Latest news with #R5000
The Citizen
a day ago
- General
- The Citizen
Limpopo couple arrested after alleged kidnapping hoax to extort worried husband
The woman and her partner allegedly staged the crime to scam her husband out of R5000. A Limpopo couple has landed in court for faking a kidnapping to extort R5 000 in ransom from the woman's worried husband. The Limpopo police arrested a 34-year-old woman and her 60-year-old boyfriend, who allegedly faked her own abduction to extort ransom from her husband. The couple appeared before the Seshego Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of kidnapping and extortion. Kidnapping faked to extort R5000 from husband The police described the incident as an 'elaborate deception that traumatised a family and wasted police resources'. On 2 May, a concerned husband reported his wife missing after she failed to arrive at her destination in Garawele Village, Mokopane. The husband had dropped his wife off at the Tibane Crossroad hiking spot in Matlala at about 11am, expecting her to travel to visit family. ALSO READ: Two Cape Town police officers arrested for kidnapping foreign national Troubling ransom calls at police station Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the husband tried to contact his wife, but he couldn't reach her, and her family members confirmed she hadn't arrived at her destination. He suspected foul play and immediately reported the matter to police in Matlala. Ledwaba said the husband received a troubling call from his wife's phone while he was giving his statement to the police. 'An unknown male voice demanded R5000 ransom money, while the sound of a woman crying could be heard in the background,' Ledwaba said. 'The caller abruptly ended the call, only to phone again from a different number with further ransom demands.' A thorough police investigation, however, revealed a shocking twist; there had been no kidnapping. Ledwaba said the wife willingly left with her boyfriend, and the two of them planned the whole scam, including the ransom calls to extort money from the unsuspecting husband. ALSO READ: Are you the real Godfrey Lebeya? Fake Hawks head extorts more than R100k The duo was subsequently arrested and detained at the Matlala Police Station. The provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has issued a stern warning regarding such criminal deception. 'The Saps [South African Police Service] will not tolerate individuals who manipulate family bonds and exploit genuine concern to commit fraud and extortion. This case demonstrates the emotional trauma and resource wastage caused by false reporting and criminal deception,' Hadebe said. Police warn against abusing systems for personal financial gain 'We want to send a clear message that fabricating kidnapping scenarios for financial gain is a serious criminal offence that will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Our officers work tirelessly to investigate genuine missing person cases, and those who abuse this system will face the consequences.' Ledwaba added that the investigating team commended the husband for reporting the matter swiftly, as it enabled the police to uncover the deception before any ransom money was paid. 'The case serves as a reminder to the public to remain vigilant against extortion schemes and to report suspicious demands for money to the nearest police station immediately,' Hadebe said. NOW READ: After years on the run, police finally arrest 'Putin' in Midrand
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- The Citizen
Phala Phala case postponed in regional court
The robbery in which foreign currency to the amount of $580 000 in cash (R10,4 million) was hidden in a sofa, was stolen from Ramaphosa's residence made international headlines. After an initial comprehensive investigation process, Ramaphosa was later cleared of any wrongdoing. The controversial farm theft scandal nearly brought down the president when the news broke. The game farm is situated 43 km west of Bela-Bela in the Waterberg region. The three siblings accused of the robbery back in February of 2020 appeared before the Modimolle Regional Court on Monday with magistrate Peter Manthata presiding over the matter. According to the records, one of the accused, Floriana David, was a housekeeper at the residence of pres. Ramaphosa on his farm outside of Bela-Bela. She allegedly tipped off her brothers, Ndilinasho Joseph David and Imanuwela David, about the obscene amount of foreign currency hidden in a sofa in the residence. The mastermind for the robbery is believed to be Imanuwela David. He is also the only one of the three accused who didn't make bail as he was considered a flight risk. He has been charged with housebreaking, theft, money laundering and conspiracy to break in with the intention of theft. Floriana and Ndilinasho were both charged with conspiracy to break in with the intention of theft. They were granted bail. Floriana's bail was set at R5000 and Ndilinasho's bail was R10 000. Before the accused appeared before the court on Monday, Mashudu Malabi, NPA spokesperson for the Limpopo Division, stated that the defence will apply for a postponement. The presiding officer magistrate Peter Manthata heard the defence's application for postponement on the grounds that accused number two, Floriana David, is not medically fit to testify at present. The court accepted into evidence a doctor's note stating the condition of the accused. The case was then postponed on the grounds of Floriana David being highly pregnant and close to her delivery date. The case will continue before the Modimolle regional court on Monday, 15 September 2025. The court proceedings are planned to last approximately four weeks in total, during which witnesses will also be called to the stand to testify. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
24-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
SASSA grant payment dates for June 2025
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has released the grant payment dates for the month of June 2025. SASSA pays grant to various beneficiaries including the Childcare grant, Old age grant and Disability grant. Here are the SASSA payment dates for June 2025: Old age grant- Tuesday, 3 June 2025 Disabilty grant- Wednesday, 4 June 2025 Childcare grant- Thursday, 5 June 2025 SASSA warns the public of a fake job advertisement circulating on social media platforms. The advertisement says that SASSA is need of a grant administrator and the salary is R21 234. The social agency stated that individuals should visit their website for job vacancies and should avoid misinformation. The Department of Social Development (DSD) has outlined why the SASSA pension cannot be increased to R5000. This comes after the United South Africa (USA) leader Riyad Isaacs submitted a petition to the Minister of Social Development urging the government to raise the SASSA pension. In an open letter submitted to both Social Development Minister and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, Isaacs highlighted issues financial strains that pensioners face. However, the DSD said that the increase would not be feasible since the government has a set amount allocated to pay beneficiaries. 'Currently, approximately 19 million South Africans receive social grants. The government has allocated R284.7 billion for social grants for the 2025/26 financial year. Of these beneficiaries, 4.1 million are older persons who receive R2,315 per month (ages 60–74) or R2,330 per month (ages 75 and older),' explained the DSD. The Department further stated that if the grant is increased to R5000, it would mean that the government would have to allocate R246 billion for the 4.1 million pensioners, excluding other grant beneficiaries. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
