Latest news with #GBVF
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Man to appear in court for allegedly setting two women ablaze
The incident has left two women fighting for their lives in hospital with severe burn injuries. A 35-year-old man IN Mpumalanga will face two charges of attempted murder when he appears at the Emalahleni Magistrate's Court on Tuesday following his arrest for allegedly setting two women on fire. The suspect was arrested by police in connection with a brutal attack that took place on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, at approximately 6pm. The incident has left two women fighting for their lives in the hospital with severe burn injuries. Victims include mother of suspect's children Police reports indicate the accused allegedly set fire to two women. The first victim is a 21-year-old woman who is the mother of his children. The second victim is a 23-year-old woman who is said to be related to the suspect, who reportedly became a casualty while attempting to intervene in the attack. Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli confirmed the severity of the victims' conditions. 'After the incident, the two female victims sustained serious burn wounds and were taken to hospital by a community member,' Mdhluli said. Both women remain in critical condition. 'The two women are currently fighting for their lives in hospital,' Mdhluli stated. ALSO READ: Alleged mastermind pleads not guilty in Lusikisiki trial, says he's been in jail for 17 years Swift police response leads to arrest Following the attack, community members reported the matter to the Vosman Police Station. Investigators moved quickly to track down the perpetrator. 'The matter was then reported to the police in Vosman and after an investigation was done, the suspect was traced and apprehended on the same night around 9pm, hence his court appearance,' Mdhluli explained. The suspect was arrested just three hours after the incident occurred, demonstrating rapid police response to the crime. ALSO READ: 'Why were alarm bells not sounded sooner?' – Jayden-Lee Meek's mother denied bail Provincial commissioner condemns attack The South African Police Service's acting provincial commissioner in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has strongly condemned the incident. He emphasised the commitment of law enforcement to ensure justice for the victims. Mkhwanazi vowed that police investigators will collaborate closely with prosecutors throughout the legal proceedings. The swift arrest of the suspect reflects this commitment to pursuing justice. We wish a speedy recovery to the two victims. We hereby make a clarion call to Faith-Based Organisations, Community leaders, and Civil Society Groups to continue to work with us as public servants, in fighting GBVF within the society,' the General said. NOW READ: EC woman sentenced to life for murdering boyfriend in repeat GBV case
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Seta scandal: Nkabane claims Ramaphosa has yet to act against her, ahead of Parliament grilling
The Hawks is investigating the minister for fraud and lying to Parliament. Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane says President Cyril Ramaphosa has not taken any action against her, amid calls for her dismissal over the controversial appointments to the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) boards. Ramaphosa is facing pressure to act after Nkabane allegedly misled Parliament about the advisory panel involved in selecting Seta board chairpersons. The controversy came to light when a leaked list revealed that several of the appointees had connections to the ANC, including Minerals Minister Gwede Mantashe's son Buyambo Mantashe, former KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, and former ANC KZN deputy chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu. ALSO READ: 'A lying minister in Cabinet': Why has Ramaphosa not fired Nkabane? While the appointments were later withdrawn, Nkabane was criticised in Parliament for initially withholding the names of the advisory panel members. The situation worsened after Advocate Terry Motau and two senior officials from the Department of Higher Education denied any involvement in the panel. The DA has since laid a criminal complaint against Nkabane and also reported her to both the Public Protector and Parliament's Ethics Committee. According to the DA, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, is investigating her for fraud and for the statutory offence of lying to Parliament. Nkabane dismisses claims of sanctions On Thursday, Nkabane led a peaceful awareness campaign in Bhisho, Eastern Cape, alongside Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students, aimed at raising awareness about Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). Speaking to the media, she dismissed reports that Ramaphosa had taken measures against her, including claims that he blocked her recent trip to China with Deputy President Paul Mashatile – even though she was already at OR Tambo International Airport. 'Unfortunately, I only hear about these measures that have been taken against me on social media. There is nothing of that nature,' she said. READ MORE: Will Ramaphosa act? DA lays criminal charges against perjury-accused Nkabane 'I go to Luthuli House from time to time as a deployee of the ANC, and yesterday, I was in a Cabinet [meeting] with the president. There is no discussion of this nature. 