Interpol arrests wanted Chinese fugitive in Sandton
The 57-year-old suspect reportedly applied for a VISA at the United States of America embassy in Sandton, Johannesburg when his fugitive status was flagged, leading to his arrest on Tuesday, 22 July.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk said a preliminary report indicates that Interpol circulated a Red Notice to all member countries to locate and provisionally arrest the Chinese national, as wanted persons often flee to another country to evade their arrest.
Van Wyk said the suspect reportedly applied for a VISA at the United States of America embassy in Sandton when his fugitive status was flagged, leading to his arrest on Tuesday, 22 July 2025.
'The suspect made his first appearance in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 23 July,' she said.
Earlier this year, Interpol's Operation Red Card resulted in the arrest of 306 individuals across seven African countries.
The operation which aimed to dismantle cross-border criminal networks responsible for significant harm to individuals and businesses was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. It also targeted scams involving mobile banking, investment, and messaging apps, with cases affecting over 5 000 victims.
South African law enforcement reportedly played a pivotal role in this crackdown, apprehending 40 suspects and confiscating more than 1 000 SIM cards and 53 computers. These were linked to a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme where international calls are rerouted as local ones, often facilitating large-scale SMS phishing attacks.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
20 minutes ago
- The Star
Blade Nzimande urges caution and due process in response to Mkhwanazi's serious allegations
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande says serious allegations made by the KZN Police Commissioner must be fully investigated, urging South Africans to avoid political grandstanding and allow due process to reveal the truth. Image: Picture: Siyasanga Mbambani / GCIS Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, says allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi must be taken seriously, especially given his seniority in the South African Police Service, but cautions against political opportunism and urges the public to allow due process to unfold. This comes after Mkhwananzi accused Mchunu of interfering in police operations and maintaining contact with criminal syndicates, aiming to undermine the Political Killings Task Team. He alleged that Mchunu, without authorisation from the national or provincial leadership, ordered the disbandment of the unit in March 2025 and the withdrawal of 121 active dockets - many linked to politically motivated assassinations. 'These dockets have been sitting idle at head office ever since,' Mkhwanazi said. In an interview on Newzroom Afrika, Nzimande made it clear that the seriousness of the allegations warrants a credible response from government and the judiciary: "My own stance really is that the president has issued a statement and made an indication that he takes this matter very seriously. I agree with that, that allegations of this nature are very serious. They need to be taken up." President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Sunday evening. Nzimande says South Africans should wait to hear how the president intends to handle the matter. "We are hoping that out of that he will come up with a way of actually getting into the depth of this matter and leaving no stone unturned. ''We hope that the president is actually going to come up with mechanisms that are going to get into the bottom of this matter and avoid grandstanding as some political parties are doing, behaving as if all these things have been proven or not." On allegations involving Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who initially denied any association with controversial figure Oupa 'Brown' Mogotsi, only to later admit he knew him, Nzimande said: "I think we need to be cautious on how we treat these things. I don't want a situation now, in the light of these allegations, to act as if conclusively Minister Senzo Mchunu has told a lie, we don't know. That actually needs to be proven itself." He added: "Yes, this thing, we must get into the bottom of them. ''But let's allow due process to actually go into this. Because maybe the good thing about what the provincial commissioner of the police has done in KZN is to raise these things, which then gives an opportunity for one to actually go right into it." Nzimande also reflected on historical abuses of state institutions, noting this might be an opportunity to uncover deep-seated problems across the security cluster. Some of these problems are not new, for instance. We know that in the past, organs of the state have been abused in many ways. The police, in the intelligence in the past, it was being used also even to fight internal party political battles in the ANC and the alliance. ''Maybe this is an opportunity then for the president to provide a way forward that will make us to go into the bottom of those things so that the police, the judiciary, everybody is able to do what is supposed to be done." He also addressed allegations involving the judiciary itself. "Some of the allegations is that some of the judges and some of the magistrates are possibly bought to be able to act in a particular way. This is an opportunity to go to the bottom of this matter. That's my view." Nzimande urged media and society to avoid sensationalism and let legal processes unfold. "All what I'm saying, it's important that the media as well, we allow due process to take its course." Reflecting on his own past surveillance during the Fees Must Fall protests, he added: "I myself have been a victim in the past of being listened to by intelligence agencies, being followed up as to where one goes and so on with a view of actually trying to discredit. I know this very well... But what came out of that in the end? Nothing came out of that." When asked whether