Day: July 20, 2022

KIMBERLEY – Members of Prieska Vispol put a 27-year-old man behind bars for dealing in dagga. On Tuesday, 19 July 2022 at approximately 13:15, police acted on a tip-off regarding a vehicle that was delivering dagga at Matiti Street in Prieska. Vispol members promptly responded to the information, and found the suspect on the premises in possession of 231 zip-lock bags of dagga weighing 815,3grams with an estimated street value of more than R7000-00. The suspect is expected to appear in the Prieska Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 20 July 2022 on a charge of dealing in dagga.

The District Commissioner of Pixley Ka Seme commended community members of Prieska for their involvement in policing partnership, to uproot criminal activities in their neighbourhood.

Source: South African Police Service

Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday after experiencing minor symptoms.

“Minister Phaahla took tests earlier today, and the results came back positive, and he immediately self-isolated,” the statement read.

However, according to his office, he will continue to perform his official duties from home for seven days, while his planned contact meetings have been rescheduled or are now due to take place virtually.

“This is a reminder that the pandemic remains amongst us and infectious, hence the department continues to report COVID-19 daily positive cases and deaths.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Health said Phaahla received two doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which he believes has boosted his immunity against the severity of the virus.

“The department would like to remind the public that lifting the COVID-19 restrictions doesn’t mean the pandemic is over, hence vaccination remains accessible at all times at selected sites.”

South Africa now has 4 000 894 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases since the outbreak, of which 263 infections were detected on Tuesday.

The latest data shows that the country lost 13 more patients to COVID-19, one in the 48 hours, pushing the death toll to 101 935.

Source: South African Government News Agency

FREE STATE – Seven suspects between the ages of 31 and 81 are expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ court tomorrow, 21 July 2022 where they will be facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

It is alleged that in 2017, three officials from the Department of Public Works in the Free State and two company directors defrauded the Department by submitting inflated and fraudulent invoices for the leasing of two properties to the State. After the Department made payments to the service providers, transfers were then made to these officials and to other private individuals who were allegedly used for money laundering. The private individuals will then transfer the money to these government officials. As a result of the fraudulent activities, the Department of Public Works was prejudiced and suffered a total loss of more than R3 million.

The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Bloemfontein for further investigation. The seven suspects were served with summons between, 22 June 2022 and 07 July 2022.

Source: South African Police Service

South Africa now has 4 000 894 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases since the outbreak, of which 263 were added on Tuesday.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Gauteng recorded the most cases after 102 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus.

The province is followed by 77 infections in the Western Cape, 30 in KwaZulu-Natal, while the rest of the provinces logged less than 20 cases.

Meanwhile, the latest data reveals that the country lost 13 more patients to COVID-19, one in the past 48 hours.

This means the country now has a death toll of 101 935 since the first case was reported on 5 March 2020.

Meanwhile, nine more people were admitted to hospital in the past 24 hours, pushing the number of hospital admissions to 1 034.

The information is based on the 25 893 612 tests in both the public and private sectors.

In addition, the Department of Health said 13 435 vaccine doses were administered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 37 060 820 since the rollout programme began last year.

Data also show that 20 214 165 adults have now received the COVID-19 vaccines in South Africa, while 2 614 505 vaccine doses have been given to children between the ages of 12 and 17.

Globally, as of 19 July 2022, there have been 561 156 416 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6 365 510 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation.

Source: South African Government News Agency

GAUTENG – The Germiston based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team assisted by the police officers from the Vhulaudzi SAPS in Limpopo arrested a 46-year-old former police Sergeant for corruption.

She will appear at the Dzanani Magistrates’ Court today, 20 July 2022 and the matter will be transferred to the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

It is alleged that in 2016, the suspect who was stationed in Tembisa SAPS at the time approached the complainant whose vehicle was impounded after it was used in the commission of a crime and demanded R12 000-00 to release it. The money was paid but the bakkie was not released.

In another incident in 2017, she pretended to be a police Captain when she allegedly approached a taxi driver who was involved in an accident in Olifantsfontein and demanded cash to ‘squash’ the docket. R6000-00 was paid and the taxi owner reported the matter then a case was opened.

When she learnt about the allegations, she resigned and disappeared from the Gauteng province. Both dockets were investigated by the Hawks and the warrant for her arrest was issued by the court.

The suspect was tracked and traced to a village in Limpopo where she was arrested yesterday, 19 July 2022 on corruption charges.

Source: South African Police Service

FREE STATE – A local butchery was robbed of an undisclosed amount of money on Tuesday morning, 19 July 2022 at Heidedal location in Bloemfontein by four men armed with firearms.

The suspects apparently pointed the cashiers with firearms and took all the money from the tills then proceeded to the manager’s office and instructed him to open the safe and took money from the safe. The suspects fled the scene with a Gold Mercedes Benz registration number FZG 713 FS, which was reported as stolen earlier this year.

No arrest have been made yet. Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest the suspects is kindly requested to contact their nearest police station or the Investigating Officer Sgt Ramoola on the following numbers 082 453 0760.

Source: South African Police Service

POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has urged Police members to seek professional assistance when faced with relationship challenges following an incident in which a Police Constable allegedly shot a man and a woman and later turned the gun on himself at Seshego Zone 3 this afternoon, Wednesday 20 July 2022 at about 13h00.

A 27-year-old Constable attached to Roedtan police station allegedly went to a rental apartment and reportedly found a woman believed to be his girlfriend in the company of another man. He then confronted them and shot them dead before turning the gun on himself.

All three persons were certified dead on the scene. The Policeman’s service pistol was found on the scene. It is not clear at this stage what prompted the incident but domestic related challenges cannot be ruled out.

“Our members are urged to make use of available internal helping professionals whose responsibility is to look after the employees’ health and wellness issues and desist from resorting to extreme violence when dealing with challenges.” Concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.

The Police have opened cases of two counts of murder and one count of inquest. Investigations are continuing.

Source: South African Police Service