Day: May 24, 2022

DURBAN – On Monday afternoon, 23 May 2022 at 18:00, Umkomaas police officers and private security acted on information regarding a group of suspects who were stealing copper cables.

The team proceeded to Zuba area in Umkomaas where a group of men was spotted cutting and removing copper cables. A total of three suspects, aged between 37 and 39, were placed under arrest. A vehicle along with equipment valued at R20 000-00, that belonged to Eskom, were seized by police. Police recovered copper cables, which belonged to the Ethekwini Municipality. The recovered copper cables are valued at R60 000-00. The suspects are appearing before the Umbumbulu Magistrate’s Court on charges of tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of stolen property.

In another case yesterday, Umkomaas police officers received information about a suspect who was in possession of stolen copper cable at the Ilfracombe Railway line. Police proceeded to the scene and a 33-year-old suspect was found in possession of stolen copper cable. The property was positively identified as the property of Eskom valued R3000-00. He was charged for damaging essential infrastructure as well as possession of stolen property. The suspect is also appearing in court today.

Source: South African Police Service

DURBAN – Durban Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit detectives are seeking assistance in a Berea case that they are investigating.

It is alleged by the victim (28) that on 01 March 2022 at 19:30, she was in Musgrave Road waiting for a taxi to go to the market. A brown motor vehicle with an e-hailing sticker stopped and the driver offered to take her to the market.  She reportedly got into the vehicle and the suspect drove to Isipingo where he raped and robbed her of her belongings. The suspect then drove back to West Street and the victim managed to escape and seek help from nearby shops.

The incident was reported to the Berea police station and the docket was transferred to the Durban Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation. Police believe that the person as depicted in the attached identikit can assist in solving this case. Anyone with any information or who can identify the person in the identikit is asked to call Detective Constable Dube on 072 200 7002/ 065 838 5656 or Crime Stop on 0860010111. Information can also be shared through the MySAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has reiterated the call for members of the public to refrain from hitchhiking. The caution by the General comes in the wake of yet another incident whereby a 32-year-old woman escaped with her life from her capturer who gave her a lift as she was hitchhiking yesterday, 23 May 2022. Fortunately she managed to escape and the suspect was arrested by police this morning, 24 May 2022 at Mzinti near Komatipoort (in Nkomazi). A firearm as well as drugs were seized at the house where the woman was held.

According to the report, whilst the woman was hitchhiking around 19h00 yesterday 23 May 2022 from Block-C Block-A, a man driving in a grey VW Golf emerged and offered her a lift.

It is alleged that along the way the woman was given a drink and thereafter passed out. She reportedly woke up at a certain house known to her around 12 midnight. The man who was allegedly in possession of a firearm held her hostage but she somehow managed to escape and reached the main road.

The female victim eventually made it to the Tonga Police Station where she reported the incident. The members immediately followed the detailed information as described by the victim thereby making it to the house where she was earlier held hostage.

Fortunately the suspect who is from KZN Province was found by the police and swiftly arrested. Further than the firearm and ammunition that members found in the possession of the suspect at the scene, they discovered 392 grams of dagga, as well as 44 sachets of nyaope. The astute members also found that the serial numbers of the firearm were filled off.

The investigation team will dig deeper in their probe to establish whether the man is not involved in other similar incidents of that nature. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against him as the investigation continues. He is currently facing charges, including illegal possession of a firearm with ammunition, possession of illegal drugs and could be linked to the woman’s kidnapping incident.

Whilst appreciating the exceptional work done by the members, the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has voiced out her concerns regarding some members of the community who continue to disregard the countless pleas to avoid hitchhiking and thereby falling prey to the snare of the criminals who room around looking for those they can devour, especially on the roads where people are asking for lifts or giving lifts to others, which obviously place their lives at risk “We are very much concerned that even after constantly urging our people not to hitchhike, they continue to do so hence incidents such as this. We hope people will come to learn from this experience and try to use safe modes of transport regardless of the costs” advised the General.

Source: South African Police Service

National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (NPA ID) head, Advocate Andrea Johnson, says the prosecutorial body is pressing forward with its plans to vigorously prioritise and bring fraud and corruption cases over the next six months.

This follows the arrest of a senior Eastern Cape government official and two businessmen on various charges related to an allegedly dodgy R36 million South African Police Service (SAPS) tender.

