logo
Man arrested in Bedfordview on charges of theft, fraud, contravening Immigration Act

Man arrested in Bedfordview on charges of theft, fraud, contravening Immigration Act

Eyewitness News24-05-2025
JOHANNESBURG - A 49-year-old man has been arrested in the Bedfordview area on charges of possession of a stolen motorcycle, fraud, and contravention of the Immigration Act.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers were patrolling on Friday when they intercepted a suspicious vehicle on Dean and Van Buuren Road.
The motorcycle did not have brake lights, the driver had a fraudulent license disc and could also not produce a valid passport upon request, leading to his arrest.
EMPD spokesperson Ignatius Maphike said the suspect did not have a valid driver's license.
'The suspect who failed to provide officers with satisfactory answers for the ordeal was immediately placed under arrest while Immigration Services were summoned for further investigation.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Likely to destroy evidence: Accused's third bail attempt rejected in Ditebogo Phalane murder case
Likely to destroy evidence: Accused's third bail attempt rejected in Ditebogo Phalane murder case

The Citizen

time18 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Likely to destroy evidence: Accused's third bail attempt rejected in Ditebogo Phalane murder case

The suspect did not demonstrated exceptional circumstances to justify his release. Elia Maeko, one of three men charged in connection with the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Phalane Junior, has been denied bail for a third time. Maeko, along with co-accused Ali Sithole and Nido Gumbo, appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for the outcome of his latest bail application. The trio faces charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The charges stem from a tragic incident in May 2024, when Phalane was fatally shot outside his Soshanguve home during a hijacking involving his father. ALSO READ: Parents sentenced for murder and abuse of one-year-old daughter Gumbo faces an additional count of contravening the Immigration Act, as he is in South Africa illegally. While Sithole and Gumbo previously abandoned their bail bids, Maeko persisted, citing personal reasons. He contended that he is the family's breadwinner and needed to care for his ailing mother. However, investigating officer Sergeant Sevhasa Mashudu opposed the bail bid, arguing that Maeko and his co-accused routinely ambushed victims at home, stealing their vehicles and firearms. Bail in Ditebogo Phalane Junior murder On Wednesday, state prosecutor Tumelo Letaoana informed the court that the three accused had changed their legal representation. The suspects were previously represented by Thulani Kekana from Legal Aid South Africa. Magistrate Naseema Khan, in delivering her judgment, noted that Mashudu's testimony revealed the Phelane family was compelled to relocate after Maeko's arrest, driven by safety concerns and threats directed at the father. READ MORE: Khayelitsha court hears disturbing details of seven-year-old's rape and murder Khan highlighted the investigating officer's claim that the accused and his two co-accused pose a danger to society, having previously 'terrorised' the communities of Soshanguve, Mabopane, Akasia, and Rustenburg. The magistrate also pointed out a separate incident that reportedly took place on 26 April 2024. 'Another case was open in Hebron, where the accused shot at the complainant, whilst hijacking him. 'He survived because he shot back. To my mind, this was an obvious attempt to get rid of an eyewitness. 'I feel that through the applicant's past behaviour, there is a likelihood that there would be a concealment or destruction of evidence and intimidation of witnesses,' she said. Accused might abscond bail conditions Khan also highlighted that Maeko failed to disclose a prior conviction from 2009 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). 'He does not appear to be someone who honours the bail system, not even stringent conditions will deter him,' she added. The magistrate further raised concerns over possible unrest should Maeko be released. 'His release may disturb public peace because the outraged Soshanguve community could take things into their own hands.' Maeko had also claimed financial responsibility for his deceased brother's child and his own two children, one of whom was born while he was in custody. READ MORE: 'Why were alarm bells not sounded sooner?' – Jayden-Lee Meek's mother denied bail But Khan rejected this. 'The evidence clearly shows that the applicant is not the primary caregiver of the minor children.' The magistrate added that Maeko's elderly mother had denied relying on him for support. She ultimately ruled that the suspect had not demonstrated exceptional circumstances to justify his release. 'Bail is denied and the applicant will remain in custody until the matter is finalised in court.' Letaoana confirmed that the state would serve an indictment before the case is transferred to the high court for trial. The case was postponed to 10 September. Other cases Maeko is also facing separate charges at the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Sithole and Gumbo, meanwhile, are facing pending charges at the Atteridgeville Magistrate's Court for possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. Sithole is further implicated in a separate matter at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate's Court involving charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. NOW READ: Moz woman jailed for murder of SA neighbour's child in alleged love triangle

