Day: September 15, 2022

POTCHEFSTROOM – Three accused, Aron Mphosela (29), Daniel Malinga (36) and Mojalefa Pule (42) were granted R500-00 bail each when they appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 14 September 2022, for extortion, trespassing and intimidation. This is after the trio was nabbed on Monday, 12 September 2022, for entering a construction site without authorisation, threatened employees with violence and stopped them from working. 

According to information, the accused threatened and forced the contractor to leave Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court which he was appointed to renovate in March 2020. Although the construction work delayed, it resumed in July 2022. Allegedly, members of Provincial Organised Crime Unit received information on Wednesday, 07 September 2022, that a group of unknown males forcefully entered the construction site and threatened the employees with violence. An enquiry was opened for investigation.

On Monday, 12 September 2022, a tip-off was received that the same group went back to the construction site to intimidate employees. Consequently, a prompt response by the Provincial Organised Crime Unit members led to apprehension of the accused who are expected to reappear at the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 28 September 2022.

The police would like to encourage contractors who are intimidated by gangs in various parts of the province to report such occurrences. 

The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena extolled the Provincial Organised Crime Unit members for their swift response and subsequent arrest of the accused. He reiterated that those who intimidate employees and interrupt operations at construction sites will be shown no mercy. 

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – Three suspects aged between 25 and 44 made a brief appearance at the Upington Magistrates’ Court today for alleged fraud, forgery and uttering.

Albertus Andreas (44), Janrau April (25) and Steven Mahema (33) were arrested earlier this morning, 15 September 2022, by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.

It is alleged that in December 2017, these suspects colluded and purchased a Toyota Fortuner at a local dealership in Upington through submission of fraudulent documents.

As a result, the suspects intentionally and unlawfully made a misrepresentation to WesBank to grant them vehicle finance of an amount exceeding R500 000-00.

The matter was postponed to 27 September 2022, for the matter to be transferred to the specialised commercial crimes court.

Source: South African Police Service

MATLEREKENG – SAPS under Sekhukhune District have on Tuesday, 13 September 2022, hosted a safer schools awareness campaign in a form of a debate whereby learners from four problematic schools in the policing area participated respectively.

The debate was based on the following topics under the theme “Nothing about us without us”

Gender-based violence (GBV)

Bullying

Teenage pregnancy

Peer pressure and

Dangers of drug and substance abuse.

The event was honoured by the local ward Councillor Mr Sebothoma, Provincial Community Policing Forum (CPF) Public Relations Officer Mr Alfred Ramoshaba and the Department of Government and Information Services (GCIS) official Mr Mokgoma Nkopodi.

In addition, Young Civilians on Patrol (YCOP) representative, Mr Aphane, Victim Empowerment Centre (VEP) member, Miss Mallela and School Governing Body (SGB) Deputy Chairperson, Mrs Magakwe and Educators from the four schools were also in attendance.

The Junior Station Commander title was bestowed to Karabo Mangwane from Rekhuditse High School and Deputy awarded to Francis Kekana from Rephafogile High school.

Source: South African Police Service

GQEBERHA – Recent crime statistics reveal that the number of murders in the country remains high and is a cause for concern.

SAPS Kabega Park detectives are determined in ensuring that perpetrators of serious crime are arrested and brought before a court of law. On Wednesday, 14 September 2022, six alleged murder suspects were arrested in three separate cases.

The first arrest was effected after a warrant of arrest was executed on a 37-year-old murder suspect. It is alleged that in 2018, the suspect was attacked by the deceased, Luyanda Ntlokoana with a knife. Initially, an inquest was opened however the charge was later changed to murder

In the second case, during March 2021 Vuyolwethu August (38) was badly assaulted in Kuyga by three suspects after he allegedly attempted to rob one of them. After thorough investigation, the three suspects aged between 17 and 33 were traced.

In the third murder arrest, it is alleged that during June 2021, the deceased Luvuyo Tom (44), was at home when the two suspects entered the premises and attacked him with a knife. He died on the scene.  After the completion of the investigation the two suspects aged 27 and 32 were identified.

