Kwazulu-Natal – praag.org

Woman’s missing head found

On Monday 18 August 2014, at approximately 08:30, police received a call of a decapitated body at the Shallcross Stadium, Chatsworth and immediately responded to the scene. On arrival they found a body of a woman who had been murdered. She was identified as Desiree Murugan (37) who resides in Chatsworth. A case of murder was then registered at Chatsworth SAPS for further investigation.

A crack team of Detectives under the Commander of Colonel Bongani Biyela was assembled. The team worked around the clock and assured the deceased’s family that they will recover her missing head and arrest the perpetrators before the end of the week. On Thursday 21 August 2014, at approximately 16:00 members of the Chatsworth Serious and Violent Crimes Task Team detained six suspects at Chatsworth including a woman and a traditional healer. After further investigation the missing head was located in Imfume on the south coast on Friday, 22 August. The six suspects aged between 18 and 32 years will be charged for murder and are expected to appear in the Chatsworth Magistrates Court on Monday 25 August 2014.

“I want to congratulate Detectives at Chatsworth for breaking open this case so swiftly. It is shocking that a woman has been killed in such a barbaric manner while we are celebrating women’s month. Even more disturbing is that a women was involved in this brutal murder. We will ensure that we do everything that is within our own control to bring the culprits to book,” said Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni.

Black murderer gets 5 life terms in KZN, South Africa

The Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni has welcomed a hefty sentence handed down to Ntokozo Mthimkhulu (32) by the Mthunzini High Court yesterday, 17 July 2014. He was sentenced to five life terms plus 42 years imprisonment for five counts of rape, five for robbery and five for murder. “This is a clear indication that members of the SAPS work hard to tackle crimes against women and children, as this remains one of our priorities. This conviction enhances the community’s trust and confidence in the police. I thank the Empangeni detectives for this praiseworthy success”, said the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni.

During 2010 from June to September five bodies of women were found in sugarcane field around Empangeni area. Cases of murder were opened at Empangeni police station and it was suspected that a serial killer was involved. It was further suspected that the victims were raped and robbed before they were killed. Richards Bay Organised Crime Unit took over investigation that led to the arrest of the accused at Esikhawini area in September 2010. He was linked to all crimes by means of DNA. – SA Police Media Service

Two hijackers die in shootout with KZN police

On Thursday, 12 June 2014 members of the K9 Unit and Sydenham Police Station arrested three suspects aged between 18 and 20 for attempted murder, hijacking and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. It is alleged that the female victim was earlier hijacked of her grey Volvo motor vehicle. She was accosted by two suspects at gunpoint whilst seated in her car. They instructed her to move over and the suspect drove off with her in the vehicle. She was dropped off at Pineside Road in Pinetown and the suspects drove towards Clermont.

At about 20:00 police spotted the said hijacked vehicle at Roger Sishi Road in New Germany. The police officers activated their blue lights and ordered the suspects to stop. The suspects fired shots towards the police who returned fire. The suspects continued to flee until the driver of the hijacked vehicle allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall. Three suspects managed to flee on foot into the nearby bushes and were later arrested. Two other suspects were fatally wounded during the shootout. Two firearms were seized and will be sent for ballistics tests to ascertain if they were used in any other crime in the country. The arrested suspects will appear in the Pinetown Magistrates Court soon on charges of attempted murder, hijacking and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the members for the good work that led to the recovering of the hijacked vehicle and the arrest the suspects. “We would like to warn criminals that the police will not hesitate to retaliate when their lives are in danger. It is a common trend that police officers in this province are confronted with gunfire on a daily basis when they attempt to arrest criminals. We are fortunate that none of our police officers have become statistics especially over the past few weeks,” she said. – SA Police Media Service

Assault riffle and 332 rounds of ammunition seized in KZN

A 37-year-old woman and her 20-year-old son were arrested at their homestead in Mistake Farm close to Umzinto on Monday afternoon, 9 June, for being in possession of, inter alia, firearms and ammunition. They are due to appear in the Umzinto Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 11 June. Police seized an R5 rifle with three magazines, a 9mm Norinco pistol loaded with nine live rounds of ammunition, two bullet proof vests, two police reflective jackets, a crime scene expert jacket, a can of teargas, a can of photographic spray, a miner’s headlamp, a pair of handcuffs, 38 shotgun rounds and 285 R5 rounds of ammunition.

