Latest news with #Mdhluli
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- The Citizen
Homes at risk: West Acres residents sound the alarm over land invasion
Residents of Marina and Cussons streets in West Acres have raised concerns over ongoing land invasion adjacent to their properties. According to them, members of the Mataffin community have been occupying parts of Eligedleni Farm over the past two weeks. Trees have been cut down and makeshift roads cleared, with the apparent intention to build homes. Residents believe the invasion will negatively impact property values in the area. A community meeting was held on an open piece of land on Monday, July 8, to discuss the issue. A resident representative, who asked not to be named, said she had been in contact with Terry Mdhluli, whom she identified as one of the landowners. ALSO READ: End of patrols doesn't mean danger, say Numbi road tour operators 'Terry is co-operative. He has been in communication with me the whole day. I hope he arrives at this meeting, but if not, I will be seeing him on Thursday to discuss the way forward,' she said. During the meeting, it emerged that a court order issued in 2021 prohibits anyone, including members of the Mataffin community, from occupying the land. Residents also claimed that plots were allegedly being sold for as little as R200, although it remains unclear who is behind the sales. The zoning status of the land also remains in question. An official from the City of Mbombela (CoM), who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said a formal township had been approved, although the area had previously been designated for agricultural use. Mdhluli eventually arrived at the meeting and confirmed that he and other stakeholders would meet with the police on Wednesday, July 10, to seek a resolution. 'This land belongs to us, the Matsafeni Trust. As you can see, people are trying to enter the space illegally,' he said. 'We already have a permanent court order preventing any invasion, because this is not the first time it has happened.' Mdhluli said that law enforcement and the sheriff had visited the area on July 3 but were threatened by the land invaders. He assured residents that the police would take action. 'No one is going to live here without following proper procedures. Once the police remove the invaders, we will erect a fence and hire a security company to protect the land,' he said. However, a Mataffin community member told Lowvelder that the land rightfully belongs to the community and accused criminals of using it to hide and store stolen goods. 'It is within our rights to occupy the land because it has been abandoned,' he said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- The Citizen
Man arrested months after fatal shooting of Mbombela doctor outside gym
A man (39) was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of Dr Nondumiso Sibanyoni (34) from Mbombela. Sibanyoni was killed on November 20, 2024. The suspect is expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Thursday to face a murder charge, Mpumalanga News reports. The Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, said Sibanyoni was fatally shot at around 06:00 on the said date. 'She was walking towards the gym after parking her car at the parking lot of Virgin Active Riverside. A Toyota Starlet drove towards her, and a gunman exited the vehicle and shot her three times before fleeing the scene. Nothing was stolen from the victim,' Mdhluli said. The police and paramedics responded to the scene. Sibanyoni was lying on the ground outside her car and was declared dead by the medical personnel. Mdhluli confirmed that the case was handed over to the provincial murder and robbery unit in Mpumalanga, which successfully investigated the matter as a gender-based violence and femicide case, leading to the current arrest. The police have indicated that they cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests as the investigation remains ongoing. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
Counterfeit methylated spirits and vinegar lab dismantled in Mpumalanga
The Mpumalanga police have warned the public against purchasing counterfeit goods following the discovery of a laboratory making methylated spirits and vinegar in KaBokweni on Thursday. Mpumalanga News reports that after receiving a tip-off, the police raided the laboratory that was located behind a supermarket in the area. 'There was a woman at the premises who identified herself as an employee. The owner was reportedly not available during the operation,' says Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli. The SAPS confiscated all the items that were found in the laboratory and said these would form part of the investigation. The items include 2 500 containers of methylated spirits and vinegar, in various sizes. The estimated value has not been revealed. Officers of the Local Criminal Record Centre took the lead during the raid. However, Mdhluli says the Hawks will take over the investigation. No arrests have been made yet. The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, encouraged community members to report any suspicious activities in their area. He says police will not hesitate to act swiftly. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
Mpumalangan serial child rapist gets three life sentences
A 38-year-old serial rapist was sentenced by the Volksrust Regional Court to three life terms on Wednesday, June 5. The convict was involved in the rape of three minors. According to the Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the first incident was reported in Mkhondo in 2023, October 11. The man approached an eight-year-old girl at her home asked her to buy a box of matches at a nearby shop. He handed her R5 and told her to keep R2. The man then persuaded her to accompany him to a sports ground where he raped her. In the same area, he targeted the nine-year-old girl (9) on October 18, 2023. She was playing with her younger brother when she was approached by him. ALSO READ: Carolina man jailed for 15 years for rape He sent her to call his friend for him, then followed and raped her in an abandoned house near a church. After that, he gave her a R2 coin and instructed her not to tell anyone. He was unknown to the victim, but was later identified. The third incident took place in Volksrust on August 17, 2024. An 11-year-old victim was playing with her younger brothers at their home when the man approached her and convinced her to call his friend. He followed her, raped her and beat her before fleeing the scene. The community assisted the police in arresting the man on August 24, 2024, after being identified by the victim. Further investigation connected him to the rape cases in Mkhondo,' said Mdhluli. The convict abandoned his bail application and remained in custody from the date of his arrest until the day of sentencing. He pleaded guilty to all three counts. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Department of Education suspends principal over sexual harassment claims 'The court ordered that the counts run concurrently. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm and it was ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders,' said Mdhluli. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- The Citizen
Missing Mbombela child (6) found raped and murdered
A six-year-old girl from Mbombela, Mpumalanga, who was reported missing has been found dead and allegedly raped. Her body was discovered in a graveyard yesterday, Mpumalanga News reports. According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the child was last seen on Monday evening. 'It is said that her father left her and her four-year-old sister at their home in Mataffin at about 20:40 to buy items from a nearby tuck-shop. He reportedly instructed the children to lock the shack for safety. When he returned, he found the door unlocked. The younger child was alone inside, and her sister was missing,' said Mdhluli. He asked the younger girl where her sister was, but she said she did not know. A search was launched with the help of neighbours, but she was not found. The search continued the next day without success. The matter was reported to the police in Nelspruit, and a missing person's file was opened. Various police units were deployed to assist, but the girl remained missing. 'On the evening of June 27, police and paramedics received information about a child's body discovered in the bushes. On arrival, the child was declared dead. Preliminary investigations suggest she was raped before she was killed,' said Mdhluli. No arrests have been made. Police urge anyone with information that could assist in identifying the suspect(s) to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or to use the My SAPS App. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
