Latest news with #Humansdorp
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Three nabbed during drug busts
A search of two properties in Thornhill and Humansdorp led to the arrests of three people and the confiscation of drugs including mandrax, cocaine and dagga. Police spokesperson Capt Marius McCarthy said the intelligence driven operation was conducted by the anti-gang unit (AGU) in Gqeberha, in collaboration with the Sarah Baartman district crime intelligence unit. 'On Wednesday, members of the AGU executed search warrants at two identified addresses,' he said. The first operation was conducted in Thornhill, where police arrested a 28-year-old man after discovering mandrax tablets, cocaine and dagga on the premises. During the same operation, a 27-year-old woman was arrested after police found mandrax tablets, tik, cocaine and dagga in her possession. In a separate operation later that same day, police raided a second address in Humansdorp, where a 20-year-old man was arrested. He was allegedly found in possession of mandrax tablets, tik, and dagga. McCarthy said the confiscated drugs had an estimated combined street value of R20,000. 'The three suspects are expected to appear in the Humansdorp magistrate's court soon on charges related to dealing in drugs.' The Herald
The Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Prosecutor makes bold move after high-profile case
News Bianca Burger, who grabbed headlines in Evans' bail application, to open own law firm Premium By Kathryn Kimberley - 04 August 2025 Three months ago she was happily doing her job, bringing justice to the small town of Humansdorp, when a murder docket landed on her desk. Now, Bianca Burger has become a household name as members of the public stop her in restaurants to thank her for standing up for women...
The Herald
11-07-2025
- The Herald
Eastern Cape police crack down on poachers
Hundreds of thousands of rand worth of perlemoen was seized in two separate police operations on Thursday. Five men will appear in the Humansdorp magistrate's court on Friday after they were caught in possession of perlemoen worth R250,000. While on the other side of the province, three suspects will appear in Komani magistrate's court on Monday on charges of possession and/or dealing in drugs and perlemoen. Police spokesperson Capt Marius McCarthy said the five men, aged between 22 and 37 years old, were arrested in Jeffreys Bay on Thursday. 'Dedicated members attached to a multidisciplinary abalone task team, operating in the Kouga municipal area, successfully executed an intelligence driven, waylay operation in targeted areas along the Jeffrey's Bay coastline. 'According to reports a group of suspected abalone poachers were spotted carrying bags, suspected to be filled with abalone.' He said the police members tactically approached the group and arrested five suspects in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act. Meanwhile an intelligence driven multidisciplinary tactical operation by Komani dog unit (K9), Komani crime intelligence and Red Guard Security guards, led to the arrest of three people, aged between 26 and 45, on Thursday evening. Police spokesperson Capt Yolisa Mgolodela said police received information at about 6pm about a white Toyota Starlet sedan with a GP registration number that was transporting abalone and crystal meth (tik) from East London to Gauteng via Komani. 'The joint team spotted the vehicle that matched the description at 7.40pm. 'The car with three occupants was stopped on N6 near Komani Hospital. 'The trio tried to evade arrest by running to different directions without success as police swiftly caught up with them.' Mgolodela said one bag of perlemoen with 212 units weighing 28kg with a street value of more than R50,000, 500g crystal meth (tik) with a street value of more than R150,000 and four cellphones were seized during the arrest. 'The Toyota Starlet, worth more than R520,000, was also seized.' District commissioner Maj Gen Rudolph Adolph lauded the police members for their swift action and subsequent arrests. The Herald
The Herald
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald
Agriculture minister says foot and mouth disease outbreak has cost the industry hundreds of millions
He said the spread was largely because of unauthorised movement of livestock and noncompliance at animal auctions. 'I've had to extend the disease management area twice because it has spread, and that's largely through unauthorised movement of animals and some auction events that did not follow the correct procedures,' he said. The minister issued a stern warning to those who flout disease containment protocols, saying criminal and civil consequences will follow. 'There's a criminal charge for it but also I believe those people expose themselves to civil recoveries. Places that have an outbreak as a result of unlawful behaviour would be able to claim damages, which would be quantifiable. A place such as Karan Beef can quantify the damage caused.' Steenhuisen said with advanced tracing technologies authorities are increasingly able to identify sources of outbreaks. He cited a previous incident in Humansdorp as an example of the consequences of ignoring regulations. 'That was on a much smaller scale and caused between R80m and R100m worth of damage to the dairy sector,' he said. When asked how long it would take to bring the outbreak under control, Steenhuisen said the timeline depends on public co-operation. 'It depends whether people adhere to the regulations. What we don't want is more spread or events. If you have people who move animals outside the disease management area or break the protocols, we're going to see breakouts in other parts of the country,' he said. Steenhuisen emphasised the virus only spreads through breaches of movement protocols, not spontaneously. 'The virus can only move out of the disease management area if people break the regulations. It's going to depend entirely on co-operation,' he said. Ramokgopa stressed the need for a uniform biosecurity approach across all farming sectors. 'It's about taking it to the next level to contain any additional spread of foot and mouth disease. What's been very encouraging is co-operation between the Gauteng department of agriculture and national government,' said Ramokgopa. 'We must ensure a uniform biosecurity standard as a country and as a province, regardless of whether you are a small-scale farmer or a large farmer.' To combat the outbreak, the government has allocated R43m to procure vaccines. Steenhuisen confirmed the first shipment comprising more than 900,000 doses arrived in South Africa last week, with vaccinations beginning over the weekend. TimesLIVE
The Herald
11-06-2025
- The Herald
‘This is not a rehearsal for trial' — magistrate in Evans case
'A bail application is not a rehearsal for trial.' These were the words of magistrate Deidre Dickson in the Humansdorp Regional Court on Wednesday morning. Dickson said for the past three weeks she had cleared her criminal and civil rolls, often sat through lunch and tea breaks, and sometimes ended court late to accommodate murder accused Rob Evans' application for bail. Evans is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, 36, at his Oyster Bay holiday home over the Easter weekend. And while Dickson stood firm in her views from Tuesday that 'speculation will not assist the court to decide on bail', for the sake of not wasting any more time, she gave defence attorney Paul Roelofse the floor to continue with his line of questioning. Roelofse had been busy with his cross-examination of investigating officer Warrant Officer Xolile Kato on Tuesday when Dickson interjected. After Roelofse raised questions about possible alternative suspects, or how someone else could have entered the house where Van Rensburg's body was ultimately found, Dickson said speculation would not assist her in deciding if Evans should be granted bail. A visibly frustrated Roelofse had then asked for an adjournment to consider his position. Later in the day, he returned to the courtroom with a fresh application to formally challenge the magistrate's ruling. Roelofse argued that questions about locked doors and potential entry without force were crucial to ensuring a fair bail application for his client. Delivering her ruling on Wednesday, Dickson said: 'A bail application is not a criminal trial, it is also not a rehearsal for trial. 'Speculation will not assist the court to decide on bail. If this were a trial and bail had been finalised, then this would have been a different [scenario].' She said the bail application was already in its third week. 'This court will not unreasonably cut short or restrict cross-examination. 'The test here is the prima facie evidence. The court doesn't want to prolong the matter unnecessarily even further. 'Be that is it may, Mr Roelofse, I don't want to waste any more time, I have stated what the situation is. 'If you want to put more scenarios in front of the court then so be it, but let's finalise this matter. 'Everyone in this court needs this application to come to an end now.' The matter was postponed to Friday. The Herald
