ZiMoja updates on the latest crime news in parts of the country.
GAUTENG: A mother appeared in court for allegedly selling her two-year-old son. Keneilwe Shalaba (32) from Boipatong in Vanderbijlpark is facing charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and making a false statement to the police. Earlier this month, Shalaba opened a false kidnapping case with the police where she claimed her son Kutloano Shalaba was grabbed off her back by unknown men in a car when she got out of a taxi. NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said during the police investigation, it was uncovered that the kidnapping claim was false. Mahanjana said Shalaba later confessed to fabricating the story. She was subsequently arrested on 19 November 2024 and has been in custody since her arrest. The whereabouts of the child remain unknown and police efforts to locate him are ongoing. The case has been postponed to 29 November 2024 for a possible bail application and the state intends to oppose her bail application.
GAUTENG: A Brazilian drug mule was arrested after being found with drugs at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday. The 25-year-old man was caught in possession of three kilograms of drugs wrapped around his body during police operationalised intelligence. Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the drugs were later confirmed to be cocaine with an estimated value of R1.8 million. The suspect had just landed from São Paulo, Brazil, when he was arrested.
NORTH WEST: North West Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, has sent his condolences to the family of a cop who was killed in Kanana township in Klerksdorp in the early hours of Sunday morning. The body of Constable Mojalefa Mgwebi, who was off-duty, was found inside his vehicle by neighbours. Mgwebi, who was stationed at the Jouberton police station, was found with gunshot wounds on his upper body. According to Colonel Amanda Funani, Mgwebi was reportedly last seen by his cousins, whom he dropped at their different houses after attending a family gathering in Klerksdorp on Saturday. Funani said the motive for the cop's murder is unknown and that the Hawks are investigating the matter.
MPUMALANGA: Two Ethiopians were arrested after being found with illicit cigarettes, fake clothes, an ambulance, large sums of money and cars with fake number plates. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Magonseni Nkosi said SAPS members from Pienaar Crime Intelligence conducted an observation for about three months on the premises where the suspects aged 27 and 47 were arrested. "Some of the things discovered on the premises are three vehicles, including an ambulance where two vehicles were loaded with illicit items whilst the ambulance was found locked inside a garage. One of the vehicles was fitted with false registration number plates. All the recovered items, including vehicles, were confiscated for further investigation. The docket will be handed to the Hawks," Nkosi said.
