Latest news with #Hawks
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Shop owner accused of illegally selling controlled medicine
This morning, Hawks arrested Rianne Janse van Rensburg, the owner of Muscle Mecca Shop, in Mpumalanga. Rensburg is facing a charge of the contravention of the Medicine and Related Substances Act. Rensburg appeared before the Evander District Court, with his co-accused, Paul Stephen Corbitt and Marco Rodolph Meintjies standing beside him. They are employees of Muscle Mecca Shop. 'Their appearance came after they were found selling controlled medicine without a valid license,' said Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. According to Nkosi, the Secunda based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit had been investigating the shop for a while. They subsequently discovered that the retailer was allegedly selling pharmaceutical products that require prescriptions, over the counter. On 11 September 2024, the court granted the unit a search warrant. After the Hawks searched Muscle Mecca, they immediately arrested Corbitt and Meintjies. 'During the search, Jansen van Rensburg was not at the shop,' said Nkosi. Nkosi said Rensburg was released on R5 000 bail today, hours after being nabbed by the Hawks. Corbitt and Meintjies are also currently out on R5000 bail each, following their initial arrest in September. Rensburg, Corbitt and Meintjies will be back in court on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. The Hawks will be discussing the merits of the case. 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
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- 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
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- The Citizen
Hawks strike major blow in kidnapping of Pakistani national
The Pakistani businessman was rescued more than 776km from where he was kidnapped. The Gqeberha-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks has successfully opposed bail for six suspects accused of kidnapping a 55-year-old Pakistani businessman. Two former police officers from the Western Cape were among the four people arrested when Gauteng police rescued the Pakistani businessman more than 776km from where he was kidnapped. The bail ruling, which was handed down this week in the Graaff-Reinet Magistrate's Court, has been welcomed. Bail Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said during a closed court session, the Hawks presented a compelling argument against their release. 'The court sided with the State, denying bail and keeping the suspects in custody. The matter has been remanded to 4 August 2025 for further court proceedings. ALSO READ: Police rescue kidnapped Pakistani businessman in Evaton Kidnapping Fumba said the accused, comprising both South African and Pakistani nationals, are currently facing serious charges related to an alarming February abduction in Graaff-Reinet. 'According to initial reports, the victim was allegedly approached by individuals impersonating police officers. Under the false pretence of official business, they persuaded him to accompany them to a nearby station, and he never returned home. 'A multidisciplinary team, including the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, National Crime Intelligence, Soweto Flying Squad and private security partners, launched a high-priority operation,' Fumba said. Breakthrough Fumba added that the operation led to a breakthrough on 13 March 2025, when the Pakistani national was successfully rescued in Evaton in Gauteng, hundreds of kilometres from where he was kidnapped. 'Four suspects were arrested across various locations, and police seized a vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction, as well as an unlicensed firearm. 'Ongoing investigations later led to the arrest of two additional suspects, bringing the total number of accused to six,' Fumba said. ALSO READ: More than 2 600 wanted criminals linked to violent crimes arrested in South Africa
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Really felt the struggle': Swans star returns to roots to help promote mental health
Isaac Heeney's return to his junior club for the first time in three years was about more than getting back to his AFL roots. The Sydney Swans star returned to where it all started on Wednesday afternoon with an important message about mental health, which resonated with the Cardiff Hawks after the club was left heartbroken last year. The Hawks' first-grade men's coach, Danny Priest, died by suicide in October. The tragedy came a month after the Hawks made the men's first-grade grand final for the first time since 2017. It shattered the tight-knit club. "Towards the end of our season last year, we lost someone in our club to suicide, someone who was incredibly important to us, and we really felt the impacts of that and really felt the struggle," Cardiff Hawks president Georgia Smith said. "So this year, we have put a really strong focus on supporting our club members in returning to a season without a key member of our club. "We started that at the beginning of the year with some mental health awareness, and through that we identified that there was quite a bit