Latest news with #JonisayiMaromo
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Groom sentenced to life for raping bride's nine-year-old relative
Jonisayi Maromo | Published 4 hours ago A 45-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in Polokwane for raping a nine-year-old girl, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said. IOL reported that the incident occurred on December 24, 2023, during a wedding ceremony in Dennilton, where the accused man, the groom, was present, according to NPA spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi. 'The victim, her mother, younger sibling, and two aunts — part of the bride's family — were offered a room to sleep at the bride's residence after the celebration,' said Malabi-Dzhangi. 'In the early hours, the accused entered the room where the victim was sleeping, carried her to an unoccupied bedroom, and raped her.' The little girl's screams for help prompted the rapist to flee. Her mother found her naked and immediately reported the matter to the police, which led to the accused man's arrest. The convicted rapist's name is withheld to protect the minor victim's identity. During the trial, State advocate Shirley Mawasha presented evidence, including a J88 medical report, DNA evidence, and testimony from the accused's uncle, who confirmed the accused admitted to sexually assaulting a child and expressed remorse to him. The prosecution argued that the accused betrayed the family's trust, exploiting his role as a protector. 'His actions turned a day meant for celebration into a horror, damaging the relationship between the two families irreparably due to his greed,' Mawasha said during the trial. Mawasha also highlighted the accused man's 'arrogance and lack of remorse' throughout the trial. In passing judgment, the judge condemned the accused man's actions, noting that as a newlywed, he should have shared his first night with his bride, not committed an act 'fit for movies, not real life'. The court emphasised that the accused knowingly took the child, left her on the floor, and fled, showing a ruthless lack of conscience. The judge said, despite DNA evidence, the accused man's 'arrogance' persisted, and the trial left the minor and her family, who had supported him, in misery. The court sentenced the man to life imprisonment, stressing the need to protect society, vulnerable groups, and deter similar offenders. The convicted man was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders, and deemed unsuitable to work with children. Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo has welcomed the life imprisonment sentence imposed by the court. The NPA has reaffirmed its commitment to justice for victims of gender-based violence and the safety of communities. [email protected] The Star
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Limpopo man purchased R1. 3 million Ford Ranger Raptor with fake payslips, and vanished
Jonisayi Maromo | Published 8 hours ago The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, has arrested a 27-year-old Limpopo man for fraud after he allegedly acquired a top-of-the-range Ford Raptor fraudulently. The 27-year-old man who cannot be identified until he appears in court was nabbed by the Hawks' serious commercial crime investigation unit and the Sekhukhune tracing team at Groblersdal in Limpopo. 'It is alleged that during April 2023, the accused applied for motor vehicle finance at WesBank to purchase a Ford Ranger Raptor valued at over R1.3 million. 'The accused allegedly attached the bank statement and the employer's payslip as requested,' said Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo. 'The application was processed and approved.' The dealership then contacted the 27-year-old man and notified him that his application had been successful. 'He went to the dealership in Polokwane to collect the car, accompanied by two men who are also suspects,' said Mmuroa. As days went by, the 27-year-old man failed to make the monthly installments for the vehicle. The bank tried to contact him without success. 'WesBank conducted a forensic audit and noticed that the accused used fraudulent documents during his application. The matter was reported to the Hawks' serious commercial crime investigation in Polokwane for assistance,' said Mmuroa. Investigations were conducted by the Hawks, which led to the arrest of the first accused person in the matter in January 2024. 'Further investigations revealed that the arrested suspect, aged 27, assisted the accused to defraud and collect the vehicle from the dealership,' said Mmuroa. 'The suspect is expected to appear before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Polokwane, on 28 July 2025.' Meanwhile, provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender has welcomed the arrest of the suspect. In 2023, IOL reported that a Limpopo woman, aged 22, was sentenced to pay R10 000 or spend two years in jail after she used fraudulent documents to buy a Hyundai Atos. At the time, Hawks in Limpopo, Lieutenant-Colonel Matimba Maluleke said the Hyundai Atos valued at over R340 000 was financed by Wesbank in 2022. 