ZiMoja updates on the latest crime news in parts of the country. 

LIMPOPO: A Limpopo man dubbed the Facebook rapist has been sentenced to an effective 98 direct imprisonment by Polokwane High Court for charges including two counts of housebreaking with intent to rape, 19 counts of rape and 12 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Ronny Maluleke (36) from Ritavi village outside Tzaneen created a Facebook account that he used to lure victims who travelled from Johannesburg, Alexandra, Mokopane, the Eastern Cape and Qwaqwa under the pretence that he had secured security and domestic jobs for them. Upon their arrival in Tzaneen, he would threaten them with a knife and a firearm before raping them. He would then rob them of belongings such as money, cellphones and other valuables. He also told the court that between 2015 and 2021, he had entered his other victim's homesteads at night, where he threatened and robbed the victims before raping them. His reign of terror ended in 2021 when one of his victims shot him in the leg with a firearm that he used to threaten her with. He pleaded guilty to all the charges.

WESTERN CAPE: An e-hailing driver was arrested after accessing a sleeping passenger's credit card and sharing the card details with his brother in Europe. The brothers then went on a shopping spree at luxury boutique shops and blew R650 000 from the passenger's credit card. Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the 30-year-old Zimbabwean driver received a request for a ride from a 21-year-old Danish man and his two friends from Cape Town to Simons Town on Monday. The complainants dozed off during the ride and that's when the driver gained access to one of their credit cards. "The complainant became aware of the purchases during the early hours of Wednesday morning when he received notifications on his phone. Attempts by the complainant to reach the e-hailing driver were unsuccessful and the complainant opened a case with Simons Town police,' Traut said. Investigating officer Sergeant Henry Simons booked an e-hailing service with the specific driver. The suspect reported for the ride at the court building, where he was questioned and arrested. The police have urged anyone who could have fallen victim to a similar modus operandi to contact Simons Town police or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

MPUMALANGA: The police in Mpumalanga arrested a 49-year-old Mozambican national for public violence yesterday. Spokesperson Captain Magonseni Nkosi said the suspect parked his taxi in front of the gate at the Lebombo Port of Entry and when police reprimanded him, he locked himself inside his taxi. It is alleged that other people around, believed to be Mozambican nationals, backed him and the police had to use rubber bullets to disperse the people who were causing the disorder. The taxi driver was arrested for public violence. Meanwhile, the Lebombo Port of Entry remains closed as Mozambique's post-election protest continues.