Day: November 25, 2022

POTCHEFSTROOM – The police in Boitekong request the community’s assistance in locating Philliph Thabo Tsotetsi (36) from Boitekong.

He was last seen by his friend on Saturday, 5 November 2022 at the Heineken tavern in extension 3, Justice place, Paardekraal, Boitekong.

He has black hair and a very short beard with a scar on his chest.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant KK Mompatsi of Boitekong Detectives on the following numbers: 014 593 6002 or 079 419 6051. Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the My SAPS App or you can call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE – Police members in the Western Cape are proving their determination to root out the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and doing their bit to ensure a safe haven for the community members they serve with pride on a daily basis.

Maitland Flying Squad members were busy with routine crime prevention initiatives in Kraaifontein area on Wednesday 23 November 2022. They responded to information and searched a premises in Madison Court in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein. Success was imminent when they confiscated a consignment of different calibre ammunition. They arrested and detained a 53-year-old man on a charge of possession of unlicensed ammunition.

Police members of Operation Restore conducted patrols on Thursday 24 November 2022 in Khayelitsha. When they entered A section, they noticed six unknown males who became restless when the patrol vehicle approached. The police members gave them no option to flee, searched the males and confiscated a 9 mm pistol with ammunition found in the possession of one of the males. The 22-year-old male was arrested and detained on a charge of possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their respective court appearances in the Blue Downs and Khayelitsha Magistrate court’s on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service

NELSPRUIT – Police at Leslie are investigating a horrific incident which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Friday, 25 November 2022 around 01:25. A 46-year-old security guard was brutally killed as he was reportedly responding to what looks like a theft being carried out by criminal(s) at a business site in a sewage plantation in Leslie whereby an electric cable was stolen.

According to the information at police disposal, after the incident was reported to a certain security company, a vehicle was dispatched for investigation purposes and it was driven by the said guard. The Police at Leslie were also alerted about the incident in progress and the members went to the premises as per information provided. Upon arrival at the scene, the police were met with the gruesome scene of the lifeless body of the guard. Emergency Medical Personnel were also summoned to the scene. On closer observation, police discovered some cartridges on the scene. The slain security guard is reported to have sustained serious injuries on his throat. The security officer was unfortunately certified dead by the paramedics. Preliminary investigation suggests that a personal firearm belonging to the victim could have been stolen as well during the incident. Further than that, police discovered that an electric cable was also stolen during the said incident. Currently a murder case is being investigated with an additional charge of theft (of electric cable). The family of the security guard is yet to identify his body. No one has been arrested so far however police are working around the clock to ensure that the perpetrator(s) is/are swiftly brought to book. Police urge anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the attack on the law enforcement agencies. “We will use all available resources to hunt down, ensuring that those who are involved in the security officer’s murder feels the might of the law” warned the General.

Source: South African Police Service

NELSPRUIT – Dullstroom police successfully traced and arrested a 31-year-old male suspect in Benoni for allegedly impersonating a Gambling Board official and for an alleged robbery.

The suspect was arrested in the early hours of 23 November 2022 at about 03:20 by the Dullstroom Detectives with the assistance of SAPS members from Crime Prevention Unit and Crime Office in Benoni.

According to information, on 22 September 2022 the suspect and his fellow allegedly approached a foreign national business man at Sakhelwe location in Dullstroom and demanded to see the gambling licence. Thereafter it is said that the two suspects allegedly robbed the businessman of an undisclosed amount of cash as well as a gambling machine then loaded it in a grey Hyundai sedan before they fled the scene. A case was opened, and investigation was conducted which culminated to his arrest.

The arrested suspect, Sfiso Emmanuel Ndlovu appeared at the Belfast Magistrate’s Court today, 25 November 2022 facing the said charges. His case was postponed to 02 December 2022 for a formal bail application meanwhile he remained in custody. The investigation continues and police are doing their best to locate the second suspect.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the efforts made by the police to successfully investigate and arrest the suspect.

Source: South African Police Service

EASTERN CAPE – Mziwanele Reginald Mzileni (43), Bathandwa Mgoqi (42) and Boy boy Nazo (53) were released on R20 000-00 each by the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on 24 November 2022. This is subsequent to the arrest of the trio by the East London based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation on 23 November 2022 for allegations of theft, fraud and money laundering.

During 2012, National Treasury allocated funding to Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education for the eradication of inappropriate school structures and the provision of basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity.

The Department of Basic Education initiated a project called Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) which was meant to address the inappropriate structures and backlog in basic services. Several Implementing Agents were appointed by the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Roads and Public Works. The Implementing Agents were given a number of schools which would then be allocated to be appointed various contractors.

During 2016, the Department of Roads and Public Works identified duplicate payments to various suppliers who were paid as having done work in the project. On conducting the audit of the work done, it became suspicious that these companies were paid for services that were never rendered.

The matter was referred to the Hawks for criminal investigation. The investigation revealed that further various transactions were made by these paid companies to other different individuals. The investigations further revealed that the Department of Education was prejudiced cash of R6 million.

The matter was remanded to 23 March 2023 in Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape for transfer to the appropriate court for trial. 

Additional four suspects aged between 33 and 47 together with two companies were arrested in East London and King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape on 24 November 2022 for appearance at Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court on 25 November 2022. More arrests are imminent.

Source: South African Police Service