“The ID has committed itself to the NPA’s six months priority plan to combat corruption. Every matter will start to make a dent in the greater scheme of corruption. The ID will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that it holds accountable those responsible for these crimes.

“Impunity will no longer be a given as we intensify our efforts to fight corruption and state capture,” Johnson said.

The three men – including Eastern Cape Chief Director of Community Safety and Liaison Neil Naidoo – are expected to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court today (Tuesday) on charges corruption, theft and defeating the ends of justice.

NPA ID spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, said the three are expected to apply for bail which the NPA is expected to oppose.

“The accused attempted to bribe investigating officials for R3.5 million to halt investigations into a multimillion-rand national police tender they were involved in. The investigation related to an ongoing contract awarded to KJP trading Pty Ltd for the supply of furniture to various SAPS offices across the country for two years.

“Naidoo stands accused of initiating talks between the investigators and the two businessmen to iron out or halt investigations on 12 March 2022. In an undercover operation Pillay and Govender agreed to pay a sum of R3.5 million by 05 April 2022.

“They stand accused of paying R1.8 million over to Naidoo on 14 April 2022, who allegedy took R300 000 for himself and delivered R1.5 million to the undercover police officers. The remaining amount was to be paid at a later date,” Seboka said.

Eastern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, warned that officials caught up in corruption will face the might of the law.

“Those who continue to steal from the coffers of government institutions, must be made to face the consequences of their actions. This is one of the examples we have made and more will be made as long as we still have people who seem to be dishonest in our society,” she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Home Affairs has dismissed the Chief Director who recommended that self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his family be issued with Permanent Residence Permits – with immediate effect.

In a statement on Monday, the department said the Bushiri family were issued with permanent residence they did not deserve.
 
The Chief Director for Permitting, Ronney Marhule, was found guilty on two counts of misconduct relating to dishonesty and negligence at the conclusion of a lengthy disciplinary hearing which lasted for almost a year.
 
The department said that this comes after Marhule tried in vain to stop the disciplinary process on at least three occasions at the Labour Court and at the Labour Appeal Court.
 
Marhule was charged, on two counts, with gross dishonesty, gross negligence and non-compliance with the Immigration Act, Regulations and Standard Operating Procedures.

“The first count related to recommending the approval of the Permanent Residence Permit applications of Bushiri, his spouse and two children.
 
“The second count related to recommending the approval of the Permanent Residence Permit applications of Mr Mohamed Afzal Motiwala and Ms Fatima Ebrahim,” the department said.
 
The Chairperson of the Disciplinary Hearing found that Marhule showed no remorse and that the “relationship of trust between the employer and the employee has broken down and cannot be restored”.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that the department is committed to ensuring clean governance.
 
“The outcome of this disciplinary hearing is taking us closer to ensuring that we bring to an end irregular practices and decisions by Home Affairs officials within the system. We are cracking down on all forms of irregularities wherever we find them at Home Affairs,” the Minister said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Limpopo’s Labour Activation Program (LAP) unit at the Department of Employment and Labour, together with Public Employment Services Unit, will today continue with their drive to take services to the people in Vhembe District.

The drive started on Monday and will continue today in Thohoyandou town hall and the Vuwani community hall.

In a statement on Monday, the department said that this comes after the unit identified the district as one of the regions in the province with a high unemployment rate. 

The purpose of the program is to ensure that work seekers are registered on the Public Employment Services database as a pool for recruitment of learners in the foreseen projects.

The programme is currently targeting work seekers and former UIF contributors from the district under the four programs namely: skills development, learnerships, trade test certification and apprenticeship.

The department said some of the learners will be permanently absorbed after completion of their training that will be given once they are matched for opportunities. 

Deputy Director in the Labour Activation Program unit, Mokwale Monar, encouraged the work seekers to not lose hope and believe that through the Labour Activation Program they will together achieve and succeed.

“We are currently having a challenge as a country in terms of unemployment. COVID-19 has increased job losses as some companies have been forced to shut down therefore there is lot of demands for skills development programs so we can adapt into the 21st century and the requirements of the fourth industrial revolution,” Monare said.

He indicated that in terms of requirements, skills development is open to everyone, with Grade 12 as a minimum requirement for the learnerships programme, while Apprenticeship requires N2 or N6 qualifications, and trade test requires N2 and 2 years’ experience in the field.

Monare said that it is in the interest of the officials to leave no stone unturned and to help fight unemployment through the opportunities offered by the LAP project.

Source: South African Government News Agency