of a gap in our mental health literacy. "We decided that mental health first aid was something that we wanted to do as a club and we wanted to be able to support our mates when they expressed they were going through some mental health troubles or challenges, and we really wanted to equip our club members with the best tools possible to support them and connect them with the right people to provide the right support." The club were successful in applying for a Telstra Footy Country Grant to fund a two-day intensive mental health first aid training course for senior members of the club. It was the first time a club had applied to use the grant towards mental health training. In addition to the grant, Telstra organised for Lifeline's deputy chief researcher Dr Tara Hunt and Heeney to speak to the club about the importance of taking care of mental health as part of an introduction to mental health first aid session on Wednesday night. Earlier in the afternoon, Heeney mixed with junior Hawks on the footy field in Cameron Park. "Obviously, it's a pretty tough situation over the last year for the Hawks here, my local footy club that I grew up playing with," Heeney, who is a Telstra ambassador, told the Newcastle Herald on Wednesday. "They reached out to Telstra and Telstra are obviously running a footy country grant and the application the Cardiff Hawks put in was a different one to normal that other clubs have put in, so it was a first of its kind. "Being my local footy club, it was a really important one to me, being a mental health first aid training application, so it was really nice to be able to come here and, rather than just give them the grant, to make a day out of it and give back to not just the seniors but the whole club. "It's an important one. It's such a complex one at the same time, but it's something special to my heart, being my local footy club and what they've been through over the last year." Telstra consumer executive Tom Beach said the Hawks' grant request was unique. "In our partnership with the AFL, we have supported hundreds of clubs but we've never seen a request like this before, so we knew we had to help," Beach said. "We hope that in bringing Isaac back to the Cardiff Hawks, and in partnering with Lifeline to provide them the right education, we can help them at this tough time, and can hopefully help local footy clubs to place emphasis on their mental health as at the professional level. "We hope to encourage young budding talents to feel safe to speak about their mental health to shift the stigma for future generations." Isaac Heeney's return to his junior club for the first time in three years was about more than getting back to his AFL roots. The Sydney Swans star returned to where it all started on Wednesday afternoon with an important message about mental health, which resonated with the Cardiff Hawks after the club was left heartbroken last year. The Hawks' first-grade men's coach, Danny Priest, died by suicide in October. The tragedy came a month after the Hawks made the men's first-grade grand final for the first time since 2017. It shattered the tight-knit club. "Towards the end of our season last year, we lost someone in our club to suicide, someone who was incredibly important to us, and we really felt the impacts of that and really felt the struggle," Cardiff Hawks president Georgia Smith said. "So this year, we have put a really strong focus on supporting our club members in returning to a season without a key member of our club. "We started that at the beginning of the year with some mental health awareness, and through that we identified that there was quite a bit of a gap in our mental health literacy. "We decided that mental health first aid was something that we wanted to do as a club and we wanted to be able to support our mates when they expressed they were going through some mental health troubles or challenges, and we really wanted to equip our club members with the best tools possible to support them and connect them with the right people to provide the right support." The club were successful in applying for a Telstra Footy Country Grant to fund a two-day intensive mental health first aid training course for senior members of the club. It was the first time a club had applied to use the grant towards mental health training. In addition to the grant, Telstra organised for Lifeline's deputy chief researcher Dr Tara Hunt and Heeney to speak to the club about the importance of taking care of mental health as part of an introduction to mental health first aid session on Wednesday night. Earlier in the afternoon, Heeney mixed with junior Hawks on the footy field in Cameron Park. "Obviously, it's a pretty tough situation over the last year for the Hawks here, my local footy club that I grew up playing with," Heeney, who is a Telstra ambassador, told the Newcastle Herald on Wednesday. "They reached out to Telstra and Telstra are obviously running a footy country grant and the application the Cardiff Hawks put in was a different one to normal that other clubs have put in, so it was a first of its kind. "Being my local footy club, it was a really important one to me, being a mental health first aid training application, so