Latest News from The Herald
The Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Truck driver arrested after being found more than 20 times over legal alcohol limit
KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate officials have arrested two alleged drunk drivers including one who was found to be more than 20 times over the legal limit. The transport and human settlements department said the RTI team working with police arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 on May 17. He blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is 20 times more than the legal limit of 0,10mg /1000ml. He was arrested and charged by Ladysmith police and is expected to appear in court on August 18. A second driver who was also arrested on Friday for allegedly driving under the influence in Van Reenen is being held in the Ladysmith police cells. The driver allegedly blew 0.32 mg/1000ml which is three times more than the legal limit. MEC Siboniso Duma said nine victims of a horrific accident involving a truck in Empangeni along the N2 were recently buried. 'Families lost their loved ones and breadwinners, with children becoming orphans as a result of one reckless truck driver. 'In my meeting with senior management last Monday, I mandated our RTI team to strengthen their no nonsense, zero tolerance and Alufakwa campaign on our roads. We undertake to clamp down on bad behaviour in all corners of our province. 'In particular, we are paying more attention to trucks because, more than any vehicle, trucks can damage more vehicles at once and their accidents can lead to serious injuries because of the impact.' He said road networks being constructed, rehabilitated and repaired should not be playgrounds for 'irresponsible drivers'. Duma said road accidents cost the South African economy more than R164bn annually, an equivalent to 3.4% of the country's GDP. In addition, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) paid out more than R45.6bn in claims in the 2023-2024 financial year. TimesLIVE
The Herald
3 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not involved in Olorato Mongale's killing: police
KwaZulu-Natal man Fezile Ngubane who was initially identified as a suspect sought by police in the Olorato Mongale murder and said to be in a syndicate targeting young women has been cleared. Mongale was last seen leaving her flat in northern Johannesburg for a date with a man who called himself 'John' on Sunday afternoon. Her body was later discovered in Lombardy East near Alexandra. The white VW Polo used to pick up Mongale was found at a panel-beating workshop in Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. Police initially identified Philangenkosi Makhanya and Ngubane as people of interest in the murder. On Thursday morning police identified a third man, Bongani Mthimkhulu, who is a friend of Makhanya, as an additional suspect. National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said on Saturday Ngubane's father handed him over to KwaMashu police on Friday when he learnt his son was being sought by police in the Mongale murder case. 'A multidisciplinary team led by the deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection in Gauteng, Maj-Gen Mbuso Khumalo, the SAPS national anti-kidnapping task team, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provincial investigating unit (PIU) have now cleared Ngubane after a thorough interview and preliminary investigation.' A preliminary report found Ngubane washes cars for a living and stays in the same neighbourhood as Makhanya, who died during a confrontation with police at an Amanzimtoti flat on Friday. Mathe said Makhanya allegedly identified Ngubane as a soft target and took his ID smart card and used it to Rica SIM cards. These were alleged used by Makhanya to commit kidnapping and robbery involving young women. Makhanya is alleged to have also used Ngubane's bank card at various clothing stores. Ngubane's ID was found as part of a batch of 27 ID smart cards found on Friday in Makhanya's possession at a flat belonging to a man who rents vehicles. Mathe said the parents of one of the two suspects were released after they deposed statements. 'Police are sitting with at least 20 cases where women have come forward identifying the suspects as those that kidnapped and robbed them. Some of these cases were reported in Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Midrand, Ogies and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, Pretoria and Johannesburg.' She said the search for Mthimkhulu continues. TimesLIVE
The Herald
4 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
Sedibeng mayor facing suspension found unharmed after alleged hijacking and kidnapping
Sedibeng mayor Lerato Maloka and her driver were found unharmed after they were allegedly hijacked and kidnapped from Alberton on the East Rand on Friday. Gauteng police spokesperson Brig Brenda Muridili said the owner of a house Maloka and her driver were leaving from reported the hijacking. 'Preliminary reports suggest the owner of the house reported the matter to an individual who then informed the mayor's husband. The husband went to report the matter at Dawn Park police station.' A broadcast was issued for her vehicle. 'The vehicle was recovered at about midnight in Dawn Park by Katlehong police. A few hours later at about 2am, the mayor and the driver were found unharmed and reunited with their families.' Muridili said statements would be taken from the victims and police were looking for the suspects. The incident comes as Maloka faced a disciplinary investigation into alleged misconduct this week. DA Sedibeng caucus leader Cllr Sibusiso Dyonase said in a statement on Thursday the council had resolved to write to Gauteng MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs Jacob Mamabolo calling for Maloka's immediate suspension. ' Maloka has long been a problematic figure, today's resolution centres around her and other municipal officials' misdeeds in wasting more than R500,000 on a trip to Germany. Prominently, her role in the destruction of the mayoral vehicle featured as part of today's proceedings. Sugar was found in the engine of the car after the council forced her to use the R490,000 vehicle.' Dyonase said Maloka had called for a full investigation into maladministration in her administration while claiming she was the target of a smear campaign. TimesLIVE
The Herald
4 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
Police arrest man with R8m in dagga in trailer
Limpopo police arrested a 27-year-old man who was found with 42 bags of compressed dagga in a trailer on Friday. Polokwane police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said the man was nabbed during a joint anti-smuggling operation conducted by the Limpopo tracking and task teams together with other police units and external law enforcement agencies. They received intelligence information about a white Toyota Hilux bakkie suspected to be transporting dagga from Eswatini destined for Vhembe District. 'An immediate search operation commenced for the bakkie and it was positively spotted towing a trailer along the R36 public road next to Mooketsi Weigh-bridge at about 7am. It was stopped, searched and found transporting 42 bags of compressed dagga weighing 851.8kg with an estimated street value of R8m.' Ledwaba said a 27-year-old male suspect failed to account for the origin of the dagga and was immediately placed under arrest. He is expected to appear in the Tzaneen magistrate's court on Monday. Police investigations are continuing. TimesLIVE
The Herald
9 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
Four life terms for ex-DA councillor after family dies in fire he started
Former DA PR councillor Michael Buthelezi was sentenced to four life terms in prison by the Ladysmith regional court on Friday. Buthelezi was earlier found guilty of killing his partner and three children at his house in Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal in October 2023. He was also sentenced to a further 15 years for two counts of defeating the ends of justice and arson. 'The court heard that Buthelezi burnt his partner Khombisile Nyoka, 41, his 12-year-old daughter Lubanzi Buthelezi, his son Zigizemdoda Buthelezi, 9, and two-year-old last born daughter Sibingele Buthelezi all alive by setting alight a two-roomed house they were sleeping in,' police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said. Buthelezi miraculously survived the fire with minor burn wounds and claimed he was attacked because of his stance in the fight against corruption. 'The Political Killings Task Team took over the investigations but his tune took a dramatic turn when he later accused his partner's ex-boyfriend of throwing a bomb inside the house. 'Police investigations proved that Buthelezi single-handedly killed his family and overwhelming evidence convinced the court to hand down maximum sentence,' Netshiunda said. KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi praised the investigating team for uncovering the truth and debunking claims that the murders were politically motivated. 'It takes dedication and paying attention to every detail to detect untruths from purported victims and we applaud our investigators for digging out facts and presenting strong evidence before the court,' Mkhwanazi said. TimesLIVE
