Category: General

The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in partnership with the South African Police Service and liquor industry, has slammed the brakes on a Mpumalanga warehouse allegedly trading illicit liquor valued at R15 million.

In a statement on Tuesday, the revenue collector said the warehouse recycled the duty-free liquor back on the market.

More than 12 700 cases of duty-free liquor were found at the scene and seized following a year long investigation.

SARS and SAPS officials also found equipment to alter the original products.

“The bottles and the boxes in which they are transported have labels indicating that the product is duty free and therefore destined for the foreign market.

“However, the smugglers of these products removed these labels from the bottles and replace them, in some cases replacing the caps of the bottles and removing the lot codes from the boxes,” said the revenue collector.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said smugglers of the illicit liquor were “harming the local industry at a time when COVID-19 restrictions were obviously a significant impediment to the industry”.

“Such criminal action will not be tolerated but confronted, and all those involved in this smuggling network will be brought to book. SARS has the mandate to combat illicit trade and such activity is clearly illicit and unfair competition for the local industry.

“We are committed to making it hard and costly for any taxpayer or trader who does not comply with the tax or customs laws of the country. Therefore, I want to acknowledge and thank the investigators for their determination and persistence in this matter,” said the Commissioner.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The South African government has noted with great concern the ongoing political and security situation in the Republic of Guinea following an apparent coup de ’tat at the weekend.

In a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the South African Government called for the “immediate release” of Prof Alpha Condé, the President of Guinea “unharmed and the African Union to actively intervene to ensure a speedy return to stability”.

Government further called on the soldiers/military to exercise total restraint and refrain from political interference.

“In addition, South Africa urges all political actors and civil society to engage in meaningful dialogue in order to resolve the current political challenges facing the country,” said DIRCO on Monday.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has welcomed the arrest of a 23 year old man suspected to be behind rape and robbery incidents that recently occurred at Nkomazi area in the Ehlanzeni District.

The suspect was cornered at Matsulu by a team of SAPS members from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) in Pienaar on immigration charges and appeared before the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 03 September 2021.

According to the information at police disposal, defenceless women were allegedly raped as well as robbed of their personal belongings between April 2021 and August 2021 at both Matsulu and Kaapmuiden near Malelane. There were cases opened to that regard and the FCS Unit was assigned to probe as well as ensure that the perpetrator is swiftly brought to book.

The FCS team at Pienaar were hard at work to apprehend the suspect meanwhile information surfaced from members of the public about a suspicious illegal immigrant who was roaming around the streets of Matsulu. The details were then followed up and the SAPS members arrested him in the early hours of Thursday.

During the tour of their investigation, the FCS team discovered that he is a suspect that they have been looking for, for quite some time. Then in the afternoon of yesterday, Saturday, 04 August 2021 he was charged on four counts of rape and three counts of robbery.

At the place where the suspect was arrested, police also found some items belonging to females which they (police) now suspect that the items could be that of his victims. The SAPS cannot rule out possibility of linking the man to several cases reported where women became victims of violent crimes.

The suspect is due to appear before the Matsulu Periodical Court tomorrow, Monday, 06 September 2021 on charges relating to the said incidents of robberies and rapes.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Manamela has further urged those who fell victims of violent crimes in the past but never reported such cases to come forward and report at their nearest police stations. The General also appreciated the public for the information they provided as well as the swift reaction by members from FCS which led to the breakthrough and the suspect’s arrest. She concluded by highlighting that her vision of working towards eradicating Gender-Based-Violence in the province is beginning to show some positive results.

Source: South African Police Service

Alleged hijackers bumped into a police vehicle with a hijacked vehicle while evading arrest in Zwide last night.

It is alleged that at about 19:00, the complainant was seated in her white Suzuki Tiga in Mbovane Street in Kwadwesi when she noticed the suspects approaching her. She was pointed with a firearm and ordered to open the car. When she refused, one of them smashed the window and opened the door. They drove with her and when they were in Windvogel, she managed to jump out and with the assistance of a bystander, reported the matter to police.

At about 21:10, Anti-Gang Unit members spotted the vehicle in Old Uitenhage Road. They requested for back up while chasing after the vehicle. The suspects did not want to stop and in Johnson Road, they tried pushing off the Kwazakele police vehicle by bumping them. Shots were fired at the fleeing vehicle. The vehicle suddenly stopped and about 6 suspects alighted and pointed firearms at police. They ran off in different directions with police on their heels. The suspects disappeared between the houses.

Three cellphones and a toy gun were found in the vehicle.

Cases of vehicle hijacking, attempted murder (on the police officials), pointing of a firearm and reckless and negligent driving is under investigation.

Source: South African Police Service

Police members of the Anti-Gang unit arrested two suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition on Saturday (2021-09-04) in Manenberg.

The members were busy with patrols when they pursued information about a firearm that are being stored at an address. Upon arrival and searching the address at Inga court in Manenberg, they found a 9mm Glock pistol with ammunition. A 59-year-old man was arrested and detained.

In an unrelated incident the same team received information about a firearm hidden at an identified premises near to Johanna Court in Manenberg. Upon arrival they searched the premises and found firearm with ammunition hidden under a matrass. A 29-year-old man was arrested and detained.

Once charged the two suspects are expected to make a court appearance in the Athlone Magistrate court on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service

On Friday 03 September 2021, the Saps Limpopo Provincial Commander of Media Relations, Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe visited Maruleng FM in Sekororo under Maake Policing area of the Mopani District.

As part of the ongoing media engagement across the Province, the focus area was on partnership policing where community members particularly, in and around the Maake, Tzaneen and Hoedspruit areas were commended for supplying the Police with quality and reliable information which led to the arrest of more criminals linked to house robberies, bussiness robberies and carjackings.

Colonel Ngoepe further encouraged members of the community to participate effectively in the community based crime prevention structures such as the Community Police Forums, Sector Forums, Street Committees and the neighborhood watch to get rid of serious and violent crimes.

He then concluded the interview by sharing the relevant contact details of the mentioned Police Stations management including the District Commissioner to the listeners.

Source: South African Police Service