Latest news with #Ntabazalila
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Parolee disguised as woman kills farmer for cash, gets life in jail
A man who disguised himself as a Muslim woman while out on parole and murdered an elderly farmer for insurance money has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Oudtshoorn regional court in the Klein Karoo. The sentence was handed down after the state successfully argued that Francisco Erasmus had planned to kill Abraham Herandien, with financial gain being the motive. Herandien and his wife lived at Bloupunt Farm outside Oudtshoorn. They met Erasmus in 2019 and he would bring food to the couple. 'He took them to different banks in Oudtshoorn and George to open bank accounts and apply for life policies. He and the deceased's wife were beneficiaries of some of the deceased's policies. He also kept their bank cards and documents,' said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila on Tuesday. He rented a vehicle in George on March 21 2023 and drove to fetch the couple. The victim's wife saw the driver was covered by black clothing, with only the eyes visible. The couple were told the person would help with a Sassa grant application and they drove off. Provincial traffic officers found the car next to Dysselsdorp Road, facing towards Oudtshoorn. The number plates were obscured by dirt. They pulled the car over when it drove off. 'The accused got out of the vehicle and was dressed in Muslim women's clothing with only his eyes visible. The traffic officers who testified as state witnesses found the injured elderly man in the passenger seat. They noticed blood on the door of the passenger side as well as inside the vehicle. Herandien had been stabbed. They asked him who had stabbed him, and he pointed at the accused, ' said Ntabazalila. The traffic officers led the vehicle to a roadblock, where the driver was arrested. The stabbed farmer was then declared deceased. 'Police found a knife blade in the vehicle, a makeup kit, a lady's bra, contact lens holders, syringes and black material in a bag. It was evident that the accused wanted to hide his identity,' said Ntabazalila. Erasmus was convicted of premeditated murder, and the state asked for life, arguing he could not be rehabilitated. 'He was on parole when he committed the murder, and he is currently serving the rest of his previous sentence of 32 years, of which five years are left,' said Ntabazalila. Previous convictions include: theft (1992); two counts of attempted murder (1999); two counts of robbery (1999); four counts of possession of an illegal firearm and possession of illegal ammunition (1999); malicious property damage (1999); assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (1999); theft (1999); escape or attempt to escape from custody (1999); and reckless and negligent driving (1999). 'The offences were committed in the Eastern Cape, where the accused and three others shot at police in Steytlerville. They fled the scene, and police arrested them in Beaufort-West. Police took them to Correctional Services in Steytlerville. They asked the head of the prison to make a call, assaulted him, took firearms from the safe and escaped from prison. Police arrested them later,' added Ntabazalila. In her victim impact statement, the farmer's wife said they had been together for 42 years, since the ages of 17 and 19.
The Herald
5 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Student jailed for life over fatal stabbing of girlfriend in George
'Regional court prosecutor advocate Karin Barnard declined [Mahlanza's] guilty plea as his claims were not the true version of what happened. Barnard told the court the student assistant had to use a spare key to open the door and when he opened it, [Mahlanza] was still bent over the deceased, stabbing her, and he had to dive to remove him from the deceased,' said Ntabazalila. Barnard argued he did not plead guilty out of remorse but rather as a strategy to try to lessen his punishment. 'The probation officer's report indicates that this court is dealing with an aggressive offender. Domestic violence has become such a huge problem. Like other men before him, finding themselves in the same situation, anger is being given the blame. The victim is being blamed. Everything other than themselves,' she said. ' This is a serious crime he is convicted of. Not only was it committed against a young female victim, 20, but also a victim who was in a romantic relationship with him. 'It was committed on the property of a tertiary institution where young people come to study and develop their skills to not only better their own lives but in most cases also that of their families. When parents enrol their children in these institutions, which are mostly far from their family home, they trust their children will be safe. ' Society should be protected against [Mahlanza] and his problem with aggression. The court has a legal duty to protect society.' The court agreed with the state and imposed a life sentence. Western Cape director of public prosecutions advocate Nicolette Bell said: 'Our society has a huge challenge of gender-based violence and femicide. This is affecting young people and young women at institutions of higher learning are being affected. It can never be overemphasised how important human life is and therefore we will be vigorous in our pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers.' TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
23-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Charges provisionally withdrawn against '28s gang boss' and ex housing MMC in R1bn housing tender case
The prosecution provisionally withdrew fraud charges on Friday against alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and former human settlements MMC Malusi Booi linked to R1bn worth of tenders related to housing in Cape Town. Stanfield was charged with his wife Nicole Johnson, Booi, and several others. The group was arrested in September and Booi was granted R250,000 bail. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said provincial director of public prosecutions advocate Nicollette Bell provisionally withdrew the charges 'pending the finalisation of an investigation on newfound evidence against them'. 'Advocate Bell also provisionally withdrew the charges against Suraya Manuel, Muhammed Amod, Randal Mullins, Brenda Mullins, Thuli Imgib, Nomvuyo Mnyaka, Lorna Ndoda, Siphokazi September, Kyle Stanfield, Barbara Johnson and Pakamisa Nondabula,' he said. 'Police discovered new evidence during their investigation, and it is apposite at this stage to provisionally withdraw the 16 commercial charges against the accused pending the finalisation of the investigation stemming from the newfound evidence. The state will reinstate the charges once the investigation has been finalised.' Ntabazalila said Stanfield, Johnson, Johannes Abrahams, Denver Booysen, Jose Brandt, Jonathan Cloete, Shakeel Pelston, Imtiyaas Sedick, Warren Lee Dennis, Michael Morris, Chevonne McNabb, Sharazaadt Essop, Brandon Cornelius and Keithan Gardiner would be indicted in the high court in Cape Town for alleged gang-related offences including allegedly contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Ntabazalila said this related to the murders of city official Wendy Kloppers, Rashied Staggie, William Stevens, Faizel Adams and Ismail Abrahams. Kloppers was shot at a housing development site in February 2023. Staggie was an infamous gang boss. He was killed outside his Salt River home, in Cape Town, in 2019 shortly after his release from prison. His twin brother, Rashaad, with whom he founded the notorious Hard Livings gang, was killed on the same street more than 20 years ago. 'The court postponed the case against the remaining accused until July 14 to ensure the state has provided all further particulars to the defence before the case is transferred to the high court for a pretrial conference on November 7,' said Ntabazalila.
