SAPS issues hijack warning SAPS issues hijack warning 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 8 December 2020 If you are stopped by SAPS or traffic officials, and you feel unsafe or threatened, switch on your hazard lights and slowly drive to the nearest police station. Traveling motorists are urged to exercise caution when stopping next to the road, or when ordered to stop by other motorists, as they could be potential hijackers. Motorists are requested to exercise caution when stopped by unknown persons, and to report such incidents to the nearest police station. If you are stopped by SAPS or traffic officials, and you feel unsafe or threatened, switch on your hazard lights and slowly drive to the nearest police station. Never offer a lift to a hitchhiker, and do not stop next to the road, except in the case of an emergency. People stopping to relieve themselves have also fallen victim to highjackers. As part of curbing highjacking incidents, motorists are requested to take heed of their surroundings. A well-maintained vehicle is less likely to break down and leave you vulnerable. When traveling long distances, plan your route and let someone know what your route is, and when to expect you at your destination. Avoid driving with your windows open, keep the vehicle’s doors locked, and put all valuables out of sight. If you suspect you are being followed, drive to your nearest police station, or a busy public area. When approaching a red traffic light, slow down so that you only reach it when it turns green, especially when driving at night. When stopping behind another vehicle, leave half a vehicle length in front so you can make an emergency escape if necessary Drive in the centre lane away from pedestrians where possible, and be wary of staged minor accidents, such as your vehicle being lightly bumped from behind without causing significant structural damage. If you do not feel comfortable with the individual involved in the situation, indicate that they must follow you, and drive to the nearest SAPS, or busy area for assistance. < Previous Article Next Article >

Lyfstraf saak weereens uitgestel Lyfstraf saak weereens uitgestel 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 6 Oktober 2020 ie departement van onderwys gaan ook teen die drie onderwysers optree. Woordvoerder van die departement, Jasper Zwane, sê die voorval is uiters teleurstellend. Die drie verdagtes, Mxolisi Mdakane, Tau Nkosi en Mamatjie Zitha (skoolhoof) staan tereg op aanklagte van aanranding met die doel om ernstig te beseer, sowel as gewone aanranding. Die skoolhoof en twee onderwysers van die Masizakhe Secondary School, het in die landdroshof in Ermelo verskyn omdat hulle na bewering lyfstraf aan vier leerders toegedien het. Hulle is in hegtenis geneem nadat die ouers die saak by die polisie aangemeld het. Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, woordvoerder van die polisie in Mpumalanga, het onderwysers gewaarsku om hulself te weerhou van lyfstraf, omdat dit in die land afgeskaf is. “Dit het tot lig gekom dat die drie betrokke was by lyfstraf van hierdie kinders, nadat hulle nie hul skoolwerk gedoen het nie.” Die departement van onderwys gaan ook teen die drie onderwysers optree. Woordvoerder van die departement, Jasper Zwane, sê die voorval is uiters teleurstellend. Die drie verdagtes, Mxolisi Mdakane, Tau Nkosi en Mamatjie Zitha (skoolhoof) staan tereg op aanklagte van aanranding met die doel om ernstig te beseer, sowel as gewone aanranding. Die drie het op 2 September 2020 in die hof verskyn, waar borgtog op R1 000 vasgestel is. Hul saak was tot 18 September in die landdroshof in Breyten uitgestel, en weerends uitgestel na 20 November 2020 vir verdere ondersoek. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ermelo businessman imprisoned for fraud Ermelo businessman imprisoned for fraud 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 24 August 2021 Mphethi submitted duplicate claims to the DOE, where he changed the invoice numbers and the dates when submitting the claims. The department suffered a loss of R830 000 on the first entity, and R1997 964 on the second one. Senyane Alton Seropane Mphethi (55), a former president of a political party an a prominent and influential businessman in Mpumalanga, allegedly lost his presidency status after he was arrested and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for defeating the course of justice on a murder case where he was sentenced for being an accomplice. The accused had a contract with the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DOE), to transport school children in Gert Sibande District Municipality. Mphethi submitted duplicate claims to the DOE, where he changed the invoice numbers and the dates when submitting the claims. The department suffered a loss of R830 000 on the first entity, and R1997 964 on the second one. The matter was reported to the Hawks, and Mphethi was arrested by the Mpumalanga Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in 2015. He was convicted on 31 July 2021 on 34 counts of fraud by the Ermelo Regional Court. On 20 August 2021, Mphethi was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he repays R3 million, with the first installment of R50 000 on or before 30 August 2021. His two companies, Ngwato and Barudi, were fined R100 000 each. Asset Forfeiture Unit was involved on the sentence proceedings < Previous Article Next Article >

