Two men who went on Kariega crime spree found guilty
Ntlantle Jawa, 32, and Siphosethu Level, 26, were found guilty on one count of murder and two of robbery with aggravating circumstances, stemming from a series of crimes committed on the night of July 29 2023.
Both men pleaded not guilty, but the court found their testimony lacked credibility.
Level was acquitted of charges related to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and both were cleared of one count of pointing a firearm.
The crime spree began at about 8pm when the first victim parked his blue Audi at his home in KwaNobuhle. He was approached by the accused and a third suspect — now deceased — who held him at gunpoint, robbing him of R20, his cellphone and the Audi.

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The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Another lie? Joslin's mom has 'dream' of her location
Social media users are reacting to rumours that Kelly Smith reportedly had a 'dream' about the location of her missing child, Joslin Smith. This comes as police confirmed that they were following up on new leads in the informal settlement of Middelpos. In May, the Saldanha Bay woman and two others, Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, were convicted and sentenced by Western Cape High Court judge Nathan Erasmus for kidnapping and child trafficking. Last February, the blonde-haired, green-eyed girl disappeared from her home. According to witnesses, she was allegedly sold to a sangoma for the purposes of 'muti'. On social media, South Africans have been speculating after police confirmed that they were following up on new information about the disappearance of Joslin Smith. Many referred to a rumour that the little girl's mother – Kelly Smith – had 'dreamt' that Joslin was dead. She claimed her remains were located in Middelpos, where the Smith family resided. One Facebook user posted, 'Kelly apparently had a dream that she is buried in a drain in the cemetery behind Middelpos. Kelly is playing games.' Another added: 'Kelly Smith is probably the one who helped dig the hole then. Her hands and arms were full of sand'. A third added: 'I think that Kelly has possibly given the investigating officers information regarding who exactly it was that she sold Joslin to'. Is Joslin Smith still alive? According to rumours, her mother believes she is dead and her remains are buried near her home. Images via YouTube screenshot: SABC News. During an eight-week trial, witnesses relayed how Kelly Smith bragged about selling her daughter to a sangoma for R20 000. She also allegedly claimed her child had been trafficked by a Nigerian man. Kelly reportedly told her sister that Joslin could also be 'hiding' in the Middelpos informal settlement. Kelly and her co-accused refused to testify in court. In a statement, police confirmed that they were following up on new leads in the active investigation into Joslin Smith's disappearance. It read: 'SAPS teams led by detectives with K-9 members, search and rescue teams, and local police have been scouring an identified area in Saldanha Bay. Whether the ongoing search will yield any success remains to be seen. 'It is worth reiterating that police have an obligation to follow up and test all information that is brought to their attention'. Police appealed to the public to give them space and time to perform their duties as the investigation continues.' Meanwhile, Kelly Smith, Jacquin Appollis, and Steven van Rhyn will appeal their life sentences for kidnapping and child trafficking relating to Joslin Smith. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that the trio will appear in the Western Cape High Court on 12 and 13 August. He said: 'All three have filed papers challenging both conviction and sentence. The NPA will oppose the applications, and we are confident that there are no prospects of success. State witness Lourentia Lombaard – a former accused – has yet to hear her fate from Judge Nathan Erasmus. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.


The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
WATCH: Operation Dudula protests Rosettenville hijacked building and illegal connections
Members of the anti-migrant group operating under the slogan Put South Africa First gather at JC Lucas Park in Rosettenville on Saturday morning to protest what they claim are hijacked buildings and illegal electricity connections in the area. Led by Operation Dudula, protesters carry the movement's banner and wave the South African flag while chanting anti-immigrant slogans through the streets, including Main, Verona, Mabel and Violet. Traffic backed up on Main Street The march causes traffic disruptions along Main Street as the group moves through the area. Officials from Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) and City Power are seen at one of the buildings in question. A strong police presence is also evident, comprising officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). @ Traffic backed up on Main Street The march causes traffic disruptions along Main Street as the group moves through the area. Officials from Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) and City Power are seen at one of the buildings in question. A strong police presence is also evident, comprising officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). Full story on ♬ original sound – Southern Courier Claims of hijacked buildings and illegal connections Siphiwe Shabangu, a national executive committee member of Operation Dudula, alleges that the building being inspected is hijacked by Congolese nationals and the City of Johannesburg is not collecting any municipal revenue from it. 'This building is hijacked. There is only one South African staying here, and he works as a caretaker,' says Shabangu. 'The City is losing revenue. This building owes R12 million in electricity and R20 million in water.' Shabangu also claims that illegal electricity connections are common in such buildings and that many are owned by the government. 'We don't know who the police are protecting. Even at hospitals, police are present. We suspect they are here to arrest illegal immigrants and help restore order,' he says. Officials refused entry During the protest, police refused entry to both the Operation Dudula marchers and City officials on the premises. 'We are here so that South Africans can occupy this building and the City can collect revenue,' Shabangu says. Tensions with law enforcement Shabangu alleges that a police officer, identified as Captain Mathebula, instructs officers to prevent City Power from carrying out disconnections. @ Siphiwe Shabangu, a national executive committee member of Operation Dudula, alleges that the building being inspected is hijacked by Congolese nationals and the City of Johannesburg is not collecting any municipal revenue from it. 'This building is hijacked. There is only one South African staying here, and he works as a caretaker,' says Shabangu. 'The City is losing revenue. This building owes R12 million in electricity and R20 million in water.' Full story on ♬ original sound – Southern Courier 'We want to know if Captain Mathebula works for City Power or is an electrician to interfere,' says Shabangu. 'Police are stopping officials from disconnecting illegal power lines and restoring hijacked buildings. We want law and order to return.'

SowetanLIVE
a day ago
- SowetanLIVE
Police scour Middelpos settlement after new information in Joshlin Smith case
Western Cape police searched an area in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay on Friday afternoon chasing leads as part of the investigation into the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith. Joshlin's mother, Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, Smith's boyfriend Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, 33, and Steveno van Rhyn, 28, received life sentences for the kidnapping and trafficking of Joshlin in May. An eight-week trial revealed how the trio planned to sell the green-eyed grade 1 pupil with fair skin to a sangoma for R20,000 from their home in the settlement in February last year. 'SAPS teams led by detectives with K-9 members, search and rescue teams and local police have been scouring an identified area in Saldanha Bay. Whether the ongoing search will yield any success remains to be seen. It is worth reiterating that police have an obligation to follow up and test all information that is brought to their attention,' Western Cape police said on Saturday. 'A humble plea is hereby made that the search teams be afforded space to perform their duties as the investigation continues.' Police said on Saturday, even though the three were sentenced for kidnapping and human trafficking, the disappearance without trace of the child remained a priority for police and the investigation was never closed. TimesLIVE