Day: September 16, 2022

DURBAN – Yesterday, the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court convicted and sentenced Sthembiso Zondo (30) to 15 years for murder and five years for obstructing the course of justice.

On 21September 2019, police officers received information regarding a man who was suspected to be a copper cable thief. They proceeded to a house at Shogweni Dam where he was residing upon searching the house copper cables were recovered by the police officers. One police officer decided to search the pit toilet to ensure that there was no copper cables left. As he was searching he saw a blanket and decide to pull it up. Human skeletal remains were found. The police Search and Rescue Unit was summoned to the scene and his suspicions were confirmed when the team removed the skeletal remains from the pit toilet.

Zondo was arrested for possession of stolen property whilst the detectives worked around the clock to determine who the dead person might be. The investigation revealed that the deceased was Thulile Mkhize who was reported missing at Jabulani SAPS in Gauteng on 9 July 2019. Zondo was then charged for murder and he made several appearances at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court before he was sentenced.

Source: South African Police Service

JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL – Police apprehended a 45-year-old male for impersonating police, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition at corner Sauer and Gwigwi Mrwebi Street on 15 of September 2022 at 15:00.

Police were busy with their routine crime prevention duties when they saw a suspicious male changing direction when seeing them.  They stopped him and he told the police that he is a Police Captain working at Diepkloof Police Station. They asked for his appointment certificate; he tried to run away but he was cornered.  They searched him and recovered an unlicensed firearm with live ammunition, fake appointment certificate, driver’s license of someone from Democratic Republic of Congo and South African ID belonging to someone else.

The firearm has a serial number and shows that it belongs to a 54-year-old male residing at North West Province. If the rightful owner failed to report it stolen; he will be charged with negligence loss of a firearm. The firearm will be sent to ballistic testing to ascertain if it was used in the commission of other serious and violent crimes. Suspect will be appearing in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 September 2022.

Johannesburg Central Station Commander Brigadier Perumal commended good work done by the police.  He elaborated further that bogus cops are tarnishing the image of the police; unlicensed firearms are used to rob and kill innocent people.

Source: South African Police Service

Nelspruit: The exceptional detective skills came into play and helped solve a mysterious murder case involving a petrol attendant who was sadly killed then allegedly dumped inside a water drain in Hendrina. Two male suspects aged 24 and 27 were arrested yesterday evening, Thursday 15 September 2022 in connection with the murder case.

According to the allegations, Mr Lifa Yinda (39) who was born in Malawi and worked at a fuel station in Hendrina, has not been seen by his co-workers for a period of about a week but was never reported to the police. However, on Wednesday, 14 September 2022 his manager was concerned about an unusual smell that was coming out from a water drain behind the fuel station. He then went out to investigate and the drain lid was opened where a gruesome discovery of a half-naked body of a human being was made.

The police as well as other role players were summoned to the scene. A murder case was then opened after it was established through forensic aid that the victim was murdered. Police immediately began with the probe where a team of experts in the field of investigation was assembled. They gathered information which led them to the two suspects that were arrested and charged accordingly. The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage meanwhile Yinda was identified by his family.

The two suspects are expected to appear at the Hendrina Magistrates’ Court today, Friday 16 September 2022 facing the murder charge.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended members of the police for their unwavering commitment in delivering outstanding service. “The results of the work done by our members is indisputable and much appreciated. We hope that justice will be served for the victim’s family” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service

PARKTOWN – The High Court of South Africa Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg sentenced Sipho Mabasa, to six life imprisonment terms, for killing six people at the Jabulani Hostel on 08 June 2020. He was further sentenced to 25 years, for possession of unlicensed firearms, 15 years for attempted murder, and three years for possession of ammunition.

Mabasa was arrested by the Lenasia South African Police Service (SAPS), on 16 June 2020, in possession of a pistol and ammunition. He was then linked to the Jabulani murder case, through ballistics evidence. Detective Sergeant Banele Gavin Ndlovu, working together with a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of the Murder and Robbery squad, the Johannesburg Tactical Response Team, worked tirelessly to gather circumstantial evidence, as the surviving victims could not identify the three men that attacked them when they were having a birthday celebration, leaving six people dead and one of the victims partially disabled.

State Adv. Rachel Kau argued that the use of unlawful firearms to deprive citizens of their right to live, was prevalent and that our courts need to nip this increasing criminality in the bud, by imposing stringent sentences.

The NPA acknowledges the continuous efforts of dedicated police officers like Detective Sergeant Ndlovu,that add value to the work done by committed prosecutors of Adv. Kau’s caliber. Society continues to depend on these fruitful partnerships to feel safe.

Source: South African Police Service

Deputy President David Mabuza has acknowledged that illegal mining is a major challenge in South Africa.

“It has grown to the point where it is a major source of concern not only for the government, but also for the mining industry and the communities that are located close to illegal mining operations,” he told Parliamentarians on Thursday.

He was responding to questions for oral reply in the National Assembly. He told Members of Parliament that the police and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will appoint specialised teams in each province to fight illegal mining.

“We agreed that illegal mining not only has a tremendous effect on the economy and the people,” he said, adding that it also has an effect on the national security.

In July this year, eight women were allegedly attacked and gang raped by illegal miners near a mine dump in Krugersdorp, sending shock waves across the country.

During a briefing in August, the Ministers of Police, Home Affairs, Mineral Resources and Energy said that a Special Task Team was established by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 2019 to tackle the phenomenon of illegal mining.

The police have reported that they have successfully arrested 4 675 illegal miners to date.

Meanwhile, in the Witwatersrand alone, 135 mining holes have been closed, while the process is underway to seal the remaining 20.

“Furthermore, an existing multi-disciplinary Economic Infrastructure Task Team of various specialised units of the SAPS, in partnership with private security and business partners, is working tirelessly in preventing and combatting economic and critical infrastructure-related crimes, including illicit mining. “             

In addition, he said the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster has also developed a strategy that will focus on combating activities in both formal and informal settings.

The strategy, he said, is based on five pillars that include, tighter intelligence gathering, coordination intensification of police visibility mechanisms, tightened mechanisms aimed at disruption of organised and stubborn crime, and enhance prosecutorial guided investigation and crime prevention awareness campaigns.

“Mitigation effort is being implemented, which includes the awareness campaigns and tips on how to prevent crime in addition to requests for assistance in capturing all of these measures are based on working together with members of the Executive Councils in provinces together with the South African Police Services cooperating with communities.”

In addition, the JCPS cluster in collaboration with Government Communication and Information System, will re-establish improved communication methods as well as engagement with communities in the form of community meetings to raise educational awareness regarding the fight against illegal mining.

“We’re confident that the approach outlined will ensure that all of us live in environments that are conducive to free and harmonious economic activity which will ultimately result in a reduction of poverty, unemployment and inequality.”

Meanwhile, he said the process of closing, decommissioning mines is ongoing.

“Investment in mining infrastructure projects that are impactful, resilient, and sustainable stands out as the most effective weapon to fight low economic growth. To ensure the continued health of our economy, it is essential that we take measures to preserve not only our mining infrastructure but also any other type of infrastructure,” he added.

Source: South African Government News Agency