Latest news with #Mathe
IOL News
8 hours ago
- General
- IOL News
Police probe more cases against syndicate that targeted Wits student Olorato Mongale
Olorato Mongale's mother Basetsana speaks during her funeral on Sunday. Image: Free State Provincial Government/Facebook Police have reported an increase in the number of cases that they are linked to the syndicate responsible for the death of the former Wits University student, Olorato Mongale - three more have been added to the 22 reported last week. Last week, the number of cases being investigated by the police stood at 22 cases with SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe indicating that the number has increased to 25. "We are now standing at 25 cases linked to the syndicate," Mathe said without going into details about the latest developments in the matter. Police said they are closing in on Bongani Mthimkulu, the remaining suspect of an alleged kidnapping syndicate that targeted young women at shopping malls in several provinces. The main suspect, Philangenkosi Makhanya, was killed during a shootout with police at Amanzimtoti in KwaZulu-Natal last week. 'That is the only syndicate that we had identified that was going around the country targeting woman in various malls in various provinces. We are counting Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu- Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga as well as North West,' said Mathe. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Meanwhile, as the manhunt for Mthimkhulu continues, the spokesperson for the Mongale family, Dr Criselda Kananda and the entire Mongale family confirmed in a statement that the family has withdrawn its support for Fezile Ngubane - one of the recently cleared suspects. Police arrested Ngubane but later said he was targeted by the syndicate and was an innocent victim of identity fraud. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kananda announced her withdrawal from supporting Ngubane's addiction rehabilitation journey after having supported the campaign aimed at helping him overcome his drug addiction. 'I would like to take a moment to express my appreciation for the outpouring of support regarding the call to help Fezile Ngubane with his rehabilitation. Our initial intention was to assist in placing Fezile at a free rehabilitation centre, as we believe that simply throwing money at someone struggling with addiction is not a sustainable solution. "However, with the introduction of monetary donations into this situation, I have decided to withdraw my engagement in Fezile's case. I believe it is best to those who have taken a different approach to carry on from here," she said.
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- General
- Eyewitness News
Sex workers offer Justice Department help
Sex workers and activists are calling for urgency reviving a bill to decriminalise sex work bill, which is currently being drafted for the second time. On Monday 2 June, members of Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) and the Asijiki Coalition set up desks and chairs outside the offices of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Cape Town. The mock 'help desk' was meant to represent sex workers and the DOJ drafting the bill together, with the seat reserved for the DOJ left empty. A large sign at the desk read: 'Sex workers are here to help you to redraft the bill.' 'Maybe they will come down and draft the bill with us,' said Lloyd Rugara, provincial coordinator for the Sisonke National Sex Work Movement. It's been two years since the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill of 2022 was withdrawn and sent back to be revised. In May 2023 state law advisors raised concerns about the bill's lack of regulation, according to former deputy minister John Jeffery. The new deputy minister Andries Nel has since taken office. Sex worker organisations have demanded a clear timeframe for the bill's implementation, consultations with sex workers, and the prioritisation of the 'long-delayed reform'. Constance Mathe, national coordinator at Asijiki, said that since funding cuts from USAID caused sex worker-friendly clinics to close down, sex workers have struggled to access health services at public facilities. They face stigma and long waiting hours at clinics and hospitals, she says. Mathe says that the decriminalisation bill would mean sex workers would be recognised under labour laws and would have safer working conditions. Mathe also raises concerns over the lack of consultation with sex workers during the second drafting of the bill and says that the drafting process was taking too long. 'No redrafting can take two years,' says Mathe. DOJ official Ashika Singh came outside to meet the activists. She said the DOJ would give them a response within three weeks. This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Activists offer to help Justice Department redraft long-delayed Bill to decriminalise sex work
Sex workers and activists set up 'mock desks' outside the department in Cape Town in a call to fast-track the Bill. Sex workers and activists are calling for urgency reviving a bill to decriminalise sex work, which is being drafted for the second time. On Monday, 2 June, members of Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) and the Asijiki Coalition set up desks and chairs outside the offices of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Cape Town. The mock 'help desk' was meant to represent sex workers and the DOJ drafting the bill together, with the seat reserved for the DOJ left empty. A large sign at the desk read: 'Sex workers are here to help you to redraft the bill.' 'Maybe they will come down and draft the Bill with us,' said Lloyd Rugara, provincial coordinator for the Sisonke National Sex Work Movement. It's been two years since the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill of 2022 was withdrawn and sent back to be revised. In May 2023 state law advisers raised concerns about the Bill's lack of regulation, according to former deputy minister John Jeffery. The new deputy minister, Andries Nel, has since taken office. Sex worker organisations have demanded a clear timeframe for the Bill's implementation, consultations with sex workers, and the prioritisation of the 'long-delayed reform'. Constance Mathe, national coordinator at Asijiki, said that since funding cuts from USAID caused sex worker-friendly clinics to close down, sex workers have struggled to access health services at public facilities. They face stigma and long waiting hours at clinics and hospitals, she says. Mathe says the Bill would mean sex workers would be recognised under labour laws and would have safer working conditions. Mathe also raised concerns about the lack of consultation with sex workers during the second drafting of the Bill, saying the drafting process was taking too long. 'No redrafting can take two years,' she said. DOJ official Ashika Singh went outside to meet the activists. She said the department would give them a response within three weeks. DM
eNCA
6 days ago
- eNCA
Police claims syndicate behind Olorato Mongale murder
JOHANNESBURG - The net is closing in for the suspects believed to be behind the murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, whose body was found dumped in Lombadry West on Monday. It has now been revealed that she may not be the only victim. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says they are now investigating a possible syndicate that targets young women under the pretense of pursuing a love interest. "They propose to this young woman usually in malls, request to take them out on dates, and when they agree, that is when they plan to rob them," Mathe says. On Thursday, police confirmed that they had added a third person to the list of wanted suspects for the murder of Mongale. An elderly man has recently been arrested after the VW Polo allegedly used in the crime was found in Phoenix, Durban. According to Mathe, two of the three arrested suspects are linked to other crimes dating back to April this year. She says the men had been arrested and charged with kidnapping and robbery, but when they appeared in court, they were granted bail.
The Herald
6 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Family pleads with public to help police find Olorato Mongale's killers
'Some of the belongings of the victim, including a phone and a handbag, were found abandoned on 9th Road in Kew. Her body was found less than two hours later, around 4.50pm in Lombardy West by police with the help of community members.' Detectives said they are investigating the possibility that the man, who called himself 'John', was with another man when Mongale was killed. Mathe said a similar case, involving the murder of a 39-year-old woman whose body was found in Catherine Street in Sandown, Sandton, on May 8, is also under investigation by Gauteng police. Earlier this month, police arrested a man who was targeting women on Facebook using a fake profile and identity. The 24-year-old man is in custody pending trial on a charge of kidnapping and rape. He allegedly lured a 28-year-old woman from Gauteng to Limpopo under false pretences and raped her repeatedly. She was later rescued by police at a filling station in Giyani. 'While police investigating teams are on the ground on the Olorato Mongale case and several other cases of gender-based violence and femicide, we are urging women to be extra vigilant. Women are also urged to always report their whereabouts to friends and family when meeting new friends or going on dates. Meet only in public spaces,' Mathe said. Kananda urged society to come together to ensure the safety and dignity of all women, and to demand accountability for those who perpetrate violence. 'Olorato was a bright light in our lives, and we are committed to ensuring that her memory lives on. That she is remembered not as a statistic but as Olorato Mongale, who changed how the country responds to gender-based violence and femicide.' TimesLIVE
