive medical attention. He told the police that he was not present at his home when the incident occurred.

“Following thorough investigations by the police, he was linked to the alleged murder, and he was arrested on Friday, 20 January 2023, and charged with murder,” he said.

Mamothame added that although Kula is expected to appeal the denial of bail, the NPA welcomes that judgement.

“The NPA welcomes this judgement and hopes investigations will be completed speedily for a trial to commence. Further to this, an application will be made at a later stage with the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, for the matter to be transferred to a higher court, owing to its serious nature. Kula has registered his intention to appeal the judgement,” he said.

Kula is expected back in court on 24 February and will remain in custody until then.

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has appealed to members of the public to refrain from sharing a video of a policewoman allegedly forcing her son to have sex with her.

The video, which was widely shared on social media, showed a Limpopo police constable forcing her 10-year-old son to have sex with her.

The policewoman, who cannot be identified to protect the boy’s identity, was arrested on 20 January 2023 and charged with rape of a minor child, with additional charges of creating and distributing child pornographic material and sexual grooming of a child.

She appeared in court last week and the case was postponed to 30 January 2023.

Commission spokesperson, Javu Baloyi, said CGE is saddened by all forms of sexual violence against children and called for harsher sentences against the perpetrators.

“Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa stipulates that every child has the right to be protected from neglect, abuse, or degradation.”

Baloyi said the commission will be monitoring the case, as per its legal mandate to ensure that the matter is treated with urgency.

“We are calling upon the citizenry to report gender-based violence cases to our nearest offices in all provinces or alternatively call our toll-free number 0800 007 709,” Baloyi said.

Police Minister, General Bheki Cele and the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, will today lead a delegation of various experts within the organisation to the crime scene of a mass shooting in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

It is alleged that on Sunday, two unknown gunmen entered a home in Makhanda Street in Kwazakele and randomly shot at guests who were attending a birthday party.

Eight people died while three others are still fighting for their lives in hospital.  The home owner is among the deceased.

Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene, has strongly condemned the killing of the eight people and the injury of the other three people.

Preliminary investigations at this stage has revealed that between 17:15 and 17:30, the owner of the house was celebrating his birthday when two unknown gunmen entered the yard and started shooting at the guests.

Seven people (three females and four males) were fatally injured on the scene, while another four people (two females and two males) sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital for treatment.

One of the victims succumbed to their injuries in hospital, bringing the total number of the deceased to eight. The owner of the house was among the deceased.

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack is underway. No arrests have been made at this stage.

The identity of the deceased and the injured are still to be established.

The Provincial Organised Crime Investigation unit is investigating a case of murder and three cases of attempted murder.

Lt Gen Mene has condemned the killings as cowardice and a blatant disregard for human life and has ordered the team of investigators to track and trace the perpetrators in the quickest time possible.

She also appealed to the community to come forward with any information and not to harbour the criminals.

“These victims were killed by criminals and we will not rest until we find out what happened and who was responsible for these callous and cold blooded attack on these unsuspecting victims,” she said.

Anyone who can assist in identifying the victims or tracing their next of kin or with any information relating to the suspects is asked to contact the Provincial OCI, D/Capt Sitole on  082 457 2812 or Crime Stop on 086 00 10111.

The North West government has committed to attend to the inconsistent provision of basic services, improve information availability on service delivery challenges as well as develop a system that will help government resolve identified service delivery challenges.

This comes after outrage by residents who complained about aging infrastructure, vandalism, as well as ongoing electricity power cuts, which continue to have an adverse impact on the provision of water in various localities across the province.

This has prompted the government to find a solution to these matters by resolving them using the Rapid Service Delivery Monitoring and Intervention Strategy.

The North West government said government departments and institutions will strengthen communication and keep residents abreast of intervention measures they employ to address service delivery backlogs.

Communities will also have an opportunity to report and alert government of any service interruption through a web-based free access online application that has been developed by the Office of the Premier.

The strategy will be implemented through the Provincial Accelerated Service Delivery Plan.

North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape has urged various levels of government to work together and ensure the full implementation of the strategy.