Vrou ernstig beseer tydens vragmotor ongeluk Vrou ernstig beseer tydens vragmotor ongeluk 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 13 October 2020 Die vrou het beserings aan albei haar bene en linker arm opgedoen. 'n Klag van roekelose en/of nalatige bestuur is geopen. Tydens ‘n besoek aan die dame in die provinsiale hospitaal, is opgemerk dat sy goed aansterk. Op Donderdag, 8 Oktober, ongeveer 16:00, was ‘n bejaarde dame en haar kinders oppad dorp toe. Die gesin het by die stop straat op die hoek van Jan van Riebeeck en Oosthuizen Straat gestop, en daarna oor gestap. ‘n Vragmotor het af gedraai, en het bo-oor die bejaarde dame se bene gery. Die dame is dadelik na die provinsiale hospitaal geneem vir mediese behandeling. “Die bestuurder van die vragmotor sê hy was besig om te draai, toe die insident plaas gevind het.” Het Kaptein Carla Prinsloo, media beampte van die SAPD, gesê. Die vrou het beserings aan albei haar bene en linker arm opgedoen. 'n Klag van roekelose en/of nalatige bestuur is geopen. Tydens ‘n besoek aan die dame in die provinsiale hospitaal, is opgemerk dat sy goed aansterk. Sy het baie seer, maar sy is baie tevrede met die goeie nasorg wat sy ontvang vanaf die personeel van die provinsiale hospitaal. < Previous Article Next Article >

News from the SAPS News from the SAPS 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 7 September 2021 Suspects fled the scene with R1500.00 cash. ACSU reaction team arrived on the scene in approximately 53 seconds, and the shop owner would like thank them for the quick response. - On Friday, 3 September, at approximately 15:00, members from Ermelo SAPS were informed that a male Nigerian citizen passed away at Ermelo Provincial Hospital. He was stabbed in the right shoulder. Upon arrival at the hospital, the family of the deceased informed the SAPS that the deceased was stabbed earlier today during an altercation with another Nigerian citizen. The family pointed the SAPS to the suspect, and he was subsequently arrested. - The Markhams store, situated at Ermelo Mall, was robbed at approximately 16:45 on Friday, 3 September. Four male suspects entered the shop, pretending to be customers. Two of the suspects went to the fitting room, pretending to fit clothes. They approached the cashier to pay for the items. One suspect returned to the fitting room, saying he forgot something. When he returned from the fitting room, he held the cashier with at gunpoint. The suspects instructed the assistant manager to open the cash register, and fled with R21 000 cash from the register, as well as with five cellphones belonging to employees. - On Friday, 3 September, at approximately 07:40, three males entered Ernie’s Supermarket in Merino Street, Ermelo, and held the owner at gunpoint. The suspect with the firearm proceeded to take cash from the register. The complainant pressed an alarm button. Unfortunately, one of the other suspects saw, and slapped him. The complainant ran to the back of the shop and locked himself in. Suspects fled the scene with R1500.00 cash. ACSU reaction team arrived on the scene in approximately 53 seconds, and the shop owner would like thank them for the quick response. - On Friday, 3 September, at approximately 00:00, the complainant was walking home after visiting a friend. She was accompanied by a male neighbour. They were approached by two male suspects, who proceeded to threatened them. The victims attempted to flee, but the suspects chased the complainant, caught and held her at gunpoint. He handed the firearm to the other suspect, and started strangling the complainant, and subsequently raped her. The incident took place behind Wesselton Primary School in Thusi Village. - On Sunday, 5 September ,at approximately 09:10, a masked suspect entered Ackermans at Boxer Centre, Wesselton. He pointed a firearm at the employees, and forced them, along with customers, to the back of the shop. They were ordered to sit down, whereafter three more male suspects joined in. The suspects ordered the manager to open the safes. Two of the suspects made off with cellphones and routers from the safe. The remaining suspects forced the manager to open another safe, and fled with cellphones and cash belonging to customers. < Previous Article Next Article >

