WeeklySA_AdminRACKET: Six victims included the disabled from poor families
By Monk Nkomo
A 43-year-old female Limpopo police officer who allegedly preyed on mentally challenged patients and community members from disadvantaged backgrounds killing them in an insurance scam to maintain a lavish lifestyle, acted out of cruelty and total disregard for human life.
This sentiment was not only expressed by locals who knew her but by the South African Police Service hierarchy who have been shocked by the heinous crimes allegedly committed by their own.
Sergeant Rachel Kutumela, who was attached to the Senwabarwana police station in Limpopo, allegedly targeted destitute and vulnerable people she knew and planned their vicious deaths in a killing spree that spanned nearly five years having started in 2019.
According to the police, she allegedly benefited from funeral, accidental and life policy covers from various major insurance companies and, as a beneficiary, pocketed nearly R10 million.
Her lavish lifestyle, including a string of luxury vehicles apparently drew the attention of hawk-eyed members of her colleagues in blue and it was no surprise when crack police detective, Captain Keshi Mabunda, was assigned to investigate her movements. After a lengthy investigation, a warrant of arrest was secured and the suspected crooked police officer was arrested while on duty at the police station where she was attached last week.
Mabunda would be remembered as the police officer who arrested former Gauteng police Constable, Rosemary Ndlovu, the serial killer who was sentenced to six life terms after being convicted on charges of hiring hitmen to murder her relatives, including her elderly mother in an insurance scam in which she pocketed nearly R1,4 million. Her killing spree began in 2012 and ended in 2018 when her plan to kill her sister’s children was bungled by her hitman who ‘’chickened out’’ on a deal and alerted the police.
Kutumela appeared in the packed Polokwane District Court on Friday wearing spectacles and covering her face with a dark scarf – a disguise which did not bode well with the magistrate who ordered her to remove the scarf so that she can be clearly identified.
The State informed the court that the accused would face six counts of murder, 17 of fraud and a charge of defeating the ends of justice. Speaking through her lawyer, Kutumela indicated that she would apply for bail which the State said would oppose. The matter was postponed to October 18.
Kutumela’s alleged modus operandi was to insure disabled, mentally challenged and poverty-stricken family members. She would become the beneficiary.
Although it is not yet known how the victims were murdered, police are expected to gather this information following reports that two women who allegedly worked with her, had been taken in for questioning by the police with the possibility that they could turn State witnesses.
The arrest of the police officer has come as a shock to the police top brass with Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu declaring that such cruelty and disregard for human life was utterly reprehensible. ‘’ It is all the more shocking when perpetrated by someone sworn to uphold the law and protect the innocent.’’ He commended Mabunda and his team for their tireless and meticulous work in bringing the alleged rogue officer to justice. ‘’Their dedication to the rule of law and the protection of our citizens is an embodiment of the integrity we expect from the SAPS. The nature of these crimes is deeply disturbing, with the victims meeting their ends in various violent ways.’’
National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, lamented that the involvement of their own on such heinous crimes, was a disgrace.
‘’ As a police officer, you are entrusted with the safety and security of communities. For a police officer entrusted with such a great responsibility to be involved in such acts is an absolute disgrace. She abused her powers by insuring those that trusted her.
This must send a strong warning to all involved that the long arm of the law will find you and catch you.’’
Mirror Briefs
EXAM MARKING STAFF DILEMMA
The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), has raised concern over the Department of Basic Education’s shortage of marking staff during the exams.
Umalusi incorporates four examination bodies, the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Independent Examination Board (IEB), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI). The exams are set to run from October 21 to November 27.
More than 1.1 million candidates have registered with four of the country’s assessment bodies to write the matric exams.
Umalusi CEO, Dr Maki Rakometsi said this was a perennial problem and that while risks could be handled, he hoped for better. “In future, we do not want stop-gap measures. They have got adequate time to plan so that next year there is a full complement.”
For those who will be marking, a standardised mark-capturing system will be in place featuring a double-entry system, where a marker enters a result before a colleague replicates the action.
Rakometsi also issued a stern warning to teachers and learners to refrain from any forms of cheating.
“Umalusi condemns this criminal practice with the contemned it deserves. Cheating compromises the integrity of our national examination system, which we are mandated to jealously protect as a quality council and I’m referring here to Umalusi. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
MOLEFE ON R50 BILLION FRAUD RAP
The high-profile Transnet locomotives fraud and corruption case involving former Transnet CEO Brian Molefe has been postponed to January 31 next year for the State to provide further particulars to the accused.
Molefe and his co-accused appeared briefly in the dock at the Johannesburg High Court on Friday, on charges of the contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and fraud. Their charges, which include fraud, corruption and money laundering, stem from the locomotives transaction advisory tender awarded to the McKinsey-led consortium in 2012, resulting in the procurement of 1 064 locomotives valued at more than R54 billion.
The co-accused of the parastatal’s ex-boss include former Transnet group CFO, Anoj Singh; former acting CFO Garry Pita; former treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi; former Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama; the CEO of the defunct Trillian Capital Partners and Regiments Capital shareholder, Eric Wood; alleged “Gupta fixer” and sole director of Albatime, Kuben Moodley as well as former Regiments Capital director Nevin Pillay and former Regiments Capital CEO, Litha Nyhonyha.
Despite the corruption case hanging over Molefe and Gama’s heads, the former Transnet executives were sworn in as members of Parliament of MK Party in August this year. The State claims that the alleged corruption occurred at the parastal while Molefe was at the helm from 2011 to 2015.
National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption spokesperson, Henry Mamothame confirmed that the matter has been postponed to January next year. – Fullview
PRAYERS FOR CRASH VICTIMS
Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy has conveyed her sincerest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in a crash that claimed the lives of eight people on Friday morning, in KwaZulu-Natal.
Eight people who included schoolchildren, died in a head-on collision between a vehicle carrying them and a truck on the N2, near Mandeni.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones this morning,” the Minister said.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said reports indicated that a driver of a seven-seater light motor vehicle lost control of his car.
“The car went over the other lane and collided with a truck, causing it to veer off the road and overturn. Our hearts are with the families and relatives of the eight victims of the horrific road accident between bridges 18 and 19 on the N2 Mandeni.
“What saddens us is that the victims of the road accident include young people. We request motorists to drive carefully on the roads,” the MEC said. – Sanews.
PROTECT GIRL CHILDREN
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to protect, promote and respect the rights of girl children, as the world commemorates International Day of the Girl Child.
“On this day, we recognise the rights of girl children everywhere: their right to live, freedom and safety; their right to education and health care, their right to opportunity and above all, to be treated equally.
“Let us commit to protecting and nurturing our nation’s girl children. Together, let us, as South Africans, be aware of the rights of the children, and to respect them and to protect them and above all, to honour them. Let us build a country where every girl child can fulfil her potential and realise her dreams,” Ramaphosa said.
He lamented that in many parts of the world, girl children were subjected to “gender apartheid”.
“In many parts of the world, girls face a terrible plight. They are victims of conflict, human trafficking and sexual violence. In places like Afghanistan, girls face the worst form of gender apartheid. They are denied the rights to education, freedom as well as even having a voice.
“In some parts of the world, young girls are taken out of school early to work inside and outside their home.” South Africa was committed to all global instruments aimed at the prosperity of girl children. – SA news.
