Latest news with #Mahase
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Khutsong community unites against drugs after young resident's brutal murder
The brutal murder of 22-year-old Ephraim Mabaso from the Joe Slovo informal housing area in Khutsong has become a rallying point for residents determined to combat the township's growing drug problem. Mabaso died on 5 August after being stabbed with a screwdriver in Khutsong Extension 3. His alleged killer, a 17-year-old minor, appeared in court on 11 August. The case has been postponed for further investigation. According to his uncle, Ishmael Mabaso, Ephraim had endured a difficult childhood after his father left when he was just five years old. He later became involved with drugs — a struggle that friends and family believe ultimately led to his death. 'He was a good person and one of the young people who recently told me he wanted to quit drugs and go for rehabilitation,' said community leader Benedict Mahase. Mahase, through his organisation Chencha Mocha Production, is working with local councillors to help young addicts access rehabilitation. He is also collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to secure ID documents for learners who do not have them — a key barrier that often pushes youth toward crime and drugs. 'Although Ephraim did not have this problem, many young people here feel hopeless without an ID,' explained Mahase. His recent work with Badirile Secondary School revealed that 18 out of 28 learners without IDs actually qualify for them, while the other 10 do not due to their parents not being South African-born. Residents hope that by addressing these root causes, they can break the cycle of drug abuse and prevent more young lives from being lost.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Thieves broke into 20 cars while Polk County residents were ‘sleeping peacefully,' sheriff says
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Two masked men who were caught pulling on car door handles early Tuesday morning have been connected to nearly two dozen previously reported burglaries, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. The suspects, Joshua Mahase, 18, and Julian Cortez, 19, along with a third unidentified suspect, were spotted by someone in the area of Pickerel Court in Kissimmee, who reported the suspicious activity to deputies. Arrest made in deadly Lakeland convenience store shooting Home surveillance video showed the suspects wearing dark clothing, ski masks, and gloves as they tried to open the door handles of a black Chevrolet truck, the sheriff's office said. One of the suspects also appeared to be carrying a red tool bag. They left the area in a white Nissan Maxima, which deputies later found making a right turn off Lake Marion Creek Road onto Marigold Avenue. Authorities stopped the vehicle and detained Mahase and Cortez. The sheriff's office was still working to identify the third suspect as of Wednesday. Investigators said they found several clothing items inside the Nissan Maxima that matched what the suspects were seen wearing earlier that morning, including masks and leather gloves. Also inside the vehicle were multiple driver's licenses, passports, and debit and credit cards that authorities said did not belong to either Mahase or Cortez. According to the sheriff's office, Mahase admitted to targeting unlocked vehicles, and provided detectives with details on several additional burglaries that had previously been reported. Detectives said they were able to link the suspects to at least 20 burglaries over a six-week time span, and they were charged accordingly. They also face drug charges for marijuana deputies said they found in their car. The charges against them include the following: Possession of cannabis Possession of drug paraphernalia Maintaining a vehicle for drug use Possession of stolen IDs (nine counts) Grand theft – firearm Conspiracy to commit fraud (10 counts) Conspiracy to commit grand theft Fraudulent use of credit/debit card (three counts) Possession of burglary tools (20 counts) Petit theft (19 counts) Unlawful possession of personal ID (five or more) Armed burglary conveyance Conspiracy to commit burglary conveyance (20 counts) Burglary unoccupied unarmed conveyance (19 counts) 'Thanks to the citizen who saw something, and said something, we were able to quickly respond and stop these brazen thieves and their criminal enterprise,' said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. 'For over a month they've been victimizing citizens who are sleeping peacefully in the northeast area of our county, breaking into their cars and stealing their stuff. And now they're facing very serious felonies. This is also a great reminder to you all to lock your car doors.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