IOL News
28-04-2025
- IOL News
Justice served: Ex-cop receives 25-year sentence for raping 15-year-old girl
It took nine years to convict the former warrant officer. The incident took place in Montagu in August 2016 and was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). Image: Independent Newspapers Disgraced ex-police officer, Frederick Soldaat, who was convicted last month for the rape of a 15-year-old girl has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. It took nine years to convict the former warrant officer. The incident took place in Montagu in August 2016 and was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). He also resigned from the police service in 2017. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the Montagu Regional Court has sentenced Soldaat to 25 years direct imprisonment after the court deviated from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment due to the accused's medical condition. 'During the trial, State Advocate Heinrich Koert led evidence which revealed that the victim's mother brought the victim to the trauma room following a disagreement with her daughter at home. 'The mother requested the police to assist by taking her to the police station so that she could calm down,' Ntabazalila said. 'Soldaat was one of the police officers who initially attended the complaint. Police took the victim to the station and booked her into the trauma room, where the accused had to complete an admission form containing, amongst others, the age of the complainant being fifteen at the time. 'He later visited her at least twice while she was in the trauma room. 'He claimed that the victim complimented the colour of his eyes. She initially did not resist, but when he started removing her pants, she then resisted, but he overpowered her. He then raped her in the trauma room. He left her after he finished raping her.' The victim went home the next morning and then reported her rape to her mother. Her mother contacted the police, who resumed their investigation. The victim pointed out the accused, and the police arrested him. 'The state opposed bail, but the court granted him bail. The accused claimed the sexual encounter took place by consent, and he was unaware of the victim's age.' Ntabazalila said the case faced challenges before it could be finalised, which included it being in the branch court, which only sits once a week, the accused changing his legal representatives, causing delays as transcripts had to be typed, and allowing preparation time for his legal representative. 'Loadshedding, the Covid-19 pandemic, and challenges with the CCTV system and the court recording systems caused some of the delays.
IOL News
27-04-2025
- IOL News
Disgraced ex-police officer sentenced to 25 years for raping 15-year-old teen
It took nine years to convict the former warrant officer. The incident took place in Montagu in August 2016 and was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). Image: Independent Newspapers Disgraced ex-police officer, Frederick Soldaat, who was convicted last month for the rape of a 15-year-old girl has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. It took nine years to convict the former warrant officer. The incident took place in Montagu in August 2016 and was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). He also resigned from the police service in 2017. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the Montagu Regional Court has sentenced Soldaat to 25 years direct imprisonment after the court deviated from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment due to the accused's medical condition. 'During the trial, State Advocate Heinrich Koert led evidence which revealed that the victim's mother brought the victim to the trauma room following a disagreement with her daughter at home. 'The mother requested the police to assist by taking her to the police station so that she could calm down,' Ntabazalila said. 'Soldaat was one of the police officers who initially attended the complaint. Police took the victim to the station and booked her into the trauma room, where the accused had to complete an admission form containing, amongst others, the age of the complainant being fifteen at the time. 'He later visited her at least twice while she was in the trauma room. 'He claimed that the victim complimented the colour of his eyes. She initially did not resist, but when he started removing her pants, she then resisted, but he overpowered her. He then raped her in the trauma room. He left her after he finished raping her.' The victim went home the next morning and then reported her rape to her mother. Her mother contacted the police, who resumed their investigation. The victim pointed out the accused, and the police arrested him. 'The state opposed bail, but the court granted him bail. The accused claimed the sexual encounter took place by consent, and he was unaware of the victim's age.' Ntabazalila said the case faced challenges before it could be finalised, which included it being in the branch court, which only sits once a week, the accused changing his legal representatives, causing delays as transcripts had to be typed, and allowing preparation time for his legal representative. 'Loadshedding, the Covid-19 pandemic, and challenges with the CCTV system and the court recording systems caused some of the delays.