Bejaarde man aangerand in Smuts Straat Bejaarde man aangerand in Smuts Straat 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 15 February 2022 Volgens die SAPD, het die verdagte gevra vir ys en water, en het die slagoffer aangerand nadat hy toegang tot die huis verkry het. Op Vrydag, 11 Februarie 2022, het die SACCW en buurtwag flink reageer na ‘n roep om hulp, nadat ‘n bejaarde man (76) in Smuts Straat voor ‘n woonkompleks se hek gevind is. Na aanleiding van beskikbare informasie, was die bejaarde in sy huis aangerand en beroof. Volgens die SAPD, het die verdagte gevra vir ys en water, en het die slagoffer aangerand nadat hy toegang tot die huis verkry het. Die verdagte was opsoek na ‘n vuurwapen, maar kon nie daarin slaag om een te kry nie. Na afloop van die aanranding het die verdagte homself uit die voete gemaak. Die slagoffer kon daarin slaag om hulp te soek by die bure. ER 24, buurtwag en die SAPD was spoedig op die toneel, waar SAPD beamptes met die slagoffer gesels het. Tydens dieselfde voorval het buurtwag ook informasie ontvang van nog ‘n roof wat in Smuts Straat plaasgevind het. Ten einde van verdere ondersoek deur die SAPD en buurtwag lede het die informasie uitgedraai as verkeerdelik oorgedra, en geen tweede voorval het plaasgevind nie. Sien meer foto’s, asook ‘n video, op ons Facebook blad, Tribune Ermelo < Previous Article Next Article >

Carolina woman sentenced for culpable homicide Carolina woman sentenced for culpable homicide 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 6 October 2020 During a search of the residence in Silobela Extention 4, Skhumbuso misled police in claiming she had no idea on the whereabouts of Msibi, her boyfriend. However, SAPS investigators discovered the already decomposing body of Msibi at the residence, after which Skhumbuso was arrested. On Thursday, 29 September 2020, the Carolina Regional Court Sentenced Mayibila Anna Skhumbuso (36) to five years direct imprisonment for culpable homicide. The sentence came after Skhumbuso was arrested by the Carolina SAPS on 4 January 2020 for the death of Vusi Petros Msibi . According to the Msibi was reported missing in November 2019. During a search of the residence in Silobela Extention 4, Skhumbuso misled police in claiming she had no idea on the whereabouts of Msibi, her boyfriend. However, SAPS investigators discovered the already decomposing body of Msibi at the residence, after which Skhumbuso was arrested. Skhumbuso pleaded guilty to killing the deceased in self defense by hitting him with an iron while they were embroiled in a quarrel, and stated that she was too scared to report the matter to the police. Magistrate Cloete stated that although the accused has shown regret and remorse for her actions, she should not have withheld the matter from authorities. < Previous Article Next Article >

