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

KWAZULU NATAL: Three suspects were arrested in Greyville, Durban, in KwaZulu Natal during an intelligence-led operation after the police uncovered a clandestine Home Affairs office. The office was allegedly used to facilitate illegal marriages and spousal visas between South African women and undocumented foreign nationals. According to the police, the suspects would get hold of identity documents of South African women and marry them to strangers, especially undocumented foreign nationals, so that the fake husbands would attain South African citizenship. Spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said preliminary investigations have identified a Home Affairs official who has been working with the suspects. He said more arrests cannot be ruled out as investigations unfold. Application forms, ID copies and electronic devices were seized at the secret office. "Of the three suspects, two men will be charged with fraud and the woman will face a charge of defeating the ends of justice after she attempted to conceal evidence by tearing some of the documents and throwing them inside a bin," Netshiunda said. The suspects will appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court today.

GAUTENG: Suspects who are believed to be involved in a spate of house robberies and burglaries around Gauteng have been arrested. The three suspects were arrested yesterday during a joint intelligence-driven operation in Midrand. Colonel Mavele Masondo said the police's crime intelligence received information about suspects and that they would be in Douglasdale yesterday. Masondo said the team, which consisted of various law enforcement agencies, was placed into various strategic positions and on the lookout for the suspects. The team spotted the vehicle that matched the description given, driving towards Kyalami. Masondo said the vehicle was stopped, but the driver accelerated and a high-speed chase ensued until the suspect's vehicle came to a halt. Three suspects were arrested. They were found in possession of multiple laptops, electronic items, and breaking implements. Police preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had just committed two house burglaries in Douglasdale.

 The three suspects were arrested after committing two robberies. Photo: SAPS

GAUTENG: Former Eskom contractor Michael Lomas made a brief appearance in the Palm Ridge Regional Court yesterday, where his case was transferred to the Johannesburg High Court. Lomas and his co-accused are facing 65 counts of corruption linked to the R1.4 billion that was meant for the upgrade of Eskom's Kusile power station in Mpumalanga between 2014 and 2017. Independent Directorate spokesperson Henry Mamothame said Lomas will be joined by 11 others, including Eskom's senior executives and Tibular Construction Projects directors when he re-appears in court on 3 December . Lomas was successfully extradited last month from the United Kingdom, where he was arrested by the authorities on 15 April 2021 and released on bail on 20 May 2021. He will remain in custody as he did not make any formal bail application.

Michael Lomas will remain behind bars. Photo: IDAC