Umzinto SAPS Detective Service Team gathered intelligence regarding a firearm that had been used in an attempted murder case that they were investigating and raided the suspects’ homestead. A search of the rondavel occupied by the son resulted in police finding the shotgun ammunition and the police equipment. Thereafter, police carried out a search of the main house which is occupied by his parents and they discovered a hole in the concrete floor of the bedroom beneath the bed. It was boarded up to conceal the 285 live rounds of R5 ammunition. A search in a disused deep freezer standing alongside the passage wall yielded the R5 rifle with three magazines and the Norinco pistol which was loaded with nine rounds of ammunition. The serial numbers of both guns had been ground off.

The mother was placed under arrest and on their way out, the detectives found the son in a taxi and placed him under arrest as well. On Tuesday morning, the arrested woman’s husband, who is in his forties, handed himself over to the Umzinto police. He will also be appearing in court with his wife and son. Meanwhile, investigations revealed that the police equipment, other than the firearms and ammunition, may have been stolen from a SAPS police vehicle that had been broken into in 2012 in Durban. Police officers from Pretoria were in Durban on official police duty when their state vehicle was broken into and the equipment stolen. The firearms will be forwarded to the SAPS Forensic department for ballistics tests to determine if they had been used to commit any other offences.

The Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the members for the investigation that led to the recovery of the firearms and equipment. “We will be investigating if these firearms were used by these suspects to commit any other crimes and if so, further charges will be added,” she said. – SA Police Media Service

Black man gets 20 years for raping 14-year old

A 51-year-old Skhosiphi Shange from Kwahlaza at Empangeni has been convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for rape by the Empangeni Regional Court yesterday, 2 June 2014. The accused was convicted after the court heard how he raped the victim who was 14 years old at the time of an incident in 2012.

During 2012 the victim was at home when she was called by the accused to go with him to a nearby shop. While walking to the shop, the accused forced the victim to a nearby bush where she was raped. The accused gave her R20 and told her not to tell anyone. This was done several times where the accused would raped the victim and gave her R20 cash. Her mother noticed that she was not doing well at school and she made enquiries at school. The victim told the teachers and her mother that she was raped repeatedly by the accused. A case of rape was opened at Empangeni police station and the docket was taken over by Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation. Through an intensive investigation, the accused was arrested and charged with rape. He appeared in court several times until he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Empangeni Regional Court.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the conviction and sentence of Skhosiphi Shange. “ The ruthless and barbaric attack of children by criminals of Shange’s caliber will not be tolerated in our society and we welcome maximum sentence meted out by the court. The sentence is preceded by intensive and diligent investigation by our adequately capable officers from Empangeni FCS Unit,’ concluded Lieutenant General Ngobeni. – SA Police Media Centre, Kwazulu-Natal

Truck driver arrested for kidnapping, raping 6-year old

On 10 March 2014 at 15:00, a six-year-old victim was returning home from school in the Clairwood Area when she went missing. After a frantic search for the child she was found the following morning at 03:10 in the bush along Edwin Swales Drive.

The child related to police that she was kidnapped by a truck driver who dragged her into a bush, tied her up and raped her. It is alleged that he thereafter assaulted her with a brick on her head and left her in the bush. The child had sustained bruises on her body and her face was swollen from the assault. After interviewing the child the Brighton Beach Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit began their investigation by interviewing all trucking companies in the area. On 15 March the members made a breakthrough after the suspects employer confirmed that he found items belonging to the victim in one of his trucks. Police questioned the suspect at his place of employment in Phoenix where he confessed to the crime. The suspect (38) was then arrested for three counts of rape, attempted murder and kidnapping. He will appear in the Durban Magistrates’ Court this morning.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the arrest. “We are glad that this monster is behind bars where he can do no more harm to our innocent children. We once again call on parents to be aware that there are such fiends amongst us that will commit the most heinous acts of violence on our children should they be present with the opportunity. We are responsible for the safety of our children and need to ensure that they are not exposed to these criminals,” she said. – South African Police media service

Two blacks get life sentences for robbery, rape

Today, 14 March 2014, Siyanda Emmanuel Dlamini (27) and Sthembiso Ernest Mngadi (29) were each sentenced to three life imprisonments at the Durban High Court. Both Dlamini and Mngadi were facing nine counts of rape, inducing another person to commit a sexual offense, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court found the two accused guilty of all the above mentioned crimes.

