Crime

Moerane Commission: Will the truth become a casualty of political expediency?

17th April 2018 Vanessa Burger 0

The Moerane Commission concluded its work on 18 March and has until the end of April to submit its report and recommendations to the Premier, Willies Mchunu. After that it will be tabled for discussion at provincial level, go back to the Commission for final amendments, and only after that, it might be made public. The Premier’s office initially stated that it would not release the report, then it stated that “no decision not to release the report has been made” following a public outcry.

Minister intervenes in Mthatha taxi violence

28th March 2018 Mbulelo Sisulu 0

Police minister, Bheki Cele has intervened in the taxi violence in Mthatha that has claimed more than 60 people’s lives since 2016 by suspending major routes indefinitely, until the terms of a peace accord brokered between the warring taxi associations are respected.

Moerane Commission update: SAPS lies

12th March 2018 Vanessa Burger 0

Provincial SAPS leadership testified at the Moerane Commission last week. Evidence leader, Adv Manyathi presented them with 31pages of witnesses’ allegations against them ranging from negligence to actual criminal involvement in a number of killings in KZN. One of the former Umlazi Cluster Commanders, Maj Gen Chiliza lied under oath. He wasn’t alone; the other 5 senior commanders also backed him, but Chiliza’s testimony was particularly shocking. He claimed to be unaware that Sipho Ndovela and many of the other Glebelands leaders killed had been receiving threats and were in danger. I have evidence in the form of emails, screenshots of Whatsapp conversations etc that prove he lied.

Memorial service of the five cops held in Engcobo

27th February 2018 Mbulelo Sisulu Mzi Velapi 0

A memorial service was held on Tuesday for police officers killed at the Engcobo Police Station in the Eastern Cape last week. Five officers and a retired soldier were killed when a gang attacked the station. Suspects linked to a cult in a nearby village were arrested in a raid on their church.

Connecting the dots between corrupt police leadership and drug abuse

20th February 2018 Vanessa Burger 0

On 17 January, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and the new National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khehla Sithole announced crime intelligence boss, Richard Mdluli, had finally been relieved of his duties. Since his suspension seven years ago, he has reportedly earned around R8-million and persistently meddled in affairs of the state. He will retire with full benefits and apparent impunity for his role in pillaging a Crime Intelligence secret slush fund. Mdluli has been widely blamed for the downfall of, amongst others, the former Hawks head Anwar Dramat, former NPA prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach, and Gauteng corruption-buster, former Major General Shadrack Sibiya. But he has thousands of lesser-known victims – collateral damage along the road to ‘a better life’ for some.

R1,5 million project ends in shambles in Motherwell

2nd February 2018 Joseph Chirume 0

It is not unsual for municipalities and other spheres of government to implement projects without making sure that the beneficiaries have access to training, markets and most importantly that the project is not the only “poverty alleviation” measure in the community. The end result for such projects is that they end in shambles.