'Miranda Thandaza Lubisi was sentenced for fraud by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 12 May, 2023,' Matimba said. 'On 16 September, 2022, the accused visited a vehicle dealership in Tzaneen and showed interest in a Hyundai Atos valued at R346 122. The accused was assisted by the salesperson at the dealership to apply for vehicle finance that was later approved by Wesbank.' Maluleke said the vehicle was delivered to Lubisi. 'After a few months, the bank was audited and it was discovered that the accused used fraudulent documents to apply for vehicle finance. The case of fraud was opened at Tzaneen police station and transferred to the Hawks' serious commercial crime investigation unit for further handling,' he said. A thorough investigation was conducted, and consequently, the accused was arrested and charged with fraud. After a few court appearances, she was granted bail until she was convicted and sentenced to pay R10 000 or two years' imprisonment,' Maluleke said. 'She was further sentenced to five years imprisonment which is suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit similar offences during the suspension period.' [email protected] IOL News
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
South African man jailed for attempting to smuggle stolen Toyota Hilux to Zimbabwe
Jonisayi Maromo | Published 1 week ago A 34-year-old man, Solomon Chiloane, has appeared before the Mokopane Magistrate's Court in Limpopo, after he was arrested for possession of a suspected stolen vehicle. The case against Chiloane was postponed to 29 July 2025 for further investigations, while he was remanded in custody. Chiloane was arrested after police in Limpopo received information about a stolen Toyota Hilux bakkie. The vehicle was reported stolen on Saturday around the Lyttleton policing area in Tshwane. 'On Monday, information was received about the bakkie that was reportedly driven from Gauteng province along the R101 public road headed to Limpopo province,' said provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. The Limpopo anti-smuggling task team and private security companies sprang into action and a joint operation was activated. The bakkie was positively spotted entering the town of Mokopane, and it was intercepted and searched. 'A 34-year-old male driver could not provide a satisfactory response about the origin of the white Toyota Hilux bakkie, valued at more than R700,000, and was immediately placed under arrest on the spot for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle,' said Ledwaba. 'Preliminary investigations revealed that the bakkie was intended to be illegally smuggled to Zimbabwe.' Police in Limpopo said they have established that Chiloane is a South African national. Meanwhile, the provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed Chiloane's arrest and the recovery of the stolen vehicle. 'This collaboration between police and private security has proven from time to time that working jointly we can achieve more in combating the organized syndicate targeting vehicle smuggling,' said Hadebe. On Tuesday, IOL reported that a 48-year-old Zimbabwean man, Stephen Nyoni, has been remanded in custody after appearing in a Limpopo court for possessing a stolen vehicle. The high-performance luxury sport utility vehicle, valued at over R2.5 million, was intercepted during a targeted anti-smuggling operation. The anti-crime blitz was conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo in collaboration with private security partners along the N1 highway near Polokwane. [email protected] IOL News
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Why FlySafair pilots are striking: It's more than just money
Long queues formed at the FlySafair counters on Monday morning as the airline grappled with a labour impasse that grounded some flights. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL As hundreds bemoan the FlySafair strike, Solidarity has released a statement expressing the real reason why pilots have downed their tools - and it's not just about the money. While pilots overseas can earn up to R3 million plus housing and extras, earlier reports indicate that FlySafair pilots requested a raise. FlySafair responded stating that their Captains earn between R1.8 and R2.3 million annually, which, according to them, places the pilots within the top 1% of earners in South Africa. With regards to workload woes, FlySafair noted that its Captains spent an average of 63 hours last month in the cockpit flying passengers. It added that this is "well within regulatory limits set by the Civil Aviation Authority, IATA, and ICAO", which cap flight duty at 100 hours per month. While there is no doubt that that is a lot of money, the big question is: What is the point of having a full bank account if you cannot see your loved ones and your quality of life is low? According to Solidarity's statement, the improvement in the pilots' quality of life is the main issue. This is set to be tackled when the mediation process between Solidarity and FlySafair's management takes place on Wednesday. The process was requested by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), in terms of section 150 