On 8 November 2011, both the accused entered a home of unsuspecting victims in Piesang, Inanda. They accosted three vulnerable women and two male occupants and held them at gunpoint. They raped and robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash and cell phones. These events unfolded before the eyes of their helpless younger brother. They ordered both the brother and the other male to partake in the raping and as a result the other male occupant was shot in the face for protesting, while the brother feigned sexual intercourse with one of his sisters.

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni thanked Inanda Cluster Detectives and Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for their dedication in the arresting and thorough investigation of the cases that resulted in the conviction and sentencing of the accused who have been terrorising Inanda community. – SA Police Media Service

Black male sentenced to 20 years for raping 7-year old

Empangeni Regional Court convicted and sentenced Sabelo Sibiya (35) to 20 years imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old victim. He was sentenced on 18 February 2014 after the magistrate heard how he had raped the victim.

On 10 July 2012 a seven-year-old victim was playing with other children at sugarcane plantation at Dover area, Empangeni when she was approached by the accused. The suspect took the girl to a nearby veld where she was raped. Other children who witness the incident reported the matter to her grandmother. A case was opened at Empangeni Police station for further investigation. Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit investigated the case that led to the arrest of the accused on the same day. The accused who was the neighbor of the victim, was charged with rape and appeared in court several times, and was denied bail.

We pride ourselves for the dedication and exceptional investigative skills shown by Empangeni FCS, in putting the rapist behind the bars. The SAPS in KwaZulu-Natal Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit has capacity to effectively investigate sexual-related crimes and such convictions and sentences bear testimony that sexual offenders will be traced, arrested and successfully prosecuted.- SAPS media service

Young black arrested in KZN for killing entire family

Today on Monday 20 January 2014, a 25-year-old Tshepang Mokhali who is an accused in the murder of six family members at UMzinyathi in Kwazulu-Natal provinve during the month of December 2012 appeared in the Ntuzuma Magistrate Court facing six counts murder.

It is alleged that on 28 December 2012 Tshepang shot and killed Maselina Leneah (38) and he stabbed five of her kids to death only a toddler survived his onslaught. He locked the deceased bodies in the house and he fled to Lesotho where he had been hiding all along. The bodies were discovered on the 31st of December 2012. The suspect was finally arrested in the early hours of Friday morning in Matatiele in a joint operation between the Inanda Cluster Detectives together with Magma Security Investigators.

Tshepang was remanded in custody and will re-appear on 24 January 2014. – SA Police media service

S. African criminals ‘admitting and registering’ students now – at a price

Police in Kwazulu-Natal province have warned first year students to take extra precautions during their registrations. They are warned not to make any payments on a street or in vehicles. It is alleged that criminals are promising students entrance to universities and requesting the students to pay fees to them. They allegedly take the students to their vehicles where the payments are done. The suspects will issue students with replica registration forms and a student number belonging to someone else making the deal look legitimate. The student is then sent home and told to come back with the balance of the money for the chosen courses.

On Wednesday, 15 January 2014 Berea police received information about this scam in the area and they initiated an investigation. A 26-year-old man was arrested and was found in possession of fraudulent documents used to carry out this scam. The suspect was charged with fraud and was detained in the Berea police cells. We believe that more suspects will be arrested for operating this scam. The suspect is due to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court soon. Police have appealed to any other person who has fallen victim to this scam to report the incident to their local police station. – SA Police media service

Five car hijackers arrested in Durban

On 11 January 2014, the Durban Flying Squad, Durban Tactical Response Team and Public Order Police made a breakthrough when they arrested five suspects for car hijackings that occurred in various Durban suburbs. The suspects were arrested for crimes committed in Merebank, Wentworth, Westville and Verulam. The five men were arrested in Umlazi and four vehicles were recovered in the Umlazi Township.

