Former intelligence officers in court for defrauding state security agency of R5.8 million
Two former senior intelligence officers have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the State Security Agency (SSA) of R5.8 million.
Ntshavheni Prince Makhathana and Matome Solomon Ralebipi made their first appearance at the Palm Ridge specialised commercial crimes court on Monday, where their bail was set at R100,000 and R150,000, respectively.
They were released on strict bail conditions and ordered to surrender their travel documents, they should not leave their residential addresses with the exception of consultations with their attorneys and getting medical attention.
Furthermore, they have been ordered not dispose their immovable assets and should report to their nearest police stations every Friday, and they should not have any direct or indirect contact with the state witnesses.
Makhathana, a former manager of the Cover Support Unit (CSU) of the then National Intelligence Agency (NIA) now SSA, was responsible for all its operations and financial expenditure, together with his co-accused, Ralebipi, a former agent of the NIA.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
I availed myself for accountability, Simelane tells DA in heated debate
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, who was allegedly accused of murdering her sister, whom the party never suspended nor issued a press statement. Image: Hunk Kruger / Independent Newspapers HUMAN Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has described the DA's personal attack on her as being tried in public without being charged. Simelane said she was not amazed by what was happening to her because a person stands in front of a judge when charged with an offence. 'You are trying me in public because you think this is the only way to degrade the work I am doing,' she said. Simelane responded to the DA's attacks during the budget vote for her department on Wednesday. The DA, which had its former deputy minister, Andrew Whitfield, dismissed for taking a trip to the US without authorisation from President Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed not to vote in support of the budgets of departments left by compromised ministers and deputy ministers. On Tuesday, the DA claimed that Simelane was under investigation after it laid charges with the SAPS for the alleged theft of more than R700,000 by fraudulently billing Eskom when she worked for a company named Vitrovian. Speaking during the debate, DA MP Luyolo Mphithi said the Human Settlements Department was saddled with a catastrophic collapse of governance across its several housing entities. Mphithi recalled that Simelane was previously accused of receiving a R575,600 'loan' from Gundo Wealth Solutions, linked to the unlawful investments of municipal funds into the VBS Mutual Bank, while she was the mayor of the Polokwane Municipality. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'It seems that the president does not at all take issue with the fact that a person accused of corruption sits in his Cabinet and will have to look after the budget with R30 billion set aside for South Africans,' he said. Mphithi also said that although the department's budget and department have many challenges, it would under normal circumstances be supported. 'However, we are faced with a minister who has corruption allegations against her and has not been accountable to the South African public, which makes it difficult for us to support this budget,' he said. Mphithi's colleague, Conrad Poole said that when Simelane was accused, she should be in the dock before a judge and not be an MP entrusted with R33 billion of taxpayer funds. 'I certainly would not bet any money on this minister doing anything to clean up shop. If the allegations of corruption are true, she would rather buy coffee shops. She may, in fact, be planning to convert the Department of Human Settlements for her grand relaunch of her 'coffee' enterprise. In response, Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, whom she identified as Msebenzi Radebe, who was allegedly accused of the murder of her sister, whom the party never charged. 'In 2016, when I managed to place charges against him, it was only then that the DA suspended him. Even on my calls to get the DA to get a statement of murder against my sister, they did not. In 2019, three years later, she died. 'So good, you can find the nearest door to the police station. Where it matters, you don't even know where the door is,' she said. Simelane insisted that the investigation was about accountability. 'I availed myself of accountability. Now the investigation is done, and you reported the case, but you now can't wait for the investigation to conclude. I fear I am going to disappear after this. I mean really,' she said. ANC MP Albert Seabi pleaded with Simelane not to be distracted by the amount of noise, no matter how loud it may be, including an allegation not tested in court. 'You have our support minister because of your strong work ethic, your dedication, your diligence, and your consistent commitment to transparency, accountability, and transforming the sector,' said Seabi. EFF MP Babalwa Mathulelwa said they rejected the budget not because 'we are extortionists like the DA'. Mathulelwa said the rejection of the budget was based on the empty promise wrapped in inflation and false hopes. ActionSA's Malebo Patricia Kobe said: 'The budget fails to honour the dignity of millions still waiting for a place to call home.' Rise Mzansi's Makashule Gana said: 'I will debate the budget and resist the temptation to debate or play the woman'. Cape Times
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Flying squad makes R700k drug bust in Cape Town
A tip-off about suspected drug dealing at a fast-food establishment has dished up a stash of Mandrax with an estimated street value of R700,000 in Athlone, Cape Town. Maitland Flying Squad members found three vehicles at the address in Belgravia just after 1pm on Wednesday. 'They found three vehicles — a white Mercedes-Benz, a white Renault and a white Hyundai — in the parking area. The members observed the occupants and noticed one suspect take a black bag out of one vehicle, putting it into his vehicle,' said police spokesperson Capt Frederick van Wyk 'They approached the vehicles and two of the suspects attempted to walk away but were apprehended. The members searched the vehicles and found in one 3,000 Mandrax tablets and in another an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.' Additional information led police to a premises in Crawford where they found another 13,000 Mandrax tablets and schedule 1 medicine. A 58-year-old woman and four men aged between 48 and 60 were arrested for possession and dealing in drugs. They are expected to appear soon in the Athlone magistrate's court.
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Bus driver arrested after transporting nearly 80 undocumented Zimbabweans
The passengers on the bus had no passports or travel documentation and were taken back to the border for processing. Entrance to the Beitbridge Border Post in Limpopo. Picture: Nigel Sibanda A bus driver has been arrested and his human cargo escorted back to the border after failing to escape authorities. The police's border unit was aided by South African National Parks Rangers in tracking a bus loaded with undocumented foreign nationals on Monday. The driver of the bus was charged with the Conveyance of Illegal Immigrants and given a fine of at least R100 000. Long police chase Authorities initially attempted to stop and inspect the bus along the R521 outside Modena near the Botswana border. The bus driver did not comply and attempted to flee the scene, leading pursuing police and border patrol vehicles on a high-speed chase. Authorities followed the bus for almost 50 kilometres before bringing it to a halt along the R572, roughly 50 kilometres from the Beitbridge border post. 'Upon conducting a thorough search of the bus, law enforcement officers discovered 76 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals on board, none of whom possessed valid passports or travel documents,' confirmed Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. The passengers on board were taken to the Beitbridge border post for processing, and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe thanked the teams for a successful interception. 'This operation demonstrates our firm commitment to safeguarding our borders and ensuring that all those who undermine the country's immigration laws are brought to book,' Hadebe stated. Drones for BMA The Department of Home Affairs upgraded the Border Management Authority's (BMA) operational capacity earlier this year. R150 million was spent on providing BMA agents with 40 body-worn cameras and a set of drones to give officials real-time footage from the ground. The drones come equipped with AI-assisted object recognition, thermal cameras that detect heat signatures, and the ability to lock onto and track targets. 'Data shows that when we first trialled the use of drones over the festive season, the number of attempted illegal crossings that were successfully prevented increased by 215%,' stated Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber in April. NOW READ: Here is what's causing delays at Home Affairs offices
