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

GAUTENG:Pretoria High Court sitting in Benoni sentenced James Veli Masuku (36) and his co-accused Xolani Lawrence Dlamini (31) to 46 years imprisonment for the murder of police constable, Prudence Masuku.

Constable Prudence, who was stationed at the Daveyton SAPS, was murdered in Putfontein while on her way to work accompanied by her husband Veli Masuku on 23 June 2022.The deceased was seven months pregnant when she was murdered.

Investigation by the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation and ballistic results revealed that the service pistol belonging to constable Prudence was fired at the scene and that in fact, it was that very pistol that was used to murder the officer.

Veli alleged that they were confronted by two taxis, the passengers of both taxis approached them and began firing several shots at the deceased while he ran for cover and upon returning to the vehicle he found that his wife's service pistol had gone missing. 

Veli and Lawrence were arrested and found guilty on 08 April 2024, after they had pleaded not guilty. They were charged with murder, theft of a firearm, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, and defeating the administration of justice.

GAUTENG:In their efforts to curb drug trafficking in Tshwane, the City of Tshwane's Metro Police Department (TMPD) drug unit nabbed eight men suspected of drug dealing and seized illegal substances valued at approximately R110,000.

The drug unit acted on a tip-off and planned a drug transaction at the corner of Eskia Mphahlele and Struben streets, where they spotted a suspicious car parked on an open field.

When they approached the car they found two Nigerian nationals allegedly in possession of Nyaope in South Africa.

Upon interrogation the suspects disclosed information that led the officers to a residence in Mooikloof, Pretoria East, where more illegal substances were discovered.

The police raided the location and arrested six more suspects, also Nigerian nationals, all allegedly linked to drug dealing in the area.

The TMPD confirmed that two vehicles allegedly used in the commission of these crimes were impounded and are part of the investigation at SAPS VIS 13 in Pretoria West.

Meanwhile, the suspects have been detained at two different police stations, six at Boschkop Police Station and the remaining two at Pretoria Central Police Station.

LIMPOPO:The Hawks in Limpopo arrested an attorney for allegedly aiding a suspect to escape from the police.

He was charged with conspiracy to escape from lawful custody and interfering with police duties in Giyani, Limpopo.

The police reported that they arrested a suspect, aged 35, at Giyani Magistrate's Court for an alleged theft of motor vehicle. After the suspect?s court appearance, the Hawks served him with a warrant of arrest for another case relating to the theft of a motor vehicle.

The suspect was handcuffed and while police officials were busy with the arrangements to take the suspect to the police station, his attorney took him to his vehicle and drove away at high speed.The police said they gave chase to the attorney's vehicle but could not locate it.

The attorney is said to have later driven to Giyani police station with his client who was still restrained with police handcuffs and they were both arrested there.

KWAZULU-NATAL: Five men caught on camera allegedly firing shots at a hostel in KwaMashu made their first appearence at the Ntuzuma Magistrate?s Court .The police said on the 16th of August , another man believed to be one of the gang members was shot and fatally wounded in a shoot-out with police in Inanda.The police said they were responding to reports of an active armed robbery where three firearms and a hijacked vehicle were found in the suspect?s possession.They said one of the suspects fired shots at the police but was overpowered and arrested.

The suspects are said to be linked to a spate of murders, hijacking and robberies along the Dumisani Makhaye Highway in KwaMashu, Inanda, Ntuzuma and the nearby townships