IN PICS: Gucci slippers, Le Creuset pots and Louis Vuitton dupes discovered in Durban port bust
iol Police in KZN seized counterfiet Le Creuset pots and Gucci slippers at a depot in Edwin Swales on Tuesday afternoon.
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have seized counterfeit goods with a street value of R400 million.
The raid was made on Tuesday afternoon at a freight depot in Edwin Swales, south of Durban.
KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshuinda said SAPS members were conducting a routine cargo profiling when they found two containers that contained counterfeit designer clothes, jewellery, and kitchenware.
"Both containers were fraudulently declared to be carrying furniture.
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IOL News
18 hours 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.
IOL News
20 hours ago
- IOL News
‘I wasn't as cautious as Olorato': Joburg woman shares her close encounters with dating scammer
As South Africans demand answers on the brutal murder of 30-year-old Joburg woman, Olorato Mongale while on a date, IOL has interviewed another Joburg woman, Jabu Nxumalo who was defrauded of R500,000 in a dating scam. Image: IOL collage As South Africans reflect over the brutal murder of 30-year-old Joburg woman, Olorato Mongale, police say they are 'on the tail' of Bongani Mthimkulu, the remaining suspect believed to be part of a syndicate that targeted different young women at shopping malls across different provinces. IOL previously reported that Olorato had met the mysterious man, only identified as 'John', at a shopping mall in Bloemfontein, Free State. The duo met around May, and following days of virtual communication, they agreed to go on a date. Days later, the man arrived at Olorato's residence in Joburg, and picked her up in a white Volkswagen Polo. However, having her suspicions about the mystic John, before Olorato was picked up on May 25, she communicated with her friends, alerting them that she was about to go out with the man, and that they should look for her if she vanishes. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Family spokesperson Criselda Kananda said Olorato had told her friends to search for her should she not send them a message revealing her whereabouts in an hour following her outing. 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 ✕ Ad loading 'We are devastated by this tragic loss and we ask that you continue to keep her family in your friends began to get worried after two hours passed without Olorato sending them a location. They then activated 'Find My Location', and it led them to a house in Bramley. The friends found her bag and cellphone outside the house,' she said. National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said several of Mongale's items, such as her phone and handbag, were found discarded on 9th Road in Kew, Johannesburg. Her body was discovered shortly afterwards in the vicinity. The slain Olorato Mongale. Image: X Since last year, IOL has been running the scammed series where several South African women and men have lost their hard-earned money including pensions and bank loans through romance scams. The victims have regrouped and are knocking on different doors, demanding answers. Some of the scammed women have alleged that they were turned away from different police stations, while several fraud cases opened by the victims have been closed by the South African Police Service (SAPS). In the majority of the cases, the unsuspecting, love-struck victims did not observe much about the criminals who they 'dated', and many only realised the scam after huge amounts of money were stolen from them and the lover has vanished into thin air. The South African Police Service (SAPS) requesting Ugandan national Joseph Ssekasi, with aliases including Deon Mundari to come forward after Joburg woman Jabu Nxumalo (left) was scammed of more than R500,000. Image: IOL collage One of the scammed victims featured in the IOL series, Jabu Nxumalo said in her vivid recollection, there was nothing amiss when she hooked up with a Joseph Ssekasi on dating site Tinder in 2023. Reflecting on the fate of Olorato, Jabu praised the former Wits University student's vigilance when planning the date. 'I think it was a very traumatic incident, because the fact that women can't even go on a date anymore is very disturbing and questions the society and the men we live with. If we don't survive the love scam, we end up being killed,' Jabu told IOL. 'Looking back, I'm very grateful to still be alive, because those men could have done God knows what, without anyone knowing what happened to me or where I was. Not even my family knew where the scammer lived, because I wasn't as cautious as Olorato. 'It is very sad that Olorato was cautious and did everything right, but still lost her life. You could tell that she knew what kind of sick world we live in,' said Jabu. When Jabu met the scammer, she was innocently hoping to get an honest, loving boyfriend when she joined the dating app, Tinder. Soon, she had Ssekasi courting her. 'At the time, he called himself Deron Mundari, and claimed to be from South Sudan. Honestly, there was nothing amiss about the guy,' Nxumalo previously said in an interview with IOL. 'He seemed like a down to earth and a respectful person. Little did I know that he was in this relationship for a paycheck in the name of love.' IOL has for years reported on several cases of hardworking women, particularly those who are in steady jobs including civil servants, who got scammed of millions of rand by unscrupulous men, who target vulnerable women in the name of dating. In 2024, IOL reported that a Congolese man, Joseph Hassan Yaye appeared before the Makhado Magistrate's Court after a Limpopo-based woman, a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) was scammed of her pension lump sum. Congolese national Joseph Hassan Yaye appeared the Makhado Magistrate's Court, after he was arrested for allegedly defrauding a police officer in Limpopo. Image: SAPS In Jabu's case, within four months of meeting Ssekasi, the man vanished with her R510,000. Part of the fraud involved a purported 'ancestor's voice' which instructed Nxumalo to approach different banks and raise R500,000 which she handed over to him at his place in Brakpan. This money, Nxumalo was told, was her contribution in a mysterious investment scheme which involved 'ancestors' and prayers. After the scam became clear, the emotionally wrecked Jabu was admitted in a psychiatric hospital as she had become suicidal. 'I had not slept for two nights,' she narrated. 'Just a day before I was discharged, I was called by a detective Khumalo from Boksburg police station who wanted us to meet the day after I leave the hospital. I then went with my brother to meet the detective,' Nxumalo said. 'While I was narrating my story, she stopped me and told me that as police, they can only arrest people they know their whereabouts, and that with cases of this nature, there is a low likelihood that a criminal can be sentenced,' she said. The bubbly Jabu Nxumalo has gathered the pieces of her life, joined hands with other victims, and calls for women to be vigilant at all times. Image: Supplied 'During our conversation, I showed her the picture of Ssekasi, the person who scammed me. Detective Khumalo did not event take the photo, and to-date she does not have a photo of my scammer, the person SAPS is hoping to catch one day. 'That engagement with the police detective actually depressed me more. I ended up asking detective Khumalo, if she was trying to tell me that there is nothing the police can do to help me,' said Jabu.