Wees waaksaam vir vervalsde note Wees waaksaam vir vervalsde note 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 24 November 2020 Volgens die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank is dit 'n oortreding om selfs in besit te wees van sulke note, en moet enige persoon wat dit besit, bewustelik by die naaste polisiekantoor aanmeld. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank doen 'n beroep op inwoners om seker te maak dat hulle egte geld het, en om eerder hul tyd te neem om die geld wat hulle gekry het, te bestudeer, as om met vervalsde note te eindig. Volgens die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank is dit 'n oortreding om selfs in besit te wees van sulke note, en moet enige persoon wat dit besit, bewustelik by die naaste polisiekantoor aanmeld. Daar is verskillende maniere om vals note te identifiseer, en word alles verduidelik deur 'n afbeelding op die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank-webwerf. Vervalsde geld is 'n vinnig-groeiende oortreding, en dit kan met 20 jaar gevangenisstraf en 'n stewige boete bestraf word as dit in besit geneem word of om hierdie note op te lewer. Ermelo is egter nie uitgesluit nie, en daar word telkens opgemerk dat misdagers wol oor die oë propbeer trek met vervalsde note. Die South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW) in Ermelo het ook ‘n waarskuwing uitgereik rakende die kwessie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank spesifiseer 11 maniere om die verskil tussen 'n nagemaakte en 'n regte note te onderskei. Dit sluit in die watermerk, die geometriese vorms, die registrasie, die latente beeld, die unieke nommering, die verhoogde drukwerk, mikroletters, opties veranderlike ink en die diamantvorms. Die mees algemene vervalste note is R100 en R200 note. Wees waaksaam, wees slim, en wees agterdogtig oor enige aantekeninge om te verseker dat jy en jou besigheid aan die veilige kant van die wet bly. Veral met die feestyd wat binnekort aanbreek, word inwoners gemaan om op hul hoede te wees vir verdagte gedrag vanaf klante, en selfs vriende. Wees veral bedag op inwoners en kliënte wat uitermatige stywe rekeninge, of duur goedere betaal met kontant. In ‘n era van elektroniese transaksies en min mense wat met groot bedrae kontant rondloop, hetsy vir veiligheid of gemaklikheid, is dit beter om versigtig te wees, as om later jammer te wees. < Previous Article Next Article >

Botsings teister motoriste Botsings teister motoriste 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 18 Augustus 2020 Nooddienste was druk besig met verskeie tonele, met skare wat hul vergaap aan die botings. Die afgelope naweek was ‘n besige naweek vir die nooddienste, met verskeie botsings wat plaasgevind het. Al die nodige dienste was blitsvinnig op die tonele, en die owerhede vra alle motoriste of veilig te bestuur ten alle tye. < Previous Article Next Article >

Fraudster nabbed by Hawks Fraudster nabbed by Hawks 1/1 Share Supplied Content 26 August 2022 The alleged contract also stated that the investment shall be paid back to the investors with returns, as a lump sum of R302 370 on or before 30 September 2020. Mbhasobhi Amos Zulu (39) appeared before the Bethal Magistrate Court for fraud worth one million Rand on Tuesday, 23 August 2022. Zulu was, on 14 July 2022, served with summons by the Middelburg based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation to appear in court to face his fraud allegations. It is alleged that the suspect met with his victims, informed them about his business, and that they must invest in his company, Mbhasi Trading (PTY) LTD. The victims signed an investment agreement with the suspect on 28 August 2020. The contract was between the Mbhasa Trading PTY LTD, and the victims as investors, provided the contract holder with financial investment amount of R85 000, paid by electronic fund transfer (EFT). The alleged contract also stated that the investment shall be paid back to the investors with returns, as a lump sum of R302 370 on or before 30 September 2020. After the contract was signed, several EFTs were made to the victims between 4 September and the 7 October 2020, and the suspect allegedly received a total amount of R3 910 000. The suspect manufactured a fraudulent proof of payment from his account 8 August 2020, claiming that the total transfer amount of R3 910 000 did not all reflect on the receiving account, and the suspects suffered a total loss of R1 256 000. The suspect appeared before the Bethal Magistrate Court, and the case was transferred to Bethal Regional Court, where it was postponed to 30 August 2022 for further investigation. < Previous Article Next Article >

Accidents and pay weekend walk hand in hand Accidents and pay weekend walk hand in hand 1/4 Share SH HATTINGH 30 June 2020 During the last week, a series of motor vehicle accidents kept the emergency busy, racing from one scene to the other. Ermelo has reached that time of the month where the amount of road accidents rapidly increase. During the last week, a series of motor vehicle accidents kept the emergency busy, racing from one scene to the other. During all this racing up and down, there were two serious accidents, where in both accidents there were two fatalities. < Previous Article Next Article >

Roekelose bestuur eis die tol Roekelose bestuur eis die tol 1/0 Share SH HATTINGH 25 August 2020 Roekelose bestuur laat nooddienste skarrel Die afgelope naweek was ‘n baie besig naweek vir die nooddienste. Daar het verskeie botsings op verskillende paaie plaasgevind. Die meeste van die oorsake van die botsings is bloot die rede dat daar geen ag gegee word aan die padreëls en spoedgrens nie. < Previous Article Next Article >