Day: August 3, 2022

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (NPA AFU) has been granted and served an order to restrain at least R13 million on former South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Head, Richard Mdluli, Head of Supply Chain Management, Heine Barnard, former SAPS Crime Intelligence CFO, Solomon Lazarus, and others.

The other accused are Mdluli's former wife, Theresa Lyons, and his current wife, Vusiwane Mdluli, John and Heena Appalsami of Daez Trading CC, Barnard’s wife Juanita Barnard and Lazarus's wife, Sandra Lazarus.

According to the NPA, the restraint is linked to the fraud, theft and corruption case the accused are facing in the Gauteng High Court.

“The matter pertains to charges of gross abuse of the police crime intelligence slush fund, which ultimately benefited Richard Mdluli and his family.

“They include payment of private trips to China and Singapore, private use of a witness protection house in Boksburg and conversion of this property for his personal use [and] the leasing out of Mdluli’s private townhouse at Gordon Villas in Gordon’s Bay as a safe house to the State and using the monthly rental to pay his bond.

“[Charges also include] paying [Mdluli’s] financing costs owing on his private BMW through an intricate scheme to the detriment of the SAPS, coercing a SAPS supplier into giving Mdluli a special deal on the use and purchase price of a Honda Ballade, paying transfer costs to an attorney on the purchase of a house in Cape Town and having family members, without adequate qualifications or experience, appointed in crime intelligence [as well as] getting them on the payroll and paying their salaries, providing them with motor vehicles and cell phones.

“The offences are alleged to have been committed between 2008 and 2012,” said the NPA.

NPA AFU head, Advocate Ouma Rabaji-Rasethaba, said the prosecutorial body is determined to ensure that not only are those alleged to be corrupt brought to court but that they hand over any illegal benefits back to the state.

“The NPA has a two-pronged strategy for prosecuting those responsible for looting State coffers -- through criminal prosecution and also by taking away the proceeds of crime through asset forfeiture proceedings.

“We will not allow those who benefited from crime to hold onto the ill-gotten gains and they must feel that crime does not pay,” Rabaji-Rasethaba said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

POLOKWANE - The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe and top Provincial Police Management kick-started the Women's month on a positive note following the appointment of a highly dedicated Policewoman, Major General Junior Lehabe-Metsi, as the new District Commissioner of Sekhukhune , one of the five Districts in the Province.

The rank of a Major General was conferred to the newly appointed District Commissioner by the Provincial Commissioner this morning, Wednesday 03 August 2022, during the event that was attended by the Deputy Provincial Commissioners, Provincial Heads and the two Brigadier Station Commanders from the same District, Tubatse and Burgersfort police stations.

Major General Lehabe-Metsi brings with her a wealth of experience, having served for many years in the South African Police Service at various levels in Gauteng and North West provinces. She began her career in 1989 as a Constable and steadily progressed through the ranks until she was appointed as the Provincial Head of Corporate Communication and Liaison in the North West Province, holding the rank of Colonel.

Before her appointment as the District Commissioner, Major General Lehabe-Metsi was the Station Commander of Ga-Rankuwa Police Station holding the rank of Brigadier. This was preceded by her stint as the Director of Community Safety and Transport Management in Gauteng, where she was the programme manager of crime prevention, civil society and mobilisation.

As the District Commissioner, Major General Lehabe-Metsi will be overseeing twenty one (21) Police Stations falling under Sekhukhune District and these include; Burgersfort, Tubatse, Groblersdal, Denilton, Nebo, Mecklenburg, Masemola, Hlogotlou, Marblehall, Motetema, Sekhukhune, Maklereng, Rakgoadi, Zaaiplaas, Roosenekal, Apel, Elandskraal, Driekop, Jane Furse, Ohristad and Leboyeng.

Wishing the new District Commissioner well in her new responsibilities, the Provincial Commissioner has also told her to be decisive in her dealings and be resolute when confronting the scourge of crime, especially inter-provincial criminal activities as the District shares boundaries with Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provinces.

Source: South African Police Service

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday deliver the keynote address during the closing ceremony of the Presidential Social Sector Summit to be held at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng.

The Presidential Social Sector which kicks-off tomorrow is held under the theme "Fostering Social Cohesion to enable Socio-Economic Participation in Communities".

In a statement on Wednesday, the Presidency highlighted that in his 2018 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa issued a call to the nation for a social compact - a shared national agenda and commitment that will guide all sectors of society in building the South Africa envisaged in Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan.

“In line with the National Development Plan’s advancement of active citizenry, the Summit will bring together stakeholders from a wide range of constituencies to work with government to address socio-economic challenges and mobilise resources for civil society, among other objectives,” the Presidency said.

The Department of Social Development set up a National Task Team comprising key departments, civil society organisations, the National Lotteries Commission and the NEDLAC Community Constituency to coordinate and ensure the inclusiveness of the Social Sector Summit.

