Latest news with #SAPoliceService
The Herald
12 hours ago
- The Herald
Special police operation launched to fight crime in Nelson Mandela Bay
A joint special crime prevention operation has been launched in Nelson Mandela Bay to tackle serious and violent crimes such as murder, hijackings and armed robberies. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said Operation Shanella II would also aim to clamp down on illegal firearms, stolen goods, drugs and counterfeit goods. Operation Shanella II comprises members of the SA Police Service, including public order police, the tactical response team, visible policing, the anti-gang unit, the flying squad, district operational command centre, and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police and the traffic department. The district commissioner for Nelson Mandela Bay, Major-General Vuyisile Ncata, addressed the members during a parade on Friday afternoon, urging them to walk the extra mile to ensure safety in the Bay community. He further tasked them members to prevent and combat anything which might threaten the safety and security of the community, and especially to search and arrestthose in possession of illegal firearms. 'We are placing more boots on the ground, especially during weekends and at month end, as these times have shown more criminal activities taking place in Nelson Mandela Bay,' Ncata said. 'The abuse of alcohol and drugs is a major contributor in most of our problematic crimes, and during month-end periods we see this abuse rise dramatically. 'By flooding the streets of Nelson Mandela Bay with police members we are making sure to be visible and to be a deterrent to criminal activities.' The Herald
Eyewitness News
7 days ago
- Eyewitness News
More than 1k suspects nabbed in Gauteng during Operation Shanela over the weekend
Thandoluhle Ngcobo 23 June 2025 | 6:39 Operation Shanela South African Police Service (SAPS) Gauteng Picture: @SAPoliceService/X JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng police have arrested more than 1,000 suspects and recovered 21 rifles during Operation Shanela crackdowns conducted over the weekend. Of those arrested, 78 were charged with drunk driving, while 786 were arrested by detectives tracing wanted suspects. READ: Over 200,000 Operation Shanela suspects have previous convictions The remaining arrests were made at roadblocks and during raids on illegal liquor outlets. Police spokesperson, Mavela Masondo, said the arrested suspects were expected to appear at various magistrates' courts around the province on Monday. "Provincial commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni led yet another successful integrated Operation Shanela in the West Rand. Parallel operations were conducted in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng districts, were 167 suspects were arrested."
The Citizen
22-06-2025
- The Citizen
Standerton Regional Court sentences convicted serial rapist to another 25 years in jail
Standerton Regional Court sentences convicted serial rapist to another 25 years in jail A convicted serial rapist serving more than three life sentences and over 100 years has been sentenced to an additional 25 years in jail. The Standerton Regional Court sentenced Zakhele Isaac Mahlangu (44) for raping a 21-year-old woman on May 7, 2016. The victim was on her way to a hiking spot along the Secunda road (R546) near Charl Cilliers when Mahlangu offered her a lift in a white vehicle at about 14:00. 'The suspect claimed he was heading in the same direction,' said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane. Along the way Mahlangu diverted onto a gravel road, claiming that he was going to pick up other people on a nearby farm. ALSO READ: 11-year-old girl and her elder sibling shot near Hazyview He then stopped the vehicle at a dumping site and covered the victim's face with a hat before physically assaulting her. 'The rapist then tied her up using a seatbelt, forcibly removed her clothing and raped her multiple times without protection, despite her resistance and cries for help,' explained Ndubane. Mahlangu then removed the vehicle's number plates, threw the victim's belongings out of the car and abandoned her in an isolated area. The victim got another lift to Charl Cilliers where she reported the incident and was referred to the Standerton Police Station for further investigation. The police took her to hospital for medical examination. In a dramatic twist of events, the victim later saw the suspect, who was already in jail, being escorted by prison wardens at a hospital,' said Ndubane. 'She immediately alerted the police who acted swiftly to investigate,' added Ndubane. The suspect was positively identified and charged with rape. #sapsMP Acting PC of the #SAPS in Mpumalanga, Maj Gen (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the #sentencing handed down to a convicted serial rapist by the Standerton Regional Court for a rape committed in 2016. The suspect was positively identified, charged with rape, and brought… — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 21, 2025 He was convicted on June 9 and was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment on Friday, June 20. The court ordered that the sentence run concurrently with the other sentences that Mahlangu is already serving. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Mahlangu's trail of criminal records was laid bare before the court. He was sentenced to 60 days with an option of R600 fine for burglary in September 1998. Mahlangu was also sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for a rape in October 2002. After being released from jail, Mahlangu was again sentenced to three months' imprisonment and given a R1 500 fine for assault in April 2013. In August 2021 the Secunda Sexual Offences Court found Mahlangu guilty of raping several women and stealing their belongings. His reign of terror included kidnapping which dated back to 2014. The modus operandi that Mahlangu used over the years was to offer lifts to women. He then raped them and stole from them. He has faced 14 counts that included kidnapping, rape and theft. The court imposed three life sentences and 108 years on Mahlangu at the time. The latest sentence coincides with the latest Mpumalanga crime statistics which placed GBVF as the most-prevalant crime in the province. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-06-2025
- The Citizen
Standerton Regional Court sentences convicted serial rapist to another 25 years in jail.