it was really nice to be able to come here and, rather than just give them the grant, to make a day out of it and give back to not just the seniors but the whole club. "It's an important one. It's such a complex one at the same time, but it's something special to my heart, being my local footy club and what they've been through over the last year." Telstra consumer executive Tom Beach said the Hawks' grant request was unique. "In our partnership with the AFL, we have supported hundreds of clubs but we've never seen a request like this before, so we knew we had to help," Beach said. "We hope that in bringing Isaac back to the Cardiff Hawks, and in partnering with Lifeline to provide them the right education, we can help them at this tough time, and can hopefully help local footy clubs to place emphasis on their mental health as at the professional level. "We hope to encourage young budding talents to feel safe to speak about their mental health to shift the stigma for future generations." Isaac Heeney's return to his junior club for the first time in three years was about more than getting back to his AFL roots. The Sydney Swans star returned to where it all started on Wednesday afternoon with an important message about mental health, which resonated with the Cardiff Hawks after the club was left heartbroken last year. The Hawks' first-grade men's coach, Danny Priest, died by suicide in October. The tragedy came a month after the Hawks made the men's first-grade grand final for the first time since 2017. It shattered the tight-knit club. "Towards the end of our season last year, we lost someone in our club to suicide, someone who was incredibly important to us, and we really felt the impacts of that and really felt the struggle," Cardiff Hawks president Georgia Smith said. "So this year, we have put a really strong focus on supporting our club members in returning to a season without a key member of our club. "We started that at the beginning of the year with some mental health awareness, and through that we identified that there was quite a bit of a gap in our mental health literacy. "We decided that mental health first aid was something that we wanted to do as a club and we wanted to be able to support our mates when they expressed they were going through some mental health troubles or challenges, and we really wanted to equip our club members with the best tools possible to support them and connect them with the right people to provide the right support." The club were successful in applying for a Telstra Footy Country Grant to fund a two-day intensive mental health first aid training course for senior members of the club. It was the first time a club had applied to use the grant towards mental health training. In addition to the grant, Telstra organised for Lifeline's deputy chief researcher Dr Tara Hunt and Heeney to speak to the club about the importance of taking care of mental health as part of an introduction to mental health first aid session on Wednesday night. Earlier in the afternoon, Heeney mixed with junior Hawks on the footy field in Cameron Park. "Obviously, it's a pretty tough situation over the last year for the Hawks here, my local footy club that I grew up playing with," Heeney, who is a Telstra ambassador, told the Newcastle Herald on Wednesday. "They reached out to Telstra and Telstra are obviously running a footy country grant and the application the Cardiff Hawks put in was a different one to normal that other clubs have put in, so it was a first of its kind. "Being my local footy club, it was a really important one to me, being a mental health first aid training application, so it was really nice to be able to come here and, rather than just give them the grant, to make a day out of it and give back to not just the seniors but the whole club. "It's an important one. It's such a complex one at the same time, but it's something special to my heart, being my local footy club and what they've been through over the last year." Telstra consumer executive Tom Beach said the Hawks' grant request was unique. "In our partnership with the AFL, we have supported hundreds of clubs but we've never seen a request like this before, so we knew we had to help," Beach said. "We hope that in bringing Isaac back to the Cardiff Hawks, and in partnering with Lifeline to provide them the right education, we can help them at this tough time, and can hopefully help local footy clubs to place emphasis on their mental health as at the professional level. "We hope to encourage young budding talents to feel safe to speak about their mental health to shift the stigma for future generations." Isaac Heeney's return to his junior club for the first time in three years was about more than getting back to his AFL roots. The Sydney Swans star returned to where it all started on Wednesday afternoon with an important message about mental health, which resonated with the Cardiff Hawks after the club was left heartbroken last year. The Hawks' first-grade men's coach, Danny Priest, died by suicide in October. The tragedy came a month after the Hawks made the men's first-grade grand final for the first time since 2017. It shattered the tight-knit club. "Towards the end of our