Latest news with #Mdhluli

IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Stolen Toyota Land Cruiser recovered: Mozambican national arrested in Mpumalanga
The Toyota Land Cruiser, reported missing from Marquard in the Free State, was intercepted by police in Mpumalanga. Image: SAPS Police in Mpumalanga have arrested a 23-year-old Mozambican national in connection with a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser bakkie. The vehicle, reported missing from Marquard in the Free State, was intercepted by authorities on Wednesday evening. According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, members of the provincial anti-hijacking task team, in collaboration with Vispol units from Ehlanzeni and Tonga, acted on a tip-off from the public. "The information was then followed by the police, and they intercepted the vehicle between Low's Creek and Kaapmuiden, at the corner of R38 Road and the N4 Road," Mdhluli stated. The stolen Land Cruiser was found fitted with false Gauteng registration plates. The driver was immediately apprehended and charged with possession of a suspected stolen vehicle. He is expected to appear in court soon. Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, praised the vigilant whistleblowers for their crucial information and commended the swift response of the police officers, which led to both the vehicle's recovery and the suspect's arrest. 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 ✕ The Toyota Land Cruiser, reported missing from Marquard in the Free State, was intercepted by police in Mpumalanga. Image: SAPS Last year, IOL reported that a 32-year-old man Brian Kagiso Mahlo appeared before the Thabamoopo Magistrate's Court in Limpopo on Monday for possession of a stolen vehicle, a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX. 'His arrest comes after members of Limpopo SAPS provincial anti-smuggling task team received a tip-off about a stolen vehicle that was in the process of being smuggled out of the country to Zimbabwe, through Beitbridge port of entry,' Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said at the time. The police team responded promptly, and the white Toyota Prado VX was spotted. The vehicle was intercepted along the R37 road from Lebowakgomo to Polokwane. The popular sport utility vehicle had been reported stolen in the Villieria policing area, in Tshwane. 'The police stopped the vehicle, and upon searching it, the driver, who is a South African, was unable to produce the valid documents for the vehicle. He was apprehended on the spot for possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle,' said Ledwaba. IOL News


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!