After verifying the addresses of these wanted suspects, SAPS Kabega Park detectives arrested all six suspects early on Wednesday morning, 14 September 2022 and they will appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate Court today.

The Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Maj Gen Vuyisile Ncata welcomed the six arrests and stated that ’ our detective officers play a vital role in making sure that perpetrators of crime are arrested and also to ensure  that their investigations produce compelling  evidence  before a court of law in order to secure convictions. We cannot allow criminals to run rampant in our societies. They must be arrested and face the judiciary for their alleged crimes.’  

Source: South African Police Service

KWAZULU-NATAL – Today 15 September 2022, the Hawks’ Durban based Serious Corruption Investigation arrested a 55-year-old former Jozini municipal manager and his 41-year-old accomplice. They were charged with fraud, corruption and money laundering which happened at Jozini municipality.

It is alleged that the former municipal manager established a youth upliftment programme in 2014. He then forced the Finance Department to pay a service provider R5 million for the services that were not rendered. A case of fraud was reported at Jozini police station and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks for intensive investigation.

They are expected to appear in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today.

Source: South African Police Service

GQEBERHA – Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Maj Gen Vuyisile Ncata applauded SAPS Bethelsdorp Crime Prevention Unit members for their efforts in removing illegal firearms off their streets.

Since 01 September 2022 to date, a total of 12 firearms with arrests in most of the cases were affected by SAPS Bethelsdorp Crime Prevention Unit. 

The latest recovery was last night, 14 September 2022, when four firearms and a suspect was arrested in Andries Street in Old Bethelsdorp. It is alleged that at about 20:35, the members were conducting patrols in an unmarked police vehicle in the known gang hotspot areas, concentrating on gang activities when the suspect spotted their vehicle and made a quick detour into a yard. As the suspect was trying to open the security gate of the said premises, the members approached him. The suspect threw a bag on the floor. Upon searching the bag, four firearms were found inside (three with serial numbers filed off and one with a serial number).

The 35-year-old suspect was arrested and detained on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and possession of prohibited firearms. He is expected to appear in court soon.

Maj Gen Ncata commended the team for their vigilance and intuition when performing duties in the problematic areas within their station’s precinct. ‘Having a thorough knowledge of your policing environment, is advantageous when dealing with criminals. Staying a step ahead of criminals requires us to be strategic in our policing. The confiscation of these firearms will most definitely have an impact on serious crimes in the area,’ added Maj Gen Ncata.   

Source: South African Police Service

NELSPRUIT – A 29-year-old Lerato Kalaku has been sentenced by the Balfour Regional Court for fatally stabbing his co-worker, Lindani Ephraim Mhlungu, aged 27 in Greylingstad.

The court heard that both Kalaku and Mhlungu worked together at a farm at Greylingstad where they resided in the same house at the farm but in different rooms.

On 23 September 2021, the two were tasked to fix the fence away from other employees, and that is where an altercation ensued that turned violent. Kalaku, who is originally from Lesotho, is said to have illegally entered the Republic of South Africa. On the day in question (23 September 2021) he stabbed Mhlungu 37 times in his upper body. The attack was so aggressive in such a way that he ended up sustaining a skull fracture and broken neck.

After the attack, it is said that the victim called the farm owner using his cell phone to report the ordeal, then from there he became unconscious. The farm owner who was out of the province at the time, summoned other employees to investigate but he was found unconscious in the pool of blood holding a mobile phone.

Police and Emergency Services were summoned to the scene but the victim was certified dead on the scene. Members of the police from Greylingstad launched a manhunt for Kalaku where they traced and arrested him eight hours after the murder.

Police successfully opposed bail and the accused has since been behind bars from the day of his arrest until he was convicted and sentenced to the 12 years direct imprisonment yesterday, 14 September 2022.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela acknowledged the outstanding work by everyone who positively contributed in the case. “At last justice has been served to the Mhlungu family. We applaud the vital role played by the Detective team, the Prosecution team and the Judiciary which culminated into the sentence” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service