'However, maybe it is still coming because some people can speculate and see things before they could happen. 'But at this point in time, I cannot comment because I don't know anything of that nature,' Nkabane continued. Nkabane to be grilled over Seta board appointments Nkabane is scheduled to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on Friday. She will be joined by her deputy ministers, the department's director-general, and members of the independent panel that advised on the appointments. The committee plans to question them about the panel's processes and the rationale behind the controversial selections. 'We are somewhat pleased that this engagement will finally take place, allowing us to bring this matter to a close, as we have consistently maintained that accountability is non-negotiable when it comes to the use of public funds,' the committee's chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, said in a statement on Thursday. NOW READ: 'It's the president's prerogative': Nkabane responds as critics demand her axing
IOL News
12-07-2025
- IOL News
SAPS reports over 170 arrests in the battle against gender-based violence
The South African Police Service's 90-day blitz campaign sees over 170 arrests in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Image: File The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the 90-day blitz to combat gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has yielded more success with the arrest of more than 170 suspects connected to rape cases across the country. According to reports, the campaign was launched in April by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to fight the GBVF scourge plaguing South Africa. SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi said police are continuing to accelerate their response to combat and prevent GBVF through intensified nationwide operations across the country. Mukhathi said between June 30 and July 6, 2025, police operations led to the arrest of 99 rape suspects. Gauteng accounted for the highest number of arrests, with 26. 'In addition, police arrested 73 wanted rape suspects as well as 16 individuals tracked down for sexual offences in various provinces,' he said. The SAPS is also focusing on community mobilisation, enhancing better response, and strengthening collaboration with other government departments and community-based organisations in the fight against GBVF in the country, he noted. This week, Mukhathi said police effected key arrests for perpetrators of GBVF. He said on July 6, 2025, police in Limpopo arrested a 29-year-old man for the alleged murder of his 33-year-old girlfriend at Nailana village. 'He allegedly assaulted his girlfriend to death with sticks. He appeared before the Senwabarwana Magistrate's Court on July 8, 2025, facing murder charges,' he said. In Kaapmuiden, Mpumalanga, 37-year-old Sanele Fakudze, an Eswatini national, was apprehended in connection with the murder of a 4-year-old girl and her 28-year-old mother. According to Mukhathi, the victims were discovered unconscious next to the road. Mukhathi added that on July 8, 2025, a 40-year-old man was apprehended for the alleged rape of his 39-year-old ex-girlfriend in Thohoyandou on June 16, 2025. He appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on July 9, 2025, facing rape charges. 'These arrests form part of the SAPS's intensified 90-day blitz to combat and prevent gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) across the country,' he emphasised. Moreover, Mukhathi said the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) members successfully secured the following notable convictions during this period. He said between May and June 2025, detectives from the Gauteng Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit secured 21 life sentences and an additional 1,420 years' imprisonment for 40 accused individuals for crimes committed against women and children in the province. A 22-year-old in KwaZulu-Natal received a life sentence after being convicted of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl in Mdantsane in August 2020. In the Northern Cape, the Calvinia Regional Court sentenced a 40-year-old accused to life imprisonment after being found guilty of raping three siblings aged between 4 and 11 years in October 2022. Samuel Boomfire Mbuyane, a 42-year-old hip-hop artist, received three life sentences from the Burgersfort Regional Court in Limpopo on July 4, 2025. This conviction was for three counts of rape, committed in November 2020, involving a 9-year-old boy in Driekop village. In another case, Mosala Benito Ellester, 22, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a 64-year-old woman in Phelindaba, Bloemfontein, in December 2023. 'Police will continue to conduct their targeted operations to address criminal activities, including GBVF, and ensure the safety and security of communities, especially women, children, and vulnerable groups,' stated Mukhathi. [email protected]
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- The Citizen
‘We are not safe': Tzaneen residents accuse police of failing to act on GBVF crisis
