Latest news with #SeriousOrganisedCrimeInvestigation
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- The Citizen
Hawks strike major blow in kidnapping of Pakistani national
The Pakistani businessman was rescued more than 776km from where he was kidnapped. The Gqeberha-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks has successfully opposed bail for six suspects accused of kidnapping a 55-year-old Pakistani businessman. Two former police officers from the Western Cape were among the four people arrested when Gauteng police rescued the Pakistani businessman more than 776km from where he was kidnapped. The bail ruling, which was handed down this week in the Graaff-Reinet Magistrate's Court, has been welcomed. Bail Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said during a closed court session, the Hawks presented a compelling argument against their release. 'The court sided with the State, denying bail and keeping the suspects in custody. The matter has been remanded to 4 August 2025 for further court proceedings. ALSO READ: Police rescue kidnapped Pakistani businessman in Evaton Kidnapping Fumba said the accused, comprising both South African and Pakistani nationals, are currently facing serious charges related to an alarming February abduction in Graaff-Reinet. 'According to initial reports, the victim was allegedly approached by individuals impersonating police officers. Under the false pretence of official business, they persuaded him to accompany them to a nearby station, and he never returned home. 'A multidisciplinary team, including the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, National Crime Intelligence, Soweto Flying Squad and private security partners, launched a high-priority operation,' Fumba said. Breakthrough Fumba added that the operation led to a breakthrough on 13 March 2025, when the Pakistani national was successfully rescued in Evaton in Gauteng, hundreds of kilometres from where he was kidnapped. 'Four suspects were arrested across various locations, and police seized a vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction, as well as an unlicensed firearm. 'Ongoing investigations later led to the arrest of two additional suspects, bringing the total number of accused to six,' Fumba said. ALSO READ: More than 2 600 wanted criminals linked to violent crimes arrested in South Africa
IOL News
01-07-2025
- IOL News
Will they get bail? 12 SANDF members in court over murder of Hawks investigator Frans Mathipa
When Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa was shot dead in 2023, he was probing allegations that members of the SANDF Special Forces had abducted an Ethiopian businessman and suspected ISIS leader from the Mall of Africa. Image: SAPS The Randburg Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg is set to hear the bail application of 12 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) implicated in the brutal murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa - a specialist investigator at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks. The 12 SANDF members are facing serious charges of murder and kidnapping after Mathipa was shot dead while travelling on the N1 near Hammanskraal in August 2023. The accused SANDF members were arrested in June. IOL previously reported that some of the soldiers were arrested at different places, including the OR Tambo International Airport and Centurion in Tshwane. Following the arrests, spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo, stated that the arrests were carried out by members of the Johannesburg-based Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation, the headquarters' Serious Organised Crime Investigation, and the Tactical Operations Management Section (Toms). 'The arrests are linked to the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, who was fatally shot while driving on the N1 highway near Hammanskraal on August 6, 2023. Following the shooting, his vehicle lost control and veered into a ditch,' Singo said. Mathipa, who was attached to the Hawks' Crimes Against the State Unit within the Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Gauteng, was on duty conducting an investigation at the time of his death. Singo said a vehicle seized has also been linked to a separate crime. 'During the operation, police also seized a vehicle belonging to the 36-year-old suspect. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the kidnapping of two male foreign nationals at a mall in Midrand on December 29, 2022. It has since been impounded for further forensic investigation,' Singo said. According to reports, at the time of his death, Mathipa was probing allegations that members of the SANDF Special Forces unit abducted an Ethiopian businessman and suspected ISIS leader from the Mall of Africa in Midrand in 2022. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. [email protected] IOL News
IOL News
26-06-2025
- IOL News
Major drug bust in Durban: Hawks seize R350,000 in cannabis and narcotics
Police dismantled a fully equipped indoor cannabis laboratory near Morningside, Durban, seizing drugs and equipment worth an estimated R350,000. Image: Supplied A 43-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Friday, after a clandestine cannabis laboratory was dismantled during a high-impact operation near Morningside, Durban. The suspect was arrested on Thursday during a joint operation between members of the Hawks' Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, the Durban Metro Police Drug Team, the Metro K9 Unit, Durban Flying Squad, and the eThekwini Infrastructure Task Team. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo says police acted on intelligence that pointed to an indoor cannabis cultivation setup in the area. 'A disruptive operation was swiftly conducted, and they proceeded to the said building,' he confirmed. 'During the search, police found indoor cannabis plants, ecstasy tablets, crack cocaine, chemicals and equipment to the street value of approximately R350 000.00,' Mhlongo added. 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 suspect was arrested on the spot and charged with dealing in drugs and cannabis. KwaZulu-Natal Hawks Provincial Head, Major General (Dr) Lesetja Senona, commended the swift action and praised the members for the good work. IOL News
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- The Citizen
Eastern Cape councillor arrested for role in businessman kidnapping
The councillor's accomplice, who allegedly carried out the kidnapping, remains in custody. An East London councillor has on Friday been released on R2 000 bail after she was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a businessman in Dimbiza, Eastern Cape. The 27-year-old woman was arrested and charged for aiding the escape of a man who abducted the 42-year-old hardware store owner on 10 June. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation's (Hawks) regional spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said the 34-year-old man allegedly forcefully shoved the business owner into a car belonging to the owner before speeding off. Kidnapper intercepted The East London-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation kidnapping task team was alerted of the incident and attended to the matter, which the Hawks say was a shameless kidnapping act. 'The kidnapping task team of the Hawks, in collaboration with the East London Flying Squad and the Dog Unit (K9), acted swiftly to vital information received from alert community members; the team then followed the vehicle of interest,' Fumba said. ALSO READ: Kamogelo Baukudi: Missing teen needed for ID parade, case postponed 'In a well-coordinated tactical action, the team intercepted the vehicle and arrested the male suspect on the spot,' he added. Councillor linked to kidnapping Fumba said further investigations pointed to the involvement of the local councillor, who allegedly tried to help the suspect. 'Both accused appeared before the Dimbaza Magistrate's Court on 12 June 2025.' While the councillor was granted bail, the male suspect remains in custody and is expected to appear in court on 19 June for a formal bail application. Officers commended The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, commended the collaborative effort and decisive action of the law enforcement officers. 'The arrest demonstrates the power of coordinated policing and critical role communities play in tackling serious crime,' Ngwenya said. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga ANC councillors granted bail in R500k corruption case
IOL News
06-06-2025
- IOL News
Man sentenced to four years for impersonating attorney and defrauding client
Doctor Sobetha has been sentenced for impersonating an attorney. The Bethal Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga has sentenced a 32-year-old man to four years in prison for impersonating a lawyer and defrauding a client of R40,000. The sentence, which was handed down on Thursday, includes an option for Doctor Sobetha to pay a fine of R20,000. Provincial spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, detailed how Sobetha had perpetrated this scam back in 2019, when he attempted to file a bail application on behalf of a client facing murder charges. During the court proceedings at that time, Nkosi noted that the state prosecutor quickly became suspicious of Sobetha's arguments. He was requested to prove before the court that indeed he was a legal practitioner but failed to produce such proof. "The Secunda based Serious Organised Crime Investigation members that were in court attended and an arrest was affected. The matter was referred to the Hawks Secunda based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further investigation," said Nkosi. Sobetha was granted bail in 2024, and then went on the run.