19-05-2025
- IOL News
Search for new car ends in tragedy
Four suspects aged between 29 and 42 were arrested on charges of kidnapping, extortion and murder. Image: File THE Hawks have made a breakthrough in their investigation into the kidnapping of a local man who was last seen on his way to view a car he was interested in buying in Bellville before his body was discovered in a shallow grave. Four suspects aged between 29 and 42 were arrested on charges of kidnapping, extortion and murder on Saturday during a multi-disciplinary intelligence-led operation consisting of the Hawks, Provincial Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Hostage Negotiation. The man was allegedly kidnapped in Kraaifontein on May 16. He was last seen by a friend who reported he went to Bellville to view a vehicle he intended to purchase and never came back, said Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi. 'Instead another friend of the victim received a call from the victim reporting that he had been kidnapped and being assaulted. Simultaneously, a ransom of R100 000 for the victim's release was demanded by the suspects. Further phone calls were made by the suspects whereby the ransom was reduced to R10 000.' Vukubi said the suspects subsequently provided a bank account where the money should be deposited into. An amount of R5000 was allegedly deposited to that bank account, but the suspects continued to demand the balance. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ The investigators, upon following up all leads on Saturday, were taken to two addresses in Philippi and Kleinvlei, resulting in the arrest of the suspects. 'Further probe led the team to an open field on the dunes between Monwabisi beach and Macassar, where one of the suspects pointed out a shallow grave where the victim was killed and buried,' said Vukubi. While the suspects are expected to appear in the Kuilsriver Magistrate's Court on Monday, Hawks' provincial Head Mathipa Makgato hailed the team for their precise and resilient investigation into this, saying that SAPS will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to book. Meanwhile police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said police were making a dent in crime, in particular in areas such as Khayelitsha. 'In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of these crime-reduction operations, the vast Khayelitsha Township with its four police stations namely, Makhaza, Lingelethu West, Harare and Khayelitsha Site B, has made inroads in crime reduction. Although we are not out of the woods yet, the current downward trajectory in the township is acknowledged. For that we thank all the integrated forces who contributed to the current picture.' She said constant engagement with communities, efficient and effective neighbourhood watch system, early morning patrols targeting commuter routes to train stations, bus stops and taxi pick-up points and 'super' Friday patrols with neighbourhood watch members were among the interventions behind Khayelitsha's encouraging crime picture. She said there were targeted arrests of Boko Haram splinter groups members who were constantly fighting over territory resulting in multiple murders. 'Feuds between rival groups on the gang front in Mitchell's Plain, Bishop Lavis, Delft, Mfuleni and other identified precincts on the Cape Flats, are still a concern for the management of the SAPS in the Western Cape. "At the heart of the murders, attempted murders and other aggravated crimes, are illegal firearms which we are targeting through various operational interventions. With the Cooperation Agreement between SAPS and the City of Cape Town gaining momentum, on the ground the integrated forces work hand in glove resulting in an improved crime picture… 'On the intelligence front, there is still room for improvement. The majority of successful operations executed thus far were intelligence-led. A call is still being made for communities to play an active role in legitimate crime fighting efforts within their respective precincts. The SAPS management in the Province believes that someone somewhere somehow knows something.' Anyone with information about crime can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 0860010111. Cape Times
TimesLIVE
18-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Hawks nab four for kidnapping and murder of Cape Town car buyer
The Hawks have arrested four suspects in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a Cape Town resident who disappeared while shopping for a car. Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Siyabulela Vukubi said members of the directorate and the Western Cape anti-kidnapping unit and hostage negotiation team swooped on the suspects — aged between 29 and 42 — on Saturday during an 'intelligence-led operation'. The suspects face kidnapping, extortion and murder charges. 'Their arrests come after a victim was allegedly kidnapped in Kraaifontein on May 16,' said Vukubi. 'The victim was last seen by a friend who reported that the victim went to Bellville to view a vehicle he intended to purchase and never came back. Instead, another friend of the victim received a call from the victim reporting that he had been kidnapped and assaulted. 'Simultaneously, a ransom of R100,000 for the victim's release was demanded by the suspects. Further phone calls were made by the suspects and the ransom was reduced to R10,000.' Vukubi said the suspects then provided details of a bank account to deposit the ransom. 'It was alleged that an amount of R5000 was deposited in that bank account and the suspects continued to demand the balance.' Vukubi said the multidisciplinary team followed leads on Saturday which led them to Philippi and Kleinvlei and the arrests of the suspects. 'A further probe led the team to an open field on the dunes between Monwabisi beach and Macassar, where one of the suspects pointed out a shallow grave where the victim was killed and buried.' The suspects are set to appear in the Kuilsriver magistrate's court on Monday.
