ZiMoja updates on the latest crime news in parts of the country.
GAUTENG: Three suspected hijackers posing as police officers were fatally shot yesterday at Diepkloof interchange in Soweto. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said they received information that a man was allegedly driving on the highway when occupants in two different vehicles signalled him to stop and showed him what looked like a police appointment certificate. Nevhuhulwi said when the man stopped, three men from one of the cars approached and told him there was something wrong under his car, and when he bent to check, he was pointed with a knife and instructed not to move as they wanted his car and not him. The man who had a firearm on his waist immediately responded and started shooting. The suspects from another vehicle also shot back while driving off. Three suspects the man shot were declared dead on the scene. The police are investigating cases of murder, attempted murder and attempted hijacking.
GAUTENG: Fourteen suspects, including former bank employees, aged between 25 and 47 years, were arrested yesterday in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Krugersdorp by the Hawks on allegations of fraud and money laundering. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale explained the main suspect unlawfully made payments from suspicious accounts valued at over R157 million, which were further transferred to recipients who were not entitled to receive such monies. She said twenty-three recipients include fifteen individuals, seven entities and six banks. The suspects will make their first appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court today.
WESTERN CAPE: A 35-year-old man was arrested after drugs with an estimated street value of R70,000 were discovered in his possession on the R328 outside Mossel Bay, in the Western Cape. SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies confirmed that on Monday, 28 October at around 2 pm, members were patrolling near Sonskyn Vallei when they observed a suspicious-looking individual. He said the suspect was approached, and when the police searched him, they found 999 mandrax tablets as well as 61 grams of tik in his possession. Spies said the police confiscated the drugs and detained the man on charges of drug peddling.
