Police offer R50 000 reward in Kraaifontein principal's murder
Western Cape police are offering a reward of up to R50 000 for information that could help them find the killers of Dr Jeff P. Sigudla, the principal of Ekuthuleni Primary School, who was gunned down outside the school in Kraaifontein on 23 January 2025.
According to IOL, attackers ambushed Dr Sigudla and his wife at the school gate as they arrived in their white Mahindra.
Gunmen opened fire on the couple, killing the 54-year-old principal at the scene. The attackers shot his wife in the leg and she was rushed to the hospital.
According to a witness, the principal had just arrived when the shooting began. 'After the first shots, the car rolled to a stop. Then the attackers walked up to the vehicle and continued firing.'
The shooting unfolded in front of pupils, leaving many traumatised.
The education department has since deployed counsellors to support staff and learners.
Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes detectives are leading the investigation.
Police confirmed that three unidentified men opened fire on the victims before fleeing in an unknown vehicle.
As part of efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Authorities are offering a reward of up to R50 000 to anyone who helps secure arrests and convictions.
Contact Warrant Officer Bradley Davids at 082 778 7345, or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Information can also be submitted anonymously via the My SAPS App. Police have guaranteed full confidentiality.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘Grave injustice': Man acquitted of attempted rape by SCA after fourth appeal
His eight-year jail sentence was set aside. A man convicted and jailed for attempted rape has been acquitted by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) after his fourth attempt at overturning the decision. Vincent Japhta was sentenced to eight years in prison for attempted rape in December 2021, more than two years after the incident that led to his arrest. Western Cape man accused of rape The alleged incident occurred on 19 May 2019. During the trial in the Mitchell's Plain Regional Court, it was claimed that Japhta raped a woman at her home. The complainant testified that on the night of the incident, she had been drinking alcohol with friends and family at her house. Feeling drunk, she went to her bedroom to sleep, fully clothed. Among the clothing she wore were tight skinny jeans that extended above her waist. She said she passed out due to intoxication and later woke up to find Japhta on top of her. According to her, both she and Japhta were naked from the waist down, and her pants and panties were on the floor. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga teen girl sends police on a hunt for her rapist, but she lied Japhta told the court that he had gone to the woman's home, where several people, including his friend Andre Pietersen, were drinking. He said he and the complainant had entered her bedroom twice to check on Pietersen, who was asleep. They kissed on both occasions. Later, after others had left, Japhta entered the woman's room again and asked if he could lie next to her. She agreed. They then began kissing and touching each other. Japhta testified that they both removed their pants and underwear. He said that when the complainant told him she didn't want to continue, he stopped all physical contact. According to him, the woman then held him in a cradling position. Medical report and messages The court also heard that the complainant told her sister about the incident and was examined by a medical doctor the following day. The J88 form, a medico-legal report, found no injuries or other evidence of sexual assault. That same day, the woman contacted Japhta, demanding that he tell her the truth about what had happened. She sent him approximately 74 WhatsApp messages, in which she threatened to report the matter to police. READ MORE: SCA acquits man of rape after overturning his friend's 20-year conviction following multiple appeals In the messages, she claimed that a doctor had found traces of semen inside her vagina. Japhta later admitted that he 'used his finger' and that 'it was just the head', indicating partial penetration. The complainant then invited Japhta to her home, saying she wanted him to apologise in person. However, when he arrived, she and her sister assaulted him, leaving him with cuts and bruises. Japhta was arrested and later convicted of attempted rape following the trial. Appeals Japhta's first appeal, lodged with the regional court in January 2022, was dismissed. The Western Cape High Court rejected his second appeal in June 2023. A third attempt, to the SCA was also denied in August 2023. READ MORE: Man's appeal to overturn life sentence for raping his 7-year-old step-granddaughter denied Japhta then submitted a petition to SCA Judge President Mahube Molemela, asking for his special leave to appeal application to be reconsidered. The request was granted by Molemela, and the case was heard in November 2024. SCA judgment on attempted rape case On 5 June 2025, Acting SCA Judge Letty Molopa-Sethosa, with four judges concurring, overturned Japhta's conviction and sentence. The judgment found that the evidence showed that the woman was an 'unreliable witness' due to her level of intoxication. 'In her statement, she only mentioned that she could vaguely recall the applicant being on top of her and having had drinks with family and friends. 'Under cross-examination, she had difficulty explaining how she could subsequently remember all the detail to which she testified in court,' Molopa-Sethosa said. The judge said that the complainant had used threats and manipulation to pressure Japhta into making admissions, which were made 'perhaps to avoid embarrassment for him and his family'. READ MORE: Court criticises father who impregnated daughter as rape sentence appeal rejected She had also 'disingenuously' led him to believe that medical evidence supported her claim. 'The misleading and threatening WhatsApp messages were undeniably sent by the complainant to the applicant to coerce him into admitting that he had raped her the previous night.' Molopa-Sethosa emphasised that there was no supporting evidence for the complainant's version and said Japhta's account was not rendered less believable by the facts presented. She also highlighted that the both the regional and high court 'completely ignored' the complainant's intoxication and its likely effect on her memory. 'In my view, it is manifest that a wrong conviction on such a serious charge must inevitably result in a grave injustice for the applicant.' The SCA ruled in Japhta's favour, granting his special leave to appeal and setting aside both his conviction and sentence.
