Latest news with #R2-million
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- The Citizen
Law enforcement agencies recover valuable stolen Pretoria vehicles
Vehicles reported stolen in Pretoria and Germiston, along with luxury goods, were recovered in Limpopo by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and police. The vehicles were intercepted while allegedly en route to being smuggled out of the country. Joint Tactical Headquarters Limpopo successfully recovered the luxury vehicles and Adalya Premium Hookah Tobacco (hubbly) with an estimated total value exceeding R2-million Captain Moses Semono from the SANDF said during a routine foot patrol between Echo Station 1 and Sediba sa Tau (Lion's Well), members of the 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment intercepted a Ford Ranger V6 Double Cab valued at R849 500 and a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid GR valued at R540 000. 'Upon further investigation with the assistance of Operation 'Vala Umgodi' and Police, it was discovered that the Ford Ranger had been reported stolen in Germiston and the Toyota Corolla Cross in Brooklyn, Pretoria.' Semono said separately, another Toyota Corolla Cross valued at R460 000 was confiscated after being abandoned by suspects in the Limpopo River. 'This vehicle was also found to be stolen from Brooklyn and but is registered to Nestlé South Africa in the North West Province.' Somono said further efforts at the Malala turn-off road, with the support of Kawai Tracker Company, led to the recovery of another Toyota Corolla Cross valued at R561 700. 'The suspects involved fled on foot across the Limpopo River and abandoned the vehicle,' Semono said. He said additionally, at Echo Station 3, members successfully confiscated Adalya Premium Hookah Tobacco (hubbly) assorted flavours valued at R54 500. 'All the recovered vehicles and tobacco have been handed over to the police for further processing.' Commanding officer of Joint Tactical Headquarters Limpopo, Colonel Dikgabane Herold Tladi, expressed his commendation to law enforcement members for their outstanding work. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Eyewitness News
26-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Mchunu says no sight of letter from fake doctor Lani demanding R2m payout over 'unlawful arrest'
JOHANNESBURG - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says he hasn't had sight of a letter from controversial social media content creator Matthew Lani demanding a R2-million payout for what he says was his unlawful arrest. Lani was arrested at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, in October 2023, following a social media frenzy about his qualifications. He made headlines for parading as a medical doctor, giving unsolicited medical advice on TikTok. Wits University dismissed claims he was a graduate at the institution's medical school, while the health department confirmed he hadn't completed matric. Publication, City Press says a letter of demand dated 21 May has been served by Matthew Lani's lawyers to Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu. According to the publication, the demand for the money is listed as compensation for damages for his alleged assault and what Lani believes was an unlawful arrest. The letter was also directed at national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, giving them both 30 days to respond. Mchunu addressed the reports while on 702's Nguni programme, Siyaxoxa ku-702 . 'It may be that the letter has arrived at my office and has been referred. It has to through a number of internal processes, including being submitted to the legal department, before it arrives in my hands. It may be that the office has received it. I will deal with it once it has landed on my desk.' Last year, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decided not to prosecute Lani for impersonating a medical doctor, citing a lack of evidence.
