Latest news with #Nyuswa
TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Former attorney swindled clients out of R4.1m in accident fund payouts
A Mpumalanga attorney has been found guilty of theft after stealing Road Accident Fund payouts from her clients. On Thursday, the Mpumalanga specialised commercial crimes' court sitting in Middelburg convicted the former attorney, Mantladi Jo-Anne Mmela, 43, on four counts of theft. According to NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, the woman was practising as a sole practitioner for Mmela Attorneys when the crimes were committed between June 2019 and March 2022. 'The accused lodged claims against the Road Accident Fund (RAF) on behalf of her clients which were subsequently paid out. The money was paid by the RAF into the trust account of Mmela Incorporated Attorneys for the benefit of her clients, totalling more than R4.1m,' Nyuswa said. However, it appears Mmela never paid the money to her clients. Nyuswa said one of the victims reported that Mmela had failed to pay her. The investigation ensued and led to Mmela's arrest in 2022. She was granted bail and absconded, which resulted in a warrant of arrest being issued. Mmela was rearrested in February 2024 and has been in custody since. 'During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty and senior state advocate Henry Nxumalo presented evidence from the witnesses. The accused was convicted on four counts of theft, and the matter was postponed to August 21 2025 for sentencing in the same court,' Nyuswa said. She said the NPA welcomes the conviction as a significant step in the fight against theft of trust monies by attorneys. 'The NPA remains committed to fighting financial crimes in ensuring that those who deprive claimants of their monies are prosecuted,' she said.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- The Citizen
Ermelo Court sentences man to life imprisonment for rape of seven-year-old boy
Ermelo Court sentences man to life imprisonment for rape of seven-year-old boy A 41-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old boy in the Ermelo Regional Court on Friday, June 20. According to the National Prosecuting Authority's regional chairperson, Monica Nyuswa, on July 2023, the accused went to his friend's house where he was residing with the victim and requested to sleep as he was intoxicated. ALSO READ: Nkomazi court sentences rapist to 12 years in jail 'The accused shared the room with the victim and his father slept in a separate room. While sleeping, the accused undressed the minor boy and raped him. The victim screamed asking for help and the accused fled the scene. 'The victim was taken to Ermelo Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical examination and psychosocial support,' Nyuswa said. The accused was traced and arrested the same day at Mazakhele Section in Ermelo. Nuyswa said in court the accused claimed that he was intoxicated and denied raping the victim. Prosecutor Chané Rothman led credible evidence of the victim who testified using intermediary services. The victim's father also testified. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga police looking for family of man found dead in Vaalbank 'A medical report confirming injuries to the victim's private parts was presented in court. The accused was found guilty as charged.' Nyuswa said in aggravation of sentence, Rothman argued for the prescribed minimum sentence of life to be imposed on the accused, emphasising that the accused's behaviour warranted a strong societal message. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape. The court declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm, unsuitable to work with children and ordered his name entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
News24
25-04-2025
- News24
Kruger Park rhino poacher sentenced to 20 years in prison
A convicted rhino poacher has been sentenced for a 2020 Kruger National Park incident. His sentence amounts to an effective 20 years of direct imprisonment. The man was rearrested in 2023 after absconding after his initial arrest in 2020. The Skukuza Regional Court sentenced a convicted Kruger National Park rhino poacher on Thursday to 20 years of direct imprisonment. Nelson Sandile Sambo, a 43-year-old Mozambican national, was arrested on 2 December 2020, according to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa. "Field rangers of Skukuza heard gunshots around the Stolzneck Section and started searching. They found Sambo and Gabriel Chauke in possession of fresh rhino horns, a firearm and ammunition. Field rangers continued their search and discovered two rhino carcasses closer to where the accused were apprehended," Nyuswa said. Sambo and Chauke were granted bail and later absconded. Sambo was rearrested in 2023 and later pleaded guilty. He was convicted of seven charges, including trespassing, killing a rhino, and possession of a firearm. Chauke is still at large. In aggravation of sentence, prosecutor Lot Mgiba presented DNA evidence linking the two men to the rhino carcasses, as well as evidence showing that the bullet was fired from a firearm found in the accused's possession. Sambo was sentenced to 35 years in total, but some sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 20 years. Nyuswa said: The NPA welcomes the sentence and reaffirms its commitment to holding offenders accountable and protecting South Africa's wildlife for future generations. News24 previously reported that rhino poaching in South Africa had decreased, with 420 rhinos killed between January and December last year - a decline from the 499 poached in 2023. It was the lowest number of rhino poaching cases since 2020, when 394 rhinos were killed. Of the 420 rhinos, 320 were killed on state properties, and 100 were killed on privately owned parks, reserves or farms. The hardest-hit province continues to be KwaZulu-Natal, losing 232 rhinos in 2024 - a decline from the 325 that were lost in 2023.
