Category: General

EASTERN CAPE – Police embarked on operation Vuthu Hawe over the weekend in ensuring that our citizens are safe and secure and perpetrators of crime are sent behind bars for the crime they committed.

The Vuthu Hawe operation is an ongoing crime prevention operation in ensuring that perpetrators that break the law are arrested and our citizens are safe and secure. More than fifty (50) suspects aged between 27 and 52 years were arrested for various crimes committed in the areas. SAPS members were busy with patrols, stop and search, raiding and closing illegal shebeens and apprehended suspects on crimes ranging from drunken driving, possession of a hijacked vehicle (quantum) consuming alcohol under Disaster Management Act Regulations, possession of drugs, rape, murder and possession of stolen property.

In a separate incident Police followed an information they recieved about males that stole livestock from a farm in Bell policing area. Police arrested three suspects linked to the Stock Theft where fourteen heifers and six cows were stolen from a farm. On investigation Police recovered two heifers and other cows were allegedly sold and slaughtered.

These suspects will appear at various Magistrate Courts within Amathole District tomorrow.

The Acting Amathole District Commissioner Brigadier Ngangema Xakavu appreciated the job done by members in ensuring that the perpetrators are behind bars. “This shows great sense of the SAPS mandate to create a safer and secure environment for all and ensure that we fight the stock theft and perpetrators are arrested” he added.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE – Members attached to Atlantis SAPS Crime Prevention were conducting stop and search operations in Magnet Circle, Atlantis when they noticed a male person standing under a light pole. When approached, the suspect ran away but was apprehended and found to be in possession of a Smith and Wesson .38 Special Revolver and ammunition.

The firearm was not reported as stolen, but the person found to be in possession thereof was not the legitimate owner. The 23-year-old suspect was arrested and will appear in Atlantis Magistrate Court on Monday, 31 May 2021, on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm.

In an unrelated matter, on Friday, 28 May 2021 at about 20:30, Elsies River police arrested a suspect who was caught cutting Telkom underground cables on the corners of Liedeman Street and Old Stellenbosch Road.

Whilst patrolling the Elsies River area they received a complaint of fighting in Clarke Estate. Upon arrival at the scene it became evident an unknown male person was allegedly trapped inside a manhole. Fire and Rescue services was requested to free the unknown male who was subsequently freed and lifted to safety but found to be in possession of 56 metres of Telkom cables hidden in a huge bag.

The 31-year-old male suspect was arrested and detained on charges of tampering with-, damages or destroying of essential Infrastructure at the Elsies River SAPS and once charged will appear in the Goodwood Magistrate Court

On Friday 28 May 2021, at about 08:45, Manenberg SAPS members were conducting Crime Prevention duties, when they noticed a male person, standing on a corner. They approached and searched him and was found to be in possession of 17 sachets of Methamphetamine.

The 25-year-old male was arrested and detained at Manenberg Police SAPS and will appear at Athlone Magistrate Court on Monday, 31 May 2021, on a charge of possession of drugs.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE – Police recovered two unlicensed firearms and ammunition and arrested fourteen suspects Friday night in the Khayelitsha area.

On 27 May 2021 at 21:15, members attached to Tactical Combat Task Team (TRT/POP) on deployment to focus on extortion in Khayelitsha area were doing patrols in Y block when they spotted a group of men in front of a tavern at Khosa Street Y 745, Site B and approached them.

The group immediately ran onto the tavern premises but was stopped by the SAPS members. Upon searching the individuals and the surroundings two unlicensed firearms and ammunition were found and confiscated.

The suspects aged between 23 and 39 were arrested and detained at Khayelitsha SAPS on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They are due to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court on Monday, 31 May 2021, on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service

LEBOWAKGOMO- The South African Police Service in Lebowakgomo have launched a search operation for a missing 26 year old man, Marvin Abram Mnisi from ga-Chuene Maratapelo village following his disappearance on 04 May 2021.

It is alleged that he went to Polokwane and didn’t return home. He was wearing grey work suits written “Bapuleng”.

Police search operation was conducted at relatives and places he frequently visited without success.

Source: South African Police Service

FREE STATE – The family of a missing 67-year-old woman, Miss Makgala Nelly Sibanyone, needs assistance in finding her back home safe. She went missing on Monday 17 May 2021 at about 13:00.

She was last seen leaving home, 1527 Ntsonga Street Thabong with his boyfriend intending to go to the local clinic. She never returned home until today.

Her boyfriend also said they separated ways after leaving home as he attended to his own errands. She was wearing a black and white dress which goes up to her knees and blue slippers on the day of her disappearance.

She has a medium body, medium height with a black afro hair that is brushed back. According to the family she has episodes of being mentally unstable.

The search for her by members of Thabong SAPS has been under way but all in vain. We request community members to assist with this search for Miss Makgala Nelly Sibanyone also known as Diaba.

Source: South African Police Service

POTCHEFSTROOM – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Dintletse Molefe welcomed life imprisonment sentence handed down to Levy Suping Selebogo (39) by the North West High Court on Friday, 28 May 2021 for murder.

Selebogo was arrested in May 2018 in Gopane village for the murder of Keitumetse Nkgothoe, then aged 75. The old woman was found with a wound on the head in her house in the early hours of Friday morning, 16 March 2018 at Gopane village. She was subsequently taken to the clinic where she was certified dead.

Consequent to the incident, members of the community took the law into their own hands and allegedly killed the then 25-year-old Lloyd Nkgothoe after being accused of the murder of the old woman.

A thorough investigation by a team comprising of Motswedi, Groot Marico and Zeerust detectives working together with Motswedi Visible Policing resulted in the capture of Selebogo. Further investigation into the matter revealed that at the time of the incident, Selebogo was on parole after being sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in 2004 for house robbery.

The accused was ultimately found guilty and sentenced as follows:

Count 1: house breaking to rob, robbery and murder: seven years imprisonment

Count 2: robbery with aggravating circumstances: 20 years imprisonment

Count 3: murder: life imprisonment

The accused was further declared unfit to possess firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).

The Acting Provincial Commissioner applauded team members for their diligence and efficient utilisation of investigative aids that led to the arrest and subsequent conviction of the accused. She said that the sentence will certainly convey a clear message that no mercy will be shown to merciless criminals. The General also pointed out that this case will serve as a caution to the public that taking the law into one’s hands can lead to loss of innocent lives.

Source: South African Police Service