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Snaith sextet top entries for Daily News 2000
Two-time Grade 1 winner Eight On Eighteen heads up field for R2m race. Runners from the Justin Snaith stable dominate the entry for the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. There are 11 runners entered in the R2-million race for three-year-olds and six of them come from Snaith Racing. Of course, leading the sextet is Cape Town Met and Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen, who is likely to go off as a hot favourite for this race. The Lancaster Bomber colt had a perfect warm-up for this race when finishing a 0.60-length second behind stable companion Sail The Seas in the Grade 2 WSB Guineas over 1600m at this course. Interestingly, Snaith has already declared three of his runners for the race and other than Eight On Eighteen, he has Native Ruler with JP van der Merwe up and Makazole, to be ridden by Andrew Fortune. Once again, Richard Fourie will be on Eight On Eighteen. ALSO READ: Callan puts Dave back on throne Another runner of interest is Fabian Habib-trained Confederate, who has not been seen in action since winning the Grade 2-1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on 1 March. He kept going resolutely to hold off Fire Attack, who went on to win the Grade 1 Premier's Champion Challenge four weeks later, by 0.70 lengths. Also run at the meeting will be the Grade 2 Tote Woolavington 2000, which is no longer restricted to three-year-olds and is open to all fillies and mares. Spumante Dolce, winner of the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, has been entered to run in both races and it will be interesting to see which of the two trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock choose. This race has got a strong entry of 19 runners so that should be quite a competitive event. ALSO READ: Local jockeys good enough for world league Entries for the R2-million Daily News 2000 (Grade 1) over 2000m 5 CONFEDERATE (F P Habib) 60.0 11 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (J S Snaith) 60.0 4 FIELD MARSHAL (F Robinson) 60.0 2 GRAN CANARIA (J S Snaith) 60.0 7 MAKAZOLE (J S Snaith) 60.0 3 NATIVE RULER (J S Snaith) 60.0 1 OKAVANGO (J S Snaith) 60.0 9 ON MY HONOUR (G S Kotzen) 60.0 10 PARISIAN WALKWAY (A G Laird) 60.0 12 REGULATION (J S Snaith) 60.0 6 SPUMANTE DOLCE (M/M de Kock) 57.5 Entries for the R500,000 Tote Woolavington 2000 (Grade 2) (Fillies & Mares) over 2000m
Daily Maverick
14-05-2025
- Daily Maverick
Intercape bus attacks not investigated because ‘the wrong forms were filled in'
Members of the Portfolio Committee on the Police were left speechless when they were told that there was an affidavit under oath from the police stating that they were not investigating attacks on the Intercape buses as organised crime because 'the company didn't fill in the right forms'. In a revelation that left members of the Portfolio Committee on the Police shocked and speechless, advocate Kate Hofmeyr SC, representing the Intercape bus company, said they were told that crimes against the company, now topping 200, could not be investigated as organised crime because they had not filled in the right form. Most of the attacks occurred in the Eastern and Western Cape. She said Intercape had won all its cases against the police, and the taxpayer had to foot a bill of R2-million for the company's legal bills alone. But she added that despite having won eight cases against the police, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Department of Transport, among others, 'every one of them are in contempt of court'. 'We are sitting with an impossible situation,' she said. There had been cases opened for 46 buses that were stoned and 103 cases of intimidation, of which 15 occurred at the company's headquarters in Cape Town. All the evidence gathered by Intercape — including dashcam videos from the buses — were been handed over to the police. 'It is shocking and unforgivable that the police have had these videos for much longer than three years but there have been no arrests.' Other evidence handed over to the police, she said, included a picture of taxi owners having a meeting that included a whiteboard on which an elaborate price-fixing scheme had been planned, indicating who would have to pay to use the routes, along with the bank accounts into which deposits were made, evidence of recordings and of vehicle registrations. 'Despite this for three years nothing was done,' she said. 'Sustained pattern of organised crime' She added that when the litigation started Intercape had 165 cases, but this had now increased to more than 200. Hofmeyr said these cases should not be seen in isolation, but should rather be investigated as a sustained pattern of organised crime. 'When Intercape was forced to litigate,' she said, 'it was met with staggering opposition from the SAPS.' She said the most staggering of these was a statement, made under oath as part of court papers, that the representatives of Intercape had not filled in the right form when they opened the charges, and should have used the one that was headed 'Organised Crime'. To provide a further example of investigations being blocked by the police, it handed over four registration numbers of people who were intimidating a bus driver in the Eastern Cape to the police in May 2022. 'The police told us the registration numbers belonged to taxi owners. They visited the taxi rank and also obtained statements. Nothing has happened in that case since then.' In another case, she pointed out, a decision by a prosecutor had been pending since May 2023. 'It wasn't enough for the police to be given everything,' she said. She added that her client needed the police's intervention urgently. 