Two women, Florida Owusu and Abongile Tyusha, both aged 28, briefly appeared in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today. The two former ABSA bank employees were charged with 31 counts of fraud, 80 theft charges and 90 counts of money laundering.

On 27 July 2022, three Lesotho nationals, Moeketsi Hlaudi, Kekekso Ntsabisa and Thabiso Ramollo, appeared at the Bonnievale Magistrates Court, following their successful extradition from Lesotho to South Africa. The state prosecutor, Adv Megan Blows, informed the court that the three accused face charges of murder, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances as well as the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The High Court of South Africa: Polokwane Limpopo Division, has sentenced a 22-year-old, Thapelo Tonny Phasha, to an effective 22 years of direct imprisonment, for three (3) counts of rape. The court heard that between April 2018 and May 2019, the accused raped girls aged 15 and 17. Thapelo came across the first complainant, took her to the nearest bushes and raped her. The second complainant was walking with her friend when the accused approached and threatened them. The complainant was taken to the mountain and was raped twice.

The Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court sentenced the former chairperson of the South African Airways (SAA) board, Duduzile Myeni, to a fine of R120 000 or two-years imprisonment, half of which is suspended for five years on the condition that she is not convicted of defeating or obstructing the administration of justice, during the period of suspension.

Lawak Lorenzo Henzel(23) has appeared in the Petrusville District Court, on a charge of murder. The accused is alleged to have stabbed his 03-year-old stepson to death. According to the allegations, on 25 July 2022, the accused who is the stepfather of the victim, quarrelled with the toddler's mother, who was his ex-girlfriend.

Miriam Tau (40), has made a brief appearance in the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court, where her case was adjourned to 11 August 2022, for a decision from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), in the Northern Cape. The accused is facing a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. On 15 May 2022, the accused was arrested at the Indian Centre in Kimberley, after a weeklong intelligence-driven and surveillance operation, led by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and its undercover agents.

Aldean Wilkinson (30), has appeared in the Kimberley District Court, where his case was transferred to the High Court sitting in Kimberley. The accused was on 13 June 2022, denied bail by the district court, for stabbing his 28-year-old pregnant girlfriend and mother of his two children.  On 15 May 2022, the Police were called to the home of the victim, and when they arrived, they found the body of the deceased, with stab wounds.

The case against the former Mahikeng Local Municipality municipal manager, Thabo Isaac Mokoena (61), was postponed by Molopo Regional Court, to 06 September 2022, for representations. The defence attorney committed to submit written representations, to the state within a week for consideration. Adv Salome Veenemans, from the North Gauteng Division, representing the state, will respond to the representations when the matter appears in September 2022.

The Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court deferred the case against four suspects, charged with the murder of Sam Mbatha, to 29 August 2022, for a first appearance at the High Court of South Africa; North West Division that will sit at the Garankuwa Regional Court.  The state provided the defence attorneys with the indictment, detailing all the charges relating to the murder. A pre-trial conference date will be decided when the matter appears at the high court.

Two businessmen, Jabulane Petros Mashamaite and James Mswazi Chuma, were denied bail after they were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of murder by Mokopane Magistrate’s Court.  Samuel Seruputlane Mokonyane and Nkholo Frans Mangadi, (accused 1 and 4) abandoned their bail application.  It is alleged that the accused, killed two ANC Mogalakwena Councillors, Vaaltyn Kekana(54) and Ralph Kanyane (32), in 2019.