he had counselled Mchunu, Nzimande said: "No. We are colleagues, you know, we come and attend similar meetings, you know, and so on. We haven't, I haven't on my side, you know, because what do I say? Do I say, hey, what is actually going on? He has himself actually said publicly that at an appropriate time he will be able to answer this, and I hope he does." "These allegations are very serious. But what is the best way of dealing with them? We shouldn't be tempted and say we choose the juicy part. The minister may have done this or has actually not done stance is that let's give due process to actually get to the bottom of this." The DA, uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK), and the EFF on have since lodged criminal complaints against Mchunu, accusing him of misleading Parliament and being linked to individuals allegedly involved in the capture of the SAPS. [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel IOL Politics
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Police hunt suspect who raped and hammered 60-year-old Free State woman in her home
The suspect allegedly raped and hit the woman on her head with a hammer, leaving her bleeding profusely. Police in the Free State are seeking information that could lead them to a suspect who raped and hammered a 60-year-old woman at her Bothaville home on Saturday. The Welkom Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) is investigating a rape case following the gruesome attack that left the woman hospitalised. Woman found bleeding from the head Regional police spokesperson Sergeant Palesa Thabana said Bothaville police attended to a rape complaint at around 12.15pm on 26 July, where they found the woman bleeding profusely from the head. 'It is alleged that on the [said] date, the victim had just entered her house when she was accosted by an unknown African male who allegedly hit her three times on the head with a hammer before he allegedly raped her,' Thabana said in a statement on Monday. The woman, who was allegedly struck three times, sustained severe injuries to the head and was taken to a local hospital. However, she was subsequently transferred to another hospital in Welkom due to the severity of her injuries. ALSO READ: 'Filthiest perpetrator' handed life in jail for raping 91-year-old woman Investigations continue No arrests have been made yet, but police confiscated a hammer suspected to have been used in the assault. 'Police are urging anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact Warrant Officer Anje Tait of the Welkom [FSC] on 083 279 3213, or Crime Stop 08600 10111 or, alternatively, an anonymous tip-off may be sent through the MySAPS App. More than 180 suspects arrested for rape in one week The incident comes just one day after the South African Police Service announced that 183 suspects were arrested for rape across the country over the past week. Out of the 183 suspects arrested, 67 were wanted individuals who were tracked down in different parts of the country. Police spokesperson, Amanda van Wyk, said this is one of the operations that are aimed at intensifying the police's efforts in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide. NOW READ: KZN man gets life term and more for raping and robbing elderly kin
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
Surge in domestic violence cases in SA an 'urgent crisis'
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has expressed grave concern over a sharp increase in intimate domestic violence cases across South Africa, calling it a 'deeply troubling and urgent crisis.' According to a 2024 report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), one in three South African women has experienced physical violence from an intimate partner at some point in her life. The findings reveal the widespread and often invisible trauma endured by millions of women. 'These are not just numbers; they represent the lived realities of millions of women who endure suffering in silence,' the DWYPD stated. 'Behind each statistic is a human story marked by fear, pain, and often isolation.' The department highlighted the various forms of intimate partner violence, which include: Physical violence Sexual violence Emotional and psychological abuse Economic or financial abuse DWYPD stressed that these forms of abuse often co-exist, forming a pattern of coercive control by one partner over another. This form of violence, they explained, goes far beyond physical harm and often includes manipulation, intimidation, and restrictions on financial independence. 'Intimate domestic violence is not a one-time incident,' the department added. 'It is a cycle of control and abuse that escalates over time, leaving deep and long-lasting scars.' The psychological toll of such violence is immense. Many survivors face depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and diminished self-worth. Economically, the situation is just as dire. DWYPD warned that domestic violence can derail women's progress, particularly in terms of economic empowerment, as abuse often prevents victims from holding jobs or controlling their own finances. Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that one in three women worldwide have been subjected to either physical or sexual violence, with the majority of incidents committed by intimate partners. South Africa's statistics are in line with – or in some cases worse than – these international trends. DWYPD is urging greater public awareness, stronger law enforcement responses, and expanded support systems for victims. The department has called for collaborative efforts across government, civil society, and the private sector to prevent and respond to the growing scourge of intimate domestic violence. 'The progress we've made in empowering women cannot be allowed to erode under the weight of domestic abuse,' DWYPD concluded. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, help is available. Contact the GBV Command Centre at 0800 428 428 or dial 120 7867# for assistance. 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.