'The unfortunate news is that this situation is not getting better. As recently as last month we recorded more incidents.' She added that after adding routes in Mpumalanga and Limpopo the police have been seen watching how people threatened and intimidated bus drivers and did nothing to arrest anyone. After an incident in Phalaborwa the police also phoned Intercape to tell it not to operate on that route before talking to the taxi companies as it was 'beyond the police's control'. The MPs hearing Hofmeyr's submissions were shocked. 'I am disgusted to think I am part of this system,' the EFF's Eugene Mthethwa said. 'Before 1994 when we saw a police van we ran away, even if we did nothing wrong. It seems that now there is no fear.' He said the police's 'modus operandi' of refusing to open cases also took place under other instances. 'The Department of Justice must also come to explain,' he said. 'Why are they always using this policy, this red tape as an excuse?' he asked. 'I am disgraced and flabbergasted.' The Democratic Alliance's Lisa-Maré Schikerling was equally shocked. 'I am at a loss for words,' she said. As was the ACDP's Reverend Kenneth Meshoe. 'Heartbreaking' 'What we have seen and heard is heartbreaking and depressing. I am angry,' he said. 'This is a lawless country where even the police are not taking orders from the court. We need to do something.' Makashule Gana from Rise Mzanzi said the police's lack of action made it seem that the state was weak. 'That video is horrifying. Why are we allowing attacks like that?' he asked. Glen Taaibosch from the MK party said he did not even know where to begin. 'The SAPS must come clean. There is something here that isn't right. I used to be in the taxi industry. Those people are very dangerous.' The Deputy Minister of Police, Polly Boshielo, said they had been grappling with these issues. The police in their representation did not deny the allegations about the form not being filled in, but said they have tried their best to engage in preventive policing on the bus routes. General Godfrey Lebeya from the Hawks said they had a particular mandate and they had reviewed the cases to see which ones they should be investigating. According to the police's list they only had 76 cases, but promised to find the others. The other more than a hundred cases were previously discussed in court papers by the police. Of the 76 cases they looked at, 11 people were arrested. Fourteen cases were withdrawn and 33 were not investigated. These cases included one case of murder, 22 of attempted murder, 34 of intimidation and five of assault. There were 22 cases awaiting a decision from the NPA, the police's presentation showed. DM
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
An 'embarrassment' and a ‘mess': Netball SA taken to task by parliament
The national netball body appeared in front of the portfolio committee just days after World Netball suspended NSA president Cecilia Molokwane. Netball South Africa (NSA) was raked through the coals on Tuesday by the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, with members of parliament criticising the federation for not taking action against its president, Cecilia Molokwane, and for lengthy delays in releasing audited financial reports. The national netball body appeared in front of the portfolio committee for the first time, just days after World Netball suspended Molokwane. 'While we acknowledge the growth and achievements of netball in our country, we also emphasise the importance of good governance, principles and values,' said the portfolio committee chairperson, Joseph McGluwa. 'Unfortunately, netball is currently embroiled in controversy with its president suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing. In short, Netball South Africa is in a mess.' Though the details of Molokwane's suspension remained unclear, World Netball had reacted to complaints it had received from NSA members, and it was believed they revolved around Molokwane leading a 'cabal' which was blocking individuals from standing for positions at upcoming NSA elections. World Netball sent letters to Molokwane, the NSA board and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) stating that she could not have any involvement in the sport for 14 days until a disciplinary process was completed. While NSA had not taken any action against Molokwane, she did not attend the meeting, and NSA vice-president Mami Diale introduced herself as the acting president. Financial concerns Meanwhile, the NSA executive spent much of its time in front of the portfolio committee addressing financial concerns, such as the delayed release of audited financial statements, which included R90 million the federation had received from government over three years to organise the 2023 Netball World Cup held in Cape Town. Grilled on its financial statements from 2023 and 2024, the NSA board was able to explain some of the expenditure but was not able to provide specific details, including how R119,217 was spent on a 'social media influencer' and over R2-million was spent on 'consulting fees'. 'It's an embarrassment and an indictment on us as South Africans… and we are going to ensure accountability and transparency, especially in lieu of the fact that these are public funds,' said committee member Shameemah Salie. The NSA executive agreed to come back at a later stage to provide detailed explanations on its expenses in recent years. Head coach selection The netball body was also asked why it had appointed Jenny van Dyk as Proteas head coach last year ahead of black coaches who had also applied for the post. Van Dyk, a former head coach of the SA U-21 team and the Botswana national team, guided the Gauteng Jaguars to five successive titles in the Telkom Netball League between 2017 and 2021. 'We advertised the position and all coaches in this country had the opportunity to apply… but when it comes to coaching it's not always your CV that talks to you,' said Claudine Claassen, NSA director of demarcation and structures. 'You have to know the person can do the job, and we followed vigorous processes because we have set a goal to be one of the top teams in the world and to be on the podium at the 2027 World Cup.'