Residents are angry after a toddler was raped in Lusaka Village, near Nkowankowa. Residents of Nkowankowa and the surrounding areas in Tzaneen, Limpopo, are furious and calling on the police to work closely with locals to fight against gender-based violence and Femicide(GBVF). Several community members who spoke to The Citizen said they were angered by a recent incident in which a toddler was raped in Lusaka Village near Nkowankowa. Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the suspect sneaked into the room where the baby was sleeping with her mother and took her to the house's passage, where he raped her. 'The mother heard the child crying and found her on the ground,' said Mashaba. He stated that the police were still searching for the suspect, and no arrest had been reported at that time. Living in fear Elizabeth Shingange, a community leader and founder of the Elizabeth Home Foundation, said women and children were being killed and abused in the areas around Tzaneen. She said that between April and May, six women were murdered in different areas. 'Look, currently there is an ongoing case whereby a man is facing more than 80 rape cases. This case indicates that this man was continuing with his action without any interruption because if he was arrested for some of the cases, he would not be facing so many charges.' 'The criminals know very well that they will not be arrested because the community members don't trust the police. Previously, we had a situation in which the police failed to protect the whistleblowers, so they are afraid to tell the police what they know.' Shingange has urged the provincial police management to talk with the communities about how they can work together to address the problem. Another resident who asked not to be named said, 'What I can tell you is that we are not safe because criminals are not being arrested.' ALSO READ: Eswatini man arrested after child's burnt body found Protest ANC Women's League members took to the streets of Tzaneen on Friday in protest, accusing the police of failing to fight against GBVF cases that are rife in the area. Limpopo police did not respond to claims that they were failing to address GBVF and crime in the affected areas. WATCH: The ANC Women's League protest 'We are here to submit a memorandum to the Tzaneen Magistrate's Office, which is receiving on behalf of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. 'This memo is presented due to the alarming increase of the scourge of Gender-Based Violence against Women and Children, which is perpetuated by men in our society. 'These men perpetuate this GBV with impunity without dire consequences, and, as women, we are looking to our justice cluster to rescue us from this barbaric behaviour. 'Our observation is that the law enforcement agencies seem to be overwhelmed in dealing with this situation,' ANCWL convenor of Norman Mashabane Region in Mopani District Municipality, Lettie Hlangwane, told The Citizen. NOW READ: 'No moral standing': Saps must act tough on GBVF officers
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- The Citizen
Eswatini man arrested after child's burnt body found
Police arrested Sanele Fakudze after a woman was found injured and her daughter's charred body discovered near Kaapmuiden. Police in Mpumalanga have arrested a suspect from Eswatini after a woman was found injured and her daughter's burnt body was discovered near Kaapmuiden. Police detectives at Kanyamazane achieved a breakthrough in a case involving child murder, attempted murder, and perjury that occurred on 27 June. Police arrested 37-year-old Sanele Fakudze from the Kingdom of Eswatini in connection with the incident. Relatives initially reported the 28-year-old woman and her four-year-old daughter missing at Kanyamazane Police Station in Mpumalanga. Mother and 4-year-old child missing Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said a report indicated the two were last seen entering the suspect's vehicle. Fakudze is said to be the woman's male friend. 'On 28 June 2025, the woman was found by community members, lying next to the road in Kaapmuiden. She was unconscious, and these good Samaritans called for assistance from the emergency services and the police,' Mdhluli said. 'She was then taken to the hospital for medical treatment, and police later discovered that she is the woman that they were looking for.' ALSO READ: 'No moral standing': Saps must act tough on GBVF officers On Thursday, 3 July 2025, a farmer found the little girl's half-charred body and promptly reported it to the police, leading to a murder charge. According to the investigation thus far, the victims were abandoned close to Kaapmuiden. 'The astute members intensified their investigation and used all available resources at their disposal to deal with the violent acts against the two vulnerable victims and were led to the suspect, who was cornered on Friday, 4 July 2025,' Mdhluli said. Remanded in custody Fakudze appeared at Kanyamazane Periodical Court on Monday, 7 July 2025, where the matter was postponed to 14 July 2025 for further investigation. He remains in custody. Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, has praised the arrest and stressed that police will continue to be on the lookout for cases of femicide and gender-based violence (GBVF). The general urged victims not to withdraw such cases, emphasising that justice must prevail to combat GBVF. NOW READ: Withdrawn GBV cases allow 'perpetrators to evade justice', hears portfolio committee