On 7 January 2014 at about 21:30, a 35-year-old female was threatened with a firearm and a knife while entering her house in Merebank and hijacked of her Toyota Conquest. A 25-year-old woman was hijacked of her VW Polo at knifepoint in Merewent on 10 January 2014 and another 25-year-old was threatened with high calibre firearms and robbed of her Renault Clio and handbag. The men have also been accused of stealing a Toyota Avanza in Verulam on 11 January 2014. Police seized a 9mm firearm with its serial number filed off from one of the suspects as well as toy gun that they allegedly used in the hijackings. Five suspects aged between 19 and 22 will be charged for three counts of hijacking, possession of unlicensed firearm and theft of motor vehicle. They will appear in Durban Magistrates Court soon. We are still looking for one other member of the gang who is from Umlazi and we believe that these men will be linked to other hijacking cases in the Durban area.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended police for the breakthrough. “The arrest of these criminals is a massive achievement for police and we believe it will contribute to our efforts in reducing the incidents of hijacking in Durban and surrounding areas,” she said. – SAPS news service

Durban narcotics team arrests drug dealers

On Thursday, 9 January 2014 members of the Durban Flying Squad Narcotics Task Team brought down another two drug dealers in the Durban area. The two were arrested in two separate busts in different suburbs and police seized rock cocaine, ecstasy and dagga from both men to the street value of more than R46 500-00. They are expected to appear in court soon.

At 13:15 the members were patrolling at Seaview area in Bellair when they followed up information about drugs in the area. The members proceeded to Bridge road where they searched a house and found rock cocaine and 600 ecstasy tablets to the street value of more than R44 000. The suspect (37) was immediately arrested and detained for possession of drugs.

After officers from the Narcotics Task Team had completed their duties at Montclair they proceeded to Westcliff area in Chatsworth. At 16:30 they searched another house at Domino street, Westcliff and recovered 512 grams of dagga. The suspect(44) was also arrested and detained on charges of possession of drugs. The value of the drugs seized is estimated at R2 500-00.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni congratulated the Narcotics Task Team for the arrest of these notorious drug dealers. “I am pleased that the Flying Squad Narcotics Task Team has once again proved that reports in certain media that we are not serious about dealing with drug peddlers was rash and unfounded. We have the most committed individuals that are in the forefront of the fight against drugs and their results have been consistent over the years. In the absence of any interventions by other role-players, police still remain committed to fighting this battle” she said. – SA Police Media Service

House robbers arrested in Kwazulu-Natal

Empangeni police assisted by Empangeni K9 Unit reacted to a house robbery complaint at Odondolo area near Empangeni in the early hours of this morning. The members were given the description of two vehicles used by the suspects as getaway vehicles. A white VW Golf fitting the same description given to the members was spotted in the area with two suspects. The two suspects were immediately arrested and charged with house robbery. A second vehicle, a white Corsa bakkie was later seen at Esikhawini area with one occupant. He was also arrested and charged with house robbery. All arrested suspects aged between 16 and 27 years will appear in the Empangeni Magistrates’ Court soon.

In the early hours of this morning, 7 January 2014 at approximately 4:00 the victim was at home at Odondolo area near Empangeni when he was approached by three armed man. They allegedly threatened him with firearms and took goods such as TVs, cellphones, clothing and shoes to the value of more than R30 000. The suspects fled the scene in their two getaway vehicles. A case of house robbery was opened at Empangeni police station and the description of the alleged getaway vehicles was circulated to the members on patrols in the area.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the swift reaction by the members that led to the arrest of these alleged criminals and the recovery of vehicles used during the commission of an offence. The recovered vehicles will be investigated to establish if they were not used in any other house robberies in and around the area. The arrested suspects will be profiled as well to establish if they are not wanted for other crimes in the province. “We are committed to eradicating criminal activities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and confident that the impact of these arrests will result in the reduction of the serious and violent crimes during and beyond the festive season,” she said. – SAPS news service

Father who raped 11-year old daughter sentenced to 39 years

A 44-year-old father from the Richards Bay area has been convicted and sentenced to a total of 39 years imprisonment by the Richards Bay Regional Court on 20 December 2013, after he was found guilty of raping his 11-year-old daughter in the area.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the conviction and sentence of this father. “The ruthless and barbaric attack of children by criminals even if they are fathers will not be tolerated in our society. The sentence is preceded by intensive and diligent investigation by capable officers from Empangeni FCS Unit. Our endeavours to effectively investigate reported crimes instills hope in victims of crime and sends out a clear message to criminals that we will trace, arrest and successfully prosecute them,” concluded Lieutenant General Ngobeni.

From 1999 to 2001, the victim who was 11-year-old at that time, was at home with her father when the father sexually assaulted her and eventually raped her in separate incidents. She was also assaulted and threatened to be killed during 2001. In August 2001 a case of rape was opened at Richards Bay police station and through investigation the accused was immediately arrested and charged with rape.

I is not known why the case took 12 years to wind its way through the courts.