Day: October 15, 2022

KWAZULU-NATAL – On Wednesday 12 October 2022 Hawks members from Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation working together with Metro Police, Durban Central detectives and Ethekwini District Task Team arrested Thembelani Khuboni (28) for murder of Metro police official.

It is alleged that on Saturday Constable Xolani Cele (42) was sitting in his private vehicle at M section in Umlazi. Whilst chatting to someone, unknown suspects fired several shots at him and he died at the scene. He was then robbed of his service pistol with live round of ammunition. 

A case of murder and robbery was reported at Umlazi police station. Police members received information about the suspect who was involved in the shooting. A joint operation was conducted and Khuboni was arrested at K section in Umlazi.

He appeared in the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 14 October 2022 and the matter was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 30 November 2022.

Source: South African Police Service

NELSPRUIT – The vigilance by members of the police from Middelburg’s Highway Patrol has led to the recovery of a hijacked silver VW Polo Vivo and saved a life of the victim on Friday, 14 October 2022 in Delmas.

According to the report, the men and women in Blue were patrolling on the N12 Road towards Delmas when they noticed the said vehicle with Mpumalanga registration number plates. Something drew the attention of the members when they saw what looked like a fight inside the occupants of the VW Polo. Towards the Dwarsfontein off ramp, the members then attempted to pull over the vehicle however their efforts were unsuccessful. Again they ordered the driver to pull aside but the car instead sped off at the traffic lights. It is said that when the Polo approached the offramp at the R42 (Bronkshorstspruit) Road, the driver immediately swerwed in front of a certain truck, taking a sudden turn before it stopped. Three males are said to have jumped out of the car then ran into the bushes and nearby houses. Members tactically approached the vehicle only to find a male victim with head injuries at the back seat with his hands and feet tied with some ropes. The said man informed police that he was hijacked by the suspects who had earlier jumped out of the car.

An ambulance was then summoned to assist the 37-year-old victim in his injuries. Police at Delmas opened a case of hijacking with an additional charge of kidnapping.

Police are still in pursuit of the suspects and urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the suspects to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively members of the public can send information via My SAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended the astute members for their vigilance which resulted in the rescuing of the victim and prevented suspects from harming him further as well as ensured that the hijacked car was recovered.

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – The Deputy Minister, Cassel Mthale, accompanied by the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Me Nomandla Bloem, the Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola, Representatives National Commissioner’s office, the Provincial CPF Chairperson, Mr Tebogo Malapo, the Speaker of the Ga-Seogonyane District Municipality formed part of a community imbizo at the Thabo Moorosi multi- purpose centre on Saturday, October 2022 at 12:00.

The event was also attended by several other external role players such as senior officials of Civilian Secretariat, Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, Correctional Services, a representative of the Mayor of John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Rural Safety organizations, Farmers unions and the local communities.

The Rural Safety Imbizo was hosted in an effort to further cultivate a culture of accountability in ensuring the safety of rural communities across the country by the Police Ministry and the management of the South African Police Service.

The event was a follow-up visit to Mothibistad to give feedback to the community on issues and concerns raised during a similar community engagement held in 2019.

The community engagement is in line with the SAPS Rural Safety Strategy, aimed at addressing challenges of violent crimes, perpetrated against rural communities.

Deputy Police Minister, Cassel Mathale led the stakeholder engagement and was joined by the national and provincial management of the South African Police Service, in engaging key anti-crime role-players in the Kuruman community, who are active in the fight against crime.

Over and above addressing policing challenges during the Rural Safety Stakeholder Engagement, the Deputy Minister also sought to promote and improve relations between the police and community policing role-players.

The Deputy Minister addressed the community on various crime related aspects and reiterated the importance of rooting out alleged corruption in the police.

The community brought about several crime concerns in the Kuruman and surrounding areas and these were addressed by a panel consisting of relevant role players taking accountability as heads in their different departments and structures. 

Source: South African Police Service

GAUTENG – From Friday, 07 October 2022 to Thursday 13 October 2022, Rapid Response Services (Flying Squad, K9 Units and Highway Patrol) members arrested one hundred and fifty (150) suspects in different areas in Gauteng.

Members participated in various concentrated operations and intensive patrols around the province, which led to the arrest of the suspects.  The suspects were arrested for different crimes ranging from hijacked, stolen vehicles, possession of firearms and possession of drugs.

Ninety eight (98) suspects were arrested for drugs, twenty nine (29) for possession of firearms, twelve (12) for stolen vehicles and eleven (11) for hijacked vehicles. Members managed to recover drugs estimated value of R3 200 000, forty three (43) stolen vehicles, twenty nine (29) hijacked vehicles and twenty three (23) firearms.

Investigation continues with all cases opened.

Community members are encouraged to work closely with police in order to solve problems of crime, physical and social disorder, and neighbourhood decay. This can be done through establishing a partnership between police and the communities they serve, ensuring effective protection of communities and a better quality of life.

All suspects will be appearing soon in the different Magistrates courts across Gauteng.

Source: South African Police Service