Latest news with #TshwanePoliceTrainingAcademy
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- The Citizen
Police sergeant arrested in Kamogelo Baukudi kidnapping case issued suspension letter
The court also heard testimony detailing the movements of the police vehicle assigned to the officer. Public Order Police (POPs) members at the Tshwane Police Training Academy on 15 June 2024. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu The police sergeant arrested in connection with the disappearance of high school pupil Kamogelo Baukudi has received a suspension letter. Nzima Adoons appeared again in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Thursday for the continuation of his bail application. The 42-year-old police officer faces charges of kidnapping and extortion related to the teenager's abduction. He was arrested on 8 June. Kamogelo Baukudi's disappearance Baukudi had been missing for several weeks after being kidnapped by two suspects posing as police officers in Bloemfontein on 5 June. According to South African Police Service (Saps), the Grade 11 pupil was on his way home from Marti Du Plessis School in Fichardt Park, being transported by Daniel Malebatso, when their Suzuki Ertiga was stopped by a white Toyota Hilux GD-6 Double Cab. The incident occurred on Vereeniging Drive in Ehrlich Park. ALSO READ: Kamogelo Baukudi: Missing teen needed for ID parade, case postponed The two individuals, pretending to be police officers, accused Malebatso and Baukudi of using their vehicle to transport drugs. They then took the 19-year-old into their Toyota Hilux and instructed Malebatso to drive to Park Road Police Station. Both Malebatso and Baukudi's cellphones were later discovered under a bridge on Ferrera Road. Cop receives suspension letter During Thursday's proceedings, Adoons' legal representative, Adriaan Van Rensburg, informed the court that his client had been issued a letter of intention to suspend. The state clarified the nature of the letter, stating it did not mean the officer had officially been suspended but rather that he had the opportunity to respond to the allegations. 'He's just invited to give reasons why such a process should not be followed on the basis of misconduct and was even afforded legal representation should he wish to pursue,' the prosecutor explained. Vehicle tracking evidence The investigating officer later testified about the police vehicle assigned to Adoons. The officer explained that a description of the vehicle had been provided and based on standard procedures as well as supply chain records, it was possible to determine which vehicles were allocated to whom. He confirmed that the tinted-window Toyota Hilux belonged to Saps' anti-gang unit. Tracking records linked the vehicle to the crime scene and were made available to the investigating team. READ MORE: Kidnapped Kamogelo Baukudi found alive The investigator revealed that no other vehicles matching the description were found in the vicinity during the time of Baukudi's kidnapping. The officer also testified that the vehicle assigned to Adoons matched the location of the car the teenager was travelling in at the time of the incident. 'The only vehicle that was identified to be at the scene, at the same time with the Suzuki, is this JCS 216 FS vehicle. 'This vehicle had the same movement with the victim's vehicle. The time and coordinates are the same.' Earlier in the week, Adoons took the stand and denied any knowledge of Baukudi's abduction. Kamogelo Baukudi rescued Baukudi was found alive last Friday in Wepener, leading to the arrest of five men aged between 20 and 29. Three suspects were apprehended at a house in Kanana, while two others were intercepted on the road between Kwetla and Wepener with the high school pupil. However, all five suspects were released from custody this week, as no direct link to the crime could be established. Their case was not enrolled in court, and investigations are ongoing. NOW READ: Baby Mogamat Imaad Shamar found after kidnapping ordeal
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- The Citizen
Saps crime intelligence boss granted R10k in R45m corruption scandal
The case has been postponed to 13 August. Public Order Police (POPs) members at the Tshwane Police Training Academy on 15 June 2024. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu Dumisani Khumalo, head of the Crime Intelligence division within the South African Police Service (Saps), has been granted bail of R10 000 following his arrest in connection to R45 million corruption scandal. Khumalo was apprehended on Thursday at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after what authorities described as an 'extensive' investigation into the allegedly unlawful acquisition of two high-value properties. The properties in question include a boutique hotel in Pretoria North, Gauteng reportedly purchased for R22.7 million, and a commercial building in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), valued at R22.8 million. ALSO READ: Corruption crisis deepens within Gauteng police force Both acquisitions are alleged to have been made without the requisite ministerial approval. In addition, Khumalo's arrest is reportedly linked to the controversial appointment of a 29-year-old woman as a police brigadier, despite her reported lack of experience in the field. The case has been postponed to 13 August. This is a developing story
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- The Citizen
Defence happy after captain accused of raping trainee at Tshwane Police Academy is granted bail
The police officer's legal representative argued the state had no grounds to oppose the bail application. A 59-year-old police captain accused of raping and sexually assaulting two trainees at the Tshwane Police Training Academy has been released on bail. He appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday for the outcome of his bail application. The police captain is an instructor at the academy located in Pretoria West, is facing charges of rape and sexual assault. The magistrate granted the accused R8 000 bail, a decision welcomed by his legal team. Rape accused Tshwane Police Training Academy captain granted bail Attorney Andrew Maoba told eNCA on Monday that the defence did not believe there was a basis for the state to oppose the officer's release on bail. 'We had foreseen that there was no need for these bail proceedings in any event to be opposed because the law in respect of bail is quite trite in South Africa, and it's not digging into the guilt or the innocence of the accused person. 'The test for bail proceedings, as we have indicated in court, substantiated with a case law, is whether the accused person or the applicant will stand trial, and he will not evade liability,' he said. Maoba further stated that the court's ruling indicated the strength of the bail application put forward by the defence. 'Unsurprisingly, the magistrate granted my client bail today.' ALSO READ: Police sergeant abuses power, gets 20 years for raping victim inside police station Meanwhile, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) expressed concern over the allegations and encouraged trainees to speak out. 'The trainees at all various academics must not feel intimidated. When there are such incidents, they must come out, not die in silence and report them,' Gauteng deputy chairperson Solly Mathe said. Mathe added that Popcru had called on the South African Police Service (Saps) to implement preventative measures. 'They must create a space where it would be easy for trainees to come out and report such incident because we totally condemn this action.' Rape incident It is alleged that on 6 May, the captain called a 20-year-old trainee into his office while she was walking with her colleagues to their sleeping quarters. While in the office, the accused locked the door and told the trainee that if she did not sleep with him, he would issue her a misconduct letter related to an incident from April, during which the police captain accused her of failing to salute him. A second trainee came forward with allegations that the same captain sexually assaulted her in March this year, following his arrest on 7 May. More victims may still come forward as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) continues its investigation into other possible incidents. READ MORE: Mpumalanga teen girl sends police on a hunt for her rapist, but she lied The police officer has since been suspended. According to the police, Gauteng recorded the highest number of reported rape cases involving police officers in the previous financial year, with just under 30 cases. While other provinces saw a decline in such incidents, Gauteng experienced an increase of approximately 35%. Notably, more of these cases involved officers allegedly committing rape while on duty, compared to those reported while they were off duty.