“This strategy is aimed at intensifying our efforts to expedite delivery of services in municipalities and avert violent protests over provision of services. Municipalities are also considering alternative energy sources to ensure uninterrupted provision of water in many of our localities.

“We have also been alerted of possible acts of vandalism in our water infrastructure. We have requested police to follow all leads, investigate these allegations and arrest perpetrators of this hideous crime,” Maape said.

The North West Premier’s Coordinating Council recently held a meeting following inconsistent provision of services in some parts of the province sparking outrage by residents.

The Coordinating Council also reflected on the visit by the Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu in the province.

The visit is one of the many initiatives by the provincial government to work hand in glove with the National Department, Water Boards and the Private Sector to address challenges of water and sanitation in various communities across the province.

Various intervention measures are already in full swing. A follow up meeting is expected to be held in due course to take stock on progress made.

“We want to include everybody in these initiatives. Mining operations in the Bojanala District are already assisting through Corporate Social Investments and Social Labour Plans. We want to scale-up these efforts through an intensified collaborative effort,” the Premier said.

A Technical Team that has been assembled by Premier Maape is currently undertaking visits in localities across the province to monitor provision of services in various government departments and institutions.

The initiative is also aimed at developing remedial action plans to find solutions on a number of service delivery challenges confronting communities across the province.

“We want to interact directly with communities to understand their plight and challenges. These visits will help us a great deal in making informed decisions about a number of projects we intend to implement.

“There are already various infrastructural projects that will be carried out between now and the next financial year and we want these initiatives to benefit locals in one way or the other,” Maape said.

The Police ministry has urged detectives to pursue all available avenues to find the killers of a Port Edward warrant officer and his family at the weekend.

Led by Police Minister Bheki Cele, the ministry made the call while visiting the bereaved family of slain warrant officer, Roger Mavundla and three of his family members.

Cele, Police Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale and the SAPS management, led by General Fannie Masemola, on Tuesday descended on Port Edward in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mavundla was gunned down with his family just meters away from their family home.

He and his fiancé, Khanyisile Mthulisi, 39, their children Siyamthanda Mthulisi 10 and 17-year-old Thando Mavundla all succumbed to their injuries.

Simthandile Mthulisi, seven, the sole survivor of the incident, is in a critical condition in hospital.

Ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba in a statement said: “While the motive is yet to be confirmed, investigators from the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI) are following-up on leads with the aim to find and prosecute the perpetrators of the heinous crime.”

The 49-year-old policeman was on Tuesday described by his colleagues and many in the community as a respected and dedicated public servant.

Minister Cele has assured the bereaved family and community at large that this crime will not go unpunished.

“While we are aware that policing is a dangerous job, it is very shocking and truly disturbing that an officer who has been described as a good man dedicated to his work, is killed along with his young family so brutally. Our thoughts and prayers are with the young girl who is fighting for her life in hospital and hope she recovers from this tragedy. Ours as law enforcement is to ensure a thorough job is done during the investigative work and the results can bring the affected families the community and the nation, some closure,” Cele said.

Warrant Officer Mavundla and his family will be laid to rest at the weekend.

Eskom has called on the City of Tshwane municipality to pay its bulk electricity supply to enable the power utility to “continue supplying electricity to the city”.

This after Eskom revealed that the municipality’s debt has risen to some R1.4 billion.

“The City of Tshwane’s electricity debt has compounded…due to its short payments and non-payments spanning several months in the recent past. The city short paid its November 2022 account of R780 million, negatively impacting the liquidity, financial performance and sustainability of the power utility.

“Eskom does not have the financial capacity to finance the CoT’s operations and calls on the city to do right by its residents and pay the bulk electricity account to enable Eskom to continue supplying electricity to the city,” Eskom said.

The electricity supplier said it has engaged with the CoT to pay the remaining balance on the November account however, “the bill remains outstanding”.

“Eskom approached the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to mediate in the resolution of the CoT’s poor payments that continue to spiral out of control. The Public Finance Management Act requires that institutions recover what is owed to them, hence Eskom sought the intervention of Cogta in the matter.

“Eskom has previously reported on CoT’s erratic payments on its bulk account. On 5 January, the power utility made the same plea to settle its long outstanding invoice of November 2022 in a meeting between the two entities but to no avail,” Eskom said.

