The Ntuzuma Regional Court sentenced Nkosinathi Hlongwane (28) and Nkosinathi Njabulo Khumalo (25), to two terms of life imprisonment for the murders they committed in February 2020, in the KwaMashu area. Hlongwane was sentenced to a further 10 years imprisonment, for having an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. On the day of the incident, the deceased persons, Mjabuliseni Mpungose (43) and Sabelo Joseph Mpungose(56) were seated outside the KwaMashu men’s hostel, when Hlongwane and Khumalo opened fire on them.

The case of fraud against Marius Louw, who at the time of the commissioning of the offence, was the Executive Mayor of Z.F Mcgawu District Municipality, and his wife Gertrude Louw, has been adjourned to 30 August 2022, by the Upington District Court. The husband and wife, are facing two charges of fraud emanating from purchasing two vehicles, through fraudulent means by utilising fictitious documents.

Two Nigerian nationals, Olatunji Samson Abdul and Adedayo Quandri, were sentenced to eight years and seven years imprisonment respectively by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Palm Ridge. Both men pleaded guilty and were convicted on 24 counts of theft, related to cloning the email addresses of conveyancers, DM5 and Yaron Waks.

The Lichtenburg Magistrates’ Court postponed the case against Tshepiso Lucas Leeto(23), to 14 July 2022, for a formal bail application and Legal Aid South Africa will represent him. Police reports reveal that Leeto, was arrested on Wednesday, 6 July 2022, for the alleged murder of his 2-year-old nephew, Neo Refemetswe Tlhame, whose lifeless body was found in a shallow grave at Extension 3, Blydeville outside Lichtenburg, on Tuesday, 5 July 2022. Police interrogation linked him to the murder and he was subsequently arrested and charged.

By Adv Anton du Plessis

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is mandated to uphold the rule of law by bringing suspected criminals to justice and claiming back stolen money. Calls for swift and effective accountability are growing louder, and many South Africans are questioning whether the NPA is up to the task.

A former SARS official Khutso Meloreng Hlongwane (44), will appear at Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday, 8 July 2022, after her representations made to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP,) to have her charges withdrawn were unsuccessful.

A 42-year-old man, Modirelwa Maxwell Mokoana, and a 40-year-old sergeant Thabo Letudi Mokoana, of Benoni police station, appeared in Nebo Magistrates’ Court for a formal bail application, on charges of kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice. The incident took place on 09 May 2022, in Kgaphamadi village Limpopo. The accused were arrested on 31 June 2022.

The accused man that defrauded the National Lotteries Commission(NLC), over R1,5 million was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court. The court heard evidence of how Christopher Tshivule(46), “hijacked” a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) called “The Message”, that operated in Bekkersdal. Its main focus was youth development and empowerment.

Dillon Morakile has appeared in the Galeshewe District Court, on a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances. The 27-year-old is accused of having robbed the Post Office Branch in Mankurwaneng, near Kimberley. It is alleged that on the day of the commissioning of the crime, the accused together with his accomplice, entered the Post Office and pointed employees with firearms.

The  High Court of South Africa Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg granted all four police officers that were accused of killing Mthokozisi Ntumba during protests by Witwatersrand University students in March 2021 a discharge, in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.