Latest news with #Standerton
News24
02-08-2025
- News24
SA man with 56 000 child abuse images arrested as international operation nets major bust
Police found over 56 000 videos and images depicting child sexual abuse during a raid at the man's Standerton home, along with 15 licensed firearms and digital devices. The arrest was part of Operation Bad Vibes, a joint initiative between SAPS, US Homeland Security Investigations, and the US Embassy launched in 2023. The man appeared in court on Thursday after his Wednesday arrest, with a bail application on Monday. A 59-year-old man from Mpumalanga who was arrested with over 56 000 child abuse videos and images is expected to make a formal bail application on Monday. The man was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Standerton during a police operation, as part of Operation Bad Vibes, a joint initiative between the South African Police Service, US Homeland Security Investigations, and the US Embassy. 'During the operation, the team also seized 15 licensed firearms and several digital devices,' said police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk. While police were processing the scene, Van Wyk said, forensic experts uncovered more than 56 000 videos and images depicting child sexual abuse. She said the operation was led by the Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations unit in Mpumalanga, with support from Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), US Embassy, the Local Criminal Record Centre, and designated firearm officers in Standerton. 'Initiated in 2023, Operation Bad Vibes is a joint initiative between the SAPS, HSI, US Embassy, aimed at tracing and arresting individuals in South Africa who are linked to accessing, possession, manufacturing, and distribution of child sexual abuse material on a global scale,' Van Wyk added. The man appeared in the Standerton Magistrate's Court on Thursday. The case was postponed to Monday for a formal bail application.
News24
23-06-2025
- News24
Serial rapist gets 25 more years after victim spots him in hospital
Zakhele Mahlangu tied his victim with a seatbelt, forcibly removed her clothing and raped her multiple times without protection. The case had gone cold until the victim spotted her attacker under heavy prison guard escort at a local hospital and raised the alarm. He was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2016 rape. A convicted serial rapist already serving multiple sentences has been found guilty of yet another rape after one of his victims recognised him during a routine hospital visit and alerted the police. THE 2016 ATTACK On that fateful Saturday afternoon in May 2016, the victim, then 21 years old, was on her way to a hitchhiking spot along Secunda Road (R546) near Charl Cilliers in Standerton, Mpumalanga, provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane explained in a statement. According to Ndubane, at approximately 2pm, before reaching her destination, she accepted a lift from Zakhele Isaac Mahlangu (44), who was driving a white vehicle and claimed he was headed in the same direction. While en route, he diverted from the main road, claiming he needed to pick up others from a nearby farm. He turned onto a gravel road near a dumping site, crossed a railway line and stopped the vehicle. It is alleged that he moved to the passenger seat, used a hat to cover the victim's nose, and physically assaulted her. The suspect then tied her with a seatbelt, forcibly removed her clothing and raped her multiple times without protection, despite her resistance and cries for help. Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane After the attack, Mahlangu wiped himself and the victim with an old cloth, removed the vehicle's registration plates, and hid them under the driver's seat. He then threw the victim's belongings out of the vehicle and dumped her in an isolated area. The victim managed to contact emergency services and was referred to Standerton Police Station for investigation and medical examination. THE COLD CASE BREAKTHROUGH The case went cold until late last year when the victim encountered Mahlangu under heavy prison guard escort at a local hospital. She immediately recognised him and reported to the police that he was the man who had attacked her. Ndubane said: In a dramatic twist, the victim, who had not seen her attacker since the incident, recognised him years later while he was under the escort of prison wardens at a local hospital. She further explained that the police swiftly investigated the matter, and the suspect was positively linked to the crime, formally charged and brought to trial. SENTENCING On 20 June 2025, the Standerton Magistrates' Court sentenced him to 25 years' imprisonment for the 2016 rape. This sentence will run concurrently with multiple other terms he is already serving for a string of violent crimes. PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS In August 2021, the same offender was convicted and handed down multiple sentences for a series of crimes committed during his reign of terror in Standerton between 2014 and 2017. Rape Convictions: Three counts: Life imprisonment each Five counts: 15 years each One count: 25 years The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the conviction and the recent sentencing of the serial rapist.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Standerton parkrunners dash with joy
Veterans Pauli Kriek and Richard Mabaso were the only two out of 72 parkrunners to improve their personal best times at the 297th Standerton parkrun on Saturday. Kriek's best time in the 5km route at the Riverpark is now 38:36, and Mabaso's time is 40:09. Tshiamo Lephoto completed the route in (17:14), followed by Bongane Mpokane (21:48), Pieter Jansen van Vuuren (22:33), Eugene Viljoen (24:48), Andiswamahlubi Hadebe (27:19), Janke Draper (27:27), Kevin Armitage (29:31), Frans Vermaak (30:59), Thikolelwi Collins Mudau (31:12) and Ayanda Dlamini (32:09). The volunteers who made the event possible are Renette de Sousa, Antoinette Herbst, Lizette Jansen van Rensburg, Séan Jansen van Rensburg, Sylvy Moodley, Jennifer Naidoo, Strini Naidoo, Zeldine Strydom, Charl van Wyk, Leandri van Wyk, Johannes Vosloo, Mauritz Zwarts and Noluthando Zweni. The Standerton parkrun sets off at 08:00 every Saturday in the Riverpark. The aim of parkrun is not to compete against one another, but to get up and be active. Your only competitor is yourself if you wish to improve your own time. You complete the 5km route at your own pace – you can run, jog, or walk, as long as you are active. For more information, contact the website at At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