Four people believed to be kingpins associated with a crime syndicate involving the fraudulent sale of driving licences in the North West have been arrested.

The suspects who include driving licence examiners and driving school operators were arrested on Tuesday in Klerksdorp and Stillfontein. An additional two suspects are expected to be added soon.

The arrests followed a two-year investigation, dubbed operation KPS, conducted by the Road Traffic Management (RTMC) national traffic anti-corruption unit together with the South African Police Service (SAPS) anti-corruption and crime intelligence units.

“The investigation revealed that examiners of driving licences were colluding with driving school operators to have learner’s and driving licences fraudulently issued to aspiring driving without requiring them to undergo the required tests. It was established that the syndicate had hijacked driving licence centres in Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom and Stillfontein to conduct its corrupt activities.

“Driving school operators play a pivotal role by booking for aspirant drivers, arranging eye tests with local optometrists and co-ordinating examiners to ensure that licences are issued. In some instances, driving schools organise jockeys, that are qualified drivers who undertake driving tests on behalf of aspirant drivers or applicants,” the RTMC said.

The suspects were detained in police custody at Jouberton police station and are expected to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrate Court on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 10 other licensing officials from Harrismith in the Free State are due to appear in the local regional court on 25 May on similar charges of fraud related to the issuing of driving licences.

Five other officials will appear in the Bethlem regional court on similar charges as well. They were all arrested in 2021.

“Sixteen suspects who include former Mpumalanga provincial government officials, staff from municipal offices and vehicle fleet owners will appear at the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court in connection with the alleged R60 million vehicle licence fee corruption on 21 February 2023.

“They are facing charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering after it was discovered that they allegedly conspired to ensure that vehicles licence fees and arrears worth tens of millions were written off and officials pocketed half of the fees due to the state,” the RTMC said.

The RTMC has urged members of the public to work with it to root out corruption in driving licence centres.

Anonymous tip offs can be sent via WhatsApp on (083) 293-7989. Alternatively, emails can be sent to ntacu@rtmc.co.za. All information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Government has urged South Africans to take extra caution as the heatwave persists in certain parts of the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, GCIS Acting Director-General, Michael Currin, said: “We are concerned about the impact of the hot weather, parts of South Africa has been experiencing.”

He said residents must drink water and wear light clothing.

“If you are working in direct sunlight, take regular breaks to avoid exhaustion. In particular, residents of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are urged to take precautions against heat-related health complications as temperatures are expected to soar today, as per weather warnings.”

He said government was extremely sad to hear about the passing of eight people of heat stroke in the Northern Cape after a heatwave hit the province.

“Government sends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” said Currin.

Management at the South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the sentences handed down by the Skukuza Regional Court to two Mozambican nationals convicted of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Lucky Shihlangu, 33, and Sergio Mathebula, 32, we found guilty and sentenced to a total of 22 years but will serve 18 years effectively. They faced six charges related to the case and were found guilty on all six charges.

Field rangers in the Malelane Section of the KNP arrested the two on 21 September 2022. Rangers began searching for the pair after shots were heard and a fresh rhino carcass was discovered nearby.

The pursuit of the suspects resulted in the two poachers being discovered, and they were found in possession of a heavy calibre hunting rifle, live ammunition and two fresh rhino horns.

The State led evidence that linked the rifle and the horns to the carcass that was discovered nearby.

The Managing Executive of the KNP, Oscar Mthimkhulu, congratulated everyone who contributed to the arrest and conviction.

“We are glad to have removed a pair of criminals and poaching equipment from the system. We know there are big role players who still need to come to trial and hope they too will face the might of the law like their ground troops.

“Collaboration between all law enforcement agencies is important for us to get on top of the situation.

“The recent arrests, convictions and sentences should serve as a warning to criminals that we are serious about protecting our natural heritage and will continue in memory of our colleagues, who paid the ultimate price in their work,” Mthimkhulu said.

The Skukuza Regional Court has had a 100% conviction rate since the beginning of the year and has vowed to continue to convict anyone who hunts illegally in a national park.