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NORTH WEST HIGH COURT GRANTS KULA BAIL

NORTH WEST HIGH COURT GRANTS KULA BAIL

April 4, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

NORTH WEST HIGH COURT GRANTS KULA BAIL The High Court of South Africa North West Division; granted Sibusiso Kula (34),…

BANK SYNDICATE SENTENCED AFTER CONVICTION ON MULTIPLE COUNTS OF ROBBING BANK CLIENTELE Members of an illegal syndicate that operated in Gauteng, North West, and Limpopo were sentenced to an accumulative 843 years for 68 counts, including racketeering by managing and participating an enterprise, kidnapping, robbery, murder, fraud, corruption, conspiracy and possession of firearms and ammunition by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg. With the court ordering that some of the sentences should run concurrently, Vusimuzi Jomo Mazibuko (43) and Xolani Comfort Mkhwanazi (32) will serve life imprisonment each. Shaun Khumalo (25) will serve 15 years imprisonment, while Vusi David Sibanyoni (41) and Sticks Nkuna Bhova (46) will serve an effective 20 years each, and Calvin Congo Mabunda (40), 25 years imprisonment. They preyed on unsuspecting bank clients that withdrew large sums of money. After obtaining information from syndicate members that observed clientele withdrawing money from the tellers (so-called spotters), they thereafter sent the descriptions of the victims to other team members to follow them to isolated areas or their homes so that they could be robbed of the money they had withdrawn and other belongings such as cellphones and wallets. They began their reign of terror in Rustenburg in 2011 where they attempted to rob the post office at Mabeskraal by kidnapping one of the employees, whom they thought had the keys to the safe. They moved their operation to Gauteng where, in August 2013 they observed Johan Joseph Meyer and his wife withdrawing a large amount of cash. The spotter gave this information to his associates who followed the couple to their home where Mr Meyer was robbed at gunpoint and was fatally shot. They also followed clients in Booysens, Kliprivier and Vereeniging, making use of the same modus operandi. In the Booysens matter, the information given to the syndicate was obtained from one of the accused who was a bank teller and was paid for this information. They continued their criminal operation in Giyani between 2017 and 2018, using the same mode of operation to pounce on more bank clients. They were ultimately arrested at a store in Giyani where they accosted staff members who had, moments earlier, arrived after withdrawing a large amount of cash at the bank. The robbers fled the scene and were pursued by the police and subsequently a shootout ensued. The criminals were also linked by means of fingerprints, facial recognition, expert evidence by bank officials and various positive identifications at several identity parades. As the accused refused to partake in an identity parade in Giyani, the SAPS were instructed to conduct a photo-identity parade, where a number of the victims could identify the perpetrators. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Geo Wassermann, assisted by Advocate Cobus Ehlers, argued that the victims of these crimes relied on the criminal justice system for recourse for their loss, pain, and suffering. The State called the evidence of an expert in bank clients’ robberies, Ms Maureen Coetzee, who analysed the video footage of the banks to establish who the spotters were, and what their modus operandi were. She also testified regarding the operation of the syndicates. Her evidence was important to establish that a syndicate existed and how it functioned, and what role each person had in the syndicate, such as the spotters, gunmen and the persons such as tellers, who supplied the information to the syndicate. The NPA extends its gratitude to the complainants that came forward to testify, as well as investigating officers Sergeant Tshediso Simon Nyofane (Gauteng matters) and Warrant Officer Kazamula Robert Chabalala (Limpopo matters), for dedicating their efforts to the fight against organised crime. We will continue ensuring that these syndicates are dismantled as part of promoting the citizen’s safety.

BANK SYNDICATE SENTENCED AFTER CONVICTION ON MULTIPLE COUNTS OF ROBBING BANK CLIENTELE

April 4, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

BANK SYNDICATE SENTENCED AFTER CONVICTION ON MULTIPLE COUNTS OF ROBBING BANK CLIENTELE Members of an illegal syndicate that operated in…

ONE FOREIGN NATIONAL IS NABBED ON THE BORDER FOR SMUGGLING R1,4 MILLION RAND WORTH OF ILLICIT CIGARETTES WHILE HIS COUNTRY MAN IS ON THE RUN

ONE FOREIGN NATIONAL IS NABBED ON THE BORDER FOR SMUGGLING R1,4 MILLION RAND WORTH OF ILLICIT CIGARETTES WHILE HIS COUNTRY MAN IS ON THE RUN

April 4, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

ONE FOREIGN NATIONAL IS NABBED ON THE BORDER FOR SMUGGLING R1,4 MILLION RAND WORTH OF ILLICIT CIGARETTES WHILE HIS COUNTRY…

MEC MOTSUMI CONGRATULATED THE NW TEAM WHICH TOOK PART IN THE SASA-II GAMES

MEC MOTSUMI CONGRATULATED THE NW TEAM WHICH TOOK PART IN THE SASA-II GAMES

April 3, 2023 adminEDUCATIONNo Comment

MEC MOTSUMI CONGRATULATED THE NW TEAM WHICH TOOK PART IN THE SASA-II GAMES The North West Department of Education successfully…

MINISTER CREECY TO LAUNCH SANPARK VISION 2040 IN PRETORIA

MINISTER CREECY TO LAUNCH SANPARK VISION 2040 IN PRETORIA

April 3, 2023 adminBusiness News / Service Delivery / UncategorizedNo Comment

MINISTER CREECY TO LAUNCH SANPARK VISION 2040 IN PRETORIA31 MARCH 2023 Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara…

Pretoria: 50 years old accused, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, ex Mayor from the city of Tshwane appeared this morning in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud and uttering.

Pretoria: 50 years old accused, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, ex Mayor from the city of Tshwane appeared this morning in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud and uttering.

April 3, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

Pretoria: 50 years old accused, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, ex Mayor from the city of Tshwane appeared this morning in the…

CABLE THEFT SYNDICATE SENTENCED

CABLE THEFT SYNDICATE SENTENCED

April 3, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

CABLE THEFT SYNDICATE SENTENCED The High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division has sentenced five members of a Johannesburg-based…

FORMER CITY OF TSHWANE MAYOR APPEARS IN COURT

FORMER CITY OF TSHWANE MAYOR APPEARS IN COURT

April 3, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

FORMER CITY OF TSHWANE MAYOR APPEARS IN COURT The former City of Tshwane Mayor, Dr Murunwa Makwarela (51), has been…

TWO ILLICIT CIGARETTES SMUGGLERS ARRESTED IN MOKOPANE

TWO ILLICIT CIGARETTES SMUGGLERS ARRESTED IN MOKOPANE

April 3, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

TWO ILLICIT CIGARETTES SMUGGLERS ARRESTED IN MOKOPANE POLOKWANE: Concerted efforts by Police in Limpopo to rid the Province of all…

YET ANOTHER LIFE IS LOST IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE GBV RELATED INCIDENT

YET ANOTHER LIFE IS LOST IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE GBV RELATED INCIDENT

April 3, 2023 adminCrimeNo Comment

YET ANOTHER LIFE IS LOST IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE GBV RELATED INCIDENT Polokwane Police at Mankweng outside Polokwane are…