NORTHERN CAPE: Three loan sharks were arrested during a multi-disciplinary crime intelligence-driven operation on Tuesday in Brandvlei in the Namakwa District. Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said law enforcement teams, including national credit regulators, SASSA, and the commercial crime unit, executed the take down operation called NWO ZAK in Brandvlei, where they went to the loan sharks' houses, which were identified. The mashonisas aged 26, 52, and 58 were found with SASSA cards, EFT machines, loan registers, bank cards and an undisclosed amount of cash. They will appear before the Kimberly Magistrate's Court today.
GAUTENG: Six illegal foreigners were arrested for cable theft at a City Power substation in Eldorado Park. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the police received information about suspects planning to steal cables from the power station at around 1 am. A team of Eldorado Park detectives, Amapanyaza and City Power's security risk management team, were organised to monitor the situation, and the suspects were spotted in a car near the power station. When searching the vehicle, the police found a cable worth approximately R250 000 in the vehicle's boot along with instruments allegedly used to commit the crime. The cable was later identified as belonging to City Power. The suspects, who are all Mozambican nationals, will appear in court soon. Meanwhile, two male suspects from Eldorado Park were severely burnt when they were electrocuted while tampering with electric cables. Mangena said the men were taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for urgent treatment. Due to the extent of their injuries, they were not arrested immediately. They are currently in the hospital's burn unit and will be moved once their condition improves.
LIMPOPO: A cop handed over his son, who was wanted for a spate of ATM bombings in Limpopo, to the police. The 21-year-old suspect was allegedly involved in multiple ATM bombings across the Vhembe and Mopani districts. Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the suspect, along with accomplices, is believed to have used explosives to damage ATMs and took an undisclosed amount of money. The last incident occurred on 18 November 2024 at around 2:00 am, when suspects allegedly bombed an ATM at a wholesale store in Sekgosese. When police responded to the scene, a shootout ensued, and the suspects fled in a sedan. The police gave chase until the driver lost control near Sephukubje village and all occupants fled into nearby bushes. A case was opened, and through extensive investigation, the suspects were identified, and a search for the suspects was conducted in Ekurhuleni in Gauteng. Mashaba added that when the father of the suspect, a Gauteng-based police officer, learnt that the authorities were seeking his son, he handed him over to the Limpopo investigation team. The suspect will appear before the Senwamokgope Periodical Court today on charges of malicious property damage, attempted murder and reckless and negligent driving. The police said they have launched a manhunt for the suspect's accomplices.
