A VIP Protection Unit police officer assigned to Free State MEC for Finance, Gadija Brown, has appeared in court on a charge of attempted murder after allegedly using his firearm to avenge himself for being assaulted with a beer bottle at a tavern. Warrant Officer Vusumuzi Matthews Makhaza, 49, was released on warning when he appeared in the Mangaung Magistrate’s Court this week. Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Robbie Raburabu said Makhaza was arrested last month following the incident,…

The rapidly increasing prevalence of ukuthwala, or child marriages, in the Nkomazi region of Mpumalanga has prompted a well-known lobby group advocating for women’s rights to join forces with concerned community members in a bid to combat the disturbing practice. Positive Women’s Network (PWN) decided to lend a helping hand following the discovery that many young girls in areas such as Mjejane, Tonga, and other villages surrounding Nkomazi were forced to marry older men by their families. According to Thandi…

A woman from Mpumalanga is scheduled to appear in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of killing her seven-month-old daughter by setting fire to their shack. Mpumalanga police have reported that on Sunday morning, the mother allegedly locked the infant inside the shack in Marikana Extension 16, Vosman, near Emalahleni, and set it on fire, reducing it to ashes.“Upon arrival at the crime scene, a group of people was found deeply perturbed by the horrifying incident in which…

 In a strange turn of events, a member of a 10-man gang of robbers escaped death after being shot by an accomplice during a cash-in-transit robbery in Limpopo. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the heist took place at around 4:40 pm on the Senotlelo-Mokgwaneng main road in Matlelerekeng outside Sekhukhune District on Monday. “According to reports, a cash-in-transit van was travelling along the Senotlelo-Mokgwaneng road when it was attacked by a group of about ten suspects driving a…

Police in Limpopo are investigating a fire that destroyed seven vehicles and an office building at Kgapane Taxi Rank outside Tzaneen in Limpopo this weekend. The fire, suspected to be arson, broke out around midnight on Saturday, causing damage estimated at R2 million. “According to information, a 32 year-old security officer was on duty at the premises when he noticed fire in the yard. He went further to investigate and realised that the office buildings were on fire together with…

Limpopo police have launched a manhunt for unknown men who robbed a cash-in-transit vehicle, forcing its security guards to hide in bushes in fear of losing their lives. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the incident took place along the R33 Marble Hall Settlers T-junction around 6:30pm on Monday. “According to reports, the driver of the cash-in-transit vehicle allegedly stopped at a T-junction with a view of turning to Marble Hall direction when suddenly a silver-grey Fortuner came from…

Two ANC councillors facing separate cases of violating children will face internal disciplinary proceedings for allegedly undermining the reputation of the party. The two, one from Matlosana in the North-West and the other from Kriel in Mpumalanga, have both been arrested and charged with rape and attempted rape, respectively, amongst other charges. According to police, the Matlosana councillor, 43, was arrested after a video of him raping two boys went viral on social media. The councillor was not asked to…

Former Eskom chief executive officer Andre De Ruyter has landed in hot water after the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, revealed that he reported his corruption claims to law enforcement agencies a day before briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) two weeks ago. The revelations suggest that De Ruyter had “prioritised “spilling the beans” in his television interview with eNCA back in February over his legal obligation, as Eskom boss, to report…

Bester escape: G4S found wanting and fails to cover itself in glory  THE representatives of the company at the centre of the the grand escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC, G4S, have been called out for trying to pin the scandal on the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Correctional Service (DCS). In an 8-hour grilling, G4S regional commercial director Cobus Groenewoud, Audit and Risk director Gert Beyleveld and…