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- The Citizen
Child (11) raped, father jailed for life by Mpumalanga court
A 35-year-old Mozambican man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of his 11-year-old daughter. Lowvelder reports that the accused, who cannot be named to protect the child, was sentenced by the Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court yesterday. According to the National Prosecuting Authority's regional chairperson, Monica Nyuswa, the court also ordered his name to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders, declared him unfit to work with children, and prohibited him from possessing a firearm. 'The accused and the victim lived together in Clau-Clau Trust in KaBokweni. Before the assaults, he made disturbing remarks to his daughter, claiming he did not 'bear her to be penetrated by other men'. 'In November 2018, he began raping her and threatened her so she would remain silent. The abuse came to light when the victim's mother noticed behavioural changes in her daughter, prompting her to alert the police. The accused was subsequently arrested,' says Nyuswa. She adds that the accused pleaded not guilty, deflecting blame onto a family friend and the victim's brother. The state prosecutor, Leana Jones, presented compelling evidence, including the victim's testimony detailing one instance in which the accused raped her on the kitchen table. 'The victim's mother and brother corroborated her account, and a medical report substantiated the assault. During the trial, it emerged that the accused had threatened the family from prison, further intimidating them. Magistrate Vanessa Joubert found the state's witnesses credible and reliable, rejecting the accused's version,' Nyuswa says. She adds that in aggravation of sentence, Jones argued that the accused showed no remorse and was unfit for rehabilitation. She emphasised the devastating impact on the victim, who suffered a decline in school performance and faced community stigma as 'a child who sleeps with her father'. Jones urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, noting the betrayal of familial trust and the harm to the entire family. Joubert agreed, finding no substantial or compelling reasons to deviate from the minimum sentence, and the accused was sentenced to life. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- The Citizen
Nelspruit court sentences man for raping his daughter
A 35-year-old Mozambican man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of his 11-year-old daughter. The accused, who cannot be named to protect the child, was sentenced by the Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court on Tuesday, April 22. According to the National Prosecuting Authority's regional chairperson, Monica Nyuswa, the court also ordered his name to be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders, declared him unfit to work with children, and prohibited him from possessing a firearm. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga SAPS probe Curro Nelspruit rape allegations 'The accused and the victim lived together in Clau-Clau Trust in KaBokweni. Before the assaults, he made disturbing remarks to his daughter, claiming he did not 'bear her to be penetrated by other men'. 'In November 2018, he began raping her and threatened her so she would remain silent. The abuse came to light when the victim's mother noticed behavioural changes in her daughter, prompting her to alert the police. The accused was subsequently arrested,' said Nyuswa. She also said the accused pleaded not guilty, deflecting blame onto a family friend and the victim's brother. The state prosecutor, Leana Jones, presented compelling evidence, including the victim's testimony detailing one instance in which the accused raped her on the kitchen table. ALSO READ: Barberton rapist sentenced to life imprisonment 'The victim's mother and brother corroborated her account, and a medical report substantiated the assault. During the trial, it emerged that the accused had threatened the family from prison, further intimidating them. Magistrate Vanessa Joubert found the State's witnesses credible and reliable, rejecting the accused's version,' Nyuswa said. She added that in aggravation of sentence, Jones argued that the accused showed no remorse and was unfit for rehabilitation. She emphasised the devastating impact on the victim, who suffered a decline in school performance and faced community stigma as 'a child who sleeps with her father'. Jones urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, noting the betrayal of familial trust and the harm to the entire family. Joubert agreed, finding no substantial or compelling reasons to deviate from the minimum sentence and the accused was sentenced to life. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