season last year, we lost someone in our club to suicide, someone who was incredibly important to us, and we really felt the impacts of that and really felt the struggle," Cardiff Hawks president Georgia Smith said. "So this year, we have put a really strong focus on supporting our club members in returning to a season without a key member of our club. "We started that at the beginning of the year with some mental health awareness, and through that we identified that there was quite a bit of a gap in our mental health literacy. "We decided that mental health first aid was something that we wanted to do as a club and we wanted to be able to support our mates when they expressed they were going through some mental health troubles or challenges, and we really wanted to equip our club members with the best tools possible to support them and connect them with the right people to provide the right support." The club were successful in applying for a Telstra Footy Country Grant to fund a two-day intensive mental health first aid training course for senior members of the club. It was the first time a club had applied to use the grant towards mental health training. In addition to the grant, Telstra organised for Lifeline's deputy chief researcher Dr Tara Hunt and Heeney to speak to the club about the importance of taking care of mental health as part of an introduction to mental health first aid session on Wednesday night. Earlier in the afternoon, Heeney mixed with junior Hawks on the footy field in Cameron Park. "Obviously, it's a pretty tough situation over the last year for the Hawks here, my local footy club that I grew up playing with," Heeney, who is a Telstra ambassador, told the Newcastle Herald on Wednesday. "They reached out to Telstra and Telstra are obviously running a footy country grant and the application the Cardiff Hawks put in was a different one to normal that other clubs have put in, so it was a first of its kind. "Being my local footy club, it was a really important one to me, being a mental health first aid training application, so it was really nice to be able to come here and, rather than just give them the grant, to make a day out of it and give back to not just the seniors but the whole club. "It's an important one. It's such a complex one at the same time, but it's something special to my heart, being my local footy club and what they've been through over the last year." Telstra consumer executive Tom Beach said the Hawks' grant request was unique. "In our partnership with the AFL, we have supported hundreds of clubs but we've never seen a request like this before, so we knew we had to help," Beach said. "We hope that in bringing Isaac back to the Cardiff Hawks, and in partnering with Lifeline to provide them the right education, we can help them at this tough time, and can hopefully help local footy clubs to place emphasis on their mental health as at the professional level. "We hope to encourage young budding talents to feel safe to speak about their mental health to shift the stigma for future generations."
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
PAGAD distances itself from Faizel Felix following Hawks arrest
The organisation People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) has distanced itself from Faizel Felix, arrested by the Hawks this week in connection with an eight-year-old illegal firearm case. Felix, 52, was apprehended after evading justice since 2016, according to the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation. He appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Monday and is due back in court this Friday on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm. However, PAGAD's leadership insists Felix is no longer affiliated with the organisation. 'Felix was expelled as a member and is currently associated with a splinter group known as G-Force,' said Haroon Orrie, PAGAD's deputy national coordinator. Orrie said the Hawks' public statement referring to Felix as a PAGAD member has damaged the organisation's credibility, especially at a time when they are actively working to combat the recent spike in gang violence across Cape Town. 'PAGAD strives to promote the eradication of gangsterism and drugs in affected communities,' Orrie said. 'Our relevance has grown as more neighbourhoods come under threat from gang-linked drug violence.' Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani confirmed Felix was previously a member of PAGAD and had absconded from court following his initial arrest. A warrant was issued for his arrest, which was recently executed after nearly a decade on the run. PAGAD, however, insists Felix no longer represents the group's values. 'Membership is limited to those who accept PAGAD's principles, programmes, and discipline,' Orrie stated. Orrie called on the Hawks to clarify their statement and correct the record, warning that false associations risk undermining the legitimacy of organisations working against gangsterism and drugs in vulnerable communities. The group also reiterated its independence from G-Force, a breakaway faction that it claims operates under different leadership and principles. 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.