The Presidency said that dialogues were held in all provinces between provincial governments and social partner organisations as part of the build-up to the summit.

“The summit will consider dialogue reports from the nine provinces covering challenges that have been raised.

“These challenges include access to funding, regulatory issues; transformation of the social sector with a view to fostering a state-civil society partnership to address challenges related to poverty, inequality, and employment, and the deepening of democratic participation,” the Presidency said.

The summit is expected to be attended by about 600 delegates from various Civil Society Organisations (CSO) from across South Africa.

The Presidency said that these organisations play an important role in society through welfare, economic empowerment, skills development, sports and recreation, advocacy and human rights.

“President Ramaphosa will underscore the role of civil society organisations in the realisation of the National Development Plan,” the Presidency said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

ODENDAALSRUS - On 01 August 2022 at about 23:25, it is alleged that a 43-year-old security officer was on duty at Malebaleba Primary School in Kutloanong, when he saw an unknown man who fired one shot at him. A crowbar was used to forcefully open the classroom where the security officer was in and he was tied up at gun point.

The suspects went to the staff room and fled with laptops and cash as well as other valuables. After four hours, the security guard managed to untie himself and screamed for help. The security officer did not sustain any injuries and a case of business robbery was registered for further investigation.

Anyone with information leading to the arrests of these suspects, can contact Detective Constable Modise Kotsi of Odendaalsrus Detective Services on 082 301 2797 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Tip-offs can be submitted via the My SAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and COGTA, Lebogang Maile, says government is committed to moving with speed and decisiveness to address grievances raised by protesting residents in Tembisa.

The violent protests – prompted by dissatisfaction over price hikes in the cost of water and electricity – have left at least four people dead, with public and private infrastructure torched and damaged.

“There are many issues. Some of them can be resolved in the short-term, others in the medium and others will be in the long-term. At the same time, there are issues that will require national government and the province to work with the municipality.

“We commit ourselves to working with the municipality… We want to make sure that whatever happens in these engagements, we are able to solve the problems the people are facing.

“We are also aware that this is not the only community facing these problems. We will [also] have a follow up discussion with all the municipalities to deal with billing [and municipal tariffs],” he said.

Maile acknowledged that the community’s grievances are legitimate and that the residents enjoy the right to protest. However, he said, “criminal elements” marred the protests and played a role in the escalation of the violence.

“Criminal elements have sought to hijack the genuine protests and grievances of the people. When you listen to the memorandum… you realise that the grievances are genuine and these are the issues people are facing every day.

“At the same time, we are calling for calm… [This] does not mean that we are suppressing people’s views, but we are saying that if they continue to march and to protest, they must do so in a peaceful manner,” Maile said.

The MEC sent his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and called on the community to unite against those taking advantage of their legitimate protests.

Maile is expected to hold a community meeting with the residents, while a further meeting with the Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Tania Campbell, is expected to take place on Friday.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WESTERN CAPE - Part of police efforts to protect the infrastructure and economy in the Western Cape, saw the arrest of an adult male for trading without a second hand license and infrastructure related offences.

Members the Economic Infrastructure Task Team conducted compliance inspections at a scrap yard in Thys Witbooi Street, Vrygrond on Monday, 01 August 2022. During the inspection, the members confiscated copper and aluminium cables with a total mass of 437,05 kilogram and with an estimated street value of R43 000-00. The suspect could not produce any documentation to operate a second hand business.

The same members assisted Public Order Police in Mfuleni when they arrested an adult male after he was caught with three electric boxes and 33 electrical breakers with an estimated street value of R20 000-00. It is believed that the equipment belongs to the City of Cape Town.

Once charged the suspects are due to make their respective court appearances in the Simon’s Town and Blue Downs Magistrates courts.

Source: South African Police Service

Eskom has announced that it will implement load shedding from this afternoon after the power utility faced some challenges at several power stations.

“Due to a shortage of generation capacity, stage two load shedding will be implemented during the evening peak period of 4pm to midnight this afternoon and at the same time tomorrow. Eskom will promptly communicate any further significant changes.

“The delay in returning a generation unit to service each at Arnot, Koeberg and Kusile power stations, as well as the unplanned outage of a generation unit each at Camden, Medupi and two units each at Grootvlei, Hendrina and Majuba power stations have exacerbated the capacity constraints. Some generation units are anticipated to return to service over the next few days,” Eskom said.

The power utility had warned on Tuesday that load shedding could be implemented at short notice, should generation units face problems with returning to service.

Currently, at least 15 501MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns, with a further 2 931MW of energy out on planned maintenance.

“Eskom would like to remind the public that loadshedding is implemented only as a last resort to protect the national grid. We therefore urge all South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly especially during these uncertain times on the power system,” Eskom said.

Source: South African Government News Agency