Latest news with #Mbambo
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Man sentenced for manipulating and sharing images of Ramaphosa
The suspect manipulated images of Ramaphosa and other high profile individuals by superimposing their faces onto pornographic content. A 37-year-old man has been convicted and sentenced for multiple contraventions of the Cybercrimes Act after he downloaded images of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other high-profile individuals, manipulating them and sharing them on social media platforms. Scebi Thabiso Nene appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court last week, where he was convicted and sentenced. The conviction stems from incidents occurring between September 2022 and May 2023. Downloading images Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said Nene unlawfully downloaded images of high-profile individuals, including Ramaphosa, a former Minister of police (Bheki Cele) and his spouse, and a former National Commissioner of the South African Police Service. 'He manipulated these images by superimposing their faces onto pornographic content and subsequently distributed the altered images via WhatsApp and official Presidency email channels'. ALSO READ: Hawks arrest suspect for making threats against President Cyril Ramaphosa Arrest Mbambo said the matter was reported to the police and a case docket was handed over to the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Gauteng for investigation. 'Nene was traced and arrested in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. He initially appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates' Court, after which the case was transferred to the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court'. Nene was sentenced to five years direct imprisonment for counts 1 to 67 (Cyber Forgery) and three years direct imprisonment for counts 68 to 254 (Cyber Uttering and Disclosure of Intimate Data) 'The court ruled that the sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective five-year direct imprisonment term,' Mambo said. Threats against Ramaphosa Last week, a 28-year-old suspect was arrested in Gauteng for making threats against Ramaphosa. The suspect was arrested and led away handcuffed in Germiston on Friday by the Hawks' Crime Against The State (CATS) unit, which is part of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation based in Gauteng. Mbambo said the arrest followed a case reported earlier this month. Other threats 'On Monday, 12 May 2025, a complainant, who is the CEO of a Cape Town based company, allegedly received a voice message from the suspect, in which threats were made against the President of South Africa. 'The suspect is also alleged to have sent multiple threatening messages targeting the complainant, her family and the mayor of Cape Town,' Mbambo said. Mbambo added that the matter was reported to the Cape Town based Hawks' CATS team. The man is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Monday, 26 May 2025, where he will face a charge of intimidation. ALSO READ: Instagram makes all teen accounts private in push for child safety [VIDEO]
IOL News
12-05-2025
- IOL News
Man in court for impersonating Hawks chief and scamming R100,000
Thabo Theletsane appeared before the Hatfield Magistrates court on charges of impersonating a police officer. A 42-year-old man appeared in the Hatfield Magistrates court on charges of fraud and impersonating the national head of Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya. Thabo Theletsane appeared on Monday after he was arrested on Saturday, May 10, 2025, by the National Serious Corruption Investigation of the Hawks in Petrus Steyn in the Free State. Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, said in October, Theletsane allegedly contacted a prominent businessman residing in Gauteng via WhatsApp, falsely claiming to be Lieutenant General Lebeya. "Using a profile picture and personal details resembling those of Lieutenant General Lebeya, the accused deceived the victim. It is alleged that the accused claimed that the mobile phone of the victim had been hacked and, under the pretext of assisting with a security breach, requested the victim's personal information," said Mbambo. Mbambo added that the victim believed that he was in communication with Lieutenant General Lebeya and provided Theletsane with his personal details and contact information of close associates. "The accused later solicited money, claiming to have successfully de-bugged the victim's mobile devices. An amount of more than R100,000 was subsequently paid by the victim," said Mbambo.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- IOL News
Man appears in court for impersonating Hawks boss and scamming businessman over R100, 000
Thabo Theletsane appeared before the Hatfield Magistrates court on charges of impersonating a police officer. A 42-year-old man appeared in the Hatfield Magistrates court on charges of fraud and impersonating the national head of Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya. Thabo Theletsane appeared on Monday after he was arrested on Saturday, May 10, 2025, by the National Serious Corruption Investigation of the Hawks in Petrus Steyn in the Free State. Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, said in October, Theletsane allegedly contacted a prominent businessman residing in Gauteng via WhatsApp, falsely claiming to be Lieutenant General Lebeya. "Using a profile picture and personal details resembling those of Lieutenant General Lebeya, the accused deceived the victim. It is alleged that the accused claimed that the mobile phone of the victim had been hacked and, under the pretext of assisting with a security breach, requested the victim's personal information," said Mbambo. Mbambo added that the victim believed that he was in communication with Lieutenant General Lebeya and provided Theletsane with his personal details and contact information of close associates. "The accused later solicited money, claiming to have successfully de-bugged the victim's mobile devices. An amount of more than R100,000 was subsequently paid by the victim," said Mbambo.
The Citizen
10-05-2025
- The Citizen
Are you the real Godfrey Lebeya? Fake Hawks head extorts more than R100k
The prominent businessman, who resides in Gauteng, was told his phone had been hacked, with the fake Lebeya offering to help. A scammer pretending to be Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya has been arrested after extorting more than R100 000 from an associate of a prominent SA businessman. Police say the 41-year-old suspect used 'a profile picture and personal details resembling those of Lebeya' and allegedly reached out to the well-known businessman on WhatsApp. The businessman, who resides in Gauteng, was told his phone had been hacked, before the fake Lebeya offered to help. 'Believing that he was communicating with the real National Head of the Hawks, the victim provided personal details and contact information of close associates,' Police spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said in a statement. Mbambo told The Citizen that the suspect later reached out to at least one of the associates and solicited money by telling them that they had their personal details. The associate made several payments to the scammer in response, totalling more than R100 000.00″. The extortionist was arrested on Saturday in Petrus Steyn, Free State, on charges of fraud and impersonating a police officer. They will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Monday, 12 May. ALSO READ: Beware of these Musk and Ramaphosa scams Public plea from the real Lebeya The real Lebeya said he was happy his impersonator had been caught, and urged those who had been tricked to come forward. 'The community is warned against making payments to police officers as they are not authorised to solicit money for services rendered,' added Mbambo. NOW READ: Beware, South Africa: WhatsApp scams you need to avoid
IOL News
10-05-2025
- IOL News
Suspect arrested for impersonating Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya
The suspect was impersonating Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya. Image: Fikile Marakalla/GCIS A man was arrested in the Free State on Saturday on charges of fraud and impersonating a police officer. The 42-year-old man was arrested for specifically impersonating the National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya. Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, confirmed the arrest and stated the suspect was trying to extort a businessman. 'In October 2024, the suspect allegedly contacted a prominent South African businessman residing in Gauteng via WhatsApp, falsely claiming to be Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, the National Head of the Hawks.' 'Using a profile picture and personal details resembling those of Lieutenant General Lebeya, the suspect deceived the victim. It is alleged that the suspect claimed that the mobile phone of the victim had been hacked and, under the pretext of assisting with a security breach, requested the victim's personal information,' Mbambo said. The businessman, who believed he was indeed communicating with the National Head of the Hawks, provided his personal details and contact information of close associates. 'The suspect later solicited money, claiming to have successfully 'de-bugged' the victim's mobile devices. An amount that is more than R100,000 was subsequently paid by the victim,' Mbambo said.