Teenager dies in R24 crash near Barbara Road
Teenager dies in R24 crash near Barbara Road

The Citizen

time4 days ago

  • The Citizen

Teenager dies in R24 crash near Barbara Road

Less than a minute Sharon Mdaka Less than a minute Teenager dies in R24 crash near Barbara Road A 17-year-old male died following a collision on the R24 West near the Barbara Road off-ramp on Saturday, July 26. According to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), the crash occurred at around 18:00 and involved a blue Chevrolet and a white VW Polo. EMPD Freeway Unit officers responded to the scene alongside emergency medical services. ALSO READ: Taxi crash leaves multiple injured in Delville 'One of the passengers sustained serious injuries and was transported to Tambo Memorial Hospital for medical treatment,' the EMPD confirmed in a statement. The teenager was declared dead at the scene by EMS paramedics. The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation.

Outrage erupts over U. S. deportation of violent criminals to eSwatini
Outrage erupts over U. S. deportation of violent criminals to eSwatini

IOL News

time5 days ago

  • IOL News

Outrage erupts over U. S. deportation of violent criminals to eSwatini

The government has denied the involvement of King Mswati in the deportation of hardened criminals from the U.S. to South Africa's neighbour. Image: Supplied/Eswatini Government U.S. President Donald Trump's administration's decision to send five dangerous hardened criminals to eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) has sparked outrage in the neighbouring country and fears that they may end up in South Africa. The Trump administration announced over a week ago that it would be sending the men who are illegal immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba convicted of child rape, murder, burglary, and being gang members and whose countries refuse to take them back. This week, the eSwatini Women's Movement has raised concerns about whether the five individuals informed of their removal and given access to consular support from their home countries as this is a fundamental right of anyone detained or deported across international borders. It demanded to know who within the eSwatini government authorised the acceptance of these individuals and the legal basis and if they were detained in line with a valid detention warrant or a certificate of detention as prescribed by the Immigration Act. 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 ✕ "If there is no such legal basis, under what authority are they currently being held? Any alternative basis for detention may contravene the Correctional Services Act No. 13 of 2017 and risks undermining the rule of law in eSwatini," the movement said. In addition, it wants to know how much has been paid to the government of eSwatini to support the stay of the five deported individuals and the plan after the conclusion of their sentences. The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), which mobilises exiled emaSwati, has urged the country's citizens at home and in the diaspora to fight what it described as a shameful arrangement. The SSN said emaSwati must organise, mobilise and protest against the decision and make it clear to their government that their country is not for sale nor is it an American prison. According to the network, the U.S. homeland security department has stated that the convicted criminals must be removed so that they can never hurt another American victim, which by implication means they must now hurt emaSwati. "This is a deliberate act of collusion by two corrupt governments to dump America's most violent criminals in one of the world's poorest nations. And the (King) Mswati-led Tinkhundla (eSwatini local government administrative division) regime quietly agreed without consulting the nation or informing its own rubberstamp Parliament," the SSN said. It called on emaSwati to demand answers on whether this is a paid-for deal or a political favour, the terms and conditions. "This is an act of betrayal and is proof once again that the Tinkhundla regime does not prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the Swazi people. It has not only auctioned off national sovereignty but it has turned Swaziland into a dumping ground for foreign governments looking to offload hardened criminals," the network complained. Other organisations – the Swaziland Litigation Centre, the Swaziland Rural Women's Assembly and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre – said in a 2024 report on human rights practices in eSwatini, the U.S. noted that prisons were overcrowded, constituting inhumane treatment and that there were reports of torture. They are demanding that the eSwatini government commit to not accepting inmates from third countries. "The eSwatini Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration and international bodies, as official visitors under section 122 of the Correctional Services Act, visit the individuals to establish the facts surrounding their detention and their detention conditions. "The international bodies should include the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which is currently conducting an official visit in eSwatini, and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Pretoria," the organisations demanded. Additionally, they want the government to clarify the legal and factual basis on which the five individuals were accepted into eSwatini and for their countries' consulates urgently arrange for consular services to ensure that they obtain legal representation. The eSwatini government has denied King Mswati's involvement in the prisoners' deportation while the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa did not respond to questions on Saturday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store