ZiMoja updates on the latest crime news in parts of the country.
KWAZULU NATAL: The police in Ndwendwe, in the north of Durban, have arrested a 48-year-old father and his 25-year-old son after a body was recovered in a demolished pit latrine in Mwolokohlo village yesterday. The son was initially arrested for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, and further investigations revealed that the man was the last person to be seen with the person who had gone missing days ago. Investigations uncovered that the suspects allegedly killed a 29-year-old man and dumped his body in a pit latrine before demolishing it. The two suspects are also linked to two murder cases where a security officer was killed in May this year and his was found dumped on the road tied with a rope. In another incident, the father-son duo allegedly stabbed a man before his body was dumped on the street, a few meters away from their home, in January this year. The police are also investigating the two for the murder of a pregnant woman in Umlazi. They will appear in the Ndwendwe Magistrates Court on 26 August.
GAUTENG: The police, through organised crime and intelligence operations, discovered a drug lab and processing machinery valued at an estimated R80 million at a plot in Douglasdale, Johannesburg, yesterday. According to police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo, the police had been observing and monitoring the plot of land where suspicious activities were taking place, and they executed a search warrant where they discovered that the premises were used to manufacture drugs. "Chemicals used to manufacture drugs, machinery, and finished products were found at the premises," Masondo said. At the premises, police also found two unlicensed firearms, ammunition of high calibre firearms, pulley guns, and replica firearms. Two illegal immigrants who were found at the premises were arrested. The suspects will appear in court soon on charges of manufacturing of drugs, possession of unlicensed firearms and possession of ammunition. Masondo said that more than ten (10) drug labs have been discovered by the police in Gauteng in the last five months.
LIMPOPO: A 45-year-old has been arrested in Tubatse, Burgersfort, after an unidentified body was discovered in a demolished pit toilet at a school in Ga-Riba Village yesterday. Following a tip-off, the police conducted an investigation on the school premises since Wednesday night, leading to the gruesome discovery of human remains. A thorough investigation was immediately conducted, and a suspect was arrested. The remains are yet to be identified, and forensic investigations will determine the cause of death. resulting in the arrest of the suspect. The remains are yet to be identified, and forensic investigations will determine the cause of death. The suspect will appear before the Praktiseer Magistrates Court on Monday facing a murder charge. Police investigations are ongoing.
MPUMALANGA: A man appeared in Caroline Magistrate's Court yesterday after he was arrested for trying to kill and burn his girlfriend. Innocent Sthembiso "Spoto" Maseko's case was postponed to Monday, 26 August, for him to find legal representation as well as for a formal bail application. During the incident, it is alleged that the suspect poured some flammable liquid on the woman before she was saved by her neighbours. The woman is currently fighting for her life in the hospital. The suspect remains in custody.
KWA ZULU NATAL: The Ezakheni Regional Court has sentenced three brothers to life imprisonment each for the murder of a man their sister accused of theft in September 2022 in the Emcitsheni area. On the day of the incident, one of the brothers was informed by their sister that the deceased, Simphiwe Innocent Zondo (24) had stolen from their home. She further mentioned that she saw Zondo carrying the stolen goods. Soon after that, the brothers Zenzele Vincent Zwane (29), Mthandeni Zwane (23) and Lindani Zwane (31) went in search of Zondo. They found him and took him to his house to look for the stolen items. When they did not find the stolen goods, the brothers took Zondo back to their home, where they beat him with a sjambok and other items. Zondo was found dead about 200 meters away from the Zwane home a day later. The brothers were convicted of the murder and sentenced to one life imprisonment each.
