WeeklySA_Admin30 YEARS’ JAIL FOR CABLE THIEVES
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the sentencing of four accused by the Thabazimbi Regional Court for tampering with and destroying essential infrastructure.
The four, aged between 31 and 35, were sentenced to a total 30 years’ imprisonment today. The court heard that, on the night of May 10 2023, the four accused – Nelson Chama (31), Artwell Chakaraya (31), Blessing Mathongo (35), and Ophius Marindire (32) – cut off the Transnet Railway line that was connected to Dwaalboom.
This was discovered by a security guard who was patrolling the area. During his patrol, he noticed some suspicious activity when he passed Swartkip crossing. He stopped his vehicle and checked the place, and found that some 500 meters of contact lines (solar copper cables) were cut off and stolen. The total cost was R200 000.
Police were summoned to the scene and opened a case of tampering and destroying essential infrastructure. Later that day, the suspects were arrested in the Brits policing area after police found them in possession of suspected stolen copper cables.
“We appreciate the conviction and sentencing as passed by the court and all the efforts by the arresting team as well the investigating officer,” said Hadebe. – SAnews.gov.za
PENSION FUND ACCESS NOW LAW
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill of 2023, which establishes a “two-pot” system that gives members of retirement funds access to retirement savings without having to resign or cash out entire pension funds.
The amendment law introduces a “two-pot” retirement system to address the concerns related to lack of preservation before retirement and lack of access to retirement funds by households in financial distress.
According to a statement by the Presidency, this retirement system comprises a savings and retirement component for contributions made after 1 September 2024, while historical retirement benefits will be housed in a vested component.
Individuals will have access to amounts in the savings component before retirement for times of financial distress, and the amounts in the retirement component are preserved until retirement.
These changes ensure the retirement system remains responsive to diverse financial needs, supporting both long-term financial security and immediate assistance during emergencies. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
COVID FRAUD SUSPECT HELD
Members of the Border Management Authority (BMA) yesterday arrested a man at the Ramatlabama border post between South Africa and Botswana for alleged COVID-19 Temporary Employer/ Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) fraud.
Tokelo Winston Frederick Modiboa, who has been on the run since November 2022, joins 20 other accused implicated in the COVID-19 TERS fraudulent claims which occurred between the years 2020 and 2021.
According to a statement by the police, the 59-year-old appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court today and is facing charges of fraud.
An investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation revealed that Modiboa received payments from three main accused – Kegomoditswe Parisian Moselane (36), Irving Ikgopoleng Mongale (46) and Khotjwe Goodwin Motsei (50) – who submitted fraudulent claims for their alleged employees.
Moselane allegedly submitted fraudulent claims in the amount of R271 000 from the Department of Employment and Labour for 47 individuals who have never worked for her company.
Seven suspects were arrested in November 2022 by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in collaboration with the Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS).
Further investigation revealed that Modiboa received R34 000 from Mongale, who had claimed R970 000 from the department for 150 individuals who were never employees at his company.The money was transferred to 13 other accused who have since been arrested and are out on bail. – SAnews.gov.za
LIMPOPO CRASHES CLAIM
60 LIVES
At least 60 people perished in two separate horror crashes in the Limpopo province in the past two months amid pleas from President Cyril Ramaphosa to all motorists to drive with caution, respect life and to make safety their way of life.
The latest crash, which happened on the R521 Dendron Road in Ga-Hlahla in the Polokwane Local Municipality last week, claimed the lives of 13 people who included teachers from different schools.
A spokesperson for the MEC office of the Limpopo Transport and community Safety, said the accident happened around 5,30am when a truck collided head-on with a minibus taxi, killing all passengers and drivers in both vehicles. Misty conditions apparently contributed to the accidents.
The accident happened barely two months after another tragic accident in which 45 Botswana nationals perished when the bus they were travelling in, plunged off a bridge along the Mmamatlakala Pass along the R518 in Limpopo. The passengers were on their way to church in Moria to celebrate Easter. An eight-year-old miraculously survived the horror crash. After several weeks in hospital, she was transported back to Botswana.
“My heart goes out to all families who have lost loved ones in this incident.
Amid our mourning, we must once again be mindful of our individual and shared responsibility to take care of ourselves and those with whom we share our roads.
“Incidents of this kind incur heartache for those closest to the deceased, the loss of household income and the impact of losing members of our families and communities in whose skills and development the nation has invested.
While government has reached out to the affected families, we must all work together to the best of our ability to prevent such tragedy from recurring’’. – Monk Nkomo