The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
Carte Blanche: Poisoned vultures- WATCH
The 08 June episode of Carte Blanche delves into a troubling series of vulture poisonings within Kruger National Park, seeking to understand the deliberate targeting of these crucial scavengers. The program highlights an unfolding conservation crisis fueled by these poisonings, which set off a race against the clock for conservationists. They aim to uncover the motives behind the recent string of incidents that are severely impacting vulture populations, which are vital to the ecosystem's health. Carte Blanche is a South African investigative journalism television series that airs on M-Net every Sunday at 19:00. Its first episode aired on 21 August 1988 and over the last 34-plus years has earned credibility among South African viewers for its investigation into corruption, consumer issues, and current events. 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.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Santaco warns against hitchhiking after teenage girl was raped in VW Polo
Santaco has urged community members to avoid hitchhiking and using unaccredited transport modes, following the brutal rape of a 16-year-old Mpumalanga girl. Image: Paballo Thekiso The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has strongly condemned an incident where a 16-year-old girl from Mpumalanga was raped after she was picked by a vehicle on the road where she was hitchhiking. Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said the teenager was given a lift by strangers, who later attacked her in the vehicle. In an interview with IOL, Santaco spokesperson Rebecca Phala said police should work around the clock to track the assailants who were travelling in a Volkswagen Polo. "As Santaco we are disheartened, yet another woman has been violated at the hands of the transportation sector, after seeking transport to move from point A to point B. Again, it reminds us of how unsafe the country is, and we would want to wish her a speedy recovery. We hope she receives psycho-social support for the trauma she has endured," said Phala. "We want to use this opportunity to reiterate our clarion call for South Africans to always use authorised transport to move. Go to your nearest taxi rank, get a taxi that has a sticker and is clearly labelled, so that you are safe, so that we avoid having more victims such as the young woman." Santaco spokesperson Rebecca Phala Image: Supplied "We want to really say to her, we are sorry and without sounding like we are blaming the victims. We want to say to South Africans, let us always be cautious. Let's use public transport that is accredited and has operating licences, like taxis and other modes, so that we are safe, and we arrive where we are going safely." Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Phala said in general terms, community members who hitchhike run the risk of losing their possessions, or getting harmed in vehicles that are not easily traceable. "You run the risk of losing your belongings, the risk of even losing your life. Look at the cases that have been reported even in the space of e-hailing ... the cases are very concerning. You run the risk of being affected mentally because of the traumatic incidents. Times are so difficult," she said. Phala added that even when community members do not have sufficient transport fares, they are encouraged to discuss with taxi drivers, without abusing the facility. "If you go to a local taxi rank, and tell them I am short of R2, they will not leave you behind. Of course, we are not saying people must abuse the humanity. We need to work together so that we restore the dignity of safety in out transportation sector," she added. IOL previously reported that the horrific Mpumalanga incident occurred in Lydenburg on Sunday, at approximately 4pm. Police said the teenager was travelling from Dullstroom. 'According to the (police) report, the female victim was from Dullstroom, heading to Lydenburg when a black Volkswagen Polo, with two male occupants, stopped and offered her a lift. She then accepted the offer,' said Mdhluli. After passing Coromandel, the driver of the VW Polo diverted the vehicle into a secluded area. 'The passenger allegedly covered her mouth with a cloth that emitted a chemical smell, causing her to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, she realised the passenger was busy raping her,' said Mdhluli. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. A case docket was opened and assigned to the family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) unit for investigation. The perpetrators are still at large, and police are appealing to members of the public who may have information that may assist in locating and apprehending the suspects to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Gabsile Mlangeni on 078 751 3463. Alternatively, people with vital information may share the details by calling the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send details via the My SAPS App. 'All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous,' said Mdhluli. Meanwhile, acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has given assurance that the perpetrators will be hunted down and brought to book. In 2023, Limpopo provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, cautioned community members against hitch-hiking, and giving lifts to hitch-hikers, following different criminal activities recorded in the province. In the first incident, a 55-year-old man who was hitch-hiking was given a lift in a Suzuki Swift vehicle near the Mall of the North in Polokwane. The 55-year-old man was travelling to Ga-Dikgale. 'It is alleged that three unknown suspects (the occupants of the car) took the wrong direction, stopped, produced pistols and a knife, and robbed him of all his belongings such as a cellphone, wallet with cash worth R400, and bank cards, all valued at R5,400 and ordered him to run into the bushes,' provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said at the time. The robbers then drove off with the man's possessions. In another incident, which took place outside Seshego, two travellers aged 24 and 25 were hitch-hiking and they were given a lift in a silver Toyota Tazz Conquest vehicle.