Standerton Regional Court sentences convicted serial rapist to another 25 years in jail. A convicted serial rapist serving more than three life sentences and over 100 years has been sentenced to an additional 25 years in jail. The Standerton Regional Court sentenced Zakhele Isaac Mahlangu (44) for raping a 21-year-old woman on May 7, 2016. The victim was on her way to a hiking spot along the Secunda road (R546) near Charl Cilliers when Mahlangu offered her a lift in a white vehicle at about 14:00. 'The suspect claimed he was heading in the same direction,' said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane. Along the way Mahlangu diverted onto a gravel road, claiming that he was going to pick up other people on a nearby farm. ALSO READ: 11-year-old girl and her elder sibling shot near Hazyview He then stopped the vehicle at a dumping site and covered the victim's face with a hat before physically assaulting her. 'The rapist then tied her up using a seatbelt, forcibly removed her clothing and raped her multiple times without protection, despite her resistance and cries for help,' explained Ndubane. Mahlangu then removed the vehicle's number plates, threw the victim's belongings out of the car and abandoned her in an isolated area. The victim got another lift to Charl Cilliers where she reported the incident and was referred to the Standerton Police Station for further investigation. The police took her to hospital for medical examination. In a dramatic twist of events, the victim later saw the suspect, who was already in jail, being escorted by prison wardens at a hospital,' said Ndubane. 'She immediately alerted the police who acted swiftly to investigate,' added Ndubane. The suspect was positively identified and charged with rape. #sapsMP Acting PC of the #SAPS in Mpumalanga, Maj Gen (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the #sentencing handed down to a convicted serial rapist by the Standerton Regional Court for a rape committed in 2016. The suspect was positively identified, charged with rape, and brought… — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 21, 2025 He was convicted on June 9 and was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment on Friday, June 20. The court ordered that the sentence run concurrently with the other sentences that Mahlangu is already serving. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Mahlangu's trail of criminal records was laid bare before the court. He was sentenced to 60 days with an option of R600 fine for burglary in September 1998. Mahlangu was also sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for a rape in October 2002. After being released from jail, Mahlangu was again sentenced to three months' imprisonment and given a R1 500 fine for assault in April 2013. In August 2021 the Secunda Sexual Offences Court found Mahlangu guilty of raping several women and stealing their belongings. His reign of terror included kidnapping which dated back to 2014. The modus operandi that Mahlangu used over the years was to offer lifts to women. He then raped them and stole from them. He has faced 14 counts that included kidnapping, rape and theft. The court imposed three life sentences and 108 years on Mahlangu at the time. The latest sentence coincides with the latest Mpumalanga crime statistics which placed GBVF as the most-prevalant crime in the province. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Herald
20-06-2025
- The Herald
Education MEC condemns heinous attack on teenage girls
The Eastern Cape department of education has condemned the murders of two teenage girls whose charred remains were discovered in KwaNobuhle on Wednesday. In a statement on Thursday, education MEC Fundile Gade expressed deep sadness at what he described as a heinous and senseless double murder. Though their identities have not yet officially been made public, Gade said they were both pupils at Nkululeko Secondary School. He extended the department's condolences to the victims' families, friends and peers. 'The department can confirm that the SA Police Service is conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,' Gade said. He urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist the authorities, adding that the safety and wellbeing of all pupils was a priority. He said they would provide support to the families of the deceased and work closely with law enforcement to ensure a comprehensive investigation. 'We are deeply troubled by the heinous crime committed against two of our schoolgirls in Kariega. 'Daily, I am convinced that there is a silent war being meted out against women and young girls. 'We empathise with the families, their colleagues and the community of Kariega at large. 'We urge law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned and to provide clarity about this tragedy. 'We wish the affected families strength, courage and resilience during this difficult time. 'Updates to our community of Nelson Mandela Bay will be provided as more information becomes available,' Gade said. The Herald
