Latest news with #JP_Smith
The Herald
21-05-2025
- The Herald
Law enforcement officers arrested for 'kidnapping, extortion' in Cape Town
Two city law enforcement officers were on Tuesday arrested in Cape Town on charges of kidnapping and extortion. The officers, attached to the metal theft unit, allegedly kidnapped two men in Khayelitsha and demanded a ransom for their release, said safety and security MMC JP Smith. The arrests were carried out after an internal investigation by the city's safety and security investigations unit which alerted the police. ' Search warrants were obtained on Monday and the officers were arrested earlier today, in collaboration with the SAPS provincial kidnapping and extortion task team. 'The city takes a dim view of any attempts at dishonesty and illegal behaviour on the part of staff. We will co-operate with police to ensure a swift conclusion to the investigation and prosecution,' said Smith. The officers also face disciplinary hearings. 'The management of the safety and security directorate are committed to rid the department of corrupt and criminal elements and will not hesitate to investigate and take the required action when wrongdoing is uncovered.' TimesLIVE
News24
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
The Lead: The ‘Sheriff of Cape Town's' case against the police and courts
He's sometimes referred to as the 'Sheriff of Cape Town'. A senior DA politician who's occupied a top City post for 16 years. The City's Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member, JP Smith, is challenging the validity of a SAPS raid on his city council offices in January, claiming it was all meant to tarnish his political credibility. The raid follows a construction corruption trial implicating Smith's ex-colleague and housing mayco member, Malusi Booi, and alleged gang boss Ralph Standfield. News24's Marvin Charles joins us in this edition of The Lead to help unravel the latest papers Smith has filed in court. 'Smith is demanding that all electronics seized during the operation be returned. He's basically challenging the validity of those warrants that were issued in January,' says Charles. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer discusses the PetroSA corruption case implicating an ex-FIFA official. And finally, Motown icon, Smokey Robinson, faces a multi-million rand rape lawsuit. Apple
The Herald
07-05-2025
- The Herald
Cops swoop on property linked to 'hijacking syndicate' in Cape Town
Cape Town law enforcement and police clamped down on a suspected hijacking syndicate on Wednesday, recovering weapons and a stolen vehicle. In a joint intelligence operation targeting a property in Town Two, Lingelethu West, several items were recovered during the raid, along with a vehicle stolen in Muizenberg last year. Safety and security MMC JP Smith said three homemade rifles were confiscated, along with homemade handguns, vehicle keys, hand-held radios, a surfboard and wheels. ' While the property was found unoccupied at the time of the search, investigations continue. During the operation officers arrested a male who was found with the engine of a vehicle hijacked in Khayelitsha several years ago,' said Smith. 'The engine of the Toyota Quantum was found inside his home and he was arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen property.' Members arrested another suspect in connection with murder. The operation was conducted against the backdrop of multiple hijacking incidents in places such as Lingelethu West, Makhaza, Harare, Khayelitsha and Mfuleni. 'Over the past financial year, the city has recorded a marked increase in the hijackings of municipal vehicles. In the period July 2024 to April 2025, 113 city vehicles have been hijacked, which increased from 57 vehicles in the previous financial year,' said Smith. 'Of the 133 vehicles hijacked in recent months, the city has been able to recover 42. The statistics show the urban waste and the water and sanitation directorates are most affected and in most of these incidents city officials are held at gunpoint.' TimesLIVE
The Herald
07-05-2025
- The Herald
Mayor Hill-Lewis condemns bomb threat against Cape Town mosque
Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said on Wednesday his office had been in contact with the police to investigate a case of intimidation related to a bomb threat message received via cellphone against the Al-Azhar Mosque in District Six. ' I condemn the sinister motives behind this threatening message. Cape Town is a city of peace-loving people, where differences of faith and opinion are expressed loudly and fully, but always peacefully,' said Hill-Lewis. 'Our city has a long and proud history of being a safe city for people of all religions to live [in] and express their faith and traditions. For generations, Capetonians of every faith and creed have lived side-by-side and always show kindness, unity and generosity towards one another. Let us all commit to protecting and defending the best of that history.' Police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg said the incident occurred on May 4 and no arrests had been made. MMC for safety and security JP Smith said the city was supporting the investigation at the request of the police, which includes its safety and security investigative unit (SSIU). 'I have further referred this incident to disaster risk management (DRM) and the SSIU in terms of our joint safer places of worship project,' said Smith. Hill-Lewis added this was the second such incident, after an explosive device was thrown over the front wall of the Jewish Community Centre on Hatfield Street in the CBD in December 2024. 'We call on the police to prioritise these investigations to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,' he said. TimesLIVE