of the Labour Relations Act. "While the pilots are also seeking a reasonable salary increase – including to restore their compensation to pre-COVID-19 levels – improved working conditions are particularly important. A new rostering system, recently implemented unilaterally by FlySafair, has drastically changed the established working conditions of pilots, which have been in place for the past decade. This new schedule impedes adequate rest periods and undermines pilots' family life," the union stated. "As pilots' workdays often start before sunrise and last until late at night, sufficient rest is of utmost importance for the safety and well-being of pilots and passengers alike. In addition, pilots work seven days a week on a rotating schedule, which significantly impacts their family life compared to those who work standard office hours." 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 ✕ The proposals to achieve a settlement include, but are not limited to: that pilots will have at least one weekend off within each five-week schedule cycle, as well as two consecutive days off to properly rest and spend quality time with their families; the opportunity for pilots to exchange shifts with colleagues in cases where family responsibilities necessitate such flexibility; that if they have to fly on their days off, they will be compensated for these days off within the next schedule cycle. Additional schedule proposals will also be submitted to FlySafair's management during the mediation. It's worth noting that Solidarity stated that if FlySafair complies with the above requests, it will be prepared to review the salary increase demand and all other related claims and be willing to compromise. This statement comes hours after FlySafair has confirmed that all flights on Tuesday's schedule are departing as planned and assured customers that disruptions have been minimal so far. IOL
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
FlySafair pilot strike forces cancellation of more flights
Long queues formed at the FlySafair counters on Monday morning as the airline grappled with a labour impasse that grounded some flights. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL As the labour dispute bedeviling domestic airline FlySafair entered the second day, the carrier said it has implemented several measures to cushion travellers from the impact of the disruptions and flight cancellations. On Monday, FlySafair cancelled about 26 flights which caused long queues and frustration among some customers. For Tuesday, FlySafair has also announced the cancellation of two flights - FA327 and FA326 - due to the ongoing strike action. "We've put measures in place to assist all customers affected. For full details, please visit We sincerely apologise for the disruption and appreciate your understanding as we work to support all affected customers," the airline posted on social media platforms. On Monday, IOL spoke to Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer for FlySafair, at the OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, who said the interruption of flights is regrettable and had left some passengers stranded. "What we are experiencing at the moment is that we have an industrial action on the part of our pilots, they have embarked on a stay-away strike which started today. They have deemed it to happen for two weeks," Gordon told IOL on Monday. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading "Unfortunately, we had a number of commitments from a number of pilots to be able to cover our schedule today. Late last night, we received information from several of them, that they would be unable to fulfil their duties. As a result, we have had to cancel 26 of 174 flights today. So there has been cancellations which we apologise very deeply to our customers who have been stranded. Unfortunately, our hands are tied in this regard, because of the industrial action that is going on," he said. On the other hand, Solidarity, the union representing the FlySafair pilots told IOL that operations have been impacted by the labour lockout initiated by the airline, which the union said had resulted in workers being blocked from working. 'Technically, it was not our industrial action, but it was the company's lockout. Be that as it may, what we have determined is that if our members are not there, there is definitely an operational impact on the company," Solidarity's deputy general-secretary, Helgard Cronje, spoke to IOL at OR Tambo International Airport. 'Many flights were cancelled, many people were told to buy new tickets or to reschedule their flights. There is a definite operational impact if our members aren't at work. Technically, as I have said, it wasn't necessarily Solidarity's industrial action, because the company locked us out. They are locking us out at this stage.' Cronje said Solidarity gave FlySafair notice for a one-day strike, basically to get them back to the negotiation table. 'The CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) immediately contacted us, and we responded to the CCMA and said we are willing to speak and go back to the negotiation table,' he said. IOL News
