Latest news with #PinetownRegionalCourt
IOL News
24-06-2025
- IOL News
The shocking police errors that freed five men in a R5 million copper cable trial
Copper that was alleged to have been stolen by the five men who were acquitted of all charges by the Pinetown Regional Court on Tuesday. Image: eThekwini Municipality The Pinetown Regional Court has acquitted five men of all charges relating to 24 tons of stolen copper cable belonging to eThekwini Municipality and Telkom, estimated at R5 million, due to the unacceptable conduct of the police in the case. On Tuesday afternoon, Magistrate Muntukayise Khumalo told Sudashon Chetty, Simosakhe Chiliza, Richard Mnguni, Thulasizwe Ngcobo, and Mthokozisi Mchunu that they were free to go. The accused faced charges of possessing suspected stolen property (ferrous or non-ferrous metal) in that on February 2, 2023, in Pinetown, the accused were found in the unlawful possession of copper cables valued at R5m. After the State closed its case, the defence counsel for the accused, advocate Bonga Zulu, applied for the discharge of his clients in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Zulu argued that there was no evidence upon which a reasonable court acting carefully might convict on the evidence placed before the Regional Court. 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 Handing down his ruling, Magistrate Khumalo said the evidence of the State was so bad that no reasonable court acting carefully could convict it. He criticised the conduct of Warrant Officer Pillay (first name not known). He said the police received an anonymous tip-off about the loading of copper at a crime scene. He said instead of the police using that information to build up a strong case, they decided to break into the premises without any reasonable grounds for believing that a crime was being committed. Magistrate Khumalo said when WO Pillay arrived at the crime scene premises, he pressed an intercom and when there was no response, he jumped over the gate without any warrant authorising him to do so. 'This conduct from a senior police officer with years of experience is disappointing,' he said. Additionally, he said the case was bungled by Pillay, either intentionally in order to assist the first accused, Chetty, who is his cousin, or through incompetence on his part. He said the other unfortunate part of the evidence in this case is that it seems the search and seizure was influenced by the private companies involved as would appear from Constable Clothier's evidence that upon arrival of Barbara Cloete, she told Chetty that she had always wanted him for a long time, and that at last she had got him. Cloete works for eThekwini's electricity department. Constable Clothier further stated that before Cloete could look at anything, she said: 'Something is definitely mine here.' 'These utterances are unfortunate and suggest that Chetty had been under surveillance for a long time, and that is why the police were reckless in their investigation after receiving information,' Magistrate Khumalo added. Moreover, the magistrate said it was also surprising that one of the trucks had a lock at the back, and the police cut the lock to access the back of the truck without the owner's consent or a warrant, violating the law.
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- The Citizen
Man sentenced to life for repeated rape of teen in KZN
The court ordred that the man's name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the repeated rape of a teenage girl in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The man appeared in the Pinetown Regional Court on Wednesday, where the sentence was handed down. The incidents occurred between February 2023 and January 2024 in the KwaDabeka area. Court proceedings In court, State Prosecutor Lethuxolo Nene led the testimony of the 14-year-old girl as well as her granny, who was the first to report the rapes. The doctor who examined the teen also testified about her injuries. Nene also handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the girl facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Bonisile Mngoma. ALSO READ: Man sentenced to four life terms for raping four young boys In her statement, the teen said she felt like she was 'robbed of her childhood' and had to relocate to another area as she no longer felt safe in her area. 'Ridiculed' The teen also said that she was 'ridiculed and teased' about what had happened to her. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara the convicted rapist was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and was declared unfit to possess a firearm. 'In addition, the court deemed him unfit to work with children and ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.' Victim known Ramkisson-Kara said the man knew his victim as he rented her grandmother's property. 'The accused would rape the complainant when he called her to his room to assist with chores. The matter eventually came to light after the granny noticed a change in the complainant's behaviour. She asked the complainant what was wrong and was told about what the accused was doing. 'The granny, together with the other tenants, confronted the accused, and he was arrested. The complainant was taken to the Chatsworth Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for the necessary assistance,' Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said. Ramkisson-Kara said the NPA remains committed to fighting the 'scourge of gender-based violence, and we hope that sentences of this nature demonstrate our commitment.' ALSO READ: EFF demands justice for alleged rape of little Cwecwe in Matatiele
