Category: General

GQEBERHA – Shortly after a complaint of vehicle hijacking was reported to police, Gqeberha K9 Unit members arrested a suspect and recovered the vehicle in Ikamvelihle on Friday evening, 17 June 2022.

It is alleged that at about 19:50 on the mentioned date, the complainant exited a house in Indwe Street in Ikamvelihle and while walking to his vehicle he saw 3 unknown males knocking at the house next door. As he got into his vehicle, the same men pointed him with firearms and forced him out of the vehicle. They drove off in his white Nissan Micra.

Immediately the K9 members responded to the complaint and not long later, the vehicle was spotted in Ngxangxosi Street in NU3 in Ikamvelihle. The vehicle was stopped, searched and one male, aged 33 years, was arrested for vehicle hijacking. The suspect was alone in the vehicle.

He is expected to appear in the Motherwell magistrate court on Monday, 20 June 2022.

Source: South African Police Service

POTCHEFSTROOM – The police in Letlhabile are appealing to community members to assist in locating Solomon Silomo (64), who is residing at Bafokeng Section in Maboloka village, close to Letlhabile Township.

According to information received, a family member called Silomo’s brother on Thursday, 09 June 2022, at about 20:00, informing him that Solomon left home earlier that day without saying anything and did not return. The police together with the family and members of the community conducted a search around the neighbourhood of Maboloka village, Letlhabile Mall and complex without any success.

At the time of his disappearance, Silomo was wearing a black short trouser, white T-shirt and a pair of brown sneakers. He is tall in height, with a skinny body and light in complexion, with short hair.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Donald Sekhu of Letlhabile Detectives on 082 416 0670 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

POTCHEFSTROOM – The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed two life sentences and additional 28 years imprisonment handed down to a 30-year-old serial rapist by the Bafokeng Regional Court in Tlhabane on Wednesday, 15 June 2022.

The sentences emanated from three separate incidents wherein victims were raped and robbed of their cell phones and clothes.

In the first incident, a 15-year-old girl was with her boyfriend and walking to a nearby shop at Pitso Section in Phokeng outside Rustenburg at about 20:00 on Tuesday, 5 January 2021, when approached by the convict. The latter chased and forced the boyfriend to leave by throwing stones at him. The girl was consequently taken to the nearby bushes and raped. On her way back home after escaping, the girl met her boyfriend and her aunt who took her to Phokeng police station to lay charges of rape and common robbery.

In the second incident at about 19:00 on Wednesday evening, 13 January 2021, a 22-year-old woman was from her aunt’s place at Kotokoto Section, Phokeng and going back to her residential place at Lenatong Section when the convict approached her and volunteered to accompany her as he was also going to the same area. They were walking and about to cross the bridge when the accused grabbed and dragged the woman to the nearby bushes and raped her. He then robbed her of her cell phone and clothes before fleeing from the scene. The matter was reported to the police for investigation.

In the third incident which occurred 30 minutes after the second one at Lemenong Section, the convict met and approached a 14-year-old minor who was on her way home. He wanted to know if she was not afraid of walking alone and ultimately dragged her to the bushes and raped her. Thereafter, he robbed her of her cell phone and clothes. Subsequent to the incident, the victim ran to Phokeng police station where she reported the incident and also found the 22-year-old woman reporting a rape case and common robbery. Consequently, the police and security officers with assistance of members of the community, searched for the convict at Lenatong Section where he was found in possession of the victims’ clothes. He was arrested and eventually identified by the 15-year-old victim which also he raped on Tuesday, 5 January 2021.The accused was finally sentenced to two life terms for two counts of rape. He was further handed 20 years imprisonment for another rape and four years for each of two counts of common robbery.

In an unrelated incident in Boitekong, a 35-year-old stepfather was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 14 June 2022, for raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter. The court heard that the accused and his wife were at their place in Boitekong on Saturday, 21 December 2019, when he sent the wife to the tavern to buy more alcohol. He then went to the room where the stepdaughter was sleeping and raped her. The minor informed her mother about the incident upon return from the tavern and the matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the stepfather.

Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended the Rustenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and prosecution for securing lengthy jail terms against the two perpetrators. He also thanked members of the community and security officers for working together with the police in arresting the serial rapist.

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – Fabian Phooko was sentenced to 17 years’ direct imprisonment for rape and house breaking and theft in the Prieska Regional Court, recently.

On 20 September 2020, Alton Stuurman and Stephan Steenkamp helped Phooko break into the house of a 60 year old female in Prieska.

Phooko stole valuable items, assaulted the granny with a hammer and raped her.

They were arrested a few days later and the cases were withdrawn against Stuurman and Steenkamp. Fabian Phooko was sentenced to 17 years and declared unfit to carry a firearm.

The Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Brigadier Nicky Mills lauded Sgt Riaan Van Wyk from Prieska Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for his meticulous investigation that led to the incarceration of the accused.

Source: South African Police Service

The Office of the Premier welcomes Regan Thaw as its new Spokesperson

I would like to warmly welcome Regan Thaw to the Office of the Premier. Mr Thaw has been appointed as the new Spokesperson to the Premier and I would like to congratulate and wish him well on his appointment.

Starting his new position today, Regan brings with him a wealth of expertise in the field of media, and I have no doubt that he will make an invaluable contribution to the team. Regan’s e-mail address is [email protected](link sends e-mail).

Going forward, I will be taking up a new position as a Strategic Support Officer within the Office of the Premier.

I would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge the many phenomenal members of the media who I have worked with during my time as a Spokesperson. Thank you for the important role you are playing in promoting accountability and transparency within government, while also helping to improve awareness of and access to service delivery.

Source: Government of South Africa

NELSPRUIT – Emanating from the attack of the Kwaggafontein Police Station yesterday at around 22:00, The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has ordered the mobilization of maximum resources to ensure that those who are behind the attack are immediately brought to book.

The Provincial Commissioner assures the community that Police are indeed doing everything in the powers to arrest the suspects. Currently the investigation is ongoing and members of the media will be updated on the developments thereof.

Source: South African Police Service