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Two Oceans Marathon organisers respond to High Court ruling
The Two Oceans Marathon NPC has responded to the ruling handed down by the Gauteng High Court on Thursday. The social media post read: 'The Two Oceans Marathon NPC acknowledges the recent High Court judgment concerning public commentary made about the organisation and its leadership. 'While the matter was dismissed, we note that the judgement was based on procedural grounds – 𝙣𝙤𝙩 on the factual correctness, ethical appropriateness or moral acceptability of the statements made. It therefore cannot be said that the statements made were found to be truthful, justified, or ethically appropriate. 'As an organisation, we welcome constructive criticism and learn profoundly from it. However, we believe that such engagement must be 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴, including runners, those who serve the organisation, suppliers and stakeholders. 'As one of Africa's most iconic running events, we value fair criticism and a spirit of public engagement that falls within the boundaries of what can be considered fundamentally decent and respectful.' In the Gauteng High Court case between Two Oceans chairperson Toni Cavanagh (first applicant) and the Two Oceans Marathon NPC (second applicant) and Stuart Mann (respondent), the Honourable Judge Yacoob ruled emphatically against Cavanagh and the TOM NPC granting a costs order on scale C (the most severe possible outcome). This will reportedly cost Cavanagh and the TOM NPC around R400 000. Whether Cavanagh will cough up the cash herself or turn to the NPC for help remains to be seen. The full 15-page judgement can be found HERE This developing news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. The future of the Two Oceans Marathon is in serious doubt after the City of Cape Town pulled its sponsorship of the event following a number of flagrant contraventions of conditions by the organisers of this year's race. Organisers were on the receiving end of more criticism this year – as is seemingly the case every year – as runners took to social media in their droves to vent their unhappiness and frustration. Runners lashed out at the organisers for – among many other things – shocking (read: no) communication pre-race, a lack of sufficient markings on the trail race, goodie bags hardly worth taking home, a lack of water tables during the race and running out of medals for finishers. Race director Hilton Kearns is on record as saying they 'overcompensated in predicting the number of silver medallists they expected and did not have enough bronze medals'. This was proven to be a lie by well-known South African runner and blogger, Stuart Mann, who, writing on his blog ' The Running Mann ' this week exposed the latest untruth. Mann ran the numbers and the percentage of silver medallists in the Two Oceans Half Marathon has been the same for the last three years: 1.3%. A mere 234 runners earned silver medals, while 17 443 runners earned bronze this year. The real reason the race ran out of thousands of bronze medals was the fact they accepted – and took payment for – more entries than they were allowed by the City of Cape Town. Meanwhile, according to Two Oceans chairperson Toni Cavanagh, the race has struggled to rope in enough sponsors since emerging from the Covid pandemic a few years ago. While they appreciated the support from current headline sponsor Totalsports – and the runners who paid entry fees – they are falling short of the claimed nearly R27 million required to organise the event. RELATED | Tributes pour in for runner after tragic death at Two Oceans Marathon In the irony of all ironies, just two short years ago prior to taking over as Two Oceans chairperson, Cavanagh took to social media to slate the race organisers following her 'fudging ridiculous' experience at race collection back in 2023. The South African website has in its possession a letter of demand to cease and desist from the Two Oceans Marathon NPC and Toni Cavanagh sent to Mann on Wednesday. The South African website also has it on good authority that Mann plans to neither cease nor desist from exposing the truth. It appears clear that the City of Cape Town is siding with Mann – and the truth. In a response sent to The South African website on Thursday, the City confirmed: 'Following the Two Oceans Half Marathon on Sunday, 6 April 2025, the City of Cape Town's Events Permitting Office discovered that the Two Oceans Marathon race management allowed more participants to take part in the half marathon than what was approved in the official permit. 'The Two Oceans Marathon race management contravened conditions of its permit and subsequently the Events By-Law by allowing more than the permitted number of runners to take part. 'This is a complete disregard of the months of work behind the scenes to plan the logistics and safety measures in place around the event. 'The contravention of stipulated permit conditions places at risk the safety of people taking part in events. 'The sponsorship agreement between the City of Cape Town and the agreement between the City and the Two Oceans Marathon NPC is clear that any breach of permit will result in the municipality pulling sponsorship of the event. 'The Two Oceans Marathon NPC was notified of the City's decision withdraw support on 10 April 2025. 'The City provides support in kind in the form of municipal services which assist in the event safety and logistics planning for the Two Oceans Marathon. 'The City's actions pertain specifically to its sponsorship of the Two Oceans Marathon – the Event Organiser can continue to apply for permits through the normal channels, as they are required to do in any event – irrespective of City sponsorship.' Quite how the Two Oceans Marathon plans on holding an event without the sponsorship of the City of Cape Town remains to be seen, considering the lack of funding alluded to by the organisers themselves. Whether any other sponsors wish to come on board and be associated with the race and its current Board remains to be seen. In addition, race founder Celtic Harriers (a club which still receives royalties from the Two Oceans brand, but is no longer involved in the organisation) has said it wants to meet with the Two Oceans board out of concern for the future of the race. 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.
